This is my first fanfiction, set the morning after the Battle of Hogwarts from 'The Deathly Hallows'. Includes major DH spoilers, rating may change in the future.

Note: I do not own any of the characters in this story. I simply created a plot around them.

I have tried to make this as accurate as possible but I'm not perfect and bound to make mistakes so please point them out if you find them. I would like to have some constructive criticism about what I can improve, so please review. :D

Chapter one - Aftermath

He Who Must Not Be Named DEFEATED!

After a full-scale battle at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry the Dark Lord has fallen! Defeated and killed by the Chosen One.

It was early in the morning after the Battle of Hogwarts, a young witch of eighteen years with brown bushy hair sat in the Gryffindor common room, bathed in the light of the morning sun creeping through the castle's windows. Hermione Granger was reading the front page of the mornings 'Daily Prophet', while waiting silently for her friends to emerge from the boy's dormitory.

She quickly glanced over the words written by Rita Skeeter (who had recently been reinstated as editor for the prophet) in disgust. No where in her account of the battle was a mention of the help given by the centaurs, house elves and other creatures that were vital in the victory. She knew that even though the darkest wizard in centuries had fallen the night before, there was a lot of work to do to create a new, better world.

Her brown eyes fell over the last passage of the main news headline, taking in every detail. Feeling a surge of warmth to Professor McGonagall as she read.

Mr Potter has yet to comment on his battle with the dark lord, or what he has been up to for the past year, a statement from temporary headmistress Professor Minerva McGonagall was taken when she was asked about Mr Potter's absence:

"Harry Potter and his friends have taken a rest for the night, I'm sure you will agree that after what they have been through, they deserve it."

When asked what he and his friends, Mr Ronald Weasley and Miss Hermione Granger have been up to the past year the Professor simply gave no comment.

'What're you reading?' It was Ron speaking, he had just come down from the boys dormitory, followed by Harry. She hadn't heard them coming down at all.

'Just the morning prophet, theirs a lot here on the battle last night, not like Rita Skeeter was there, she didn't mention anything about the centaurs, house-elves or giants helping out.' Hermione said as she passed the newspaper to them.

"A powerful curse which overwhelmed He Who Must Not Be Named's killing curse in an instant" Harry recited between yawns 'Too bad she didn't realise I cast Expelliarmas!'

'Yeah well you're the "Man who won" now Harry, better get used to this stuff.' Ron grinned.

'Don't remind me.'

They all laughed together at Harry's response. It was good to be able to laugh again, Harry thought briefly, but with a pang in his gut he remembered who had died in the battle. He would never see Lupin, Tonks or Fred again. The Weasley's would be devastated; especially George and Mrs Weasley whose worst fear had been realised, one of her sons had died.

It seemed that both Ron and Hermione had also remembered those facts at around the same moment, their laughter had died down as quickly as it had started.

'We should head down to the Great Hall, theirs a lot to be done. We need to…mourn the dead.' Hermione broke the silence, the others simply nodded in agreement as the trio headed down the portrait hole of the Fat Lady and towards the Great Hall.

They opened the doors to the Great Hall and walked inside. The place was silent only for a moment until sudden cheers erupted across the hall. Harry was almost knocked off his feet due to his surprise and the force he felt when Ginny flew into his arms at an incredible speed. He regained his balance and hugged her back, stroking her long red hair.

Harry looked up to see that he was surrounded by people and flinched as a camera took a photo of him.

'I TOLD you not to come in here Skeeter!' Screamed Professor McGonagall who shooed Rita Skeeter and her cameraman out of the hall.

Harry looked into Ginny's eyes which were filled with tears, 'I thought I had lost you, last night' she whispered, pulling slightly away from him.

He took her hand, he didn't know what to say. It had only just hit Harry of what he had put people through the night before, when they had all thought he was dead. He knew he would have to find some way to make it up to them, especially Ginny. Just when his lips tried to form some words of comfort and apology, Mrs Weasley through him into a full bear hug.

'Oh Harry I'm so glad you're alright!' she said, rather loudly.

'I…. I'm sorry about Fred.' It was all Harry could say, Fred had died fighting for him last night, and he couldn't help but feel responsible.

'It's not your fault at all Harry, Fred died doing exactly what he wanted to do.' Mrs Weasley replied softly, releasing him from her embrace, giving him room to breathe.

Harry looked around, Ginny was no longer next to him, she was talking to her father near Fred's body. He chose to leave her to mourn Fred, 'she needs some time to think' he thought, before following Mrs Weasley, Hermione and Ron (who were holding hands) to where the rest of the Weasleys were with Andromeda Tonks who was holding the small frame Teddy in her arms.

Harry did not talk to any of them, he simply did not know what to say, they had all lost family members and loved ones. No matter what Mrs Weasley or anyone told him, he felt responsible. It was Andromeda who came to him first, holding his godson, Teddy, in her arms.

'Here Harry.' She spoke softly, handing Teddy to him.

He looked at his godson, looking up at him from the sheets he was held in, smiling and giggling. Harry couldn't help but smile at Teddy, it was a relief to see some happiness around, Teddy did not know what had happened the night before, that his parents were now dead. Harry put Teddy's tiny hand in his, the small child gripped it tightly, his hair turning to a shade of pink while he laughed happily.

'You'll be a great dad some day Harry.' It was Ginny, smiling at him. Tears still in her eyes, it was then that he realised, he had never seen Ginny like this before. She hardly ever cried.

Harry past Teddy over to her, she smiled looking down at him, playing with Teddy while he giggled in joy. Harry couldn't help thinking that she would be a great mother.

'Ah Harry there you are!' It was Kingsley Shacklebot, member of the order and temporary Minister for Magic. 'Now I know you haven't taken to the ministry in the past, but I would like to ask you to make a speech at the memorial service later on today. It would help a great deal.'

'A…speech?!' he said, dumbfounded. He hadn't been expecting this, but of course now he thought about it, it was obvious. He had just defeated Voldemort, things like this would be expected of him from now on.

I felt that this was a nice place to end the chapter, I'm going away to Spain tomorrow for a while so don't expect an update for a while.