A/N: Here's the next chapter! Sorry about the wait.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all these characters belong to JKR.

Chapter Four

A pregnant pause filled the room as Harry hesitated. They had encountered these awkward moments a few times already: trying to find a way around mentioning the fact the Ron had left them while on the run; describing the visions the locket had projected when Ron had tried to destroy it; Hermione stating rather matter-of-factly the extent of torture Bellatrix Lestrange had put her through. They were no strangers to agitated silences and uncomfortable glances at one another. Hermione had chewed off all her fingernails over the course of the morning, and Harry's hair was a veritable crow's nest from the number of times he'd run his fingers through it.

This was a different kind of silence though, because Ron and Hermione had not been with him when he had made the decision to walk into the Forbidden Forest. For once, they did not share Harry's uneasiness, his uncertainty. No one had spoken in almost five minutes.

Harry couldn't remain motionless any longer. Getting to his feet, he squeezed around the back of the sofa they were seated on and past Kingsley's chair. There wasn't much space- there were rolls of parchment, broken quills and cuttings from the Daily Prophet littered across the desk and trailing to the floor, but Harry didn't care what he was stepping on as he paced around the Minister's office.

'Maybe we should take a break,' Hermione broke the silence.

There was another pause, the only sound in the room the crunching of parchment under Harry's feet.

'I could order more sandwiches,' Kingsley suggested, making to get out of his seat.

'Don't,' Harry said, finally pausing. He bent down to pick up a crumpled page from what seemed to be a copy of The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore. A photograph of the Dumbledore siblings smiled up at him. Harry smoothed out the sheet of paper, taking in the affection in Albus Dumbledore's eyes as he watched Aberforth and Ariana squabble playfully. Harry remembered the night of the final Triwizard task, when he had returned from the graveyard with Cedric's body and had been urged by Dumbledore to tell the tale in one great swoop. Imagining that Sirius still stood beside him, hand on his shoulder, Harry took a deep breath, and told Hermione, Ron, and Kingsley about Snape's memories, about through the silent castle and into the Forest. When Harry spoke of discovering the power of the Resurrection Stone, Hermione choked on her sobs and stumbled out of her seat to pull Harry into a tight embrace. Harry knew she meant it to be comforting, but now that he had started telling the tale, he didn't want to stop. Moving as quickly out of her embrace as he could without hurting her feelings, he continued, allowing her to hold his hand as he told them about leaving behind the Stone, of finding the Death Eaters in the forest, and finally, of meeting Voldemort's Killing Curse. He had expected some disbelief or ridicule from Hermione, and perhaps even Kingsley, as he recollected his conversation with Dumbledore at King's Cross. But as he paused to look at her tentatively, Hermione smiled up at him.

'Oh, Harry, you haven't changed one bit,' she said, tear tracks shining on her weather-worn face.

'What do you mean?' Harry asked, confused, as Ron and Kingsley laughed.

'We escaped from a Death Eater attack at a wedding and a London café in one night, trespassed a Ministry hearing, battled with a giant snake disguised as an old woman, escaped from Malfoy Manor thanks to a mirror and a house elf, broke into Gringotts and escaped on the back of a dragon, charged into Hogwarts to find something we didn't know existed, and harvested memories from an dying man we all despised- all on the whims of a dead man!' Hermione rattled off in one breath. 'After the number of times that you have avoided death in front of my very eyes, do you think I would doubt you now, now, when you're finally telling me that you met the said dead man, when you can tell us whether or not he was satisfied?'

'Yeah, when has Hermione ever shrugged off praise from a teacher?' Ron sniggered, earning a smack on the arm from Hermione.

'What I'm saying, Harry, is that of course I believe you,' Hermione finished coolly.

'Yeah, mate, even Xenophilius Lovegood couldn't make that up,' Ron added.

Harry laughed, and reclaimed his seat as he resumed the story, catching them up to the point where Mrs Weasley had taken care of Bellatrix Lestrange. 'You know the rest,' he said, tipping his head back against the back of the sofa and closing his eyes. A curious sense of relief settled over him. He knew that this was only the first time, and that this story would have to be retold several more times, that he owed it to many more people. But at least now he could begin to heal.

'Thank you,' Kinglsey said. Harry opened his eyes at the raw emotion in his voice, and saw that, for once, the powerful wizard before him had succumbed to tears. It was clear that he was thanking them, not just for sharing their story, but for doing everything that they done done. Hermione, who had remained standing, walked over to Kingsley and squeezed his shoulder.

'We've all lost a great deal in this war,' she said soothingly. 'You've been so brave in taking up the mantle since it ended, Kingsley, but please take some time to take care of yourself.'

Kingsley sighed heavily. 'These are tears of relief, Hermione,' he said. 'Tears of a wounded soldier, tears of a guilty survivor. Remus, Tonks…'

'I'm sorry,' Harry said, automatically.

Ron thumped him on the shoulder. 'Harry, you have to stop apologizing! None of this is your fault!'

'If I had just given myself up sooner…' Harry began, but Kingsley cut across him, holding up a hand to stop him.

'No, Harry. You do not get to shoulder this burden on your own. We are all just as guilty as you are, that is to say, not guilty of anything more than feeling relief at being alive, at surviving against all the odds when others did not. The three of you have shouldered responsibilities far greater than should have been asked of you, and I could not be more grateful, but you remain inexperienced in many ways. Take it from a man who got over one war only to be thrown into a second, far more debilitating one- the best way to heal is to celebrate surviving.' Kinglsey's face split into a wide grin as he continued. 'And if that isn't enough, take it from a man who went to Hogwarts in the era of the Marauders- the only way to live is by celebrating every moment. Harry, your parents would want you to be happy. As would Remus, and Sirius.'

'And so would Fred,' Ron said, more to himself than anyone else. Hermione moved from Kingsley's side to sit between Harry and Ron once more, patting the latter on his arm.

'So about those sandwiches you mentioned,' Harry said, and Ron let out a watery laugh.

When Harry, Ron and Hermione left the Ministry of Magic, the late afternoon sun was shielded behind a cluster of dark grey clouds. After finishing their account of what ended up being the past seven years of their lives- which had taken the greater part of the morning- Ron and Harry had popped into the Department of Magical Transportation to pick up their Apparation licenses, while Kingsley helped arrange a series of portkeys in a week's time to get Hermione to Australia to find her parents. They discussed hosting a memorial ceremony at Hogwarts for those who had been killed, tried to decide where to bury Severus Snape, what to do with Voldemort's corpse, and what they would put in the press release for the Daily Prophet; they even began to draft it, Hermione enthused by the idea of having something to write. Harry noticed Ron becoming quieter and more fidgety as the afternoon progressed. The four of them passed through the Auror Office to get updates on the fugitive Death Eaters, before heading to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, where they discussed briefly with the a member of the Goblin Liaison team what Harry would have to do in order to gain access to his vault. After setting up a meeting with them the same day as Hermione's portkeys, Harry, Ron and Hermione bid farewell to Kingsley and headed out to Muggle London.

'Shall we get a bite of dinner?' Hermione suggested, pointing to a nearby café.

'I'm starving,' Harry said by way of agreeing. The two started to cross the road before realizing Ron hadn't moved. Hermione and Harry exchanged confused glances.

'Is everything okay, mate?' Harry asked. Ron not expressing interest in food was alarming, at the very least.

'Of course you would ask that,' Ron said scathingly. 'We've been sitting around all day, taking care of your Gringotts problems, and your Apparition license, and-'

'You got one, too!' Harry interjected.

'Whatever- you don't have a family to waiting for you, a family that's falling apart at the seams, you don't understand!'

'Ron, you shouldn't have said that!' Hermione exclaimed. 'That was so unkind of you!'

'And you! Your family is all tucked away, safe and sound across the world. You're going to see them soon enough, leave us all here to wallow!' He shrugged off Hermione's attempts to grab his hand. 'You two enjoy dinner, I'm going back to the people who get me, who need me.'

He turned on the spot, in the crowded Muggle street, and Disapparated. Harry could tell Hermione was barely holding back her sobs and dragged her into a side alley, where she proceeded to throw her arms around Harry and bawl.

'It'll be fine, Hermione,' he said, patting her on the back. 'It was hard on all of us, telling that story; he'll get over it.'

'How could he think we're any less upset than him?' Hermione's voice was muffled by Harry's jumper as she continued to blubber into his shoulder. 'How could he think it wasn't hard for us, doing all those stupid administrative things while we could be mourning Tonks, or Colin, or any of them-'

'I reckon he's actually just hungry,' Harry shrugged, and Hermione giggled at Harry's feeble attempt at a joke. 'C'mon, Mione, let's get some food and give Ron some time to cool off.'

Nodding, Hermione followed Harry into the café, where they ordered a pizza to share and a bowl of pasta each. They talked about Hermione's plans to search for her parents once she reached Australia ('I'm fairly certain they would want to live in Sydney, they do so love sailing, and the opera!'), about how terrible she felt leaving them behind ('I just think they'd appreciate some time alone with me, and hopefully give me the chance to make up for what I did'). Harry had no comfort to offer her, so he mostly listened as his best friend expressed all her anxieties about travelling to a new place, and deciphered the apprehension hidden behind her words about whether or not her parents would be safe, or would forgive her; he lost himself in the comfort of her familiar chatter as he ploughed through their delicious Italian food. Once they were done, Hermione fished some Muggle cash out of her beaded bag and, arm in arm, they returned to the alleyway and Disapparated back to Hogsmeade.

'Ready?' Harry asked Hermione.

'Ready,' she affirmed, and together they headed towards the gate to Hogwarts. They had sent a patronus to Professor McGonagall asking to let them back into the castle. Harry felt his dinner churn in his belly; he would have recognized the slight figure waiting just beyond the wrought iron gates anywhere.

'Maybe I should have asked you that question,' Hermione said, barely holding back her laughter.

'Do you think she's seen us?' Harry whispered conspiratorially. 'No chance we could turn back? I could go hide out at Grimmauld Place…'

Hermione smacked him lightly on the chest. 'Oh, Harry, don't make it sound so terrible! She's missed you as much as you've missed her.'

Harry groaned. 'That's what I'm afraid of.'

'Hi Ginny!' Hermione called, waving to her friend as they approached.

'Hi Hermione, hi Harry,' Ginny said, smiling. Harry managed an indistinct mumble in response, and Hermione rolled her eyes. 'I have to ask you something only you would know,' Ginny continued. 'So Hermione, what did you see when you faced the Boggart in your third year Defence exam?'

'McGonagall telling me I'd failed all my exams,' Hermione replied.

Harry laughed. 'I'd forgotten about that. Merlin, Hermione, your priorities have always been messed up.' Hermione giggled.

'And you,' Ginny began.

'Shouldn't Hermione be able to account for the fact that I'm me?' Harry offered hurriedly, afraid of the kind of information Ginny would make Harry divulge.

'You're not getting off that easily,' Ginny said, eyes narrowed, confirming Harry's fears. 'Tell me, when was the first time you let it slip to me that you were going off to kill Voldemort.'

Harry looked up from his trainers and met Ginny's eyes for the first time. 'We were setting the table at the Burrow for dinner, last summer, the night before the Delacours arrived. You remember that?'

'I couldn't forget,' Ginny said, and Harry's mind reeled as he tried to decode whether there was any double meaning to her words. He wished he could ask Hermione, but as Ginny opened the gate to allow them to enter, there was no way he could get her attention without the redhead noticing. The two girls hugged, and Harry let them take the lead as they walked back up towards the castle. He took in the scorch marks on the lawn; some of the rubble had been cleared, but the wall of the west wing of the castle was mostly gone. Harry thought he could see what used to be his Charms classroom, and was about to ask Hermione, when Ginny's voice caught his attention.

'Ron's being a prat,' she said. 'He told us he left you two by the Ministry after you were done meeting with Kingsley.'

'It's our fault, too,' Hermione said. 'We could have been more sensitive to his needs, I suppose. We just assumed he would be excited by the idea of a solid meal before coming back…'

Ginny shrugged. 'That would be a fair assumption, it is Ron after all. Mum was beside herself, but I reckon it's a shame George wasn't around.'

'Why?' Harry inquired, afraid of the answer.

'Because the only time George has spoken since he found out about Fred was when he saw you this morning.'

'What?' Harry exclaimed. 'He isn't…talking?'

Ginny shook her head. 'It took Mum a while to find her words too, but Ron coming back without the two of you got her to come around. Being able to let off some steam was good for her, so I thought maybe it would be good for George, too. He might have thrown a punch or two as well, and Ron deserves it for yelling at you two and leaving, so he would have taken them.'

'Wait till you hear about the last time that happened.' The words slipped from him before he could stop himself, and Hermione's eyes widened with horror as Ginny came to a stop.

'Last time what happened?'

'Oh, you know, Ron being a prat,' Hermione tried to play it off with a laugh, but her unnaturally high tone gave it away.

'Please, Hermione, you're worse at lying than he is,' Ginny snorted, gesturing at Harry.

'Hey!' he protested.

'Oh, really, now?' Ginny snorted. 'Tell me, then, Potter, what happened the last time Ron was a prat?'

'Er,' Harry glanced at Hermione for help, but Hermione's eyes were darting between the Ginny's back and the doors to the castle, as though assessing whether she could make a break for it.

'Hermione, you can go,' Ginny dismissed, without taking her eyes off of Harry. 'Harry and I have some things to discuss.'

Coward, he thought to himself as Hermione shot Harry an apologetic look and hurried towards the castle. He couldn't really blame her, thought. If he hadn't been pinned to his spot by Ginny's razor-sharp gaze, he would be running full-tilt towards the Entrance Hall. Ginny's reputation for having inherited her mother's towering temper, not to mention her prowess with the Bat-Bogey Hex, preceded her, and no one- not Hermione, the smartest witch of their age, or Harry, the Chosen One, probably not even Godric Gryffindor himself- wanted to get on Ginevra Molly Weasley's bad side.

Too bad for Harry that he'd done absolutely everything possible to infuriate Ginny over the past year. Harry sighed as he met Ginny's blazing eyes, and thought, boy, am I in for it now.

Sorry for the cliff-hanger! Review, and maybe I'll update soon!