A/N - this came from a suggestion of a poster on one of the threads in the forums ages ago - sorry, I can't remember who it was but it planted the idea in my head. Trouble is, I'm not one hundred per cent happy with how this turned out. Some will find Harry, and most probably Hermione, slightly out of character but I guess I've given Hermione a bit of me in her this time round - especially in later chapters. Anyway, I hope you enjoy.
"He'll be alright," murmured Ginny.
As Harry looked at her, he lowered his hand absent-mindedly and touched the lightning scar on his forehead.
"I know he will."
The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years. All was well.
From behind him he could hear Ron and Hermione starting to argue.
"No, Ron," Hermione hissed, "like I told you before, Harry's right here!"
Harry was confused, surely Ron could see him too - after all, they had just stood together and watched their children go to Hogwarts. Suddenly Kings Cross began to fade into blackness, sending a slither of fear through Harry. Something was wrong…his family were in danger!
"Bloody hell, Hermione," Ron voice came out of the darkness, sounding more irritated than afraid, "he won't care - he's fast asleep!"
Ah, that makes more sense. It's just a dream, Harry thought to himself, smiling with relief, just a dream.
His relief quickly disappeared, however, when he realised that Ron and Hermione were planning on doing something that he really didn't want to witness. He needed to say something.
"No, he's not," he managed to utter, opening his eyes to see the familiar drapes of his bed in the Gryffindor dorms.
"Harry!" Hermione cried and was at his side in seconds, handing him his glasses from his bedside cabinet.
"Finally," Ron added as he came next to Hermione, "you're awake. Welcome back, mate."
"I could try and sleep a bit longer," he offered with a smirk, "let you guys do whatever you were wanting to do…"
"Oh no, that's fine," Hermione said in a rush, blushing terribly.
"Yeah, okay," Ron said at the same time, earning a glare from Hermione. Harry just laughed, the happiness from his dream still wrapped around him.
"You seem rather chipper," Ron quipped, ignoring Hermione.
"I was having this really…weird dream," Harry told him, still smiling.
"Well, it must've been weird in a good way" Hermione said, perching on the edge of his bed, "what with the grin on your face."
"Yeah, it was," he admitted, then decided to take caution to the wind and tell all, "we were all at Kings Cross, seeing our kids off to Hogwarts. You two were married…"
"Ron and I?" Hermione squeaked, "married?"
"Really?" Ron grinned with satisfaction.
"Yep, and your daughter, Rose, was going to Hogwarts for the first time…"
"Rose?" Ron screwed his nose up.
"I like Rose," Hermione stated, glancing irritably at Ron before looking back to Harry, "what else, Harry?"
"Well," Harry continued, thinking hard as he tried to remember, "my oldest son, James, had already spent a year there, I think, because it was my middle son's fist year…"
"I bet he was called Sirius," Ron cut in with a satisfied smirk.
"No, he was Albus Severus…"
"Albus Severus?" Ron blurted, his smile gone, "you must be joking! You'd name your kid after a man that tormented you for years? That's just mental!"
"It was just a dream," Harry retorted defensively, "besides, Albus isn't that bad, is it?" He looked to Hermione when he said this, her frown disappearing when she realised he was watching her.
"Actually, I agree with Ron on this one, Harry," she told him gently, "I understand why your subconscious gave your son that name. The realisation that Professor Snape had been on our side all along and had a friendship with your mother would have made him important to you. But, gosh, to give a child a reference to that man?"
"Yeah, he was a bit of a prat, wasn't he?" he agreed slightly more subdued.
"Remembering Professor Dumbledore is understandable as well," she continued, "but personally, I think a name should belong to the child and not be a reminder of someone we've loved and lost."
"Considering my daughter's name was Lily, I think my subconscious was well and truly stuck into remembering who I've lost," Harry sighed with a small, sad smile, "James, Albus and Lily."
"We're there any others, Harry?" Hermione asked, breaking the small silence that followed.
"Yeah," he answered, grinning once more, "your youngest sons' name was Hugo…"
"Bloody hell, Harry," Ron muttered, "you are never having any input in naming anything of mine! Hugo? What kind of name is that?"
"…and Bill and Fluer's daughter was Victoria or Vicky or something like that," Harry continued, thinking, "oh, and Malfoy was there too…"
"Malfoy?" Ron cried.
"…and his son had a really weird name," Harry shrugged, looking back at his friends.
"Did we have jobs?" Ron questioned excitedly, quickly forgetting all about Draco Malfoy.
"No," Harry frowned as he tried to remember, "but Neville was the Herbology professor at Hogwarts. Ginny asked James to give him our love…"
"So Ginny was your wife?" Hermione asked, quietly.
"Yeah," Harry replied, aware of the goofy grin that covered his face plus the heat of his blush.
"That's brilliant, Harry," Hermione said with such a weariness that Harry looked at her - really looked at her.
The glow from his dream quickly disappeared as he noticed how pale Hermione was, the dark smudges under her red, puffy eyes quite prominent. It was then the memories of what had happened before he had woken in his familiar bed dreaming his first ever dream of a happy future, hit him.
There had been a battle.
People had died.
Fred had died.
He quickly looked to Ron.
"How long have I been up here?" he asked his friend.
"You've been asleep for three days, mate," Ron told him and Harry looked at him in shock.
"Three days?" he repeated, glancing to Hermione for confirmation.
"We came here after you spoke to Professor Dumbledore's portrait," she confirmed, "Ron and I decided to let you sleep. You…you had a few nightmares, but they didn't wake you…"
"I don't remember any nightmares," Harry interrupted, thinking, trying to remember. When he couldn't, he looked back at his friends, "what's been going on?"
Ron and Hermione exchanged looks and it seemed Hermione drew the short straw, as she took a deep breath, then looked back to Harry.
"I…we watched over you," she explained, "and we put wards around this room so no-one could enter. Everyone seemed to want a part of you but we thought you just needed some time…"
"Like Hermione said," Ron added, "you were having nightmares and stuff, but you didn't wake up. Physically, you seemed alright. We thought it was because of all the things you'd gone through."
"Kingsley has started the rebuilding," Hermione continued, "he's secured Azkaban so that the many Death Eaters they've caught had somewhere to go. The Ministry is back under control but is in a real mess.
"Most people have left Hogwarts with only some of the teachers and the pupils that have no…no families to go to, staying."
"Mum and dad have stayed," Ron admitted sadly, "we're one of the families that have nowhere to go and mum's helping Professor McGonagall fix the school…"
"How are you parents, Ron?" Harry asked quietly, "and…and George?"
"I think George is still in shock or something," Ron answered with a deep sigh, "he doesn't really do much. Bill and Charlie are looking out for him, making sure he eats and stuff. They're re-building The Burrow so we don't see them that much. Perce and Ginny are looking out for mum who just won't stop…"
"Won't stop?"
"She keeps working non-stop," Hermione added, "especially since she found out Fleur is pregnant…"
"Victoria," Harry thought out loud, thinking once more of his dream only to have his thoughts brought back when Ron started talking again.
"The funerals start on Saturday," he said, "Remus and Tonks are first. They've hidden away Dumbledore's tomb until you woke…"
"The Elder Wand!" Harry cried suddenly, remembering.
"It's safe, Harry," Hermione told him quickly.
"Yeah," Ron continued, "Hermione's hidden it somewhere. Won't tell me where…"
"That's because you had started acting like a git around it, Ron," Hermione growled, "we agreed it was for the best!"
"I know, I know," Ron grumbled at her before looking back to Harry, "look, now you're awake, there's heaps of people who want to see you - McGonagall, Hagrid, Ginny…"
Ron let Ginny's name float around a bit and for some reason, Harry felt uncomfortable. He thought, especially after his dream, that seeing Ginny would be the first thing he'd want to do - to touch her and make sure she was real. But he knew she'd have questions that he wasn't ready to answer, or expect strength and comfort from him that he wasn't capable of giving.
"You don't have to, though," Hermione said, and once more Harry glanced up at her, "it's up to you."
"I…I don't really want to see anyone at the moment," he admitted hesitantly.
"Thought you might say that," Ron snorted, then asked, "are you hungry?"
"Yeah, actually," Harry said after a moments thought, startled at the sudden change of subject.
"Good, 'cause I'm starving," Ron announced, "I'll go and get us all something to eat and let the family know you're awake. They've been worried sick."
Harry watched Ron go, knowing that he would have to face the world again soon especially now that people knew he had woken. He sighed deeply.
"You're going to need to speak to Ginny, Harry," Hermione offered, crossing her legs under her, getting more comfortable, "she's been quite frantic."
"I know," he agreed, thinking, "I thought it'd be the first thing I'd want to do, especially since most of last year all I wanted was to see her…"
"But it's not?"
"No," Harry stated, looking directly at her, "how are the Weasley's really, Hermione?"
"To be honest," she told him, "I've spent most of my time up here, with you. Hiding away, I guess. I've spoken to Ginny a few times and it's like it hasn't really sunk in. The hardest thing is you see Fred in George, you know? Every time I see George, I just want to cry."
Harry sat up and reached for Hermione's hand, taking it in his as her eyes began to fill up with tears.
"It's been so horrible, Harry," she sobbed quietly, "Mrs Weasley is trying to forget by keeping herself busy; helping families find new homes, organising help and care for those who need it, overseeing the re-building of the castle with Professor McGonagall. It's like she's absolutely everywhere! If…if Mr Weasley wasn't there to calm her down and make her stop, she'd have worn herself out by now.
"Ginny has to make sure her mother eats and looks out for her and she hates it! Plus finding out that Fleur was pregnant…Mrs Weasley won't let Fleur out of her sight.
"Mr Weasley has been incredible. He's been working with Kingsley and the others at the Ministry, trying to get things back into some sort of order. But he also keeps checking up on his family, making sure they're doing okay."
"How 'bout Ron?"
"Ron?" she gave an un-Hermione like snort, "he seems to think the best way for him to forget his loss is by snogging me."
"Hence the conversation when I woke," Harry grinned.
"Yes," she blushed furiously, "sorry about that."
"Don't be," Harry continued, his grin fading into a semi-forced smile, "you two are together now. It's what couples do."
"Ron and I aren't together, Harry," Hermione told him, taking her hands from his.
"What? Why?" he blurted out, genuinely confused, "I thought, after the kiss before - everything - happened, that you two finally sorted yourselves out."
"It's complicated…"
"I don't think Ron thinks it's complicated," Harry frowned, watching Hermione as she stood and turned away from him, "Ron doesn't realise that you and he aren't together, does he?"
"There hasn't been the right time…"
"Hermione!"
"Don't, Harry!" she cried, turning back to him, "don't make me feel even worse than I already do! I still haven't sorted everything out in my head and…and it's complicated! I will tell him, I will. Anyway, I've spent most of the last three days worrying about you!"
They glared at each other but at the sight of her red, glassy eyes he realised he didn't want to upset her any more.
"I'm sorry," he apologised - not really sure if he was apologising for upsetting her or making her worry. She just nodded her acceptance and then sat back down at the foot of his bed, her arms wrapped around herself in some sort of comforting embrace. Harry sighed deeply.
"Has Ron talked to you?" he asked after a moments pause, "about…about Fred?"
"No, not really," Hermione answered, looking at a spot on the floor, "I've tried to get him to talk about it but he won't," she let out a small chuckle and glanced at Harry, "good wife I'd make, huh. I can't believe you dreamed I married Ron."
"He really fancies you, Hermione," Harry said seriously, "he has for ages…"
"Has he told you this?"
"Well, no, not directly," Harry admitted, "but…but when he destroyed the locket, Voldemort's soul kinda…"
"Made him think that you and I were together," Hermione cut in, smiling a small smile, "Ron told me. The stupid thing is, he told me that his fear was that I liked you more than him, but that you said that I was like a sister to you and that made him feel better. Yet he never has said to me that he fancies me, he just assumes that I realise this. I would've thought his little self-help book would've told him that he needed to have the courage to tell the girl he likes how he felt. Maybe he just skipped that part."
"You know about the book?"
"It fell out of his bag when we shifted in here," she sniffed, then glanced at Harry, "you knew about the book?"
"He gave me a copy for my birthday last year," Harry shrugged, "haven't looked at it, actually."
"That's because you don't need to."
"So, pretty weird dream, huh?" he said quickly, changing the subject, aware that he was once again blushing.
"Depends, I guess," she replied, once more getting herself more comfortable, "I think it's brilliant that you are finally seeing yourself with a future. Even from the little you've told me, there's some great symbolism there."
"Like what?"
"Well, Kings Cross is where you experienced the wonder of Hogwarts for the first time," she explained, "it was where the real start of your new life began. You also chose Kings Cross as your place of safety when you…died."
"True. I didn't think of that."
"And of course you saw all the people that mattered to you the most. You fancy Ginny, so she was your wife, and you named your children after people who were special to you but no longer here. You wanted to ensure both Ron and I were still in your life, so you had us together and still an important part of your world. I must admit, the fact that Hagrid, Sirius or Remus didn't play a part…"
"Albus was visiting Hagrid on the Friday and Teddy was mentioned. He had been caught by James kissing Victoria, or whatever her name was," Harry paused, his eyes widening, "oh God - Teddy!"
"Mrs Tonks is looking after him," Hermione answered his unasked question, "and has vowed to raise him as her own. She's pretty devastated, what with losing her husband as well, but Fleur is staying with her and therefore, in extension, so is Mrs Weasley. You don't need to worry about him."
"But I'm his godfather!"
"You're also a seventeen year old boy, Harry," she admonished, "no-one expects you to look after an infant. You can still be an important part of his life. I think Mrs Tonks would appreciate that."
Harry just nodded, realising the enormity of the changes that were taking place around him. He'd have to face them, he knew, but he really didn't want to.
"Your dream made you happy," she continued softly, "and if anyone deserves some happiness Harry, you do. Hang on to that."
He looked at her and she looked back, their eyes locking, and he saw something flicker across her face that he hadn't seen before. She was unabashed and didn't turn away from him, her lips caught in a gentle smile. The passing thought that she looked quite pretty crossed his mind when the door slammed open and Ron bumbled in.
"Right, here you go," he announced loudly, breaking both Harry and Hermione out of whatever spell they were under, both turning to Ron at the same time, "food for everyone. Kreacher wanted to serve you himself, but I told him not to bother. The house elves have been really busy helping fix the castle so they're pretty knackered."
"That was sweet, Ron," Hermione beamed, "see, you can think of others."
"Why does that always surprise you?" Ron grumbled and Harry couldn't help but smile, "you can give it a rest, too, Potter."
"What?" Harry protested weakly, and stuffed another piece of pie into his mouth.
"Anyway, Ginny was right peeved that you didn't want to see her," Ron carried on between mouthfuls, "I wouldn't be surprised if she'll try and find a way in."
"I do want to see her," Harry sighed, "just not right now."
Ron and Hermione shared a look but stayed silent. Harry just put aside his empty plate and reached for the bowl of treacle pudding that was sitting there, waiting for him. They ate in silence, all lost in their own thoughts, which made them all jump when a warning bell began chiming over the door.
"Someone's trying to break the wards," Hermione stated matter-of-factly as she put her empty bowl down, "it's probably Ginny. I'll go and have a word."
Both Harry and Ron watched her go, the bell stopping as soon as the dorm's door had shut. The silence hung around them for a moment before Ron spoke.
"What did you and Hermione talk about?" he asked and although he sounded casual, Harry could hear a bit of concern in his voice.
"About what's been going on," Harry answered, "and my dream, mostly."
"Me and Hermione married, huh?" Ron chuckled, "the rate things are going, I reckon it's only gonna be a dream."
"What do you mean?"
"I thought after she kissed me, you know, before everything went pear-shaped," Ron began, staring nervously at his hands, "that I'd finally won her over, you know? But then it all got mental and you died, then came back and that stupid wand…every time I try to get closer to her, she just pushes me away."
"Have you told her how you feel?"
"She must know how I feel," he muttered, "I've spent enough bloody effort changing for her!"
"You need to tell her, Ron," Harry told his friend, then frowned, thinking, "what 'dya mean that you've changed for her?"
"You know, been more attentive, listening to her, not telling her she's mental all the time, even when I think she is quite barmy," he shrugged, "she seems to like that kind of rubbish."
"It's not rubbish…"
"Actually, you're right, it isn't," Ron slumped down further, "I didn't think it would take this much effort. It shouldn't be this much effort. In fact, I'm thinking about packing it in…"
"Give up on her?"
"Yeah," Ron looked at Harry, "what 'dya think?"
Knowing that Hermione was ready to do just that, Harry was about to tell Ron that perhaps it was for the best when the object of their conversation walked into the room.
"Harry, Ginny's here," she said quickly, "and I really think you ought to talk to her. I know you don't want to and you must be getting tired, but…"
Harry leaned back against the bedhead and closed his eyes. He was starting to feel tired again, even though he had been asleep for three days. He wondered if he'd have another dream when he went back to sleep - and he realised if he ever wanted that dream to become a reality, he needed to talk to Ginny. Opening his eyes, he nodded his acceptance to Hermione, who beckoned Ron to follow her, and they both left.
Closing his eyes once more, he tried to work out what he was going to say to Ginny, what part of his story was he ready to let her know.
"Harry!"
He heard her cry and opened his eyes in time to see Ginny fly at him, pulling him into a breathtaking embrace. When she finally pulled away from him, he could see her face and noticed the sheen of tears on her eyes and just how tired she looked - but she was grinning at him, beaming at him really, and he tried to smile back.
As he looked into her face, a face that he had dreamed about and thought about so often over the past year, he expected to feel…more. Something was missing, and he didn't know what it was.
"Hey, Gin," he offered as greeting and she smiled even more.
"Oh, I knew you wanted to see me," she exclaimed, holding his hands in hers, "when Ron told me this rubbish about you wanting some time, I knew he was fibbing! I mean, we haven't had time together alone for absolutely ages!"
"I am still pretty tired, Ginny…" Harry tried to tell her, but was halted when she kissed him. He found himself reacting to her touch the only way any teenage boy would, returning it with equal passion, enjoying the feel of her on him.
When she straddled him, he suddenly remembered the last time they had been this close - his last birthday. Before the wedding and the attack by Death Eaters. Before the Horcrux hunt where he had lived hand to mouth with only Hermione and Ron for company. Before he faced Voldemort. Before Remus, Tonks and Fred died.
This wasn't right.
He pushed Ginny off of him, breaking the kiss with little warning, making her look at him with surprised hurt.
"What is it?" she asked, concerned, "what's wrong?"
"This isn't right," he frowned, bringing his knees towards himself, hiding his 'excitement'.
"What?" she cried, "why?"
"Because…because we should be talking or something," he tried to explain, not too sure himself what he wanted to do, "we haven't seen each other in ages and so much has gone on…"
"But that's why I don't want to talk," she frowned at him, "I've really missed you, Harry and I've had enough of thinking about what's happened. I just want to forget!"
"So the only reason you wanted to see me was to forget about Fred?" Harry asked quietly.
"No!" she exclaimed, once more taking his hands in hers, "no. I wanted to see you, I've wanted to see you since you came up here but Ron and Hermione wouldn't let me! Oh Harry, I've been so worried! It should've been me here with you, not Hermione! I mean, you're my boyfriend…"
"No, I'm not," Harry said before he could stop himself. They looked at each other and Harry could see a new sheen of tears in her eyes as she released his hands, "look," he carried on quickly, trying to make things right, "I'm still really tired, Ginny, and things…things are a real mess for me right now. I'll…I'll talk to you later, alright?"
"Sure," she replied, getting off the bed, "I'll see you around, Harry."
He watched her go feeling confused and suddenly very alone. He didn't understand why he just turned her away since he had wanted her so much for so long.
Things had changed.