What Happened Next

by AurorLight29132

I researched as I could to explain all their the lives post war. The first chapter explains all this, however in the next chapters when time lines are jumped by a few months or a year the story gets more interesting as more time after the war passes. It continues to get better because of how all of their lives end up changing.

1. The New Beginning

It was 2 weeks after the Battle Of Hogwarts. All things in the Wizarding World were changing. There was the reform of the Ministry with Kingsley soon to be

appointed as Minister for Magic soon.

Due to the loss of Aurors in the War people like Harry who had aspired to be Aurors however were unable to complete their

education were given training regardless. However this only held so only for the people who had fought in the Battle Of Hogwarts. Which means any of the D.A.

who were old enough and wanted to help the cause to round up the remaining death eaters could be offered a series of tests to see if they would qualify for the

training needed to become an Auror.

During this time Ron was also contemplating whether he should become one or not. He had heard Neville was going to try and do it so he thought maybe he would

go for the training as well.

Hermione wanted to continue her education so she could get her N.E.W.T.S. she decided to go back to school. She wanted to finish her final year with Ginny,

although Ginny was reluctant to return because it would mean spending time away from Harry yet again. They agreed she should finish her schooling and it

wouldn't be like before, they'd see each other at Holidays they could communicate and they'd know that the other was safe so they needn't worry frantically like

last time.

Hogwarts was not entirely destroyed and due to the help of magic it would able to be quickly repaired by the time the new term came. Minerva Mcgonagall was

appointed Headmistress of the school.

A group funeral was held for all those who had lost their lives fighting. They received honors from the Ministry. Fred being one of the people closest to Harry out of

the people who died had an award given to his parents.

Remus received the Order of Merlin First Class which made him the 1st werewolf to ever get such an award.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione who made it possible for Voldemort to be destroyed also received the Order Of Merlin First Class as well.

George was still having trouble coping with the loss of his twin. Hermione could tell why, it must have seemed as if he lost his other half. However of course George

wasn't the only one still grieving.

Harry and Hermione had been staying at the Burrow for the last 2 weeks. It was cramped at first with all the Weasleys there but it slowly died down. Bill and Fluer

returned to their cottage, Charlie returned to Romania, Percy returned to his apartment, and a somewhat reluctant George went back to his shop too. So now it

was only Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny in the house along with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

Although Hermione, Ginny and Harry knew what they were going to do Ron was completely oblivious as to what he

should be doing now. Many assumed that Ron would take Kingsley's offer and try to become an Auror like Harry. Although Harry knew himself he didn't need time

to think, he still needed time to catch his breath, so maybe Ron did as well.

Mrs. Weasley told Harry that she had no problem with him staying with her. That he should know he's like a son to her already. If this were years ago he may feel

as if he were imposing. But the Weasleys had been the closest thing to a family he had ever known. Well despite being second to Sirius who he felt closer to still.

Then he thought suddenly of Grimmauld Place. Last time he had been there Yaxley had seen it, which meant they couldn't return. Although all of Voldemorts

Death Eaters were on the run, Yaxley may be one of those who were subdued. Plus with the Ministry reformed yet again there's no danger in returning. However

the question was, did Harry want to return?

He woke up to the smell of eggs, sausage, and more of the delicious thing Mrs. Weasley always made for breakfast. They were reading The Prophet which was for

once in a long time being truthful. They were eating and discussing Arthur's position at the Ministry. Molly yelled and hit his shoulder saying if he receives a

promotion he should take it. With the changes in Departments Arthur might be getting a higher position, but staying in the Jinxed Protective Objects area is what

he liked while adding he still missed his work at Muggle Artifacts. Ron then said "If the pays better you should take it."

Hermione lately was speaking with Ron and Harry constantly about her to retrieve them, but when? She asked herself. Then she started

wondering if she was asking "When?" just so she could keep putting it off. Due to the fact that she was incredibly nervous about seeing them. Although still happy

to know their safe she was questioning herself on what their reaction would be to everything.

They didn't mind the Wizarding World when they 1st found out about it. It had explained a lot of the things that happened around Hermione at her

young age. However they were ignorant again. She wondered if when she reversed the spell they wouldn't accept her.

Ron thought this was foolish "If they didn't care last time they won't this time, they'd bloody well be proud of you Hermione."

Then Harry said when they were in the sitting room together with Ginny "I want to go back to Grimmauld place."

They wondered why for a moment, then agreed they were too curious of the state of it.

Then Hermione said "Once we're there we could summon Kreacher to see how he is." and Ron added "We saw him in the Battle leading the House Elves."

Harry said "That isn't why I wanted to return."

He continued by saying "I might want to keep the house."

They looked at him curiously and Hermione said "I thought you said you didn't want it?"

"There were a lot of reasons I didn't want it, but now there are some why I do. Sirius hated that house, he ran away from it" Harry continued by

saying "I first thought why keep that house then. Plus I had offered it to the Order, however now that it's diminished it's being put to no use."

Harry added "Dumbledore waited barely a month to give me Sirius's will. At the time I was still reeling over the fact that I had lost the only family I had ever

known. Not only that but someone I truly cared for as well, toppled with the guilt I still felt despite being told I held no blame. I didn't want any reminders of my

Sirius at the time I thought maybe that way I would hurt less and I didn't want to step foot in that house ever again. However now I realize keeping it would be a

way to keep Sirius closer to me, despite how he hated his childhood home. Should I ever live there I wouldn't make it so miserable. Also when I started cleaning

the place I actually realized how nice it was."

He joked saying to Ron "Before all your brothers moved out of the Burrow it would have been an ideal home for your family."

They agreed and told Ron's parents on where they were going and then left with Ginny. They came to the entrance and entered the ransacked home. They saw on

top of what Mundugus had done it had been searched again.

The other 3 looked at Harry and Ron asked "Do you really want to keep this place mate? It'd take forever to clean-" Hermione cut him off and said "Kreacher won't

be the only one doing it." as she eyed Ron.

Harry had made his decision. He didn't know in how long but he wanted to live here one day. A long way from now when it was all cleaned and he was older it

would be a perfect family home. They looked around to see what the Ministry had done to it. He saw how each room was searched. He walked into Sirius's room.

The last time he had seen it, as dusty as it may have been it was it was still beautiful with a chandelier above the bed.

He summoned Kreacher and the house elf looked up at him.

"Master"

he said to Harry much more pleasantly then when he had said it the 1st time. No longer refusing to be his servant and acting bitterly. Before Harry's hunt he had

supposed his kindness toward Kreacher was the cause of this, and was the reason Kreacher did not the betray them if he was interrogated and also helped in the

war in his name and Regulas's.

Harry looked and Kreacher and said "Were you caught? By Yaxley?"

Kreacher replied by saying "Kreacher was surprised not to see his master return home and the death eater instead but

quickly fled the house." He spoke of how he came to work at Hogwarts.

Harry thanked him for staying loyal to him and fighting. He also apologized that Kreacher had to see Yaxley return to Grimmauld Place and not him. Harry told

Kreacher

"I'm keeping the house. However I'm not going to use it yet." He told Kreacher "Continue to work at Hogwarts and when we decide to start cleaning it again we'll

call for your assistance." With that Kreacher left.

Hermione came in "We heard voices." Harry told her "I just spoke to Kreacher." she got upset and said "I wanted to see him too." Ron walked in and said "It

probably wouldn't have made a difference to him."

"So now that we know the place is in order you're sure about keeping it?" asked Ginny and Harry said "Yes."

One year later. They came home from Hogwarts Ginny and Hermione had graduated the school with Hermione getting all Outstandings on her N.E.W.T.S. which

was no surprise while Ginny also faired well.

In that year George had called his younger brother to work in WWW with him. So half way through his Auror training Ron had quit much to his

mothers disappointment. However with the money he made at the shop he didn't care.

While Harry after a year of very hard work and training was on his way to becoming a full fledged Auror soon. They wasted no time training him, wanting Harry in

the field to help. They said people who fought in the Battle will have one year to succeed in their training then become Aurors. Harry did particularly well, fighting

the dark arts since infancy. The training went down from 3 to 1 year because of the number of people they lost and how much help they needed.

Neville, like Harry who agreed to the training and was next to him was close to becoming an Auror as well. Neville who since his 1st year at school was laughed at

for not being able to stand up for himself with a very low sense of self-esteem. However that changed in his 5th year. Joining the DA learning how to fight and

defend himself raised his confidence and helped him feel like he was a part of something.

For that he was apart of the 3 with Luna and Ginny that restarted the DA and led it till Harry returned. He also helped destroy the final Horcrux which

Harry made sure was known to many people. Just like he did with Snape's sacrifice and where his true loyalties were which helped defeat Voldemort.

Hermione got her parents before the previous summer ended. They spoke of how proud they were and returned to London. Now Hermione was at her own home

having left school while Harry was still with the Weasleys, with Ginny who had finished her schooling as well.

The year before with the fear they felt and the pain of loss they had to suffer through, seemed like a bad memory compared to everything good that had been

happening now.

In less than a month Harry's year would be complete he would be given his evaluation and be told if he was officially accepted as an Auror.

Everybody who knew Harry said he had no reason to be nervous. He knew spells even full fledged wizards couldn't accomplish such as the Patronus Charm. He

knew how to fight, he knew how to think strategically and he knew how to lead. Like he led his friends in the DA and taught them spells they never thought they'd

learn. From a young age, being who he was needed he to know them.

Ron and Hermione were getting closer in the past year due to the fact they admitted their feelings to each other. Harry as well as Ginny's feeling were getting

stronger still.

Harry sometimes felt he should leave the Burrow because he should stay at Grimmauld Place or find a place of his own for the time being but Mrs.

Weasley wouldn't hear of it and Ginny said she wanted him close.

Harrys 19th Birthday was in less than a month. He and whoever else in the training program might be the youngest Aurors. In 2 ½ weeks.

He went to the Ministry for Magic and sat in a large office sitting in a chair facing opposite the front of the desk. Across from him was the Head of the Auror

Department. He would be the one to give Harry his evaluation on his performance in his training during this past year.

He said

"I was impressed with you Harry since we first met. Not because of the amount of skill you knew, however that was a great factor but how you acted like any other

trainee. You didn't act superior to anyone nor did it you seem like you were being affected by any of the praise being you were given."

He continued by saying "Although I could never know how you truly feel I could assume what you think about yourself. That you are stronger than the average

wizard. More experienced than the average Auror and although you think of yourself as normal wizard which prevents. With everything you went through you had

to admit the strength you held."

Harry corrected him slightly. "I always knew I wasn't a normal wizard, not in a sense that I supposed I was special. However I knew unlike others I

held a more dangerous and complicated life. I never had a big head but through the years realized my strength. Dumbledore once told me he thought I was a

better leader than himself. He said he worked hard so he could lead from a young age. However in the end he said that to him that doesn't seem to be what makes

a good leader. I told him he was great and a beacon of hope to everyone and he replied by saying many people put their faith in him but they also put it in me. He

said my friends asked me to teach them, to lead them and willingly decided and begged to let them help me. When I didn't ask to take charge at all. Dumbledore

said a true leader doesn't force the right to lead others, he is chosen by the people he will end up leading without forcing his authority upon them. I had told

Dumbledore he was the best leader I have ever known."

The man then said "Dumbledore is right in that sense. The faith people had in you was what kept them going on."

"You showed skills in everything Harry. Excelling in life like battle sequences. Thinking on your feet. Finding uses of certain magic by improvising to help

yourself."

Also to Harry's own surprise he was complimented in potions.

The evaluator said "I'm not surprised that you did so well not only because of your accomplishments in life and here, but when I spoke to your past Professors they

all spoke well of you."

Harry laughed slightly to himself as was reminded of how Slughorn once called him "The Prince of Potions."

By the time he finished talking while praising and critiquing all at the same time he gave Harry a final answer. He said to Harry "A year ago before we ever met I

knew I'd be surprised if you didn't succeed. So luckily you did. Harry you are now completely an Auror."

Harry came home to the Burrow and told everyone and they were all so happy for him celebrating his birthday and job at the same time.

George said "Ron and me made a bet if you'd get the job or not and Ron was the loser."

Ron cut in and said "That never happened." which was easy enough to believe because he doubted any of them thought he couldn't do it.

Then Hermione made an announcement also. She said she had decided what she wanted to do. "I want to work for the Ministry." A lot of people especially Ron

were surprised. "It's not controlled anymore and I think I can really help there."

Harry said "Ok, but what department do you want to work for anyway?"

Hermione answered "The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."

While many encouraged her Ron asked slightly annoyed "Is this about you protesting for elfish rights?"

She said "Maybe partially. However I have also seen how The Ministry mistreats certain animals and that we've witnessed it to on more than one occasion." She

displayed her proud and unwavering disposition just as much she did when starting SPEW.

Ginny looked self-conscious momentarily. Everyone in her family and her friends knew what they wanted to be. She thought perhaps she knew. However she kept

it to herself and hoped her mother didn't take notice that she alone still hasn't told anyone her ambitions or realized yet how uncomfortable she was feeling. She

was torn between trying to make herself invisible or celebrating with her friends and loved ones. She ultimately decided ignoring them would ruin their moment of

happiness. So in spite of their feelings she ignored what she felt.

Harry then said something that came as a surprise to many people much like Hermione's announcement.

"I'm going to start cleaning Grimmauld Place."

Unlike the other announcements many of them looked puzzled.

Mrs. Weasley was the first to speak saying "That's great dear." With a forced sort of smile.

However Ron cut across saying "Why? Your not thinking of leaving are you? You know you can stay here as long as you want mate."

Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Weasley agreed and Hermione was still at a loss for words and Ginny started getting very upset in the thoughts that Harry would be leaving.

Harry said "I really do appreciate everything you have done for me, all of you. You helped me this past year. Gave me a

home when I had nowhere to go but I do have a place." He said "I don't want to leave the house in the terrible state it is in any longer and maybe by the time it is

all clean I would decide to live there."

Hermione finally spoke and asked "Harry are you serious about this?"

Harry spoke as if he had no doubts and said "Yes."

Ginny finally spoke and said "But the Black House is huge. Would you really think of living there all alone?"

Then Harry thought to himself and realized honestly he had yet of think of that. Nor did it ever cross his mind. He was so focused on not wanting to depend on the

Weasleys anymore than thinking of how truly alone he would feel if he was left in that house by himself. Harry then felt torn. He suddenly wanted to stay.

Previously he wanted to stay because of Ginny. Making the decision to leave was unbearable.

Ron cut across and said "If Harry is leaving so am I."

Harry was very taken aback by this and he wasn't the only one.

Mrs. Weasley immediately protested not just for Ron but Harry as well.

Ron said "We all believe Harry could stay he as long as he wants, because he's like family. However both Harry and me are older. We have gotten jobs, and in only a

year we would be 20 years old and it would probably take a year to clean the house anyway."

Harry asked Ron straight out "Why?"

He told Ron "We always stayed together to be safe. But this was a decision I made so I could begin my life."

Ron replied by asking "Why can't I go with you?"

Ginny said "Probably because your still a child."

Ron argued with Harry the rest of the day saying

"If I was there the house wouldn't be so empty."

Along with "Being roommates would be great."

Also speaking so fast now he said again "I'm mature enough to leave home."

Ron faced Harry and spoke fiercely by saying "Me and you are the same right now. We're the same age. We both have jobs. And we're best friends."

They started to argue. The more Ron spoke the more appealing the prospect of living with his best friend became.

Then Harry said "Honestly Ron it's not my decision."

Ron looked confused and asked "Why not?"

Harry replied "No one has the authority to stop me, however there is some who can stop you."

Ron thought for a moment of his parents and Harry said

"You shouldn't be stubborn and ignore them. Or argue with them like a child who isn't able to go somewhere."

Ron replied by saying "If I don't I might not be able to go."

Harry got angry saying that "You might not be able to go regardless, what would fighting accomplish then?"

He didn't want to cause a rift between his best friend and his best friends family.

Ron said

"There is no one to stop you anymore. You don't have anyone who holds any sort of control over you."

But then said

"Even though I have family, by still having my parents as authority figures, I' am just as old as you are."

Harry was a bit annoyed talking about before they left to hunt hocruxes his mother wouldn't leave all 3 of them alone together in the hopes to stop them from

leaving.

Then Harry said "Besides what about Ginny?"

Ron was confused and asked "What about Ginny?"

Then Ginny came slowly to the door and asked again herself "Yea what about Ginny?"

Wondering what Harry meant about her. Looking at Harry curiously.

Harry said "If me and Ron both leave you would be left all alone."

Then without thinking Ginny said rather quietly

"Then don't go."

Harry looked at her and unlike with Ron constantly having a retort he was speechless. He right now didn't want to leave at all. As he thought that he said it out

loud. Not angrily, not loudly, almost sad. Ron's temper went down too. He said to is friend

"Harry you know that you can call this place your home."

Then Ginny cut in she came to Harry and took his hand and sat them both on the bed and said

"You saved the lives of so many in our family. However we aren't telling you, you can stay because of that."

She told him "You must know that we all care about you, and you can't deny that you do feel the same."

Harry didn't speak, then Ron sat on bed next to them. "Ginny's right mate, at least for now you know you belong here."

Harry looked at his best friend then to his girlfriend and agreed that he'd stay.

Ginny wanted to hug him but with Ron being there she didn't.

Harry gave in and decided to stay and didn't find losing that argument bad at all since he already did want to stay badly. However he said he is still going to restore

Grimmauld Place whether he plans to live in it or not.

"Why?" asked Ron.

"Well its obvious isn't it?" said Ginny,

"He doesn't want to wait for it to get any worse."

"Oh so does that mean your going to help?" Ron said with cheek.

She harshly said "Yes, and so are you."

"If I'm helping so is Hermione" said Ron. "Honestly with all of us able to do magic it shouldn't take to long." Ron continued.

"Not everything is accomplished by magic." said Ginny. "When we first cleaned the place we did more than half the stuff without our wands."

Ron replied by saying "Yea well when we first cleaned the place we couldn't use our wands."

Hermione walked in and said "Honestly Ronald you are so incredibly lazy."

"Where have you been?" asked Ron.

"Reading books the Ministry have written about the uses and control of all manner of magical creatures. However with the arguing I couldn't continue. Then I

heard you refusing to help so I came to say don't you dare think your going to let Kreacher do your share of the work."

Ron rolled his eyes and said

"I knew it, the only reason your joining that place in the Ministry is because of your failed SPEW campaign. It's all about house-elves."

Hermione snapped back saying

"NO! Not all, we've been taught a fair amount of what magical creatures are like at school." She said calmly.

"This is about elf rights and you know it Hermione" Ron said annoyed.

Then she said "Really? What about how Buckbeack was treated? Or how they abused that dragon that defended Bellatrix's vault?

I cannot believe that you didn't give one thought to one of our closest friends either!"

"Who?" asked Ron confused.

"Remus" she said infuriated.

They all went silent. Hermione was the first to speak with a harsh tone in her voice.

"The treatment werewolves are forced to face is disgusting."

Ron looked away from her eyes and apologized.

Harry spoke and said "Do you remember though, what they gave Remus."

"Yea" said Ron.

Hermione said "I looked it up, he was the first ever werewolf to get the Order Of Merlin." She said "If he had gotten anything below first class I might have

protested."

Ron said "It's more than "might" have protested, you definitely would have due to your constant defending of the people or creatures the Wizarding World looks

down upon."

"Listen" Harry said looking down.

"Can I maybe have a word, with Hermione, privately."

Ron and Ginny looked confused as they left the room.

He loved his girlfriend and trusted his best friend as well, but he felt Hermione might be the only person who could help him.

Whether it may be because his leaving would affect her the least.

Or that in times like this she seemed to always know what to say.

She sat down next to him and looked at him as he still didn't look up.

He stared at the bed and said barely above a whisper, "I don't want to leave."

Hermione said "I understand that the Weasley house is the closest thing to a real home you have ever known."

However Harry cut across and said "It was like that before, but it's not anymore."

He said "I thought I wanted to stay because I didn't want to live in that house all alone, or that I knew the Weasleys would always have me. Maybe at some point

long ago that was true but it isn't anymore." He said "All that, everything it doesn't matter anymore, what's really holding me here is-"

Hermione finished his sentence by saying

"Ginny"

He went on to say "The 1st time we were together I had to leave during the war, the way we they both constantly worried if the other was dead. Then after finally

being able to be together she had to leave again for school. We can barely be together for 3 months without having to be separated nearly a year each time, and

now when we can finally stay together I'm starting feel like I should leave, however that stopped when she came into my thoughts. Once again leaving her, and

leaving her without me."

He finished by saying "It seems everything is working against us."

Hermione felt for him and frowned then she put her hand on his and told him to look at her.

Harry looked up into her eyes and she said to him plainly

"I know how you feel about Ginny and I know how Ginny feels about you. Two people so in love are meant to be together regardless of the

difficulties they may face Harry."

Harry seemed to slowly feel better. Hermione said if he was so worried about their separation again why consider leaving?

Harry said "I have a job, in a year I'd be 20. Whether the Weasleys feel like I' am family or not, maybe it is time for me to find a place of my own."

Hermione said "I heard Ron's suggestion about you two being roommates, it didn't sound like a bad idea."

However then Harry said "By the time Ron had suggested that I had already reconsidered not leaving. But when Ron said that it made me adamant on staying."

Hermione was confused and asked "Why? The both of you shared a room for 6 years, if you don't include the year of the hunt where you 2 were constantly

together anyway. The both of you are best friends."

Then Harry said "What of Ginny? Should me and Ron both leave she would be left alone, and asking her to come isn't an option." As smart as Hermione was even

she was at a loss now. Then she said

"Wait one year. When the house is refinished, when you actually are 20 and when you may then be ready to be on your own."

Harry looked at her and thought to himself that was a good idea. Then he said "What about one year later?"

Hermione replied by saying "There are many things that can happen in the course of a year. You are at a crucial time in your life right now. Just having gotten the

job you had wanted, finally being with the girl you loved, and finally being at peace."

Harry told everyone his decision and they were happy with it but Ginny still looked bothered.

That night she came to his room when Ron wasn't there to speak with him.

She said "I was worried, that you may leave again."

"I thought it was time for me to try and be on my own, but that would be impossible if your not with me."

She looked at him as though she were somewhat depressed, and Harry saw this in her eyes and wondered would he

consider leaving again in a year?

He looked at her and took her hand and said "I'm not leaving." She looked into his eyes as if trying to tell him what she was going to say without really saying it.

She then said to him

"I might."