Chapter -1
Harry woke up in his bed in the dorm of Gryffindor house. He looked at his watch but it was not working. He slid the curtain to one side to get out of the four-poster bed and saw Ron & Hermione were sleeping together in Ron's bed. Though they were fully clothed he still felt uneasy to watch them like that but he did not wake them. He looked out of window, surprised that it was dark then he remembered he had slept whole day. He silently walked out of the dorm and into the common room where the rest of the Weasleys were sleeping. Ginny was holding George; there was grief on both their faces. He wanted to say sorry to them but thinking better of it he did not say anything. The truth was that he still felt so guilty. Knowing his job was not done he walked out of the house and silently made his way to the grounds. While passing from near the Great hall he saw many people were still helping with arranging dead bodies or helping the injured people. Harry saw Neville and he walked to him.
"Hello Neville." Harry said.
"Oh, Hello Harry," He said after jumping by sudden call. "You gave me the fright for the second time today."
"Sorry Neville, I am looking for Hagrid. Do you know where he is?"
"Yeah, I saw him near that end of the forest a while ago." Neville replied pointing south in the direction of the forest
"Thanks I will check there." Harry patted Neville on the shoulder as he walked out into the grounds, quickly spotting Hagrid in the moonlight. "Hagrid," Harry called him with a hoarse voice.
"Hello Harry, Everything alright?" Hagrid asked concerned about Harry.
"Yeah everything is fine; actually I was looking for you. I wanted to say sorry for what happened in the forest." Harry said though it was half-truth.
"Eh, no problem, Harry sometime ya have to do things like that." Hagrid said wearily shaking his head. "Hagrid, could you help me with one more thing?" Harry asked him hesitantly.
"Of course, what do you need?" Hagrid asked.
"I need a Thestral, can you arrange that?" Harry asked for although he could see them he did not know where to find them.
"Yeah, sure." Hagrid said looking at him questionably.
"Dumbledore's work is not finished yet." Harry replied upon seeing the look on Hagrid's face.
"Ya ok?" Hagrid started making a noise that Harry knew very well from his fifth year soon one Thestral came. Harry walked forward patted it and climbed onto its back. He whispered something in its ear and without warning the Thestral took off in the air.
It was over an hour after he had started on his journey that he started feeling the cold. His fingers were numb. Another half hour later the Thestral started climbing down and eventually, when it had landed, he slid off its back. Harry started walking on the narrow path visible to him. Five minutes later, he was standing at the grave of Ignotus Peverell. He dug a hole next to the grave and conjured a box before putting the Elder Wand in the box. He buried the box in the hole and refilled it magically so that nobody could tell that something was dug a moment ago. After a short visit to his parents' grave, he returned to the place where Thestral was waiting for him. An hour and a half later Harry was glad to be landing back in Hogwarts grounds, Ron and Hermione were not there waiting for him so he assumed that they were in the dorms.
He walked in to the great hall, the dead bodies of the heroes of the war were lying near the head table and the bodies of the death eaters were dumped in the farthest corner of the hall. He walked to the dead bodies of the heroes he knew so well. When he saw the bodies of Lupin and Tonks laying next to each other he finally lost his control of his emotions. Kneeling down beside them, he wept for a long time before finally being able to control himself. After composing himself, he went to each body in turn and thanked them for their sacrifice. At last, he came to the Fred's body when he saw that Jimmy Peakes, who was beater of his team during his sixth year, was lying next to Fred's body he lost his control again. Falling on all fours, he started crying again. He did not know how long he was crying until he sensed someone was standing next to him. He looked up and was surprised to see Kreacher was standing there.
"Kreacher!" He said in a surprised tone "How are you my friend?"
"Kreacher is fine master Harry." He replied, "Kreacher know Master Harry has not eaten anything and Kreacher know that Master Harry is not feeling well, he is very sad."
"Yeah Kreacher I am not feeling good at the moment." Harry replied.
"Ca... Can Kreacher request something from Master Harry?" Kreacher asked hesitantly, as though afraid of the words.
"What is it Kreacher?" Harry replied believing he want to be freed.
"Will Master Harry come to the kitchen for a cup of tea?" Kreacher asked. "It is to help you feel good and Kreacher know Master Harry has not eaten anything." Harry accepted his request and ten minutes later was sitting on a long kitchen table.
"Kreacher will you have a cup of tea with me?" Harry asked Kreacher stared at him for few seconds than replied.
"House elves is not supposed to sit with their Masters."
"Why not come and sit with me." Harry insisted and Kreacher reluctantly accepted. When Harry took the first sip of the tea, he felt surprisingly good.
"So here you are drinking tea with house elves." Harry heard a voice from behind he turned to look who is there. Ginny was standing there smiling, though it was a sad smile. He smiled as he saw her.
"Would you like to join us?"
"Sure." She replied and joined them. Half-hour later they both thanked Kreacher and other house elves before walking out of the kitchen
"So when is the funeral ceremony?" Harry asked.
"Tomorrow afternoon at two, here at Hogwarts." Ginny replied him smiling but the sadness remained. "And mum asked me to tell you to come to the Burrow after that."
"Ok." Harry replied in hoarse voice, he was feeling guilty again remembering about the Fred. Ginny sensed it and squeezed his hand.
"Would you like to take a tour of the ground?" She asked him knowing fresh air would make him feel better. Harry agreed. They walked round the back of the lake and stopped under the peach tree. They were sitting under the tree for at least ten minutes whilst Harry stared into space, going over his past seven years from the day he found out he was a wizard on his eleventh birthday.
"How are you feeling?" Ginny asked bringing him back from his thoughts.
"Fine." He lied. He was feeling responsible for all the bad happenings to his friends and family.
"You do not need to lie to me Harry you know that." Ginny told him quite . "You are not feeling well. You think all this death is because of you." Harry stared into her eyes, brown and beautiful but filled with sadness 'how much she knows me' he thought.
"Yeah you are right." He admitted to her after a long minute. Sighing she leaned over him and kissed him. He melted at her touch.
"I love you Harry." She said after they parted for the breath. Harry did not replied to her he was fighting with himself internally. After few minutes, they started walking towards the castle meeting Ron and Hermione at halfway.
"There you two are." Ron said. "Where have you two been? Mum was worried for both of you."
"We were taking a walk." Ginny replied dryly.
"So what are you planning to do about it?" Hermione asked Harry before Ron could have said anything that would have given rise to the argument between him and Ginny.
"Well I have already taken care of it." Harry replied knowing she was talking about the Elder Wand.
"And you did not even tell to us." Ron asked in a tone of surprise.
"Yes because this secret will go with me to my grave." Harry replied as to close the topic; he did not want to give up the place where he had hidden the wand.
"What did you hide it somewhere else?" Ron pressed on "I thought you were going to keep it back in Dumbledore's tomb?"
"Yes after our meeting with Dumbledore's portrait I thought even if I lose in future the wand will not go to someone else and no one can track it back where it is." Harry explained.
"What are you talking about?" Ginny asked. It took Harry a moment to realise that she did not know what they were discussing.
"We are talking about Elder Wand." Harry told her before turning to Ron. "And Ron do not push me I am not going tell you its place."
The two couples walked inside the castle where the Weasleys were waiting for them in the great hall. Mrs Weasley felt relief after seeing them; and she hugged them both tightly.
"Err... where is Mr Weasley?" Harry asked noticing he was not there with everyone.
"He had to go to the ministry Kingsley needs help as much as possible. Percy went with him." Mrs Weasley told him at that moment professor McGonagall stood at head table and everyone's attention shifted to her.
"I have some announcement for you all. Firstly, the funeral ceremony will be held here at Hogwarts ground at two tomorrow afternoon. Secondly, the school will be close for this remaining year and will reopen for the next year as usual on first of September but your book list will arrive late. Thirdly, those who want to repeat their last year are also welcome. Those who do not want to come back for their seventh year can attend NEWT at end of July. Fourth, those who want to help in the rebuilding of the school can give their names to their house heads before ten tomorrow morning." When professor finished her announcement she seemed to sag in relief, like she was grateful for the words to be out. Harry raised his hand and when she indicated he said,
"Professor I want to tell something to everyone."
"Ok say what you want to say." Harry stood from his place and walked towards the head table.
"I want to tell to you all something about Professor Snape." He paused for a minute to collect his thoughts then looked at everyone and began. "Professor Snape was not a death eater."
Hearing this lots of murmurings started he raised his hand to silence them before continuing. "Yes he was not a death eater. He was a spy on the order of Professor Dumbledore."
"But he killed Dumbledore." Someone interrupted him. Harry knew the voice but could not place it right now.
"No he did not kill him." Harry answered, "I told you that because I did not know about the truth until just before I went into forest for the final encounter with Lord Voldemort. Professor Dumbledore was already dying with a curse professor Snape slowed down but could not cure. Professor Snape killed professor Dumbledore on his order to make his death easy and painless." Harry paused a minute took a deep breath before continuing.
"I know what are you thinking but I have proof of it." He took out a small vial from his pocket and handed over to professor McGonagall. "This is the memory of Professor Snape who gave it to me before he died after the attack by Nagini on Voldemort's order and we need to retrieve his body from shrieking shack."
"Do not worry Harry we will do that first thing in the morning and we will honour him as hero of the battle. Do you want to say anything else?" She replied with tears in her eyes.
"No Mam not now but please add my name to the list of volunteers for repair of the castle." With that, Harry walked to the place where all the Weasleys along with Hermione were waiting. He walked with them to the Gryffindor tower but did not go to his dorm instead he went to Dennis Creevey who was sitting near the fire. "Dennis." He called him putting a hand on his shoulder. "I want to say sorry to you for what happened to Colin." His voice became heavy as he spoke.
"Do not be sorry Harry it's not your fault." Dennis said looking towards Harry there were tears in his eyes. "I am proud of my brother. He is a hero. He died as a fighter and he fought for the right thing, for the freedom of wizarding world. He trusted you Harry and if you feel sorry for him it will be greatest dishonour for him."
Harry did not know what to say so he just nodded towards him. "If you need help let me know."
"I will." Dennis assured him. Harry went to Mrs Weasley next meaning to say something, anything… but before he could, she pulled him into her arms in a bone-crashing hug.
"Harry dear just like Dennis said it will be greatest dishonour for them if you feel sorry for them everyone knew that they may die in this battle we all knew it." Harry held her tightly and continued to cry. Mrs Weasley too held him and let him cry all the while she kept whispering him kind words. After some time they parted away, Harry looked and felt much more composed and calm.
A/N: This is my first story if you find any factual and grammatical please let me know. This is not a strictly cannon story.
