Harry walked down the spiral staircase, his two best friends, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley, following him right behind when suddenly he stopped.
"Woah mate" Ron said, stumbling in his sleepy state, as he and Hermione almost ran into Harry.
"We should find your family" Harry said abruptly, staring down the stairs towards the gargoyles laying broken beneath them.
Harry could sense Ron and Hermione moving behind him. Harry turned, seeing Ron and Hermione gazing into each other's eyes. They were holding hands, Hermione's thumb running gently over Ron's hand. Hermione turned back to look at Harry.
"I agree"
"Should we use the cloak?" Harry asked, pulling the slivery fabric out from underneath his tattered clothing, its previous colour almost indiscernible as a mixture of dirt, blood, and other, unidentifiable things covered the remaining fabric.
Ron and Hermione exchanged another look.
"We don't fit" Hermione said, still staring at Ron.
"I'll go" Ron said, removing his eyes from Hermione to give Harry a nod.
"Are you sure?"
Ron offered Hermione a reassuring smile, giving her a gentle nod as he squeezed her hand.
"I'll go get them from the hall, but where should we meet?"
Hermione paused, "Gryffindor common room?" she asked hesitantly, then hastily added. "That is of course if it is still in one piece."
Silence fell over the three friends as they tried to comprehend what had happened in the last few hours, for the first time, they could not count on the castle being their protection, it wasn't the safe haven that it had previously been.
"We have used spells to protect us for the past year, I am sure that we can make it work at least for now." Harry said "I don't know about you two, but I could use a nice long nap."
"I'm hungry"
Hermione rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath. "Ronald"
"Hey we just fought in a battle for hours! We have been living on mushrooms!" You are telling me that you're not hungry?"
"I was thinking of seeing if Kreacher would be able to bring us any food." Harry interrupted "Hermione, I am sure that there is food in the kitchen that the house elves do not have to prepare. Some fruit, maybe a couple of sandwiches since they are easy to make." Harry sighed, wanting his friends to stop arguing as it was making the pounding headache that he had, which was formed by a combination lack of proper food, sleep, and dying, get worse.
Hermione had opened her mouth to object, but closed it again, "I suppose, if they are willing, I am a bit hungry." she said grudgingly.
"That's the spirit!" Ron said nudging her with his shoulder, flashing her a smile, the first real smile that he had smiled in months, although it was brief, it was a smile of relief, that the ever present doom of Voldemort had finally disappeared. There were no more Horcruxes, no more hunts, no more running around in dark and damp forests not knowing what they were going to eat that night.
Harry held the cloak out to Ron. "We will wait for you up in the common room, hopefully with something to eat."
Ron dropped Hermione's hand, reaching out to grab the cloak and put it on, appearing only as a floating head.
"Meet you up there"
Suddenly Hermione grabbed Ron's face, pulling him in for a kiss. Harry sighed, turning around to descend the last couple of stairs, stepping carefully over the gargoyle which still lay on the ground. He stood in the corridor for a couple of seconds, examining the debris that surrounded him.
Hermione appeared, breathing heavier than normal as she too stepped over the broken gargoyle, gazing at it in its sad state. She sighed, looking up at Harry, "Ready?"
Harry only nodded, a lump in his throat forming as his eyes swept over the sight of the castle in its broken and dishevelled state.
Hermione looped her arm around his arm, learning into his shoulder slightly. "It will get better." she whispered.
They headed off towards the Gryffindor common room, walking much slower than usual, due, in part, to their sleep-deprived state, and hindered by the fact that they clung to each other, not wanting to let go, needing reassurance. Reassurance that they were still alive. That they had made it. Their fight was over. And yet, the relief they felt was overshadowed, overshadowed by the mountains of rubble that they passed. Overshadowed each time they had to turn around, change their path as they were blocked, blocked by a staircase that no longer existed. By a pile of stone that was too big to climb cross. Overshadowed by each memory that they remembered. Flashes of the battle. Flashes of those who died. Over there that is where Colin kept taking pictures. That's the bench where Hermione yelled at Fred and George while they tested out Skiving Snackboxes.
They trudged in silence, finally reaching the Fat Lady's portrait after what seemed like an eternity. Although the Fat Lady's portrait was torn and smoking slightly, Harry and Hermione had never seen her in better spirits.
"My dears, saviours of the world, defeaters of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, how may I be of service to you on this fine night?" she said whilst placing a hand over her heart and using the other to wipe away non-existent tears, trying in vain to hide the large grin on her face.
"Um…can we…erm...get in" Harry stumbled. "Please?" he added as an afterthought.
"Harry, darling boy" The Fat Lady flashed him a flirtatious smile. " I am afraid that I have strict orders from the Headmistress to not allow anyone else in"
"Anyone else?" Hermione questioned.
"You may go in, but only if you answer this question correctly." the Fat Lady explained, taking a large gulp from what appeared to be a painted glass of wine.
"Okay" Harry said hesitantly, remembering his experience in the Ravenclaw common room, not exactly what he considered to be a particularly happy memory.
"What did you catch during your first flying lesson"
Harry sighed, relieved. "Neville's Rememberall"
"Excellent, and now you Miss Granger. What is your favourite book?"
Hermione furrowed her brows. "Just one?"
"Yes my dear, I am afraid so."
"Hogwarts, A History" Harry said quickly. Hermione turned to him. "What? You are always going on and on about that book, I think that you have read it more times than the rest of the school combined!"
Hermione turned back to the portrait hesitating a little as she spoke. Harry had never seen her take so long to answer a question. "Is it Hogwarts, A History?"
"It is indeed" the Fat Lady replied, "Or at least what Professor McGonagall believed your answer would be."
The Fat Lady swung open, saying "Thank you again, Mr Potter and Miss Granger. I shudder to think of what would have happened to us portraits had Voldemort survived!" she gave a little shake, swinging open, before turning back to her glass of wine and the gossip that rumbled throughout the hallway as the portraits discussed what had occurred.
Harry stepped in first, a little wary of what he might discover. Hermione followed, cautiously peering around, still in battle mode waiting for something to pop out and fire a curse.
"It's not too bad"
"No, it's really not. A couple holes here and there" Harry replied, trying to undermine the amount of damage that the tower had endured. He walked, examining the walls surrounding him. There were several gaping holes, and countless small ones which covered the walls. Hermione began walking around, murmuring spells as she paced the entire room, sealing the walls with some sort of protection. Harry watched as a bubble-like substance covered the walls in Hermione's wake.
Harry and Hermione looked around for a little while longer, not quite knowing what to do. "Oh!" Harry proclaimed loudly, making Hermione jump and cling to her wand a little tighter as she instinctively surveyed her surroundings.
"Sorry." he said sheepishly, "I almost forgot that we need food." Hermione sighed, relaxing.
"Maybe we should have put Ron on food duty." She said smiling a little. To this, Harry laughed, a weird, slightly strangled laugh, but a laugh none the less.
"Kreacher"
With a loud crack Kreacher appeared before them. His tea towel was dishevelled, barely resembling its past shape or the shining cream colour that Kreacher had preciously upheld. Despite his state, Kreacher stood proudly, his shoulders thrown back, Regulus's locket hanging from his neck, and a broad grin stretched across his face. His smile beamed through his eyes and shot up through his dirt covered ears. He bowed low, while bouncing on his toes. Harry had never seen him so radiant, so happy.
"Master" Kreacher said simply, his pride shining through the tone of his voice. "How can I be of assistance to you in this great time following the downfall of." Here Kreacher paused, his smile fading slightly from his face as it was replaced with a look of fierce determination. "Voldemort"
Harry knelt down, bending over to be level with the small elf. "Thank you, Kreacher, for rallying the house elves, for standing behind us as we fought. Thank you."
With that the elf burst into tears, sobs racking his entire body as he collapsed onto the floor.
"Master… thank… so… happy… serve…" Kreacher's speech was impeded by the large tears that were pouring down his face. "Anything, Kreacher, can, anything." His words were once again indistinguishable as he lay on the floor shaking.
"Err, take a moment, Kreacher." Harry said, a little hesitantly looking up at Hermione for some sort of guidance for how to deal with the elf shaking before him. But looking up he saw on Hermione's face a great big smile, much like Kreacher's, and, also like Kreacher, her eyes were filled with tears.
Kreacher slowly recovered, eventually sitting up and wiping his eyes as tears continued to flow. Harry and Hermione were still standing, the scene reminiscent of when Kreacher had received Regulus's locket, which Kreacher now held in his small hand, his shaking body slowly recovering from the great amount of emotion that he was experiencing.
"Kreacher" Harry said, "When you are ready, erm, could you, would you bring us some sandwiches, and maybe some fruit, enough for the Weasley's too." looking hastily at Hermione, "That is if you don't mind."
"Oh, Master" Kreacher exclaimed, "The house elves will be delighted to serve you!" His eyes shined as he stood up, throwing his shoulders back. "We will have many different sandwiches up here soon." Then, with a crack, he disapparated.
Harry and Hermione stood, a little shell-shocked, in Kreacher's wake. Their shock only increased as the portrait hole opened, and the Weasley family hobbled in, their state much more quiet and sombre than the normal rowdy, incoherent chattering that was expected whenever the Weasley's appeared.
Mrs Weasley moved instantly into action, springing across the room before gathering first Hermione, then Harry in her arms.
"Oh, my dears, you look terrible!" gazing at them "Way too scrawny just like Ron." Molly continued muttering under her breath, circling around Harry and Hermione, trying in vain to brush off the mud and blood that was caked on their tattered clothing all whilst chattering about a "proper meal" and "plumping them up".
Mr Weasley approached them next. He too appeared more sombre than Harry or Hermione had ever seen. He simply hugged them tightly, not saying a word. Finally, when Harry began to question his ability to breathe, Mr Weasley let go, moving over to place a hand on his wife's shoulder. He squeezed it gently and Mrs Weasley calmed down a bit, taking a deep breath. She then moved on switching her focus.
"We need to find something to eat."
"Kreacher's on it" Ron replied swiftly, moving up next to his parents.
"Right?" He turned to Harry and Hermione for confirmation.
Harry nodded, "He is bringing up some sandwiches for us." Mrs Weasley, hearing this switched on her murmuring again, this time focusing on Kreacher, "such a good elf…didn't give him enough credit."
George was the next to make a move, pushing past his mother and father. He was the most sombre anyone had seen him. "Well thanks for the upcoming food" he said, hugging first Hermione, then Harry. "And you know, for saving the world" he said forcing a small smirk. Harry laughed, it was hollow and forced, but it cracked some of the ice that surrounded the Weasleys.
Then, all of a sudden, there was a line. Percy was first "Sorry" he whispered as he moved to give Hermione, then Harry brief hugs. Bill was next, then Charlie, squeezing both Hermione and Harry lightly as they passed. Ginny was last, she hugged Hermione for a long time, their eyes connecting as they backed out of the hug, still holding on to each other's elbows, giving each other a soft smile before Ginny moved to Harry.
Reaching her arms up, Ginny hugged Harry, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him close as he wrapped his around her slim waist and held her tight. Harry and Ginny both trying to convey all of the feelings that they had pushed aside for the last year into this hug. Harry sighed, breathing in as he cuddled in close to her neck, smelling her flowery scent, still slightly present under the dirt and sweat that covered her. Ginny, standing on her tiptoes pulled Harry even closer for a brief second. Neither one wanting to let go, both finding a shred of peace amongst the chaos.
Everyone had moved to sit down, settling down on the few couches and chairs that were still in one piece. Harry and Ginny finally let go, but Harry placed a hand on her back, leading her towards the others, not yet willing to give up touching her, wanting to make sure that this, this moment, was real, until, with one final glance they separated.