Chapter One - As the dust settles

The dust settled on the grounds of Hogwarts as people moved about helping those most critically injured or moving the deceased into the Hospital Wing. Harry just stood in the middle of it all watching as people walked past him. He had just defeated the most powerful and feared wizard of all time and yet he felt this terrible sadness and loss wash over him like a tidal wave of emotions. Taking a moment to collect himself he wandered down to the bridge where he had thrown the Elder Wand and walked below it to the rocks. Something inside him told him he needed to make sure it never ended up in the wrong hands again and that it needed to be in a permanent safe place. After a few hours of searching he finally found the wand and as he was climbing back up from the rocks he heard familiar voices calling out his name. Soon enough he emerged and saw Hermione and Ron standing. After one look they saw that he had the wand, but neither of them said anything they just followed him to where he was going.

It did not take long to find out where they were headed. They saw the destroyed tomb of their beloved Headmaster in front of them and watched as Harry walked up to it and looked in to see the man he had always looked up to staring back at him his eyes closed, his hands on his chest encasing nothing, but air. At that point Harry brushed away the tear that had escaped his eye and laid the wand in the man's hands standing back to look at it for just a moment. Hermione walked up beside him and took his hand leading him away from the tomb. He shook his head at her for a moment and turned back muttering a spell under his breath; within moments the broken slabs of granite pulled themselves back together again and formed a perfect tomb. Smiling contently again Harry allowed his two best friends to lead him back to the castle where the clean up of the school was still taking place. The dead bodies had finally been all found and placed in the Hospital wing and the wounded all transferred to St. Mungo'a for treatment, all within the timeframe of Harry looking for the wand.

Ron took the lead and they followed him into the Great Hall where a few people still were. Food had been laid out for those who wished to remain on school grounds by the elves and everyone was welcome to it. Harry happily sat down with his friends and began to eat a sandwich which appeared before him the moment he sat down. It was a silent lunch as the trio had everything to say to one another, yet did not have to utter a word of it to one another as they already knew. After growing up together and especially over the course of the last year the three of them had developed a habit of speaking without having to speak at all. As they ate their lunch in silence the doors to the Great Hall swung open and in walked Kingsley Shacklebolt the interim Minister of Magic until a permanent replacement could be appointed. His eyes scanned the room until he found who he was looking for and approached them.

"Harry, Ron, Hermione thank goodness I found you" he sat down beside Ron and took out a piece of parchment. "There has been a lot of talk for the service for those who have fallen and" he paused for a moment and looked at Harry. "It has been agreed that you three should be the speakers"

"Who agreed to this?" Hermione asked speaking, as per usual, for the group.

"The Ministry, they thought it best that the boy who defeated Voldemort and the two that helped him along the way are the best to represent both loss and victory to everyone"

"I am sorry sir I just do not think that I am the best candidate" Harry protested, he was many things Harry Potter, but glorifying a situation like this was not something he wanted to do.

"Harry you saved the wizarding and muggle world they would be honored to have you speak on behalf of those we lost" Kingsley looked at Harry with pleading in his eyes.

"I will if Ron and Hermione will as well" Harry succumbed.

"We will" Hermione answered for her and Ron before Ron could protest for Harry's behalf.

"Good it is settled then. I really have to thank you three and trust me you will be thanked in a special ceremony in a few months"

"What?!" The three of them said as he made a quick exit before they could ask questions.

"What do you think he means?" Ron asked as they walked out of the hall a few minutes later and started towards Gryffindor tower where the Weasley family was staying until the service for those fallen.

"I haven't the faintest idea" Hermione said as they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady who just swung open for them. "But let's not say a word to anyone. I am sure your father will know soon enough Ron and tell us"

They all nodded in unison and stepped through the portrait hole. Most would have thought a red head convention was going on, but it was just all the Weasleys in one room. All of Ron's brothers were there sprawled out around the room just sitting there while their parents sat on a love seat together their grief etched on their faces. For a bunch of Weasleys being in the same room together it was unusually quiet, but after the death of Fred it was understandably so. Harry looked around searching for a certain Weasley, but could not find her.

"Where is Ginny?" He asked aloud into the room a bit concerned.

"She wasn't with you three?" Molly replied to him and they shook their heads. "Oh Merlin's where could she have gotten to?" Molly was clearly more panicked then she normally would have been over her youngest and only daughter. Arthur dropped an arm around her to calm her.

"I will go look for her" Harry volunteered knowing, or rather hoping, he knew where she was.

"We will come" Her brothers all said at once and Harry raised a hand as if to stop them.

"It is ok I can handle it just stay here, there is no need for any of you to help"

He nodded to them and swiftly turned around heading back out the portrait hole. Hermione stayed behind with the Weasleys knowing when Harry found Ginny they would want privacy, after all they would have a lot to talk about in private.