Chapter 31: The Aftermath of Battle
The sun had risen since Harry and Ginny had fallen asleep under that tree and the effort to begin collecting casualties of the battle had begun. Everyone left Harry and Ginny alone as long as possible but soon it became too difficult as they needed to account for everyone who had been present. Professor McGonagall found them under the tree and went over to wake them.
"Mr. Potter, Mrs. Potter, we need you inside," she said gently.
Ginny awoke at the sound of the headmistress' voice.
"What's going on," Ginny asked through a yawn.
"We're trying to account for everyone. It would help us if you two were inside," Professor McGonagall explained.
"Give me a minute to wake Harry and we'll come in," Ginny said.
"Take whatever time you need," Professor McGonagall replied.
Ginny watched the headmistress walk back toward the castle before she gently kissed Harry's cheek.
"Baby, wake up," she said in a gentle tone.
Harry stirred but snuggled against her a bit more before opening his eyes.
"Professor McGonagall says we're needed inside," Ginny told him.
Harry took in a deep breath that came out as a sigh when he let it go. He wanted to stay with Ginny right where they were and enjoy a few more hours of peace before facing anyone else. Ginny felt the want in his heart and squeezed him a bit.
"I know you want to stay here Harry but we can hope that whatever it is that we're needed for won't take long," Ginny said.
Harry smiled a bit and nodded. The couple got up and made their way toward the school.
As they walked Harry started to think about a great many things. His first thoughts were focused on how light his heart suddenly felt now that the war was over and his mortal enemy gone. His heart sank a bit when he thought about what he might find when they got inside, but was lifted when he thought about his wife being there with him. He knew that there could be more difficult times ahead with facing the post war necessities but he also knew that he had Ginny with him and he would not be facing any of it alone.
Harry knew that his mind had wandered when he hadn't realized that he and Ginny had reached the Entrance Hall. He looked over to his wife, who gave him a reassuring smile, and braced himself for what ever would happen when they walked into the Great Hall. He took Ginny's hand in his and together they walked in.
What Harry saw immediately made his heart sink. The tables in the Great Hall were nowhere to be seen but in their places were a number of stretchers giving the Hall the appearance of a M.A.S.H. unit. They walked a bit further in looking for the headmistress, hoping that they could escape the Hall as soon as possible. They found her near two people Harry recognized immediately as Ron and Hermione. The couple made their way over to the group and quietly announced their presence. Professor McGonagall looked upon them with sad eyes as she turned to speak to the couple.
"Mr. Potter, perhaps we could speak in my office," she said.
"Okay," Harry replied with a bit of uncertainty evident in his voice.
"Perhaps you three should come too. I think what I have to tell Mr. Potter may require your presence," Professor McGonagall said.
Ron, Hermione, and Ginny nodded and all four followed the headmistress out of the Hall. Harry began to worry as the group made their way to the head's office. Something in the back of his mind told him that what ever he was about to hear, it would be bad news.
As they approached the stone gargoyle Harry barely heard Professor McGonagall say the password. Once the five of them were in the office, Professor McGonagall closed and locked the door.
"Harry, I'm afraid I have some terrible news. Remus was found this morning out on the grounds. From what we could see it appeared as though he put up quite a fight, but…," Professor McGonagall could go no further as she saw how the news had hit Harry.
He sat for a few moments in stunned silence just staring at the headmistress. When the realization of what she was telling him caught on he felt his eyes begin to fill with tears. He looked over at Ginny and saw that she had silent tears running down her cheeks as did Hermione. Ginny's gaze lifted to Harry's and she felt a sudden need to be very close to him. She got up from the chair that she was sitting in and curled herself into Harry's lap while she wrapped her arms around him. Hermione soon walked over to the couple and wrapped her arms around both of them. Harry could tell by the way Hermione was shaking that this wasn't the only bad news he was going to hear. Professor McGonagall steeled herself a bit and chose to continue.
"Jonathan Smith was also killed in a fight down in the dungeons with several Slytherin students. There are a number of others among the Order but most of them you had never met, and Percy Weasley was also killed," Professor McGonagall said sadly.
Harry felt as though someone had taken his heart and stomped on it. He clung tightly to Ginny as he did his very best to be strong for her after hearing about Percy. Ginny knew what Harry was doing and felt a bit of appreciation but she knew that he would need to let out his grief. She was also curious as to how her brother had died.
"Professor, what happened to Percy," Ginny asked in a broken voice.
"He died saving his brothers' lives, but more than that I'll leave for you to hear from your family," Professor McGonagall answered.
Ron, who had noticeably kept to himself, decided that he needed to tell Ginny what he knew she desperately wanted to know.
"Gin, he took on three Death Eaters at once when they tried to get Fred, George, and me from behind. He took three Killing Curses," the tall red head said, voice cracking as he spoke.
He went over to where his sister and fiancé were holding his best friend and sank to his knees in front of Harry. Hermione instinctively pulled Ron close to herself and Ginny, allowing him to effectively hide his grief. Professor McGonagall gave to group a few moments before she stepped over beside Harry. She knew whose death had hit him the hardest and decided that she needed to offer a few words that she hoped would be of some kind of comfort.
"Harry, Remus was a very, very brave man. I know, however, that if he were standing here now that he's want you to know how proud he was of you," the headmistress said quietly.
Harry nodded slightly while breathing a bit heavy as one would who was holding back tears. He only sat a moment longer before he set Ginny down and ran for the door, wand out. Professor McGonagall had already unlocked the door as she had expected Harry's response. He tore the door open and ran as fast as he could. Hermione burst into fresh tears after seeing her best friend's reaction to the news. Ron wrapped his arms around her and held her tight while he held his own tears back. Ginny, whom had also not been surprised at Harry's reaction, did her best to calm herself down so that she could stop what she knew would come next. After a few deep breaths she knew that she had enough control over her grief that she could do what she had to do. She watched Ron and Hermione for a few moments and was not surprised when Hermione broke free of Ron's arms and turned to run after Harry. Ginny got up and took Hermione's shoulders, forcing Hermione to stop.
"Ginny let go or I will hex you. Harry needs me," Hermione growled.
Ginny was a bit surprised by this but it only made her grip Hermione's shoulders a little tighter.
"No Hermione, Harry needs to be alone right now. I know that you only want to help but I think you understand what he's going through. He's got to have some time to let his grief out and I'm pretty sure he's got plenty of it to get out. You, on the other hand, are needed right over there. A certain man needs you to hold him and that man is not Harry. You know that Ron needs you right now, and I'm sure if you looked you'd see that he's in pain because he's already lost one brother and he's scared that he might lose Harry too. Ron needs you right now as much as I need Harry, but when he's ready, Harry is going to need all three of us and we need to be able to be strong enough to be there for him properly. Now you go comfort that man over there and let him do the same for you," Ginny said in a gentle voice as she fought her tears.
Professor McGonagall walked over to Ron as Ginny let go of Hermione. Ginny assumed that Professor McGonagall was expressing her condolences to Ron and backed off to give him some space. When she finished, Professor McGonagall watched as Hermione took Ron in her arms and whispered in his ear. The head mistress nodded and walked over to Ginny.
"That was quite a thing you did there Ginerva. I'm very proud of you and I know your mother will be as well. I am truly sorry for the loss of Percy and I can't tell you enough how proud he was of you, even though I know he never said it. I want you to know that if you or Harry or your family ever needs anything, my door is always open," Professor McGonagall said softly.
"Thank you Professor, I really appreciate that. Right now, I think I need to go for a walk and get away from everyone for a bit. Would you please tell mum and also please tell her that I want to be alone," Ginny said.
"I'll do that," Professor McGonagall replied.
Ginny turned and left the office with no thought of where she was going. When she got a few feet away from the gargoyle a noise behind her got her attention. When she turned she saw Ron and Hermione walking out of the door. Ron quickly walked over and hugged his sister.
"You okay," he asked.
"Not really but I was hoping that a walk alone would help," she answered, emphasizing alone slightly.
"I understand. Just let us know when Harry's ready to see us," Ron said.
"I will," Ginny replied.
Ron let go of Ginny and turned to walk down with Hermione to go and see his family. Just as he got to Hermione she ran over to Ginny and threw her arms around the redhead.
"Thank you so much for stopping me from doing something stupid," Hermione said.
"No, Hermione, I didn't stop you from doing something stupid. I know how much you care for Harry and I know how much you love Ron. I also know that when you're upset like you were and when you see Harry as upset as he is you turn to him as you would turn to a brother. He does need you but Ron needs you more and you need Ron just as much. I know that right now Harry wants to be alone, and we'll explain how I know that together, but right now if you went to find him he'd likely say some things to you that he doesn't mean and you'd do the same when you got angry enough. Let him be and let me take care of him for now," Ginny said.
Hermione nodded against Ginny's shoulder and went back to Ron. The pair left Ginny alone as they started down the stairs. Ginny breathed deeply for a moment as she felt her need to be strong dissipate a bit. She knew that if she stood still much longer she would break down right there. She turned and began to wander the halls not noticing the direction that she was heading.
Ginny slowly made her way to the seventh floor corridor that she somehow knew Harry had been through not very long ago. She stopped in front of a familiar bit of wall and let her mind wander for a moment. When she refocused Ginny noticed that the door for the Room of Requirement had appeared for her. She quietly slipped inside and intended to settle down and allow her grief to have its escape but she was startled by a loud crash.
Ron and Hermione wandered down the stairs to the Great Hall. The couple knew what Ginny wanted right now and was determined to let her have it. Ron felt his grief for his late brother but found that he could handle it for a little while so long as Hermione stayed with him. He knew that he'd have to face his mother and that he would likely need to give in to his grief when he saw her but knew that Hermione and his family would help him through it. His only want at the moment was to know that both his sister and his best friend were okay. Hermione seemed to pick up on Ron's thoughts for a moment and pulled him into her arms.
"I'm sure that they're okay Ron. Harry's strong and so is Ginny," Hermione said softly.
"I know that they are but I still wish that they had turned to us and our family instead of running off," Ron said.
"I think that they needed to deal with what Professor McGonagall told us in their own ways Ron. You know as well as I do that they both took the news a lot harder than they let on," Hermione said in what she hoped was a comforting tone.
"I know Ginny did but its Harry that I really worry about. You know that he will blame himself for everyone and that he'll bottle up his pain to be strong for Ginny and you and me," Ron said.
"I don't think Harry will bottle his pain this time Ron. Ginny told me that he's been getting better at letting it out ever since they took that weekend trip to Grimmauld Place. As far as blaming himself goes, I think we'll have to let him work through it on his own. I don't mean ignore it, but we should only try to point him in the right direction," Hermione said.
Ron knew that she was right. He hugged her to him and felt a bit better about his best friend and his sister's wandering off. He took Hermione's hand and together the couple walked into the Great Hall in search of the Weasleys.
Ron and Hermione found them near the end of a table looking as though something had sucked all of the life out of them. Ron could see tears on some of their faces but couldn't help but notice that everyone was silent. He went to his mother and knelt down in front of her. Hermione let them have a few moments and found a couple chairs nearby so that she and Ron could sit with the rest of the Weasleys until Ginny and Harry returned.
Ginny looked curiously around the room and spotted a wall between her and the sound. She approached it carefully and found a door in the wall. Just as she opened it a small object crashed into the door. Ginny stepped cautiously through the door and looked around herself. There were several objects laying around in various conditions. She followed the trail with her eyes until they came to rest on another door arch, only this one was open and door less. Ginny approached the arch and peered into the room beyond. Before she had a chance to look very far she heard a voice scream a jinx at something. She drew her wand and slowly made her way in. As she came through the arch Ginny saw Harry pointing his wand at a pile of ash. She put her wand back in her pocket and stood back to watch him. She knew that he had taken off to be alone for a while and she was not going to take away his outlet for his grief. She watched him pace about the room, occasionally throwing a curse at an object or picking something up and throwing it in whatever direction he might be facing. As she watched she felt her own grief begin to catch up with her and she sank to the floor, tears rolling down her cheeks. She sat crying for some undetermined amount of time, not that she cared how long anyhow, and watched her husband. His pacing had slowed down eventually and soon he stopped facing a large chest. He waved his wand across the locks on the chest and the lid opened. As soon as Harry had stepped back a dementor floated out of the chest and Harry raised his wand.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM," he bellowed but his patronus did not appear.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM," he yelled a second time but this time only a silvery vapor appeared at the end of his wand.
Ginny had stopped crying and realized why the room had created what she was seeing for Harry. She looked more closely at the objects that he had thrown and discovered that they closely resembled the objects that Dumbledore used to keep in the head's office. She looked back to the chest and Harry and soon noticed that the chest was identical to the one he had described when he told her about how he learned the Patronus Charm. It hit her that he was letting his grief out by using memories of parts of his time at school to fuel the outlet. She looked up one more time as Harry tried to cast his patronus and saw the dementor begin to advance on him. When he couldn't summon his stag she immediately drew her wand.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM," Ginny screamed.
Immediately her phoenix appeared and charged the dementor. As the dementor was driven back to the chest she saw Harry point his wand at it.
"RIDIKULUS," he shouted and the dementor/boggart immediately became a Cornish pixie before it flew back into the chest. As the lid on the chest closed Harry sank to his knees, sobbing. Ginny could no longer resist her need to run over to him. She tore across the room as fast as she could and pulled him into her arms. Harry resisted at first but melted into his wife's embrace while his arms found their way around her waist. Ginny gently led Harry back to the part of the room that she had conjured and set him down on a comfortable chair that was just big enough for her to sit with him. She knew that her own grief needed to be released but, as she sat down with Harry, Ginny felt the need to be strong enough to comfort her husband.
"Its okay Harry, let it out, I'm here for you baby and I'm not going anywhere," she whispered to Harry while she held him.
He continued to cry with his head in the crook of Ginny's neck feeling as though this was the one thing that he wanted to avoid Ginny seeing. He knew that she had figured out that he had wanted to be alone but he couldn't figure out why or how she had found him. Harry also felt her desire to be alone and her confused need to be strong but she also needed to release her grief. He wanted to get this out of the way before she had found him so that he could be her rock, her shoulder to cry on, not cry on her shoulder.
Ginny was finding it more and more difficult to hold her grief in while she held her husband. She could feel his desire to be strong for her but she knew that he needed this. As she kept thinking about Harry's need to grieve she found that she needed to open herself to her own grief with him. She felt the tears in her eyes refusing to be denied their release any longer. Ginny felt Harry's arms pull her closer to him. She allowed herself to be pulled onto his lap as she released her tears. Ginny clung tightly to Harry as they cried together, her head on his shoulder and his head on hers. She felt Harry's warmth entering her heart as her own warmth entered his heart. She felt that this was the most intimate way to be comforted and she began to feel better. The pain was still there but she felt that Harry shared her pain and that made it easier to overcome. Harry felt his own sorrow begin to lift even if only a little. He knew that Ginny was the reason that he was starting to feel better, but he also knew that he was the reason that she was feeling better as well. Slowly he lifted his head from her shoulder and kissed her softly.
"Thank you," he whispered.
"No baby, thank you," Ginny whispered back.
The couple sat in each other's arms sharing occasional kisses and talking about anything that they could to help them recover. Harry didn't care how long they sat there as long as it helped Ginny. Ginny knew that she and Harry should be getting down to the Great Hall so that they could join their family but she also knew that Harry was feeling better and she didn't want that to change just yet. Unfortunately she had glanced at Harry's watch and noticed that they had been sitting together for a few hours.
"Baby we need to go and make sure that everyone knows that we're okay," Ginny said.
"I know. Are you up to it though," Harry said with concern in his voice.
"I don't know but if I can't handle it, I'll still have you there with me," Ginny replied.
Harry smiled sadly and helped his wife to her feet. Ginny turned to pull Harry up only to see that he was already standing with his hand held out to her. As she took his hand Harry pulled Ginny into his arms and kissed her. When they pulled apart Harry smiled a bit.
"Let's go be with our family," he said.
Ginny smiled back to him as she nodded. The couple left the room and walked down to the Great Hall.
When they entered Mrs. Weasley pounced on them.
"There you two are, I've been worried sick about you," she said.
"We needed some time alone mum," Harry said.
Mrs. Weasley burst into tears when Harry said this. She pulled the couple into a bone crushing hug before almost literally dragging them off to the place where the rest of the family was sitting at the Gryphindor table. When the couple sat down Mr. Weasley came over and pulled his wife to his side.
"How are you two holding up," he asked in a trembling voice.
"Been better but we'll make it," Ginny said.
Harry knew from the tone of her voice that she was close to tears again. He squeezed her hand and leaned close to her ear.
"Go be with mum," he said softly.
Ginny looked at him for only a second before jumping out of her seat and running to her parents. Harry watched as his wife's tears fell again in her parents' arms. Harry smiled sadly watching Mr. and Mrs. Weasley comfort their daughter. A moment later Harry felt a pair of arms wrap around him from behind. Turning his head he saw Hermione. Ron was standing with his brothers at the end of the table so Harry started to wonder why Hermione had not stayed with Ron.
"How are you doing, 'Mione," Harry asked.
Hermione hugged him tighter before moving to sit so that they could talk to each other.
"Not so good Harry. I was worried about you and Ginny, trying to do what I could for Ron and trying to work out my own feelings," Hermione answered in a typical Hermione way.
"Hermione, as much as I appreciate your concern for Ginny and me, please stop worrying about us. We'll get through this in our own ways. Right now you need to take care of letting your own grief out and being there for Ron. I know that you are just as upset as the rest of us and holding it in will just make it worse. Can you worry about you, sis, for me," Harry said.
Hermione jumped at Harry, throwing her arms around him. She felt her tears start to fall as he returned her hug. Harry did his best to comfort his friend until Ron walked over.
"What do you think you're doing Potter," Ron asked.
"Trying to comfort my sister," Harry replied calmly.
Hermione let out a squeal as she squeezed Harry tighter. Ron smiled sadly at Harry before gently laying a hand on Hermione's shoulder.
"Sweetie can I talk to Harry for a moment," he asked softly.
Hermione nodded and got up slowly.
"Thanks Harry," she said.
Harry smiled at her, "Anytime sis."
Hermione hugged Harry again before walking over to sit with the rest of the Weasleys. Ron sat down and looked straight at Harry.
"How are you doing mate," he asked.
"I don't know Ron. I just can't figure it out," Harry said.
"Mate, I think we're all in a bit of shock, but I think you have just made Hermione's day and for that I thank you," Ron said.
"We're family Ron, me and Hermione. I know that we're no blood related but she's the sister that I've wanted for a long time," Harry said.
"Mate, you've got five brothers too, Remember that," Ron said.
Just then Fred, George, Bill, and Charlie walked over. Harry stared in surprise for a moment.
"Ron's right Harry. We've thought of you as a brother for a long time and, when you married Ginny, you made it official. We are not your in-laws, we're you family," Bill said.
Harry suddenly became interested in his robes, looking for holes. Ron knew what he was doing and looked at his brothers. Fred and George picked up on what Ron was trying to say with a look and turned to Bill and Charlie. The oldest boys nodded and the four of them walked a short distance away.
"Bill you go get mum and dad, Charlie you get Hermione, and we'll get Ginny," Fred said.
Bill and Charlie went the ways that they were told as Fred and George approached their sister.
"Gin we think that there's a young wizard who needs your attention," the twins said quietly.
Ginny looked up at them and followed their eyes, spotting Harry.
"What'd you do to him," she hissed.
"We think he's having a bit of trouble dealing with everything. Ron and Bill told him something we should have a few months ago," Fred stated.
"And that would be," Ginny said, feeling her temper begin to rise.
"That he's our brother," George said simply.
Ginny sighed in relief that her brothers hadn't done anything to upset Harry enough to make him leave.
"Listen Ginny, we sent Bill and Charlie to get mum and dad, and Hermione so that we could all show Harry that we're here for him but we came to get you so that you could help him see that," George said.
Ginny smiled and hugged her brothers.
"You have no idea what this is going to mean to him. You should be proud of yourselves," Ginny said.
Ginny followed the twins to where Harry and Ron were sitting. When Ron saw Ginny he nodded and stood, offering his seat to her. Ginny smiled but went over and settled onto Harry's lap. She noticed that he seemed to be avoiding everyone's gaze but she knew what he was trying to hide. Just as she was about to bring his gaze to meet hers, she saw Hermione and Charlie walk up. Hermione went and stood beside Ron while Charlie stood by the twins. A moment later Mr. and Mrs. Weasley walked up with Bill and Fleur. Ginny smiled at her family as she looked at them. She knew that they had always thought of Harry as one of their own but now she was sure that they saw him as more than just and adopted son or brother. To her he would always be the love of her life and her soul mate, to the rest of her family he has become a dark haired Weasley.
"Baby, I think a few people want to say something to you," Ginny whispered as she tugged Harry's chin so that he looked at her.
When he saw the Weasleys standing around him he felt a lump form in his throat.
"I'm so sorry," he said so softly that it took a moment for everyone to realize that he'd spoken.
"No Harry, you have nothing to be sorry for. Percy died saving his brothers' lives, he died a hero. We know about Remus too and we want you to know that your family is here for you," Mr. Weasley said.
Harry pulled Ginny closer to him, burying his head in her shoulder. Ginny felt his tears making her shirt wet and squeezed him tight. Mrs. Weasley looked like she was beside herself when she saw Harry's head on Ginny's shoulder. She hated to see Harry in pain and right now, with her own sorrow, this was too much for her. She went over and gently pulled Harry's head from Ginny's shoulder so that she could see his eyes.
"Harry, mum's here," she said softly.
Harry leaned over to Mrs. Weasley almost immediately. Ginny got up and allowed her mother to pull Harry into a hug. As she stood watching Ginny felt tears in her own eyes yet again. She looked over at Ron, who was holding a crying Hermione, and saw the he had a bit of a smile mixed with his own tears. Ron saw Ginny and waved her over so that he could comfort her. When Ginny got to her brother's side Hermione immediately wrapped an arm around her while Ron did the same.
"He'll be okay Ginny, he's got all of us," Ron said.
Ginny squeezed her brother tight.
"Thanks Ron, I think we both needed that," Ginny said.
"I know that Harry did, but you're right," Ron replied.
"Hermione's got us too," Ginny said as Hermione gave a bit of a sniff.
"Yes she does, and she's got Harry too," Ron said and then he kissed Hermione's cheek.