AN please review constructive criticism or appreciation always welcome

harry woke up slowly. He lay for some time with his eyes closed Wondering where he was. He wasn't in shell cottage the light was wrong, and he certainly wasn't in the tent, the bed was far to comply for that. Then slowly the last 24 hours caught up with him. For a full minute he just marvelled in the feeling that it was all over and that he was not only alive but safe and Uninjured. A whole life full of possibilities opened up in front of his closed eyes. He opened his eyes and looked at the clock on the table beside him, it was a few minutes after mid day. He couldn't get up yet then.

Last night, or really it was this morning, at about 4 am Dumbledore and snape had arrived in Gryffindor tower. Their appearance had been greeted by quite the uproar. There were gasps and yells of delight aimed at Dumbledore and gasps and yells of shock at not only the presence of snape but his appearance in the company of Dumbledore. People had leapt to their feet many half drawing wands not seeming to know how to react. .

Dumbledore had quickly calmed the situation and got everyone sitting down again. He explained to everyone that hadn't been in the meeting that he and Sirius (who had entered the tower under the cloak he had borrowed from Harry and headed straight upstairs to avoid having to explain) were alive and a brief description of how. and that snape is and has always been one of them.. He refused to answer the multitude of questions that people began to ask instead saying the there would be time for detailed explanations later and that the priority now was a good rest for all. He then sent everybody, himself included, to bed saying that he didn't want to see anyone out of bed before 3 pm.

He had already sent the same message and instructions to the volunteers barrack in Ravenclaw tower.

Harry who was now staring idly at the canopy of his bed began to wonder what he was going to do with the rest of his life. Truth be told he had never really thought about it. By the time he was old enough to start having real thoughts about the future the war had begun and harry if he was honest with himself had fully expected not to survive. A few half formed ideas began to occur to harry and he started to work some of those into realistic potential plans.

While harry was thinking the door creaked open and harry peered round his bed hangings to see what was going on. None of the other beds were disturbed. Hermione and All the Weasley kids except for bill were in here with harry (Dumbledore had conjured more beds) but their hanging were undisturbed, harry looked towards the door and was surprised to see Dumbledore. Dumbledore saw harry peeping out and went over

"May I" he said indicating the end of the bed

"Of course" harry replied and Dumbledore drew back the drapes and sat down

"I'm sorry to disturb you my boy."

"You didn't I was already awake. But what brings you up here"

"I find I have missed you all greatly.. I woke up and could not get back to sleep so I decided to take a walk round the dorms and check on everyone."

"That's nice"

"What had you laying awake harry?"

"I was just thinking about where I go from here. Honestly I never expected to survive the war so I don't really know what to do next"

"Well I think I can help there. I was planning to send owls out tomorrow. Over this past year hogwarts has lacked all of her muggle born students and the students that were here have had the year dreadfully disturbed thanks to the marvellous efforts of Dumbledores army. and of course yesterday's events came before exam time." He winked at harry "as a result I am planning to have the whole school repeat the last year to give everybody a chance to learn properly. I fully expect you, mr Weasley and miss granger to return for your last year"

"Of course sir, thankyou" said harry taken aback

"No thanks needed my boy"

"I do have a question if that's alright sir"

"Ask away."

"Well if you aren't dead do you want the things you left me Ron and Hermione back?

"No of course not. I left everything else to hogwarts for the express purpose of making it easy for me to get it all back but the gifts to you, Ronald and Hermione are for you all to keep"

"Thank you sir"

Dumbledore looked at harry closely, " there is something else that you want.

"Yes" Harry admitted

"You never get if you never ask"

"Alright. I assume that you own the shrieking shack sir?"

"Indeed I do. Why do you ask"

"Well sir. I was hoping that you would sell me the shack sir. With some help from friends I would like to restore and extend it."

"What about coming back to Hogwarts for your final year"

"Well I thought of this idea before you Told be about coming back. And even tho I do want to come back I don't feel like I would feel comfortable living in the dormitory. I've grown up too much this last year. However With your permission I would like to relocate the tunnel exit to inside the castle to make it easier to come into the school.".

"Are you sure you want to live all by yourself?"

"Actually I was hoping that Ron And Hermione would share it with me"

"Have you spoken to them about your idea yet"

"Not yet sir. I've only come up with the idea since I've been laying here"

For a few moments Dumbledore seemed deep in thought then his face split into a wide smile.

"Well I think that it is an excellent idea and I don't think that you would be short of volunteers to help you renovate, I suggest that you discuss this with your two friends and if they agree with you then I would be more than happy to give you the shack."

"Thank you sir"

Harry did a double take

"Just a minute did you say give? I wasn't asking for a gift I was expecting to pay you for it."

"I know my boy but I have no need of the gold and the shack itself is of no use to me. Seeing it roared and the three of you settled and happy will be payment enough"

"If you are sure" said Harry hesitantly

"I insist"

"Then thank you all the more"

"You are most welcome. Although I do have one question for you"

"Yes sir?"

"Why the shack. After all that has happened there I would think you would want to avoid it"

"Actually that is exactly why I want it. The old place has seen so much pain and distress and evil. I think that it is time It knew some love and happiness. "

"It still surprises me sometimes my boy quite how wise you are"

"Thank you sir"

"not at all. I shall leave you to your thoughts.

Dumbledore stood and quietly left the dorm. Harry found now that he was sleepy again and laying his head back into his pillow he nodded off.

Later that day when everyone was up Harry told his idea to Ron and Hermione. They were sat in their old favourite spot, the trio of soft armchairs by the gryfindor fireplace. The room was full of talk and laughter and Harry felt relaxed and at home in a way that he hadn't done in a very long time. Hermione was instantly enthusiastic and upon learning that Harry didn't have much idea yet of what it should be like inside asked if she could help to design the expansions and interior layout. As soon as he agreed She ensconced herself at a table by the window and began sketching ideas on a roll of parchment so big that it covered the entire table. Ron was slightly more hesitant.

"Are you sure it isn't really haunted" he asked

Harry laughed.

"You know that the rumours of ghosts was just a cover story to keep Remus safe"

"Yeah I guess"

"Besides. What would it matter if it was haunted? I mean Hogwarts is haunted and you've lived here happily for years"

"Oh yeah. Alright then I'm in."

Harry chuckeled.

Over an hour later Hermione was still sketching, Ron was flicking through the latest edition of the quibler, and Harry was staring lazily into the fire watching the shapes that the flames were making.

Ron sat up suddenly in his seat causing Harry to startle

"Hey harry. Here's an idea, can we have a house elf"

"What"

"A house elf. I liked having kreacher at Grimauld place, no house work no cooking it was brilliant. If we are getting our own place We should have a house elf."

"I wouldn't let Hermione hear you talking like that. You know how she feels about house elves"

"I've already heard him" Hermione said without looking up from her parchment"

Harry grimaced and waited for the explosion but Ron spoke

"We wouldn't treat it badly" he said defensively.

Hermione looked up and glared at him over her glasses and he sank back into his chair. Hermione turned her chair to face the boys and leant forwards.

"You know actually Ron may be on to something."

Harry and Ron stared at her.

"According to wizard law Any wizard who owns their own home can claim a free elf or purchase a juvenile elf from the owners of its parents"

"So"

"Well winky is still here and still miserable. Dumbledore never actually claimed her so she's still technically a free elf despite working here, And well She hates being free.

"But you think all elves should be free" said Harry bemused

Hermione looked somewhat sheepish

"Well as much as I hate to admit it I might have had my priorities wrong with spew"

Harry looked at Ron.

"Did Hermione just actually admit to being wrong about something" Ron said incredulously

Hermione banished a cushion at Ron with perfect aim.

"I'm serious" she said. "Everyone else was trying to help me understand them and I wouldn't listen. I was too caught up in my own view of right and wrong to be willing to accept that they aren't human and don't have the same view of the world as humans do. House elves don't want freedom and wages and everything I wanted for them. I still think that there should be rules and regulations about their working conditions and hours, and the should get sick leave, if they want it. I mean it's despicable the way some people think and treat them. But I'm done trying to free them."

Harry was temporarily lost for words. He gaped at her for a few moments TIL he found his voice.

"What's your point about winky" Ron managed

"Ah yes. Well like I said she's still miserable. Perhaps if we claimed her then she would be happy again because she would be owned again."

"Well I think it's a great idea" said Ron "how about you harry"

"Yeah. we should check with Dumbledore after all she works here at the moment"

"Excellent." Said Ron flopping backwards into his chair.

Harry stood up.

"You've just made me realise that I need to talk to Sirius.

Harry looked round then crossed the room to where Sirius and lupin were sitting curled up in a single oversized armchair talking quietly. They looked up as Harry Aproached.

"Harry" Sirius beamed "how are you doing"

"I'm good. something Ron Hermione and I were just discussing made me realise I needed to talk to you.

"What's on your mind"

"Well it's two things really. The first is that I assume you want Grimauld place and kreacher back, the second is I was wondering how come they became mine if you never actually died"

Sirius smiled and gestured to the seat beside them. Harry sat down.

"Well giving them to you was easy. Just as I could hand you this jumper and tell you to keep it. things that have a magical component to their ownership can be given away using magic. I simply performed a transfer of possessions spell. The rest of it; The will and Dumbledore being unsure of you could actually take possession. That was all just very good acting on his part.

"I see" said Harry realising that it was stupidly simple once explained.

"And as for having it back" Sirius continued "Remus and I have talked and we've talked with Tonks"

"That reminds me" Harry interrupted looking at Remus "I was wondering about Tonks I assumed you and Tonks were a couple when you had teddy"

Remus smiled "ill explain that later Harry, but no Tonks and I have never been a couple."

"Oh. Ok"

"As I was saying" said Sirius "the three of us have talked and we've decided that we don't want to live in grimauld place. It had too many bad memories for me and I don't want our son growing up there"

"Our son!?"

"In a minute" reassured lupin

"So we are going to buy a new home. Somewhere in the countryside with lots of land. I've got plenty of inherited gold. Grimauld place is yours to do with as you please, keep it, sell it. It's up to you.

"Are you sure"

"I'm positive, and the same goes for kreacher. I've heard that you managed to effect quite the transformation in him, he will be bonded to you now I think it's only fair that you keep him."

Harry didn't quite know what to say

"Thank you He managed giving Sirius a hug.

"Now then" smiled Remus "I suppose you would like me to explain about, Tonks and teddy."