After the Battle

~After the Battle~

Ginny Weasley was racing along the deserted corridors of the destroyed castle. So much had happened that night, and so much had been lost...

Don't think about that! she told herself fiercely. So much had been won too. But they could not ignore the casualties of the battle. Fred, Tonks, Lupin, Colin Creevey...

Stop it! she thought again, impatiently brushing angry tears from her eyes.

I have to find him. I need to find him. I need him. Him...

She turned down another hallway, and continued to run. She wondered if it was best to leave them alone. They probably wanted that, but she had to see him. To know for sure he was okay. Of course, she wanted to see the others too. To hug Ron tightly, her brother, who was safe. To throw her arms around Hermione, who was so brilliant. To fall into his arms, free. To fall into his arms... It was all she wanted right now.

She had left her mother behind, saying that she had to go find them. Molly had tried to stop her, her only daughter, who had almost been taken from her. But Ginny was firm. And now she was running along, after the elusive three. She wasn't exactly sure where they were, but she had an idea.

And now she was here. The gargoyle was turned over on its side, so she dashed up the spiral staircase. Outside the door, she heard a low murmur of voices. She knocked once, then opened the door. Standing in the doorway, she gazed at the three of them, and they gazed right back.

"I-I've been looking for you," Ginny said shakily. She walked slowly over to Ron, then threw her arms around him, burying her face in his robes and sobbing quietly. At first, Ron looked surprised, then a brotherly look crept over his face. Leaning his head on hers, he rocked her gently.

"Shh, Gin. 'S okay." And then tears were falling down his cheeks as well, into her hair, no doubt, as thoughts of his brother overcame him.

"'S all right. I'm here." Ron's voice cracked on the last word. Ginny drew back, smiling slightly and wiping tears from her face. They looked at each other for a moment, then Ginny moved on.

Turning to Hermione, she said, "Thank you." Hermione looked bewildered.

"But...it was Harry. All Harry." But Ginny did not turn to him just yet.

"You kept them safe, I know it. I know you were brilliant, even if I wasn't there. I just know." And then she hugged Hermione too, whose eyes welled up with emotion. Hermione squeezed Ginny's hand as she turned to face Harry, again wiping her eyes.

He was looking at her with a curious expression, and as she watched, a single tear ran down his face. His beautiful face she thought. She took a step toward him, as though afraid to go on.

Taking a deep breath, she said, "I...I missed you. The whole time you were gone. Before you even left. And...and sometimes I felt like...like you were with me...somehow. When I was at Hogwarts. And you have no idea how scared I've been. Every day I'd wake up, and not know. I'd go about my day, and not know. And go to bed at night, and not know. You could have been captured, tortured, killed...the only comfort I had was that nothing was reported. No news was good news. For me. For us. And I just had to tell you...that I...I..." But Harry had cut her off, taking a step toward her, a hand on her soft cheek. Ginny felt him lean in, and mimicked the movement. And then they were kissing, softly, while tears ran down Ginny's face. All she had kept inside since that terrible day he had left was escaping her, and she moved closer. Harry's hand found her back and he pulled her into him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on, still kissing him. When they finally broke apart, Harry looked down at her.

"I love you," he said slowly, quietly, finishing Ginny's sentence. He wiped the tears from her cheeks, but it was no use. This was the one time she could not keep the tears from coming. A sob escaped her lips, and Harry hugged her tightly to him.

"I love you too." She said it very quietly, it was almost a whisper, and she was sure only Harry heard her. But it was enough.