All Is Well
After one last look at the Headmaster's office, Harry, Ron, and Hermione headed off towards the Gryffindor tower. The silence was understood between the three of them; each was busy thinking of the events that had just unfolded. Kreacher did, indeed, bring sandwiches and they ate quickly and fell straight asleep just as quickly.
Harry woke up groggily the next morning to Ginny sitting on his bed, holding a sheet of parchment.
"Luna's going to take over the Quibbler and she wants her first issue to be about Voldemort's defeat," Ginny explained, "Naturally you will be a central focus. She wanted me to ask you if she could interview you about it."
"Err...why not? Listen, before you leave - I'm not really sure how to say this, exactly...Well, now that Voldemort's gone and all..." Harry stuttered nervously.
"What do you want?" Ginny's expression was strikingly similar to one that often crossed Molly Weasley's face in impatience.
"Ginevra Molly Weasley - will you marry me?" Harry said in one breath.
"Oh, is that all? Of course, but I think now you might want to get ready for breakfast. We have a long day left ahead of us," Ginny instructed matter-of-factly.
As Harry walked into the Great Hall, he was instantly assaulted by students wanting to know what had happened in the Forbidden Forest and while he was away. Ginny shooed them away and led Harry to the Gryffindor house table, where Ron and Hermione were deep in conversation.
"Good morning, Harry! Did you sleep okay?" Hermione looked up, "and Ginny, how have you been? Did Luna enlist you with the Quibbler, too?" Hermione asked when she spotted the pieces of parchment Ginny was holding.
"Yes, Harry was going to write his thoughts after he got something to eat, right?" Ginny smiled at Harry.
"Of course. Ron, what's for breakfast?"
Ron grinned impishly.
"He wouldn't know, he ate it too quickly," Hermione replied.
"Hey! There was bacon and potatoes with onions and some bread pudding as well and..." Ron developed a dreamy expression as he recounted the meal he had eaten an hour before - it was the first time in a while that he had been able to really fill his stomach without worry, and naturally he had taken full advantage of the situation.
"Sounds delicious. But what were you guys discussing?" Harry recalled the intense conversation which he had interrupted.
"Oh, well, we were starting to plan out the funerals for everyone who died. It's really hard for the families and friends. I mean, it's been very hard for us, even." Hermione's eyes started to well up a bit with tears, and Ron made a small sniffle which he tried to pass off as a sneeze.
"Yeah, I know. It's been difficult for all of us - everyone lost someone close that night, some more than one person." Harry nodded gravely.
The next weeks were filled with countless duties. Students started to resume classes, funerals were held, damage was repaired. The wizarding world, too, was slowly recovering from the damages that had been done by the Death Eaters. The Daily Prophet had become totally defunct and the Quibbler became the leading news source, promising to tell the unbiased truth and report on the newest happenings throughout the wizarding world.
Kingsley Shacklebolt had totally revamped the Ministry of Magic, and damage control was being efficiently executed. After a brief consultation amongst senior Ministry officials, Kingsley was officially confirmed as Minister, beginning a promising new regime. Many former Death Eaters fled the country and every day it seemed like more was revealed about who was Imperiused and who was loyal to Voldemort.
But as these changes took place around Harry, all he could think about was relishing every moment he could spend with his friends, and more than anything he wanted to build a home with his fiancée.