Harry watched as the nurse wandered back into her office after tending to a couple of patients. After the door remained shut for a few minutes, Giolla came back into view, looking cautiously at the closed door. Satisfied that the nurse wasn't going to return for a while, she turned her beady eyes toward Harry.

Well? she demanded. Harry could have sworn she fixed him with an expecting glare, if snakes could that was.

Well what? Harry asked as he sat up in bed and crossed his legs in front of him.

You know what! Why won't you accept the award? She wound herself around the bedpost and slithered up until she was curled up in front of Harry.

Harry sighed and reached for his glasses. Why are you bringing this up now? Why not when the minister announced that Harry Potter would receive the stupid thing?

Because we've been interrupted every chance I had to ask you. So I'm asking you now. Why?

Because I'm tired of being famous. You heard what I told Bill.

I did, but that's irrelevant, she said dismissively.

How so? Harry asked.

Harry, are you an imbecile? Think about what you want to do! When was the last time someone refused the Order of Merlin...let alone First Class?

Harry paused as he thought it over. Hermione would have been the better one to ask, but judging from Giolla's tone of voice, no one ever had.

Well aren't you a genius, Giolla said sarcastically. Can you imagine the headlines if you refuse? Reporters will be all over you, asking you why. As the minister kindly pointed out, it simply isn't done.

What do you want me to do? Harry asked, biting back a sigh. He knew the answer, but he didn't like it.

I never used to think you were an idiot. After all, how did you survive the Dark Lord? But you're quickly proving me wrong.

Fine! Harry cried out in a loud hiss. I'll be a good little boy and accept the stupid award! Why don't I just call the reporters in here right now and say, 'Guess what? I'm back! Ask me questions!'? Harry was not looking forward to the press once they got wind of his return.

That won't be necessary. They'll start asking you questyions without you wasting the breath to invite them to do so, Giolla said smugly.

Harry threw Giolla a dirty look.

Why on earth did you come back anyway? she asked coolly. It's quite clear you don't want to be here.

Of course I want to be here! Harry retorted.

Yeah, and that's why you want to be left alone and have no one know you're here... Giolla said sarcastically.

Because this food is way better, and the bed's softer, Harry said seriously.

Try again, Giolla said expectantly.

No, really. I wanted to eat real food, Harry said earnestly. After the garbage I've been making myself, Hagrid's rock cakes would have been good. Hogwarts food is pure heaven compared to it all.

Harry, a blind man could see that you're lying! Giolla said, trying not to laugh at Harry's pitiful attempts. She turned towards the doorway and looked at it for a few moments.

Someone coming? Harry asked worriedly. He wasn't exactly looking forward to explaining to Rashida why he was talking to Voldemort's snake. She didn't trust him as it was. Talking to the Dark Lord's snake would land him a room with the dementors...not good.

No, of course not, Giolla said, turning back to her master.

Fine then, be that way. To tell the truth, I was going insane being alone all the time.

Alone! Giolla protested.

Having a snake for your only companion hardly counts as not being alone! Besides, it was boring. Not that your lovely sense of humor didn't improve things, Harry hastily added, stopping another outburst from Giolla. And among all that, I guess I finally just realized that it was time to face facts and live with and as who I am. But once I got back, I realized how hard that was, and I decided I wasn't ready. Harry leaned back against his headboard and ran his hand through his raven hair. His green eyes met with the bottomless eyes of the serpent before him.

You're ready to be home. You're ready to live as Harry Potter, the boy who lived, the boy who vanquished the Dark Lord. Just have faith in yourself, Giolla said quietly. Harry was taken aback by her new caring and encouraging attitude.

So if I have to face facts and be who I am and live with society, when is everyone going to find out about you? Harry challenged the snake.

Whenever you're ready to introduce me, Giolla said with an odd snake-shrug.

Harry looked at the snake in confusion. You mean I get to choose? You won't spring the encounter on me? It was almost too good to hope for.

"Harry!" Harry spun towards the door at the sound of his name. Ron was standing in the doorway with an astounded look on his face. "The snake!" Ron sputtered. And indeed it was too good to be true, Harry thought ruefully.

You knew he was coming! You deliberately stayed in plain sight so that he'd see you! Harry accused Giolla angrily.

And if I did? Giolla asked calmly.

"Harry, that's the snake that bit my dad!" Ron said angrily. He pulled out his wand and pointed at the snake. "Watch out," he warned, his eyes flashing dangerously.

"Ron, no!" Harry cried. He moved his arm in front of the snake. Ron looked like he was going to try and aim around Harry's arm, and for a terrifying second, Harry thought he would. But Ron lowered the wand warily.

"What are you doing?" Ron questioned fearfully. Without waiting for Harry to answer, he continued, "I know! You're under the Imperius Curse! The Death Eaters are controlling you!"

"Ron, it's not like that," Harry said as calmingly as he could.

"But-"

"Let me explain," Harry offered. He stood up and walked over to his friend. Harry gently pried the wand from Ron's hand and led him over to the bed. Ron sunk into the chair that sat next to it and Harry resumed his cross-legged position on the bed. Ron looked worriedly at the snake. "Look at me," Harry instructed. Ron turned to look at Harry. "Giolla-"

"I thought its name was Nagini," Ron broke in, glancing at the snake.

"That was the name Voldemort gave her, her real name, the name she was given when she was created is Giolla," Harry explained patiently. Ron looked at Harry in confusion. "She was created by Salazar Slytherin-"

"So it is evil!" Ron said triumphantly.

Would he please stop calling me an it? Giolla asked impatiently. Harry thought he saw her roll her eyes, but snakes don't roll their eyes, it just isn't possible.

"What did it say?" Ron asked as he looked at the snake with uneasy eyes.

"She asks that you quit calling her an it," Harry said, laughing slightly.

"Oh, erm, tell i-her that I'm sorry," Ron said, surprised that the snake had noticed. Since when did snakes understand English?

He said he's sorry, Harry said to Giolla. So how did you know?

Giolla winked at him. That's my little secret, she said smugly.

"So how did you get a snake made by Salazar Slytherin?" Ron asked, trying to move back on topic. He didn't like not knowing what they were saying/

"Well it's a long story, but in short, she passes herself down the line of Slytherin descendants," Harry said, half guessing as to how he got the snake.

"But you're not a descendant," Ron pointed out. Ron looked at the snake, half expecting her to bite him. Harry pointed up at his scar and a look of recognition crossed Ron's face as he faced Harry again. "So it's because of that?" Giolla slithered off the bed and into the shadows. Ron jumped up and brought his knees under his chin as she moved. "Where's she going?" he asked, alarmed.

"Who knows? But don't worry about her," Harry said, shrugging his shoulders lightly.

Ron took a gulp of air and scanned the shadows for the snake, but to no avail. "So it's because of that?" he tried asking again, motioning toward Harry's forehead.

"I guess so," Harry said, shrugging helplessly. "So, what did you come in for in the first place?"

"Oh!" Ron said, his face lighting up. Ron stopped looking into the shadows for the missing snake and looked at Harry. "Dad's home! The healers say he'll have all his magic back, but they don't want him to use it for another few days. And he's not going back to work for another week, so Bill and the twins are still helping out," Ron said quickly.

"That's great Ron!" Harry said, smiling genuinely.

"Yeah, Mum went home to baby him, and Bill went back so that he can get back to work. Oh! And he said that once Dad gets better, he doesn't think he's going back to Egypt," Ron said happily.

"Do I sense a Quidditch-" Harry stopped talking abruptly and turned around so that he faced away from Ron.

"Harry?" Ron asked before turning around to look at the doorway.

Ginny was standing a couple of steps into the room. She saw her brother and started to turn around, but before she could turn all the way around, Ron was halfway across the room, leaving Ginny and Harry alone.

There were a few tense seconds of silence as Ginny looked at Harry's back and Harry waited for her to say something. After another few unbearable seconds, Harry asked the first question, "So, how's Erik?" His voice was hard and cold.

Ginny's face fell at the older boy's name. "I broke things up with him." She waited for him to respond, but he didn't move. "Not that there was ever anything between us!" she added hastily.

"Didn't look that way to me," Harry said quietly.

Ginny looked at the floor. "Harry..." She looked back up at the boy's back, begging him to look at her with his eyes. "Bill told me about him. I'm sorry!" she said. She felt tears spring to her eyes, but she bit them back. "How was I supposed to know?" she asked, her voice quavering. "He was nice to me, and you just left! I didn't know where you were! As far as I knew, you had dumped me...or worse, died!" She brushed the back of her hand against her eyes.

She took a step closer to the bed and reached for Harry's shoulder. She felt Harry stiffen under her hand. Before he had a chance to move away, she lowered the hand slowly and glared at Harry's back. "No, come to think of it, I'm not sorry!" Her voice rose as she got more and more angry, but she didn't care. "I opened my eyes after The Battle and everyone was lying down. It looked like everybody was dead! I felt so alone! I looked for you everywhere, but I couldn't find you. I thought you were dead. You certainly didn't leave us any evidence to believe otherwise! I'm not the one who should be apologizing, you are!" She glared at him for a moment, waiting for him to ask for forgiveness, but he didn't. "I woke up, and I thought everyone I loved was dead. I saw Charlie dead, and when I woke up, I saw other people I loved lying on the ground, their faces frozen in anger and pain. Then I looked to see if you too were dead, and you simply weren't there! I found your dagger in Voldemort's throat and took it. I thought about ending everything right then and there, but someone woke up, Ron, and he helped me look for everyone. As we walked around, people started waking up. I figured you would wake up soon too, and come find me, but you didn't.

"For the rest of the summer, I tried to decide if you were dead, or simply gone. Ron wasn't much better off. My dad was in St. Mungo's and the healers weren't sure if he'd even live, let alone be a wizard again! Bill and the twins moved in, so Charlie's death was even more obvious. All summer long I listened to people talk about who died on the field, who died the day after. And everyone wanted to know where you had gone, so they asked Ron and me, as if we'd know! Hermione was off in God knows where! So Ron and I had to keep telling people we didn't know where you were, or even if you were alive! How was I supposed to react to that? How much more painful could people have made it? Then, at the end of the summer, Hedwig came. It sounded like you were never coming back! So I decided to go to Diagon Alley one day. Erik was nice to me. He cared about me. Of course I liked him! You had basically proclaimed yourself dead, and left me hanging, and here was a nice boy who wanted to make me feel better. He told me that I was better than you. And i agree with him. Ron said that later on, and he's right too, I deserve better than this."

She looked at Harry after her outburst, expecting him to react, but he didn't. "I'm not apologizing to you. I don't have to. You need to apologize to me," Ginny said with a quiet firmness. She waited for a response, but again, none came. "Harry, just say something," she said in half anger half sadness. She didn't want to lose him again, but she wasn't going to grovel at his feet.

"Okay then," she said quietly. Ginny reached into her robe pocket and pulled out Harry's dagger. She looked at it briefly as it flickered in the candlelight, and placed it quietly on the table at Harry's bedside. She walked to the door and paused on the threshold. Before leaving the ward, Ginny looked over her shoulder one last time. Harry was still sitting stock still with his back to her. She turned around and walked out of the ward, keeping her face resolutely facing forward. She would not turn back, not this time. She was done asking for forgiveness.

Harry heard her footsteps fade away as she walked down the stone hallway. A long tear fell out of his eye and splashed onto the stone floor, creating a sun-like pattern. A sunny pattern, typically so full of joy, had never held so much pain before.

Author's Note: Well, what did y'all think? How was the length of this one? How was the conversations? Let me know in a review! Oh, and if you have ANY plot questions, bring them up now. I'm wrapping this story up, and I don't want to leave any big gaping holes. So, let me know! Or, if anything doesn't make sense...ASK me! Thanks!

Oh, and I decided to be mean. The next chapter will not come until I have at least 9 more reviews between my three one shots (Just a Story, The End, and The New Day) So that's only 3 per...or any combination. Hehehe, thanks for your reviews :)

Response to Reviews: I must admit, I was surprised at the lack of reaction at Erik's actions. There was only like two people that even commented on it. Well, there were 14 reviews. Better than some chapters, worse than others. I feel that 20 is a good number, so keep those reviews (and QUESTIONS) coming :).

Anonymous Reviews: Just one this time around

namiko-sempai: first of all, thanks for the review! I'm glad you like my story so much! That just makes me grin to get a review like that. I hope your still around.

BTW- I miss some of my old reviewers. I was going to list all of them, but I decided there were too many. But please come back to me :) I'd love to see you back. If you stopped liking my story, please let me know why you don't like it. That way, I can either make this story better, or make my next story thrice as good :)