The Awakening

Harry slowly opened his eyes, he wasn't looking forward to the large group of students that were going to be huddled around him. When his eyes were open he didn't see any students huddled around him, he didn't hear any whispers. He looked around and saw that he was in a plain room with the bed on the left side of the room. Harry looked to his left and could see out the window onto a familiar street. In the center of the room was a table surrounded by four chairs and across from him was a large armoire.

"How did I get in Sirius' room?" Harry thought to himself.

Harry stood up and took his bed robe off of the post of the bed. He put the robe on and walked to the window. He looked out of the window and could see cars driving by on the street below. He could see into the backyard of Grimmauld place and saw that Ron, the Weasley twins, Hermione and Remus were all sitting around a table talking. Harry turned away from the window and for the first time saw that there were numerous cards on the table in the middle of the room. Harry picked one up.

"Get well soon, Harry. Love Hermione."

"Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Albus Dumbledore."

"Get well soon, mate, we all miss you. Ron."

Harry picked up another twenty cards that all wished him to get well. Harry saw that there was one more card on the table that he hadn't read yet. He picked up the card and on the front there were two red foxes running through a field. He opened the card and fell into one of the chairs when he read what it said.

"Harry James Potter,

I miss you so much, and I get to see you everyday. I have no idea what you might be going through right now but I wish I could help somehow. There is so much I want to tell you but will wait until you are awake. Although, if you heard me while I talked to you in your sleep then you know everything already. I know you are very confused right now while you read this, don't worry, everything will be explained soon. Get well Harry.

I love you.

Ginny"

Harry got out of the chair and headed straight for the door. Harry stomped down the hallway and down the stairs. He was making a beeline straight for the backyard, he was close enough he could hear Ron, Hermione and Remus laugh at a joke the twins had told. Harry threw open the door to the backyard and didn't acknowledge any of the greetings he got from his friends.

"What is the meaning of this?" Harry shouted as he threw the card on the table. "Who put that in my room? Who thought it would be funny to play a joke on me? I thought you were all my friends!"

The group looked at the card but no one spoke. They weren't sure what to say. Finally Remus picked up the card and looked at Harry.

"Harry, this isn't a joke. I know how you are feeling right now but trust me, this isn't a joke."

Harry was just about to start yelling at Remus when he heard her scream behind him.

"Harry! You are awake!" Ginny screamed.

Harry turned around and saw Ginny standing in the doorway with Arthur and Molly Weasley. Harry turned pale as he staggered backwards away from Ginny. Harry tripped on a rock and fell over backwards, he landed on the grass and tried to scurry away.

"No, you are dead. You can't be here, you shouldn't be here. I don't want you to be here as a ghost." Harry had reached the fence and pulled his legs to his chest as he tried to hide his face.

"Sorry, Gin, we haven't had time to explain to him what happened." Ron told his little sister.

Ginny slowly walked over to Harry and sat down right beside him. She sat there for a moment trying to come up with something to say. She had thought about this moment many times and what she would say when Harry woke up but it always involved her being at his side when he woke up.

"Harry, look at me. I am here. I'm not a ghost, I am real." Harry wouldn't look at Ginny. She reached for his hand and took it in hers. "See, Harry. You can't hold a ghosts hand. You can't feel a ghosts kiss." Ginny leaned forward and kissed the top of Harry's head.

Harry slowly looked up and saw that Ginny had tears streaming down her face. He squeezed her hand and put his other hand on her face to wipe away her tears. He looked at his group of friends who were all standing in front of him.

"But, how? I saw you get hit by the killing curse. I saw you die." Harry spoke quietly.

"No, Harry, you saw me get stunned." Ginny answered quickly. "Remember the spell Servo Populus, that you taught the DA? Well I used it when the battle began to protect myself because of what you had told me. Then when I saw Malfoy and the Death Eater attacking from behind and I ran down the stairs to tell everyone else, Malfoy followed me. I got outside and found you, I jumped in front of Voldemort's spell and that took away my protection. Malfoy's Stupefy spell hit me right after and it looked like I was killed."

Harry sat there quietly staring at Ginny. He couldn't believe it, Ginny was really alive. He looked at the rest of his friends and could see that they were all smiling back at him, Molly had also been crying. Suddenly, Harry's head filled with questions.

"What day is it? What happened to Malfoy and his goons, what about Tooker. How many Death Eaters did we capture or kill. Were any of our people hurt?" Harry continued to ask questions before answers were given.

"Harry," Arthur began to speak, "slow down and all your questions will be answered. First off it is June 7th. Professor Dumbledore ended the term early. As soon as the O.W.L.'s and N.E.W.T.'s were taken term ended. We brought you back right after that, you have been here for a day. As for Malfoy, he and his goons are awaiting trial in a holding cell at the Ministry. Robert Tooker claims he was under the Imperius Curse, a memory retrieval team is attempting to learn the truth from him. Until then, he and his parents are being held at the Ministry also."

Harry stood up and walked with Ginny to the table with the others and sat down. Ginny sat in his lap as her father explained the rest of what happened.

"Mr. Goyle was killed when Ginny stunned him and Tooker, he fell and missed the stairs." Arthur continued, Harry looked at Ginny and could tell that she was upset that she was responsible for someone's death, even a Death Eater. "Jason Westaby and Paul Langford, both Death Eaters, were killed when a wall fell on Jason.The giant squid ate Paul after Alastor knocked him into the lake. Mr. Crabbe and Peter Pettigrew were captured."

It was quiet once again in the back yard as Harry let the information set in.

"And I killed Bellatrix," Harry finally broke the silence. "What about the students and Order members?" Harry asked not really wanting to hear the answer.

"Ah, yes. Well we lost three friends in the fighting. Professor O'Bannon was killed by Malfoy, Mundungus Fletcher and Andrew Mason were also killed by Death Eaters."

No one spoke for a few minutes as they mourned for their lost friends. Eventually Molly, Arthur and the twins went back into the house. Harry sat their holding Ginny when a new question came to mind.

"Remus, how is it that we can be outside while we are here?"

"Albus and I were able to get enough wards up around the yard to protect the outside as well." Remus answered.

"How did your O.W.L.'s go, Ginny?" Harry asked hi girlfriend.

"They went well, I am glad they are over though and I get a year off from hard studying." Ginny spoke as she rested her head on Harry's.

Harry spent the next four hours Harry asked the rest of the questions that were on his mind. He learned that Peter had been sentenced to life in Azkaban as well as Crabbe's father. There hadn't been any new attacks by Voldemort and none were expected any time soon. Percy had attempted to reestablish his relationship with his family but Molly was the only one to speak with him. Weasley's Wizard Wheezes was doing great and there was talk of adding a shop in Hogsmeade. The last bit of news Harry heard was that George had been dating someone for the last month, but no one had seen her yet.

"What do you mean, no one has met her?" Harry asked with a smile. "George, imaginary friends don't count."

"She isn't imaginary, mate." George replied. "She is very real."

"Fred, have you seen her yet?" Harry asked the other twin.

"Nope, George is keeping her hidden from even me. He met her on a trip to Hogsmeade while he was supposed to be shopping for a new place for a shop."

Everyone laughed as Fred shook his head. Molly walked out of the house and told them all that it was time for dinner. The group got up and walked into the house, Molly had set the table up for a small feast. Harry's stomach growled loudly when he saw the food on the table, he hadn't ate in two weeks. He wasn't sure how he was kept alive and decided he didn't want to know either.

Harry ate until he felt that his stomach couldn't hold any more food. When their meal was over Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione all went to the library in the house and began playing Quidditch with Harry's set. Ron and Hermione played first while Harry and Ginny watched. An hour passed still with no winner when Professor Dumbledore walked into the room.

"Good evening," Dumbledore spoke with a smile, "Harry, I believe this belongs to you."

"My wand," Harry said with a smile, "I had forgotten it fell into the lake. How did you get it sir?"

"The Lady of the Lake gave it to me after you passed out." Professor Dumbledore handed Harry his wand. "Merlin would also like me to tell you that any time you need to talk with someone for advice, he will be more than willing to speak with you. You clearly impressed him during the battle."

Harry nodded his head and smiled at his Professor. Harry put his wand in his robes and thanked Professor Dumbledore.

"Also, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, you three will be learning to Disapparate this summer, you won't be allowed to get your licenses until your birthday's but you will learn how to do it. And I hope you will continue your other training as well."

The four students all smiled as Professor Dumbledore said his goodbyes and left the room. They knew he was talking about their Animagus training. Just then Hermione's seeker caught the tiny Snitch and ended the game. Hermione's team won the match 360 to 300. Ron's jaw dropped when he heard her team begin cheering, then he smiled and gave Hermione a kiss. Harry and Ginny then put their teams on the pitch and began their game.

The two teams had been playing so long that the four of them began to fall asleep. Finally, Harry suggested that they all go to bed and see which team won in the morning. They all stood up said their goodnights and went to bed.