A/N: Hello all. I just recently finished reading the final book in the series, and I love how J.K. Rowling left 19 years to toy around with. I've been thinking about this for a few days, and decided I might as well give it a try to see how it turns out. I'll be changing a few things that happened at the end of the series - one of which you will discover very soon - and I hope to make an interesting story that you will all enjoy. I appreciate reviews!! Feel free to let me know what you think about my story. Thanks for looking in, and I hope to have you reading the whole way through.

Chapter 1: A New Beginning

Harry Potter sat alone in the kitchen of Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, his hands clasped together and resting on the wooden table that had been his Godfather's. He was silent, looking into the fireplace and thinking of how hard this day would be - the funeral of Fred Weasley, Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks.

It had been a little over a week since Voldemort had been utterly defeated, and Harry had not left Sirius' house since the day after. He was exhausted after a year of journeying the countryside, and his only connection to the outside world was the Floo Network, which Kingsley Shacklebolt had seen fit to reopen for public use.

Each day, Ron's head would appear in the fireplace and the two would talk. Today however, it would be Harry going back to the Burrow.

"Master," said a feeble voice. Harry turned and saw Kreacher entering the room. "Are you sure you would like nothing to eat?"

"No thanks, Kreacher," Harry replied. "I don't have much of an appetite."

"Very well," Kreacher said with a bow. "Should I have dinner prepared for when you return?"

"No," Harry said. "I will be staying with the Weasleys for a few days after the funeral."

"Very well," Kreacher said again with another bow. "Please tell them that…. That Kreacher is sorry… about what happened."

"I will, Kreacher," Harry said with a weak smile. Kreacher was still adapting to being civil, and it was obvious he was struggling with the urge to call the Weasleys "blood traitors" or to say something sarcastic about Lupin's passing. Kreacher was learning, however, and each day was getting a little better. Apparently Hermione was right - all Sirius needed to do was treat the house elf with respect.

Harry's smile faded as Sirius' face floated into his mind once again. It still seemed unfair that his Godfather was taken away from him so soon after they met.

"Will there be anything else?" Kreacher asked.

"No, Kreacher," Harry replied. "You may go."

Harry looked down at the Daily Prophet that Kreacher had set on the table. It was with a slight shock that Harry read the headline on the front page.

Harry Potter defeats Lord Voldemort

It was the first time in his life that Harry had seen the name used by the Daily Prophet - the people were finally no longer afraid to say it.

Harry glanced down at the watch Mrs. Weasley had given him the year before. It was time. He stood slowly and approached the fireplace. Grabbing a handful of Floo Powder, he tossed it into the fire and said, quite solemnly, "The Burrow."

"Harry!" he heard as his feet landed softly on the ground. The entire Weasley family was in the sitting room waiting for his arrival. Mrs. Weasely embraced him tightly. "I'm so glad to see you," she said. Her eyes were red.

"Hello everyone," Harry said. He looked around the room and saw more than just the Weasleys looking back at him. Hermione was there, as well as Hagrid, Professor McGonnagal, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Tonks' mother and baby, Teddy Lupin, several members of Dumbledore's Army and, to Harry's shock, the Malfoys. His eyes fell on Draco, who looked away when he met Harry's gaze. Harry then looked to Lucius and Narcissa, who looked back at him not with anger or hatered, but with gratitude and respect.

"Alrigh' Harry?" Hagrid said.

"I'm okay, Hagrid," Harry replied, finally looking away from the Malfoy family. "Still tired, but I'm okay."

"That's good, dear," Mrs. Weasley said. "But I told you you are more than welcome to stay here with us - there's no need to stay cooped up in that place alone."

"I wanted to be alone for a while," Harry said with a shrug. "Besides, Kreacher has been keeping me company. He sends his condolences, by the way."

"He WHAT?" said George incredulously.

"Long story," Hermione said.

"Yeah, he's not that bad once you get used to him," Ron chimed in. "We stayed at Grimmauld Place for a few weeks and he was great."

"Never woulda guessed," George said, shaking his head.

"Hello, Harry," said a soft voice to his right. He turned and saw Ginny standing near him, a weak smile on her face. His heart ached when he thought of what she must be feeling. She looked down at her feet and quickly wiped away the tears she had hoped wouldn't come in front of him.

"Ginny," Harry said quietly. He reached out and pulled her close to him. Her body shook slightly as she began to sob into his chest. Mrs. Weasley was also crying somewhere behind Harry. The room fell painfully quiet.

"It's time," Mr. Weasley said from the back of the room. His voice reverberated off the walls of the Burrow. He approached a small stone Pillar in the middle of the room and touched it, beckoning for the others to do the same. It was a portkey. Harry felt a tug behind his navel and felt himself falling once more through space and time. Again, his feet landed softly , this time on a grassy surface. He looked around at the others and then turned to take in his surroundings. They were at Hogwarts, near the tomb of Albus Dumbledore.

"We thought they should be buried here," Mr. Weasley said, answering Harry's questioning look. "They gave their lives defending this place."

Sure enough, three more tombs had been erected near his former headmaster's. Harry looked back at the school and memories of that night a week ago flooded back to him… the screams of mourning, of pain and death. There were still large sections of the school that were laying in ruins on the ground allowing those outside to see deep within the castle. It was as if the school itself was another of his close friends that had been lost in the battle.

"Alright," said a voice from the front of the crowd. It was the same man who had spoken at Dumbledore's funeral, and at Bill and Fleur's wedding. "Is everyone here?"

"Yes," Mr. Weasley said. But as he said it, a low rumbling of footsteps caused everyone to turn. Pouring in from Hogsmeade were hundreds of people, who had come to offer their condolences. Another set of rumbling footsteps could be heard coming from the school - the house elves had set aside their work to come as well. The ghosts were also following closely behind. Out of the Forbidden Forest came Firenze and several centaurs.

"My word," Professor McGonagall gasped.

"Blimey," Harry heard someone say. He turned and saw Seamus Finnagan's jaw slightly ajar. Finally, the footsteps faded, and all was silent once more.

"Usually, it is I who speak at times like these," the old man said from behind his podium. "But today, someone has requested to speak in my stead. Harry Potter, if you will."

Hundreds of heads turned in Harry's direction, and those around him parted to let him pass. He turned and saw the funeral goers looking at him expectantly.

George Weasley sat in the far right seat in the front row. The chair to his immediate left was empty, for it was right where his twin would usually be, George was looking at the tomb in which his brother would be burried. Harry knew that inside the tomb, Fred was laying with a slight grin on his face - proof that his final moment had been a happy one.

He saw Mr. and Mrs. Weasley huddled together, crying and trying to comfort each other. He saw Ron and Ginny sitting nearby, Ron's face ghostly pale and Ginny's eyes puffy and red. He saw Percy sitting with his head in his hands, ashamed that he had missed out on the last few years of his brother's life. Bill and Charlie were sitting behind their parents, looking somber. He saw Mrs. Tonks crying nearby, rocking baby Teddy as he slept in her arms.

"Hello, everyone," Harry said quietly. "We are here today because three brave people gave their lives to defeat Lord Voldemort. They all gave their lives supporting me and for that, I will never be able to properly show my gratitude." He fell quiet for a moment as Mrs. Weasley couldn't contain a particularly loud sob.

"To the Weasley Family… You have treated me like one of your own for seven years now, and I feel your pain. I feel like I have lost a brother whom I have known my entire life. What your son and brother did for me last week means more than you know. He gave his life supporting me - supporting what I had known would come since I turned eleven. I know what you are feeling right now; I felt the same way when I lost my Godfather, Sirius Black." Harry paused for a moment, remembering the night he met Sirius, and the night he watched him die. "You should be proud of the way Fred died."

The entire Weasley family now broke down, none so much as George. Harry looked over at him sadly.

"Fred was your other half," Harry said. "I know you must be feeling like a part of you is gone forever now that your twin is no longer here. But what you must know is that he is not truly gone. You will see him again - he'll be waiting for you, George," Harry said.

"How do you know?" George said wetly. He wiped his eyes and looked up at Harry.

"I died last week," Harry said quietly. The entire crowd was now paying rapt attention. "Voldemort used the killing curse on me, and I passed out of mind and body. I saw and spoke to Dumbledore. There IS something on the other side - something waiting for us when it is time for us to move on. Fred will be there when it is your time to join him. He's probably watching you right now - you just have to open your heart to him."

"Thank you, Harry," George said, wiping the tears away again.

"To Mrs. Tonks," Harry began. "Tonks and Lupin also gave their lives for our cause. They sacrificed themselves to give their child a better world and you, too, should be proud. Lupin named me the Godfather of Teddy, and I will treat him the same way Sirius treated me - with love, always willing to offer a helping hand."

Harry fell silent once again, and this time did not speak for several long moments. It had all hit him at once… the loss of his parents, of Sirius... and Dumbledore… Now Fred Weasley and Professor Lupin and Tonks. They were all gone… Every one of them had given their lives so he, Harry, could live. His eyes began to burn and his throat tightened up.

"The people we are mourning today died for me, for all of us," Harry said, now fighting back tears. "They fought with us to defeat Voldemort forever. Because of their sacrifice, we have won. Voldemort is dead, and the world we live in is better for it. The world we live in is a better place because Fred Weasley, Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks stood shoulder to shoulder against evil."

Harry stood up straight and looked at the sea of mourners in front of him.

"Remember their sacrifice," He said strongly. He stepped down from the podium and immediately felt himself being pulled into an embrace from the entire Weasley Family.

They ate in the Great Hall of Hogwarts that night. The four long house tables had been removed and replaced with one round table that seated Harry, Hermione, Hagrid, Professor McGonagall and the entire Weasley family. Mrs. Tonks wished to stay, but knew that if Teddy wasn't in bed by a certain time it would be impossible to get him to sleep. The diners were quiet at first, until Harry raised his glass of butterbeer to toast the departed. After the toast, the grief that had enveloped them for a week seemed to evaporate - they were still saddened by their loss, of course, but Harry's speech had given them the strength to move forward.

'Well, what's next?" Hagrid said gruffly. "I mean fer you, three." He looked at Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Hermione and Ron shrugged.

"I don't know," Harry admitted. He had never really given any thought to what would happen if Voldemort were defeated. The thought of becoming an Auror, as he had dreamed of a few years before, seemed so distant that he no longer had a desire to do it.

"Well," McGonagall said quietly. "Professor Dumbledore sent me an owl the night before he died. He told me to give it to you if you managed to defeat Voldemort." She pulled a letter out of her robe and slid it across the table to Harry. He opened it and immediately recognized Dumbledore's elegant looping handwriting. Ron and Hermione were sitting on each side of him and the three read it together.

Dear Harry, Ron and Hermione,

If you are reading this, it means your journey was a success. Voldemort has been defeated. It would have taken courage, intelligence and loyalty to complete the mission I gave you - which is proof that the three of you have succeeded. Harry with your unyielding courage… Hermione with your infallible intelligence, and Ron with your perpetual loyalty to your friends… You three would have had to rely on each other, proving that your friendship is true, or you would not be reading this letter.

The three of you gave up your seventh and final year at Hogwarts to search for and destroy the Horcruxes, and it would seem only fair that you be extended the option to return this year to finish your schooling. I know that you must be exhausted after your journey, for it would not have been an easy one. But I hope that you will consider the offer. An Education is a wonderful thing, and I would feel wholly responsible if you did not finish at Hogwarts.

You three have earned my utmost respect, and I can safely write that it was an honor to be the headmaster of three people so determined and loyal. May you have good fortune all the rest of your days.

Yours Truly,

Albus Dumbledore

Harry folded up the letter and returned it to the table.

"Well?" Mrs. Weasley said. "What did it say?"

"He offered to let us go back for our seventh year," Harry said.

"Oh that's wonderful!" Mrs. Weasley said. "Great man, Dumbledore."

"Well, yeh are comin' back, aren' yeh?" Hagrid said. Harry turned to Ron and Hermione. Hermione was smiling, and Ron was nodding enthusiastically. He then looked across the table to Ginny, who was looking hopeful.

"Of course," Harry said with a smile. Ginny smiled as well.

"That's great!" Hagrid bellowed, thumping the table.

"Excellent," McGonagall said with an approving smile. "I would offer to allow you to stay here over the summer, but the castle is in no shape. It seems Voldemort's followers were more intent on destroying the castle than anything."

"No trouble, Minerva," Mrs. Weasley said with a wave of her hand. "They'll be staying with us."

The door to the Great Hall opened slowly, and everyone turned to see who was entering. Harry rose immediately to his feet to help the injured man. Severus Snape had collapsed to the floor, too weak to go any further.