Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. This first chapter does, however, have some parts from the last chapter in Deathly Hallow. Enjoy!
The feeling of relief is what Harry expected to be feeling in that moment. The moment when Voldemort's dead body dropped to the ground. But he felt exhausted. Not physically, though he did feel that, it was emotionally and inner core exhaustion that overwhelmed him. The exhaustion of fighting a war for seventeen years. He told himself to fight the exhaustion for a few more hours and then he'll sleep. Sleep for a week, he deserved that much.
It was ironic really. The one person who didn't care to defeat death, who considered joining death a few times, managed to elude it. The person who wanted to escape death ended up joining him far too early. It was the first time in a while he felt a ping of jealousy toward Voldemort. He knew he wouldn't in a few years or months, but at that moment, he wished he died with Voldemort. Because he did what he meant to. He came back to fulfill the prophecy. He wanted to be with his parents like all the living is now. He wanted to be with his mum, dad, godfather, Remus, Tonks, Fred, Cedric. He wanted to be with those who fought the fight and lost. He wanted to be with Dobby, Mad-Eye, Snape, Dumbledore. He wanted to be with those who lost the first war.
But he knew he will in time. But for now, he must conquer life as he has conquered death. He will get to live his life soon, he knew that. He had a job to do though still. He must free Snape's name, he must console those who have lost a loved one. He must see his godson. Because a hero's work isn't done after the villain is gone. The hero's work is there forever even when the hero has died.
Trying to avoid tripping on the stones that once belonged to Hogwarts, Harry embraced those who embraced him. He cheered with those who wanted to cheer. He shook hands with those who offered. He eventually had a routine for a good half hour. He broke from the group, with the help of Luna, and sought for his friends. He took them outside the Great Hall where a corner used to be, but now was a giant hole with stones and dead bodies.
"I'm going to the Headmaster's-"
"Headmistresses," interrupted Hermione. Harry shook his head. Somethings will never change. But somethings will. New leadership is changing already.
"Er- right. You want to come up with me to the Headmistresses' office?" Harry asked emphasizing on the word Headmistresses' for Hermione.
The trio walked to the office and met the gargoyles who allowed entrance without a password. They went up the spiral stairs with a startling applause from all the Headmasters/Headmistresses of Hogwarts. This is surely a first for someone Harry thought. He put a hand up, and the applause died down. He looked for the one portrait of a wise old man with sparkling blue eyes which had tears falling from his half-moon glasses. Had Harry not seen him in his limbo moment, he was sure he'd be crying with Dumbledore. He told the portrait the fate of the stone and what he planned to do with the wand. He predicted Hermione's and Ron's reaction.
"Are you sure?" asked Ron with a longing look at the Elder Wand.
"I think Harry is right," whispered Hermione.
Harry took the broken wood from a pouch he had and whispered, "Reparo." The first time since Voldemort's death, he finally didn't feel exhausted, but relief that he was with his old wand again. This is the wand that without it, Harry would've been dead ten times over.
They left the Headmistresses' office and parted. Ron and Hermione went off towards the rest of the Weasley's. He longed to join them. He wanted to grieve as they would. He gave a longing look to the red-headed girl who was hugging her mother, but he would talk to her soon. They had years and days. Not weeks like the beginning of their relationship had been.
"Professor McGonagall? Or should I say Headmistress?" asked Harry.
With a soft smile, she said, "Either is fine. I assume you wanted to ask something?"
"Yes. I have a few things to discuss if you have time right now," spoke Harry. The student and Professor walked out of the Great Hall and into the sunlight. He explained to his transfiguration professor of clearing Snape's name and adding it to the memorial that would occur Saturday. He explained to her of his never wavering loyalty in the war despite what has occurred to him.
"Severus has been on our side? The entire time?" whispered Professor McGonagall.
"Yes. He his body lies in the Shrieking Shack still. I'll get him and bring him back here if that is alright."
"Yes, yes. Very well. Thank you, Harry, is that all?"
Harry shook his head. There was always something. "No, there is a couple of other things." He told her he would return the elder wand tonight and if he needed to be aware of any hexes or curses surrounding Dumbledor's grave, which he didn't luckily. He told her that he'd return the sword to her and she can hang it in the office. He also cast a quick reparo spell with the elder wand to the sorting hat as well.
From there he headed towards Dumbledor's grave and put the wand back. He pulled out his invisibility cloak as he walked back to the Shrinkening Shack around himself and felt safe for the first time all day. Harry didn't need the cloak, but he felt like he was vulnerable without it. He understood the need to celebrate, but the celebration was the last thing on Harry's mind. He wanted peace. To the outside wizarding world, he only fought a few times with Tom. But he has been fighting his whole life and was ready for peace. He wanted to grieve in peace. He did not want to be offered an Auror position, he did not want to speak at the memorial, he did not want to talk and relive the year he has had. He wanted to go home, to the Burrow. He wanted to sleep in the orange colored room and be with his family.
He wished he'd gotten to know and talk to Remus more. He used the spell to create a stretcher which he had done for Ron on Professor Snape and walked to the school. He was filled with the memories of helping Sirus escape with Buckbeak.
He arrived in the room where they were keeping those who had died during the war and placed him with the others. He looked at all the bodies in the room. They had fought to help him, to help create a new world. They will never get to see it though he thought. He thanked each one of them: Remus, Tonks, Fred, to all the students who did not want to go home but wanted to fight, and to all those who were forced to fight. To the parents To the Muggle-born girl who had been called a filthy Mudblood for the last year and longer.
This place was his first real home. Not the cupboard under the stairs or Dudley's second bedroom Hogwarts was. Where he found his family, his friends. He learned magic and learned Quidditch. He found the answer to his parent's death here. He celebrated his first Christmas here. He learned how to fight here. He found love here. But he wasn't sure right now that Hogwarts was considered his home anymore.
He considered the Burrow his home. He fell in love there too. He learned what a family was all about. He found joy and happiness there. He found people who loved him there and to there he apparated. He apparated home.
