"I just killed Voldemort, just a few days ago." That was all he said. All he'd say to anyone. He seemed trapped, unable to believe what he had done really happened. He twitched at loud noises, hand flying to his wand. He jumped at sudden movement, wand in hand before he even noticed. No one could make him relax. No one, not Ron, his best friend, or Hermione, his other best friend. Not Ginny, his old love interest. Until she came. She danced up to him, blonde hair shining in the sun, and sat down next to him.
He jumped, and turned his wand on her. She just laughed. "Silly Harry, magic doesn't help attract Crumple-Horned Snorkack. I heard they are attracted to brooding heroes, so I had to come visit you." And she sat there, staring avidly at him. He didn't look at her, just muttered, "I killed Voldemort, just a few days ago." She laughed again.
And got up, pulling him up with her. "You fulfilled the prophesy." You did what you needed. Now, you have a life. It is your life now." He just stared blankly at her. He shook his head. "Harry, no one owns you any more. You aren't a tool for Good, or a person to be corrupted by Evil. You are a seventeen-year old, whose been through Hell, and now gets to finally be a teenager."
At that, Harry looked up. "You don't sound like yourself, Luna. Besides, what does it mean to have my life be my life? It isn't. I still have to have photos taken of me, and reporters yell questions. People still expect me to be there, to defend them." He frowned, and shook his head, "I did what I was born to do, and now my soul is owned by the people I saved."
Luna stomped her foot. "No, it isn't. You can do whatever you want! You can make mistakes and not worry if anyone is going to die because of them. You can take your shoes off and run for miles through a field, or jump in a lake, or travel the world. You can do anything, because their one claim to you is gone." Her voice got very quiet. "You just can't see that yet." Sadly, she got up, and walked away. She didn't glance back, until she was far away, and Harry still sat there, staring like she was never there.
Three days later, she visited again. This time, she waltzed up, humming to some song no one had ever heard before, or would ever hear again. She sank down next to him, and gently pushed his wand away from her face. "I was wondering if the Wrackspurts that were around you the last time I visited were gone." He slowly turned to look at her, confused. "The ones that made you believe you are bound to protect us. Sometimes, people don't know what they can do, until they have to do it themselves." He didn't respond. "Harry, you can't protect us forever. We need to learn to protect ourselves. Turn the entire country into DA students, but don't kill yourself protecting us."
He shook his head. "But everyone expects me to defend them."
"And everyone expects me to be unable to talk sensibly. But I am pretty sure I am doing that now. Who cares what they think? Why do they get to decide who you are and what you do? Harry, this is your life. Don't throw it away." She got up, and turned to go. A cold hand grabbed her arm, and she looked down into green eyes.
"I don't know how." His voice was so quiet, she was almost positive she misheard. "I don't know how to live my life as my own."
"Well, nobody does. That's what mistakes are for, to learn how to live better." Her blue eyes shone down at his face. "You get to figure everything out yourself, and make mistakes and learn. The process never ends. And maybe, if you are really lucky, you learn something important." She cocked her head, thinking for a second. "Or, you can, you know, find an impossible creature. Either way, you win."
He stood up, and released her arm, before lacing his fingers through hers. "We better start looking then."
"We have our entire lives to look, you silly boy. Let's go swimming."