Chapter 3

Harry stood there getting more nervous with every breath he took. It felt like forever before the door swung open and Harry was standing face to face with Mrs. Weasley.

"Harry, my dear. It's so good to see you!" she said rapping her arms around Harry very tightly as though she was afraid to let go. Harry was too happy to let go. He felt safe and welcomed.

Finally Mrs. Weasley let go and Harry took a good look at her. She hadn't changed much. She still had her motherly smile that Harry loved so much. He had missed her. "It's so good to see you Mrs. Weasley. I've missed all of you very much and I'm just happy to be home" Harry said with a smile.

"Oh Harry!" Mrs. Weasley said tears starting to come to her eyes. Then she realized that there was someone else standing there. Mrs. Weasley looked around Harry and say Julia standing there looking a little out of place. Mrs. Weasley turned to her "Oh my dear you must be Julia. I'm so sorry I haven't introduced myself, I'm Molly Weasley. I'm glad you could come. We've heard so much about you." She said giving Julia a hug. "Thank you for taking care of Harry." She added so only Julia could hear.

"Actually Harry was the one who took care of me." Said Julia looking up at Harry with a grateful smile. She then turned back to Mrs. Weasley, "thank you for inviting me."

"Oh don't think twice about it, we're happy to have you here." Said Mrs. Weasley.

"Well if they're staying shouldn't you at least invite them in. I'm sure Harry and Julia are exhausted from their trip."

Everyone turned to see Mr. Weasley walk into the room. "Harry my boy, welcome home," He said taking Harry's hands and leading him into the living room, Mrs. Weasley and Julia following after.

They all took their seats. Arthur Weasley was about to speak when al l of a sudden...

"Oy Harry! It's about bloody time you got here!" Ron said walking over to Harry.

Harry was so happy to see his friend that he didn't think he could stand. He however didn't have the chance to find out for himself. Ron grabbed Harry from off the couch and flung his arms around his best friend in a big bear hug. Harry noticed that Ron had grown even more. He was much stronger and taller. He definitely wasn't the same scrawny little red headed boy Harry knew all those years ago.

"Hey don't break him before I can say hi." Ron let go of Harry and they turned to see Hermione standing there. Harry didn't think she would be there. All of a sudden Hermione broke into a huge smile and hugged Harry just as hard as Ron had. "Oh Harry I've missed you so much." She broke away from him and he could see that she was crying. "Don't ever leave us again, do you understand?" Hermione said to Harry seriously in that all too familiar Hermione way.

"Hermione you know why I left. I had to. I couldn't just..."

Hermione cut off Harry. "I know Harry. I'm sorry. I just... that is...I was really scared for you. We all were. I'm sorry." She said again.

Harry understood and hugged her again. "I'm sorry too Hermione," he let her go and stood looking at everyone, "I apologize to all of you for leaving. It was hard at first, but thanks to Julia I realized a lot and I can now come to terms with what happened." He looked to Julia and took her hand.

"Oh dear!" Ron looked to Julia, "I'm so sorry, we completely forgot you were here." Said Ron.

"Smooth Ron," said Hermione stepping towards Julia, "Hi I'm Hermione and that prat is Ron. Don't mind him he's not very good with words. Anyway, I'm really happy to meet you. Harry has written a lot about you." She said extending her hand to Julia.

"Thank you. I feel like I know everything about you from what Harry has told me." She said now extending her hand to a very embarrassed Ron. "Don't worry Ron I won't hold what you said against you. I know you were too excited to have your best friend back." She smiled at Ron who smiled back.

"Well then I'm starved. Shall we head to the dining room to eat?" Mr. Weasley said placing a hand on Harry and Julia's shoulders.

"Definitely. I've been waiting years to eat Mrs. Weasley's famous cooking." Harry said looking at a blushing Mrs. Weasley as they sat down to a huge feast.

Harry was lying in bed staring up at the ceiling. He couldn't sleep. He wasn't having a nightmare this time, he was just too happy to be home. Home. Such simple words, but they held so much meaning. Harry had never really had a home. Well except the Burrow and Hogwarts. The only two places he felt comfortable. After school had finished he was right in the middle of the war and after the war he was traveling around the world trying to make up for what Voldemort did. What Harry did. He knew he wasn't the one who actually killed and caused so much pain, but he felt that he had a hand in what happened. After all, wasn't Voldemort after him more then anyone else? The ministry and many others thought it would be best to protect Harry by hiding him in a safe place.

However, when this only increased Voldemorts anger and he started attacking ten times more, the ministry finally gave in to Harry's request to go after Voldemort. Harry shivered at the thought. He should have known that Ron and Hermione would follow him. No matter how hard Harry had protested, they were determined to finish Voldemort together. To this day Harry doesn't quite remember what exactly happened. It was probably a good thing. However, Harry did remember bits and pieces of images of that night. From what he gathered and from what Ron and Hermione said there was a lot of fighting and yelling. Voldemort pointing his wand at Ron and Hermione. Bright lights. Voldemort screaming in pain. Harry on the ground covered in blood. Hermione and Ron unconscious on the floor. Voldemort bursting into ashes. Then blackness. That's it. No matter how hard any of them tried, they couldn't figure out what exactly happened.

After Harry woke up in the hospital, it was as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders only to be replaced by an even bigger one. He felt responsible for all the death while he was in hiding. Even though he was trying to get free. That was why he left. He had to help others. Therefore, he set out as soon as he was well enough even though everyone tried to stop him. In the end however they understood why and accepted it.

It was the hardest thing he ever had to do. To leave everything and everyone behind and to do on to unknown places by himself. Then he met Julia. She had helped him through so much. They traveled together seeing all the chaos all the misery but also all the hope. It amazed him still to see the look in all those eyes at first he couldn't figure it out. Then one day looking for survivors in a little town west of Rome, he had found a little girl, he cloths were in rags and she was covered in mud, but she looked up at Harry and smiled. She had lost her entire family to Death Eaters, but she had survived and that look that she gave him meant that she had hope that everything would work out. After that moment, Harry had a whole new outlook on life. He slowly started to realize that he was not responsible for what happened and little by little the weight was leaving him.

He had to thank Julia for most of that. She had suffered so much also, but she put her feelings aside and helped others. She was a caring person and Harry loved being with her. They became very good friends. Although she was no substitute for Ron or Hermione, she had become part of his family. He was happy that she decided to come home with him. He knew it would be hard considering she lost everyone she loved. That was something he understood. He wished he had known his parents, but at least Voldemort was gone now.

Harry turned around and faced Ron sleeping at the other side of the room. He was so lucky to have friends like Ron and Hermione. He had missed them so much while away. They kept in touch but it wasn't the same. All their lives they faced danger, but it was finally over, life could finally get back on track. Harry had decided that after the holidays he and Julia would continue their travels, but only for a little while. They were both anxious to settle down and start living their lives.

As all these thoughts of a life after the war swept through Harry's head, he slowly started to close his eyes and finally fell asleep.