Harry opened his eyes to the bright sunlight glaring at him through the window. For a second he forgot he was in Hogwarts, and not on the run. The night before came flooding back to him, and a part of him still couldn't believe his whole ordeal was finally over. Over, he thought, just like Remus. With a dull blow to his stomach, tears came to Harry's eyes as he remembered the people lost the night before. Colin was too young to die. Harry wanted to stay in his comfortable bed at this safe haven, but soon his stomach was rumbling so loudly that he was sure it would wake up all the people in the girls' dormitory. He reluctantly climbed out of bed and started to get dressed, all the while wishing he had his Hogwarts robes to put on. He trudged down the steps to the common room, but when he got there, he did a double take. There was Ron and Hermione, asleep in each other's arms in one of the stuffed, oversized chairs. They must have snuck down after I fell asleep, thought Harry. Harry crept past them so as not to wake them up, but at that moment Hermione's eyes fluttered open and saw Harry standing sheepishly at the portrait hole.
"Well," said Harry guiltily, "I didn't mean to wake you up."
"That's okay," said Hermione, but she didn't look okay at all. Her eyes were rimmed with red, as though she had been crying, and her face was blotchy. "I was just about to get up anyway." She dragged herself up the steps to the girls' dormitory, and Harry sat down in another one of the chairs in front of the fireplace. In a few minutes, Hermione came back down in her clothes from the day before and Ron woke up, yawning and stretching, blinking his eyes wearily.
"I'm hungry," declared Ron.
"Oh, of course you are, Ronald!" snapped Hermione, and broke down crying. Harry dashed over to her, but Ron got to her first. Harry could see that he was crying too. Ron held her close, rocking her back and forth.
"I'm sorry," gasped Hermione in between sobs. "It's just, it was all over in a few hours, and yet so many people were killed. I mean, Harry, you lost Remus, he was like a father figure to you, and, oh, and now, I've made you cry! Oh, I feel terrible!"
They stayed huddled together in the middle of the common room, for how long Harry didn't know. Soon, he felt someone settle himself or herself in the crook of his arm. He rotated himself a little bit and found himself staring in the face of Ginny. Harry broke away from Ron and Hermione and sat himself next to Ginny on the couch. Without waiting for her to say anything, he kissed her full on the lips. They stayed there on the couch, Ginny resting her head on Harry's chest. He could feel her body heat through his shirt, and it made him feel as contented as he possibly could on a day like today. After a few minutes, or it could have been an hour, the four of them climbed out of the portrait hole and walked down the rotating staircases to the Great Hall.
A gigantic hush fell over the crowded Great Hall when they walked in, which had clearly been in a chatter moments earlier. They all stared at Harry, some in disbelief, some in shock, and some in utter amazement. Then all of a sudden, the Great Hall erupted into applause, something Harry had not expected. People started running up to him, people he had never seen before, hugging him and shaking his hand, the occasional girl even giving him a kiss on the cheek. Romilda Vane even tried to kiss him on the lips, but he gently pushed her away. He, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny made their way up to the Gryffindor table to sit with the rest of the Weasleys and Tonks. They sat down in silence and picked at the food Mrs. Weasley half-heartedly put on their plates.
"His f-f-funeral is in t-t-two d-d-days!" Tonks broke down into sobs and both Mrs. Weasley and Hermione put their arms around her shoulders. Harry could see tears trailing down their cheeks. Ginny, moved by the spectacle, wrapped her arms around Harry's thin frame, as silent tears cascaded down her own pale face. Harry was numbed with grief, unable to respond to the girl's touch. Yes, breakfast was a mournful affair indeed.
A/N: Okay, the first chapter is posted. Sorry if you think it's short. It's my first fan fiction, so please excuse me. Hopefully following chapters will be longer. Would appreciate reviews very much, and maybe give me some advice? Even criticism, as long as it's constructive. Thanks!