Chapter one

Harry was sitting in the hospital wing waiting to see Madame Pomfrey, he watched her and two other healers going from bed to bed tending to people that had been injured during the fighting. Harry recognised some, friends or people from the order, even some of the staff were in the beds. One staff member was a person he never expected to see, Severus Snape, he was still alive when they went to retrieve his body. Harry occasionally would glance at him wondering if Snape would be different now he didn't have to pretend to be a death eater.

Harry would worry about that later, for now he just kept glancing around at everyone, he would see some of the people glance at him and they all gave him a smile and a nod, which Harry returned. He knew people would want to thank him for getting rid of Voldemort, even though he, like everyone else knew that a lot of people helped in ridding their world of the evilest dark wizard there ever was. But it did, in the end come down to Harry, that's why he knew he would be the one that got the most attention, more than anyone else and he had accepted that, even if he didn't like it.

As he was sitting there waiting to see the healer, someone sat next to him so he glanced over.

'Hi Kingsley, oh sorry, minister,' Harry said wearily.

'Kingsley, unless it's anything official Harry, Ron told me you'd be here, so I thought I should tell you a few things. First, I'm using Hogwarts as headquarters until we can clean out the ministry. Second, a lot of death eaters escaped, so you, Hermione, Ron and well, everyone you're close to would be better off staying here for a while. I've helped Minerva put the wards back around Hogwarts, so at least they can't get back in.'

'Do you think there's any real danger now he's not here?'

'There is danger Harry, I'm just not sure how much or what type. You of course will be their main target if they do want revenge over killing their lord. The few remaining aurors and magical law enforcement squad are trying to find them or find anything on them.'

'Some will hide or just leave and not come back, like the cowards they are. But we both know some will cause problems, so I don't mind staying here. Only thing is and I hope professor McGonagall doesn't mind, I've gotten used to having my own space, so I might either use the room or requirement or get the tent from Hermione and pitch it down near Hagrid's hut. I can't stay in the dorm rooms anymore, I feel way past feeling like a kid.'

'Actually, she's getting a lot of the unused staff quarters ready for people like the Weasley's, because the death eaters know are friends of yours and Ron was with you, they will be staying here. So I'm sure she will have some quarters you can use. Not everyone will be staying here, just people that we know will be in danger, like Luna, Neville, all your friends really. The order will be staying, oh, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy will be staying as well. Lucius was taken to Azkaban already.'

'Even though I want to know why they aren't in Azkaban, I was going to tell you some things about them. I don't believe either of them deserve that?'

'Alright, first, they have been giving me a lot of information on the escaped death eaters. Second, they said even though it wasn't just for you, they did aide you, but told me I need to speak with you about that. Third, they allowed the aurors to look through their memories of what they were being forced to do and they showed they never wanted to be part of that. But as Narcissa was married to one of his main death eaters, she couldn't just say no, neither could Draco.'

'I get that as I know Malfoy didn't want to do some of the things he was made too and his mother did give me a chance even if her main reason was for her son, but I do get that. So are you here to see me or Madame Pomfrey?'

'Both, I need Poppy to check my back while I've got a few minutes.'

'Yeah, you got slammed pretty hard. I tried to get you shielded but I was trying to protect Mrs. Weasley and never got time to get to you.'

'Understandable Harry, he would have killed Molly. But that's one thing I need to ask you though. You put a shield charm around her, but nothing shields from the killing curse, you know that, so why were you able to?'

'I've been thinking about that myself, first you heard what I said to him, so I think because they were all destroyed, he was weak, the curse never worked properly.'

'Yes, maybe that was the reason, but as an auror I do know that even a less than powerful person can produce a weak killing curse and it still kills and will get through shield charms, so what's the second reason?'

Harry sighed, 'I'll have to explain about that in private, but part of it I think is because I believe my magic grew, got more powerful, enough to protect Mrs. Weasley. I was going to speak with Dumbledore's portrait about it, get his opinion.'

Kingsley leaned closer to Harry, 'If it's about the Horcruxes, then I think I know what you mean. Remember, I was in the order, I heard you saw Arthur get attacked, you saw Sirius getting tortured when he wasn't. Minerva mentioned you told her he was on his way because he knew you were here. As an auror we study up on all aspects of dark magic, even those. We never needed to know how to make them, but to identify them.'

'Well then you know why I survived then, but you couldn't identify them, they looked like normal everyday items, nothing special. Using spells would not work either, Hermione did them, they didn't show up as having dark magic around them. With me, I could sense them, feel a connection to them. When everything is more settled, I'll show them to you, well not the snake.'

'So it was one, I wasn't sure why Neville killed it, then I heard you say Horcrux, so I figured it was. Not a very smart thing to do, making a living thing one. Do you know why he made you one and why he kept trying to kill you which would destroy it?'

'He never knew about me, I was an accident,' Harry could see the questioning look on Kingsley's face, 'When he killed my parents, that's when he made me one. From what Dumbledore said, he always planned to make seven, but we don't know which one he was going to make that night six or seven. He thinks Voldemort was going to use my death to make one and we think it was his sixth, the snake seventh after he came back, not positive on that though.'

'So that's what you and Albus used to talk about when you used to meet in his office. Did he tell you then about you being one?'

Harry shook his head, 'No, I never knew until Riddle call a stop in the fighting, then I found out.'

'Minister, Mr. Potter, why don't you both come down to the last couple of beds.'

'Thanks Poppy, come on Harry,' Kingsley helped Harry stand as he could see how tired he was. The two men followed the healer down to the end of the hospital and both sat on the last two beds there.

'Now I did see how hard you hit the wall minister, is that why you are here or is there more?'

'That's the main one, but of course, I have a few cuts and bruises, like most people.'

Poppy Pomfrey conjured curtains so the other patients couldn't see her examining the minister or Harry Potter.

'I'll need to see you're back minister, so please remove you're robes and shirt.'

Kingsley nodded, then pulled his robes and shirt off, 'I think I have a couple of broken ribs.'

'I would expect you would,' Poppy moved her wand over the dark skin of the minister for magic, 'Yes, four broken ribs along with internal bleeding, you will need a course of potions for the next couple of days. Now there is no use me saying to take it easy, I think all of us will be busy over the next few days,' Poppy summoned three bottles of potions, 'The blue one is just now, the other two you will need for a few days.'

Kingsley drank the potions, grimacing with one and actually gagged with the other, he heard Harry laugh softly.

'Don't laugh Harry, it will be you're turn next.'

'Sorry Kingsley, but I know what Madame Pomfrey's potions taste like, so I was expecting it.'

'You should Mr. Potter, you've had them enough. But I think this time is understandable. You can dress now minister, then you Mr. Potter, undress and because I saw you limping, you're jeans off as well.'

'Why did I know you were going to say that Madame Pomfrey,' Harry said wearily, but he removed his jumper, shirt, shoes and jeans, 'Can you keep this to yourself though,' Harry ran his finger along the new scar on his shoulder, 'He never could aim straight.'

'When you use the killing curse Harry, you don't need to,' Kingsley said staring at the lightning shaped scar on Harry's shoulder, 'I bet Hermione and Ron know about that.'

'No, I haven't told them yet, never got a chance. I will tell them, like I tell them everything.'

'So apart from some very dark magic that needs healing, I can see a lot of bruising. Tell me where else you feel pain?'

'My left knee, left hip and my back.'

Poppy moved her wand over Harry, 'You have a small break in your knee, a fracture in your hip and two broken ribs not to mention being hit with the cruciatus curse.'

'So he decided to have some fun with you before killing you Harry?' Kingsley asked.

Harry shrugged, 'We all know he couldn't resist. You might know why though, but this was after he hit me with the killing curse. I was pretending to be dead, I still needed the snake. Then he hit me with the cruciatus curse before flinging me around. I was able to stay quiet, I could feel I could and did. Do you know how I could have done that?'

'Maybe it's what you said before, you felt your magic grow. With that gone, it surged, which protected you. Now since it happened right after, it was strongest. If you were hit with that curse now, you would probably feel it.'

'Yeah, makes sense,' Harry turned back to the matron and saw her holding three bottles, 'Oh great,' Harry took the first potion, gagged, then heard Kingsley laugh, 'Cut it out Kingsley.'

'Just getting you back for laughing at me Harry, but drink the others, then you can finally rest.'

'Don't I wish, but I'm still to tense at the moment. I don't think it's really sunk in yet, that's he's gone and won't try to kill me anymore,' Harry drunk the next two potions grimacing at both.

'Now you will need the red potion for the next week, so come see me every morning, just like the minister has to.'

'Why does it have to be the worst tasting one that I need, anyway, thanks Madame Pomfrey, I feel better already.'

'You're welcome, but you both need rest for those potions to work. I know the minister is busy, but you still need to take it easy, same with you Harry.'

Harry smiled as Madame Pomfrey used his name instead of Mr. Potter, 'I will, I might be tense, but I'm still going to be sitting. I'm absolutely knackered.'

'Yes, I expect you would be. So get dressed and I will see both of you tomorrow.'

'Thanks poppy,' Kingsley smiled then turned back to Harry as the matron left, he watched Harry dress, 'Like you Harry, I think all of us are going to need time to really believe his gone. Now let's go see Minerva so she can get you a room to use, you look like you can barely stand.'

Harry chuckled, 'I feel like I can barely stand.'

Harry and Kingsley walked back through the hospital, giving the other patients a smile as they passed. They knew some were in for longer recoveries then others, but they knew, like Kingsley and Harry knew, they were alive when so many had died. So even though their war with Voldemort was over, people were still suffering, grieving over people they lost.