Harry looked at the castle, the place he thought of as home, the one place that no matter what happened he always felt like he belonged, and started to tear up. His home the only home he has ever know broken, crumbled down to ashes. He looked at his two best friends who were there for him through thick and thin and thought of how lucky he was to have them, he wouldn't be where he was today if it weren't for them. "It's over" he said to them "It's all over" He was relieved but at the same time had this sinking feeling inside.

Ron could see in Harry's eyes that he was hurting. He put his hand on Harry's shoulder and said, "Come on mate, let's go inside." Ron grabbed Hermione's hand and they started to walk.

Hermione, who was in-between the two squeezed both their hands as they got closer. It's going to be fine" she said trying not only to convince the boys but also herself.

As they reached the doors Harry stopped. "I can't do this. I can't go in there. This is all my fault!" He starts to step back slowly. "Everyone must hate me and if they don't they should. Everyone's dead because of me!" Harry started to cry.

"Nobody blames you Harry, if anything we all thank you." Hermione says trying to comfort her friend.

"Yeah mate no one thinks it's your fault, and no one hates you!" Ron says.

"Well they should and you two should too!" Harry cries "If it weren't for me Fred would still be alive! So would Tonks, Lupin, Colin, Srius, Dumbledore, Snape, Lavender, Mad-eye, my parents, and everyone else!"

"Harry that's not true! Voldemort was evil way before you came along! It's not your fault!" Hermione told Harry. "Just think if it hadn't been you it would have been Neville!"

"Yeah mate, thank god it was you! Neville is great but seriously we would have never survived first year!" Ron said trying to comfort him

"Not what I meant Ron!" Hermione said slapping his arm. "I was trying to explain that Voldemort still would have rose to power, still would have killed people and may not have been defeated!"

"But he wouldn't have come to Hogwarts if it weren't for me! The school would still be intact and you would not be suffering now! No one would be suffering! I bring death with me everywhere. I am a target for bad things to happen to!"

"You can't think like that! I promise you no one blames you! You're not being rational. Your exhausted and most likely famished." Hermione said calmly to Harry "Calm down and when you're ready we will do this… Together."

Ron nodded in agreement and helped Harry back on his feet "Ready mate?" he asked in a concerned tone.

After he calmed down he grabs Hermione's reached out hand and states in a serious voice, "Ready as I'll ever be." They walk in and walk through the castle trying to escape signs of the war. As they walk they start to recall the past seven years at Hogwarts. Ron gets really excited as they come down a hall near Gryffindor tower, "Bloody hell! This is the place!" he says enthusiastically.

Hermione and Harry look at him confused.

"Okay do you remember first year when we were using the invisibility cloak to sneak out at night?" he asks them not thinking they would remember. They both nod with confused looks still on their face, "And then there was that one night when we met Fluffy and Hermione got really angry at us," He continues, "Well this is where she said 'I hope your pleased with yourselves. We could all have been killed – or worse, expelled!' and walked off. Now yes I did think she was a little mad but that was also the moment that, when I look back now, I realize was the first time I thought I loved you Hermione." Hermione's eyes filled up with tears of joy.

"Really Ron?" She asks with a lump in her throat.

"Well yea I realized that you weren't only smart and pretty but also passionate and I just knew that there was something special about you. I also want it to be the place where I ask you to be my girlfriend, I know it's childish to ask but I can't help it" He says blushing a bit.

"Ron I love you!" she says as she hugs him tighter than she ever has. "You are the best boyfriend I could ask for."

"FINALLY!" Harry proclaims "I have been waiting for you two to get together for seven years!" He hugs them both and they all laugh. The continue to talk and laugh when they finally reach the Gryffindor tower.

"Password?" The fat lady asks in her usual bored monotone way.

"We don't know it" Harry admits.

"No password no entry" the fat lady replies smugly

"Seriously" Hermione says in a annoyed tone "I know you know who we are… we have been sneaking in and out of this passageway for seven years. Harry is the freaking Chosen One, The Boy Who Lived, and The person who just defeated the most evil yet powerful wizard EVER! We have not slept a full night in NINE MONTHS and NOW your not going to let us in. SERIOUSLY!" The fat lady's portrait swings open and she disappears from her frame.

"Wow, what was that?" Harry says

"I am tired, and she was being ridiculous" Hermione says embarrassed and turning red. Ron puts his arm around her waist and kisses her forehead. They all climb through the hole and think about how small it seems now compared to the first time they climbed in. They all look shocked at how unaffected the room looks compared to the rest of the castle. "It's like they nothing has changed." Hermione said in a shocked yet pleased tone. "Look even the marks on the ceiling are still there from when Fred and George lit fireworks after the quidditch finals our second year."

Ron stiffened at the mention of Fred's name and Harry did not let this go unmentioned. "Ron. You should really be with your family right now." He said worried about his friend.

"Harry I'm fine, I have all the family I need right here." Ron replied as he squeezed Hermione's hand. They both nodded and hugged him. The sat in their usual spots and just looked around and thought about the past seven years. Harry thought about what his life would be like now without the constant fear of impending death. He thought about his past and future but somehow his thoughts always returned to that redhead he loved more than he ever thought possible, Ginny.

"Harry?" Hermione says again.

"Wh- what?" Harry replies snapping back into reality.

"We are going go upstairs. Hermione is coming with us so she doesn't have to be alone… you coming?" Ron asked. Harry stood up to join them. Ron grabbed Hermione's hand and they walked up the familiar old stairs to the room that they have shared since their first year at Hogwarts. Harry finds his old bed and climbs in and pulls the covers up over his body. He gets that same warm feeling that it always has.

"You keeping your curtain's open mate?" Ron asks and he and Hermione snuggle up in his bed.

"Yea… It's just more comfortable to be able to see what is going on. It still doesn't feel like it's over yet" Harry replies.

"We will keep this one open too then." Hermione says realizing that Harry had a point. She grabs Ron's hand and falls asleep holding his hand tight

They all fall fast asleep for their best night of sleep in nine months.