The Boy Who Lived

Chapter 1: Burying Past Griefs

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns it, I only am taking liberties with her characters.

Harry Potter did not know how long he stood there in the Headmaster's Office staring at Dumbledore's portrait. It was two weeks after he had defeated Voldemort and given up the Elder Wand and he was just as tired as he had been then. He had helped the teachers and what was left of the Order contact weeping parents of dead students, family members of dead order members... Andromeda had been the worst... and bury the undistinguishable. As for Voldemort's body many argued that it should be burned, but Harry had other ideas.

Kingsley Shacklebolt, the temporary Minister of Magic until he could be fully instated later that month (at least most hoped he would), was one of the ones who thought it would be best to let the body burn. He had plead with Harry to see reason, but Harry had told him that he would not give up on the matter.

"I want him buried," Harry told Kingsley, his green eyes flashing in determination. "His body will do no more harm. I want him buried with Severus Snape next to Dumbledore's grave."

"Severus Snape?" Kingsley had been taken aback. He looked Harry up and down, trying to assess how serious Harry actually was. "You must be mad. Next to Albus Dumbledore?!"

"Why is that mad?" Harry asked, challengingly. "His spirit is trapped in his body, do you really want to let it out? I saw it and I know what I'm talking about. And Severus...Snape was the one who was there for me even though I had no idea of it at all. And as for their funerals..."

Harry trailed off when he saw the stunned look on Kingsley's face. "You must be joking," he said. "A funeral? A burial? What else are you going to ask for for the darkest wizard of this time?"

"I was thinking of all of the ones who fell here," Harry said evenly, not caring that Kingsley, his was protector, thought of him as crazy at the moment. "There's so many deaths... It would be nice if they were all remembered. I think Hogwarts can remember it's own. If the families wish to have private funerals as well that's up to them, but I think it is important that we do something for all of them."

No one asked Harry why he thought he had the right to make decisions. He might have had barriers in his way before Voldemort's death, but with it he seemed to have risen to a place that no one wanted to touch. Most ran up to thank him, crying, but afraid to touch him. One time friends barely could look in his eye. It felt awkward and odd even for him.

Now that it was out that there was an actual prophesy it seemed to change the way the entire world viewed him. Not that actually suceeding in destroying Voldemort hadn't been enough for that!

McGonagal had even approached him one morning after he had left his bed up in Gryffindor Tower and told him that if he wanted it he could be Headmaster of Hogwarts. Headmaster! He had to remind her he hadn't finished his last year and let alone teach anyone!

"Nonsense," she told him. "Do you really think that matters now? Besides, you did teach if you don't remember: Defense Against the Dark Arts! Your fifth year."

Harry's head was still ringing after that little encounter.

"No Professor, I'm flattered, but I'm no where near ready if I ever would be able to take such a position."

"My dear boy," McGonagal started, her eyes tearing up. "You are beyond ready."

The only solace of normalcy that he could find was in Ron and Hermione's presence. They were staying at Hogwarts still with him, Hermione only leaving to undo the memory damage she had done to protect her parents and return them to their normal lives as dentists. Ron had made his mother visit him at Hogwarts, telling her when she pleaded with him to come home that he wanted to remain with Harry a little bit longer.

"I was there for the beginning and the end Mom," he told her importantly. She seemed not to have noticed that he had neglected to add "middle." "And I want to stay here for afterwards too."

After this declaration she had turned to Harry to beg him to return to the Weasley's house. "You're like a son to me, really," she told him. "Come stay with me until you get back onto your feet."

What she meant by that Harry still didn't really know. What was left to him now? He had spent so long focused on Voldemort that he hadn't really thought about what he might want to do afterwards. After all, he hadn't really expected to live.

So he stayed at Hogwarts until after the funeral, watched Snape and Voldemort get buried in graves alongside Dumbledore's, and was happy to be one of the first to greet Severus Snape's portrait newly instated in the Headmaster's room. In fact, that's where he stood now, but his eyes were no longer focused on Snape.

"At least take the pensieve with you when you leave," Dumbledore's portrait said sadly. "I would hate to see it go, but I also don't like the idea of anyone else seeing any of those memories."

"And what is he going to do with it Albus?" Severus sneered. "Shrink it and put it in his back pocket? You should ask him to put an enchantment on it instead if he won't be staying. Pity. I always thought he was one to seek attention. I suppose this proves that theory wrong after seven years."

Harry barely was able to hide his smile. He knew that portraits of those dead weren't really them at all and really the personalities that stayed with the portraits were quite amazing. However, it only made him long that Dumbledore and Snape weren't really gone forever from this world with only this imprint left behind. With a sigh, he protected the pensieve and made to leave the office when McGonagal slipped in. If she was surprised to see him there she didn't show it.

"So what are you going to do now Harry?" She asked, her face was inexplicably demur, he eyes resting solely on him.

He smiled at her. "Live."

I know I haven't written anything in a while and don't intend to finish any of the stories I already have up, but I already have three chapters penned of this. I don't really know where it's going yet, but I'm using it to cure my writer's block ;p... Hopefully you all will enjoy it as well.