Chapter two

The following morning, Harry woke and realised he must have slept the rest of yesterday, the whole night and half the day. He went and had a shower, dressed, then headed down through the ruined castle till he came to the great hall.

'Blimey, it looks worse than yesterday.'

'It's just the bright sunshine showing how much damage Harry, I thought the same when I saw it this morning. I was wondering when you were going to wake up. Some of us checked on you through the night and this morning,' Neville said.

'Thanks Neville, but I'm fine, still tired though. I thought you would have headed home.'

'I've been home and now I'm back helping with all this. But I'm not the only one Harry, dozens of people have turned up to help.'

'I get that, this place holds a lot of memories for everyone in our world, we have to get it fixed.'

'Before I came back this morning, I went into Diagon Alley to see how much damage is there. Blimey Harry, they really destroyed half that place. People are turning up there to help all the shop owners. But I wanted to tell you that word is out about what happened. I got surrounded by people all thanking me and asking why I killed the snake and why I survived and able to break through the curse when he had the hat on me. Any chance you can explain because I have no idea.'

'I'm planning on telling you and a few others everything Neville. Just know that I really appreciate that you never questioned me. I wanted to explain but there wasn't time and when you hear everything, you'll realise that.'

'I knew it must have been important Harry, and you wouldn't have asked that of me unless it was. But let's sit down and get something to eat, you look like you could use a good feed.'

Harry laughed, 'Yeah, I could, I'm starving.'

Both Harry and Neville sat at the end of one of the tables, again, not sitting at the Gryffindor table, like yesterday, everyone just sat anywhere. Food appeared along with tea, coffee and juice. Both Harry and Neville dished up a huge plateful, then poured themselves some tea and juice, then started eating.

'Did you get someone to remove Snape's body Neville?'

'Oh blimey, you don't know, I forgot. But he was alive Harry, had these potion bottles near him. Madame Pomfrey said he must have been expecting something to happen because he had anti venom to counter act Nagini's venom. He had blood replenishing potions with him and few others. He's up in a room at the back of the hospital wing. Kingsley and a couple of aurors spoke to him this morning. He's a bit croaky, but okay.'

'Shit, I really thought he died, I didn't have time after he gave me the memory. He looked dead, then Voldemort told me to go to him and we needed to work a few things out.'

'Are you two talking about Severus?' Minerva asked.

'Yeah, Neville just told me professor. Is he going to be okay?'

'Yes, he'll be fine. I watched that memory Harry, and I hope you don't mind, but I had Kingsley look at it so he would know Severus was really on our side.'

'Yeah, he was and Dumbledore asked Snape to kill him because he was dying anyway.'

'Yes, I did see that. But it was you why he stayed helping Albus, well you're eyes, Lily's eyes.'

Harry sighed, 'Yeah, he loved her his whole life. Blimey Professor, so many lives destroyed, so many families torn apart, all by one man. Well you can't really call him a man, but I won't say what I would call him.'

'Thank you and I'm glad you won't. I spoke with Severus this morning, he would like to see you. Madame Pomfrey said not for a few days though, he needs to rest his throat as one of the snake's fangs pieced very close to his vocal chords.'

'I want to see him, to thank you. Doesn't mean anything might change between us, but he deserves to be thanked.'

'Yes, he does and showed how brave he really was. What he was doing was dangerous.'

'Yeah, Voldemort could have looked into his mind at any time.'

'So he really didn't kill Dumbledore?'

'Well he did, but he never murdered him. Remember Dumbledore's hand Neville, it was cursed and causing him to die. Snape actually stopped the curse spreading, for a while anyway. He told Dumbledore that he had about a year, that's when they worked out for Snape to kill him at the right time and that would be sometime within the year.'

'Well I know he did stop the Carrows going too far, he still allowed the cruciatus curse to be used, and for us all to be hit.'

'We know Neville, but if he stopped everything, they would have been suspicious of him. So he allowed some punishment without going too far. I was with Kingsley when he questioned him this morning. The Carrows were going to kill certain students, but Severus forbid them to do more than what they already were. Your name was on their list because of all the trouble you caused them.'

'Oh blimey, I never thought they'd go that far. I even said that to Harry, they liked to hurt us, but wouldn't spill too much blood, especially from purebloods. Merlin I hate that, muggleborns, halfbloods, purebloods. Aren't we all witches and wizards, all magical, it's ridiculous?'

'It is ridiculous Neville, I don't see myself better or worse than anyone. It's what you have in your heart that makes you who you are, not blood status.'

'Very well put Harry and I agree with you. Hopefully now he is gone and so are most of his supporters, then those laws that are bias against anyone that isn't a pureblood can be changed.'

'Let's hope Professor. I know you don't want me to or expect me to, but I want to apologise, for the damage done to Hogwarts.'

'Harry, don't start, this wasn't your fault,' Neville gave him a kindly smile.

'He knew I was here, that's why he came. If that blasted horcrux wasn't hidden here, I could have got him to come to me where there wasn't anything to destroy. Now look at this place, it's hard to believe it's the same school.'

'Harry,' Minerva sat beside him and patted his arm, 'Neville's right. This wasn't your fault, he had control over the school. Think of it this way, when we decided to fight to get it back, which we would have and were working on plans to do just that. This damage would have been done anyway. Dark witches and wizards have wanted this school for hundreds years. It's the magic around the castle that makes it so special. So you see, sooner or later a fight was going to happen,' Minerva and Neville both stared at Harry, hoping he realised that he never caused this and he actually stopped more from happening, not just damage, but more deaths as well.

Over the next few days, Harry helped Neville and everyone else that turned up repair the castle. It wasn't just students that turned up, but parents and grandparents because all of them had fond memories of Hogwarts.

Kingsley Shacklebolt had visited Harry at Hogwarts and explained that since certain death eaters died and had no family, the ministry seized their vaults, which was paying for any damage Voldemort and his death eaters did. So Kingsley organised to pay Gringotts for the damage and a replacement dragon and told the goblins that since that was being paid, they couldn't hit Harry with a fine or any type of bill and he would be allowed access to his vaults without any problems. Kingsley threatened to have the ministry open their own bank if the goblins didn't agree to this, which of course, they did.

So Harry and Neville headed into Diagon Alley, and just like Neville said, people kept coming up to Harry, thanking him, patting his back, shaking his hand and asking him how he felt now Voldemort was dead. Even though Harry hated the attention, he stopped and spoke to people for a while. But he asked them how they suffered because of Voldemort and Harry heard stories that made his eyes water with sadness for these people and realised how much and how far the suffering Voldemort caused went. So when some of those people asked for autographs and pictures, Harry couldn't turn them down. Even Neville was asked, so Harry and Neville stood together to have their picture taken, but they also had pictures taken with other people. Harry knelt down with a bunch of little kids so the photographer could take their picture. Harry refused to answer questions from reporters, only from ordinary people because they were the ones that had suffered. After an hour, Harry and Neville went to Gringotts.

'Hello, I need to go to my vault.'

'Yes, the minister paid for your damage Mr. Potter, so you are allowed in. But I wish to ask you a question before you do.'

'Sure,' Harry shrugged.

'From what we've found out, you promised Griphook the sword of Gryffindor if he assisted you, is that correct?'

'Yes, I did and I was going to honour that promise.'

'Then why wasn't the sword found with him and it ended up back at Hogwarts?'

'It's the magic around the sword. Godric Gryffindor made sure if any worthy Gryffindor needed that sword, it would present itself to them. So you see, no matter how much you goblins might want that sword, it will never stay with you, it will always return to Hogwarts and that is where it belongs. I don't agree with your silly laws that once someone dies the items they bought must be returned to the maker. To me that just makes goblins greedy and want more money out of people. Now, I've had my say, I'd like to go to my vault please.'

'I do not care for your opinion, but you can wait there and I'll get someone to take you down. Just so you know though Mr. Potter, you also have another vault. We were never able to find you when you became of age,' the goblin handed Harry another key and a piece of parchment.

'Thanks,' Harry said but sarcastically and moved away to wait for a goblin to take him to his vault, 'Bloody goblins.'

'That's why the sword came to me, because of what you just said.'

'Yeah, Dumbledore explained it to me years ago Neville. So you see, you, a worthy Gryffindor was able to pull the sword out of the hat, that proves you're a Gryffindor and a courageous one,' Harry grinned.

'Thanks Harry, I never felt brave before. But the other night, I thought,' Neville looked around, 'I thought fuck it, I might die, so I'm going to do what I had to and if that meant fighting Voldemort himself, that's what I was going to do.'

'I knew you would Neville, I saw the look in your eye, you weren't going to back down.'

'Mr. Potter, we can go to the carts now.'

'Thank you, come on Neville, let's go for a very fast ride.'

'No thanks Harry, I'll wait here for you. I hate those bloody carts.'

'Alright, I won't be long,' Harry chuckled and followed the goblin through the door.

'Was that Harry I just saw Neville?'

Neville turned, 'Hi Kingsley, yeah, he went down to his vaults. You should have heard what he said to the goblin at the counter though, really gave him a piece of his mind. I think our Mr. Potter has changed a bit.'

'After what he's gone through, it's not surprising. But why didn't you go down with him Neville?'

'I hate those bloody carts, Harry loves the thrill of the ride, so I told him to go by himself. We got mobbed as we walked through Diagon Alley, you should have seen Harry. He might hate the attention, but when he started hearing people's stories of what they went through, I thought he was going to cry. So he spoke to everyone, had photos taken with a bunch of people, they even wanted me. So we stood for pictures, then signed some autographs, Harry I get, but not me.'

'You killed the snake and stood up to him Neville, makes you a hero to those people, just like Harry is. How's he been though?'

'Fine, I was worried at first, but he's Harry, just a bit more, well it's hard to explain. He doesn't hold back, says what he wants, he's more confident, self-assured. I think it's finally sunk in that Voldemort is dead and won't be coming after him anymore.'

'That's exactly it mate, hey Kingsley,' Harry grinned, 'What brings you to Gringotts, apart from being annoyed by the goblins,' Harry smirked at the goblin near him then laughed, 'They don't seem to like me very much.'

'Behave Harry, but Neville's right, we are seeing a different side of Harry Potter.'

'About time don't you think.'

'Yes I do, as to what I'm doing here, the same as you. It's the first time in a long time I can go to my vault. My robes are all looking a bit ratty, being minister, I thought I should look the part.'

'That's what I'm doing, just not robes. I need jeans, I love my jeans, so I'm going shopping,' Harry glanced down at his clothes, 'Well, shoes, socks, undies, you name it, I need it.'

Kingsley and Neville laughed, 'Yep, you do Harry, so let's go get you out of those ugly clothes and into some decent stuff.'

'I'm with you there Neville, Kingsley, I'll talk to you later, or should I say minister,' Harry bowed at Kingsley then laughed with Neville.

'Get out of here Harry or I might just have to start calling you the saviour for saying that.'

'Oh blimey, don't do that to me mate,' Harry shook Kingsley's hand then left with Neville to do a heap of shopping and no matter what he did, he never lost the smile on his face.