Harry Potter and the Nineteen Year Gap

Harry awoke from a long sleep in a state of disorientation. He was in a familiar four poster bed, but he couldn't place where he was. His whole body ached and he didn't know why. Then the reality of what had happened before he went to sleep hit him like a ten ton truck. He, Harry Potter, had defeated Lord Voldemort, for once and for all. Then his stomach wrenched. So many of his friends and comrades had been lost in the same battle in which he had triumphed. An iron fist of guilt twisted deep in his stomach. Fred Weasley, Tonks and Lupin. Even Colin Creevey earned a few tears. Harry stretched out his aching, stiff muscles, and sat up. Kreacher materialised at his side, holding a tray of fresh bacon sandwiches and iced pumpkin juice. The smell of the sizzling bacon made him realise how hungry he actually was. He picked up a sandwich and devoured it practically in three bites.

"Hungry, Harry?" a quiet, defeated voice said from the doorway.

"Ginny?"

"Yeah, it's me."

"Are you okay?"

"I will be" Ginny said, as she moved to sit on the end of Harry's bed.

"Gin…"

She leant over and kissed him softly on the lips.

"I've waited for you Harry. I was so scared I'd never see you again when you left with Ron and Hermione"

"I never, ever want to be away from you again, Gin. D'ya wanna get back together? I had a lot of time to think when we were out hunting horcruxes and dodging death eaters, and I realised something. I Love You, Ginny Weasley. Always Have, Always Will"

"I Love You too, Harry" Ginny said, tears running down her cheeks.

Harry saw a reflection of his grief in Ginny's big brown eyes and he held her close.

Ginny and Harry walked down the grand staircase hand in hand, witnessing the damage the battle had caused. The canvases of the painting were ripped apart, and the portrait dwellers were sobbing. Chunks had blown off of most of the stone statues, and there were chunks of banister littered all over the floor. They walked into the great hall, where the dead of the battle lay peaceful in white marble coffins, surrounded boy their friends and families. Harry walked over to where George lay and hugged Molly. She clung on to him, and sobbed into his shoulder. A weary looking and tear stained Arthur stood beside her. Harry shook his hand.

"I'm so sorry for your loss. All of you. It's my fault George is dead. It's my fault they're all dead."

"OUR loss? Harry, you were practically a brother to me and Fred and Ron, Percy, Charlie and Bill. A surrogate son to mum and dad. It's YOUR loss too" George said. He grasped Harry in a bear hug. The whole family, his whole family was hurting. But Harry knew that in time, everyone would be alright. The Survivors would survive.

He walked over to say his final farewell to Tonks and Lupin, and he saw Andromeda clutching at Teddy.

"Harry. Tonks and Lupin left Teddy to you. You are his guardian now. I'm happy to help out whenever you need me" she said, and passed the tiny baby to Harry. Teddy opened his eyes and the irises shifted from a cloudy blue to a brilliant, vibrant green just like his own.

"I'll take care of him, Andromeda. We've got a lot in common already"

She nodded, and clutched her dead daughters hand.

Suddenly, Professor McGonagall's magically amplified voice filled the hall.

"Friends and Families of the deceased. Combatants of the Battle Of Hogwarts. I have an announcement to make. I have assumed the position of headmistress. There will be a memorial service the day after tomorrow, held here at Hogwarts, and a part of the grounds will host a cemetery for the deceased. Soon, we will begin to repair Hogwarts. Can Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny please come to see me in my office. You all have my deepest sympathy and Condolences at this deeply sorrowful time."

Harry and Ginny met Ron and Hermione at the foot of the staircase. Harry was clutching Ginny's hand, and Ron had Hermione clasped tightly to him, as if he was never going to let go. They all smiled at each other and set off to McGonagall's Office.

As they walked into the familiar room, Professor McGonagall greeted them with a smile and the offer of tea and biscuits. Dumbledore's collection of delicate silvery instruments and his pensieve was gone, replaced by a great many books on transfiguration, and displayed prominently on the desk, a photo in which a much younger McGonagall was dancing with Professor Flitwick.

"Potter, I don't know what to say to you. You have saved the magical community from a life of secrets and terror. You have defeated…" She shuddered "Voldemort. I thank you deeply, from the very very bottom of my heart.