THE PATH TO ABSOLUTION
CHAPTER ONE
No one knew what would happen after the defeat of Lord Voldemort. The destruction around Hogwarts would stay in the survivor's memories for a long time afterwards. The charms had fallen, the one decorative main hall now looked tired and worn. Cracks had appeared on the celling and the walls. Burn marks from wayward spells etched across the walls, scorched curtains and broken or destroyed furniture added to the dreary visage. Bodies were placed in lines across the floor by those able to continue after an exhausting battle. Loved ones gathered together over fallen family members, the sound of heart-breaking cries could be heard in almost all over the once grand looking building.
Harry Potter would never forget the last battle with the self-proclaimed dark lord, he had literally died to be able to fight and win what had been the most gruelling fight of his life so far. Tonks and Remus had died fighting beside him, for him, for the wizarding world. They would never hold their baby, Ted, again. He was exhausted, he needed rest. Walking towards Gryffindor tower in a daze, he noticed Hermione walking towards him.
Hermione Granger would forever be grateful that they survived the last battle of Hogwarts. With her parents in Australia and having no idea that they have a daughter, she was glad that Harry and Ron, her best friends had lived through the night. She had never had so many mixed emotions before, exhaustion from the months of hunting the remaining pieces of Voldemort souls, burning love for Ron after their kiss in the hall way, the sadness for Ron and his family after the death of his brother Fred, the overwhelming happiness of seeing Harry alive and defeating the dark lord nearly caused her to pass out with having so many emotions and feelings to deal with. She spotted Harry walking towards Gryffindor tower and decided to go with him and offer any comfort that she could.
Ron Weasley would forever remember the day his heart had been broken three times in such a short period of time. The first time at seeing his older brother Fred motionless on the floor, his anger boiled over, and he didn't think it could get worse. The second time been seeing his best friend in Hagrid's arms, thought to be dead. The happiness he felt when Harry had suddenly bounced back alive, challenged and beaten Voldemort had been short lived. The third time had been after he had been looking for his best friends and had found them in the 7th year dormitories, on one of the beds, kissing. He stood there in shock as he saw them laying down, kissing each other hungrily, hands roaming each other's bodies with
the desperation of needing to be with each other in the most personal of ways. He was adamant that he could hear his heart shatter at that time. The emotion of the last year, the battle, Fred's death and the woman he loved being with his best friend, his brother in all ways except for blood. He could allow his anger to take over, to shout and scream at them to throw an unforgivable spell at them but he couldn't. He couldn't feel anything but emptiness and a soul crushing sense of loneliness. Turning back towards the grand hall he shut the door while trying desperately not to cry.