Chapter fifteen

'So, are you okay?'

'I'm fine Charlie. Staring at that sword in his chest, it really hit home that he was dead, for good, and out of my life. I still don't like the fact I had to kill someone, even him, but I couldn't take the chance that the prophecy would somehow stop him dying if it was someone else. Ever since he came back I knew I would have to be the one, unless I die. It's like I've always known.'

'You probably did, deep down. But between you, my sister and that crazy house elf, you worked out exactly how to make sure he could not return again. So this power, you practiced using Ginny by just unfreezing her head?'

'Most of the time it was her head. We kept going until I could freeze her then unfreeze any part of her body. Head, hands, feet, legs, torso. I even froze her legs and feet then unfroze only her lower legs. Ginny said it felt like she didn't have any feet, yet she was standing. Um, since I sort of closed down right after, what happened?'

'Amelia had portkey's to transport them to the holding cells. She said you need to go in an unfreeze them. She was going to put their cells under the fidelius so no one would see them frozen. The sword is in the living room, and he was sent through the veil. She had Scrimgeour, Tim and unspeakable witness him going through the veil, mainly for proof. Since he was dead Amelia believed it didn't have to be you, but she did have the head of the hall of prophecy keeping a watch on the orb.'

'The orb was broken.'

'There is always meant to be a copy. Even if you took it out of the ministry, a copy would have appeared on the shelf. I would have asked her about it, when I saw her, but she sent Connie a message last night.'

'Then one of my ideas about sneaking in and taking it would not have worked,' Harry shrugged before he began to load up the table with food. He made sure there was a warming charm on the trays, 'So I go unfreeze them, then I suppose I can finally get on with my life. Apart from being with Ginny, I have no idea what I want to do.'

'Even though you're an adult now, you can take your time. I think you should. After everything that you told me, the Dursley's, Dumbledore, Snape, now Voldemort, you should take some time to just be you. Find out who Harry Potter really is and who he wants to be. After hearing about some of the things you weren't told, I figured I would tell you this in case you want to finish your education. You can, if you want, hire tutors who will take you through what you need for your NEWTS, then your tutor will book you in for the tests, which is done at the ministry.'

Harry shook his head, 'Nope, didn't know that. I was told by McGonagall that if I want to sit my newts then I will need to stay at Hogwarts, like all the other students.'

'She knows perfectly well that is not true. I have no idea why she lied, but she did.'

Just then Connie walked out, kissed Charlie before sitting down, 'Good morning Harry. How are you feeling?'

'I'm good. The shock was about it being over, not that I had to kill him. I'm sure Charlie can fill you in. So since I have to go to the ministry, I should wake Ginny, see what she wants to do.'

'Madam Bones wants all of us to go there this morning. I think she wants us to give the official statement while it's still fresh in our minds. It's what we normally do, if we can.' Connie said.

'Then I'll go wake her.'

Connie watched Harry walked away before she turned to Charlie, 'Is he okay?'

'He's fine, it was like he said, it hit him, how it was finally over, all of it. He's an adult now so he can do whatever he wants and no one has a say, well, apart from that feisty sister of mine.'

An hour later Charlie, Connie, Harry and Ginny apparated to the visitors entrance to the ministry. They were met by Tim and Mad-eye, who was going to escort them through the atrium and to Amelia's office.

Like many times that Harry was seen, people stopped and stared. He just kept holding Ginny's hand as he followed Tim, but he was glad Mad-eye was behind them. Mad-eye kept anyone else getting into the lift before he joined the group.

Tim opened the office door, then let the others go in first. Harry instantly noticed that apart from Amelia, there was the minister for magic, along with another man, and a photographer.

'So you don't have to worry Harry, this is just for the official records. I will ask if we could have one of the photos accompany the official statement I will be making in an hour,' Amelia said.

'So it's a group picture, not just of me?'

'Yes, a group picture of the team who took out Voldemort and his death eaters, to end the war.'

'Alright then. I want everyone to know that it was all of us that finished this.'

'How about everyone take a seat so we can do the official interview, then the official statements will need to be written by each of you,' Rufus said.

Harry mainly stayed quiet and let others answered, but he did answer a few, especially about the prophecy and how he was the chosen one. Harry said he might have been the chosen one, but it didn't mean he couldn't have people he trusted to help. If it was left to just him, he'd be dead and Voldemort would still be here. All he did was kill Voldemort, the others in the group took care of the death eaters. When they were ready for pictures, Harry called Dobby. Amelia had already told the reporter and minister that without Dobby, they would not have been able to complete their mission.

They stood for pictures, with Dobby standing in front of Harry. He had one hand on Dobby's shoulder while his other arm was around Ginny. He wanted it known that Ginny was his and no matter what, he would always be with Ginny.

After the reporter and photographer left, they did their official written statements. It didn't take long as they thought. Once the official part was over, the minister left.

'So the minister knows the death eaters are here. Has he seen them?' Harry asked.

'No, he didn't need to. So how about we go down so you can unfreeze them?'

'Okay, might as well get it over with.'

Amelia gave Harry and Ginny the secret then all Harry had to do was concentrate. Within seconds of using his power, many of the death eaters were screaming, asking what happened to their clothes. No one bothered to answer them.

Charlie had to leave Connie at work, but they were going to meet up later. He went back to the tent with Harry and Ginny so he could pack his things.

'Since I know you can apparate, I'll leave you to say a private goodbye. But if asked, I'll say Harry is dropping you off.'

'Thanks Charlie,' Ginny said, giving her brother a hug.

'Thanks for everything Charlie. Tell your parent's she'll be back soon,' Harry shook the red head's hand.

'Just don't make it too long,' Charlie nodded then left the tent.

'It's really over Harry.'

'It is and we also know what we're going to do, at least to start with.'

'I still can't believe it happened, or for both of us. But now I have the perfect excuse not to return to Hogwarts. When people find out we're not returning do you think it will affect people like McGonagall?'

'When they find out why we aren't returning, yes, she will have problems. I just don't know how much trouble it could cause her.'

Harry and Ginny spent a few more minutes together before Ginny left to head to the Burrow. Harry decided to look for a flat, or maybe a house to buy. He didn't want anything huge, and he knew Ginny was the same. They only wanted a house big enough so they had plenty of room for their children they would have one day. That wouldn't happened until after Ginny finished her quidditch career, if she could get someone to give her a try out. Harry said everyone will know how she was involved in finishing Voldemort and she was his girlfriend. Everyone always wants to know Harry, this time he could use his fame to help his girlfriend get the career she wanted. She was good enough to be picked even if it might take a few years of more professional training before she played with the team. Ginny knew this, but it would give her time to really learn everything she needed.

Amelia and Rufus both gave statements live on WWN, which the reporters from all newspapers and magazines would publish the statements. It will be known around the world that a group of six, led by Amelia Bones and Harry Potter captured all the death eaters and killed Voldemort. By the time they finished talking, more than fifty people left the ministry, all of them had the dark mark. The aurors would look for them, but they could take their time, unless they caused trouble. But these death eaters were not like the ones that killed and tortured, these were to keep feeding ministry information to Voldemort for when he was ready to take over.

After the press had left, Amelia told Rufus she might end up being asked to run for minister, but she would prefer to stay where she was. She would support him for the minister's job. He asked about Harry Potter, and if he would support Rufus. She could not answer, but since Harry would know he finally had Umbridge and Fudge in Azkaban, he might see that Rufus was finally doing his job.

Arthur and Molly couldn't stop hugging Ginny and Charlie as they listened to the minister and Amelia explain how her along with Harry, Ginny, Dobby, Charlie, Alastor, Connie and Tim worked on plans which ended with the death of Voldemort and all the death eaters were now locked up, ready to face trials with the use of veritaserum. They had lost all their rights, anyone with a dark mark had lost their rights.

It was instant, Ron and Hermione kept going on about how they were told they had to be involved. Neither of them would shut up until Ginny hexed both of them. Arthur finally had enough, he told Hermione to leave, and she was no longer welcome at the Burrow. Ron went off, he said if Hermione left then he would, Arthur told him to leave which shocked Ron. Molly didn't want that to happen but she knew her youngest son would cause problems for Ginny, Harry, and maybe even Charlie. They were in the wrong, they would not allow Ron and Hermione to cause any trouble for Ginny, Charlie or Harry. Ron ended up grabbing a handful of things and followed Hermione out of the house. Even though they were all happy they were safe, they were also upset about Ron leaving. If Harry would just forgive Arthur and Molly then the rest of the family may finally be able to spend time together, but he would never forgive Ron. Now though, Arthur and Molly were beginning to see just what type of boy their youngest son was like, and they hated to admit it, but they were disappointed, and slightly ashamed on Ron.