Chapter 1: I Guess It's Time
Authors Note: Hey Guys, if any, well- I'm new to this whole writing of fan fiction thing. I've been kind of writing this one for a while now and I guess I wanted to share it. I appreciate any feedback that you guys have. I think I have about 10 chapters written so far and probably another 10 in a notebook. So, stick around because it'll be a long story.
Oh- and I don't own any of these characters or the world that credit belongs to Ms. JK Rowling herself.
The whispers had woken him up, but he wanted to hear what his friends were saying so he kept his eyes closed. "Ronald, can't your stomach ever wait? Just let him sleep!"
"Hermione, I'm hungry and I just want to go down to the Great Hall and have breakfast, but Mum wanted me to make sure that he's OK."
"Ron- shhh, you're being so loud." Hermione could see Harry trying to stifle his laughs, but instead he turned over and smiled at them.
"Well, I'm glad to see that nothing has changed. You two are still bickering while I'm trying to stay out of it." Harry sat up in his four-poster bed and grinned at them.
"Sorry mate", Ron said sheepishly. "It's alright, I'm just glad to see you guys haven't changed. I mean after that, well -you know- last night I thought you'd be too busy snogging one another and you'd forget about your stomach."
"Ha ha. Very funny, Harry." Ron poked Harry in the chest and it knocked Harry back down into the pillows. "Now that you're awake and alive, could you get dressed so we can go eat? I'm starving."
"Sure Ron, can you guys give me ten minutes to shower and get dressed?" Harry pulled himself out of bed and stood up.
"No problem, mate. Take your time. But, when I say take your time I mean you should go really fast so I can eat already- I'm so hungry." At that last remark, Hermione gave Ron a loving slap on the back and dragged him out of the boy's dormitory.
Harry stretched in front of the mirror and pulled off his clothes. He really wished he had asked them how long he was asleep, but he knew it could wait. Harry examined himself while he was in the shower. He was covered in bumps, bruises, cuts and gashes. Most notably, however, was a large bruise in the middle of his chest. Harry knew that this was where the Killing Curse in the Forbidden Forest hit him. The warm water felt so good he didn't want to get out of the shower, but he knew if he didn't get out of the shower that Ron would probably eat Hermione. Reluctantly, he turned the tap off and pulled a towel around his waist. Harry remembered that he didn't have any clean clothes, so he called Kreacher.
Kreacher responded with such enthusiasm during the battle and Harry had no idea how to repay the house elf. Within seconds of calling Kreacher, the house elf stood in front of Harry asking, "Does Master Harry need anything? Kreacher will do anything he needs to serve Harry Potter and the Noble House of Black."
"Kreacher, you did splendidly during the battle. I believe that Master Regulus would be quite proud of your efforts. What I do need from you is a clean set of clothes. My trunk should still be at the Burrow, would you mind?"
"Thank you, Master Harry. But, my services do not need thanking I'm just doing what my masters would want of me. I'll be right back with fresh clothing for Master Harry." And with a snap of his fingers and a deafening crack Kreacher was gone.
Harry sat down on the four-poster bed and he took a deep breath. All he could think about was the damage that must have been done. He thought of all of the people who died for him: Lupin and Tonks, Fred…poor Fred, and Colin Creevey. Harry felt a tear run down his cheek and Kreacher had reappeared with his clothes; he quickly wiped the tear and took the clothes from Kreacher. Harry then thanked Kreacher again and told Kreacher to go back to Grimmauld Place. Harry pulled on the jeans and t-shirt and went down the spiral staircase to the all-familiar Gryffindor common room.
Harry cleared his throat, and Ron pulled Hermione up from the couch. Both of them were blushing. Harry put his arm around Ron and said, "Now, if you break my unbiological sister's heart, I do reserve the right to hurt you." Ron turned and looked at Harry and said, "You got it mate, but I could never hurt Hermione. I've waited too long to be here, but speaking of sisters- what are you going to do about mine?"
Harry's smile disappeared and he felt his heart sink. "I don't know, mate, but I guess I should go find out."