Chapter 1

Gryffindor tower itself didn't seem to be seriously damaged, a little shaken perhaps but still intact unlike a lot of the castle. Harry noticed this as he trudged up those familiar stairs to his waiting four post bed . the bed spread was fresh and neat, harry had forgotten that no one had slept in it for an entire year. Sitting down, Harry already felt a huge weight lift. From wear he was he could see the smouldering remains of Hagrid's hut the Quidditch pitch ,parts of the forbidden forest and most of the castle.

Crawling under the red and gold embroidered quilt Harry fell asleep instantly. For the first time in along time Harry had joyful dreams , he dreamt about his future with Ginny, his now stress relieved life and how the enemy he had tried to vanquish for years was gone. Slowly he began to open his eyes, then sitting up and peering around the room he saw bed next to his was occupied. He then realized it was Ron, who was obviously deep in sleep. A small cough made Harry swivel around his wand pointed out, but he then lowered it surprised to see a taken-back and ill-looking Hermione sitting with a book on one of the empty beds.

'Hermione?,' Harry said blinking. He had thought she would have gone to her own dorm,

"why are you in here?' he added pointedly

'Well, Ron and I came to check on you ,' she said 'but when we saw you were asleep ,Ron thought we should wait. After a few minutes Ron dozed off so I just stayed'. She looked over at Ron who was beginning to stir, but didn't wake.

'has anything happened since I fell asleep? ' Harry asked hoping nothing had .

' Well a few parents have come to collect children….and bodies' she added with a chill, ' most of the injured have been move to Saint Mungo's and relatives have been informed about the battle, the dead and injured'. She looked at him her eyes red, 'Dromeda Tonks came with baby Teddy and almost collapsed at the sight of Tonks and Lupin, they were her last close family left'.

There was a break of silence till Hermione added 'poor, little Teddy'

Harry paused and thought about this, Teddy Lupin had now lost his parents just as he had done, and Harry knew his grandmother would be there with him for very long, ( seeing how she has gone though a lot in the past year, the shock might just be too much) but then Harry remembered that he may have to care for teddy at some point in his life because, of course, he is his godfather.

Moving on Harry spoke –up again,

' how are the Weasley's?' he asked thinking about the state they had been when he left them.

'They've calm down a bit about Fred and have moved the body back to the Burrow,' Hermione replied 'but they are all still very shaken.'

Harry felt that same feeling in his heart again, as if a piece was falling away and would never return .

'who'd you reckon is the most upset ?' Harry said with a hallow voice.

' I don't know ,' Hermione spoke with the same empty tone 'Mrs. Weasley is really torn up, I can tell Mr. Weasley, bill ,Charlie and Ron are all trying to keep calm about the whole thing, but I did see a few tears on their cheek s earlier, Ginny looks almost sick, she was very close to the twins, but I have to say George is the most overwrought . he's grown up with Fred not only as his twin but his best friend and co-worker, you have to imagine what is like for him looking at a body identical to his-own, it would be like staring at your dead self.'

This made Harry think about the time at Grimuald place with Mrs. Weasley and the bogart that kept changing into her dead family and himself, the thought made a Harry shiver. Just yesterday Harry's future looked bleak and his world blurry but it was over, no one was trying to kill him anymore and he no longer had that piece of Voldemort the he did not know was within him. He could now live a real life.

Just then there came a rustle of bedding and a yawn. Both Harry and Hermione looked over to see ron sitting up ,blankets pulled to his chest.

'have a nice nap sleeping beauty' harry said grinning

" I could say the same' Ron added with an cheeky smile on his face.

They began to laugh. It felt good to laugh Harry thought probably because he had not done so in such a long time. Hermione got up and move over to sit on Ron's bed. Harry also noticed them take each other's hand instinctively and gave a small smile. Hermione saw this and turned slightly pink.

Harry stomach let out a loud rumble, both Ron and Hermione seem to have heard because Ron perked up and said

"shall we go down for a bit of food? ,they've set out a feast in the Great Hall '

'sure ' Harry said shifting out of bed.