The canonical characters from the "Harry Potter" books and movies belong to Joanne K. Rowling, as does the Wizarding World and all associated concepts. Ms. Rowling is utterly unaware that I or my stories exist, and is probably happier for it. This story is written to serve as nothing more than an outlet for one of my hobbies. I'm doing it because I felt like it and am not planning to realize any sort of monetary award for it.
The plot for "Harry Potter & The Search For Peace" is mine.
The three friends left the Hospital wing with the remaining Weasleys. Madam Pomfrey had given them salves and potions. She had ordered them to take a proper diet and had trusted the Weasley matriarch to ensure so. The Weasley family had been allotted a room by the newly appointed Headmistress Minerva McGonagall and that is where they were heading to.
The room was empty but was soon filled by chairs conjured by Hermione and Ginny. Everyone sat down when Mr Weasley said, "The three of you should sleep. You have been awake for a long time." The three friends looked at each other and shrugged. They had not slept since they had left Shell Cottage. Harry looked at the other two and said, "You both should sleep, I will take the first watch."
"Oh no!" Mr Weasley spoke hastily. He looked pained as he continued, "All three of you need rest. Why don't you three sleep and I take the watch." The friends looked at each other and had a silent conversation. They nodded at Mr Weasley who gave a slight smile. Hermione conjured beds for them and soon they were asleep.
"What have they been through? Wand out at slightest sounds, Unforgivable curses, watch. Oh Arthur…what have these kids seen?" Molly Weasley cried as the others looked pained. Why had it come down to three barely of age children to win the war? Why had they been burdened with the horrors of a war?
The door opened and Ginny's wand was in her hand. Molly Weasley let out a whimper. The war had done more damage than they could imagine. Minerva McGonagall entered the room. She waved her wand and a silver tabby cat shot out of her wand, making Ginny lower her wand.
Professor McGonagall looked at the three sleeping figures and her lips curved into a small smile. Her smile faded as Harry muttered in his sleep, "Don't die, no, come back, don't die." His whimpers increased. Molly made an attempt to go to him but was stopped by Ginny. Molly looked at her daughter who signalled towards Harry.
Ron and Hermione had woken up and were now in Harry's bed – Ron rubbing his palms and Hermione patting his head – both whispering comforting words to him. As the hero of the wizarding world went back to sleep again, Ron and Hermione left his bed.
"This is Pettigrew's fault," Ron muttered angrily. Everyone looked at him and he continued, "He was their friend. How could he lead death to his friends? He must have held Harry, he must have played with him, Harry must have called him Uncle, how could he? Two dead, one in Azkaban, a child orphaned. Didn't he feel guilty? Can you see us betraying Harry, Hermione?" Hermione shook her head, revolted at the thought. "Then how could he?" Ron asked.
Everyone looked pained. The Weasleys remembered the Halloween of 1981, when they had heard that Lord Voldemort had vanished. They had celebrated that night and hadn't thought about the family that had been destroyed. They had celebrated The Boy Who Lived but had forgotten that he was orphaned. Professor McGonagall, on the other hand, remembered mourning for the lost lives. She remembered waiting outside Privet Drive for baby Harry. Her heart ached as she thought about the price of the victory.
Ron looked at Hermione and asked her, "You remember the night we had fought the troll in first year?" Hermione nodded. "It was Halloween, remember? After we went back to the dormitory, Harry asked me why everyone was giving him such weird looks? I had to tell him that it was the day his parents had been killed and he had miraculously defeated Voldemort. He did not know. He had no memory of his parents, no photograph to look at – only people telling him that he looked like his father except that he had his mother's eyes."
"So that is why you and Hermione took the role of his parents," Ginny asked mischievously. There were too many tears for her liking. She had to change that. She chuckled and Ron and Hermione's blank look and used her wand to pour some water on Harry's face. "Ginny," her mother admonished as Harry woke up.
Ginny ignored her mother and asked Harry, "How awkward was it to live with these two?" Harry laughed and said, "Thanks for the reminder. The school year hasn't technically ended, has it? Must tell that to Seamus. We'll need to see who won how much in the bet."
"Bet, what bet?" Ron asked cluelessly. "Well, we had a bet as to when will you both realise your feelings for each other? And who will make the first move? My bet was before the seventh year ended. So, I have technically won it. And I was sure Hermione would make the first move. Since Hermione was the one who initiated the kiss," Harry put a lot of stress on the word kiss, "I have won that one too." He looked at Ginny and dramatically said, "You missed it. It was right after you ran away from the Room of Requirement." Ginny gave a dramatic sigh.
"You bet on us," Hermione asked dangerously. Everyone chuckled. "Does that mean you two are together now?" Professor McGonagall inquired. The two people in question nodded. "Well, thank you for the news, Mr Potter. I must find Pomona; she owes me ten galleons." Saying so, the Professor left the room and room erupted in howls of laughter.