Did you miss me? That took way to long, way longer than I ever intented and I could give you excuse after excuse but I won't waste your time. This chapter took forever because of outside things and because I didn't know how to end it. So you know beforehand there is one last chapter after this and it is done I'm editing it and it will be out by tuesday at the latest.
The sun rose over the far-side of the lake shining light down onto the schools grounds and revealing the damage that had been done. Black smoke was rolling out of the forest and some of the castle's structure was crumbling due to the damage. Most of Voldemort's army had surrendered once Harry had won his duel but some had tried to fight on only to meet their end. Healers from all over were coming in to tend to the wounded being lead by Madam Pomfey, while others were helping moving the bodies of those who had died.
The death toll wouldn't be known for a few hours still but as Ron stood looking over the grounds he thought of Neville, Sheamus, and the others who didn't make it through to see this side of the war. He felt a guilt that he survived when friends he'd known for years would never get to see the freedom they fought for. But even as that weighted on his mind for the first time since Harry came back after the third task and announced Voldemorts return Ron felt truly safe. Harry had accomplished what most thought impossible, but hell in Ron's opinion he'd been doing that since he met him.
He knew that the fallout of the battle would be bad and he had no way to predict what his family would do. When Harry came down from the tower and told what had transpired his family would learn what had been going on and that Ginny had betrayed Harry's trust. Whats worse was Ron knew Ginny could have done this on her own and since the twins would die before hurting Harry in Ron's mind that left only his mother with the ability. Once his dad found out he knew full well that they most likely would never be the same again. But for the moment at least Ron pushed it from his mind and felt at peace and for now that would do.
"Ronald I hate to interrupt your thoughts, but Professor McGonagall asked me to come get you Harry has come down and has requested a few people's presence in the Headmaster's office," came the soft voice of Luna as she walked up to him. She looked out over the lake admiring the sunrise, "Its beautiful, and thanks to you, Harry, and Hermione I'm here to see it, never forget that."
"Let's go see what the day brings Luna," Ron said smiling at the girl befor grabbing her hand and turning back towards the castle.
Harry stood firm inside the Headmaster's office conversing with Snape and Hermione when Ron walked in. Ron noticed his family in one corner eating what he assumed was the first food most of them had had since the day before. He also noticed Ginny glaring in Hermione's direction but knew it was pointless to call her on it given what was likely to happen soon. McGonagall was speaking in a hushed voice with Shacklebolt, Lupin, Tonks, and Dumbledore's portrait.
Harry noticed Ron come in smiled and turned towards him saying, "Its over Ron, 17 years of hell but its over. It didn't sink in till I woke up, no more looking over my shoulder, no more fear of Tom hunting me down, and no more scar pain. For the first time in seventeen years I woke with no worries"
"Mate, I know its hard to believe myself. I can't believe what you and the rest of us have done but we aren't done yet there is still so much more work to do," Ron said back while hugging Harry.
"I'm impressed Weasley that was a well thought and said sentiment," smirked Sanpe as he and Hermione came down to stand with them. "And Miss Lovegood, I never got a chance to say it before but thank you for what you did yesterday."
"It was nothing I wouldn't have done for any other friend," Luna smiled. Severus just shook his head because though it pained him he was starting to appreciate her honesty and candor.
Harry whispered into Hermione's ear and she nodded with a sympathetic smile. He then turned and walked back up the few stairs to Dumbledore's old desk before turning again and clearing his throat to get the attention of those in the room. All talk ceased and everyone turned their focus towards Harry, waiting to hear what he had to say.
"Thank you all for coming here this morning and taking time though I know it needs to be somewhat brief. First congratulations to Shacklebolt on his being named as the current Minister of Magic," Harry said as Ron turned surprised he wasn't aware a decision had been reached sure that the public would try to persuade Harry to take the position like they had tried with Dumbledore after Grindlewalds defeat. But Ron at least knew Shacklebolt was an honest man, and a good choice.
"Thank you Harry, for everything you have done, we can never repay you and your friends ever," Kingsley said.
"Honor those who died for our rights Minister and never let the foundation of which we fought for crumble and we'll be even," Harry responded, "However; while I expect celebrations to occur there are a few things that need to be addressed beforehand. Firstly with the dead, If I may overstep my rights I would request all those from Colin Creevey to Neville Longbottom to be recognized formally and publicly for their heroism."
"I have already ordered 18 of the confirmed dead to be recognized with Orders of Merlin, and in Neville's case First Class with full honor. The statue in the Ministry Atrium has already been taken down and once a list has confirmed all the dead a memorial to all those who died due to the false ministry's actions will be erected. I was also speaking to Headmistress McGongall about plans to erect a memorial for those who died last night next to Dumbledore's tomb and his portrait agreed," Kingsley said with a proud but sad tone.
"What of those in the Ministry who helped Voldemort," Harry responded.
"All those whom we know have committed crimes are being arrested as we speak, all others will be given truth serum with no exceptions being made. All those found guilty of the atrocities that have occurred are to be thrown through the veil. Former Undersecretary Umbridge was the first to be taken into custody, according to the Aurors she won't stop screaming that she only did what was necessary and wasn't guilty of anything right up until they forced her through," Shacklebolt said shaking his head, "So far only about ten percent have been tested, including my new Undersecretary Arthur Weasley."
Harry looked over at a blushing Mr. Weasley who's family were all smiles around him, he was happy for him Arthur was a deserving and honest man. At the same time it broke his heart because he knew it made what was going to go down in a bit even more bitter. Ron was shocked and happy to hear this as it meant that all his fathers hard work had paid off and crossed the room to hug and congratulate his father. The new job paid at least five times what his dad made now if all those years of listening to Percy moan on and on were to be believed.
"As well as Auror...actually it just now occurred to me Tonks what should I call you since your first name is obviously out of the question," Kingsley asked over his shoulder towards the currently pink haired Auror.
"Tonks will work in private but in formal terms call me Auror Lupin," Tonks said with a smile.
"No, I think I'd rather call you Madam Lupin seeing as I need a new Head of Magical Law Enforcement, and before you object you are one of a handful of Aurors to have fough here last night. On top of that you have fought since the beginning when Harry first told us of Voldemort's return. And my first order to you is to send a mass message to all Aurors, the Dark Creature Act that Umbridge enacted is no longer valid, then take a week to truly celebrate the birth of your son," Kingsley responded with a smile. Tonks couldn't find the words and nodded instead stuttering out a thanks as Remus stood behind her beaming tears forming in his eyes.
Harry smiled but decided it was time to stop putting off the unavoidable. So he looked at Severus and nodded, Snape took a step forward up towards Harry before turning to face the group himself. As much as he didn't like most gathered he didn't like ruining a happy moment but still he had a promise to keep.
"Harry has asked that I look into a matter of issue for him. He came to me saying he felt as if something was wrong and wished to know if he could be tested, and I agreed. I have examined Potter's blood, and along with food that was to be delivered to him last night but was intercepted by the house elf Dobby. I ran tests; multiple times in fact to be sure, and they were conclusive. Mr. Potter was and almost again being fed Amortentia and using samples of hair taken from around Gryffindor Tower I was able to conclude that the receiver of the potion was meant to gain strong feelings for Ginevra Weasley, and that the dosing had taken place over the course of the last half of last year" Snape said trying not to lose it.
The room went dead quiet as any look of happiness and joy was immediately replaced with shock and disbelief. Fred and George looked appalled at the thought. Bill and Fleur stood confused unsure if they had even heard the potions master correctly. The horror of what this would mean to their family was starting to settle over them as what moments before was a promising outlook on the future dimmed. This could be the end of Arthur's career, all because of selfish actions. All eyes then turned towards the youngest Weasley who appeared on the verge of tears unsure of what to say, but before anyone could say or do anything Harry spoke.
"So its known, I'm not pressing charges nor do I wish to see any of you suffer for things you had no part in," he said looking at the Weasley family, "This war has taken to much from us all that I won't let another family be torn apart because of the actions of a few. This information does not leave this room, not now, not ever. Minister I ask it not to effect Arthur's standing in any way for as far as I can tell he had no part in this. Ginny I'm however disgusted that you would do this, and I really thought and hoped I'd never have to do what I'm about to but I need to make sure something like this never happens again. So that said, Ginevra Molly Weasley, I hereby call in the life debt you owe me due to the actions in the Chamber of Secrets. You are never to touch anything that is being prepared for me without my expressed permission. You are from this moment forward not to ever ask anyone to deliver or make anything for me that maybe considered dangerous, including love potions. You yourself are never to try and deliver anything. Nor are you to aim attacks at Hermione in any attempt to harm, disuade, or kill her. You are never welcome into my home or any home belonging to Hermione, so mote it be."
A blue haze wrapped over ginny before dissipating as she fell to the floor in tears. Arthur looked at his daughter with horror and shock unsure of what just happened. He then turned his gaze towards Harry, his eyes desperate for answers. Arthur knew that this was damning, but he needed to know why and how.
"How could you invoke such a thing," came the voice of Molly Weasley, "It could kill her, why?"
"I told him to, it was my idea," Ron spoke up shocking everyone. "What Ginny did cannot be forgiven nor forgotten and Harry has spent to much time already protecting himself from outside sources. So I told him that like with Pettigrew, Ginny would owe him a life debt. He, Hermione, and Snape came up with the best way to word it so that only if Ginny attempted to dose him again she would suffer."
Harry walked across the room to stand next to Arthur who was now on the verge of tears in his seat. Harry put a hand on the mans shoulder as he looked up and Harry gave a sad smile.
"I'm sorry Mr. Weasley, truly that I could not forewarn you what my intents were today, but it came to my attention what was going on while I was on the run. I had thought I was just ill until it dawned on me that I'd been getting worse since Bill and Fleur's wedding, the last time I saw Ginny. I thought maybe I was malnourished but Severus came to tell me I was actually experiencing a kind of withdraw," Harry said somberly. "I don't blame you or your family, but there is unfortunately one issue that remains. According to Snape, Ginny lacks the ability in order to make such a potion, and since he was her professor for four years he would know. I trust him on this and seeing as Amortentia is illegal to sell, it means that the only conclusion is somebody had to make it for her."
"Who...Ginny, who did this...I want an answer," Arthur said trying to hold back his anger towards his youngest and whoever had conspired with her. But Ginny didn't say anything as she felt numb after everything that had happend but she did look to her mother. Arthur caught on to what his daughter was implying and his anger reached a new level. "Molly, tell me right now you didn't have any knowledge of this. Tell me you would never be so foolish to even suggest this. Tell me Ginny was just misguided, that she came across it on accident, and that you had nothing to do with this."
"I was just doing what I thought was best for the family and Ginny," Molly said realizing how delicate the situation was but also admitting her guilt. "Ginny and Harry would work so well together, and then I thought once they were happy together Hermione and Ron would hopefully realize how great they would be together, and we could just be one family."
"Harry fought for us, he lost everything from his parents to his godfather, he has stood up when no one else would, and you wanted to take his choice of happiness away? Harry deserved better from you, so to does Hermione. You don't get to decide who they love, I have half a mind to disown you both. We raised our children to be better than this, we are better than this. Harry may well not be pressing charges, but you and I are going to have a very long discussion about where we stand as a family and even if I still hold you as such. And Ginny I've never been so disappointed in my life, he saved you and I we owned him a debt beyond measure. A debt he never would have collected on mind you if you hadn't been so foolish and you decided to do this? I'm truly disgusted, at the both of you," Arthur said with a calm that was full of anguish and dread. He turned his head to look at the twins calming a little, "Your little play love potions, you are to stop producing them, understood?"
"Yes, Father," they both said quickly but with disgust towards their mother and sister evident,
"I just thought that Harry with Ginny and Hermione with Ron would be per.." Molly tried to reason.
"Mrs. Weasley so it is known to all here, Harry and I are getting married and soon," Hermione spoke up unable to keep quiet any longer. This caught many in the room off guard but most smiled at the couple, "Ron left us during a dark period this past year when we needed him most after swearing to help us. It took time and a lot of patience but we've come to forgive him for it. However given what he did, there was no way any relationship between him and I was ever going to work. Beyond friendship He broke his word and true has made up for it but its too little too late on that front. Beside Harry has been amazing and caring, and I love him it just took seven years to figure it out."
Molly didn't know what to say, so she looked to Ron who looked ashamed but of what she had done or because of what Hermione had said she couldn't tell. She looked to her husband who had turned from her, looking as if he was shaking from anger. She was terrified of what was to happen next, they had survived war and now it was still possible she could lose everything. She just wished she could make Arthur see she only meant the best.
"The point is moot, irregardless of motive it was wrong and Ginny has paid a price but I have nothing I can do to you that won't end with you on a one way trip to Askaban. And as furious as I was to find out someone I trusted, someone I saw a a motherly figure, betrayed that trust, I will not see the mother of three of my closest friends stripped from them so soon after war. Instead I will no longer be coming the Burrow while you are present, any messages you want to get to me you'll have to do so through a third party. I don't hold all of you responsible for the actions of these two, but I'm done taking risks. The matter is resolved whatever you all as a family decide to do with this information is for you to decide but I will not be left in a room alone with Ginny or Molly again," Harry spoke and then turned to another important matter, "After today I won't be around anyhow and obviously that means Hermione won't be either. We are heading out tonight to New Zealand to find her parents, then bringing them back. After that we are going back to seclusion because after seven years of this nonsense I think I've earn some peace and quiet, but most of you will see me one more time before then. But if I'm not mistaken I'm not the only one leaving."
"You would be right Harry," Snape said stepping forward glaring daggers into the Weasleys, "I have survived two wars, and have decided my remaining days will not be spent teaching. I hate teaching, I only did it because it was my cover for Dumbledore. I have done both terrible and great things, now I only wish to do peaceful things. So whenever the school reopens it will once again need a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"I don't even know when that'll be," came the voice of McGonagall who was still trying to process everything, "The school is in disrepair, students lay dead within her halls. We will rebuild, we will reopen but it will take time. I thought the biggest shock was Hagrid resigning his teaching post this morning if I'd only known I'd have stayed in bed."
"Hagrid resigned," Harry asked shocked, "Why?"
"He told me he couldn't go back to teaching without seeing the faces of all those students we lost. He couldn't handle but will remain groundskeeper," she replied.
"So much has changed, and its only the start," Harry said looking at Hermione, "I've done all I can or want to change the world. I will keep up with those of you whom I care about, but I think its time for use to go home."
"Harry what do we tell everyone, they are going to want to know what you are doing," Kingsley asked looking concerned.
"Tell them the war is over. Tell them to be vigilant so that this never happens again. Tell them that I've gone home to start my familyand that they should tend to theirs," Harry said with a smile before grabbing Hermione's hand. She smiled at him and nodded, "And tell them I'll be back again but for now, their on their own."
With that Harry and Hermione vanished in a flash of light as no one saw Fawkes swoop down til he landed on Harry's shoulder. Ron thought of what he said, Harry deserved peace and happiness, and he knew he'd be their for their wedding. He knew there would be fallout from his father, and that the Ministry would be in disarray, but none of that mattered now. So he turned back towards the door with Luna still holding his hand and went to greet the day.
Harry and Hermione landed in the forest just outside of their home and smiled. They had made it back safely and now Harry planned to live up to his word. He and Hermione would grow old together, and to him all was well.
To All Those Who waited and came back...Thank You. I am back full time now and have written three chapters of two new stories to be going up soon but as I said to start there is one more chapter left. An Epilogue so i can jump ahead a bit and give you answers to what happened down the line.
Chapter Title. Quibbler Special Edition: Five Years Later