It had been 4 months since the battle of Hogwarts. Since Lord Voldemort- Tom riddle was defeated by Harry Potter. Since so many people had died.

Despite how the months had passed, Harry still remembered it all like it had just happened. The cold bodies of his friends and those he considered family on stretchers on the floor. Somewhere deep down, he blamed himself for their deaths even if the others told him otherwise, it still hurt to think about it.

During the last few months, Harry had spent most of his time alone in Grimmauld Place. He had inherited it from Sirius and it seemed like a better option than buying another house or moving back in with the Dursleys.

Ron, Hermione and Ginny visited most days. Ginny and him had gotten back together since the battle, and after a stern talking-to from Ron about not leaving her again the pair had goten back together and been happy again. Every Sunday he would go to the (newly built) burrow for dinner. Mrs Weasley always greeted Harry with a smile and warm hug when he arrived. It was nice, to be wanted.

Harry looked in the mirror that was on the wall across from him. He had cut his hair the other day. His once untidy mop of black hair was now short on the sides while the top was still and bit long and curl. He looked different, but he guessed that it matched how he felt like a different person too, ever since the war had ended. Hermione had joked that he might finally be able to keep it tidy after cutting it. Though, the top still found a way to be untidy despite Harry's best efforts.

He looked down at the half-packed suitcase in front of him. Today was the 31st of August. Tomorrow, he, Ron and Hermione along with some others from their year would be attending their 8th year at Hogwarts. Hermione was ecstatic when she heard they would be allowed to finish their schooling, while Ron and Harry just didn't want to be left behind.

Hermione had been reminding him to pack for the last week.

"You need to pack, Harry. We have less than a week before school starts and you don't want to be doing it on the morning of the first day, do you?"

"It's okay Hermione, I'll do it later."

As it turns out, he did not. So now here Harry was, sitting on his bed. A half-packed case in front of him the night before, packing everything he needed.

As he started to collect everything he would need he heard someone come in through the floo network. Instinctively, he got out his wand, only to lower it when he heard.

"Harry? Mate? It's ron, me and Hermione are just here to see if you are ready for tomorrow?" His friend called out.

Harry made his way down the dusty stairs to where his 2 friends stood in the kitchen.

"Hey guys, I'm just packing now. Don't worry," Harry told them as he lent against the door frame and crossed his arms. If a certain werewolf was here he would have told Harry that he was looking almost identical to his father, right down to how he was standing. But he wasn't, so no one brought it up.

"Honestly Harry, I have been telling you all week to pack your bag. C'mon let's make sure we'll help you finish," Hermione added with an eye roll. Dragging on, the trio made their way upstairs and into Harry's room.

For most of the last few weeks, the trio had spent most of their time together. Sometimes they didn't even talk, but was nice just to be around each other and to know that they were okay. That the war was over, that they did have to worry anymore.

I wasn't until half an hour later that Harry's bag was packed and ready for the coming morning. They made their way back downstairs and sat down at the kitchen as Harry put on the kettle and prepared some teacups.

"It feels weird, dunnit? Going back," Ron said after a moment of silence.

"It kinda does, at least this year no one will try to kill us. We might actually have to study if we can't blame our bad grades on our impending doom," Harry joked, pouring the boiled water into the cups and hand one to each of his friends.

"Speak for yourselves, I always studied. And I wouldn't speak to soon harry, with our terrible luck somthing will probably happen this year," Hermione said as she picked up the cup and brought it to her lips and took a sip.

"Well yes but you are a freak of studying nature 'Moine. You would study if the world was ending," Ron responded jokingly as Harry took his seat next to Ron and opposite to Hermione.

"She did," Harry said, earing a light slap on the arm from Hermione. The trio laughed, a real laughed something that had been scarce these last few months, even though the last year. Between the battle of Hogwarts and all the funerals they had attended, laughter hadn't found many moments the wead its way into their convocations. It felt good.

They sat their for many hours, talking about going back and other random things. But as the moon started to take its place in the raven sky Ron and Hermione decided to leave.

"We should go, we need to get some good sleep for tomorrow. You'll meet us at the platform right?" Hermione questioned as she stood up and put her and Ron's empty cups in the sink, which had started to clean itself thanks to a clever charm from harry.

"Don't worry, I'll see you there. I'm sure Kreacher will try and get me out of the house as early as possible," Harry said with a faint smile.

"See ya , mate," Ron said giving him a slight wave before he and Hermione left through the floo once again. Leaving Harry alone in the large house. Tomorrow. Tomorrow meant so many bad things and so many bad. He got to see his friends and the place he almost died. The place most of his friends lost people. The site of so many deaths he didn't stop.

But, tomorrow could be good.

"You can't fear tomorrow if you don't know what it has in store for you yet. Let your worries slip away. You can't control the future, focus on the now," Remus had once said to him. His words rung in his head, he missed him, so much. He hadn't given himself the chance to give his and some many others peoples deaths. He had to be strong. But it was getting harder and harder to be so.

Harry dragged himself up to his rooms. Changing into an old pair of pj's he slipped into bed. Slowly, he let sleep take him.

The morning had passed as normally, Harry had been right, Kreacher was keen for Harry to leave.

"Just keep the place tidy please Kreacher," Harry told him as hie picked up his case which now held all he needs for the year. After some thought, he had decided not to take a pet this year. No one could replace Hedwig.

"Yes, master potter, the house will stay clean," Kreacher begrudgingly replied.

Taking a breather, harry left grimald place. Hailing a cab, he made his way to King's Cross station.

The platform was busy. Children new and old all rushed to bid their parents goodbye and make their way onto the train. Some turned to stare at Harry for a few moments before resuming their fusing while others ignored him entirely.

Up ahead, he saw the Weasleys (along with Hermione) all biding each other goodbye.

"Hey Guys," He called out as he walked up to them.

"Oh Harry dear, it's good to see you. Now you there will do your best to stay out of trouble this year, I'd hate to have to send the chosen one a howler," Mrs Weasley joked as she gave Harry a motherly hug and patted his cheek.

"We'll try our best Mrs Weasly," Harry replied with a smile.

"Not likely though. Harry is a magnet for trouble," Ginny said, stepping out from where she was standing behind ron. She reached forward and gave Harry and kiss on the cheek.

"Just one normal year, it's all I ask," Ron stage whispered jokingly, causing the group to laugh.

"Best be off kids, don't forget to write," Mr Weasley said as he looked to see the time was 10:57 am. Everyone gave their hugs and goodbyes before making their way onto the train.

They looked along at the different compartments, finding most of them full with people already until they stumbled across one that had only two people inside.

Luna and Neville sat inside the compartment. Neville sat looking out the window, waving at his grandmother while Luna was reading the Quibbler, upside-down.

Neville was wearing a simple outfit that Harry had come to associate with Neville, a white button-up, grey pants and knitted cardigne. While luna wore a dress that had brightly coloured hearts and circles one them along with her blue tights, red and white converse and pink coat. Her blonde hair fell forward in front of her pink weirdly shaped glasses.

Luna looked up to see that the four of them (Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny) standing in the doorway.

"Hey Luna, do you mind if we sit here?" He asked, gesturing to the free seats.

"Hello Harry," Luna said, putting her glasses on her head "Not at all." At this, the group sat down. Everyone said hello as they sat down. The train began to move slowly picking up the pace. I t was a few moments of silence before someone spoke:

"What are you reading about?" Ginny asked Luna.

"The quibbler have done an article on Nargles. It's quite fascinating really," Luna responded.

"Sounds interesting," Hermione said, who had long ago learned not to try and prove many of Luna's creatures' nonexistence and to rather roll with it.

They sound dissolved into mindless chatter. How the chudley cannons were doing, what subjects they were looking forward to and such. It wasn't until just under an hour into the train ride that Neville said:

"Do you guys find it strange that we are all going back, that everyone is back on the train laughing and talking like nothing has happened?"

A wave of seriousness fell over the group. They all delt with their own struggles throughout the of them tried to avoid the subject, but it was inevitable. Harry, Ron and Hermione had talked about it just yesterday. It should be weird, shouldn't it? And yet it was almost calming, that it was all still here. A sense of normality after a year of unknowing and pain.

"It is, but it isn't. I know that doesn't make sense but," Ginny began.

"I get it. I think everyone wants to forget, to go back to normal," Ron supplied, scratching his neck.

"As much as we want it to be normal, things will still be a little different. And your right Neville, it's strange that what was a battleground will now be our home again," Hermione said as she stared at the ground of the compartment.

"All we can do it keep going, right?" Harry said as he looked around at the group.

"At least the thestrals will get lots of attention this year, they get lonely sometimes.," Luna said.

Sadness cloaked him in seconds. So many people would see the thestrals this year. Just another lasting effect left over from the horrors of the war.

The group thought back to hagrid's lesson on Thesterals. They remembered what they were. At the time many wished they could see what they looked like, now they would give anything not to be able to see them. A deep sorrow surrounded the group as they thought about the young kids who would now see what was pulling the horseless carriages.

"Maybe… maybe it's best not to think about that," Neville said, they all nodded to this agreeing with him.

Falling back into silence for most of the trip, the kids weighted to arrive at Hogwarts.

As the moon took its place in the sky, the train arrived at its destination. Everyone made their way off the train and onto the platform.

A loud "FIRST 'EARS OVER 'ER PLEASE," could be heard above the hustle and bustle of the crowd.

The ground walk towards the carriages saying hello to Hagrid as the passes.

"Hello Hagrid," Harry said will a genuine smile.

"Ello 'arry, good to see you came back for you 8th year. You took Hermione, Ron, Nevile. You best be of the carriages I got to take this lot of 1st years to the boats, off you go now," Hagrid said, waving goodbye to the group.

Confusion could be seen on many peoples faces as they saw the thestrals. Some, who knew what they were he the beginnings of tears in their eyes but were holding it in. Others we just confused and the appearance on the winged-horses pulling the once horseless carriages.

Hoping onto a carriage, they made their way towards the castle.

The moonlight light up the pathway was the trotted along. The stars appeared as though they were fairy-lights hanging peacefully in the raven black sky. The forest setting created a calm environment for the passage to the castle.

Eventually they arrived, walking into the case, they prepared for the opening feast.

This year, even without anyone trying to kill them, would be strange. But strange could still mean good.

A/N

HOPE EVERYONE LIKE IT, IM REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS STORY. ITS MAINLY HARRY CENTRIC AND GONNA GO INTO HIM AND TE OTHER 8TH YEARS DEALING WITH THE LASTING EFFECTS OF THE WAR. REVIEWS AND LOEVD I LOVE HEARING WHAT YOU THINK AND WHAT YOU WOULD LKIE TO SEE

XOXO

R.O.R