Chapter 2

Harry

Despite his best efforts, Harry Potter found himself returning to consciousness from the sound of familiar voices.

"No, please, sleep right through the big memorial Mate. I'm sure no one will notice the great hero missing, I'll tell Kingsly to just give all your order of Merlins to my missing ear."

" Come off it Geroge, he saved the world for about the thirtieth time, I think that earns him one day of sleeping in ."

" Also the Minister and I did not rush through all that paperwork just to have to change the name to include a non-existent ear…." that last voice was shocking enough that Harry groaned out a giggled response to Percy Weasely, trying desperately not to think of the last time he heard Percy crack a joke, while being so glad he clearly still could.

" Fine, fine, wouldn't want to inconvenience Percy or give George's missing ear too big of a head, Merlin Knows it must be glad enough to be rid of the old one." Harry sat up and gazed around blinking the sleep from his eyes. It was still so odd to see George without Fred. To see Percy with his brothers again. Still, waking up in Gryffindor tower to see Ron's red hair and smiling face did a lot to make Harry feel a return to normalcy was possible. George made a big show of staggering back from Harry's bed, clutching his heart melodramatically.

" You wound me sir! To think, I withstood hundreds of dark beasts, demented Death Eaters, and dreary Dementors, but Harry Potter's sharp tongue has at last broken my last defenses! I shall prank and joke no more!" at this point he tripped over Ron's foot, which had definitely not been deliberately extended just far enough to trip him. As all of the boys laughed, Harry tried. Harry truly tried, because it was so clear what George was trying to do, but the tears formed anyway. The guilt still nearly choked him worse than when Slytherin's locket had tried to drown him. Fred should be here. So many others, after he had sworn he was done letting others die for him, had still been lost. Because he wasn't fast enough. Because he wasn't….

" Oh no you don't Potter!" George interrupted his forming thoughts, "Ron already warned me you'd try to act like this! Fred was my other half, yeah, but that just means I know full well he'd demand I use every bit of stock we have left in the shop to stop you or any of us feeling sorry that he is gone. I'm going to bring joy and laughter into this world, and I'm going to do so double for George. And triple for my damned ear. Get out of your head and quit wallowing in what isn't. We are alive, the bad guys are beaten. Percy found a sense of humor, I even saw old McGonagall crack a smile! It is time for celebrations, not regrets, and I'm officially announcing a Moldy Voldy sale at the Shop to commemorate the victory, may there be a fart in every armpit, a laugh on every face today! Perce, you don't think I owe royalties to poltergeists, do I?"

" I'd have to check with the Minister but I imagine your inspiration from Peeve's song will not grant him any rights to your profits." Percy responded, sounding almost too much like his old self as Percy quickly rambled about a half dozen statutes and relevant departments Harry wasn't sure were all real.

Harry took a deep breath. George was right. He would never be able to forgive himself for all the deaths he couldn't prevent. For all those souls they had lost, Harry knew he couldn't give up though. He was determined to go on living out his own to the fullest now. He owed them all at least that much. And he needed to make sure he did right by little Teddy. And that nothing and no one like Voldemort ever caused such dark times again.

Harry dabbed at his eyes and got out of the bed, preparing for the day. " Well Ron, nothing you haven't seen before, but if the two of you don't want to meet 'Little Harry', I could use some privacy."

" Ho, Ho!" George exclaimed, "I always suspected, baby brother, Hermione will make the best of beards I'm sure." Ron was redder than Harry had ever seen him, which was certainly saying something. He could hear the Weasely's laughter and Ron's protestations and curses all for some time as the three of them left him to wash up and change.

When Harry descended the stairs to the Gryffindor common Room, he was predictably met with raucous applause. Less predictable was Seamus Finnegan leading the handful of other Irish Hogwarts' students and families in singing a slightly altered rendition of "Come out ye Black and Tans" with surprisingly clever references to the Death Eaters. Ron was gamely trying to learn the lyrics on the fly, while Hermione looked horrified.

" Now, Really, Seamus that's not appropriate! The situations are totally different! Seriously Ron, you don't know what you are doing!" Hermione was, as usual, lecturing, but despite the genuine concern showing upon her face, her tone was far more relaxed than typical.

" Hermione, come on now! We've ended the wizard Troubles, why can't me M'am 'n me hope fer an end ta the Muggle ones?" Seamus asked between choruses.

" Because I don't care for being compared to terrorists!" Hermione responded.

" Right, sure. An' ye never got called a subversive enemy of the state this last year eh?" Seamus defiantly responded.

As interested as Harry was in watching Hermione and Seamus discuss muggle politics over his many wizard raised friend's heads, he only really had eyes for one set in the room. As soon as he found them, they were locked, and all the back slapping, all the hugs and tears and hand shakes were just faint background noise as he followed those eyes, unblinking, as though afraid if he closed his own again they'd disappear from his sight forever. Harry's heart was going to thump straight out of his throat he was certain. Finally, she spoke.

" Hiya, Harry." Two simple words, filled with just the right amount of sardonic detachment and barely contained stared into Ginny Weasley's eyes. It was ironic he supposed, after all these years, now it was he who was rendered mute by her mere presence. He willed himself to respond. Dying had definitely been easier.

" Hey, Ginny,"Harry Choked out. Harry knew he had hurt her. Knew he didn't deserve her, but it was the only thing in the entire world he wanted right now. No Applause, no admiration, just her arms around his and his lips upon hers.

" I can't believe I'm saying this, but if you don't kiss my sister right now I'll have to unleash her own signature Bat-Bogey Hex on you Harry!" Ron called out. Harry didn't need to be told twice. He'd always been terrible at talking with girls, so he tried to say everything in the kiss as he held Ginny against him at long last after so many months. Ignoring the wolf whistles and mocking faux gagging around them, he kissed her deeper than he had in their entire time of dating the previous year, picking up right where they left off on his birthday.

" Oh good, you did remember me after all, Harry." Ginny whispered when they at last came up for air. Hands still clasped tightly they walked out of the secret passage together, barely even registering Hermione insisting that "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls was a far better muggle song to celebrate with, or the crowd of people following them down to the Great Hall. Of course even his current state of blissful joy couldn't save him from being absolutely deafened by the roaring applause and cheers he was greeted by upon entering the hall. He could see that most were already seated, and Kingsly was at the Staff table next to McGonagall looking very proud, but also very ready to proceed. Refusing to take his hand away from Ginny's, Harry sat with her, Ron, and Hermione at the front of the rearranged seating, in spite of his every instinct screaming for him to sit at the back.

Harry didn't even register the piercing, calculating blue eyes analyzing his every movement and detail, looking for an opening from that very back he desired.