The 19 Years Book 1: The Art of Healing

Chapter: 1 – After the Battle

Date: May 1998

Author's Note: So I know this has been a long wait for a lot of you! Thank you for being patient this long. I have written this whole story and I have an outline for the whole series which is a lot more hashed out and thought out. In all, I have 11 books to cover the 19 years. One of the problems I had with the last one was by the time we got to the place we were at, I was running out of a way to keep the plot moving. It was just sort of rambling on and on. I've put a lot of thought into this now and hope this is much better.

This first book is rated M because of: mentions of attempted suicide, mentions of torture, sexual abuse, child abuse, and images of abuse. I apologize for any who find it unnecessary but I firmly believe that anyone who went through what they did would have been deeply scared. I also got some inspiration from several different authors' versions of these 19 years so thank you to them. So, without further ado, the typical disclaimer and then on with the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original characters!

Last words of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: "That wand's more trouble than it's worth," said Harry. "And quite honestly," he turned away from the painted portraits, thinking now only of the four-poster bed lying waiting for him in Gryffindor Tower, and wondering if whether Kreacher might bring him a sandwich there, "I've had enough trouble for a lifetime."

Harry pocketed the Elder Wand and his own recently fixed wand before entering the staircase. He, Ron, and Hermione rode the moving stairs down back to the hallway once again. He looked in the direction of Gryffindor Tower, wondering if he could sneak away for a time.

"Go Harry," Hermione said softly.

Harry looked at his friends with surprise, who he noted with amusement, were now holding hands. "What?"

"You're dead on your feet mate," Ron answered Harry's question as he put an arm around Hermione's waist.

"Go up to Gryffindor Tower and get some sleep." Hermione gently ordered him with a soft smile.

Harry had to admit, that was all he wanted right now. He was so tired, he felt it in his bones and he was sure his exhaustion was showing on his face. "Thanks guys," Harry turned and headed for the tower and looked back at them over his shoulder. "Are you coming?"

"We are going to get back to the Great Hall," Ron answered after looking at Hermione who nodded to him. "We'll tell Mum where you are so she doesn't form a search party." He added winking at Harry.

"Now, go get some sleep and we'll see you later." Hermione urged her friend.

Harry let his smile say his thanks to his friends as he walked towards his old dorm once again, the first time in a year. Harry disappeared from view as he adorned his invisibility cloak and headed up towards Gryffindor Tower. He didn't want to accidentally run into anyone wandering the castle. After picking his way through debris filled corridors and stepping over a few giant spider corpses, Harry reached the portrait of the Fat Lady. He made sure no one was around before Harry pulled off his cloak. The Fat Lady let out a squeak of excitement when she saw Harry appear before her. She soon had a wide, excited smile on her face as she looked down at Harry. He saw that her friend Violet sat just behind her; both holding wine glasses and they had the air of celebration around them.

"I don't know the password." Harry sheepishly smiled at her as he folded his cloak.

"If anyone's a true Gryffindor, Harry Potter, it's you." The Fat Lady assured Harry as she held a glass aloft to him, toasting him. From her tone and the way the wine tilted slightly, Harry could tell that she was drunk. She hadn't started hiccupping yet thought. "Plus the Headmistress left instructions to let you in." She added with a wink before swinging open.

As he heard that, Harry felt a rush of gratitude toward Professor McGonagall – the only one who could have possibly left the directions to let him in. The portrait swung open and Harry climbed through to see Gryffindor Common Room. It looked untouched from the massive battle that had taken place just hours earlier, something that Harry was surprised at given the state of the rest of the castle. Harry walked to the boy's dormitory and then up the stairs, thinking only of his four poster bed. He entered his old room to see his old bed just waiting for him. The red hangings and comforter put him in a nostalgic mood. Harry didn't even take off his shoes; he fell into bed and was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

~19 Years AOH~

Ron and Hermione entered the Great Hall and looked around. Nothing had changed from when they had left. A few people had switched places, but that was it. The two quickly hurried down the aisle toward the rest of the Weasleys, occasionally hearing congratulations and praise from the people they passed. When Molly saw Ron and Hermione approaching, she quickly greeted them both with a large, bone crushing hug.

"Ron, Hermione," her face was still streaked with tears along with dirt and soot. "We saw you leave."

"We had one more thing to take care of Mum," Ron told her softly as he sat down, Hermione next to him.

"What?" Molly asked wondering what on earth the two would have to do now, when everything was over, when Voldemort was dead, when Ron's brother, her son, was dead.

Ron and Hermione ignored her question, turning instead to look at George who was staring into space on the other side of the table. Before Hermione could say anything to him, Ginny surprised everyone by speaking.

"Where's Harry?" She asked a worried tone in her voice.

Hermione and Ron turned to look at her, vaguely aware that the other Weasleys and a few others around them were also listening. The two shared a brief glance before Hermione replied.

"He's alright. Just getting some much needed rest," Hermione told her eyeing the youngest Weasley significantly.

"Oh Merlin, Harry!" Molly's gasp was low but it was filled with heartbreak. "Where is he?"

"He's safe Mum," Ron assured his mother knowing that she wanted nothing more than to find him and haul him down here where she could keep an eye on him.

"I should go check on him." Molly moved to get up from her seat, but her husband laid a hand on her shoulder. Arthur had seen Ron's and Hermione's look and knew that the young man in question needed some time. If Ron and Hermione said he was safe, he believed them.

"He'll be alright dear. Let him be for now. You can go check on him later."

Molly looked like she was about to protest before she decided that Arthur was right. She nodded and drew Ginny to her in a hug instead.

Ron and Hermione looked at the rest of the Weasleys gathered around them. They were all covered in grime, dust, and in some cases blood. Their faces were only clean where they had tear tracks. Ginny was now resting her head on her mother's shoulder, her eyes staring off into space and her mouth in a thin line; Arthur had his arm around Molly's shoulders, his hand on Ginny's head, and was staring at the middle of the table, not really seeing anything. Everyone had a similar look to them, they were clustered together, but they were still acting as if they were by themselves. It was quiet but not really peaceful. A few murmurs filled the hall as people spoke quietly amongst one another. There was also food that sat in the middle of the table. Some people ate quietly and slowly, needing the energy while others just looked at the food with disgusted expressions, unsure of how anyone could eat when so many were lost.

After a few hours of this atmosphere, Ginny stood up and stretched. Molly followed her movements with narrowed gaze and a stern expression.

"Where are you going Ginny?" Molly demanded as Ginny took one step away from their table.

"To the bathroom Mum. I won't be gone long." Ginny assured her mother who nodded in satisfaction a moment later, though she watched Ginny as she walked away.

Ginny turned and headed out of the Great Hall walking slowly. She patted Neville on the shoulder as she passed; a sad, weary smile on her lips as she looked at him. Neville nodded to his friend and returned the same smile. Luna got up and hugged Ginny as she passed her friend. The two stayed like that for a moment before Luna let her go.

"He needed some alone time." Luna told Ginny softly before she turned and sat back down. Ginny looked at her friend's back for a moment before she understood what she was talking about. Harry needed some alone time. Harry had last been sitting with Luna here in the Great Hall. Ginny left the Great Hall, her mind working out where Harry would go to be alone. Her first thought turned to Dumbledore's office, but somehow she knew that he wouldn't want to spend a lot of time there. The Room of Requirement maybe?

No, the room had been broken somehow. Ron and Hermione had told her that when Harry had gone into the forest. Suddenly it hit her like a ton of bricks. The dorm! After everything he had done today, Harry would want some sleep. Ron and Hermione had said that Harry was safe and getting some much needed rest. What better place than Gryffindor Tower? Ginny quickened her pace as she started up the stairs. In what seemed like no time at all, Ginny entered Gryffindor Tower. She was surprised at how pristine it looked. She had thought that the Death Eaters would surely have trashed the place. But maybe they had never had the chance to get in here. The knowledge that the common room was intact bolstered her confidence that she'd find Harry upstairs.

Ginny crossed the common room and opened the door that led to the boys' dorm. She stood at the bottom of the steps for a moment, just looking up the stairs towards the door that she knew Harry would be behind, toying with going up there or not. In the end, she knew that she had to see him. Ginny slowly walked up the stairs to the seventh year dorm, anticipation growing with every step. By the time she reached the door, she had convinced herself that he would be awake and waiting for her. They would talk and she would get it through that thick, stubborn head of his that she and Harry were meant to be together. They would make up and become a couple again. She wanted to believe it would be that easy.

Ginny opened the door and peered inside, ready to greet Harry with his new title. Her face fell somewhat when she saw that he wasn't waiting for her. He was asleep. Harry lay on the bed, still in his dirty clothes and shoes, but had the most peaceful look on his face. Ginny had never seen that on Harry before. It brought a smile, the first true smile she had smiled since the battle ended, as she gazed down at Harry Potter, Boy-Who-Lived-Twice, Leader-Of-Light, Defeater-Of-Voldemort. Ginny reached out and brushed a strand of his forever messy hair from his face as she sat on the bed beside him. Harry didn't move or make a noise at the contact, just kept breathing deeply in sleep. Ginny let her hand linger on his chest for a moment as she just looked at him, watching him in sleep, drinking in the peaceful expression on his face and wondering how he could be. She stood gazing at him for awhile, the sunlight was coming through the window and was falling on his face. Ginny wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed with him, but she wasn't sure what would happen when he woke up.

Finally deciding that she had wasted enough time, and not wanting her mother to come after her, Ginny rose from the bed. As she passed his feet, she noticed again that he still had his shoes on. With a fond sigh, Ginny swiftly took Harry's shoes off wondering if it would wake him up. Her worry was unfounded it turned out as Harry barely stirred. Ginny came down the stairs and entered the common room to see several people with red hair gathered there. The Weasleys had arrived. She looked at her mother to see if she was angry with Ginny for being gone so long, but the Weasley Matriarch just looked tired and worn out.

"There you are Ginny," Molly said with relief as she spied her daughter. "We were wondering where you went."

"Sorry mum," Ginny said quietly.

Molly gave her daughter a sympathetic look before drawing her into a hug. "Come on. We're all going to bed," Molly guided her daughter toward the girl's dormitory where they each took a bed. The other beds were starting to fill up with the students who had stayed to help fight. The room was filled with contented sighs as adults and students alike sank into comfy beds. The adults slept in beds that were usually occupied by the underage children.

Ron entered his old dorm in much the same way Harry had: Happy that the dorm was untouched by the battle and nostalgic for the days when he, Harry, and Hermione were just students here at Hogwarts. He sank into his bed next to Harry's after checking on his friend. Around him, Dean, Seamus, and Neville also took their beds, no one saying a word to each other but happy to be in each other's presence, happy to have some semblance of normalcy to end the eventful day.