Usual Disclaimer...If I owned Harry Potter half the people that died wouldn't have...Like Dobby...*sniff* poor Dobby. Also this WILL NOT (sorry for the original mix up) entirely follow into the 17 years later thing at the end of the 7th book. Also this is rated M because it deals with the oh so contraversial act of SEX!!!!!!though please note that the story only talks about it and wouldn't actually go into detailed scenes of sex...actually it wouldn't even go into not detailed scences of sex, just implied notions of sex...if that makes sense.

Harry knew returning to Hogwarts after all that had happened was going to be strange. People were drawn together and close friends had been killed, for one thing and word got around about many of the Slytherins joining the Death Eaters in the final battle and some that hadn't join were coming back with the knowledge of what their classmates had done.

Harry turned at the door of his home, his own home with no Dursleys to torment him, although Dudley had been around once in while and had been friendly and even had a somewhat improved disposion towards magic. He looked at the halls of his home, no more did it look like the house of a dark wizarding family thanks to his friends.

"Master better hurry along, The Weasley family will be expecting him now." Kreacher chimed, he still wore Regulus's necklace and treated Harry kindly which Harry did in return. Harry sighed, so many memories of the past year flooded his mind; giving Teddy to Tonk's parents (he was not ready to be a father), Remus's and Tonk's funeral, interviews from the Daily Prophet. Harry said his farewell to Kreacher and apparated to the one place other then hogwarts where he felt at home.

After the initial discomfort of apparation Harry felt joy to be at the burrow again and quickly walked to the front door. Before he got to the door something caught his eye, he turned quickly and looked at his reflection in a small pond. His hair was down to his shoulders, he hadn't cut it since last year, he had slight stuble and gaunt cheeks, he thought he looked a lot like Sirius.

"Harry!" a familiar voice screamed and suddenly he was in a tight hug, Red hair in his face and the smell of flowers that sent his mind racing.

"Hi Ginny, I missed-" Harry began before he was cut of with a gesture of the girl infront of him. Ginny brought her lips to Harry's locking him in a deep embrace. The kiss also conveyed a message to him, it said 'I know you missed me, I missed you too and I never want you to leave me again. I love you, and I'm here for you.'

"You better stop before Ron and George see." Hermione said rushing out to see her friend, hugging him quickly when Ginny had let go of him. "Harry you haven't been sleeping have you?"

"No...I guess I haven't. What about you." Harry replied.

"None of us have been sleeping very well, though being together seems to help a bit." Ginny whispered, squeezing Harry's hand. He knew she was thinking about Fred. "Well we best get into the house, can't let Mum wait any longer to tell you how thin, tired and ragged you look."

Harry, Ginny and Hermione walked into the Burrow, Harry was quickly scrutinized by Mrs. Weasley and then greeted by the rest of the Weasleys. It was nice to have all the friendly faces being happy to see Harry not because he defeated Voldemort but because he was Harry Potter, a member of the family. The day past quickly, it seem like only a momment past and now he was in a warm bed in Ron's room, the Twin's old room was being used by George

"How are you and Hermione?" Harry whispered to Ron, he knew he wasn't asleep.

"Really good, her parents even like me." Ron said excitedly.

"Thats good to hear, I was hoped you to were still together...your good for each other." Harry said smiling slightly, he had gotten over any worry he had for his two best friends to be dating. "How is your Mum handling have you both here? You've been dating so long you'd think she'd have done something."

"Funny you should say that, she charmed the hallway so a warning alarm goes off if I go anywhere other then the loo." Ron laughed.

"Does she honestly think that you'll go off and have sex?" Harry said jokingly but Ron stayed silent. "Ron, you and Hermione haven't..." Still silence. "You haven't?!"

"Can we not talk about this." Ron stammered, his voice raising a by a bit. Harry just laid where he was stunned, his best friends couldn't be having sex. "We haven't had sex yet." Ron finally said with a nervous sigh.

"Yet?"

"We've only talked about it, we're both waiting for the right moment, something romantic." Ron whispered. Harry didn't saying anything, it wasn't really his business, he just laid there and tried to sleep, tomorrow he would be off to Diagon Alley to get his books and a hair cut.

Harry couldn't remember a more chaotic time getting ready to go back to school. First he was bombarded by reporters for the daily prophet in Diagon Alley but then he was again bombarded on platform one and three-quarters, then he was bombarded with questions from students on the Hogwarts Express. The only people that didn't badger him for questions were the school ghosts, students that fought at Hogwarts with him and teachers, at least when he asked other Griffindors to stop they did, that gave him peace at the long table.

"Welcome back students." Professor McGonagall began. "We have many seventh year students returning this year, but before I give the traditional start of year speech I'd first like to have a moment of silence. A moment of silence for our friends, families, fellow students that died in this castle last year. Let us remember them all." Professor McGonagall listed off names of people that died at this school. "And let us remember Professor Snape who risked his life to help foil He who...Lord Voldemort's reign of evil and ended Professor Dumbledore's life, at his request, before and injury left him feeble. And let us remember Professor Dumbledore, he spent the last days of his life fighting Lord Voldemort and perpared others to fight him." The school went into a complete silence, some people held on to one another. Harry gripped onto Ginny's hand and remember everything. He still resented Snape for the harsh treatment but now he also respected him for all that he sacrificed.

"We have with us a new teacher this year. Professor Desmen Eclipse will be teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts this year and he will also being filling a new position at this school, which he will explain." Professor McGonagall announced. The new teacher walked to the podium, he was very young, he appeared only to be in his early twenties. He semi-short dark brown hair, and an angular face, he also spoke with a tone of someone much older.

"Hello students. As Professor McGonagall said I am Professor Eclipse and I will be teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts, I will also be the school's first ever counselor. I will be avalible in my office to discuss any problems you are having and that can be emotional problems, stress from school, relationship matters and even matters involving sexuality. Nothing anyone tells me will leave my office, you teachers will not be informed and neither will your parents, these are your private matters that you need help with, advised on or even just to get off your chest." Professor Eclipse sat back in his seat and Professor McGonagall sent everyone to bed. Tomorrow was going to be interesting for Harry, he would now walk the halls of Hogwarts and pass places where he had fought, and places where people had died.