Life Anew
a Harry Potter Fanfic by 1-Lilith-1

Chapter 1 – Victory Comes at a Cost

Harry surveyed the aftermath in the Great Hall in a haze of utter weariness; his lack of sleep finally catching up to him. His eyes subconsciously sought out Ginny and the moment he found her, she glanced up from her mother's shoulder and met his eyes. Harry felt his heart flutter- he had missed her so much. He was aching to run up to her and hold her in his arms once again, but now was not the time. She had just lost a brother; many friends had fallen. Now was a time for mourning. There would be time enough later for them to be together.

Exhaustion taking over, Harry motioned to Ron and Hermione to join him. As soon as Hermione was within reaching distance, she launched herself into Harry's arms. "We did it; YOU did it!" she exclaimed. And she broke down sobbing, releasing all the emotion she had bottled inside since the three of them escaped at Bill and Fleur's wedding.
Harry gently passed her off to Ron, beginning to feel uncomfortable, considering the kiss he had witnessed between his two best friends during the battle. Make no mistake, he was pleased for his friends; he just hoped things would be that easy with Ginny again. What if she didn't want him back? It hurt to even think about it. Sleep. That's what he needed right now. And a nice hot shower wouldn't go amiss. He turned to Ron and nodded toward the stairs; the trio started the climb to Gryffindor Tower.
"I…" Harry paused halfway up the staircase, trying to express his condolences to Ron. However, the guilt was too overwhelming and he couldn't continue his sentence.
"It wasn't your fault Harry; none of this was," Ron stated adamantly, knowing exactly what Harry was thinking. "It was that bloody bastard Voldemort that caused this – ALL of it."
"But if I had just gone to the forest earlier! They wouldn't have had to die... I should've-"
"I won't have you blaming yourself! Fred wouldn't take your guilt for a second Harry. He, and Remus and Tonks, and everyone else, were all fighting with you, not for you." Ron's eyes were streaming fresh tears as he looked directly into Harry's startling emerald ones. "Now come on, I could use a week-long nap." With that, he grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her up the stairs. Hermione gave Harry a watery smile as she passed him. Harry stood rooted to the spot, slightly shocked by Ron's abrupt telling-off.

Once he made it to his old dormitory and saw the freshly-made bed, all other thoughts quickly fled Harry's mind. He stumbled the last few steps to the bed and collapsed on top of the covers – fully dressed.

Harry was having a fitful sleep; images were plaguing him - Voldemort's face attached to the back of Professor Quirrell's head, and the room with the Mirror of Erised surrounded by fire, trapping him; the Chamber of Secrets; hundreds of dementors; the graveyard… Cedric's lifeless body laying before him; the Department of Mysteries; Dumbledore falling to his death; and lastly, he was in the midst of the battle at Hogwarts, this time watching Ginny being hit by a fluorescent green light.
"No!" Harry woke up screaming, his body slick with sweat. He glanced over to Ron's bed, only to find it empty. That's when he noticed the sunlight streaming in through a gap in the curtains. Still breathing heavily, he reached for his glasses and looked around. He noticed a tray of food left on his nightstand and his stomach rumbled. He was aching with hunger; it had been days since he last ate. Harry idly wondered what time it was as he scoffed down the sausages, eggs and bacon. He barely felt rested, yet the sun appeared to be fairly high. Just then, the door opened and Ron stuck his head in. Seeing that Harry was awake, he opened the door fully and entered the room.
"About bloody time you woke up mate," Ron commented with a grin as he took a seat on the end of Harry's bed. "I've all but had to tie Mum up to keep her from coming up here."
"How long was I out for?" Harry queried.
"Mate, it's been twenty-six hours!" Ron exclaimed. "If it weren't for all your tossing and turning I would have thought you were-" A shadow passed over Ron's face and he cleared his throat awkwardly. "Anyway," he hurriedly changed the subject, "Kingsley was looking for you."
"Huh?" Harry mumbled, his mouth full of sausage. He cleared his throat, "What for?"
"Oh, right, while you were sleeping he was named interim Minister of Magic. Can you believe it? Our Kingsley! Anyway, I guess he needs information or something. I dunno, do I?" Ron shrugged.
"I think it's brilliant Kingsley's Minister!" Harry exclaimed, and then added, "I'll just have a shower. You can tell Kingsley I'll be down shortly." Harry then looked down at his clothes and noticed the holes, dried blood and scorch marks. Ron pointed to a chair nearby that had a pile of neatly folded clothes on it.
"Hermione brought those up for you," Ron explained.

Once he had showered – a hot, satisfying cleansing – Harry made his way down to the Gryffindor common-room. Seated in the sofas and armchairs in front of the fireplace was Kingsley and all the Weasleys. 'Not all the Weasleys,' Harry reminded himself, a grim expression taking over his face. Harry made his way over to the group and was immediately engulfed in a huge hug from Mrs Weasley.
"Oh Harry, I've been so worried! Are you alright dear? No injuries? Did you get enough sleep?" Mrs Weasley fussed over him.
"I'm fine Mrs Weasley, thanks," Harry replied, trying to smile reassuringly at her, but failing miserably. "How- how are you?" Harry choked out, hating seeing the haunted look in her eyes, and her obvious lack of sleep. "I'm so sorry," he added, in nothing more than a desperate whisper.
Mrs Weasley put her hands on the sides of his face and looked into Harry's eyes. Seeing the anguish in them, her own eyes welled up, but she held back her tears for the tortured young man. "It couldn't be helped Harry," she said gently, losing the battle with her tears. "We're just lucky you ended it when you did – thank you." With that, Molly Weasley embraced her eighth child and held him as he cried, releasing so much of his relief and suffering. The others all looked on, their own faces streaked with tears.

Once everyone was seated, Kingsley addressed Harry.
"Firstly I want to offer you my thanks Harry, for without you, I do not want to even imagine how this war would have ended," he said in a solemn voice. "But I would also like to know where you three have been," Kingsley added, nodding once at Harry and gesturing over to where Ron sat with his arm around Hermione. Harry stared at his hands for a long moment, lost in the memories. Ginny lay her hand on his leg and gave it a comforting squeeze. Harry looked up at her gratefully, her having given him the courage he needed. He took a deep breath and began to tell the others the events that had transpired since Hermione had apparated them to Tottenham Court Road. Ron and Hermione interjected details here and there as needed, helping to provide as complete a recount as possible. By the time Harry got to the part where he entered the forest, his hands were sweaty and shaking. He took a calming breath and told everyone of his sacrificing himself to Voldemort, and the subsequent conversation with Dumbledore.
"Voldemort had Hagrid carry me to the castle, and the rest – you all know," he finished. He looked up from the spot he had been staring at on the floor and noticed every face was wet with tears. Ginny looked into Harry's eyes for a long moment, and then took his hand. Harry felt a surge of hope well up in him; maybe she still cared after all. He vowed to himself then and there that if Ginny ever did give him a second chance, he would not let her go.