AN: Hello lovelies! I have returned, and with a new idea for a story to boot! Never fear, I haven't abandoned my other Harry Potter fanfic, Threads of Fate (which if you haven't read yet go and check it out), but this story has been buzzing around in my brain for quite a while now, and so I just need to get it out on paper! I hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter One: The Aftermath

It was over. Really and truly and completely over. Voldemort lay on the cold stone floor of the Great Hall, his serpent-like eyes no longer seeing and his lungs no longer drawing breath. The Elder Wand would been returned to its rightful place, sealed away with Dumbledore, so that it's power would die as Harry did. Hermione almost couldn't believe it. She had always believed herself to be a rational witch, and so deep down she had known that there was a slim chance of them succeeding in ridding the world of Lord Voldemort. The fact was, however, that against insurmountable odds, they had in fact succeeded, and the brightest witch of the age was incredibly proud of what she and her friends had accomplished.

However, their victory had not come without a cost, and as Ron held her hand tightly, she couldn't help but think about how he had lost his brother, how Harry had lost his godfather, how little Teddy Lupin had lost both his parents - how nearly everyone they knew had lost someone incredibly important to them; someone they had loved, someone whose absence would leave a gaping hole in their life. Hermione fought against the tears welling in her eyes as she thought of all they had lost in order to achieve their victory today. Suddenly Ron's hand felt as though it was suffocating her skin, and she tore it away from him, ignoring the hurt look in his wide blue eyes as she turned from his gaze, drawing a steadying breath. She felt as though the world was pressing in on her, and she simply needed to get away. Turning to Ron, she reached up and tenderly touched his face.

"Ron..." she whispered. "I'm sorry. I know this is horrible timing. But we've lost so much, so many people we've loved." Ron looked down at the wild haired witch, a frown marring his face. She pressed on. "If there is a chance my parents are out there, alive somewhere, I need to find them. If there's any chance at all, I need to know. I can't lose them forever as well." Leaning up on her toes, she pressed a soft kiss to his downturned lips, before turning swiftly on her heel and nearly running away from the boy she loved, tears silently rolling down her face.


Ron stared in stunned silence after Hermione, his mouth gaped open rather unattractively. They'd finally come together; why on earth was she leaving? Anger started to stir deep inside him, roiling in his guts and spreading though his blood like poison. His temper burst free, and he couldn't help the horrible thoughts that seeped into his mind. He'd just lost his brother, his family was in turmoil, and he needed her now more than ever. Hermione had always been his rock, steady and unwavering in any situation, unfailingly loyal to a fault. He sneered, his features twisting into something ugly and angry.


Harry stared into Ginny Weasley's green eyes, swollen and red from crying, and thought how he couldn't imagine his life without her. He was riding a high - his lifelong enemy was gone; there was no more sinister threat looming over them like a dark cloud. Being involved with him would no longer put her life in danger. He smiled quietly to himself, laying a kiss on his love's forehead. He twirled the Elder Wand carefully in between his fingers, and studied the unassuming sliver of wood. To imagine something so seemingly inoffensive could produce so much damage... Harry repressed a shudder, and silently thanked Merlin that it was over. He still couldn't quite believe that it was truly finished, it felt as though any second Voldemort would pop out from around a corner. He studied the Elder Wand a moment more, before grasping it in between his hands, and with a sense of finality, it snapped satisfyingly in two. Ginny looked questioningly up at him, but he simply smiled down at her. The words left his mouth almost without his consent;

"Ginny Weasley, will you marry me?"

AN: Okay, that seems like a decent enough place to end off the first chapter! I hope you all enjoyed it; feel free to leave me a review :)

xo

T