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.
As everyone began discussing the story, they had just heard, Harry felt George sitting next to him, "How was it like? To die?" "Quicker and easier than falling asleep. And he is with the Mauraders, you know. He must be pranking everyone in the afterlife." George chuckled, "True that."
"How much do you want to tell everyone?" Kingsley asked. "Nothing about the Horcrux and Deathly Hallows," Ron answered quickly. Bill nodded, "You can be vague about the Dark Objects. And Deathly Hallows don't come in until you talk about Harry going to the Forest. How will you guys deal with that?"
"We will just tell that I was saved by my mother's sacrifice. I went to the Forest to try and kill Nagini and Voldemort but they got the better of me. Voldemort tried to kill me but I was saved by the protection my mom gave me. I was unconscious. And when I woke up, we were at Hogwarts."
Kingsley nodded, "Anything else." "Yeah. Snape killed Dumbledore on his orders. Severus Snape was always ours, since the moment Voldemort decided to kill my mother. Everyone needs to know this."
"I need to arrange an interview with you three. I will brief the reporters about whatever you have told us. Then, they might want to ask you some questions," Kingsley asked the three friends. They looked at each other, then nodded. "Now I want to ask all six of you a question," Kingsley looked at Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna and Neville. "All of you are of age or going to be of age. Would you like to come back to Hogwarts for your NEWTs or would you be willing to join the Auror Department? Both shall not start before September 1; you need time to recover."
"Mr Longbottom does not need to spend a complete year at Hogwarts. He can work as Professor Sprout's assistant and can pursue his NEWTs at the same time. She is thinking of retirement. And the others can all complete their seventh year as normal," Professor McGonagall offered.
"I will come back," Hermione said almost instantly. Harry and Ron grinned; there was no way Hermione Granger would miss a chance to study.
"I will come back too," Ginny said. Luna too confirmed that she would be returning.
"I will take your offer, Professor," Neville said.
Kingsley looked at all of them, "You six are war heroes. Three of you fought directly against Voldemort and other three led a rebellion here, at Hogwarts. You all…" Kingsley was interrupted by Ginny, "We fought the war because our family and friends were directly involved in it. We are not warriors. We will fight again if the situation arises but in a world without Voldemort, we will fulfil our dreams. Mine is to play Quidditch. If we give up on our dreams, what is the point of winning the war?"
Kingsley nodded. He looked at the two remaining young men who were in a deep discussion. Everyone's attention was focused on them. Ron announced, "We will join the aurors, Minister." "It is what we wanted to do since our fourth year," Harry added. Kingsley smiled at them, "I will arrange for the two of you to meet the Head Auror."
Harry looked at all the reporters present in the Great Hall. He didn't even know Wizarding World had so many newspapers. Kingsley was giving brief details about the happenings of the past year – a combination of what Harry had told him, what had happened at Hogwarts and other places. Harry sat with Ron and Hermione sitting on his either side. He felt uncomfortable.
"Mr Weasley, what do you feel about sharing the platform with Mr Potter and Miss Granger after you left them?" Harry's blood boiled as he heard Rita Skeeter questioning Ron. He spoke before Ron could even open his mouth, "Have you ever shared a room with a Dementor, Miss Skeeter? No? Then you will not understand how it was for us, all of us, living with those Dark Objects – no food, no news of our friends and family and a dementor around our neck. Which bit did you miss? The one where Minister Shacklebolt told you that I asked Ron to leave? Or the one where he said that the only reason Ron couldn't find us was that our protective enchantments were too strong."
Rita Skeeter did not answer but Harry did not like the smile she had on her face. "What kind of creature did you meet on your journey?" Harry looked at the source of the voice. Luna Lovegood was standing, undoubtedly representing Quibbler. "A dragon and a snake," Hermione answered amusingly.
There were some more questions before a lady stood up and asked Harry directly, "Mr Potter, it could be said that you brought the war to Hogwarts. Do you take the blame of all lives that have been lost? Maybe you could have ended the war sooner?" It was like his heart had stopped beating. Hadn't he asked himself the same question? What should he say? But he need not worry. A woman stood up from the audience. She held a baby in her arms and reminded Harry of Bellatrix Lestrange. But she wasn't Bellatrix, she was Andromeda Tonks.
"I have lost my husband, my daughter and my son-in-law in the war, and I am not going to blame a seventeen-year-old kid for it. And I think neither does anyone else. Harry Potter has lost his parents, his Godfather, his friends in this war. I don't think anyone has lost as much as him. And yet he fought for us. And if you really want to know if those lives could have been saved, maybe you should ask yourself why, only a few years back, everyone refused to believe Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore. Why did the Ministry and the then Minister made no efforts to stop You-Know-Who from gaining power? Why did you all print false stories about a fifteen-year-old boy, calling him names?"
The Hall was quiet. Harry could hear his own heartbeat. Everyone looked uncomfortable. Harry could feel Ron trying to contain his laughter.
The silence was broken by Luna Lovegood, "The three of you are representation of the fact that blood supremacy has no meaning. You represent to us friendship, loyalty and trust. Today I shall give you a name, a name which will continue to inspire wizards and witches to choose what is right over what is easy." She paused, looked at the three friends and declared, "Golden Trio."