Beginning at the End.
Disclaimer – I do not own Harry Potter. More is the pity.
Chapter One: Return to the White Tomb
Harry woke suddenly and looked around at the red velvet hangings of his four poster bed. He could hear a strangled noise from across the room. He shoved his glasses on his face and with a flick of his wand opened the curtains. Across the room he saw Ron, spread-eagled across his bed, mouth open, snoring his head off. Harry climbed out of bed and began to dress himself. He packed his pyjamas into the rucksack that Kreacher had delivered to him from the Room of Requirement.
Downstairs in the common room there were Gryffindors from many generations. Some had camped on the floor and others slept on the comfortable armchairs and sofas. Arthur Weasley was crouched in front of the fire, speaking quietly to someone in the flames. Molly Weasley sat between her sons George and Percy, still weeping softly, holding tightly to her sons hands while a bewitched handkerchief flew back and forth across her face, wiping her eyes. Bill nodded to Harry from the armchair he sat in, his still sleeping wife curled up against his chest. Arthur stood up, brushing soot from his robes. He glanced at Molly and then, spotting Harry, hurried toward him.
"Kingsley has arranged for the Floo Network to be connected to specific Hogwart's fires for the day so everyone here can travel home. We'll be taking Fred home soon. Will you be coming back to The Burrow with us?"
Harry nodded."What about Lupin and Tonks?" he asked.
"Some of the other Order members will transport their bodies to Andromeda's."
"I'd better go and get Ron up," said Harry, he turned and headed back up the staircase to the dormitory. Harry felt the loss of his friends deep in his chest at all times. It was a heavy weight to carry. He pushed open the dormitory door. Dean was sitting on the side of his bed, rubbing his eyes and Neville was across the room tying the laces on his shoes. Ron was still snoring.
"I think it's time for drastic action with that one Harry!" said Dean, jerking his head toward Ron. Harry nodded at Dean and walked to Ron and roughly shook his shoulder.
"Come on mate. Get your stuff together. We're heading back to the Burrow for…" Harry trailed off and stared at his trainers. Ron grunted and stood up. Harry moved back over to his old bed and gathered up his things.
By the time they returned to the Common Room, Ginny and Hermione had come down and Mrs Weasley had stopped crying, but her eyes were still puffy and red. Hermione motioned to Harry to stand with her.
She spoke quietly into his ear: "We're all leaving from the fire in McGonagall's office in half an hour. Bill is taking Fred now. He's going to arrange something. He doesn't want them to have to do it."
Harry nodded. He glanced back at Mr and Mrs Weasley. They both looked pale and tired. George was still sitting on a sofa, his head was rested on his hand as he stared into the fire. Ginny moved toward George's sofa. She sat down next to him and put her head on his shoulder and her small hand into his. George sighed deeply and Harry saw his eyes brighten with tears.
Hermione touched Harry's shoulder. "Isn't there something you have to do before we leave?" she asked meaningfully.
Harry suddenly remembered what he had told Dumbledore's portrait.
"I better go and do it before everyone else is up."
"Ron and I will come with you."
Harry was not sure about this, but nodded anyway. The three of them hurried to the portrait hole and slipped out. They walked through the deserted corridors, still littered with rubble from the battle and edged around the blasted side of the marble staircase.
"How long will it take to repair everything, do you think?" asked Ron.
"Oh, I'm sure McGonagall and Flitwick can do most of it fairly easily, but there is so much to do," replied Hermione.
They walked through the front doors and into the grounds. The blue sky overhead was already very bright and the morning sun was warm. Birds were singing in the grounds.
"It feels like the whole earth is celebrating!" said Hermione, as she turned her face upwards, eyes closed.
As they approached Dumbledore's tomb Harry stopped. "Are you sure you want to be here for this?" He addressed himself mostly to Hermione, but she straightened and gave Harry a hard look.
"Harry Potter, I told you I was with you until the end and this is the end. Do you think I'm going anywhere?"
Harry smiled at her and nodded.
They moved to the side of the tomb. Harry raised the Elder Wand and pointed it at the tomb. The top began to slide off the base and exposed the chamber within. They moved closer and looked inside. When Voldemort had taken the wand he had pulled apart the wrappings and left them rumpled around Dumbledore's body. Harry slid the Elder Wand under Dumbledore's hands and began to pull the purple velvet back over the body. When he was done he stepped back and glanced at Ron and Hermione. Hermione's eyes were bright and she was tightly holding Ron's hand. Harry pulled his beloved holly wand from his pocket and pointed it at the tomb. The top slid back over the base and sealed. He began to turn, meaning to walk back to the castle, but Hermione cried, "Wait!" She pointed her wand at the tomb and muttered a spell. Warm golden light came from the tip and wrapped itself around the tomb, then faded.
"What was that?" asked Ron.
"Something I looked up last night. It will help protect the tomb from unfriendly visitors."
"Thank you Hermione," said Harry.
She smiled at him. "The job is done now. We can all move on."
"How in Merlin's name will we fill the time?" Ron smiled and wrapped an arm around Hermione's waist. They walked back to the castle together and met Ron's family in the seventh floor corridor, outside the Fat Lady's portrait. Together they went to Professor McGonagall's office. Mr Weasley pulled a pouch full of Floo powder from his robe pocket.
"Goodbye Arthur, Molly." Professor McGonagall's face was unusually sombre.
She held her hand out to Harry and grasped his.
"Potter, no student has ever done as much for this school as Mr Weasley, Miss Granger and yourself. If you ever need anything, Hogwarts and its community will do whatever it can to help."
She shook Ron and Hermione's hands as well.
One by one the Weasleys and Hermione stepped into the fire and travelled back to the Burrow. Harry, last in line, looked around at the castle's stone walls and wondered what he would do with his life, now that his time at Hogwarts was over.
SSS
Thanks for reading. I'll be posting Chapter Two soon. Please review and let me know what you think.
