Chapter one

The first few weeks after the battle of Hogwarts was dedicated to burying the dead. Even though Harry Potter was tired, the weariness went right to his soul, he went to the funerals of every person that died at Hogwarts. He just believed it was the right thing to do. But burying Remus and Tonks next to his parents at Godric's Hollow broke him so much that he had to be held up by Ron and Hermione, with Ginny close by.

Harry had been staying strong to help the Weasley family with the loss of Fred, he stayed beside Ginny the whole time now even though they were only talking about resuming their relationship. He did tell Ginny that he still liked her, he just needed some time to work a few things out in his head. So he decided she needed him during this time but they could work out what was going to happen to them another time, when the Weasley family had time to grieve. But as the man conducted the service for Remus and Tonks that's when Harry needed his friends.

When the funerals were over Harry, Hermione and Ron had to sit down with the Minister, Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, as well as the DA that stayed to fight along with the Order of the Phoenix. The three friends explained everything, what they had been involved in the year before the battle and what they did during the battle. With the help of Albus Dumbledore's portrait everyone was all finally filled in on everything including Severus Snape's real role.

Apart from Hermione, Ron, Harry and Severus, everyone sat there in shock at what they heard, but what surprised the DA was how far their most hated teacher had gone to ensure the students weren't killed. The DA looked at each other before Neville stood in front of Severus Snape, holding out his hand.

'We owe you our lives Professor, thank you.'

Severus shock his hand, 'You're welcome Longbottom,' Severus nodded to all the DA who all smiled at him.

'I always knew when I heard everything I would be surprised, but some actually shocked me. So as your Minister, I believe all you young ones should go enjoy yourselves, you deserve to have some fun. Why don't you head down to the lake for a swim, since it's stifling today,' Kingsley smiled.

'I think that's a good idea, what do you say Harry?' Ginny smiled.

'Yeah, sounds good and I am hot, plus it might wake me up a bit. So how about it DA, ready to get wet?'

'Let's go boss,' Seamus smirked.

Harry grinned but led the DA out of the office and down through the school. The adults all sitting around the office could not believe what they had heard yet how well Harry and the others seem to be coping.

'Harry seemed tired, is he still having nightmares?' Poppy asked.

'He sleeps a lot so we weren't sure, we believe he's been putting up a silencing charm around his bed of a night,' Arthur said.

'He said these last few years have finally gotten to him and his just exhausted. We often find him asleep outside sitting in the sun,' Molly said, 'We think he just needs time and after hearing everything he is going to need a lot of time, more than we thought.'

'Yes, but it's also to do with Remus, the last link to his family. I believe he is finally grieving for his lost family, especially Sirius,' Minerva sighed.

'We're his family now Minerva, eventually he will be officially when Ginny and Harry marry.'

'So they are back together now?' Minerva asked.

'Oh yes, Harry just asked to keep it quiet so the papers would not find out. He did not want to put Ginny in that type of situation where she would not get any peace. Anyway, we should head home, allow the young ones to have a bit of fun for a while.' Molly said.

'I will need to speak with Harry again soon, but I'll send an owl when I'm ready,' Kingsley said.

'But why would you Minister, when he has explained everything?' Molly asked.

'So I can get a release ready, I wish to discuss it with Harry and Severus before I do. I'm sure there is some information that they would prefer to leave out. So tell Harry I will send him an owl when I'm ready to discuss this but he will need to come to my office for that discussion. Now I should get going, still so much to do.'

'Yes, just as we have much to do Minister. If we are to have Hogwarts opened again by September then we must finish the repairs.'

'Yes, I wish I could spare more people, Minerva but they are working on cleaning out the ministry right now. If I find any that I know you can trust I will send them here.'

'All help with be welcome.'

After that the adults went their separate way where Severus went to the fourth floor. He stared down at the friends of Harry Potter who were all swimming in the lake, all except Harry who was asleep leaning against the large beech tree. Severus was not sure how he felt about the boy now, but one thing he did know was he had been wrong about him. Harry Potter was not like his father at all, apart from looks, Harry Potter was exactly like Lily.

When Severus first heard that Harry Potter would need to die, he never believed the boy would go through with it. But just like Lily who was willing to die to protect her son, Harry was willing to die to protect others, Lily died and Harry was willing too. He still wished Lily survived, but he knew without a doubt that she would be proud of her son.

One thing worried Severus, there was just something he couldn't put his finger on, something to do with Harry and why he was always sleeping. Yes he could understand that the boy had been stressed for years and that could cause someone his age to sleep now the danger has past, he was emotionally drained, not just physically but emotionally as well. Severus still felt like it was more so he was going to keep an eye on Harry, when he could and just hoped that sharing his soul with the dark lord did not cause the boy any problems.

It was a week later that Harry Potter arrived unconscious at St Mungo's. All the top healers examined him and all came to the same conclusion, he had been poisoned with the draught of living death. Hermione, Ron and all their friends were shocked to hear what happened to Harry, but they also wondered how. The Weasley family were also at St Mungo's, trying to find answers as well especially since Harry had been staying at the Weasley home.

All the Weasley's and all Harry's friends, along with the minister were together in the conference room at St Mungo's.

'As you should know, the antidote to the draught of living death must be given within twenty four hours; that will not work on Mr. Potter now. But can you explain why you waited so long to bring Mr. Potter to see a healer?'

'Harry had been sleeping a lot since the fighting at Hogwarts, some days he would fall asleep outside in the sun. He explained to us that he was exhausted, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally, so we all put it down to that,' Arthur said.

'Harry said to us that the last seven years felt like a lot longer and he never realised how stressed he was,' Hermione sniffed.

'But he had been stressed for years before that, those muggles treated Harry terribly,' Ron said.

'So we found him asleep on his bed about a couple of hours after breakfast yesterday morning, but it didn't seem so strange since he had been sleeping a lot. We kept an eye on him but he never woke, we decided to give him some time; that he just might need a good sleep. He has suffered from nightmares for years, now he's an adult he would be able to cast a silencing charm around himself, so we thought that's what Harry was doing, waking a lot with nightmares, but he never told us. When we found him in the exact same position this morning, that's when we realised something was wrong,' Molly said.

'What happens now Healer Greyson?' Kingsley asked.

'We can make him comfortable here or at a private hospital, but it can get pricey. That is all we can do for him.'

'Harry has a lot of money and a private hospital would be better since he would not get a lot of privacy here,' Ron said.

'But he might not want to waste that type of money Ron, I'm sure the people here can give Harry some privacy and we'll be with him. I know I'm going to be here all the time, I want him to know that his friend is always with him,' Hermione said.

'Yes, I think Hermione is right, it would be a waste, for all we know Harry has plans for that money. We can't just decide to use his money without asking him,' Neville said.

'Before anyone makes any decisions on Mr. Potter's behalf, we have to determine if there might be someone that has the right. I know his parents and godfather died, what about his godmother?'

'That's my mother Healer Greyson, Harry only found out a few weeks back, when he went into his parent's home. My gran said everyone agreed not to tell us since my parents were already here,' Neville said sadly.

'We're Harry's family, I'm his girlfriend, it should be up to us.'

'Harry told me he knew you two wouldn't make it so you weren't going to be together. So if it's up to anyone then it should be up to me and Ron who are his best friends,' Hermione said.

'Harry and I spoke alone Hermione, he said we are back together but to keep it quiet so word didn't spread. He did not want his private life splashed all over the papers. He might be your friend but that doesn't mean he tells you everything,' Ginny snapped.

'Before any decisions get made I will go speak with Albus Dumbledore's portrait. I know he had rights over Harry in the magical world, maybe he passed that to someone before he died. We need to know before any decisions about Harry can be made. But another thing, even if Harry has money and we decide he would be better in private hospital no one is allowed to enter his vault.'

'Surely as his family Kingsley they could work something out so we can care for him. Bill and I have both gone to his vault, Harry gave us his key,' Molly said.

'I would need to check with the goblins, which I will do after I speak with Albus' portrait. I am keeping an auror here, he knows who is allowed into Harry's room so at least we know he's safe. I will return when I have some answers Healer Greyson.'

'I will make sure Mr. Potter is comfortable until we know for sure where he will go. Now it's late and well past visiting hours, I would suggest all of you leave. But I will say this, I know Mr. Potter has all of you and you care about him, but from now on only two visitors at a time and I will limit those visits to half an hour.'

'But I want to stay with him,' Ginny whined, 'We were talking about the future, I thought I could keep talking to him about it. It might help until he wakes up.'

'That wouldn't be fair Ginny, all of us want to spend time with Harry as well,' Hermione fumed.

'Half an hour each, no longer and no more visits for those people on the same day,' Healer Greyson stared intensely at the young red head, 'Now I think you should go.'

'I will contact you Healer Greyson,' Kingsley shook his hand but waited until everyone left before he followed.

The following morning Kingsley walked into the ruins that was Hogwarts, 'Filius, could you tell me where Minerva is?'

'Oh Minister, yes, she is up in her new office.'

'Thank you,' Kingsley carefully moved through the castle until he came to the large office that previously belonged to Albus Dumbledore, 'Minerva.'

'Kingsley, I never expected a visit from you now you are minister.'

'Have you heard about Harry?'

'Potter, no, what has he got himself into this time?'

'He's in St Mungo's, the healers found he has been poisoned with the draught of living death. It was more than twenty four hours before Molly and Arthur took him to the hospital.'

'Oh no, do you know who poisoned him?'

'No, but I have not started investigating yet. I need to speak with Albus, any chance you can wake him?'

'Albus, wake up,' Minerva called urgently.

'Minerva, Kingsley, what can I do for you?'

'Albus, I know you had legal rights over Harry in our world, did you perhaps pass that to anyone before you died?'

'I did, but I only followed James and Lily's instructions. Tell me why you want this information?'

'Harry was poisoned with the draught of living death. We are trying to determine how to care for him. But without any legal documentation or someone like a godparent we cannot do much at this time.'

'Severus and Minerva both have all legal rights over Harry. Lily wished for Severus as they were childhood friends and James believed Minerva would care for Harry if needed. If you find my papers you find Lily and James' Wills, I always planned to pass it on to Harry but with so much going on it slipped my mind. But I also have Harry's Will, after the return of Tom I advised Harry to make out his will. So even though he wasn't quite fifteen at the time a Will was needed as Tom was determined to kill Harry. Naturally Sirius would have been his main benefactor, but I know he divided his assets between his friends, Hagrid, Minerva and Hogwarts, he even named me.'

'Where would Albus' papers be Minerva?'

'I removed them when the ministry fell, I took them down into my rooms. I have not brought them back up as I knew they were safe. But I never knew James or Lily named us.'

'We spoke not long after I explained the prophecy. Naturally Sirius and Alice were Harry's godparents, but we had to make contingency plans in the event of Lily, James and Sirius' deaths.'

'Then I will find the papers and speak with Severus.'

'I know now is not the best time Minerva, but can you and Severus meet me at St Mungo's first thing in the morning, right after breakfast?'

'We will be there Kingsley.'

'I need to get back to the ministry and find someone who can investigate. The Weasley's will not like this at all, but their home will need to be searched as Harry was staying there.'

'I cannot believe it was any of them Kingsley.'

'No, it probably wasn't, but someone gave Harry that potion. I have to go, I will see you in the morning.'

Minerva followed Kingsley out of the office, she headed straight down to her rooms. She found the box where she left it and found the Wills of Lily and James Potter, along with Harry's Will. Even though Harry was alive, this Will be needed so they would know who he would wish to care for him if anything was to happen. But now it was time to explain to Severus that he would need to put his dislike for James Potter aside and think of what is best for Harry. But as Minerva had been named as well, she would make sure Severus did the right thing for Harry.