Everything is J.K. Rowlings. I only claim the plot. Everything else is hers, all the characters and the magic, all of it. Please let me know what you think though, I encourage feedback of all kinds, just be nice about it!

Oh and also, in addition to comments/critiques, if you have any questions about what is happening or have additional suggestions for possible smaller plots I am open ears. I have the outline of what I plan on happening but I'm open to the smaller subplot ideas. And if you have questions please ask. I might have overlooked something that I can further explain in later chapters. Thank you again for following!

Chapter Five

"Harry why did you leave us? Why didn't you save us? We trusted you, Harry. Why are you giving them a second chance? We weren't given a second chance. Have you already forgotten us? Harry how could you betray usss like thiss? They ssshould all be dead like we are. Make them pay for their sinsss, Harry. Harry why weren't you there, Harry? Why didn't you ssssave usss Harry?"

The faces of everyone that he had lost floated around in the clouded landscape. Not knowing what to do, Harry ran. His feet pounding against the ground he couldn't see. The fog was so thick and closing in on him. It was suffocating him in its thickness. And the closer the fog encircled him, the closer his loved ones were brought. Their faces faded and grey, blending together and forming another face. His father's face, his mother's face, Fred's face, Lavender's, Dumbledore's, Colin's, Tonks, Lupin. They kept whispering at him, their ghost-like faces shroud in disapproval and disgust at his choices. Harry kept running, gasping for breath, unable to escape their glares. But eventually their voices soon faded and blended into one voice. His voice. The man who had haunted him for years and now, even after death, the man was still leaving his traces. The cold, snake-like, harsh tone accompanied the faces of his loved ones as he continued to run, tears streaming down his face. "No, no, no. I haven't forgotten. I tried to save you. No, no…" Harry gasped between the sobs and the running. "No, no-"

"-NO, no, NO!" Harry screamed, sitting upright in the bed. He was drenched with sweat and his face was wet with tears. His heart pounded against his chest. Falling back down into the bed, he took gulping breaths of air, trying to calm his pulse.

"HARRY! You alright?" Ron hollered, bursting through the bedroom door.

"Yeah. Yeah, 'm fine, Ron," he whispered, bringing a hand to his face so that the red-haired man couldn't see how wet it was.

"You sure? I heard you screaming."

"Just a bad dream. That damn potion didn't do shit," he replied, drawing his friend away from the situation.

"Blimey, that sucks. I've been taking it myself and it seems to do the trick for the most part. Reckon I couldn't even sleep without it now. Not that I'd want to really, sleep with those dreams is almost as bad as being awake with the memories," Ron muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, his gaze distant and filled with sadness.

Harry said nothing, merely gave a small grunt before swinging his legs out of the bed and grabbing clean clothes. Today was the day he would offer his old enemies a second chance. Maybe today would be the day that he could start in the direction of bettering the world. Silently he dressed and padded down the stairs. He could smell pancakes and sausages and hear the bacon sizzling on the frying pan.

It seemed that lately, whenever Mrs. Weasley managed to bring herself out of her room to make breakfast it was a breakfast big enough for an army. But seeing as the Weasley matriarch had managed to exit her bedroom that day, Harry hoped to take it as a good sign for the rest of the day. Slipping into his seat, he gave a nod to Ginny and Hermione, who returned it with sullen and tired looks themselves.

"Morning, Harry," Arthur Weasley said, putting the paper he was reading down to the side as the raven-haired man sat down.

"Morning, Mr. Weasley," he replied, though didn't have the heart to even attempt a small smile. Mr. Weasley never wished anyone a 'Good Morning' anymore, not since the war. Now, it was just 'Morning' as if reminding the person the time of day, an attempt at civilization, even though it was just another painful reminder that the morning had come once again, like clockwork, counting the days that had passed since they lost so many. A reminder that the ones they had lost would never be their to witness it another morning, good or bad. Harry doubted it would ever be a 'good' morning for Mr. Weasley again, just another reminder of the son he had lost.

Bustling in, Mrs. Weasley began loading up everyone's plates. It was far too much food and no one would eat it all but they weren't about to protest. Picking up a piece of bacon, Harry took a bite. It turned to ash in his mouth but he kept eating. It was a mechanical movement by now. As his hand reached for a piece of sausage, Harry caught a glimpse of the day's headlines.

KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT APPOINTED OFFICIAL MINISTER OF MAGIC: Ceremony to be held Monday

TRIALS TO BE HELD FOR THE REMAINING DEATH EATERS NEXT WEEK

WHERE IS THE CHOSEN ONE?

That headline, caught Harry's eye and he began to scan the story before snorting and turning the page. It was just another load of rubbish written by Skeeter speculating on the reasons that Harry had yet to make a public appearance since the last funeral last week. It had been Colin's funeral and the reminder brought hot tears to his eyes. Blinking rapidly, Harry focused on scanning more of the headlines.

HOGWARTS RESTORATION TO BEGIN: Starting June 2nd, one month since its destruction, the school will start its rebuilding all are welcomed to participate

SHOP FRONTS SELLING AT A DISCOUNTED RATE: Abandoned shops in Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley are ready for business

Harry decided to make a mental note of this article. Who knew, it might come in handy for the deal he was about to make with the Slytherins. And maybe if he had apparently so much power, he could possibly use that to help the rebuilding of those two streets as well.

"So, Harry, you still gonna make a deal with the Devil?" Ginny asked. Glancing up, Harry saw her eyes filled with scorn.

"If by 'devil' you mean eight of our peers who have suffered just as much as we have, then yes."

"Still can't believe you are just ignoring everything they have done to us. The way they treated us in school. They are bullies. They served the biggest bully of them all. How you can just forget and forgive all that I don't understand."

"I'm not forgetting anything, Ginny. And I'd hardly call myself forgiving of them either. I'm simply moving past former indiscretion. The war changed a lot of people, we weren't the only ones affected."

"Yeah but they deserved what they got!" Ron shouted in agreement with his sister, standing up in anger. "If the position was reversed do you really think they would be offering us second chances?"

"Well, I guess it's a good thing the situation isn't reversed," Harry replied coolly.

"This is just bullshit!" Ginny screeched, her cheeks turning red and blotchy. "They are cold-blooded killers, Harry. If it weren't for them then Fr-Fr-he might still be alive! Or did you already forget about him in your plans to make the world great?"

"Don't you dare accuse me of forgetting Fred, or any of them. I will never forget them. It is because of them and in their memory that I am trying to do this, to make our world better. It's what they would have wanted. It's what we fought for! And so I for one am going to try doing something about it."

Ginny glared at Harry, tears forming in her eyes and Harry felt a twist in his gut. He hadn't wanted her to be so upset. She cried enough as it was now-a-days, he didn't want to be the cause of more. But before he could say anything else, she turned and stormed upstairs. Moments later he heard a door slam and knew she was in her room. A moment of silence and then Ron left the table as well.

Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," he whispered. "I really haven't forgotten and I'm not trying to be disrespectful. I just think that if we can get rid of prejudices then this world might actually stand a chance to getting better. And this is the first step."

"Oh, Harry dear," Mrs. Weasley huffed as she wrapped him in a large hug. "We think what you are wanting to do is a great idea and we support you. It's what Fr-F-Fred would have wanted." Dropping his hug as fresh sobs took hold of her Mrs. Weasley scurried into the kitchen.

"She is right though," Mr. Weasley continued after his wife had left. "Fred hated the dark and gloomy stuff. He would have cracked some jokes about it but he would have wanted peace just as much," Mr. Weasley agreed patting Harry on the hand.

"Thank you for your support. Hopefully it is being well-placed, but I guess this will be the real test. Let's see if they even agree," Harry said, he attempted a chuckle but it died in his throat and came out more like he was clearing his throat. Mr. Weasley merely nodded before he too left the table to comfort his wife in the kitchen.

Glancing over at Hermione, who hadn't moved during the entire confrontation, she gave a small nod as well before her eyes went back to the half piece of toast that she had been picking at since the start of breakfast. Had she even eaten anything? He wondered briefly before glancing at his watch.

"Anyway, if I don't come back then it means they agreed," Harry said standing, Hermione lifted her head, her eyes following him as he prepared to leave. "If I do, well we are back to square one of making the world better. I'll write you tonight if I don't return. Bye 'Mione."