A/N Hello Everyone! This is my first published Fanfiction, I hope you like it! I would love reviews!

Also I do not own the Harry Potter Characters, only the plot of this story! TY J.K. Rowling!

**This is an Update. I added more to the story, just a warning, I will most likely be updating constantly.**

Chapter 1

Tying Up Loose Ends

The battle was finally over, Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood in the headmaster's office with Professor McGonagall.

"Now that things have finally settled down inside the school I feel the need to ask, would you three like to finish your 7th term and take your N.E.W.T. s exams?" Professor McGonagall asked them as she paced in front of Dumbledore's portrait.

As McGonagall had expected, Hermione was the first to answer "Certainly!" she squeaked seemingly happy, Ron and Harry just looked at one another.

"Provided that Harry, Ron, and Hermione have proven themselves time and time again for the last seven years, wizarding laws state that they must take, and pass their N.E.W.T. exams to be able to legally get a career." Dumbledore's portrait responded lightly from behind McGonagall.

Ron and Harry's heads snapped up and then turned to look at each other, they had already talked earlier in the night about not going back to Hogwarts."Quite true Albus" McGonagall agreed

"I suppose then, professor we have no choice if we want to become Aurors we must repeat our 7th year" said Harry and was greeted by nods from Ron, Hermione, McGonagall, and Dumbledore's portrait

"Well then I will see you all at the beginning of term, your letters will arrive as usual" McGonagall dismissed them and the three turned to leave.

"Oh Hermione while I have you here, I wanted to offer Head Girl privileges to you." McGonagall smiled and Hermione squealed, "Of course professor!" she beamed and trooped out to meet Harry and Ron outside the door.

As the three walked down the hallway, around a few corners to the changing staircase they were silent, gazing around of what was left of this part of the castle.

"At least the staircase was unharmed." Harry joked

"What was all that about Mione?" Ron asked tiredly as they walked down the staircase to the Great Hall.

"She asked me to be Head Girl!" she blurted obviously not able to keep it in. They jumped the last vanishing step and made their way down the entrance hall.

"Congrats Hermione!" Harry replied, and hugged her tight as they stood in front of the Great Hall's double doors and Ron mimicked, "Congrats Mione." He beamed and hugged her.

They walked into the Great Hall happily, only to stop abruptly in mid stride as the Great Hall erupted in applause, cheers, and gentle pats on the back along with many 'Thank yous' issuing from teachers and students alike

"Blimey that took me by surprise" Ron muttered as the three of them sat at their house table and plates of food appeared in front of them. "The House Elves really know how to make a guy happy," Ron laughed noticing the glare he was receiving from Hermione he quickly began stuffing his mouth with food and cringed inwardly as he was briefly reminded of S.P.E.W.

Harry looked around the Great Hall momentarily noticing that most students from every house were no longer sitting at their appropriate tables but were sitting at their friends and neighbor's tables along with their families. Turning to Ginny who seated herself close to him he tapped her shoulder to get her attention and when she turned to look, he kissed her lovingly.

"Ginny, I want you to be mine." He said with no hesitation.

She looked into his emerald eyes momentarily then smiled softly. "Harry, you have no idea how long I have been waiting to hear you say that." She hugged him and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and continued to eat and converse with his best mates.

After the dinner and dessert plates were cleared from the table McGonagall stepped up to the podium at the front of the Hall and signaled for silence. When everyone was silent she spoke, "I would like to thank everyone for their help this night and for defending our school, many were lost and I must say I am so very sorry to the families and friends that have lost someone to this battle." She wiped a tear from her cheek and continued "As we close out this year I am happy to announce that I anticipate the days until we see each other again. I would like to add that you can volunteer to stay over the summer and help with the restoration of the school and grounds, along with Hogsmeade. Have a good summer everyone, the train will be arriving in Hogsmeade at a quarter to four." She smiled and walked out of the Great Hall saying her goodbyes as students and their families made their way to the trains and disapperating outside the gates.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were joined by Ginny, Luna, and Neville on the train. Hermione fussed over Ron's many injuries "I'm fine Mione" Ron muttered

"Harry!" Luna exclaimed as she grabbed his chin and made him face her.

She pushed back his hair from his face and gasped "What Luna?" Harry gave her a questioned look and noticed everyone was staring at him

"Your….It's….." Hermione trailed off and shoved her hand into her small beaded bag and seconds later pulled out a small round mirror telling him to look into it as she shoved it into his face. Focusing his eyes on the mirror he looked disgusted at what he saw. Luna quickly jabbed her index finger to Harry's forehead and his eyes rested on where she pointed.

The Lightning Bolt shaped scar that had been with him for 17 years had disappeared. Harry jumped up from his seat abruptly, dropping the mirror it shattered into pieces on the floor which made Hermione curse

"Sorry Hermione" Harry muttered and with a flick of his wand he said "Reparo" immediately following, the shattered pieces of the glass flew back together and Hermione scooped it up off the ground and pushed it back into her bag.

"How in the world could this have happened?" He asked the group at large, which no one was able to answer him.

For a long while they sat in silence watching trees and fields flash past them until Ron broke the silence "Mate, is it possible that your scar WAS the Horcrux?" he asked surprisingly.

Hermione's face shot up in surprise and answered before Harry managed to open his mouth. "I've been thinking about that since Harry told us about it and I think you may be right Ron. Instead of your entire body being the host of the Horcrux your scar acted as the object, like the necklace or the cup."

Harry mulled this over in his mind for a bit and wondered if Dumbledore also knew. "If that was the case, I'm surely grateful for it. Even though my scar has been there most of my life, it'll actually be nice to feel normal for the first time." He admitted.

"Do either of you want anything from the trolley?" Ron asked standing up and walking just outside of their compartment where the trolley now sat. "Can I get two sugar quills-"He looked over at Harry, Luna, Hermione, and Ginny and rolled his hand in the air for them to speak up.

"Uhm a liquorish stick and a sugar quill…please" Hermione said without thinking twice, Luna scrunched up her nose in thought then replied "a chocolate frog would be great."

The witch grabbed the items as they were named off and waited for the last order. "Uhm nothing for me please." Ginny replied after a few minutes of everyone staring at her, waiting for her to answer. Ron paid and gave everyone their treats and sat back against the bench beside Hermione.

"Love, is something wrong?" Harry asked Ginny, who had laid her head in his lap.

"I'm feeling a bit under the weather, nothing to worry about." She mumbled as she closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.

Harry drifted off to sleep along with Ginny, Luna had left to pass out this month's addition of The Quibbler and Ron watched Hermione reading a book, her favorite thing to do.

"Hermione can I bug you for a moment?" Ron whispered softly.

She closed her book and looked up at Ron, who had scooted closer to her cupped her chin in his hand and kissed her softly. "In the Chamber of Secrets, I just want you to know, it wasn't just in the moment, and I really do care for you Hermione."

This struck her as strange, seeing how Ron was never good at expressing himself. He grabbed her by her waist and pulled her into his lap with her legs straddling his hips and kissed her passionately. The tip of his tongue traced the crease between her lips, wordlessly asking her to open her mouth and let him in, hesitant and first she gave into him and his tongue swept in slowly exploring the inside of her mouth. He broke the kiss and she laid her head on his shoulder feeling his heart beat fast, which she was sure hers most likely felt the same to him.

She slid up a bit to be able to lay more comfortably on his shoulder when suddenly he jerked up under her and a small quiet moan issued from his lips.

"I'm sorry!" she whispered, her cheeks flushing red, as did his.

Placing his mouth near her ear he whispered "I swear the first moment I get you alone-"

Harry snorted in his sleep, which woke Ginny. "I can't believe I fell asle…" Ginny noticed the position in which her best friend and brother were in and covered her eyes with her hands immediately.

Ron and Hermione looked at each other and flushed even redder as Hermione climbed off his lap and returned to her seat, not before noticing the arousal Ron had when she slid, which he fixed best he could before letting his sister know everything was ok.

The train arrived into King's Cross Station and students began bustling off the train in search for their families, stepping out into the muggle world as a free man made Harry feel like a weight had been lifted off of him. He could finally legally do magic outside of Hogwarts.

"So what are you going to do for the summer?" Neville asked, snapping Harry out of his thoughts.

He hadn't thought about that. He had nowhere to go except Grimmauld Place.

"I'm going to Australia to find my parents." Hermione said cheerfully.

"I think I'm just going to relax, at the Burrow" said Ron

"What about you mate?" Ron turned to Harry.

For a moment he thought then replied "I'll be getting Grimmauld Place livable. Try to find a way to get Mrs. Black's portrait off the wall finally."

Luna turned to her friends and smiled "I see daddy, I'm off! See you guys next term!" With that she flew off into the crowd.

"I see Gran!" Neville yelled excitedly and disappeared into the crowd.

"I'll see you guys later. I'll come visit soon, write ok?" Harry asked knowing Hermione probably wouldn't have time. Hermione and Ron hugged Harry in turned and said their goodbyes.

Ginny turned to Harry and lifted herself up on her tiptoes and kissed him softly, wrapping her arms around his neck, he deepened the kiss and explored her mouth before breaking their kiss.

"As soon as I get Grimmauld cleaned, you can come stay with me for a bit. I want you to come and stay with me."

She blinked and smiled "Of course Harry, I would love nothing better." She replied and kissed him again.

"I'll owl you as soon as it's complete ok?" She nodded and told him"bye" and joined Ron and Hermione talking

. With one last good bye to his friends he walked out of King's Cross Station well aware that he was still dressed his school robes and smiled as muggles stared at him.

Finding a place covered in shadow and unwatched Harry closed his eyes and apperated to the Leaky Cauldron. Opening his eyes as soon as he hit ground found him in the alley between the Leaky Cauldron and the muggle music store.

Standing, he dusted himself off and walked out into the busy streets of muggle London smiling. Giving a curt nod to Tom, the barkeeper he made his way into the courtyard behind the pub, raised his wand and tapped a brick in the wall, counted three up and two across, three times, then tapped all 5 bricks around the hole in the wall and walked through the now open gateway into Diagon Alley.