Harry woke up many hours later to find midday sunlight pouring in through the window of the dormitory. He looked to his right and saw Ron lying there, dead to the world. He tried to sit up and felt every single bone and muscle in his body complain and put up a fight.

For two minutes he just sat there. Nothing went through his head. He just sat there. He heard a noise by the door and looked up to see Hermione and Ginny walking in arm in arm. Hermione seemed to be walking with severe pain in her joints. She looked exactly how Harry felt. They sat at the end of his bed and Ginny rolled her eyes at Ron. She went to get up and jump on him but Hermione pulled her back down, "No, let him sleep. He's been through the same ordeal as the rest of us and he isn't used to less than ten hours of sleep a night so three days with only about two hours sleep isn't going to agree with him. How are you feeling today Harry?"

"A bit better although the bones in my body seem to have made an agreement overnight not to let me move. I think what I really need is some food and a nice long walk around the lake to get some fresh air and to talk about where we go from here. You can wake Ron if you want Ginny, but do it gently, I'll bet he feels the same as us." She got up and started to tap Ron on the shoulder but when he didn't wake she bent over and blew on his face. There was still no movement so she climbed into bed next to him and lightly kicked his bottom. He woke up, rolled over and jumped out of his skin at the sight of his sister lying beside him. He fell off the bed and the whole room except Ron exploded with laughter. The first real heart-felt laughter since the defeat of Voldemort.

They all stopped abruptly, feeling like they were being disrespectful to the dead. The hole where their loved ones had been was still there and it felt wrong to enjoy themselves while Fred, Lupin, Tonks and so many others weren't there to enjoy it.

Harry climbed out of bed and helped Ron to his feet. "Thanks mate. Honestly, I don't get what you see in my sister, she's a menace." said Ron, slowly standing up and groaning.

Harry remained silent, feeling awkward. He saw everything in Ginny. He loved the fact that she could make a joke of any situation even when there was so much sadness around. He loved her eyes. Oh how he loved her eyes. If he could he would spend the rest of his life just staring into them and trying to figure out what was going on behind them. He also loved the shape of her body and how even though she was the person he knew would put up the biggest fight she looked so dainty and delicate. She looked like she needed to be wrapped in bubble-wrap and holding close to stop her from breaking. He would love to hold her close. To feel her body against his, her hand in his own and to touch her air, caress it.

He was pulled out of his chain of thought quite suddenly by Hermione saying, "Right. Now that we're all up shall we go and get some breakfast and then go for a walk around the lake? I think we all need it." They all agreed and the girls left the room so that Harry and Ron could get dressed. Harry went to get some fresh robes out of his trunk when he remembered it wasn't there. Everything was different. He was in the place he loved most and was so used to but nothing was the same. He turned and saw a fresh set of clothes, the jeans and shirt he had worn to Godric's Hollow. Hermione must have had them washed and put them at the end of his bed. He looked around and saw Ron just standing there, staring at the pile of clothes on his bed.

"What's up mate?" Harry asked, noticing something was going through Ron's head that Ron didn't like.

"Oh, I'm just thinking about how everything's different now. You know, we've grown so used to this place and now it's all weird. I saw you go to your trunk and I was about to go to mine too before I remembered that they weren't there. It's going to be weird when we do go. Do you think they'll let us re-do our final year? I hope they do."

"Yeah, it would be nice to get the right qualifications and to spend a year at Hogwarts without a battle against Voldemort or one of our teachers turning into a werewolf or even a tournament to partake in wouldn't it? Come on, let's get dressed and go and meet the girls. I think you could do with some food to be honest." Ron nodded and they pulled their clothes on, went down the familiar spiral staircase to find Ginny and Hermione standing at the bottom, now dressed and in deep conversation. Ginny looked up and saw the two boys coming down the stairs. She smiled and reached for Harry's hand. Hermione grabbed Ron's and they slowly made their way to the Great Hall.

When they got there the room was a hive of activity, it seemed as if everyone had slept late into the day and were all enjoying a late breakfast. The house elves had now had time to deal with their grievances; house elves don't take long to mourn for the dead because they don't have time to when they work for strict masters; and their cooking was back to its usual delicious standard.

They sat down at the Gryffindor table and were beginning to pile their plates high with bacon, eggs, toast and kippers when they were joined by Neville and Luna. They sat next to Harry and Ginny and began to put food on their own plates. They all started eating and were in conversation about what would happen about teachers now that half of the teaching staff were dead when Draco walked over. He hesitated before he sat down next Hermione and started to pile his plate.

"Good afternoon Draco" said Luna with a mouthful of porridge.

He acknowledged her greeting with a slight nod of the head and started eating.

When they were done they got up and walked straight through the Entrance Hall and made for the grounds. They heard the clearing of a throat behind them and turned around.

Professor McGonagall was standing there with her hands on her hips. "I just wanted to thank you Potter. And, um, all of you are welcome to retake your seventh year because of certain circumstances." She gave Draco a strange look and turned and walked up the marble staircase.

"Well. That was different. It gives us yet another decision to make..." Said Ron leading the rest of the group out of the doors and towards the lake.