Harry Potter: The In-between the After

Hi everyone! I'm HPforever347, and I'm obviously a big Harry Potter fan. This series is really close to my heart and I just wanted to continue the story for my sake… but I decided to share it on here.

This story is about the time gap in the seventh book. You know, the part before the fade to black and the 19 Years Later… it focuses mainly on Harry and Ginny, but when you say Harry Potter, you think of the whole gang. They are included too. After I'm bored writing about their teenage years, I will continue on after the epiloque of the seventh book. This section will include the gang and their kids!

So after that long and boring introduction here is my story!
Please review and subscribe!

It had been 3 days since the Battle. Anyone willing stayed at Hogwarts to help clean and repair it. McGonagall, the new Headmistress, decided that it would be best if the students were given the rest of the present school year off. In order to cope with the horrors they had witnessed.

The relief Harry felt after he defeated Voldemort was dissipating. He, Ron, and Hermione had been working together, trying to contact the families of those who died. They sent lists of the deceased to the Ministry of Magic, who published them in the Daily Prophet. So many had died for the cause. Harry tried not to blame himself. Hermione kept reassuring him, "This isn't your fault Harry. It was Voldemort's. If he wasn't evil in the first place…". But that didn't take away that friends, sons, daughters, moms, and dads were dead. All because of Harry. It was Teddy Lupin who was now an orphan. It was George who lost a twin, Harry thought. He couldn't bare to face the Weasleys, let alone Ginny. The first time he saw her after the battle was not a pleasant experience for him.

Since everyone was working so hard to restore the castle, McGonagall created a system where groups could stay in various rooms of the castle at night. It avoided the problem of underage kids without places to sleep. It was almost like a hotel system. All the members of the order that were still alive had their own rooms. One night, Harry couldn't sleep and was walking through the corridors. He happened to stumble across the cracked open door to the trophy room, where he saw a glimpse of red hair. He peered in closer to see the Wealsey family resting on cots. Ginny was on the cot closeset to her mother. She had red puff eyes and tearstained cheeks. Harry could tell she was distraught. It broke his heart. Harry avoided her ever since. He didn't want to deepen her pain by unleashing all of his on her. The first time he saw her after the battle was not a pleasant experience for him.

"Harry…? Are you good, mate," asked Ron unsurely. He had just broken Harry out of deep thought. "When was the last time you slept?"

Harry, who was stuck thinking remorseful thoughts, lazily replied, "Uh… about 5 days ago."

"5 days! Harry! You need to sleep," exclaimed Hermione.

"Really?" said Harry sarcastically. "Last time I tried I had nightmares about Voldemort still."

"You should really talk to-" Hermione started.

"Who, Dumbledore," asked Harry.

"I was going to say McGonagall," said Hermione angrily.

Harry rubbed his eyes and ruffed his hair. Ron and Hermioned looked at each other.

"Hey at least we get to go home later today. You're staying at my house. So is Hermione."

Harry's head shot up. "This is our last day at Hogwarts."

They both nodded. Harry looked around at the newly restored Gryffindor common room. He would miss his home. "Now what do we do?" All three of them looked at each other and were quiet for a long time.

All of the volunteers had met in the Great Hall to hear McGonagall's closing speech. Her voice was magnified because she didn't have the power of silencing a crowd with one word like Dumbledore did yet.

"I would like to thank all of you for your heartfelt work. Hogwarts has been restored to its originality and deceased have been cared for. May we remember this remorseful time always. For it will remind us that evil may reign, but good always prevails.

Damn, thought Harry, she already has a catch phrase.

Everyone got up, started talking, and began to make their way out. Harry couldn't find the Weasleys anywhere in the warm, crowded Great Hall. It was filled with bruised teenagers, their parents, Order members, and staff. Harry was caught in the middle of a crowd that was moving in 20 different directions. He couldn't help but spin in a circle to try and find someone. Then, he heard a cry from behind him. He turned around long enough to see a flash of red hair before Ginny was in his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and his were around her waist. This was the happiest Ginny had been in a long time.

"Where have you been?"

"Hiding from your family," said Harry.

Ginny pulled away far enough to look at Harry's face.

"Because of everything," said Harry. Ginny's eyes filled slowly with tears and she looked away, slowly letting go of Harry, but he was desperatetoo, so he pulled her in tighter. He realized his mistake. They both needed comfort, and he abandoned her. They stood there for what felt like hours, Ginny sniffing softly on Harry's shoulder every now and then. "I needed you," she said. "And I could've helped you too."

"I'm sorry. I thought you hated me. I couldn't bear to be rejected by you."

"Never. Avoid-Me. Again," said Ginny.

"Oh I wont," said Harry. He wasn't going to be the first to pull away. It was the rightest feeling he had ever felt. Apparently, Ginny felt the same, because she didn't let go for a time after that.

After they broke apart, they looked around the Great Hall to find it was almost empty. The Weasleys were waiting patiently in the corner. McGonagall was talking to the professors. Dean, Seamus, and the Patil twins stood laughing and talking near the windows. Luna and Neville were drinking tea at a table and talking.

Harry looked at Ginny and felt extremely grateful she was alive. He fought the urge to kiss her in front of her broken family, ex-boyfriend, and professors.

"Are you okay, Gin?" She looked up at him.

"No… but I will be. Are you okay?"

"Yea," said Harry unsurely.

"Rubbish," said Ginny. "I can see it in your eyes."

"Excuse me, ," they heard McGonagall ask. "May I have a word?"

Harry looked at Ginny expectantly and she fake-half-smiled and pushed him gently towards the Headmistress.

Ginny started walking towards her family. George was sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, a few feet away from the rest of the Weasleys. AS she walked up to him, she got surprised looks from her family but slid down the wall anyway and said, "Hey, Georgie," sympathetically. At that, George sprang up, walked out of the Great Hall, and Disapparated with a crack. The crack stung Ginny's heart and she jolted. Ron came and sat down. He just sat down. That's all she needed. Then Harry walked up and sat down on her otherside, and Hermione sat next to Ron. "Good-bye Hogwarts," said Harry. They joined hands and closed their eyes. When they opened them they were at the Burrow.

Thanks for reading. This chapter is sad and dreary, I promise they will get lighter. You can't come from the biggest battle in wizard history and all of the sudden be all chip and cheery right after.

Please continue reading and review!