In response to the anonymous reviewer thank you for your feedback. I sometimes feel odd righting sentences and dialogue together and it leads to them getting away from me. I'll keep working on it going forward. Additionally, depending on how far this story goes I may take the time to go back and rewrite some things to improve the readability. Again, thanks for reviewing.

What now?

As their fifth year comes to a close there are many students for whom the world seems normal. Well as normal as it can be, they live their lives as always. Many of them pass by a student with the world on his shoulders as they headed for the train home. Harry is sitting in one of the comfy chairs staring at the empty grate lost in thought. Memories of the last few weeks tumbling over themselves through his head. The whispers about him had intensified to an almost unbearable level following the battle at the ministry. The next morning the Daily Prophet arrived bearing the top story 'the Chosen One' directly over a moving picture. This picture showed Harry standing against Voldemort, his face set in hard lines from the side as he held his ground defending his teacher.

A copy of the article sat on the arm of the chair next to him. The article didn't bother him, not really. Neither did the whispers about him being 'the Chosen One' he had accepted that responsibility over a year ago. No, the thing that bothered him was that everyone else involved was shunted to the side and ignored. The Order, his friends, no one seemed to care that he is nothing special. His friends and others were why he survived. Even the picture showed that it was as Dumbledore got to his feet that Voldemort finally vanished. He knew too well that at least one friend did not want attention. Neville had thrown himself into his study of plants and the DA with a fervor that seemed unusual to Harry. A week ago, he had found Neville working over a cauldron with Hermione. It was time to say something he stood his wand sweeping the Marauders Map clean as he stood turning to face the stairs as Neville came down.

"Harry? What are you still doing here? Ron left ages ago won't you miss the train?" Neville asked genuinely confused. Harry looks at him and Neville understands. "What do you want to know Harry? You deserve to ask questions I owe you that." Harry takes a moment before responding. "You're up to something. I don't think it's bad. Hermione would have told me if it was. But I want to help Neville whatever it is." Neville looked at his shoes kicking at the rug beneath his feet. Suddenly Neville met Harry's eyes. A burning desire apparent "I'm trying to find a way to cure my parents. Professor Sprout has helped me with magical herbs and Hermione with potions. I..." he stopped for a moment breathing deeply "Apparently my first test yielded surprising results or at least that's how the healer put it. I'm missing something but I don't know what."

Harry grinned internally 'I knew it' he thought to himself. He had been thinking about it as well and while he wasn't a genius, he was very good at DADA and charms. His transfiguration had improved by miles over the last year as well. McGonagall had even compared him to his father during a lesson. In his research into his own magic, he had discovered some things that may be able to help Neville or so he thought. "A good thing I've been looking into it too then." Harry grinned and rushed on "I'm not an expert, but would I be wrong in saying you've had to do some magic to the cure before its complete?" Neville looked surprised at first, but it grew as Harry continued to talk. "Yes, I do. How did you know and what...?" He trailed off looking still more confused. Harry's reply was not long in coming "Let's say I've been reading like Hermione, it's exhausting. But what I've discovered is that when it comes to this kind of spell damage, there's a certain degree of care that needs to be taken but part of the problem is also that there needs to be a large amount of power behind the magic or am I wrong?" Neville's face began to clear. Harry had been open with the five who had gone with them to the ministry that night and hope began to bloom in Neville's chest. "I may not be fully qualified but as you have seen..." at this point Harry began to get rather sheepish, rubbing his neck uncomfortably as he lightly flushed "as you have seen I have magical reserves that are substantial. If you told me what to do, I may be able to put enough power behind the spells to get better results. Just let me know what you need." Harry met Neville's eyes again no longer embarrassed. His power was something he was still not comfortable acknowledging most of the time but if it meant helping his friends there's nothing that will stop him.

The two boys left the tower walking down to catch the train making it just before the final whistle. They found the others in a compartment waiting for them. After joining their friends, they didn't say anything more about the topic. Neville's reticence was somewhat lessened, and the six of them settled into the ride more comfortably than Harry had expected. The two younger girls had easily become part of the group in fact almost as easily as Neville. Harry didn't see it, but whispers had begun to follow all six of them. Not as loud or as brazen, but especially younger students had begun to view the others of the six in a way that until then was reserved for Harry alone. Harry had found himself enjoying Ginny's company especially. She was interested in many things Harry was from the kinds of magic they excelled in, to Quidditch. Harry found it easy to talk to her and he had begun to see her as more than Ron's younger sister. Often when he found himself talking to her, he would see Hermione walk away smirking doing her best to drag Ron with her. After the first couple hours, Ron and Hermione had left to patrol the train for Prefect duties. Luna had gone off to search for nargles or some other odd creature, and unsurprisingly Neville had accompanied her. The two had been growing closer ever since she had comforted him in the hospital wing.

So, Harry found himself alone with Ginny. She was currently engrossed in a book about flying techniques and tricks. Harry watched her reading for a few minutes as the sun lit the side of her face. Her freckles stood out in high relief and her hair blazed like fire. She looked up and saw him looking at her and she made a face at him "See anything interesting Potter?" Harry couldn't say anything he opened his mouth once or twice, but nothing came out. He looked out the window his ears burning. He could tell she was looking at him curiously, but he was still surprised when he felt her drop into the seat next to him. She poked him in the ribs hard enough he couldn't pretend to have not felt it "Geez are you trying to bruise me?" He demanded feigning annoyance exaggeratedly rubbing his side. He started to smile when he felt as if his head was opening up.

He clutched his forehead as his vision flickered and found himself walking down a stone hallway. He passed a darkened window and he looked out the window. His reflection was of an exceedingly pale young man that seemed eerily familiar. And he realized why... Voldemort... no this was still Tom Riddle. Harry suddenly realized he also recognized the corridor Tom was walking down as the Room of Requirement opened his vision flickered again and he gasped and opened his eyes. He was on his back on the floor. Looking up he saw Ginny's fearful face above his as his head was resting on her legs. "I didn't know what to do. You just collapsed and started twitching." Ginny all but whispered. Harry sat up getting to his feet. He turned and offered Ginny his hand, she took it and Hardy pulled her up to stand. He misjudged the pull however and she stumbled against him. She caught herself wrapping her arms around his waist and he stood frozen for a moment until...

"What the bloody hell is going on here?" Ron had slid open the door and was looking at them both. They leapt apart both blushing furiously Harry was quickest to recover "I just had a vision of Voldemort's past. She was helping me and stumbled its nothing." He thought he saw a look of slight hurt flit across Ginny's face, but it was gone too quickly for him to be sure. Ron immediately turned serious "He's not nearby, is he?" Looking around as though Voldemort would suddenly spring from the luggage. "No this was...different? It was like I was experiencing something important to him or something he was remembering..." Harry trailed off thinking but quickly recovered his thoughts "it's nothing important. I can always tell when it's current." Ron visibly relaxed and dropped onto a seat before springing upright "Ahh sod it all I still have prefect duty." He said in response to Harry's look as he left the compartment again.

He and Ginny didn't meet each other's eyes for a long time the tension in the room nearly palpable. The long silence was broken by Ginny first "You know you didn't need to sound so sure it was nothing." She huffed irritably. Harry turned to see her smirking at him "Oh, I should've known you were pulling my leg." Ginny laughing at the apparent look of horror on his face as he turned. After a moment she calmed again able to breathe properly once again. As she settled Harry thought to himself 'well two can play that game' he stood and moved towards Ginny. She looked slightly on guard until he leaned down and almost kissed her. Falling onto the seat next to her before laughing at the slack-jawed expression on her face. "That was just mean!" She exclaimed glaring at him. "Well fair is fa..." his words were cut off as Ginny pressed her lips to his. It was like fireworks going off as she kissed him, it only lasted a few seconds, but he was left staring at the blushing girl. "I've wanted to do that since I was eleven." She looked at him shyly suddenly nervous. He just looked at her still struggling for words. Unsure what to say he stared at her this time looking at her in a totally different light.

She started to say something else, but Harry pulled her back towards him and they kissed again. This time they were interrupted by what could only be described as a surprised squeak. They both turned and Hermione stood eyes wide with the door halfway open staring at the two of them. "I knew it!" She exclaimed and Harry was surprised. Of all the reactions he had imagined that was the last he expected. He looked over at Ginny who was smiling at him slightly embarrassedly. Surprisingly, she seemed to almost be hiding from the older girl behind his shoulder. Her behavior surprised Harry she was normally a very confident loud person. But now she had seemed to shrink behind him. Hermione answered his unspoken question "Oh ever since they moved in with you Harry, I've been in a let's say a betting pool with a few people." She smirked in a way that reminded Harry of the twins "When did she get so devious?" Harry asked the room speaking more to himself than anyone. "You only have yourself to blame, well you and Ron."

Ginny's voice was even but tinged with exasperation. "She's spent the last five years running around with you and my brother breaking plenty of rules and some laws to boot." Harry took a moment and thought about the many things they had done over the years and had to conclude she was entirely correct. From helping Hagrid sneak Norbert away from the castle in his first year to breaking into the Department of Mysteries just a few weeks ago. They had a habit of ignoring rules and bending plenty more. "I suppose you're right." He returned to his original seat and looked at Ginny completely out of his depth. Ginny smiled at him and he relaxed slightly though still incredibly nervous. He realized he had enjoyed that far more than the single kiss he and Cho had shared. Unsure of what to do now he opened his mouth searching for something to say but Ginny beat him to it. "You know I was obsessed with the story of Harry Potter ever since my mum told it to me when I was young. It wasn't until you saved me in the Chamber that I realized the reality really was better than the story."

Harry looked at her surprised and then looked down at himself. A skinny...no not skinny he had been running and continuing his calisthenics. He was not big by any stretch, but he could no longer honestly call himself skinny. A fit yet otherwise unremarkable boy of 15 with cheap glasses and clothes several sizes too big. "I did what anyone would." Harry managed to reply knowing it wasn't entirely true. Even Lockhart had to be forced to go along with Ron and himself. As much as Harry worked to deny it, he was different from most people around him. "Do you think Hermione will tell anyone about us?" Ginny wondered aloud not looking overly concerned at the prospect. "I somehow don't think you would mind either way though, would you?" Harry asked before seriously considering if he wanted to know the answer. When he looked back at Ginny, she was looking at him strangely "I've liked you for years it's not exactly a secret besides better they find out now rather than later." Harry had known she had a crush on him for years, but the last part confused him "Better who finds out?" Ginny giggled in response unable to contain herself "Oh you're so clueless sometimes it's adorable. You know just about any girl from my year, your year, and just about any other year would love to get their hands on you."

Harry started laughing "You're joking right? Girls don't look twice at me. Do you know how hard it was to get a date to the Yule Ball?" As if she was expecting this, she pulled out a full copy of the Daily Prophet handing it to him. "I've already seen this. What's it got to do with girls liking me?" She only rolled her eyes before opening to a small column following the article about his 'duel' with Voldemort. His eyes widened as he read feeling the heat rising in his face as he reached the end of the short gossip column that was entirely dedicated to discussing Harry's merits as dating material. Harry tossed the newspaper back to Ginny who was smirking at him but seemed slightly nervous again. But the nervousness felt different to Harry he realized she was self-conscious now that Harry had read the article detailing exactly why there were so many women after him. "Good thing I don't give a damn what the Prophet thinks about anything." The two continued talking for quite a while losing track of the time feeling much more comfortable around each other than before.

The train began to slow as they approached Kings Cross, and Harry left the compartment to allow Ginny to change back into her muggle clothes. They swapped and Harry did the same. As he finished the others began to find their way back to the compartment to collect their belongings. Now that he thought back it seemed odd that no one had made their way back earlier. That is until he saw the satisfied look on Hermione's face after Ginny finished hurriedly telling her what had happened. They found their way to the barrier and crossed through in ones and twos. Doing their best to blend with the muggles on their way out of the station. Ginny happily holding Harry's hand as Sirius had sent Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage back to number twelve already. He pretended not to notice their hands as they walked towards Mrs. Weasley who was waiting just outside the doors of the station.

Harry looked around and realized several people were standing around the entrance that seemed out of place. He noticed a coat too large for the weather, badly matched muggle clothing, and... a loud clunking? Seeing his look Sirius leaned down "There are guards for the station. Aurors and as I'm sure you noticed Mad-Eye is behind us under one of his invisibility cloaks." Several of the Aurors nodded to him as he looked back around recognizing Kingsley as well as a few other hidden Aurors. Not by name but by their distinct lack of proper muggle attire.