'Quite honestly, I've had enough trouble for a lifetime.'

The trio stood in silence for what seemed like forever none of them wanting to be the first to act, eventually Ron spoke up "Harry, I'm going to have to go...you know..." the rest of his sentence went unspoken but Harry knew what he wanted to say, he wanted to return to his Weasleys were now one member short, Fred was gone and Harry blamed himself for it and he wouldn't have blamed Ron if he never spoke to him again.

"Ron, I'm..." but Ron quickly cut across him "Don't Harry, don't even say it. He knew what he was doing and he did it for us all, this is how he would have wanted to go and I know he wouldn't want you blaming yourself, hell Harry you saved us all its finally over and that's all thanks to you."

Harry couldn't help but notice that Ron had refused to say Freds name, clearly it was too much for him but Harry knew in his heart that what Ron was saying was true, Fred, Tonks, Lupin and all the others wouldn't want him to blame himself in fact most of them would be upset if they thought he was and Harry was sure of that. This thought seemed to lift the incredible weight that had been resting on Harrys chest and he smiled and clapped Ron on the shoulder "Go on Ron, go be with them and let your mum know that I'm OK. Tell her I'm going up to Gryffindor tower, Merlin knows she doesn't need anything else to worry about after tonight."

Ron turned and made his way toward the door and swung it open but before he exited he turned and held his hand out to Hermione, "Coming?" there was a watery pleading look in his eyes, Hermione blushed slightly and took his hand and gave Harry an apologetic look but he merely smiled and nodded, the two left the room the door shutting behind them leaving Harry alone.

Harry took in the portraits of the former heads of Hogwarts but he couldn't shake the feeling that someone was missing, Severus Snape's portrait wasn't hanging on the walls at all "Professor Dumbledore, why isn't he here?" The twinkling blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore surveyed Harry over the top of his half moon spectacles "Alas my boy Severus is not here because when he left, Hogwarts no longer recognised him as the head of this school and so the magic that creates these portraits did not take place, however I am to assume that as you are asking this question that you know about Severus and know you know why I always trusted him. Yes Harry you see love is after all the most powerful magic of all."

Harry took in what Dumbledore had to say but still he thought there must be a way. He far from liked Snape but he owed the man this much, he had after all always spoke ill of his silent protector, the man who gave so much for the memory of his mother.

"Is there a way? It is after all the least he deserves" Dumbledore surveyed him with that look that made Harry think he was reading his mind "There is a way but you will need the help of Professor McGonagall as I'm sure it is she that the school now recognises as its head, but my boy I'm sure all of this can be done after you have slept but might I suggest that you collect Severus' memories from your pensieve as they are very personal I am sure and I know that he would not want just anyone being able to see them."

It took a moment for these words to sink in but Harry realised what he had just heard "Sir you said 'your pensieve' but it isn't mine sir its yours" Dumbledore chuckled lightly "It seems to me that you have much more use for it that I do at this time Harry, use it well as I'm sure you will." Harry didn't know what to say and so settled for "Thanks" he made his way over to the pensieve and scooped out Snape's memories and stored them in the jar Hermione had conjured up earlier.

He turned to the portrait of Albus Dumbledore once more and smiled "Thank you for everything sir, I mean it without you none of this would have been possible" Dumbledore just smiled back at him and replied "You are too kind Harry and dare I say a little modest as well, do not play down your part in this but I'm sure we could argue about who played the biggest part all day but in your current state I'm not sure that is a good idea go and rest for now, we can talk again when you wake up if you wish" Harry nodded and made his way toward the door, his hand lingered on the handle for a moment and then he swung it open, with one last look into the heads office he exited the room and closed the door behind him.

Harry didn't really remember the walk from the heads office to Gryffindor tower but never the less here he was standing in front of the Fat Lady, she was staring at him with a look of pure admiration "Potter, want to come inside?" but she didn't give him time to tell her he didn't know the password "but of course you don't know the password, well never fear seeing as its you I will give you it" she finished with a wink then whispered "the password is Harry Potter" Harry smiled and shook his head "Harry Potter" he said in a slightly amused tone and the portrait swung open. He clambered through the portrait hole and found himself once more inside the Gryffindor common room and he felt a warmth spread through his body, he was home.

He slowly climbed the stairs to the boys dormitory and was surprised to see that his bed was ready for him and a plate of sandwiches and glass of pumpkin juice was waiting for him. His thoughts shifted to Kreacher, the elf he had never wanted but had grown to care for, the same elf who had fought valiantly against Voldemort and his death eaters. He would have to thank him somehow but for now he just wanted to eat and get some sleep.

When he did finally get to sleep his dreams were pleasant and of the future he could now have, dreams of red and black haired children, dreams of Ginny and a life he never thought possible. He was in such a deep peaceful sleep that he didn't notice when a tall red haired boy entered the room with a bushy haired girl, Ron and Hermione soon were fast asleep as well and slumbering trio didn't stir when a petite red haired girl entered the room and slipped into bed with Harry. Ginny wrapped her arms around him and kissed him on his scar then whispered "I knew you would win Harry, you always were my hero" she too joined the trio in a deep peaceful sleep.

When Harry awoke he was engulfed in a familiar flowery scent that could only belong to the one person he longed to see more than anyone else, he opened his eyes and there next to him lay Ginny Weasley, her red hair fanned out across the pillow next to him. He began to devour her very image with his eyes, as if he wanted to remember this image forever. He tore his eyes away from her when he heard a noise from the other side of the room, instinctively he reached for his wand but something in his mind told him that he wasn't under any threat and so he relaxed and it was then that he noticed Ron and Hermione cuddled together in Rons bed and he couldn't help but be happy for his best friends.

He then looked down once more at Ginny and he was filled with such happiness that he thought he would explode but then once again the faces of all those that he had lost swam into his mind, Fred, Remus, Tonks, Moody, Dumbledore, Sirius, his parents. A single tear ran down his cheek but before it could reach his chin a small soft finger wiped it away and he looked into the soft brown eyes of Ginny Weasley "Morning" she said softly with a small smile, "Morning" he replied.

For a moment he looked deep into her eyes and images swam through his mind, a young Ginny at the burrow crying because her brothers had gone to Hogwarts, Ginny listening to stories about Harry Potter and declaring that she would marry him one day, Ginny stealing her brothers broom and flying in the orchard, Ginny seeing Harry for the first time at Kings Cross, Harry saving her from the Chamber of Secrets, Harry with Cho Chang, Harry kissing her in the common room, crying in her room at the Burrow, being tortured at school by the Carrows, sitting at Aunty Muriels with Fred and George, the fake Galleon showing the message that Harry was back, seeing Harry in the Room of Requirement, seeing Harrys dead body at Voldemorts feet, the killing curse just missing her, Belatrix falling at the hand of her mother, Harry returning and circling Voldemort and finally Voldemorts cold body hitting the floor.

Harry gasped, he was shocked he had just performed legilimency "Ginny, I'm so sorry…I didn't mean to, I…" but he was silenced by a finger that caressed his lips softly "Shh, it's ok Harry I have nothing to hide from you." Then just as he had in the common room in his sixth year he got the urge to kiss her and something was telling him to just do it, that it was the right thing to do and so he leant in and kissed her deeply, and she returned the kiss with vigor and wrapped her arms around him.

When they finally broke apart Harry was a little breathless and he felt like he had just been hit by a bludger or two and by the look of Ginny he thought she was probably feeling the same as him. "I love you" he blurted out, he didn't mean to but he knew it was true he just didn't know if this was the right time to say it but yet again a voice in his heard reassured him that this was the perfect moment to let her know. Tears trickled down Ginnys cheeks but she had a large smile on her face and she whispered back "I love you too Harry, I really do" he leaned toward her once more and kissed her again, softer this time and when he let his lips release hers he rested his forehead on hers and took in her scent once more.

He didn't want this moment to ever pass, he wanted to stay like this forever but he knew he couldn't he had things to do and he didn't want Mrs Weasley to come looking for them and find Ginny and himself in bed together, neither did he want her finding Ron and Hermione in bed together. "We should get up Ginny, your Mum will come looking for us otherwise and we don't want her to see us in bed together and I'm sure Ron and Hermione wouldn't appreciate being caught either" he said gesturing toward the indistinct lumps under Rons blankets.

Ginnys eyebrows shot up toward her hairline "are they?" Harry smiled and nodded "When?" she asked, "during the battle of all times" chuckled Harry "always did have a knack for timing your brother, well lets get up I really need to take a shower and I suppose we should wake them as well" Ginny slipped out of bed and made her way over to Rons bed and poked the frizzy haired lump that was obviously Hermione, she then leant in and distinct whispering could be heard from where Harry was sat in his bed, next thing he knew a rather sheepish but pleased looking Hermione was slipping out of Rons bed and being dragged from the room by Ginny. "Wake Ron up Harry and you two meet us in the common room in thirty minutes" Hermione said as the girls slipped from the room together.

Harry sighed and heaved himself out of bed and made his way toward the bathroom, but before he stepped inside he turned to Rons bed and shouted "Quick Ron, your Mums coming you and Hermione need to get up" Ron who was usually hard to get up jumped from his bed in a blind panic, "Hermione, Hermione quick get up" he said in a frenzy but then when he noticed Hermione was gone he quickly grasped his pillow and launched it at Harry who dove into the bathroom laughing heartily as the soft thud of the pillow hitting the door could be heard along with Rons shout of "You git Harry" followed by a few choice swear words. Harry grinned madly to himself as he stepped into the warm shower, this really was the start of a new life he could finally enjoy life.