It has been a week since Harry fought Voldemort at the battle of Hogwarts. He must face the demons of loss and remember to continue on. This is a story of the second week after the war.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters that goes to good old J.K. I am not making any money.

Harry left the graveyard with nothing but bitterness. It has been a week since Voldemort had died and all Harry felt was the aches and pains of losing all those people. He couldn't bear to stay at the Weasley's while they mourned for Fred and he couldn't go back to Grimmauld Place without the reminder of his fight with Lupin. He felt responsible for the fact that his Godson now was without a father and a mother. He felt responsible for the tears that Ginny had shed. He felt responsible for the countless innocents who had died and now that the funerals were done with all he wanted to do was find a secluded spot and stay there until it was gone. The pain. He longed to not feel it. It was like a raging sea constantly pounding its waves against his heart. It was unbearable. Reaching the end of the lane he looked back upon the two graves of Tonks and Lupin. With a silent goodbye he apparated.

'Harry, Harry I know you are in here, please open up,' came the voice of Hermione 'Harry, please.' Slowly rising from the couch that he had been on for over twelve hours he went to the door. 'Harry open this door right now. The barman downstairs said that I could blast it open as long as I repaired it. Please.' Undoing the bolts that had the door locked shut he opened to the face of his friend. The minute she saw him her face relaxed. 'Pushing the door aside she flung her arms around his neck and they stood there in the silence of the room. Not to his surprise Harry felt droplets of water landing on his shirt and when his own eyes started to water he pushed away from her and walked to the window. 'Harry is isn't doing you any good to stay here. Please come back to the Weasleys, please.' Her voice was pleading with him and when he turned to look at her he felt a little bit of the burden on his shoulders lift. She was right of course he thought. He had done this before and shutting people out only dragged him through more pain. 'Hermione, I can't go back right now. All that is there is a reminder of what we've lost' Harry said with a sigh. Hermione's sad face then twisted with anger. 'Harry, everywhere you look there will be reminder, and though we have lost so much think of all that we have gained. You have rid the world of an unspeakable evil. You have given more to the lives of the wizarding world than anyone else. We have lost much, Harry, but we have also gained so much more.' Hermione lifted her hand to his shoulder. 'Come back Harry it's not worth it sitting here alone to deal with it.' Harry glanced up into his best friends face and succumbed to her request. Turning away from her he grabbed his jacket and his wand and took her hand.

To his surprise they did not apparate to the burrow but to Godrics Hollow. Harry looked at Hermione and when their eyes met she spoke with a quiet voice. 'I thought you might want to tell them that it is over, that they didn't die in vain, and that you are grateful for them and for the sacrifices that they made.' Breaking eye contact harry walked forward. His eyes were once again wet with tears and he knew that she was right. Maybe the first step to healing is where it all started. When Voldemort made his decision and decided the fate a boy no older than one years old. Harry turned to grab Hermione's hand and looked at her. 'You're right Hermione,' Harry said and tugged her to the graveyard that held memories of tears, terror and loss. As they passed the war memorial and watched it transform he stood there at the happy family. Turning away he walked on with Hermione at his side. As they entered the graveyard next to the church his eyes found the spot that Hermione and he had visited not too long ago. The flowers that Hermione had placed on the grave stood proud declaring that he loved them. They should have been long dead, but knew that Hermione must have placed a charm on them to survive. Harry knelt and placed his head against the cold gravestone and silently thanked his parents. Tears streaked down his cheeks and after a period of time had passed he stood and hugged Hermione. 'Thank you,' Hermione said to the gravestone, 'Thank you for your son. Thank you for your sacrifice. The wizarding world will forever be indebted to you. Thank you.' She murmured for that last time. 'Harry, we better get going the Weasleys will be worried that I haven't come back yet and if we don't get back soon Ron might send the entire ministry looking for us. Harry nodded and turned back to the grave for one last look. 'Bye Mum, bye Dad' he said and turned and walked away.

Authors note

Hi everyone. Please review. I hope you like it I would love to hear your thoughts on where you want this story to go. If any of you are a beta reader and is interested in helping me out please pm me.