Ginny bit her lip at that, drawing Harry's attention to her mouth. He had kissed those lips countless times, yet he had no desire to do so again. He thought it strange, as he had had every intention of getting back with her after the war.
Ginny, noticing his stare, smirked internally and slowly leaned forward, pushing her full chest against Harry's firm one and brought her lips to his. The kiss did nothing for Harry who was about to pull away in apology when they got interrupted.
"Well, it's about time!" Ron shouted as he entered the room.
"Ron!" Ginny squealed, snuggling up against Harry's chest in victory.
Harry, however, was lost in his daze. The kiss had shocked him; making him fully realise his feelings for her - the kiss had felt wrong, like kissing his sister or a friend.
"So you two finally back together, then?" Ron asked, sitting across from them with a massive smile.
"Of course," Ginny said, not waiting or asking Harry, who was about to explain that they weren't back together.
"Good, that's good, that's great even," Ron said.
"What's great?" asked Hermione who entered the room then, smiling as she saw the position Harry and Ginny were in.
"Oh, I see you two are back together now. That's perfect, just in time for school to reopen in September."
Harry, who had been lost in his thoughts, slowly blinked and was now focusing on the conversation around him. Finally he spoke up.
"School?" He asked. He wasn't returning to school; sure he regretted missing his last year but he couldn't sit in a school now, not after all he had been through. He would just take his NEWTs at the ministry when it was time.
Hermione, who was now sitting with Ron, turned to look at him. "What about school, Harry?"
"I'm not going back to school," Harry told them, surprised they thought he would want to return after everything.
"What?" screeched Ginny and Hermione simultaneously.
"But you must Harry!" Hermione added, trying to sound reasoning but coming across as pompous instead.
"Why?" Harry dully repeated. "After everything I've been through, I just can't 'Mione."
"What about me?!" Demanded Ginny.
"What about you?" Asked Harry incredulously, confused as to what she had to do with anything.
"You're just going to abandon me again, for an entire year?" She asked, trying to make her voice sound sad.
"What about your NEWTs, Harry? You can't expect to get a job and provide for Ginny if you don't have proper qualifications! You can't expect to get a job just because you defeated Voldemort. I thought you were better than that," Hermione said, sounding disappointed.
By this point Harry had had enough, pulling away from Ginny and standing. He looked around the room in anger and said, "I'm not going back to school and I don't expect anything like that Hermione. I thought you knew that, knew me."
"Oh Harry I'm sorry, it's just—"
"No!" Harry interrupted angrily, "I will take my NEWTs, but I'll do it alone, at the ministry."
Interrupting him again Hermione spoke, "But you can't expect to do well then either, Harry! I mean I'm not saying you would fail but—"
"Enough!" Harry finally shouted. "It's my decision, and I've made it. I'm not going back to Hogwarts in September. "
Ron who had remained silent, finally developed a look of understanding. "You're going to become an auror instead then, right mate?"
Harry just shook his head. "No, Ron. I don't think I even want to be an auror anymore." He was tired, and the thought of spending his entire life fighting just didn't appeal to him.
"But - that's what we've always dreamed about," Ron said, his face becoming red.
"I'm tired Ron, I just want to take some time to myself," Harry said, finally letting his voice calm and looked around the room, hoping they would understand.
"Oh, Harry," Hermione said, nodding at Ginny slightly. They had been staring at each other as Ron spoke.
Ginny, who had caught Hermione's look, nodded her head. "We understand," she said and stood before she made her way to hug Harry.
Stepping back before she could reach him, Harry ran his hand through his hair. This was the most he'd spoken since the battle and he felt exhausted now that his anger had faded.
"I'm going to go speak to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," he said. "I think it's time I left."
"You should call them mom and dad Harry," Ginny said, before she fully took in what he had said. "Wait, what do you mean left? You can't leave! Where would you go? You can't want to go back to the muggles?"
Sighing again and rubbing his neck, Harry shrugged. "I just want some time alone," he mumbled. "I think maybe I'll go to Grimmauld—"
"But that's not safe Harry," Hermione said, interrupting him as she followed them into the kitchen.
"I'll be fine," Harry interrupted. "I'll set up some wards or something."
"What's this about wards, my dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Tell him, mom!" Ginny practically shouted. "Harry wants to leave!"
Molly frowned at this. "Harry dear, why do you want to leave? Aren't you happy here? I thought I heard that you and Ginny were back together."
Sighing, Harry shook himself free of Ginny, who had once again attached herself to him. He said, "It's not that, Mrs. Weasley—"
"Call me Molly dear, or mum."
Shaking his head, Harry continued, "It's not that. It's just that, I think, I just need some time alone to deal with everything." Harry shook his head as he struggled to word his need for space.
Frowning, Molly exchanged a glance with Ron and Hermione, who were standing behind Harry. "Well dear, are you sure that's for the best? I mean, you're still taking potions to help you recover," she reasoned, not wanting Harry to leave.
"I'll be fine," Harry insisted, "I don't need the potions anymore, I feel fine. I just really want some time to sort my head out."
Molly frowned, "But all alone—"
"I wouldn't be completely alone," Harry interrupted as an idea hit him. "I would be with Kreacher."
Upon saying his name the house elf appeared and jumped at Harry. "Master Harry where have you been?" The elf asked, clearly upset upon seeing Harry.
"Harry, how could you?!" Hermione's indignant voice rang out, "You should release him at once - and keeping a slave I thought—!"
Kreacher froze at her words and sent Harry a horrified look, before interrupting her rant about SPEW. The house elf wailed, "No master please, Kreacher will be good!"