Chapter 1: Reminiscing

It had been one month since the night it happened. One month since Tom Riddle fell, to never rise again. The month had been filled with grief and joy, tears and laughter, and lots of rebuilding. He had attended too many funerals, met too many grieving families, and had to tell his story one too many times. However, he had also rediscovered friendships and even love.

Seeing Ginny again had been hard, harder than facing Voldemort, since he was less certain of the outcome, however after being greeted in a similar fashion to how Ron had been greeted by Hermione, they had talked. He talked for hours, telling her everything she didn't know, she was the first person, besides Ron and Hermione, he told about Horcruxes, Hallows, and Snape. Telling her had been surprisingly easy, she was Ginny, she somehow knew exactly what he needed, whether it was to just listen, or to hold him tight. That conversation had brought them back together, and every since then, Harry had barely left Ginny's side, much to Ron's chagrin, though he was smart enough not to say anything.

Today would be the first day Harry and Ginny wouldn't spend together, and the idea bothered him in a way he didn't completely understand. However, he had one last task to accomplish before he could truly start to put the war behind him, to start living life again, with no worries of Voldemort's next scheme. He had wanted to go at it alone, but, as usual, Ron and Hermione were at his side, knowing even when he didn't, that he'd prefer their company.

He smiled thinking of his two best friends, finally a couple, after all these years. Some people wondered how this relationship would affect the overall relationship of the Golden Trio, as the three of them were now called. This was of course, complete nonsense, which anyone who even remotely knew the three friends was perfectly aware of, but Rita Skeeter still loved to cause trouble, and some people still didn't know any better, and listened to everything she said.

Suddenly a noise behind him made him jump from his hiding place on the roof of the shed behind the Burrow, wand drawn.

"Whoa, mate, it's just us." Ron and Hermione were standing in front of him, hand in hand, frozen in place, until Harry lowered his wand, relaxing.

"Sorry you two, it's become habit, and I'm still jumpy."

Hermione gave him a kind look. "Perfectly understandable reaction Harry, I, did the same thing yesterday; only Mrs. Weasley was a bit shocked."

They all smiled at this.

"Yeah, mate no worries."

"Thanks, anyways, what's up?"

"We came to find you. It's time for us to be going. It's nearly 11 o'clock."

"Really? Wow, time really got away from me."

Together the three of them climbed down the stairs, and walked to the Burrow, where Harry gathered the rest of his things, like his invisibility cloak, and said by to Ginny, giving her a quick and gently kiss.

"I'll see you tonight" he promised. She gave him that blazen look he loved and had died for, smiling.

"You better, mum's cooking up a feast, the whole family is getting together tonight. I don't want to know what she'd do to you guys if you were late."

Giving her another kiss, Harry walked out the door, and joined up with Ron and Hermione, who waited outside. They walked down the road a little ways, passed the boundaries around the Burrow preventing anyone from apparating in. Once they reached the apparition spot, Harry threw the invisibility cloak over them, while Hermione disillusioned their feet. It was the only way they would manage to get past all the reporters lying in wait for them.

He looked into the faces of his two friends, and they both smiled at him and nodded, indicating they were ready to go and that he should take the lead. He closed his eyes, thinking o f the place he wanted to be.

They turned and a second later he opened his eyes to look at the place he had considered home for six of the last seven years.

They had arrived, once again, at Hogwarts.