Disclaimer: I own no part of Harry Potter or its associated canon nor, any other already copyrighted material.

(A/N): Finally, another chapter. As asked: there will probably be 4-5 chapters after this one. Also: over 200,000 words and in excess of 30,000 hits on the story. Never thought I'd get there.

Chapter 40

Mending and Binding

All in all, the Creeveys were taking it rather well. Though being muggles and thus not really understanding who he was, Harry had managed to convey just how heroic a cause their son had died for. The last of the seven families Harry had decided to meat with personally to explain the circumstances under which their children had been taken; they had so far showed the most acceptance at the passage. Harry didn't really have any words of comfort to give them or amusing stories to tell, he could only relate how brave their son had been in facing his final hour. Colin's mother had shouted for a few moments and his father had just looked distraught. In the end they leaned together, crying softly. The fact Dennis had survived was their one source of relief.

Harry stood slowly. "And remember…if you ever need anything…just write." Colin's mother nodded as his father spoke.

"Thank you Mr. Potter."

"Thank you." Turning away he slipped out the door to give them some peace. Dennis had finally broken down when his parents had arrived and was currently getting some much needed sleep in the medical ward where he had nearly worked himself to death. Harry let out a deep breath of relief at having finally finished the personal visitations. He had wanted to meet the families that remained, explain what had happened, but that desire had not made the meetings themselves any easier.

As Harry strode down the blessedly empty hallway, he again felt the fear that his life was going to become an endless series of meetings. In the two days since leaving the medical ward, he had had only a few spare moments to himself and would have only a few more before the funeral three days away. Turning a corner he released another deep breath and glanced out the window. The sun was beginning its trek down to the horizon in the mid afternoon.

Another night of parties would soon stretch across the wizarding world. Everywhere the news of Tom's downfall, permanently this time, was a source for celebration not seen since the end of the last war. Harry had received an express letter from the twins just this morning begging for a bit more investment capital so they could quickly close the deal on a secondary shop in Ireland and have it selling by tomorrow. He had, of course, agreed without reservation. It was money well invested in his mind. Besides, anything he could do to help people celebrate was a good idea to him.

Within the school though the celebration was tempered by the knowledge there were seven students they would never see again. Seven young witches and wizards that would never again eat in the Great Hall, never laugh in the common room and never finish school. Fortunately, to counter that were those who lived and the stories they told, and would likely tell until they died, of the great battle they had fought and how they had won by only the smallest margin. Many of them were now seen as heroes amongst the other students, including Neville, who had apparently finally earned the respect he so desperately craved from his grandmother.

The students would close ranks and the pain would pass. The funeral would help greatly with that. But for now the halls were as likely to see third years jumping for joy at having a week off and celebrating as a sixth year solemnly remembering their departed classmate. Harry shared a smile with the first and a quiet nod with the second whenever he met them. As he made his way through the halls this afternoon though, he ran across neither. He walked with point and purpose, once again on a mission, this time to help the healing of two very specific people. This meeting he had flipped back and forth on a dozen times, but finally decided he needed it for his own personal closure, even if they didn't.

Passing out through a doorway onto the sunlit wall walk facing the western horizon, he squinted a little against the light. With a nod the Auror waiting there turned from his post and headed back the way Harry had just come. One other person was present on the wall as Harry slowed his walk across it. Dressed in black robes the man leaned against the wall's edge, staring out over the grounds, his hand unconsciously moving to his left arm every few seconds. His eyes slowly scanned the blackened battlefield; mostly clear save a few craters and scorched earth. Turning around and leaning back against the wall himself, Harry spoke.

"Hello Draco." Malfoy's head whipped firmly to the side to stare at him for a moment before sliding slowly back to the field.

"What do you want Potter?" For once a little of his old heat rose in the platinum blonde's voice.

"Came to see how you were doing."

"Oh…the great Harry Potter deigns to check on the little people?" Harry ignored the tone. He had no reason to fight Malfoy right now and no desire to either. He waited a moment before speaking again.

"So…how's your arm?"

"How's…my arm? How's my arm? You want to know how my arm is?" He suddenly pushed away from the wall and shuffled back his left sleeve to reveal a freshly replaced arm, a little paler than the rest of his already pale body. Harry noticed the forearm was missing the Dark Mark. "It's fine. After your little Weaselette girlfriend cut it off!" He lowered it and let the sleeve fall back into place.

"And for that I'm sorry. She was trying to protect me." Draco rolled his eyes back and returned to the position against the wall.

"Anyhting else?" Harry hesitated for a moment.

"Yeah actually. I wanted to say thank you. I couldn't have beaten Voldemort without your help." Draco's head slowly turned back, his eyes showing slight surprise.

"The least I could do." His eyes floated back to the woods.

"Because of your parents?" Again Draco's head whipped to the side.

"How did you…?"

"Voldemort told me…before I killed him." It was technically the truth and there was nothing to gain by explaining to Malfoy.

"Oh. Well…good for him." He fell silent again and Harry waited. After a moment of his continued presence, Draco spoke. "What?"

"There's…someone else I believe would like to see you. Would you come with me?" Harry could see him visibly debate the idea with himself, trying to figure out what his rival was up to. Eventually he pushed away from the wall and nodded.

"Why not? I've got nothing else to lose at this point." After only a second's hesitation he followed as Harry turned and headed back into the castle. They walked in silence for several minutes, Harry leading, Draco close behind and his Auror minder trailing at a distance. When finally they reached another of the many nondescript doors in a random corridor, Harry slowed and raised his hand..

"Wait here for just a moment." Turning away from Malfoy's slightly annoyed look, Harry knocked on the door and waited a moment for an affirmative response before pushing it open and stepping in. Closing the door behind him, he turned to face the sole occupant of the room, who rose as his presence. Pansy was dressed in the green robes of her house as she stood before him, touches of awe at the corner of her eyes. "Hello." She took a moment before speaking slowly and gesturing to the window.

"I…I saw the battle. I…how did you…?"

"Luck and skill. And lots of practice. Thank you by the way for the anti-venom. It saved my life." She nodded slowly in response.

"The least I could do to free Draco of that madman."

"Yes. He is free. For now. Speaking of which…" Harry pulled the door open again. "Come in please." Draco strode impatiently through the door…and stopped dead when his eyes fell on Pansy. Harry quietly closed the door and stepped back into the corner. Draco took a couple tentative steps toward her, unsure he was really seeing what he saw.

"They…they told me you were dead." She shook her head slowly, a similar look of disbelief in her eyes.

"No…I…I ran away." They stared at each other for a long moment before rushing together in a restrained embrace, whispering speedily to between themselves. Harry glanced away, leaving the couple in what peace he could while still in the room. After several moments he heard the whispers stop and risked a glance up. He found them broken apart, his arm around her shoulder, waiting. Another person might have thanked Harry for reuniting them. Malfoy was not another person.

"And the reason you're still here?" Harry nearly grinned to himself; some things never changed.

"Right…Miss Parkinson's actions saved my life and you helped me win. For those acts I owe you both. So…by way reparations, I've spoken with acting Minister Fudge and the new head of Magical Law Enforcement, Arthur Weasley. First…Draco. If you were to face the Wizengamot right now you would be tried…and convicted of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, being a Death Eater and a whole host of other crimes. Pansy…you'd be convicted of being a Death Eater at least; possibly other crimes. Both of you would likely be sentenced to life in Azkaban, more for Draco." Pansy looked utterly distraught while Draco looked half broken. He still managed to speak with a sneer in his voice though.

"So you came here to read us the charges Potter?"

"No. I came here to tell you that, if you both confess, and I mean a full confession, names, dates, everything you did, plus my request, you Draco could be out in two years, and you Pansy could be out in two weeks." Both of them stared at him, stunned. Both Arthur and Fudge had viciously fought not to offer either of them this reprieve, especially Draco, but he had lost almost as much to Tom's machinations as Harry had and he wanted to give the last Malfoy one last shot at redemption. Harry had stood firm though and in the end they had had little choice but to concede.

"Why would you do that?" Pansy was the first to speak as Draco was still too stunned.

"Because everyone deserves a second chance. Draco…you were marked by Voldemort as one of his followers. That mark was removed, your own personal clean slate. Now you're free to do as you wish without your family pressuring you or the expectations of your master's father to live up to. If you'd rather spend from here to your death in Azkaban, that's fine. But at least think about it. I'll leave you two alone to talk it over. Let the Aurors outside know when you're ready to go back to your room." With a last nod Harry headed out the door and pulled it shut behind him. "Give them as much time as they want…and let me know what they decide." Both of the minders nodded as he headed back down the hall, a slight weight of his shoulders.

Climbing back up through the castle Thursday afternoon, after yet another meeting, this time with the staff, Harry headed for the Heads' room and some desperately desired peace and quiet. Also up there was Ginny, someone he had seen far too little of the last few days. Reaching the portrait hole with blessedly few interruptions, he spoke the password and entered wearily. Looking around and finding no one else present, he crashed to the couch and let his head fall back, thankful to be able to relax. He only had a few moments of peace thought before a loud pop brought his head back up to focus on a small cake hovering in mid air before him.

Okay…that was odd. Cakes generally don't just appear out of thin air with a pop. As his eyes pulled back he found the reason. Dobby was standing before him and carrying the cake over his head. A moment later the elf set it aside. "Hey Dobby. What's with the cake?"

"Master Harry, dobby thought you might want to celebrate the death of…V…V…"

"You can say his name." Dobby did, in a whisper.

"Voldemort." Harry smiled a little and nodded.

"Oh…thank you. Cake actually does sound kind of good right now." Harry pulled it a little closer and looked over the decoration. Dobby was definitely getting better at it.

"Also…Kreacher is dead."

"Oh, okay." It took a moment for what Dobby had said to really sink in. When it finally did Harry's head whipped from the cake to the elf. "Wait…what?"

"Last night sir…in his sleep. Kreacher…died." Harry blinked a couple of time, unable to summon any other response to the information. "It is very sad."

"Uh…yeah…terrible. Thanks…for letting me know Dobby."

"Certainly sir." He hesitated a moment before continuing. "If…if you want…Dobby can bury him for you sir."

"Oh…uh…yeah. Thanks."

"Of course sir." After a few more moments the elf remained and Harry glanced around before again settling his gaze on the elf.

"Was…was their something else?" After a hesitant moment, the elf nodded affirmative.

"Yes sir. It's just…Dobby gathered from Kreacher that you own a house. A rather large one that formerly belonged to the Blacks?" Harry had no idea why the now deceased elf had mentioned this, but nodded in confirmation none the less. "Dobby also believes that with Kreacher dead the house no longer has a resident elf…correct?" Harry nodded again, the first inkling of where this was leading tickling the back of his mind. "Then…Master Harry…Dobby would like to take his place." Harry blinked a few more times. "And Winky too if Master Harry will allow." Harry was too stunned to reply for several moments.

"Uh…you two…want to leave Hogwarts…and come work at my house?"

"Yes sir. With pay of course." All Harry could do for several moments was stare at the creature waiting patiently in front of him. It was a large house and with Mrs. Weasley returning to her own home, he would be hard pressed to keep it anywhere close to clean. On the other hand, did he really want Dobby and Winky loose in his home? Harry debated with himself for several more moments while Dobby waited.

"Um…well…okay. After the school year is over though, right?" Dobby nodded enthusiastically as he shook Harry's hand, nearly snapping his wrist.

"Thank you sir! You won't regret this! Winky will be so happy! Dobby must tell her!" A second later the elf disappeared with another pop leaving Harry alone with the cake and a horrible thought. He now, for all intents and purposes, owned a pair of house elves. Hermione was going to kill him.

But, his mind reasoned, he was paying them. So technically they were employees and that made it okay…right? Before he could mentally debate the possibility any longer, Hermione herself appeared through the portrait hole, followed by Ron and Ginny. With waves for greeting they joined him on the couches, Ron and Hermione on one and Ginny crashing down beside him. "Afternoon. So…where were you?" His gaze switched from one to the other, including them all in the question. Hermione was the first to respond, a tinge of annoyance in her voice.

"I was meeting with a couple Ministry officials. At first I thought they were offering me a position or something, but then I realized they were just trying to figure out what I knew about Voldemort that you wouldn't tell them. It certainly took them long enough to realize I wasn't going to tell them." Harry half grinned to himself, thinking how foolish anyone that tried to pry information out of Hermione would have to be. Ron seemed to think the same as he listened before offering his own story with just a hint of a blush in his cheeks.

"I was…uh…talking to Minister Fudge. He wanted a bit more information on how I planned the school's defense." Harry nodded in response.

"And a good job you did at it to. Anything specific he wanted to know?"

"Mostly how we managed to organize four separate reinforcement groups to help without anyone finding out. I just pointed out that after the attack on the Ministry, they other things to concentrate on. And then he headed of to Fred and George's to order more shield hats."

"They must be doing incredible amounts of business right now."

"Yeah. I heard a rumor they were opening a second store in Dublin…yesterday I think."

"I heard that too…" Harry did his best to control the small smile fighting to form on his lips and instead turned to Ginny. "And where were you?" Her face was rather solemn in contrast to her brother's. She hesitated for a moment before answering.

"I was…talking to Dennis." That sobered the other three up in heartbeat and her eyes became unfocused as she thought about the experience. "He…he hasn't been sleeping well. He closes his eyes and all he can see is…"

"The battle." Harry's eyes swiveled over to Ron as he finished his sister's sentence. He and Hermione shared a significant look. Apparently they had talked about this already. "I see it too."

"So do I," Hermione agreed. Ginny just nodded as they all turned to look at Harry. He hesitated for a moment before shaking his head a little.

"I don't…not much anyway." They glanced at each other for a moment before returning their eyes to him. "It's not that I don't have the memories or that I don't think it was horrible. It's just that…I've been dealing with this kind of stuff since fourth year. Sadly…I've almost grown used to it." Their glances changed from surprise to concern as he spoke, each of them realizing just how much death and destruction he had personally witnessed that they had missed. "It gets better. Eventually." There wasn't much comfort in his voice, but he knew from experience little he could say would matter "There's going to be a lot more students that can see the Thestrals this year." They each nodded solemnly, alone for the moment with their memories.

The sun shone brightly overhead just past its apogee as Harry took his seat amongst the dozens of white folding chairs that various members of the staff had summoned into existence just a few minutes earlier. He had been granted a place of honor in the fourth row with Hermione, Ron and Ginny just behind the families of the fallen. With and behind them sat the Aurors, the minister, staff, the former Durmstrang and Beuaxbatons students and DA, all of them, like Harry, in their best dress robes. Many more ministry employees, families and the rest of the students sat behind them, the earliest years near the back just in front of Hagrid and Maxine.

Glancing off to his left, Harry could just make out the white tomb of Dumbledore across the still scarred ground. Light rain had managed to bring some life back into the grass and the earth there was slowly healing itself. Much like the school. Today would go a long way toward helping with that. His eyes slowly drifted back to the scene ahead of him and the lines of freshly placed headstones, each carved in white granite, each bearing the name of a hero who had given their life for the defeat of Tom Riddle. As the back was one large space where Grawp now rested after his long fight, A couple had no body beneath them as their families had decided on burial elsewhere. The rest however would lie forever beneath the ground their deaths had consecrated.

The rows of seats were filled quickly by the various people who had arrived, a low hum of conversation hanging over the mass awaiting the first person that would rise to stand at the simple white podium that stood between them and the newly filled section of the school cemetery. Harry glanced around and noticed even the house elves had arrived to pay their last respects. Looking the other way he found the centaurs and Witherwings striding slowly from the forest and standing at a respectful distance. A number of Aurors had also chosen to stand at the same distance, apparently wary that the remaining Death Eaters might try something. Harry could feel his wand within his robes, also in case the Death Eaters tried something.

Ginny and Hermione fell in on either side of him, each greeting him with a smile and Ginny lightly rested her hand on his, a move copied by Hermione when Ron arrived a second later. After a lingering glance to his girlfriend, Harry's eyes swept back up to the stand. It was a few more minutes until the crowd quieted as one and every head turned to the center aisle where Headmistress McGonagall was taking slow strides toward the stand and sharing consoling glances with various people amongst the mass. A more resolved glance was shared with Harry as she passed and stopped to speak to a few of the family members. A few moments later though, she reached the podium and looked out over the assembled mourners, a hint of anxiety in her eyes.

Harry knew she was still trying to figure out what to say. Dumbledore always seemed to know just the words for every occasion, even the death of Cedric had betrayed his keen ability to comfort, reassure and strengthen with just a correctly turned phrase or a well placed idiom. As she had said herself though, she was not Dumbledore. But she would do what she could in his stead. Her wand touched her throat and Harry could just make out the magnified inhalation of breath. Everyone's focus sharpened and all eyes locked on her. It was a position Harry had been in many times and didn't envy her the job.

"It's never easy to lose a student…" She let that hang for a moment, still building the rest of the speech. "Or a child, a parent, a brother," she glanced at Dennis and Hagrid at this point, "a friend or a classmate. To lose all of them at once and so many more besides is more than any one person can bear. Fortunately we are not just one person, we are many. We are not four houses, but one school, not a hundred witches and wizards, but one magical community that will stand united and survive. And in that is our strength. Together we will overcome the grief, just as we overcame the darkness that assailed this castle, and the world, a week ago." She let the words hang in the air for several moments. Harry glanced around and noticed many finding some sort of comfort from McGonagall's words.

"And that battle is the reason we stand here today. For even though we emerged victorious against those who tried to destroy us, it was not without cost." She gestured to the stones behind her. "These brave souls gave their lives in that battle that others might survive. They offered up their very being in the greatest sacrifice anyone can make for another. Some were not even done with school and yet they understood that they were making a necessary contribution to the survival of their classmates. That's not likely to comfort any of you much right now, but I promise you, in time, when the pain of lose begins to fade, you will always have the memory of the bravery of those we've lost." She looked around and drew another breath, constructing the final part of her speech.

"So remember them, those friends, family, classmates and co-workers. Honor their sacrifice and never forget what these witches and wizards…these heroes have done." She waited a moment before gesturing into the crowd. "Mr. Shacklebolt? If you would?" Kingsley rose as her request, clutching a scroll in his hand. He stepped lightly forward and unrolled the parchment. "Kingsley Shacklebolt will now read the names of the fallen that we might remember them." She stopped the charm on her own voice as he cast it at himself.

"Hannah Abbot." His voice sounded over the gathered mourners in the same soft, clear tones it always did, vocally memorializing the dead. After waiting a slow count of five seconds, he spoke again. "Matthew Ansen." One by one he went through the names, forty-two in all, each time pausing for silent reflection. Harry cut his eyes around each time a name was spoken, seeing how the survivors were taking it. And how his friends were taking it. Ginny was now gripping his arm tightly and he could feel the pain from her at each member of the DA that he felt in his own heart. So many had died to rid the world of Tom Riddle. But now it was over.

After the names had been read, Minister Fudge rose and made his speech. For once Harry was impressed by the man as it contained not the usual false bravado and rhetoric he had always heard from the Minister during his last tenure, but honest emotion and his best attempt at consolation for the survivors. Harry had told him during one of their meetings how his successor and predecessor had died at the hands of Rabastan Lestrange. It had given the man a strange sense of purpose and a goal. He was now, in his life, trying to match the ability Scrimgeour had demonstrated in death. The fallen Minister was one of the few not being buried in the school. He had instead been taken to his family's plot outside London, though a headstone stood for him none the less.

The Death Eaters that had fallen were either being buried in family plots, or, in quite a few cases, being given secret burials in muggle cemeteries. Many families hadn't wanted to claim the body of a known Death Eater and even more had had no one to claim them. A good number of bloodlines had been ended that night and there were a few families that would now disappear from the patchwork of the magical community forever. Harry wondered for a moment what would become of their estates. He shook the thought off though as the Minister stepped away to be replaced by Madam Maxine. After her came Kingsley once again.

One by one everyone who wished to speak was given the chance. Some shared memories of those they had lost, some regrets they hadn't gotten to know them better. Attentions never waved and all were allowed whatever time they needed. Some spoke strong and forcefully throughout, some broke down and were helped back to their seats, unable to continue. The sun neared the horizon when the last speaker finally finished and was replaced by Headmistress McGonagall. By the time she rose again Harry was brushing away tears, both his and Ginny's, exorcising the demons that haunted their minds. At the Headmistress's gesture, all stood and faced the headstones. She turned as well and bowed her head, a move each of them copied.

"Brave heroes, we now commend you to eternal slumber. May you forever rest in peace within the ground you died to protect." After a final moment's silence, heads were raised and hearts lightened. Bit by bit the crowd broke apart and drifted to different places. Many went to find the headstone of their friend or family member while others headed back to the castle to rest. The house elves joined the latter group, still needing to prepare dinner. After a bow, the centaurs and Witherwings returned to the forest and disappeared amongst its shadows. After speaking with a few people, Harry led the others in the slow trudge around the walls to enter the castle and escape the sight of all the fallen. He would visit them again…later.

Climbing the last set of steps to the landing where Ron and Hermione's room was located, Harry stepped off to the side and gestured for them to go on as he turned around to lean on the railing and look out through the window that made up much of the wall on the other side of the stairwell. Ron and Hermione passed through the portrait while Ginny stayed behind and leaned next to him. She waited several moments before speaking.

"So…you okay?"

"Yeah. You?"

"I will be." The fell into silence again, each lost in their own thoughts. Eventually Harry turned around and leaned back against the railing, staring blankly at the portrait that covered the door to the Heads' room. After seeing nothing for a few moments, Harry became aware Ginny had also turned around and was now leaning against his shoulder, holding his arm rather tightly. "So…Tom is definitely gone? And so are all the Horcrux?" Harry was surprised she, of all people, was asking, but he nodded anyway.

"Yeah. Forever. Why?" He almost thought he saw a little grin play over her lips, but her head rolled forward and a curtain of red hair covered most of her face.

"Well…I was just thinking…" She paused for a moment and Harry could tell by her tone there was a mischievous light in her eyes, even if he couldn't see them. "We've still got two whole days before classes start up again…and you're sure you won't need the blood of an innocent anymore…so I thought maybe…" She let the sentence dangle unfinished, taking a little pinch of pleasure in doing so. Harry's mouth was suddenly very dry as he realized just what she was implying. His lips worked soundlessly, unable to produce and answer. With all that had been happening the last few days, the realization that they could finally be together had had yet to form in his overtaxed mind.

For better or worse Ron chose that moment to barrel out of the portrait hole and make a bee line for Harry with a panicked look in his eye. Harry took a couple steps to the side, not entirely sure just what Ron was on about. His friend stepped right up to him and grabbed his shoulders. "We need to talk!"

"Uh…sure Ron…whatever you say."

"Now!" He glanced around and noticed Ginny standing there. "Somewhere else!" Grabbing Harry's arm, he half drug him down the hall and around the corner. The last thing Harry saw before she disappeared from sight was an incredibly sensuous look that he was sure Ron would kill him for if he knew. A good distance around the corner Ron glanced around huntedly and, finding no one, stopped. Harry found himself suddenly free and his friend looking even more screwed up.

"Hey…Ron. If this is about Ginny…"

"I…I think…" He stopped for a moment before staring again in a strangled voice. "I think…I think I just proposed to Hermione. And I think she accepted." It took Harry a good long minute to fully process what Ron had just said, all the time his friend growing twitchier and twitchier. Harry wasn't entirely sure exactly what to say, so he asked the first thing that came to his mind.

"You…think?" Ron nodded vigorously, apparently gaining some stability from Harry having understood what he just said. "Okay…let's try this one more time…from the top. You two went into you room and then…?"

"Right…right …I… Well…at the funeral I realized just how much it would hurt if I lost her and I didn't want to spend any more time away from her then I had to."

"Okay…"

"And I told her that…then something about how she was the most important person in the world to me and how much I loved her…and then…"

"Go on…"

"I…Iaskedherifshewoulddomethehonorofbeingmywife." Harry slowed down the last gasped sentence in his mnd and worked out what Ron had said.

"Okay. To which she responed?"

"She said she would love to."

"Well…congratulations…but I'm still not seeing the problem here. Other than telling your mum I suppose…"

"But then she looked around and asked where her ring was. Why does she want a ring?" There was an almost absurd edge of desperation in Ron's voice at the question as if asking a mystery of the universe. Harry bit his tongue to force himself not to laugh. As much time as Ron had spent around him and Hermione, there were still some things he was clueless about when it came to muggles. A lot of things actually,

"It's a muggle custom Ron. You get engaged, you give her a ring. Hence the term Engagement Ring." Recognition slowly, painfully slowly, dawned on Ron's face, followed a second later by a tremendous fall.

"But…how am I going to afford a ring?" His eyes then again widened in shock. "My mum? Merlin! How am I going to tell her!" Harry put a hand on his friend's shoulder and tried to lead him back toward his room.

"Don't worry about it. We'll figure something out."

(A/N): If you feel it is warranted feel free to review. I welcome any and all opinions.