Harry and Ginny walked hand in hand to the guy dorms. Both were a bit nervous. They had been separated from each other for so long that they had forgotten how to interact with one another.

Once in the room Harry looked at Ginny and blushed, seemingly looking for the right words to say.

"Um… Gin' do you mind if I take a quick shower before we go to bed. I feel disgusting?"

"I don't mind at all Harry. In fact, I am going to run to the girl dorms and do the same. Don't look at me that way. I'll be back. I promise it. Okay?"

"Alright I see you back in here in a few minutes k'?" Harry asked, getting his bathroom essentials out. Ginny nodded and made her way to the door quickly so she wouldn't be in his way. Harry smiled to himself while getting into the shower. Ginny had taken him back. He just couldn't believe it. After all the painful shit he put her through, she still wanted him, even when he had caused the deaths of so many innocent people.

All those people. All the faces of the deceased flared in his mind. What had he down? He, Harry "bloody" Potter, had basically slaughtered a multitude of the most talented witches and wizards of the day. He had to get out of this place. It was a constant reminder of what had transpired early that very evening. He had even allowed himself to think he could be happy for once. He didn't even deserve to breath the same air as the families of the valiant men and women, who so willing gave their lives in a battle he could have ended long before and actual fight began.

Harry jumped out of the shower, and got dressed quickly. It he wanted to get out without letting Ginny see him, he had to hurry. She would be back any minute. He walked out into the dorm room to find her already sitting on the foot of his four poster bed

"Don't even think about it mister. I know you better than you think. As soon as I left I figured you would try to run and sulk about things that were, and still are completely out of your control." Harry tried to interrupt, but Ginny wouldn't let him. "No, Harry. Listen to me, and you listen good, the deaths of all those brave men and women were not and never will be your fault. Each and every one of them new the danger they faced when they agreed to fight for what they believed was right. The Wizarding World suffered a great loss today, but we will recover and prosper, eventually. Please, I just got you back don't run away from me now. And please for the love of Merlin don't recede into you head and hold all you feelings in. I'm here for you, and the only way any of this will get any better is if you talk about it."

Harry stared at Ginny for a while. For once he would listen to the beautiful woman in front of him. He was going to be in a good deal of pain for a while, but he trusted her to help him through it. He crossed the room and slowly sat down beside her on the bed.

"Okay Gin. I know you're right. I just.. I feel so guilty… I know it makes no sense, but damnit!" Harry stood up pacing as his intensity grew. "If I had acted sooner accepted that it was me, and only me that could stop that bastard, then most of the people lost would still be alive! Fred… Remus… Tonks… Maybe even Sirius.." Harry words trailed off as he sank back down on the bed and ran a hand through his already wild hair. He looked on the verge of tears, or even an angry outburst, as if he was battling himself and was at a stalemate.

"Harry… Sure you could have acted sooner. I don't know what you, Ron, and Hermione went through this year, and I won't even try to guess all the hardships the three of you faced. Love, things had to happen this way. You weren't prepared. You would have died, and then where would the wizarding world be? You're only 17… So much of your life has revolved around that mad man. You've lost more than most of us put together. Your childhood, innocence, your parents, godfather, you've never had a normal safe life. If we let all the pain, bad memories, and 'what ifs' control our lives from here on out, it will be an insult to the memory of those who fought and died to further our world. Nothing great can be achieved without pain and sacrifice, there is a balance to this world Harry, and I know right now we can't see the bigger picture, but I know years from now we'll understand. We, as a people, have to cling to each other, and go on living. Move past all the sorrow to create a magical community that those gone on before us could have only imagined. We owe them that." Ginny said pausing randomly to collect her thoughts.

Harry sat in shocked silence. He knew it would happen, but somewhere along the way the woman he loved had grown up and gained wisdom beyond her years. She was right, not that he was at all surprised. He couldn't think of what to say in response to her words, so he let his actions speak for themselves.

Harry slowly reached up and cupped her cheek tenderly in his palm. They sat there in the still silence as he took in her face. The golden color of her eyes, and how when the light hit them at just right angle, they looked like pools or warm amber flecked with gold. Her freckles, and the way her brow furrowed when she was lost in thought. Every little thing he missed about her. The way she seemed to know exactly what he was thinking or feeling. A feeling of complete and utter love filled his senses. She was the only one for him, and in this very moment he had never been surer.

"Ginny… Will you marry me?" before Harry had even fully processed what his sleep addled brain rushed out, he was being smothered in kisses from his love. He could hear her mumbling yes over and over between each kiss.

"Yes?" He asked just to be sure.

"Yes." Ginny said glowing with happiness and love.

They fell back onto the bed, and curled together under the blankets. The fatigue of the day and the joy of their new relationship settled over them as the drifted into a dreamless sleep.