From the Boy Who Lived, to the Man Who Conquered.
By Rita Skeeter.
It has been nearly forty-eight hours since the battle ended, and so much has happened. Once more owls were seen during the day as messages from loved ones were sent out in search of missing family members; so much so that the Muggle news have reported it as a once in a lifetime event.. Many of our fellow witches and wizards have been seen smiling and rejoicing at the idea of a peaceful future.
Praise has been flooded towards those who were at the Battle of Hogwarts, fitting that the final setting had been where it all began. After all, it was the death of Albus Dumbledore that paved the way for the Death Eaters to come out of hiding (for a full list of suspected and known Death Eaters at large see page 6). Students and teachers stood side-by-side with members of the Order of the Phoenix against giants, Acromantulas, Werewolves and Dementors who sided with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
As the battle raged, the death toll rose. It is hard to picture what may or may not have happened, but what we can unequivocally reveal is that Harry Potter once more saved our world from total destruction and chaos. Some are understandably worried that we have replaced one Dark Lord with another, while others have praised him as the second coming of Dumbledore.
One thing for certain is that our conquering hero is missing in action.
That's right readers, Harry Potter has not been seen since he defeated You-Know-Who in the main courtyard of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Many of the students who fought and survived the night have since returned to their families, but not our savior.
"This is utter bollocks," Ron muttered as he sat in the Gryffindor common room alongside Harry and Hermione.
"Of course it is Ron. What did you expect from the Prophet? McGonagall has made it perfectly clear that no form of media can enter the grounds. She's even added an animagus detection spell to the wards to make sure that they couldn't get through that way." Hermione sighed as she stood tossing her copy of the paper into the smoldering ashes.
"Besides, where does she expect me to be?" I asked.
Ron flinched. None of the Weasley's had left the grounds since Fred's death. George had taken to following his brother's movements using the map, even sleeping with it close by to check during the night. Mrs. Weasley had taken up the mantle for all the students who had become orphaned in the past year, she would make sure every one of them were taking care of their basic needs and being there for them when they needed a parent. Hermione had theorized that it was her way of coping with the grief.
The only member of the Weasley family not here was Mr. Weasley. He had been called back to the ministry earlier this morning by Madam bones. All those working for the Ministry had been called back, though nothing had been reported as to why.
"Did you see page three?" Seamus asked as he walked through the portrait hole, with Neville and Luna following closely behind him.
"Malfoy manor has been raided. All of them have been hauled off for their part in the war." Neville nodded as he threw himself on the floor while Hermione snatched the copy from Seamus's hands.
"Good riddance I say."Ginny sighed as she sat on the arm beside her brother.
"Shut it gin. You don't know what you're talking about." Ron snapped before he stood heading towards the stairs.
"What did I say. They're all Death Eaters or supported them." She yelled before going to follow him up, only stopping when Hermione gently grabbed her arm.
"It means that some things are more than what they seem." he watched as the two women in front of him eyed one another, until an understanding of sorts was reached and Hermione let go of Ginny's arm.
The silence that followed seemed to drag on for hours or minutes, time was relative as they sat there. There was no more hunting for horcruxes, no more hiding in a tent for months on end. Each one of them could breathe a little easier knowing that the war had ended.
"Harry, look." Hermione gently placed the paper in his hands, where two small pictures had been printed. One of Sirius Black while the other of Peter Petigrew. Underneath a small article had been written on the roles of both men, how Petigrew's Order of Merlin had been revoked while Sirius would be awarded one posthumously.
"Doesn't seem right, does it?" he laughed though it was hollow.
"Then we do something about it." she answered as she pulled him closer, holding him for only a second before letting go.
"What about your parents?" he asked as the soft conversations took up once more.
"I don't know. Professor McGonagall said she would send a message to the Australian Ministry to see if they could help find them. But honestly I'm not sure if they should be found quite yet. There's still so many Death Eaters out there, and they'd still be targeted if they came back now." she sighed as Ron came back to join them.
"So what do you want then?" Ron asked as he looked between his two best friends.
"I don't know. I guess to know they're okay. But other than that I don't know." she nodded before they once more sat in silence.
"Potter, Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley. Your presence has been requested in the headmaster's office." Professor McGonagall called as she stepped into the common room, causing the whole room to fall silent.
It wasn't unexpected. After all, only they knew what had happened.