When the war ended the world stood still. It was a sad fact but it was true. Most people felt the after effects of the war but none felt it as harshly as Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. You see when the world began to collapse their best friend had the foundations removed from under his feet. They were removed so violently and quickly that nobody could have done anything. When it came down to it the prophecy was right. Neither could live whilst the other survived but it didn't hint that one could die through magic. It was a weird concept for everyone to grasp, shortly after the battle Harry Potter had fallen and had never got up again. Upon examination it seemed that Harry's magic was so closely bonded with Voldemort's that without him the magic had revolted. After the amount of strain Harry's body had been through it couldn't take it anymore. So, with his two best friends by his side, he took his final breath. A month later he was buried, his body was guarded by his closest friends. The demand that the Ministry could hold a state funeral was denied, they had disgraced him life and would not be able to do that in death.

Harry had once said time heals but it'll never stop the hurt which is why Hermione was sat in Rons room, a vial of blood in the middle of a circle. The circle consisted of Hermione, Ron, Ginny, George, Luna and Neville. Their pain had drove them to the edge of insanity which could only explain what they were trying to do.
"Hermione… what if he doesn't come?" Ginny asked, as timid as the eleven-year-old girl she once was. The pain of losing her true love made her scared of being rejected by his presence. Hermione's eyes turned soft
"Well even if he doesn't want see us it's not like he'd ignore you. He was helpless for you" Ginny hid a smile. Hermione then turned to her friends
"Are you ready?" She asked. They all nodded and grasped each other's hand, closing their eyes. Hermione started to chant
"Morte, ascoltami (Oh death hear me)
Cerchiamo di restituire ciò che abbiamo perso (We seek to return what we have lost)
Quello portato a presto (The one taken to soon)
Offriamo il sangue come sacrificio (We offer the blood as a sacrifice)
Così possiamo dare un addio finale (So we can give a final goodbye)"

For a moment nothing happened and disappointment seemed to settle on the group until the Vial disappeared and a bright light took its place. The bright light grew bigger and bigger, seeming to take form as a wind wrecked the room. It was at that precise moment that Hermione realised what was happening.
"When he gets here DO NOT BREAK THE CIRCLE" she screamed over the wind. Then as sudden as the light appeared it vanished and, in its place, stood the person they had lost. Harry James Potter. He appeared to them kneeling, after a moment though he began to get up. Blinking, his face broke into a ginormous grin.
"Thank god you got me outta there, Sirius was chewing my ear off!" there was a moment of silence in which the group felt like they were dreaming. Harry was there, he might not be fully corporeal but he was there!
"Well, I mean if you've called me from death to gawk at me then I'll be a bit upset. How did you manage that by the way, was always told you couldn't bring people back" he mused. Hermione choked
"Blood magic. We… we took some of your blood so that we can contact you" Harry bit his lip.
"Is that safe? It doesn't hurt you, does it?" he worried.
"Bloody hell mate, you're dead and you're worried about us. If it did hurt it was blood worth it!" If they could break their hands Hermione would have slapped him.
"Ron don't be so insensitive" Ginny seethed. At her voice Harry spun around and his face lit up, like he truly had come alive.
"Ginny…" he breathed. Ginny grinned; her face lit up too.
"Told you that you couldn't get away without a goodbye love" Harry stared at her.
"I'm sorry… I really am. I didn't want to… I'm so sorry" Ginny began crying at the broken look on his face. She nearly reached towards him and if it wasn't for Hermione and Neville gripping her hands tightly, she would have.
"I know Harry…"
"I… I know I hurt you with what I did. You've been far too good to me and that goes for all of you" he said, spinning around.
"Luna, I can never thank you enough for telling me about the diadem, without you I would never have run. You're the hero not me and don't forget it. Listen you need to promise me you won't listen when people call you loony! They're just jealous that you can see the magic and they can't. You once told me it's like we were friends and my biggest regret is not telling you that we are. We always will be Luna… "Luna felt her heart twist. Out of all her friends Harry was the one she wanted to impress the most, at first because he was the boy who lived but then it was because he was one of the very few people who didn't judge her. He knew what it was like to be judged.
"I'll miss you"
"I'll miss you too" Harry then spun around to Neville who stared at him in shock.
"Nev… thank you for killing the snake."
"You could have told me what you were doing Harry" Neville spat out.
"We could have found another way!" he yelled. Harry merely smiled at him sadly
"There was no other way Nev… Dumbledore made it so besides if I stopped, I wouldn't be able to carry on. I needed to be prepared to die for you all or it wouldn't have worked but Neville… It wasn't your fault, okay? It wasn't!" Harry insisted. Neville scrunched his shoulders, trying to not cry then after a moment he dropped them, defeated.
"I think I knew though… I think I knew what you were going to do- "
"Neville… everyone knew. Deep down everyone knew, you didn't stop me because you knew I would do it regardless. Don't hate yourself for something not even Ron and Hermione could have done. You're a man and a brave one at that." Neville didn't reply but Harry put a hand on his shoulder in solidarity.
"George… Fred says you have to man up. He died but you're letting his spirit die too. Go out, spread happiness because he doesn't want to have to come back alive to smack you. He's quite enjoying playing pranks with Padfoot, Mooney and Prongs" George laughed. The first time since the war and quietly thanked Harry.

Harry turned to Ginny whose eyes couldn't hold back tears. Her face was red and it looked like she hadn't slept in days.
"Oh Ginny" he said. At this the damn broke and she began to sob. He body rattled to the sound of her cries.
"Oh Ginny, please don't cry!" he begged. Ginny scoffed; her eyes looked up to see his bright green ones.
"Are you even sorry?" she asked quietly. Harry stilled; he should have expected that he really should but he never wanted to answer it. Not because he was mean but because the truthful answer would only hurt her.
"No" he said. The circle tensed as Ginny glared at her dead boyfriend. Harry held his hands up
"When we broke up you said you knew I would never be happy unless I was chasing Voldemort right?" he asked. Ginny nodded, unsure of where he was going, Harry merely took a step forward.
"I was happy with you, you know that right?" he asked, Ginny hung her head, she truly didn't know anymore. Harry sighed, the rest of the circle looked down, not wanting to interrupt.
"Ginny… you have to understand I love you; I love you so much that it killed me to leave. Ask Ron and Hermione… I used to look at you every night on the map. When I heard what you and the DA had done in the war I was so, so proud. You were a hero; you were what they needed. You were what I could never be. When I saw you again…? In that room I felt like I could breathe again. Then when you kissed me, I felt like I could take on the world." When he stopped Ginny looked up to find his face inches from hers.
"I had to do it Ginny… it killed me but I had to. I'm sorry that I left you but I'm not sorry for hunting the horcruxes nor am I sorry I let Voldemort kill me. I am sorry I died after… that… that was never part of my plan" he admitted. Ginny smiled shyly, blowing the hair out of her eyes.
"I guess I just thought we would get our happy ever after." Harrys shoulders slumped; he had thought that too.
"Maybe… maybe this is our happy ever after. I get to see my family again and you… you get to go and play for the Holyhead Harpies. You get to move on from Ginny… you have to." Ginny gulped but nodded, as she did Harry began to flicker.
"We haven't got long, the bloods burning up" Hermione whispered. Harry nodded solemnly and turned to his two best friends.
"Thank you" Harry said. Hermione nodded, Ron on the other hand stared at his best friend with a mixture of grief and contempt.
"Why didn't you tell us about the forest?" he asked.
"You would have stopped me" harry answered.
"Yeah… what happened to the fact we fight together or not at all?" he asked. Harry laughed lightly
"Well, we fought, trolls, snakes, demented teachers and death eaters together. I thought you guys could sit this one out" Harry whipped; Ron rolled his eyes.
"You're an idiot"
"I miss you too Ron" beside them Hermione whispered boys under her breath. Harry and Ron chuckled at her
"Thank you… for burying me with mum and dad. Also, for declining the order of Merlin"
"Yeah, well I thought you wouldn't have liked any more titles" Hermione offered. Harry nodded and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't beat yourself up Hermione… even someone as bright as you can't conquer death"
"Yeah, well someone as selfless as you didn't deserve to die."
"No… but I am with my parents and Voldemort is dead. You are all alive and that's my happy ending." Hermione felt a traitorous tear run down her face, she wanted nothing more than to hug him, if only she could break the circle.

"I didn't think I could ever find a family that would love and appreciate me but I found multiple families that do. I know that you will never forgive me for leaving you, even if you say you do but I want you to know that no matter what. You guys were the power he knows not, you gave me love, hope and strength" as he finished the bright light grew brighter. It began to engulf the room as the wind returned.

Harry smiled and began walking towards it, in the background he could hear his friends screaming for him to stay, that they needed more time. He paid them no mind; it might have been selfish but for once he wanted to be at peace. As such he took his final step through the light and felt the warmth engulf him. Finally, Harry James Potter could rest.