Hi all! Sorry for the delay I've had a lot of family stuff going on as well as a bunch of exams. All the best to you all and hope you enjoy! The next one won't take too long as it's more of a follow up.

Thanks for reading!

Chocs ;)

Content

Harry awoke feeling strangely calm and let out a sigh of relief. He couldn't remember ever feeling quite this...content before. His arm was wrapped around a warm and soft weight mass in front of him as he held her tighter, tears coming to his eyes as he breathed in a familiar scent. Another thing he noticed was that he didn't feel in any pain. He wanted to run his hands over his face to check for scarring but was too warm and at peace, letting himself hold on to this moment in time for a little while longer, allowing himself to be happy. He listened to Ginny breathing softly, still asleep. Her back curled into his chest and his fingers entwining in hers as the rested over her stomach. He kissed her shoulder slowly and gently as if in fear that at any given moment with a sudden movement this would all vanish, her hair tickling his cheek slightly. He lay there for hours –or at least what he could judge as hours-, until he heard a familiar voice behind him, calling out to him. Surprisingly he didn't feel angry at this intrusion but didn't feel any need to greet him either. Harry opened his eyes, gazing at Ginny's calm face as she smiled slightly in her sleep. The voice prompted him again and finally made him take in his blank, white surroundings, where a lone robed man was patiently waiting with a knowing smile on his face.

"Dumbledore." Harry acknowledged, as said man held out his hand.

"Walk with me." Harry glanced back down at Ginny, reluctant to leave.

"She will not wake here," Dumbledore explained, "She is merely the physical personification of your bond that had come with you here. But Ginny can only give you her presence, nothing more."

Harry tucked a stray strand of hair that had fallen across her face behind her ear. "She feels so real..." He questioned longingly.

"And so she is. But not all of her is here. Please, Harry, walk with me."

Harry sighed but obliged, standing up from his position on the floor but feeling uncomfortable with leaving her, as if unsure whether he would be back.

"That would entirely depend on your decision." Dumbledore assured, before putting his hand on Harry's shoulder and guiding him, walking further into the mist. They walked for a while, content in each other's company. Dumbledore seemed to be waiting for him to say something but Harry again felt unwilling for this calmness to end. Sighing slightly, he knew it would come to an end one way or another and he wanted to get back to Ginny.

"What happened?" He asked quietly, "I mean, how did I get here. And where is here?"

Dumbledore chuckled softly, "Always one for questions weren't you Harry."

A thought struck Harry, and yet once again he seemed unable to feel anything other than contentment and peace, and therefore felt no shock or sorrow in asking, "Am I dead?"

"It is you decision. This is a halfway point, if you'd like, between the world you travelled from and to the next." His eyes twinkled slightly as he gazed over his half-moon spectacles, coming to a stop.

"You've done so well." He assured, looking proud. "But alas there is more to come. It is your decision whether or not you want to embrace it. You see Harry, on the one hand you could return to Earth and consciousness. The plaguing of Riddle's soul upon yours is gone forever. You may not have realised how much it affected you before, but it was the fragment of his soul that battled against your own and your own body when you realised your power. You see Harry, the deepest part of Riddle's soul craved power and craved what you had to renew itself. It was the reason for your-" He paused, searching for the right word, "predicament when you used it. Also, although you did not realise, it also but it had a small effect on the bond that you and Ginny share. You see his soul also hated you being loved, and therefore has fought constantly to sabotage your relationships not just with Ginny but also with your friends."

"You're right I haven't noticed."

"This piece of soul has been carried within you since you were only a year old, Harry, you had no reason to think that your actions would be otherwise. It would of course been entirely possible that that piece of soul could contaminate your own, and you would have grown just as twisted as Riddle."

"And why didn't it?"

"Because you were much too strong for him Harry." Dumbledore announced cheerfully, "He was no match for you."

Harry thought this over, "So how do I know how much of what I've done has been over the influence of Riddle and what has been my own action? If I go back will I really change that much?"

Dumbledore studied him and considered his question. "There is a possibility that you won't change at all, and there's a possibility that you will. There is no way of knowing until you go back."

"But you believe it will go one way or the other?" Harry pressed.

"Ah, well I can only make assumptions."

"Well what are your assumptions then?"

Dumbledore chuckled again, "Harry my boy, I believe that the only actions that were influenced by Riddle were the once to push away anyone dear to you. It may be an ingrained character trait or something else entirely. And when you go back you may be more liberating with others now that Riddle is gone, but I...assume, that you can only become –or would if you went back- calmer, allowing yourself help for others more and other minor things that maybe before you would have resisted. But really, Harry, I wouldn't let it worry you; you have always been strong, and the only foothold that piece of soul could get was your nobility towards your friends."

"I think I understand... So what of this power? What if I don't want it?"

"Ah, now I'm afraid I'm not sure if I can help you there. That is a part of you, and you would change without it."

"Okay. I don't want to change, I don't want anything to change apart from Riddle gone. But...It's so peaceful here. I'm just wondering if I'll ever get this back. I think this is...everything I've wanted of myself. I mean of course I'd choose Ginny over this but, to not have the struggling is...bliss."

Dumbledore stayed silent for a few minutes, contemplating. "No one would blame you if you wanted to stay-"

"No. I'm going back." Harry said with absolute finality, causing Dumbledore to smile.

"Now I'm allowed to warn you of some things marginally. Your power, now that you no longer have Riddle's soul fighting it and your body will not harm you –as exhausting as it may be- but that does not mean that it is harmless or unpredictable. At first it will be ruled by your emotions, like an extension of your own magic. But believe me when I say, Harry, that it is entirely possible to keep it a secret. People will get jealous and may cause you trouble in the future. Or it could be used to help people. The choice is yours.

Harry nodded stiffly, knowing the time would come later when he'd be able to make the decision.

"You're sure you want to go back? There are many people who wish for your company here too."

"I'm sure." Harry said simply, smiling.

"We're all aiding you from up here you know. If you feel yourself and other around you slip, when there's an imbalance in the world we have a way of restoring it. Now, one last thing, a quick meeting has been scheduled for you with death. He wants a word. But I think he'll visit you later."

"Excuse me?" Harry asked curiously, but not feeling the shock he expected.

"You'll find out." Dumbledore smiled. "Now I do believe it's time for you to get back to reality."

Harry nodded vigorously, "Yes please." And he found that his vision was starting to fade.

"We're all so proud of you, Harry."

"Wait, how do I know this wasn't a dream?"

Dumbledore laughed heartily, "Did it feel like a dream to you Harry?"

...