This story started out like any other before it, with a promise of something good. I like this story very much, because it is completely different from my other stories. This is a story of what I would think what might happen after the end of Voldemort.

Warning: I started this story before I read the sixth book. So in here, Draco became a spy for the Order and joined the good side, before the end of Voldemort and helped bring him down.

Sorry about the wait guys, but I just wasn't happy with this chapter. So I kept rereading, and rewriting. I'm still not too sure about it. Please tell me if it work, or doesn't. Maybe you guys and gals could give me some feedback, I know I sure could use it.

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Chapter seven:
Reminiscing

Hermione fell back into a seated position in the middle of a field. "I'm sorry," she whispered, when she heard someone come up behind her.

Turning her head, she found Harry standing there. He looked ill and just a little afraid. "I'm sorry," she said again. She lifted a hand to wipe at her tears. "It- it's just that I'm so happy you came back." Her shoulder shook from a sob. Burring her face into the crook of her arm, she hid her tears.

She felt an arm slip across her shoulders and she was soon pulled into a comforting hug. "I'm sorry I ran away 'Mione," he whispered. "And I'm sorry I never returned your letters, and hid from all of you.

She shook her head, as if to argue, but he cut her off.

"I was afraid to come back. I was afraid that you couldn't forgive me, for what I did," he said carefully.

Hermione lifted her head then to look at him. "Why would you think that, Harry," she asked. After a moment of silence, she added softly, "I felt the same way. A part of me hoped you wouldn't come back, because I was afraid you wouldn't forgive us, forgive me. For the way we treated you after, after-"

Harry brushed a loose strand of hair from her face and sighed. "I traveled the world," he said, taking her mind off her guilt. "I went from city to city, to continent to continent. After two years of that, I finally found a place to settle down in.

"I built my own store, got myself an apartment."

Hermione wiped the last of her tears away.

"I met a lot of people, helped who I could and fought Death Eaters who were still loyal to Voldemort," he paused here, his eyes lifting to the dark sky overhead. "I settled down in Tokyo, Japan. I don't know why, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

"I fixed up this old place, and set up the Merlin's Beard in the heart of Tokyo. You'll be surprised with how many muggles come in and shop."

He smiled now, thinking back on all that he had been through recently. "I met a wonderful person, while I was there. Her name is Usagi; I brought her here with me. She's really nice, and fun to be around.

"We have a lot in common, a huge weight on our shoulders, and a large family. I got to meet hers on our second date, so I brought her to meet mine."

Hermione nodded. Her eyes were closed, but he knew she was listening. She had always been there for him, when he needed someone to listen.

"Ready to join the others?" he asked at last.

Opening her eyes, she looked up at him. "Yea."

----

Usagi tore her eyes away from the door, after it slammed behind Harry. The group before her looked transfixed. Maybe even disbelieving. But to them, Harry might as well have been a ghost. She just looked so sad, Usagi wondered to herself. Hermione had missed Harry much more than the other who stood in this room.

Feeling eyes upon her, Usagi turned her gaze back to the door, where the young man, who had came in with Hermione, stood. He appeared to be her age, with his white hair slicked back and his cool gray eyes eyed her with suspicion. She wanted to introduce herself to him, but breaking the silence that filled the dinning room, felt like it would have been a sin.

No one at the table seemed to notice the scowl he focused solely upon her, an expression that came too easily onto his features. "Is anyone else confused about Harry's return," Ron questioned suddenly. She vaguely remembered Harry telling her his name earlier. It was hard to sort all the red haired male's names, more so with the twins.

"Ron," Ginny gasped, appalled by her brother's question. But it was obvious everyone at the table had the exact same thoughts. And it was then, that they all turned the questionable gazes to her. "How was it that you two met dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked, shattering the welcoming silence once more. Usagi shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Well," she began, her eyes darting for the door, in hopes that it would open. It didn't. So she opted to tell the truth.

"He helped me out," She explained, and seeing the curious stares, continued. "My fiancé and I were having a fight, and James- I mean- Harry came to my rescue."

The door opened then, and both Harry and Hermione entered the house. Harry closed the door behind them and led the dark haired woman into the dinning room. Usagi felt the tension that had risen when Hermione had arrived, lessoned then. Harry looked at her, when he entered the room. His smile was small, but sweat, and she returned it.

Maybe this wont be so bad after all, she thought to herself.

----

They wanted to know about everything. Their questions were like a firing squad, not giving him a room in edge wise, they came at him one after another. Sometimes even all at once. Where had he been? What had he been doing with his life? Why didn't he return their letters?

Harry sat there looking from one friend to the other. The last time he had seen them, they all had been about seventeen years old, preparing themselves for the ultimate fight that lay just ahead of them.

When Usagi laid her hand on top of his, Harry felt the pressure, of his returning home, lift from his shoulders. He felt her squeeze his hand and when he looked at her, saw the reassuring smile she gave him as well. She was trying to send him her strength. He'd been somewhat of a recluse for the past four years. Having to climb back out of his shell was much more difficult now then when he had been eleven.

He suddenly felt grateful for her coming along with him. Without her, he may have lost his nerve. Harry returned her smile, his hand tightening its hold on hers.

The moment was broken, though, when the room fell into an uncomfortable silence. Startled by the sudden drop in noise, Harry turned to look at his friends.

Their stare didn't appear expectant, like he thought it would be with all the questions they had asked, but in fact, their gazes seemed more curious. Harry glanced back at Usagi, to see that her gaze had dropped to the plate before her.

"For the first couple of years, I spent it traveling," he said while turning his focus back to his friends. "I went the States, Australia, Greenland, Africa, Japan, China, and Asia."

Looking at Hermione, he added, "I couldn't seem to stay in one place for too long.

"But I ended up returning to Japan, all because of this little shop I stumbled upon in downtown Tokyo," he explained. His smile was rueful as he thought of it. "It wasn't in great shape, but it was salvageable. So I bought it, and made it into the Merlin's Beard."

"The Merlin's Beard?" Ron asked. "What kind of shop is it?" He'd stopped to take another bit of his meal, and stared at Harry curiously.

Harry pulled his hand free from Usagi's then, and with a flourish movement of his hands, told the group before him, about his store. "I sell Spells, and magical books, and charms. Stuff like that. Nothing dangerous, mind you, but interesting. Business is doing pretty good."

"I'm proud of you Harry," Luna said, speaking up for the first time since Hermione and Draco's arrival. "You seem to be doing just fine on your own." Her smile was true, and the compliment she gave him, eased him on the inside.

Mrs. Weasley handed the potatoes over to Mr. Weasley, as she added, "Your little friend here says you helped her out. It's good to hear your manners are still intact."

Harry flushed at Mrs. Weasley words. "Thanks," he replied. He looked back over at Usagi. She had somehow managed to clean her plate without him realizing it. At the moment though, she was eying the last roll with suspicious intentions. With a small smirk, he took the roll from the bowl, before she could make a grab for it.

He then went to work on buttering both sides of the roll. Usagi pouted next to him, her eyes staring longingly at the roll he held in his hand. With a small shake of his head, he tore off one half and handed it over to her.

The questions started again, but at least much slower this time. He gladly answered them, telling them as much as he could about what had happened to him in the past four years.

"When did you get married," he managed to slip in after Ginny had asked him again about Usagi. The young red haired woman flushed, before she looked down at the ring on her finger. "About a year now," she replied with a small smile.

Neville reached over to clasp her hand with his. "Ten months, two weeks, and three days, actually," he added quickly. The smile Ginny sent him, sent heat to his already flushed face. "Did Remus add in the letter, that," he hesitated, his eyes dropping to the obvious swell in Ginny abdomen.

Ginny touched her belly, her smile filled with such love, that it made Harry ache. "We weren't ready, we'd planned to wait for at least a year," she said with a sigh. "But we're going to have a boy."

Harry felt the distinctive sting at the back of his eyes. He willed the tears away, forcing his emotions back some. "Congratulations," Harry whispered hoarsely.

Before anyone could ask him another question, he threw a few out towards the older Weasley brothers. The twins were doing well, their joke shop still a huge hit.

Ron was evasive on his part of the story thought. Luna ended up having to answer Harry's curious questions. After graduating from Hogwarts, the two of them had seemed to come to a truce, and formed something close to a friendship. It hadn't been until recently, that they had started dating. Luna admitted that she'd liked Ron for a while, and vise versa, and Ron had been too proud to ask her out. Ron disagreed with her statement though.

Harry enjoyed their stories. He listened carefully and very closely.

It wasn't until about midnight, before Mrs. Weasley called for an end. With the Weasley's help, her sons and herself cleared the table. Harry was instructed to set up a bed for Usagi in Ron's old room. Apparently, they were staying the night there.

"I like your friends Harry," Usagi murmured sleepily. They were stretched out on their own beds, on the opposites sides of the room. Everyone had already gone, leaving the house in total silence. Especially after Mr. and Mrs. Weasley went to bed.

"Thanks for coming Usagi," he said in return. He rolled over onto to his side, so that he could just barely make her out in the darkness. "Well I'm glad you invited me," she said with a sigh.

Usagi shifted on the bed, till she lay on her back. "Do you plan to go back to Tokyo after the wedding?" she asked suddenly. It appeared the question had been bothering her for some time.

Silence filled the room, as Harry thought about her question. "I've made a life for me there," he said truthfully. "I'll go back, but this time I'll keep in touch with my family."

"Goodnight Harry," Usagi said quickly, ending the conversation abruptly. Curious about her sudden dismissive tone, Harry tried to squint through the darkness. He couldn't see her face, or anything else that could have explained the sigh of what sounded like relief that had come from her direction.

"Goodnight Usagi," he replied softly, choosing not to question her about it.

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Well there you have it, another chapter uploaded. Hope you all have enjoyed it. The end is coming, so be prepared for shocks and surprises.

Oh, and before you go, tell me, should Ginny have her baby?

LP