The sun rose and stayed high in the sky as five boys slept in their four-poster beds. Their whole circular room was illuminated through the gaping hole blasted in the ceiling. Their deep breathing was muffled behind burnt curtains and their thin sheets. All over the castle scars were beared for all to see. Of course they will not remain. Only a few mere hours ago peace had been restored. Lord Voldemort had fallen and shall never live again.

Seamus Finnegan, Dean Thomas, Neville Longbottom, Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter could sleep; happy and colourful dreams kept them whole. Was there a need to wake? The battle had taken its toll on everyone. Every bed was full; many more conjured for all those who battled. Some beds though, will never be occupied again.

The grounds were silent, excusing the sound of breathing and a song so beautiful it was beyond description. A red feathered bird soared high above the rubble that was left of a school full of magic. It could see all the hope and freedom left behind from the mass destruction. Fawkes landed upon the cracked white marble of the magnificent grave of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. He dropped one single scarlet feather on the grave, gave one last cry and caught on fire, his ashes scattered by the breeze. Now that there was peace, Albus Dumbledore no longer needed to keep watch of his school, and finally he was laid to rest.

"Hermione dear, would you like some eggs?" Mrs Weasley smiled as she offered the plate to weary, but happy seventeen-year-old. Hermione accepted the plate and added a pile of eggs worthy of Ron to her plate.

Molly, Arthur, Bill, Fleur, Charlie, Percy, Fred, Ron, Ginny, Harry and Hermione sat at the large oak table in the great hall. There was only one table left undamaged and every person left over from the battle squashed together happily enjoying their First meal in unity. Arthur and Molly sat together cuddling opposite Bill and Fleur. Ginny, Hermione and Percy sitting alongside the elderly couple while Fred, Ron and Harry sat beside the younger.

Every now and then, Ron would look up and smile sadly at Hermione his ears gong sightly red. Last night after the battle and after Harry had repaired his wand, he and Hermione had visited the kitchens which were empty and had enjoyed the warmth of the fire. Now you could refer to them as a whole instead of individuals.

Harry had yet to speak to Ginny. She hadn't spoken much since last night to anyone. She sat with her long auburn hair in front of her face staring at her empty golden plate. She had been with Tonks when it happened and she was now forever scarred.

But her sorrow was nothing compared to George. He sat still and pale. He didn't eat. He didn't speak. And no one knew what to say to him. Percy just stared at him, which didn't help either.

"So Mr. Weasley, will you be staying to help clear up?" Harry asked to clear the tension. The balding man looked at Harry as if unwilling to speak, but when he saw that Molly and Hermione were expecting an answer he spoke.

"I'll be staying today. But tomorrow I have to return to the ministry to help Kingsley."

"'Back to work so soon?" Hermione asked, her face was scratched and gouged.

Arthur looked at them with a pained expression. "I'm afraid… giving certain events… that working will be the best thing for me."

No one said anything, but Ginny looked up at Harry. Her eyes flickered to the door and then she got up and left.

Harry stood and watched her leave. "I'm just going to… erm, see you."

He found Ginny just outside on the stairs standing watching the mist around the grounds. She stood hugging herself but now her hair was tucked behind her ear. When she heard his approach she rounded on him.

"Harry James Potter! I can't believe you!" she whispered ferociously.

Harry stopped taken aback.

"You walked straight past me last night! I know it was you! Then you let me think you were dead! Gone! All that on top of loosing my brother! And then I watched tonks die! How come you didn't come and find me?"

She's angry, was the simplest way to put it.

"I-I did it for your own good! You'd never have let me enter the forest otherwise!"

She frowned. "Harry, how could you not think I wouldn't 'let' you into the forest?"

"Well, that's a lie. The truth is…" he sighed, with his hands in his pockets he kicked at some rubble beneath his sneaker. "I knew that if I stopped and talked to you then I wouldn't have the strength to finish what I had to start."

She looked at Harry, the boy she had loved since her second year for a very long time. She watched him turn into the man he now was; his jaw was now square and his glasses still slid down his nose. She took in every inch of his face, having not seen him for over a year.

"You're different."

He looked up at her through his mane of hair, only realising how long it really was last night.

"I can fix that."

"Harry, are you going to repeat the year?"

He shook his head. He was wearing a black shirt and jeans, complimentary of Dudley, and scathed old sneakers. Luckily he was pretty clean, having taken a swim in the unharmed prefect's bathroom. "I expect you will go on for your seventh though?"

"Yes, with Hermione."

Through the open doors they heard the sound of the hall quietening as Professor McGonagall's voice rang loud, pairing people off to begin clearing up. Harry extended his hand to Ginny, and they walked back inside together to join what was left of their family and friends.