New Start (SPOILERS)

[LizzyMarch]

Harry awoke, rubbing his eyes. He reached for his glasses, fumbling for them as he slowly became coherent. He placed them on his nose and glanced around the room drowsily. He found himself in the Ron's bedroom back at the Burrow. He gave a small sigh, drawing comfort from Ron snoring in the bed across from him.

Everything was done. It had been almost a week since the final battle, and he still couldn't believe that Voldemort was gone. For a moment he thought off all the people who had died during the battle and silently thanked them. He rose, and silently went across the room and out the door. Tiptoeing down the stairs, he stopped as he saw a door open. Slowly, Ginny slipped out, her red hair placed messily on the top of her head. She turned around and saw him there.

Smiling, she looked up at him and whispered, "So Harry, what adventure do you have planned next."

Harry smiled, "...

[moogle]

Harry smiled, "I think I've had enough adventures to last me a lifetime."

His green eyes grew distant as he thought of everything that had happened and all the people he had lost. Yes, he had faced many adventures, and many of them had left their toll on his body. He was naturally curious, and as Hermione so often put it, 'had a saving people thing', which often got him into sticky situations. Now that everything was done, what was he going to do?

"Harry?" Ginny said in a distant voice, bringing his thoughts back to the present.

"I'm sorry," Harry apologised, an easy smile coming to his face. It was interesting how natural it was to smile now that everything was over, even if many hardships were still yet to come with the loss of loved ones. "I spaced out."

"It's okay," Ginny said with a little laugh, and then realising they might wake people, quickly gave him a nervous look. "Oops, for a moment I forgot what time it is."

"Right." Harry agreed. He wondered why he had not bothered to ask her why she was up at this time of night before; it seemed he too had forgotten what time it was.

"So, why are you up anyway?" Harry asked curiously.

[LizzyMarch]

"Sometimes, I have...nightmares. Then I can't sleep until I know everyone's okay." Harry gave an understanding nod, thinking back to all the horrible dreams he had of Voldemort, the dreams he got because he was attached to his soul...

"Who do you check on first?" Ginny gave a little smile, and for a second he thought he saw a trace of a blush. It faded quickly however, and she looked up into his eyes.

"Well, since you've been back, it's been...you."

Harry had trouble concealing his smile. He walked down the few steps to her, standing face-to-face with her. It seemed like so long since they had been like this. He hadn't been alone with her since his seventeenth birthday. He opened his mouth to say something--

"What are you two doing??" They both jumped back from each other, and Harry realized how close they had been. Slowly he looked over and looked into the groggy eyes of...

[ChibiMonkey13]

Slowly he looked over and looked into the groggy eyes of Hermione. She ran her hand through her wild hair in an attempt to calm it. Before Harry could think of a thing to say that would explain their situation, Ginny chimed in.

"I could say the same to you," she said. "I thought you were still in bed."

"I was getting a glass of water," the older girl said as she covered her mouth as she yawned. "It doesn't matter, I'm going back to bed."

With that, she made her way up the stairs and turned the corner.

"Wait," Harry said, noticing something. "Isn't that the way towards Ron's room?"

Ginny wrinkled her nose. "It would seem so."

They stood in uncomfortable silence, until Harry felt Ginny take his hand. He gulped as she began to lead him towards the back door.

"Where are you taking me?" he asked.

Ginny giggled and....

[LizzyMarch]

Ginny giggled and turned to look at him. She kissed him lightly and looked up at him. "Harry, I haven't seen you in months, there is only one thing i want to do with you right now." She turned and opened the door, grabbing his hand and going out into the darkness.

The cool night air made a chill run up and down Harry's spine, and he felt Ginny squeeze his hand a little She walked out to the middle of the garden. Harry looked down and noticed a blanket lying on the ground. Ginny walked over and she sat down, patting the spot next to her. Harry slowly lowered himself. Her eyes turned upwards, looking up into the darkness.

"Look at all the stars," she murmered. "When i was little, i used to think they were the people who had died." Harry felt his stomach churn, thinking for a moment about Fred, Tonks, and Reamus. He wrapped his arms around Ginny, feeling her warmth.

Looking up at the sky, he let his mind wander. After a while, he spoke, "Do you ever wish that i wasn't famous? That I could go somewhere where people just don't know me."

Ginny laid her head on his shoulder, "Sometimes I think it would be easier. Not on me, of course, but on you. Sometimes you worry to much and people always staring makes you nervous. Harry, will you be finishing up your seventh year? I mean, will you be coming back to Hogwarts?"

"I don't know, i haven't decided yet. Why?"

"Because, i was thinking, if you don't, i don't know what i'll be doing. I don't like not knowing where you are at all times. This year i almost went mad." Harry kissed her cheek, hugging her closer to him. They kept looking up at the night sky, and slowly drifted to sleep.

~^~

"WHAT'S GOING ON!" Harry felt his dream wrentched away from him as a loud voice boomed through the garden. He looked up into the face of a very red Weasley...

[ChibiMonkey13]

He looked up into the face of a very red Weasley. Ron stood above him, seeming taller now than ever before.

Harry jumped and quickly reached out to find his glasses. As he placed them on his face, he looked to his right to see Ginny just beginning to awaken.

"YOU ARE SO LUCKY I FOUND YOU HERE BEFORE MUM DID!" Ron screamed. "SHE WOULD HAVE KITTENS IF SHE DID!"

"Ron," hushed Harry. "If you keep yelling like that she's going to!"

"I'M NOT YELLING!"

Ginny sat up and glared at her brother through her sleepy eyes. "What is the matter with you?"

"With me?" Ron said through clenched teeth. "Imagine my surprise when Hermione told me you two walked off together into the night."

"Oh Ron, I didn't say that." Hermione sighed and walked over towards the scene. "All I said was that when I woke up in the middle of the night I saw the two of you together, that's all."

"Well it doesn't take an idiot to figure out what you two were up to!"

"Was it any different than what you and Hermione were up to in your room?" Ginny grinned as she saw her brother grow flustered.

"That's...that's...THAT'S DIFFERENT!" Ron screamed. "WE'RE OLDER!"

Growing more and more uncomfortable, Harry stood between the fighting siblings just before Ginny had the chance to hex her brother.

"Now now," Harry said calmly, feeling more like a referee than ever before. "Nothing happened between us, Ron. All we did was watch the stars and feel asleep. All innocent."

"More than I can say for you and Hermione..." he heard Ginny mumble, and Harry gave her a look.

"None of that, lets just go inside before we wake up the entire house."

He turned to see Hermione, who had a strange look on her face.

"Hermione?" asked Ron softly, noticing his girlfriend's distress. "What's the matter?"

Hermione...