Disclaimer: I do not own anything by J.K. Rowling; Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, etc.

Rain poured down from the sky extinguishing the many fires that had been started in various parts of the castle. People were busily working on carrying the injured to the Hospital Wing where Madame Pomfrey and Healers who had apparated in from St. Mungo's were caring for the grievously hurt. Ron and his family were holding vigil with Fred's body, Molly was sobbing into Arthur's shoulder and Charlie was holding Ginny as she wept. Bill, Percy, and Ron looked absolutely miserable and I couldn't bear to look at George as he lay beside his dead twin looking like death himself as he held Fred's lifeless body. Hermione and Luna were tending to the injured house elves and they bowed or shook hands with them depending on their injured state. My first duty was to my family and I headed over to the Weasley's but detoured when I saw Angelina Johnson in a corner watching the Weasley's as she cried over losing Fred. I strode over and hugged her fiercely and then gently towed her over to stand with the Weasley's. I quietly whispered to her,

"You loved him too!"

I gently extracted George from his vice-like grip on his twin and deposited him in Angelina's arms where she cradled him like a baby,

"Now take care of his other half."

I hugged Mr. and Mrs. Weasley as hard as I could and then Ron before I kissed Ginny and hugged the rest of the Weasley boys. I found Hermione in the crowd and silently asked if she was all right and she nodded while giving me a really weird look, I flicked my eyes to Luna and Hermione nodded again still looking confused and surprised but I was to busy to inquire about it at the moment. I went into the room off the Main Hall where the dead were being laid out, so much pointless destruction and so much loss. I can't believe that Teddy is now orphaned as well. I quickly composed a Patronus messenger to Mrs. Tonks,

"Voldemort has been defeated but in the fight both Remus and Tonks were killed by Bellatrix Lestrange. I'm so sorry Mrs. Tonks for yours and Teddy's loss. I'll see you as soon as I can. Love, Harry."

It was the least I could do but maybe in the coming years I could do a little something to help them along the way. Thinking that I ought to let the Dursley's know what was happening I sent another Patronus message,

"Aunt Petunia, it's Harry. Voldemort is dead and the war has been won. I'm all right but don't go home yet. Some Deatheaters escaped, I'll come and get you as soon as it's safe."

With that done I searched for Kingsley Shacklebolt and found him organizing the remaining aurors to search for the Deatheaters that had gotten away, I walked over and offered my help, after all I had had a few hours respite thanks to Luna. But Kingsley refused my offer saying that I had done enough, before I left though I told him that if the Malfoy's were found to go easy on Narcissa and Draco. He looked at me quizzically but acquiesced to my request. The next thing I needed to do was check on Hagrid and I found him and Grawp clearing the rubble that had fallen during the battle, they too were all right except for some minor injuries which would heal fairly quickly do to their Giant's suddenly of something I said, "Kreacher!" With a snap of the air there he was,

"Yes, Master?"

"Kreacher one of my friends died during the battle tonight. A boy named Colin Creevey. His younger brother was evacuated but

Colin snuck back in, he is a Muggle-born. Do you think you could go find his family and give them a letter if I write it out?"

"Of course Master."

I hastily penned a letter of apology to the Creevey's and explained who I was before informing them that there was to be a memorial tomorrow for the noble dead and that I would be by sometime in the early morning to bring them to the school for it. I handed the letter to Kreacher who took it and disapparated with a bow. I then went back to be with my family taking Ginny from Charlie and holding her as her tears slowed to a trickle. Maybe an hour later when Mrs. Weasley had come out of her stupor of grief momentarily to realize that each of her children were bleeding and care-worn that she started magicking a huge amount of food to appear on the house tables. She pushed us all to sit down and eat and many other people realizing that they to were starved sat down at the other tables where the remaining house elves had magicked a feast once they saw Mrs. Weasley starting at our table. I don't think George ate a bite of all the food that was laid out but I did notice that Neville and Luna were holding hands and that a goofy smile had taken hold of his features. Through out the meal people from other tables had been glancing our way and whispering, I swallowed and wiped my face carefully before speaking quietly to my family that after everyone was done eating that I should probably explain everything that had happened but that I was going to try and divert attention away from the Elder wand. Hermione whispered back,

"But Harry how are you going to manage that?"

"Don't worry Hermione, I've got a plan."

Just then Kingsley Shacklebolt strode over to the front of the Great Hall and holding his wand to his throat he performed the Sonorous charm,

"Ladies and Gentlemen and other Magical Folk please listen to what I have to say. First of all I would like to offer my apologies to all of you who lost someone this day and I would like to thank all of you for your aid in the fight against evil. Trials will be held within the next few weeks to decide the fate of the Deatheaters that were captured…"

Shouts broke out at this but Kingsley managed to get them to quiet down after a few minutes and he went on,

"There has been enough killing to last a lifetime and it will go on no longer, they will all receive just punishment for their crimes. In the next few days an emergency election for Minister of Magic will be held, notices will be sent to inform everyone. A memorial will be held tomorrow for our fallen comrades at eleven o'clock by the Black Lake. Everyone is welcome to say a few words or share a memory about the honorable dead. Now Headmistress McGonagall has some announcements to make."

Kingsley sat down and McGonagall stood up and held her wand to her throat to make herself heard.

"This past year had been most unusual for all of us and I am almost loathe to let the Seventh years take their N.E.W.T.'s. However, those of you who feel that you are prepared to take them may sign up by owl within the next week. The tests will take place three weeks from now. I am ending school term early this year but school will start as usual on September the 1st. Finally I too would like to offer my condolences to those of you who have lost a peer, a friend or a relative."

It was time now for me to explain what had happened this past year as best I could. I strode to the front of the room to thundering applause and using my own Sonorous charm I explained all about the horcruxes and how we had destroyed them, which made Voldemort mortal once more. When it came to the Elder Wand I merely said that it had been Dumbledore's wand and that Voldemort had wanted it to prove to any doubters that he really was the most powerful sorcerer and that it had been his final insult to his greatest adversary. I could see people nodding along to this as I explained; it made perfect sense to them. Maybe it would be possible for the Elder wand to remain with Dumbledore through out my life and then the power would be broken, I had placed that wand in Dumbledore's tomb minutes after having spoken with his portrait about it and had been using my repaired wand ever since. When I was finished people gradually started to leave until finally it was just the Weasley's, Hermione, Angelina, Neville and Luna. Mr. Weasley cleared his throat and spoke up,

"After the memorial tomorrow we are all going to head home to the Burrow. Luna we're going to take you along with us and drop you off at home with your Father. Harry and Hermione you are of course going to stay with us this summer."

Hermione started to raise her hand as though she was in class but realized her mistake and lowered it quickly while blushing.

"I would really like to go looking for my parents. They're supposed to be somewhere in Australia and now that it is safe I want to bring them home."

"Don't worry dear, we'll hire a search and rescue team from the Ministry to bring them home."

This had come from Mrs. Weasley who had one arm around her husband and one around Charlie; I think to reassure herself that they were safe.

"Mum would you mind terribly if I paid for the search and rescue team? It's bound to be expensive since the Ministry will need money to rebuild everything."

I only realized my error after I had already said it. Everyone was staring at me and I blushed fiercely. Mrs. Weasley rushed around the table and enveloped me in a bone-crushing hug as she exclaimed,

"Oh my dear boy! I'd always hoped that you would think of me sort of as a surrogate mother but I am so glad that you called me that! Please don't be embarrassed dear!"

Everyone else started to go back to their conversations and people ignored what had just happened. Slowly we all made our way back to Gryffindor Tower except for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley who stayed with Fred's body. Hermione and Ron took one couch and Ginny and I took another and stayed up for a few hours more reminiscing about Fred. Eventually Ron and Hermione left seeking their own beds and went to the separate dormitories and Ginny and I meant to follow in a few minutes but we fell asleep curled up on the couch.

Luna's Point of View:

Neville and I entered the Ravenclaw common room together and chose a low cushioned settee and although people looked at us quizzically I glared at them daring them to say anything about it. I nestled into the crook of his arm and asked quietly,

"Is your Grandmother coming to the memorial tomorrow?"

"Yes, Uncle Algie is coming with her as well. Why?"

"It's just that I have never met any of your relatives and you talk about your Grandmother a lot. I'm a little nervous to meet her that's all."

"My whole family will love you Luna, don't worry."

We sat in comfortable silence after that as the fire burned lower in the grate.

"Luna, I never told you about my parents did I?"

"I know that they're at St. Mungo's Neville. I'm so sorry."

"How do you know?"

"My father is the editor of the Quibbler. A lot of the time I do research for his articles and I happened to find out. I'm really sorry Neville."

He didn't say anything just absentmindedly ran his hand up and down my arm and I knew that he was wondering if his parents would have been proud of them if they had been sane. He stopped stroking my arm and I turned to look at him and he cupped my cheek in his hand and lent in and he kissed me softly on the mouth, hesitant about where to go. I leaned into the kiss twinning my arms around his neck and it was several minutes later that we broke both gasping for breath.

"Where did you learn to kiss like that Neville?"

"Was it all right then?"

"All right? It was exceptional!"

"Well, don't tell my Grandmother but I did a little practicing on some of the Muggle girls in the neighborhood near where we live."

"But you're not going to do that anymore are you?"

"No, of course not! I would never-"

I leant in a kissed my full upon the mouth,

"I was only joking silly! I know you wouldn't."

About an hour later when I could barely keep my eyes open and all my muscles were aching from the strain of the battle Neville noticed how tired I was and walked me to the stairs that led to the girls dormitory and kissed me gently on the cheek before heading out the door to his own. I liberally spread my bruise-healing paste on my cheekbone where the skin had been split open, my cut lip, and a few other cuts and bruises that I had acquired and then I crawled straight into bed and willing myself not to think about all the people that had died I screwed my eyes shut and told myself to sleep and not to dream.

Author's Note: This is in honor of Harry Potter's Birthday which is today. Happy Birthday Harry! Also it's how I envision the 19 years that are left unexplained. I hope you like it and click the Review button if you want more! I changed the layout cause I decided that I didn't like the old one.