Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. JK Rowling owns Harry Potter an receives all of its money.

A/N: Just catching you all up on the happenings of the Wizarding World post-battle. I never imagined it as happy as JKR made it sound, so that's why this is an AU!

-AS


The Burrow

May 10, 1997

Molly Weasley was sitting in the kitchen, finally putting her feet up to rest.

It had been an incredibly long week for her. First, there was the battle. On top of losing a son, she had almost lost Ginny to Bellatrix LeStrange. Then of course there had been killing Bellatrix. No matter how evil she was, Molly couldn't shake a feeling of disgust. She had never killed anyone before.

Then of course there had been after the Battle. Her workload had doubled. The members of the Order had taken it upon themselves to begin the immediate recovery of the situation. Hogwarts had to be cleaned up of bodies and slowly repaired so it would be ready for September. Wand waving couldn't clean up all the dark magic destruction, so the majority of it was volunteers. Then, of course, the Ministry had to be completely re-ordered as You-Know-Who's supporters were carted out slowly but surely. Kingsley was making sure to investigate every employee. He had recruited Arthur and Percy to help him, so she never saw them anymore.

Then of course, burials had to be set up, something she took upon herself. Remus and Tonks needed a funeral, and of course Fred.

Then there were the little things, like helping Hermione find a place to live in the already crowded Burrow. As of now her parents had yet to have the charm lifted off them. So many Order members and other friends who had lost their family members in the Battle were shacking up for a night or two, that there just wasn't any room.

Against her better judgement Hermione was rooming with Ron because Ginny's room was being used temporarily as a workspace for Kingsley Shacklebolt, Arthur and Percy. They didn't want to leave their research on Ministry members left where other members could find it. So they were bringing their work home when they were finished, dumping it in Ginny's room. There were piles everywhere.

And finally, of course, there was the disappearance of Harry. Everything had been going smoothly, starting to look better. Despite some complications, people were celebrating. The wizarding world was exuberant.

All except Harry. He had been a recluse all week, hardly speaking or coming out of his room. Then, suddenly, he's gone. Just like that. And they have no idea how to get him back. Even with Minerva, Bill and Charlie researching the complications of time-travel with various Hogwarts staff, it was hard not to worry. Really, Harry was the only one in the world right now who knew where he was. Minerva had even gone to the portraits of Severus Snape and Albus Dumbledore to ask desperate advice, but it was a dead end. Even they don't have a spell to find a wizard lost in time.

Bang bang!

Molly looked up wearily. Who is knocking at my door now? Another Order member who needs a place to stay? They're going to have to sleep on the porch because my house is absolutely overrun.

She stood and headed towards the door, opening to see an incredibly eccentric looking wizard in a shiny green robe and a shabby hat with a bird on top. His long, white beard had beads in it. He offered his hand, which is frail and shaking. Good Heavens, this man looks to be older than Albus was.

"Hello, M'am. Sorry to bother you. I'm Phillip Trelawny. I'm here on behalf of the Prophet."

"The Prophet?" Molly questioned. "What does the Prophet want with us?"

"Well…M'am. Actually the office is getting a little restless. We're getting thousands of requests for an interview with Harry Potter…but nobody seems to know his whereabouts. He even has a fan club of young girls who has become devoted to finding him. It's getting ridiculous."

"So why come here?"

"Well, word got around that Potter spends his summers at the Burrow with his close friends the Weasleys…I was wondering if you knew where he was, Mrs. Weasley."

"I'm sorry Mr. Trelawny. I have no idea where he is. I haven't seen him since after the Battle."

Suddenly, before she could react, the man had whipped out his wand and had it pointed at Molly's throat. "You lie…" he snarled in a deep voice, different from the one he had just used.

She looked at his wrist, which had become uncovered. Faded, but still visible, was the infamous dark mark.

"Mum? What's going on?"

At the sound of Ron's voice the man dropped his wand, reverting into his previous disguise as an old man.

"Sorry to bother you M'am." He tipped his hat and conjured a broomstick, vanishing into the air with incredible speed.

"Mum?" She could feel Ron's hands on her shoulders, attempting to turn her around.

"Ronald…you and Hermione use Floo Powder…find Professor McGonagall. Bring her here, immediately."

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

First Floor

"This is weird, Ron. I don't like this." She grasped his hand tightly as the two of them walked through all of the destruction.

"I know, Hermione. Neither do I."

"It's just…our school. The place where we grew up. Look-that doorway right there? That leads to where Fred and George set off those fireworks fifth year. And look up-and you can see the door to the third floor corridor. Seven long years of memories, Ron. Seven years of happiness, destroyed in one day. It just isn't fair."

"Six, you mean. And it wasn't all happy memories. You-Know-Who, the Chamber, Hagrid going to Azkaban, Cedric's death, Umbridge…Dumbledore's death…every year it was something bad." He sighed.

"I know, Ron, but don't you remember all the good times? I mean, this is where we met! Parties and Quidditch and everything we learned…this school was the beginning of my life. I have never been happier than the years I've spent walking through this school." She looked at Ron. "Well okay, being with you does beat it, but only by a little." She giggled.

He raised his eyebrows. "Oh really?"

Before she could even react he had her pressed up against a sunny window that led to the courtyard. The morning sun gave her a glow that made her look angelic.

He smiled devilishly, leaning in closer to her. "My favorite memory from this school? Every moment I spent with you." He began to trail kisses down her neck.

She tried to keep the excitement out of her voice. "Ron Weasley, who knew you could be so romantic? Don't forgot, we have to go find Professor McGonagall."

He hesitantly released her, but was quick to grab her hand again as they walked.

Hermione began to shake as she saw the damage to eagle in front of Dumbledore's old office. Professor McGonagall was standing in front of it, silently waving her wand as pieces of its stone wing rose from the floor and reattached itself.

"Professor," Hermione began, "what are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be helping research time-turners?"

She turned, startled. "Miss Granger! Mr. Weasley! You startled me. Please, refrain form creeping up on me in the future."

"Professor…are you alright?" Ron sounded worried.

"Yes…just tired. I have my entire staff working on finding Harry…I'm overseeing the castle now. All of the people helping to rebuild," she motioned to the hundreds of wizards and witches lining the castle, using charms to repair statues and walls, "are volunteers. All Hogwarts alumni. I'm grateful to them, but progress is slow. I want things to look exactly the way they were before the battle, so I'm overseeing everything."

Hermione nodded, happy to hear the castle would be restored to its former glory. "Professor, could we talk in your office for a moment?"

McGonagall smiled. "Dumbledore's office actually. It's been officially dedicated to him. Hundreds of years from now, people will still refer to it that way." She beamed with pride. "I'd rather not go in there, though. Severus's portrait has been barking orders at me. He wants his portrait moved to the Slytherin wing of the castle so he can oversee its progress. I don't have time for such things."

Ron began to feel a sense of urgency. "Professor, we know you're busy, but we really need to speak to you. In private."

Dumbledore's Office

"You say a deatheater came to the Burrow?" McGonagall asked incredulously.

"Yes. Molly said he was in disguise, as a reporter from the Prophet. He was looking for Harry."

The portrait of Dumbledore spoke up. "Maybe it is better that Harry is lost in time. For now, at least, he is safe." The other former headmasters seemed to agree.

The portrait of Snape wasn't as convinced. "Dark magic is very powerful. These wizards will do anything to get to Harry. Voldemort's dead, he ruined their lives, and they know they can't hide anymore. Shacklebolt won't allow that. They know it's over for them, and they want one last bit of revenge."

"There is another matter here. As long as the remaining deatheaters can't find Harry, they will get more aggressive. They're walking around in disguises. I worry that the Weasley family…the Order…anyone associated with Harry may be in danger." She paused, and her eyes turned wet with unfallen tears. "Just yesterday a wizard was murdered…a father of one of Harry's friends from school, Shacklebolt tells me."

Suddenly, Ron jumped from his chair, his face turning red. "We cannot let his happen! You-Know-Who is dead, yet his deatheaters are still on the run! People are so busy celebrating every night that they don't care that the Muggles sense something is up and that deatheaters are still out there! People are letting their guard down, including the Ministry, and because of it these guys can walk around in broad daylight!"

He stopped to take a breath. "I think we should reassemble the Order. We can dedicate our time to helping stop the deatheaters." He sat down, flushing red at all the attention on him.

Dumbledore's painting smiled at Ron. "Your father would be proud of you, Mr. Weasley." He turned his attention to the rest of them. "You must protect the wizarding community from the deatheaters. I know that we all want to move on and rebuild, but this is still a very real threat. I'm sorry to say that this isn't over."

Snape's portrait piped up once again. "The Order should be moved away from the Burrow. It's obvious they already know the headquarters are there. Somewhere they wouldn't expect."

"What about here?" Hermione asked. "Think about it. They can't get into the castle. Just until September, maybe in the Room of Requirements?"

"No," Ron started, "the Chamber. The Chamber of Secrets. It's empty after all. The entrance, with some work, could be fixed. There's no Tom Riddle or giant snake down there anymore."

McGonagall nodded. "It would take work, but I could repair the entrance. Good work, Mr. Weasley."