Chapter 1 – The Final Task

The trio gingerly descended the headmaster's staircase, taking no notice of the grumbling gargoyle. Although at the time Harry's mind was firmly set on his bed, the weight of finishing it all was beginning to gnaw in his head. Slowly turning around to face the following Ron and Hermione, the two stopped dead in their tracks.

"What?" said Ron nervously, his eyes searching side to side expecting almost anything after their toils.

"I think I should finish it now, before the questions start. I said too much with Voldemort."

"Am I missing something here?" Ron blurted anxiously.

"I think it's a good idea Harry" Hermione agreed, completely ignoring Ron's question "What should we start with first?"

"This time it's just me guys, it needs to be" raising his hand to stop the pair interrupting "Ron your family needs you now, and Hermione, I need you guys to cover for me"

"How?" Ron asked.

"Well, people are gonna start working out about the Hallows and what we've been doing pretty soon, so I think if we make it look like I've hidden them, then there'll be a lot less questions" Harry stated "I need you let people know I'll be bringing Snape's body back as well".

"Ok, but Harry, I think it might be a good idea to be seen in a few places around the country, to at least make it seem like you've been visiting possible hiding places for them" suggested Hermione.

"Another great idea Hermione, I don't know what I'd have done without you. Infact, I've never really thanked both of you"

"And you won't have to, mate. Don't even think about forgetting how many times you've saved us" said Ron firmly.

Harry looked from Ron to Hermione and back again, before grabbing them both in a hug that said more than words ever would.

Harry left the pair, who now seemed inseparable after their kiss in the Room of Requirements, in the Entrance Hall, and made his way down towards Dumbledore's resting place covered by Ignotus' present. The glowing warmth of the morning sun blazed down on his face, highlighting the pools of blood spaced out on the grassy lawns on which he walked. Harry tried not to look down or to notice the blood, but the more he tried the more he thought about them. The more he thought about all the people who had died for him. Tears now cascading down his cheeks, Harry marched more sternly towards the tomb determined that there would be time to mourn once he'd finished his final task.

Reaching the white tomb, still in its desecrated state, he removed his cloak, and knelt down facing it. He removed the Elder Wand from its place in his moleskin pouch, and deftly returned it to its original place between Dumbledore's fingers. He used his own wand now, feeling warm and familiar in his hand, being used to repair the tomb.

Gently resting his hand on the edge and touching it for the first time. But for the first time, Harry didn't feel the guilt; he had constantly felt surrounding Dumbledore's death. Having Dumbledore explain his plan and event had made a huge difference to the guilt Harry had constantly felt.

"Thank you. Thank you for everything you've done. You truly were the greatest wizard."

Harry spoke the words aloud, hoping that even though Dumbledore wasn't there, he could still hear them. Harry took a moment, and then slowly drew his wand, and etched the words he had just uttered onto the tomb, in the same handwriting he had done on Dobby's grave.

He paused for a moment, before setting off towards the gates of Hogwarts. His weary legs growing heavier by the step. Covering himself again with the cloak, whilst he thought of which place to go first.

A loud crack marked his appearance near the statue in Godric's Hollow. A few wizards were nearby talking animatedly. Harry caught the odd word 'Potter……Dark Lord…..Dead……Horcrux…...Hogwarts'. He carried on, walking heading towards his parent's house. Taking in the sight of it, now lit by daylight, tears again began to creep from his eyes.

He removed his cloak when he reached the gate, looking up at his parent's house. His house now. It was the first time he'd been back, since he's seen his parent's deaths through Voldemort. He could see the window were his father had been playing with him. He knew he was stood exactly where Voldemort stood. Tears were now flowing down his cheeks, he would have to enter the house some day, he had no choice. He didn't know what to expect inside, only he knew it would provide closure.

He sat down, crossing his legs, tears still welling in his eyes. He remembered what his parent's had said to him in the forest. How proud they were of him, how they'd always be with him. He remembered what Dumbledore had said about the dead never truly leaving us. Those words he thought could never make sense, until now he reasoned. Now he knew what death was, he understood it, more than anyone living in the world, he experienced it and came back. He was grateful for the time he'd been given, and the time he still had. Death was just the next great adventure. An adventure he'd already had, and wanted to have it again, but not just yet, he still had things to do with his life.

He sat thinking of his life now; did it have a meaning now Voldemort was gone? He'd spent the last 7 years being prepared to do what he had to, and deep down he always though it would end with Voldemort. He'd never properly given thought to what to do afterwards. Now he had all the time in the world to be normal, or as normal as he could be.

He was now free to do what he wanted, he didn't really need money, so he could find a job he'd enjoy. 'I could play Quidditch professionally' he thought, 'I am reasonably good'. But something didn't feel quite right about him saying that, Dumbledore's words again stirred in his head "It is important to fight, and fight again, and keep fighting, for only then can evil be kept at bay, though never quite eradicated." He made his mind there and then about which path his life would take.

He sat there, now thinking about the day previous. How exhausted it had made him feel, when he heard a slight noise maybe 20 to 30 yards behind him, and quick as a flash he span round, wand at the ready, only to be absolutely stunned.

Around 30 people were gathered in a crowd some 30 yards away. Men, women and children, definitely witches and wizards from Godric's Hollow, stood now with shocked expressions clearly not expecting Harry to point his wand at them. How long had they been stood there he thought? Judging by the lower sun in the sky it was approaching late afternoon, he reasoned and if he'd been here over a couple of hours they could have been here quite a while. He lowered his wand, and a relief swooped over the crowd, as they smiled effortlessly at him.

"Sorry about that" he muttered, before spinning on the spot and experiencing that twisting sensation in his stomach again.

With a crack, he appeared in a back alley across the road from the Leaky Cauldron. He steadied his footing and began to approach the pub. Bracing himself for the reaction, he sped up and pushed the door open firmly. Without breaking stride he began to march across the room. The patron's reactions mixed between disbelief and joy at their hero entering the pub.

"Good Lord, Harry Potter" cried Tom the barman

"Good afternoon, Tom. Can't stop, very busy" he said seriously and continued his march through the pub and to the entrance of Diagon Alley.

With a calculated tap of his wand, the wall opened to up reveal the hidden alley behind it.

He quickly put his cloak back on and began a slow wander down the alley. Nothing had changed since he'd been here, yesterday. On first appearance anyway.

As he looked closer, he began to see it. The people walked with a spring in their step, smiles on their faces and always time to greet one another. Gone were the beggars, some shops had begun to rip down Undesirable No.1 posters of him from their windows.

As he approached Gringott's he felt a wave of guilt. The devastation he had caused was vast. The doors still hung loosely in their frame, where the dragon had forced through them. Rubble was strewn all around the entrance, whilst the goblins were no longer visible from the outside. Guiltily he span round and made back for the Leaky Cauldron, although he knew perfectly well no one could see him, he wasn't in any mood to be near Gringott's at this moment in time.

He quickly passed through the Leaky Cauldron, again to a chorus of amazement, across the road, and into the alley before disapparating once more.

He landed with a crack, outside the Three Broomsticks, just as he had done nearly a year ago with Dumbledore. He quickly made his way inside, again like the Leaky Cauldron to people chorusing his name.

"A firewhiskey please, Madam Rosmerta" Harry asked.

"Certainly Harry"

Harry looked around the room; every eye was upon him, intently staring, although he failed to recognize anyone.

"There we go, Harry" said Madam Rosmerta, smiling before adding "Oh no, this one's on the house" after seeing Harry reach into his pocket.

"Thanks" said Harry before draining the drink in one, placing a few coins on the bar and exiting the pub into the warm afternoon air.

He took a long deep breath, before beginning his approach up towards the Shrieking Shack. The door had been blasted off its hinges, which allowed Harry to continue his walk. Quickly making his way into the shabby hallway, he stopped outside the room he was looking for. He slowly pushed the door open, and there still lying in a pool of blood was Severus Snape.

Harry felt his throat tighten as he looked down upon the body. He knew that Snape would never be fully recognized for his sacrifice, he would never get the respect his courage deserved from the rest of the wizarding world, but at least Harry would give him the respect. Kneeling down, Harry transfigured a chair leg into a large blanket and draped it carefully over Snape's body, before placing one arm under his neck and one under his knees and gently lifted him.

Just like digging Dobby's grave, every step he took spurred him on. He could feel the adrenaline rushing through his veins as he walked across the Hogwarts grounds towards the castle. As he reached the top of the steps and entered the castle, we wondered what everyone would be doing. He could hear the sound of a hundred quiet conversations, but he couldn't smell food from the Great Hall which meant at least no one would be eating as he walked in.

As he walked through the doors, the murmuring stopped immediately and every soul living or otherwise was looking at him. People stood up, 'maybe as a mark of respect or simply to gain a better look' thought Harry. Only the sound of his slow heavy footsteps could be heard as he carried Snape towards the top table, which had now been removed and in its place was a small platform where the rest of the dead lay. His eyes quickly found a sea of red hair at the end of the table as he approached the platform. Mr. & Mrs. Weasley looked solemn but proud. Charlie & Bill seemed to be slightly shocked similar to the rest of the faces in the Hall. George didn't even seem to have registered what was happened and just stared blankly ahead. Ron & Hermione were stood hand in hand beaming at him. And then his eyes found Ginny's. His heart skipped as he found her chocolate eyes, there was so many things he wanted to say to her, to explain everything.

He stepped up onto the platform and carefully lay Snape down and made sure his the blanket covered him fully and respectfully. He took a few moments pause, and whispered 'Thank You'. A simple recognition for what Snape had done, but he knew Snape wouldn't accept anything more, especially from him. As he rose, he caught sight of the wrapped bodies surrounding him on the platform. Each carefully wrapped in a blanket. He looked round at each body, fully realizing just how much had been lost.

As he stepped off the platform the toil of the 2 days hit him. He managed a few steps before his legs began to falter. They seemed to be shaking uncontrollably to Harry, he struggled to keep his eyes from closing, and his breathing began to slow into long deep breaths.

Harry could see a small blur of red running towards him, as his legs gave way and he sank to his knees. Just as he began to topple forwards a person was on their knees infront of him holding him up.

"Ginny"

"I'm here Harry, I'm here" she said

He could feel the exhaustion taking over his body, and he mustered every ounce of strength he had left to look her in the eyes.

"Ginny, I love you" he managed, before succumbing to the darkness.

Reviews would be appreciated; I've got a fair few ideas for this story and would like your views on how I'm approaching it.