The first thing Harry became aware of was how stiff his body felt, as if he had been Stupified for an extended period of time. Then he noticed that there were familiar voices speaking near him, but he couldn't quite catch what was being said. Groggily he opened his eyes only to be assaulted by the light in the room, which caused him to groan and shut his eyes once again, and the room became silent around him.
"Harry?" A voice asked close to him, and then he felt a hand touch his arm.
Harry unwillingly flinched away from the hand, and as his arms grazed his sides he felt that half his torso was covered by a tight fabric. He moved his right hand up to touch it, but the hand that was on his arm grabbed his and pulled it away.
"I wouldn't, your chest is probably still tender."
At the mention of his chest Harry was flooded by the memories of what had happened to him in the course the past few days, and opened his eyes once again. The first person in his field of vision was Sirius, and despite his blurred vision Harry could tell that it had been a few days since he had been conscious, because Sirius looked so much healthier then the last time he saw him. Sirius must have noticed him squinting because he reached with his free hand to the nightstand and grabbed his glasses and set them on his nose, and everything came into focus. He could see the whole Weasley family surrounding his bed in the hospital wing along with Hermione, Tonks and Remus, who was leaning a dark wooded cane. Harry instantly tried to sit up by himself much to everyone's distress, but Harry ignored them and managed it just fine, despite the slight dizziness he felt and the constriction of the bandage over his chest.
"What's happened? What did I miss?" Harry asked.
Sirius managed a small smile before he started speaking, "Well, for starters you've been in and out of conscious for two days now because of all the potions in your system, but they've seemed to have worked, you don't look as though you've been attacked by the Womping Willow anymore," Sirius took a moment and brushed a stray lock of hair away from Harry's face.
"You were out of it most of time, occasionally you'd open your eyes and say stuff we know you wouldn't have if you hadn't been taking those potions." Hermione said with a grin, despite how pale and tired she looked.
Harry groaned and went to ask what he had said, but as Ron sat on the edge of the bed Harry saw that he was wearing the robes Fred and George had bought him during the summer after their fourth year, and as he looked more closely he finally noticed everyone near him was dressed nicely and in black, but most of all how worn they looked.
"There's been a few funeral's these past few days." Remus explained before Harry could ask.
Harry didn't have to ask whose funeral had been today, just by looking at the Weasley's he knew it had been Percy's they had come back from. Harry couldn't even begin to tell them how sorry he felt, that he knew the pain of losing a family member but didn't know how to describe his feelings to them, which made him feel even worse.
"I'm so sorry." He finally said, and winced internally as he heard Mrs. Weasley's intake of breath as she fought the urge to cry.
Harry finally found the courage to look over at Ginny, who stood between her twin brothers, and as they locked eyes she moved over towards him and sat on the free of the bed near him, and just laid her head on his shoulder. He felt a little distressed at how lost she looked, and how puffy and red her eyes were, but he put an arm around her, and closed his eyes while he laid his head on top of hers. For a moment, he marveled at the fact that they could draw on each other's strength without even having to speak, and then he reached out with his free hand and grasped hers tightly, and smiled when she gripped his back just as tight.
"We destroyed Voldemort's body." Sirius added, and while a few others flinched, Harry lifted his head away from Ginny's and looked between Ron and Sirius.
"What happened?" Harry asked.
"We went down to where Voldemort's body was being stored and I stabbed him with a Basilisk's fang. He lit up like a Phoenix and then turned into ash." Sirius told him.
Harry then remembered the excruciating pain he went through before everything went black, and how it had felt like he'd been stabbed through the chest with a blazing hot knife, and grimaced.
"I'm guessing I felt the pain Voldemort would have if he had been alive?" Harry asked.
Ron made a face, "Pretty much, mate, sorry. Your chest looked like someone used it as a bonfire for a while until it scabbed up and peeled away. It was pretty disgusting."
Harry looked down at his chest and saw the tight bandages covering it, but could see around the edges some dried pus peeking out. Harry made a face of disgust and pulled the covers up until no one could no longer see anything on his chest.
"So, is that the end of it? Is Voldemort truly gone now?" Harry asked, feeling his heartbeat pick up at the thought.
"Yes, it's truly over now." Remus said as he limped over to a free chair by Harry's bedside.
Harry felt the weight that had been on his shoulders the moment Voldemort had returned lift from him, and despite the wounds that littered his body and pain from them, he couldn't remember the time that he had felt so free in his life. There wasn't an evil wizard chasing after him anymore, no more Horcruxes, the war was won, the prophesy fulfilled, and he was alive. From this point on he was free to do with his life whatever he wanted. Harry flinched as a hand landed on his shoulder, and looked up to see Mr. Weasley smiling down at him.
"You heal up nice and good, Harry. We're going to head back to the Burrow for a while and sort everything out." He told Harry, giving his shoulder a pat before he turned and walked back over to Mrs. Weasley.
For a split-second Harry was tempted to ask what needed to be sorted out, his mind still foggy from being asleep for a couple of days, and almost hit himself as he remembered Percy. Of course they needed time to grieve and get through it together. Harry squeezed Ginny's hand before he gave her a chaste kiss goodbye, and muttered goodbyes to the rest of the Weasley's and Hermione as she rejoined her family and left the Hospital Wing.
"I think they're all still out of it from the funeral earlier, but they wanted to check up on you and see how you were healing." Tonks said as she took Ron's empty spot on the bed.
Harry looked down at the blanket covering him and fiddled with the edges of it, "I feel awful that I couldn't have gone. I should have been there for them."
Remus reached over and grabbed Harry's hand, effectively stopping his fiddling and made him look up, "There's nothing you could have done, Harry. They understood why you couldn't, and they would of rather you be here healing then be with them still in pain."
"But I'm the reason he's dead, Voldemort was only at the Ministry because he thought I would be there." Harry voice cracked, and he tried to look away, but Remus reached out and gently grabbed his chin.
"None of this is your fault, Harry. Voldemort caused all this, he's to blame. You stopped him, you ended this war and stopped the violence and chaos he was creating. You're not at fault for anything that happened during this war." Remus told him fiercely.
Harry nodded, ignoring the way his throat tightened and how his eyes were filling with tears, and looked to Sirius and Tonks next to him, who were both nodding at Remus' words.
"You can't blame yourself for every death, Harry. We were at war, people fight and die, and the only way to stop it was to end the war, which is what you did. You saved so many lives, and that's the most important thing." Sirius added, his voice cracking with emotion.
Harry felt all the grief and pain that he had felt after the battle come rushing back to him, still as fresh and heavy as it had been before, and couldn't help the sob that tore through his throat, or the tears that followed. Remus used his hold on Harry's hand to pull himself closer to Harry and grab him in a hug, guiding his head onto his shoulder and gripping his back as he felt Harry hid his face in the crook on his neck and cry. Sirius moved closer to Harry on the bed and rubbed his back while he sobbed, letting everything he has felt and gone through spill out in his tears and sobs, not caring he saw or heard him. Tonks moved close enough to Remus to put her hand on his leg, offering her support while he let a few tears fall into Harry's hair, and let a few of her own tears fall. Harry didn't know how much time had passed before his sobs subsided and he calmed down, but by the time he stopped the shoulder of Remus' shirt was soaked through with his tears, Harry pulled away from Remus' neck and gave him a guilty smile while he wiped his face, which started to turn red in embarrassment.
"It's all right," Remus told him, "I don't mind being a human handkerchief."
Harry snorted and watched as Tonks reached over with her wand in hand, and cleared the spot on Remus' shirt that Harry had made a mess of. Remus thanked her and adjusted how he sat on his chair, grimacing as he did so. Harry felt more guilt rise as he remembered how badly Remus had been hurt during the battle.
"Oh Merlin, did I hurt you more? Shouldn't you be resting?" Harry asked worriedly.
Sirius out right laughed next to Harry, startling him, "Why am I surprised you're more worried about his health than your own?"
Remus rolled his eyes and shook his head, "You have such a weird sense of humor, Padfoot. But no, Harry, I'm feeling much better. Just a little sore at the moment, but I'll be back to my normal self in a week or so."
Harry sighed in relief and nodded, "Sorry I didn't ask sooner."
Remus began to open his mouth, but Sirius cut in, "We could say the same. How are you doing? Any pain in your chest or anywhere else?" He asked.
Harry yawned as he took a second to take in account of how he felt, "I'm still sore pretty much over my whole body, my shoulders hurt a bit, and my chest feels tender." He answered honestly, knowing a one worded answer wouldn't be good enough.
Tonks got off the bed and grabbed a few potions off the nightstand, "Madam Pomfrey said you could take a Muscle Relaxer when you woke up, along with a Strengthening Solution, a Wound Cleanser, and a Pain Potion," She noticed Harry yawn again and grabbed another potion, "You might want to take this as well."
Harry looked closer and knew right away she held a Dreamless Sleep potion, he had taken it enough to know what it looked like.
"I probably should, I'm tired anyways." He said.
Tonks handed Harry each potion separately, waiting until he swallowed all of one before handing him the next.
"Madam Pomfrey said you'll most likely be in here for a about a week recovering, and when she gives you a clear bill of health you can come home with me at Grimmauld Place." Sirius told Harry as he drank a Strengthening Solution.
"What about Hogwarts? Won't the castle be fixed by then?" Harry asked.
"It will, but Dumbledore cancelled classes for the rest of year, you're done with your fifth year pup." Remus told him, smiling.
Harry grinned, "Hermione will be so upset. Wait, what about our OWL's? He then asked.
"They'll be taken at the Ministry once everything is back in order and we have a new Minister put in place." Tonks answered.
"Kingsley's been appointed temporary Minister until the Wizengamot is organized enough to vote again." Sirius explained to a confused looking Harry.
Harry nodded his head as Tonks handed him the Dreamless Sleep potion, "Here," She said, "Time to rest."
"Yes mum." Harry said sarcastically as he took the vial from her, smiling as Remus, Sirius and Tonks chuckled.
Harry raised the vial to his lips, but hesitated before he drank it and looked up Sirius.
"Don't worry, I'll be here the whole time." Sirius reassured him, picking up on the reason for his hesitation.
Harry smiled, slightly embarrassed, but quickly drank the contents of the vial and laid back on the bed, getting himself comfortable before he drifted off to sleep.
"We'll see you in the morning kiddo." Sirius whispered as Harry's eyelids fluttered closed, and he fell into a deep sleep.
Despite Harry's constant protests and begging to be released, Madam Pomfrey held her ground and outright refused to let Harry leave until he had mostly recovered. Harry stretched his legs as he sat on top of his hospital bed, fixing the collar on his shirt while he waited for Madam Pomfrey to gather potions that he would need to take for the next couple of weeks until he had fully healed. The wound on his chest still had not completely healed and appearance wise had barely improved since Voldemort's body had been destroyed, but hadn't caused Harry nearly as much pain as it did before. It looked as though a Bludger had barreled straight into his chest and was a blackish purple color, and when Harry had looked closely one night while his bandages were being changed he could see a faint outline of another lightning bolt scar underneath all the bruising, which annoyed him. The rest of his injuries had healed quite nicely and hadn't left much scarring, and Harry felt grateful that the scarring on his body had been kept to a minimum.
Harry knew that Remus and Tonks were waiting at Grimmauld Place for them, and that they, along with a few Weasley's that had felt up to it, had cleaned the house more and made it more welcoming. He bent over and grabbed a rucksack that kept a few things of his that he had wanted near him while he has been confided to his bed and his wand off the nightstand as he heard Sirius and Madam Pomfrey walking back towards his bed, and could hear Madam Pomfrey instructing Sirius on each potion he needed to take and when along with how many times a day, and Harry couldn't resist the smile that grew on his face as he saw the concentrated look on his godfathers face as he listened with rapt attention.
"You ready kiddo?" Sirius asked when Madam Pomfrey finished giving him instructions.
"Absolutely." Harry answered as he got off the bed.
"You are sure though? Don't you want another week of being trapped here with nothing to do?" Sirius teased as he came over and rested his arm on Harry's shoulder.
"Bugger off." Harry said as he shrugged away from Sirius' hand.
Sirius laughed and ruffled Harry's hair, "Thank you again, Poppy. We'll come back if anything happens." Sirius said to the patron.
Madam Pomfrey pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow at Harry, who felt himself blush, "Yes Mr. Black, you make sure he comes back here if there is a problem. Good luck Mr. Potter." She added.
Harry thanked her, and then he and Sirius made there way out and up the stairs all the way to Gryffindor Tower.
"Are you sure you don't Remus and I to come back later and grab your things out of your dorm? It wouldn't be a problem?" Sirius asked Harry as they reached the third set of stairs, and noticed how out of breath Harry had become.
"I'm fine," Harry huffed, "I want to make sure nothing is forgotten."
Sirius grimaced but didn't say anything else, and they continued their tread up the stairs and down corridors until they reached the Fat Lady's portrait.
"Pygmy Puffs."
The Fat Lady's portrait swung open and allowed Harry and Sirius to enter, and Harry felt himself redden as he heard the Fat Lady congratulating himself for defeating Voldemort.
"You'll have to get used to that mate, you'll probably be hearing it for the rest of your life." Sirius told him.
But Harry didn't really hear him. As soon as he entered the Common Room he remembered vividly of what happened to himself and his classmates at the hands of the Lestrange's. Despite the fact the room had obviously been cleaned and fixed, the couldn't shake the last image he had had of this room before Bellatrix and her husband dragged him out. Sirius remained quiet and reached to squeeze Harry's shoulder, who jumped but otherwise didn't speak or draw away, and just took a moment to breath and relax.
"Do you want me to run up and grab your things while you sit?" Sirius asked gently.
"No!" Harry quickly responded, suddenly afraid of being left alone, "We can go up together."
"Alright, whatever you want. I'll stick with you." Sirius told him as he released Harry's shoulder and started to head towards the stairs that lead to the boy's dorm.
We'll stick with you.
He'll always be my baby boy.
You don't believe that honey, do you?
Harry felt himself sway and stumble into the wall next to him as a flood of memories entered his mind, completely overwhelming him.
"Harry!" Sirius yelled as he rushed over.
Harry sunk to the floor as his memories and emotions washed over him so quickly it took his breath away.
"What's wrong? Is it your chest?" Sirius asked breathlessly.
"I saw my parents." Harry whispered.
Sirius' eyes widened as he tried to comprehend what he had just heard, "What do you mean?"
"After Voldemort hit me with the killing curse, I don't know exactly how and where I really was, but I was in here with my parents, Sirius. I talked to them and they hugged me and told me how much they love me. They explained everything that had happened and why I could back and why I should-"
"- Come back? You mean here? With us?" Sirius questioned, to which Harry nodded, "You needed them to tell you why you should come back?"
Harry found he couldn't hold Sirius' gaze anymore and looked at his sneakers, "I wanted to be with them, I didn't want to come back and fight and feel anymore pain. I just wanted my parents."
Sirius felt tears rush to his eyes and gently pulled Harry to his side and squeezed him, "I can't blame you, kiddo. You have some pretty amazing parents. But you have a whole life ahead of you, to live and love and do whatever it is that you want."
"That's pretty much what they told me too." Harry told him, and smiled when Sirius let out a chuckle.
"Smart parents as well. I'm grateful that you got this chance to be with your parents, even though I would of rather it of been under different circumstances, but I'm even more grateful that you're here next to me, living and breathing."
Harry felt grateful for the fact that Sirius believed him that he had saw his parents, and knew that he had every right to be as emotional as he had been in the recent few days, but when he once again felt tears pooling in his eyes he felt annoyed at the fact that he was crying yet again. But he knew that it was normal, and that no one would hold it against him or see it as a sign of weakness. So he rested his head on Sirius' shoulder and let his tears run down his face as he and Sirius comforted each other over the pain but gratitude of him being able to see his parents one last time.
A/N: It's been a while hasn't it? I cannot tell you how sorry I am that it took this long for me to post a chapter. I had writers block for the longest time, but it shouldn't of taken me this long to post a chapter, especially since this is going to be one of the last chapters! I'm pretty sure that there is only one more chapter after this and then the story will be done. So exciting! Thank you so much to everyone that has continued reading, you guys are the best. Please feel free to write a review and leave a recommendation for a story!