"I open at the close,... I have the stone and we can talk to them again,... say proper goodbye." Harry took out his first snitch from moleskin pouch around his neck and looked at ball with fluttering wings in his palm.

Gold was reflecting bright morning sun. Earsplitting sounds and chaos of battle was only memory now. Spells, cries, curses and stomping went away in exchange for not very loud steps and words of wizards gathering their injured or dead comrades and enemies and moving them away to the Great Hall. Birds were starting to sign their morning songs. Hagrid and Hermione stood too and they were looking at his hands. Hagrid took out napkin, wiped out his nose and face. Hermione was watching small ball with golden wings for a while not saying anything, probably lost in her thoughts. Tears were flowing freely on her face. Harry was looking at her, too consumed to be able to do anything.

He could call them back, see them, speak to them. He could live with them as second wizard from Deathly Hallows story, however stone could not bring them back. Was he sane, to think that it was ok? That it was his right? He could be with Ginny again, he could play another match of wizard chess with Ron. They could still talk and plan things together. He could perfectly imagine that. And inside his head there was also that disturbing voice, telling something about difference between real world and illusions. But who cares about real world anyway, when everybody Harry cared about was in that other world, in the world of Death, in the Underworld.

Harry slowly raised his hand and opened mouth to put snitch there however Hermione stopped him as she slowly put hand on his shoulder.

"Harry, ... wait, ... time is not right." she told him quietly and glanced quickly towards Hagrid, Harry followed her gaze, "we should go to meet others, there is nothing more to do here."

Boy-who-lived nodded and put golden ball back into moleskin pouch around his neck.

"You are right, Hermione, let's go help them."

They walked and he suddenly felt very tired, his ribs hurt. Slowly they were walking through battlefield stained with blood and morning dew. They were walking around broken trees being consumed by magical fire and around thick smoke clouds. Then around small heap of stones, which was pensieve not too long ago. Through damaged gate inside castle and to the Great Hall which was already crowded. Injured were treated as before, where top table usually was. Groups of wizards were mourning their dead and Harry witnessed angry woman shouting on group of Death Eaters prisoners which was guarded by stone faced Lee Jordan and Oliver Wood. Harry gave guards sympathetic look and waved them, they waved back, Hagrid stopped and started to speak to the that witch: "Go, 'ake care for your family and friends, it will be better."

"I don't have family anymore! They killed them all!" She cried in response
Harry and Hermione moved forward around fake Voldemort's body and other Death Eaters corpses to mourning Weasleys. However Kingsley Shackebolt met them halfway to there and cast Muffiato immediately.

"Harry, Hermione," he said looking at them gravely. Harry could see many bruises on him and also dirt on his clothes. And suddenly was very aware of his own. He felt really tired and wanted only rest, however it was clear that there was more to do.

"Kingsley," nodded Harry wondering what was coming and simultaneously not caring anymore. Hermione was looking towards red heads, not saying anything.

"We have won battle, however we don't have time to rest, we have a coup to do." Shacklebolt was speaking slowly as always and watching them carefully. "We need to move to Ministry of Magic and bring prisoners with us. We have to seize our chance to tell people and press what happened, before anyone comes with some cover story. We have to try to seize the ministry, get prisoners arrested and let them checked for imperiusing. Make Wizengamot choose new temporary Minister. It will be a mess, it will be dangerous, because Death Eaters are still out there, however we have to go. We have to. I know you have done more than others to defeat You-Know-Who and that you are really tired, however I have to ask you Hermione and Harry to go there with me. To help me, to show people that you are alive, with me and that Voldemort was defeated."

Kingsley Shacklebolt held up his hand to stop Harry from speaking and continued: "I understand if you don't want to do this and that you are tired. You fought and lost what is dear to you. I understand that you do not want to stand before people and show yourself like animal from the zoo. I understand that there is danger of sudden Death Eater attack from the mob of people and I assure you, that I can accept your no and do it without you. However I feel that You should have chance to go there and try to help me to make our world better to live for us. There will be danger, we will try to guard you and not expose you unless necessary. We will also take You-Know-Who there and show him to the people, so there will be chance, that Death Eaters will try to free him. Or both. They can try to free him and kill you at once. Maybe it is easier to guard just one target, however I think we should take the risk and divide our forces between you and Voldemort."
Kingsley stopped his speech and Harry did not know what to say. He felt really tired and hurt. He wanted nothing else but end of all this Voldemort nonsense. Prospect of facing danger or large group of people again was really not welcoming. And he felt that leader of Order of Phoenix was reading all this in his face.

"You don't need to choose now. Go to Madame Pomfrey for medical check and think about it. We will leave in hour for Diagon Alley, I will find you before that."
Harry nodded and said only: "Thanks."

Kingsley Shacklebolt gently put his hand on his shoulder and he felt his ribs hurt again. He needed that medical check. So he took step to Madam Pomfrey's direction, but Hermione stopped him with weak voice: "I will go to R... ", she changed it in last second, " the Weasleys for a moment..."

Harry looked at her white face and red eyes and wanted to go with her. However if he is going to Ministry of Magic, he will need to have his ribs fixed. Slowly he nodded and voiced that: "I need to fix myself, sorry I will go there," Harry waved his hand, "we will meet later." Harry wanted to say something like, it will be all right, however he didn't feel it really. Will there be ever something right? So he just slightly touched her shoulder. Hermione slowly nodded and after last glance at her, he moved forward to school nurse.

Harry was walking slowly and felt really tired. Yesterday in the morning they started with their plan to steal from Gringotts. It seemed it was so long ago. Ron was still with them and they were trying to get the Horcrux. Plan quickly went wrong and aside from getting treasure from goblin vault, riding on dragon, fighting with Dementors in Hogsmeade and then Hogwarts battle... It was really long day. He came near to other injured people, there was one with maroon hair, very white in face bandage soaked with blood around his head. It was not Ron. Strange why Ron? Ron had red hair and face full of freckles. Then there was someone with head of frog instead of ordinary human head. It ried to say something when their eyes met, but he croaked instead. Is that Umbridge? He dismissed that thought. Next to him was sitting blond teenage girl with face familiar to Harry, however he could not remember if she was attending to Hogwarts, or where he saw her last time. She was just sitting there and looking forward, not responding to what was happening around her. Was she waiting for cure of whatever hex hit her? Or was she just not able to comprehend so much violence? Then there was a man with one inch width leaning against the wall. He was looking at him and wondering how it was possible to undo such spell when Padma Patil came to him and asked.

"Hello Harry, it is good to see you again, are you hurt?" She spoke quickly and was already trying to assess his state.

"Hi Padma," said Harry slowly, "it is good to see you too. I think I have broken ribs, can you look at it? I need to go to Ministry in half an hour..." His brain was really working slowly, he did not have to tell her that.

"Let me do a quick check," she asked and started incantation needed to cast examination spell.

"Hope you are well, " said Harry trying to keep conversation, "and your sister too."

"Right, two ribs broken and many small injuries and bruises. Sit here and wait for five minutes, I will bring Madam Pomfrey and she will sort you out in a minute." She was speaking to him and already looking around for next coming person.

"I'm ok and my sister too, thanks to you and others. Is it true, that You-Know-Who is dead?"

Harry looked at her, hesitating for a moment, but then there was rush as they levitated in large man with lot of black hair who was soaked in blood and needed immediate attention.

"I have to go, Harry, sorry." Indian witch left Harry to treat newly brought injured. Harry just sat as he was told and was looking at working healers. He put his head against wall and felt tired and unusable. His brain was mix of images, sounds and feelings, tired too. However yes, they got Riddle and that meant something. His mission was not at end, however he should be able to rest for a moment. It almost hurt to look at all those injured people, he tried to think he did not cause this, but it was stronger than him. Perhaps he could close eyes for a moment...

"Harry, Harry!" Ginny was calling him, her hand outstretched flying the broom towards deadly spell.

"Nooooo! Look out!" He screamed as he tried to stop her, however he knew what will happen. She will die. Time was crawling slowly, second by second and he was hoping that she will turn around and miss the spell, however she did not see it coming and was going straight into it. He called at her, he was waving at her, he cursed her, however she did not understand and got hit. Then she screamed painfully and was falling to the ground for another endless moment. Harry looked away and then there was a thud and he knew, she was dead. Sick feeling spread through his mind, world around him faded to grey as sadness spread inside him and nothing was interesting to him anymore, nothing will ever matter, only that she was dead. Who he will live for now? It can't be truth. Not her! Not her too!

She raised as a ghost and stood at end of long line of people, Harry's friends, Harry's dead family.

"Harry! Harry!" She cried again, and Harry did not understand how it is possible for her to cry, if she was taken by Death. And Ginny's voice was different somehow. And she was holding his arm. He opened his eyes and was surprised to see Hermione. She had white face stained with dried tears, hair wildly around.

"Harry, wake up!"

She said again as he woke. It was dream. Yes, Ginny was dead already, she could not die again. He missed her. And Ron. Ron was dead too. He missed him to. He grimaced at Hermione and replied slowly and tiredly: "Sorry Hermione, I closed eyes just for a second."

"Harry, were you examined and treated?"

"Wait, ... no, Hermione, I'm waiting for Padma to bring Madam Pomfrey."

"Oh," said Hermione not knowing how to continue," Padma... will not bring Pomfrey."
Harry got on feet, still feeling his ribs and look around injured witches and wizards. Madam Pomfrey was just trying to stop blood coming from Padma Patil which was looking very similarly Draco Malfoy after Harry's Sectumsempra. Nurse was using same incantations as Snape was using on Draco Malfoy in that bathroom so long ago. Have someone used same deadly spell as Harry had? Is there someone dangerous? His wand was suddenly in his hand, ready for use.

"What happened?" asked Hermione young girl with blond hair. She was not looking at them just staring forward as if she did not hear the question.

"Death Eater which they were taking for awoke and cursed them," said man with bandage on his head.

"We should... help," said Harry slowly.

"We can't," replied Hermione helplessly, "we don't know how and there is already enough people for simple things."

They were looking silently as others were rushing around and finally Madam Pomfrey left Padma's side and went asking who was here with what as there was no one in immediate danger. Girl before them was hit in head and Madam Pomfrey told her to lie and wait.

"What about you Mr. Potter?" Asked nurse looking at him her experienced eyes estimating damage, waving her wand simultaneously.

"It's good to see you," said Harry and described his injuries feeling all of them, "I need to go to Diagon Alley soon and to Ministry. I think I have some broken ribs and I was probably hit by a few curses. And I need," Harry looked at Hermione, "... we both need something to keep us awake and with clear mind."

"You should rest. In the bed." Said Madam Pomfrey with thin mouth, however she mended his bones waving his wand again and reciting healing incantations. Then she waved her wand to the table with potions and levitated two Pepper ups to them.

"Drink to your health, Mr. Potter." She said as they had caught it form air before she turned away to next patient.

"Thanks!" Called Harry after her.

Harry and Hermione uncorked bottles and after quiet "Cheers!" they drank. Hot potion squirmed in stomach and warm feeling was spreading through their bodies as steam was rising from their ears. Harry felt much better. They got up and started to search for Shacklebolt and saw him standing down the hall with George Weasley and Lee and speaking quickly. He spotted them and waved them to come near as he was replying to Lee.

"So what is your decision?" Asked leader of Order of Phoenix slowly. "Will you come?"

Harry wanted to nod, but was not sure if Hermione will go too, so she looked uncertainly at her: "Yes, I will go," he said, "what about you Hermione?"

"I will come too."

"Thanks!" Smiled Kingsley Shacklebolt, "I knew I can count on you, let's go!"

They moved through the castle and met with others outside. There they were, many of them with grim faces like Mr. Weasley, Percy and George, who was guarding and levitating stunned and tied Voldemort. Sun was shining as if nothing bad happened this night, trying to unsuccessfully warm their faces.
Harry and his companions stood with them silently for a moment looking at them and then Kingsley Shacklebolt gave them simple nod and all of them were walking outside where anti apparition wards ended.