Chapter 1.

The sun was rising over the Great Lake bathing the castle in an orange blanket of light, making the holes, strewn boulders and deep trenches look like scars and cuts to the surrounding grounds. The destruction to a Castle seemed that had once looked so magical and inspiring made it look so damaged and irreparable now, as if it was only the overwhelming magic used within its walls over the generations that held it all together.

Harry was suddenly realizing how utterly spent he felt. How long ago has it been since he last slept. Before the Gringotts break-in? That felt like months ago. After all they had been through he could feel his hands starting to tremble slightly. The exhaustion starting to overwhelm him.

Glancing one more time at Dumbledores twinkling eyes and smiling face, he gave a brief nod to his mentor and turned around to start making his way out the door, once again to the "Bravos" and "Well dones" coming from the portraits of the past Headmasters all around the office.

Hermione and Ron noticed his pale face as Harry turned around and followed along behind him.

Walking down the circular staircase and back into the hallway, past the groaning Gargoyle still laying on its side, they starting making their way back to Gryffindor tower.

"What are we going to do now" asked Hermione as they walked through the damaged, dusty and rocky hallway.

"Sleep," muttered Harry. Too tired to think or say anything else.

"Food" grunted Ron at the same time. Hermione just rolled her eyes.

As they approached the entrance to the Gryffindor Common room they saw the portrait hole open and the Fat Lady nowhere to be seen. They clambered into the hole into a deserted Gryffindor tower. As Harry and Ron started up the stairs towards the Dorm they noticed Hermione still with them. Ron gave Harry a shrug but didn't say anything as they carried on up. Getting to the boys room Harry, Ron and Hermione all found a bed each and collapsed into it. Not even bothering to remove their shoes or dirty blood soaked robes.

Before Harry even put his head down the darkness closed in on him.

All around the common room people were sitting in oversized armchairs. Some eating roast beef sandwiches from the large platter the house-elves brought up. Others just staring quietly into space. The celebrating was over. The high of victory was crashing down while they saw scenes of destruction and damage all around them. Too many people dead. Too many lives torn apart. Everyone who had been asleep was starting to wake up to and gather in the common room.

Charlie and Bill were sitting on large armchairs staring into the fire.

"Someone needs to get Ron, Harry and Hermione to come eat something."

Charlie glanced up at his mum who had spoken to the group of Weasleys gathered together. Turning his head to Bill, who gave a slight nod of his head towards the staircase. Charlie and Bill stood up and started making their way to the stairs.

"Do you think theyre awake?" Charlie asked his brother. Knowing how much he, himself just tossed and turned.

"Harry looked dead on his feet. I'm sure he was out like he'd been stupefied when he lay down."

Getting to the room they noticed Harry still lying down with his glasses squashed around his face at an angle. Shoes still on his feet.

Ron was lying on the next bed over, Hermione lying next to him with her head on his chest, both still lying on top of the covers.

They both stopped and stared mouths hanging open.

"Did you know about that?" Charlie asked quietly not taking his eyes off his younger brother.

"They've always had feelings for each other, but I didn't know anything had happened" Bill replied with a smirk.

"I'll get Harry and you get those two." Charlie told his brother while shaking his head in disbelief.

Charlie walked over to Harry and gently took his shoulder to shake him awake.

With a whirl Harry spun off the bed pushing Charlie off his feet onto his back, and he felt the air gush out of his lungs as Harry landed on top of him. "BAM" and lights were blinking in his eyes as his head cracked against the hard stone floor. He felt Harry grab his throat. Harrys eyes blazing, wand pressed against Charlies cheek.

"Charlie?" Harry realized who he was holding down as his eyes started focusing on his surroundings.

"Bloody hell Bill, what do you think you're doing" yelled Ron. Who at the very same time jumped out of bed and in a dueling stance had his wand pointed at Bill, Hermione standing right next to him glancing around the room for more attackers.

Bill who had jumped back and fell over his own feet in surprise was lying on the floor splay legged looking wild eyed at his little Brother and Hermione.

"Are you two crazy. You can't just start attacking people in their sleep, you'll get yourself killed" Yelled Ron again.

"Bill? Charlie? What's going on?" Hermione questioned, the quickest to realize what had happened

Before Charlie or Bill could say anything they heard the sound of many stomping feet running up the stairs as Arthur, Ginny, Percy and George all burst into the room to see what was happening.

"What's going on here?" demanded Arthur a bewildered expression on his face.

The others who came with Arthur just standing looking shocked and confused mouths gaping.

Ginny saw the fierce blazing look in Harrys eyes. His face pale. His robes still dirty and bloody.

"Harry? Harry? What are you doing?" Harry glanced around at the people staring at him.

He glanced back down at Charlie and realized he was still holding him down.

"Geez Charlie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. You startled me." Harry clumsily got off Charlie who started panting trying to get his breath back, red faced and ears started flushing in embarrassment realizing hed just been manhandled by significantly smaller Harry.

Harry sagged onto the floor back against the bed looking terrified at what he had done.

"Why are you lot so jumpy?" Charlie blurted out rubbing his head where a lump was forming, feeling for blood.

"We were just trying to wake you to get some food." Bill spat out while also getting to his feet.

"I'm so sorry Bill, you really shouldn't sneak up on people." Hermione started gushing trying to help Bill up.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. I was just surprised. I didn't expect to get jumped that's all" Bill forced out with an embarrassed Weasley red forming up his neck and ears.

"It's not every day a Gringotts curse breaker gets put on his arse" said George with a lopsided grin.

"Did you see that Fr-"George stopped suddenly glancing next to him, realizing his mistake. His face dropping. He glared around at the others in the room and stalked down the stairs without saying another word.

"Ok, ok it's over now. Why don't you three wash up and come down for some food" Arthur gently said pulling the still stunned Ginny and Percy with him back down the stairs.

Bill helped Charlie up and they gingerlystarted out the room glancing again at Ron and Hermione who still stood with their wands and at Harry who was looking down at the floor, face white as a ghost.

"Come on Harry, let go get cleaned up and something to eat" Hermione said as she started pulling clean clothes for them out of her purse. (That Undetectable extension charm was brilliant.)

"I'm not hungry." Harry muttered as he climbed back onto his bed back to his friends wrapping his arms around his legs.

"But Harry, you have to –", "Just leave him for a bit. He'll come when he's ready" Ron interrupted Hermione. She just gave him a look, and wanted to argue more but Ron just grabbed her hand and started pulling her out the room.

They started making their way to separate bathrooms.

Harry lay in bed, heart pounding. Hands shaking. His eyes hurting from keeping them forced shut so the tears don't start flowing out. Trying to hide how terrified he was feeling. Worried about how he'd reacted.

He didn't want to fight anymore. He was tired of hurting the people he loved.

Tired of hurting his friends.

It was all his fault.