Grave Days

by Northumbrian

The Battle of Hogwarts is over. The following day Harry wakes to a changed world, to a future he did not think he would have. This is a story about those first days after the battle. Days of mourning and funerals. Grave Days.

2. Emotions Exhumed

2: Emotions Exhumed

Kingsley's discussions with Professor McGonagall were brusque and business-like.

'You intend to reopen the school in September then, Minerva?' he asked.

'Yes,' Professor McGonagall had made her decision. 'I will need your assistance, Acting Minister. We will need additional funding for the repairs.'

'I am meeting the Wizengamot tomorrow. I will do my best to ensure that you have everything you need. I'd be grateful if you could get me a provisional list of your requirements by then.'

'I already have it,' Minerva McGonagall informed him. She handed him a thick roll of parchment.

It was not yet six in the morning when they reached the Entrance Hall. Harry stood in silence, only half listening as McGonagall and Kingsley concluded their discussion. He was looking around the hall, remembering. i'Up there was where he'd seen Professor Trelawney, and that was where he'd seen Lavender fall. At least she was now safe in Madam Pomfrey's care.'/i A question from Professor McGonagall brought him back to the present, 'Will you stay for breakfast, Harry?' she asked.

Kingsley looked at Harry and said, 'I must get back to the Ministry, but if you want to say goodbye to your friends …'

'No, thank you; I'll see them soon enough,' Harry justified.

Harry had made his decision. He did not want another day of congratulations; he certainly did not want a day of mourning. He needed some time to himself, time to reflect.

'If you want to come with me now, we can discuss the press statement,' Kingsley said slowly.

Harry looked around at the battered and broken Entrance Hall. Was he really leaving Hogwarts so soon? He'd outgrown the place, he realised sadly. After last year there was no going back.

'Will I be allowed to decide what goes in the press statement?' Harry asked.

'If that's what you want, Harry,' Kingsley nodded.

'Then, yes, I'll come to the Ministry with you,' confirmed Harry.

'Phillipa,' Kingsley addressed the plump witch, who was still guarding the Entrance Hall, 'please inform your colleagues that Harry is travelling to the Ministry with me. Goodbye, Minerva.'

'Goodbye, Professor,' Harry said, holding out his hand. 'I hope that they make you Headmistress, and thank you; thank you for everything.'

Minerva McGonagall's eyes were sparkling with tears as she shook Harry's hand.

'You'll be back, Harry.'

'But not as a student,' Harry told her sadly.

'Good luck, Harry,' she said. 'This school won't be the same without you.'

Harry smiled ruefully and examined the battle-scarred walls of the Entrance Hall, 'I hope not Professor; I hope that you have a much quieter time without me.' He looked down fondly at the acting headmistress, vaguely wondering when he'd grown to be taller than her.

Harry did not look back at his school as he walked alongside Kingsley down the drive to the main gates.

'Kingsley,' he asked, while they walked, 'is there a way to get someone to Australia, quickly?'

'Australia?' Kingsley asked. 'Why do you want to go to Australia?'

'I don't, but Hermione does,' Harry explained, her parents are in Australia, she … sent them there to try to keep them safe last year I know she'd like to get them back as soon as possible. Can you help?'

'There is a way,' Kingsley pondered. 'I'll need to speak to both the Portkey Office and the Department of International Magical Cooperation. When we get back to the Ministry, I'll try to organise a Portkey series.'

As they left the school grounds Harry finally turned and looked back at his old school. He stood for some time, taking in the view. Eventually, when he'd imprinted the view in his mind, he turned to face the acting Minister.

'Ready?' Kingsley asked.

Harry nodded.

'Kingsley,' he said, remembering that he was now with the acting Minister, a man who was formerly an Auror, 'I've been Apparating since my birthday, but I haven't passed my test.'

'Extenuating circumstances, Harry,' Kingsley noted, 'but, as I really shouldn't condone any more lawbreaking, I will take you to the Ministry by Side-Along-Apparition.'

Harry nodded and took Kingsley's arm.

The Ministry building was almost deserted when they arrived. Harry was surprised, until he remembered that it was still only a little after six on a Sunday morning. They made their way up to the Minister's Office. Apologising to Harry, Kingsley left him alone with a copy of the iSunday Prophet/i while he went to speak to various Ministry officials. When he returned twenty minutes later, he joined Harry at the long table, which stretched down one side of the office.

'I've spoken to the Portkey Office,' Kingsley informed him. 'They're dealing with your request. I've spoken to the Auror Office, too,' Kingsley continued, pushing a small white card towards him. 'This is yours, if you want it. I've made the arrangements with Gawain Robards.'

Harry read the card: "Harry J Potter – Trainee Auror", and smiled at the acting Minister.

'Thanks; not even an interview?'

'Not for you,' Kingsley shook his head, 'nor for any of your friends, if they want to become Aurors. I was particularly impressed by the actions of Mr Ron Weasley and Miss Granger. Mr Longbottom, Miss Lovegood and Miss Weasley also excelled themselves, as did the rest of your friends. We lost over half of the Auror Department over the last year. We need new recruits, urgently.'

Harry began to unburden himself to the slow-speaking acting Minister. While standing next to Dumbledore's tomb he had made the decision to tell Kingsley almost everything. It was important that someone knew. Harry needed advice about how much to tell the press.

It was a long story, and they suffered from frequent interruptions. Members of staff from both the Portkey Office and the Department of International Magical Cooperation were in and out of the Minister's Office, agreeing on Portkey locations and travel arrangements.

At nine o'clock, while Harry was explaining what happened at Malfoy Manor, a harassed clerk knocked on the door.

'Sorry to interrupt, Minister,' he apologised. 'Security has held a Miss Granger and a Mr Weasley in the Atrium. They are demanding to see Mr Potter.'

'Arrange to have them escorted up immediately,' Kingsley ordered.

Harry grinned as his friends entered the Minister's Office a few minutes later. Ron was wearing jeans, a grey t-shirt and an old tweed jacket; Hermione wore jeans and a lightweight jumper; both looked stressed and unhappy.

'Git,' Ron scowled by way of greeting. Hermione was no happier.

'What the hell were you thinking of!' she shrieked. 'Disappearing like that! We were just getting ready to organise a search party when Ginny checked with the Aurors! We were worried sick!'

Harry was astonished.

'Kingsley and McGonagall knew where I'd gone, so did the Aurors,' he told his friends defensively. 'I wasn't going to wake Ron up to tell him. You all needed to sleep.'

'So,' Hermione shrilled, 'have you forgotten how to write? A note would have been enough to stop us worrying! What have you been doing?'

Harry could feel his temper rising, but before he could reply, Kingsley stood and spoke.

'Ron, Hermione,' he said, 'I asked Harry to come with me. I wanted his help. He agreed, but asked me to do something for him. Because of Harry I have spent almost three hours trying to set up a series of Portkeys between here and Australia.'

'Oh,' exclaimed Hermione in a very small voice, looking shamefacedly at Harry.

'Wow.' Ron grinned.

'I'm expecting that the arrangements will be finalised very soon,' Kingsley continued, smiling at the three teenagers. He watched them carefully. Ron and Hermione needed to talk to Harry.

'I've no idea whether you two have eaten, but I know Harry left Hogwarts before breakfast, and I expect that you both wanted to find Harry before thinking about food. Why don't you go outside and get something to eat. I'm sure that you still have things to talk about. If you head down towards the Embankment, you'll find several Muggle cafés,' Kingsley told them.

'Take these,' he pulled six £20 notes from his desk and handed them to Harry. 'I don't suppose that you have much Muggle money. Meet me back here in an hour. I should have some news for you by then. We can finish our discussions later, Harry. We have all day.'

Harry was hungry, and so surprised by Kingsley's offer that he accepted the cash, stuffed it in his pocket, grabbed his friends by the arms and led them from the Minister's Office.

'Come on, you two,' he said as they walked through the secretary's office, 'let's get some London air.'

'Harry,' Hermione asked hesitantly as they left the empty office and walked towards the lift past rows of empty desks in a large office, 'the Portkeys, are they…'

'…for you?' Harry interrupted. 'Yes; it's the fastest way to Australia apparently, though I don't know all of the details yet.'

They were almost at the lifts. Hermione flung her arms around Harry, hugged him tightly, and kissed his cheek.

'Thank you,' she whispered, as Harry gave her a quick hug in return.

'Oi,' Ron protested, 'what're you doing?'

Harry grinned, 'Jealous, eh?' he winked at Ron over Hermione's shoulder. Then he put his hands on Hermione's shoulders and pushed her away to arms length. 'So, what's happening between you two?'

Both Ron and Hermione, Harry was pleased to see, blushed.

'Nothing,' said Hermione, looking down at her feet.

'Didn't look like nothing the other day,' Harry laughed, he looked at Ron, who was looking more scared than Harry had ever seen him.

'Heat of the moment,' Hermione mumbled, still blushing, and avoiding Harry's eyes. Ron looked shocked. Harry was surprised, and then it struck him … Hermione was nervous because she'd made the first move. She probably needed to be sure that she wasn't another Lavender.

Harry pulled Hermione into a hug peered past her hair, caught Ron's frightened eyes and mouthed, 'Say something, now!' to his friend. He let go of Hermione, turned on his heels and strode over to the lift button.

'I'll get the lift,' he announced.

'Hermione,' he heard Ron say. He determinedly looked at the lift doors and pushed the button again.

'I didn't think it was nothing,' Ron continued. Hermione didn't speak. Harry resisted the urge to look round.

'I—would—could—you—me,' Ron stuttered; he stopped, sighed and took a deep breath. 'Hermione, would you like to go out with me,' Ron asked slowly and carefully, 'because I'd like to go out with you.'

There was no reply, but Harry heard muffled slurping noises coming from behind him. A lift arrived and the doors rattled open. Fortunately, it was empty. Harry stepped inside and turned to face the door. Ron and Hermione appeared to be glued together at the lips. Ron had his arms around her waist and had lifted her off the ground.

'The lift's here,' Harry announced. Nothing happened.

'THE LIFT IS HERE,' he said again loudly. Ron lowered Hermione to the ground and they reluctantly parted. Both wore dazed expressions. Ron swaggered into the lift, hand in hand with Hermione. They were giggling. Harry was unsure whether to be amused or annoyed.

'Atrium, please,' Ron ordered with mock pomposity, while waving his hand imperiously.

'Certainly sir,' Harry replied, bowing, 'and would Sir and Madam like me to stand in a corner facing the wall?' All three burst out laughing. They were still laughing hysterically, arms around each other, when the lift doors opened at the Atrium level. They were faced with half a dozen Ministry staff, looking at them in astonishment.

'Sorry,' Harry apologised to the surprised workers, 'it wasn't that funny really.'

Looking around, he recognised a stooped, white haired wizard.

'Hello, Mr Perkins,' he said. 'We lost your tent; sorry.'

'Harry, and Ronald, isn't it?' Arthur Weasley's elderly colleague asked, surprised. Harry glumly noticed that everyone's eyes flicked up to look at his forehead.

'And Hermione Granger,' Ron added, still laughing. 'See you later Mr Perkins. Sorry about the tent. We've got to go.'

The three slid their way past the Ministry workers and made their way through security, into the Atrium and to the exit. Ron and Hermione were holding hands and Hermione she linked her other arm through Harry's.

'Where shall we go for breakfast?' she asked as they approached the cubicles at the Ministry exit.

'Anywhere you like,' Harry replied, waving the £120 Kingsley had given him. They each entered a toilet cubicle. 'I'm feeling rather flush.'

They all started laughing again.

When they reached the outside world with its bustle and traffic noise Harry pulled himself together. He looked around and found a road leading down towards the Thames.

'This way,' he said, leading his friends down the busy street.

'Is everyone mad at me for leaving?' he asked.

Hermione nodded.

'Mum was in a right state, thought you'd been kidnapped,' Ron said. 'We were just getting ready to alert the DA when Ginny had her brainwave and found an Auror to ask.'

'How is she?' Harry asked. Ron looked combative so he immediately made the question more general. 'How is your family, after … after Fred?'

Ron said nothing. Hermione, looking worried, slipped her arm around Ron's waist and hugged him.

'Fred's funeral will be a week from today,' Hermione said. 'Mr Weasley told us last night. He's made the arrangements. Everyone's really worried about George. It's hard for everyone, but George especially; he's taking it really badly.'

'Fred,' Ron said, his eyes wet with tears, 'Fred wasn't the only one; Remus, Tonks, and little Colin. Was there something we could have done, anything, to have stopped Voldemort sooner?'

Harry shook his head.

'I've been wondering the same thing,' he said. 'A lot of good people died, too many.'

They walked down the street in silence for a few minutes. Harry could not think of anything to say. He wished that he hadn't brought the subject up. He wondered how long the deaths would be a wall between them and happiness. It had been a bitter victory.

'Will this place do?' Harry asked, stopping abruptly outside a coffee shop. 'It's a nice morning. We could buy coffee and sandwiches to take out and sit on the riverside.'

Ten minutes later they were sitting on a wooden bench watching the boats on the Thames. Although Hermione sat between them, she and Ron had an arm around each other as they ate their sandwiches and drank scalding hot coffee. He was with his friends, but Harry felt strangely alone.

'Busy, isn't it?' Ron said, breaking the uneasy silence.

'Not particularly,' Hermione replied, 'you need to get out more, Ron.'

Ron shrugged. 'What's Kingsley got you doing, anyway?' he asked Harry.

'I'm writing a statement for the press, explaining how we defeated Riddle.'

'YOU defeated Riddle,' Hermione corrected.

'I couldn't have done it without you,' Harry argued, 'and that's what I'm going to say.'

Both Ron and Hermione looked pleased, though Hermione did her best to try to hide her pleasure.

'Do you want to be Aurors?' Harry asked. Ron nodded enthusiastically, but Hermione shook her head.

'No,' she said, 'I want to join the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures when I finish school. There are a lot of changes needed in the Ministry!'

Ron rolled his eyes.

'Auror—that would be cool; shame about all the training and NEWT's.'

'We might be able to shortcut that,' Harry said. He explained Kingsley's offer.

'You mean you're not going back to school!' Hermione exclaimed. 'Missing out on your final year?'

'It didn't do Fred and George any harm, they're both…' Ron began before stopping, eyes wide in shock. Hermione kissed him on the cheek.

'We're all going to do that. A lot! We can't forget Fred, we mustn't, so we'll mention him a lot, he was a big part of our lives,' she consoled.

They sat in silence until they had finished their sandwiches.

'Time we were heading back,' Harry announced, to break another uneasy silence. 'Come on you two.'

'Hey,' Ron asked, 'where'd you get the t-shirt?'

'A present from Kreacher, clean clothes, a new t-shirt and a trip to the prefect's bathroom. It's the easiest way to avoid Aurors,' Harry said. Ron laughed.

'You can't Apparate within the Hogwarts grounds,' Ron mimicked Hermione's lecturing voice, 'unless you're like Harry and have your own house elf.'

'Isn't that what I've been telling you for years, Ron?' Hermione asked waspishly. Ron just grinned.

'Don't you ever get sick of being right, Hermione? Just make a mistake, once in a while; see how the rest of us feel.'

Hermione opened her mouth to protest, but Ron grabbed her around the waist and kissed her into silence. Harry decided to leave them to it and walked on ahead. He wondered if he should ask Ron about Ginny, but he remembered Ron's last reaction. Ginny can wait; he told himself sternly, there's still work to be done. Anyway, he thought grimly, I can't even talk to Ron about Fred, what could I possibly say to Ginny?

Harry re-entered the Ministry without looking back over his shoulder. He was standing in the Atrium, waiting for Ron and Hermione, when a young witch with thick dark curly hair entered the Atrium from the lifts. She saw him, squealed 'Harry Potter' turned and ran back to the lifts. Harry groaned. Where were Ron and Hermione?

Two minutes later, the curly haired witch was back, with two friends in tow. All three had quills and parchment with them. Harry was mortified; they were going to ask him for his autograph.

Giggling, they approached Harry, who was by now fervently wishing that he hadn't left his invisibility cloak in Kingsley's office. The curly haired witch, blushing furiously, approached and, as he'd feared, asked him for his autograph.

'Why?' Harry asked aggressively. The curly haired witch was taken aback, but one of her friends, a buxom blonde in her mid twenties stepped forwards.

'Why not?' she asked brazenly. 'It 'ud be summat to tell our grandchildren, your grandchildren, too, if you play your cards right!' she winked, her friends giggled. 'D'yer wanna meet us in the pub after work? We finish at five.'

Harry had no idea what to say. He was saved by the appearance of Ron and Hermione, who were arm in arm.

'Sorry,' he said to the three witches, 'my friends and I have an urgent appointment with the acting Minister. I think we'll be busy all day.'

'Let's go,' he called, urgently, 'we can't keep Kingsley waiting.'

He hurried off to the lifts. Ron and Hermione followed after him, Ron shouting 'what's up, Harry?' as they went. There was a lift open and waiting. Harry hurried in and jabbed the button before the three witches could join them.

'What happened, Harry?' Hermione asked. Harry told her. Ron burst out laughing.

'Blimey mate,' he chortled, 'now you're getting girls asking you out! If that had happened to me I'd have…' he caught sight of Hermione's face, '… done exactly the same thing,' he finished in a monotone.

'Ever considered having the words "Insensitive Wart" tattooed across your forehead, Ron?' Hermione asked scornfully. 'It might help the few poor fools who've never met you.'

Ron tried to look contrite.

'Sorry, Hermione,' he apologised. 'I'm not used to this girlfriend stuff yet.'

'No?' Hermione asked. 'What was Lavender then?'

'I'll tell you about Lavender, when you tell me about Krum,' Ron offered.

'That was years ago, Ron,' Hermione began.

'Not now,' Harry interrupted, 'I don't want to know,' his discomfort showed on his face.

Ron and Hermione both laughed at him.

The offices had started to fill while they had been out. A long queue of people waited to speak to the Minister. An officious middle-aged witch sat at the previously empty desk outside Kingsley's door. She spotted Harry, Ron and Hermione and took them past a half dozen annoyed Ministry officials and straight in to see Kingsley.

'Thank you, Brenda,' said Kingsley as the witch ushered the three in, then left, closing the door behind her.

'I've just been in contact with the head of the Corroboree; the Australian Wizarding Authority,' Kingsley told them.

'They will provide assistance in the search for your parents, Hermione. The Portkey Office has set up a series of Portkeys around the world. Each Portkey will transport you to the location of the next. I have a list of the Portkeys here.' Kingsley waved a piece of parchment. 'They will all be in place within the hour, and they are reversible, to allow you to use the same keys on the return journey.'

'You will be able to travel around the world in a series of hops of about five hundred miles each,' Kingsley explained. 'This will be a tiring and disorientating journey for you, but you will be able to make the journey fairly quickly.'

Hermione was almost dancing with happiness.

'Thank you, Kingsley,' she said, smiling happily, 'and thank you, Harry,' she continued, wrapping him in a hug.

'After all you've done, this is small reward for you' Kingsley rumbled. 'Do you intend to travel alone?'

'No,' Ron said, 'I'm going too…' he paused, 'er, if you want me to that is Hermione. I reckon you could do with some company.'

'Thanks, Ron,' Hermione hugged and kissed him too, 'but shouldn't you stay with your Mum and Dad?'

Ron looked troubled, 'They'll want me to, but I'd rather be with you,' he emphasised.

'Best not go anywhere without telling them, mate,' Harry advised.

'Good point,' Ron admitted. He turned to Hermione. 'We can Apparate back to Hogwarts and tell them.'

'You can't Apparate anywhere,' Kingsley ordered. 'No licence, like Harry.' Ron looked crestfallen; Kingsley smiled. 'So, you two had best get down to level six and report to the Apparition Test Centre, good luck.'

'Wow, thanks, Kingsley,' said Ron, astonished. 'C'mon, Harry.'

'You can stay here, Hermione,' said Kingsley, 'and we can discuss the details of your journey.'

'Good luck, Ron; good luck, Harry,' she called as they left the Minister's Office.

'You don't mind if I go with Hermione, do you? I reckon she needs the company, you know?' Ron asked when they were in the lift. He was watching Harry carefully for his reaction. Harry looked up into his best friend's anxious face.

'Just go, Ron, spend some time with Hermione and don't worry about me. I'll be okay. It's not like there's another Voldemort waiting to kill me.'

Harry paused, 'One thing though, I wouldn't take Hermione back to Hogwarts with you when you go and talk to your Mum.'

'Why?' Ron looked confused. The lift doors opened.

'You've both got such a soppy look on your face when you look at each other. If your Mum catches sight of that, you've got no chance of going,' Harry replied, with a grin spreading across his face.

'Good point.' Ron agreed as Harry knocked on the door of the Apparition Test Centre.

Half an hour later they were both back in Kingsley's office, both with newly printed Apparition licences. The queue outside Kingsley's door was now even longer, but again the officious Brenda ushered them past it.

'The Portkeys are ready,' Hermione beamed as Ron and Harry entered the office. 'We might even be able to get there and back in a day. Depending on how quickly the Australians can find Mum and Dad. I've already given them the names to look for.'

'Great,' said Ron, waving his apparition licence in her face.

'Well of course you both passed,' smiled Hermione dismissively, 'after all the practice you've had this year.'

'Kingsley,' Harry said, 'there are a lot of people waiting to see you. If you can find me a desk somewhere I'll write down the names of all of the Death Eaters I saw at the battle. Hermione can help me while Ron goes to talk to his Mum and Dad. I can work on that press statement later.'

So the efficient Brenda escorted Harry and Hermione to a cubicle in the Aurors Office on level two, while Ron hurried off to talk to his parents and, he hoped, pack for a trip to Australia.

Harry and Hermione wrote and checked a list of names of known Death Eaters and many others who they had seen fighting alongside Voldemort. It was almost noon when Ron strolled into the Auror's office, a large rucksack on his back.

'It looks like it's time you went and got packed too, Hermione,' Harry said, grinning at Ron.

'I haven't unpacked yet,' she said, pulling up her jumper and taking a small beaded bag from her jeans pocket. 'Was your Mum all right about you coming with me?'

Ron looked a little embarrassed.

'I told Mum we'd only be two or three days; that we should be back by Wednesday at the latest. So she's letting me go,' he told her.

'She seems to think that all three of us are going,' he continued, the tips of his ears reddening. 'I'm … not sure how that happened,'

Hermione snorted in disbelief, Ron rounded on her.

'Look, do you want my company or not? I know I'll be in trouble with Mum when we get back, but this was the quickest and easiest way for me to get permission to come with you. If she knew Harry wasn't going, I wouldn't have been allowed to go either, she wants me at the Burrow until Fred's—er, so I—sort of misunderstood her,' Ron continued, getting redder by the second. 'I don't want you to go off by yourself, Hermione. I…I just want to be with you, to help. I thought you wanted me to be with you!'

'I'd like you to come with me, Ron,' Hermione said sadly, 'but you can't keep lying to your mum.'

'If I was as clever as you I wouldn't need to,' Ron replied. 'I'd just alter her memory. That would make my life a lot easier. So, am I going with you, Hermione?'

'Magic can't solve everything, Ron,' she told him. 'But of course you can come with me.'

She stood and hugged him. Ron responded with a passionate kiss.

'You two stay here,' Harry sighed, 'I'll go and speak to Kingsley.'

Ron replied by giving an enthusiastic thumbs up gesture; without breaking apart from Hermione.

Harry was back within minutes, a small bag in his hand. Hermione and Ron were still busy snogging and did not notice his approach. He stood in silence for a few minutes; watching them, and thinking about Ginny. Eventually, they noticed his presence.

'I've just found out that Colin Creevey's funeral will be on the Saturday,' Harry announced sadly. 'He was in the DA. We should go shouldn't we?'

'Of course,' Ron and Hermione said together. Harry gave a morose grunt of agreement, thinking about the many funerals to come.

'I've got the first Portkey,' he held up the bag. 'It will work when you touch it. Kingsley wants you to leave from the Atrium.'

Walking down to the Ministry entrance, Harry was missing Ginny more than ever, but he could not go to the Burrow, he realised. Molly Weasley thought that he was on his way to Australia.

Harry shook Ron's hand and kissed Hermione on the cheek. 'Look after each other,' he told them. 'See you soon, I hope.'

Hermione, her eyes full of tears, hugged Harry and returned the kiss.

'Look after yourself Harry; we should only be gone for a couple of days with any luck. We'll be back for,' she looked at Ron, tears in her eyes, 'for the funerals.'

The small bag contained an empty beer can. Ron held out his hand. Hermione entwined her fingers with his and they both straightened their forefingers.

'Bye, Harry,' Hermione whispered, 'and thank you.'

'And go and see Ginny,' she added hastily as she and Ron reached into the bag. When they touched the can both they, and the can were enveloped in a blue light and vanished.

Suddenly alone, Harry took the lift up to the Minister's office. For much of the day Harry sat quietly in the corner of the office, working on his statement while listening with interest to the changes Kingsley was making at the Ministry. The day wore on, and despite the frequent interruptions by harassed Ministry officials, Harry also managed to finish telling Kingsley about the events of the past nine months. The two remained in the Minister's office after the majority of the weekend staff had left.

They were in the office until nine in the evening finishing Harry's press statement. Eventually, Harry declared himself happy with the result. Kingsley tried unsuccessfully to persuade Harry to make some alterations, claiming that Harry was being unduly modest.

They had decided not to tell anyone else about the Horcruxes. As far as Harry was concerned, the fewer people who knew, the better. The official statement said that Voldemort had used Dark magic in order to tie himself to life; that the magic was associated with the Gaunt ring, Slytherin's locket, a cup belonging to the Lestranges and the snake Nagini. It was close enough to the truth, and allowed Harry to give particular credit to Professor Dumbledore, Ron, Hermione and Neville for their part in destroying the Horcruxes, essential for Riddle's defeat.

Harry and the acting Minister then discussed tactics for the meeting with the Wizengamot, which was due to start at two o'clock the following afternoon. Kingsley, Harry soon realised, was a consummate politician. He asked Harry what he wanted, and together they planned how to achieve his aims.

After ten o'clock, Harry left the Ministry and walked for over an hour through the noisy, busy, and brightly lit Muggle world. He walked slowly from the Ministry to Grimmauld Place. As he walked he tried to gather his thoughts. They returned again and again to Ginny. His mind swam with memories of her eyes, her hair, her lips, and her smile. He should have spoken to her before now, but he had no idea what he could say, or how he could say it.

It was approaching midnight when he reached Grimmauld Place. The Death Eaters had done remarkably little damage; except, Harry discovered to his horror, to Sirius' old room. His house had obviously been searched, ransacked, but only his godfather's old room had been vandalised; the walls were scorched and charred, every piece of furniture had been destroyed. The other dark, Slytherin influenced rooms were almost untouched; whether out of respect for the décor, from respect of Bellatrix Lestrange, or out of fear of Tom Riddle, Harry could only guess.

Kreacher had prepared the master bedroom for Harry, and had tidied the kitchen, but the rest of the house was still a mess. Harry spent half an hour reassuring the elderly elf that he'd done enough, and that it didn't matter if it took weeks, or months to get the place back into shape. He'd then asked Kreacher to wake him at eight. The master bedroom was dingy and depressing. At least, thought Harry as he collapsed into bed, the bed was comfortable and the sheets clean and fresh.

Ginny haunted his wildly varying dreams. He dreamt that she, Hermione and Luna had been killed by Bellatrix Lestrange and woke in a panic. When he finally returned to sleep, much later, he found himself walking into the Gryffindor common room and catching Ginny in a passionate embrace with Dean Thomas. He woke, shaking and sweating, and checked his watch. It was six o'clock. He was still tired, and it felt as if a troll was tap dancing on his skull, but he did not want to go back to sleep, he couldn't risk it. Instead he took a bath.