The reality was that Harry had a lot of decisions to make. Headmistress McGonagall had kindly encouraged the trio to take all the time they needed in deciding the next steps of their lives. But Harry, having not thought the next steps a possibility, was lost.
After tucking Ginny in, he had wandered down to the lake lost in thought.
Realistically, he had options. He owned Grimmauld Place. And surely Godric Hollow's cottage too, he accredited. Neither he felt could be a home.
He was sure the Weasleys would take him in.
Harry's heart pained. He felt so bad about the loss of Fred. Fred had always supported him; breaking him out of the Dursley's, sharing with him the Mauraders Map, sticking by him during the Tri-Wizard Tournament… Fred was good through and through, even though he had a fair dose of mischief in him. Which made Harry think of his Dad, or, if he'd had one, what his sibling might have been like. Harry stuck by what he said over a year ago – that laughs were more important now than ever. It was still true in this black time.
Harry had not even mustered the courage to speak with George yet. He owed that to him. Fred and George were difficult to separate in his own mind; all the things Fred had supported Harry on the twins had done together. They were a team; Harry's heart clenched more at the thought of losing one of his team. Ron, or Hermione…
After living independently with Ron and Hermione while on the run, Harry thought living independently now felt right. He really had grown up – though, even as a child, he perhaps had grown up faster due to his situation.
Having his own place made him think about if he should be taking Teddy in? Harry mused Andromeda would be lonely without her husband, daughter, and son-in-law, and would probably like to have Teddy around. A young child full-time would be a lot for a single Grandmother though.
Thinking of Teddy, and living independently, left Harry with two tasks. He needed to read the parenting book. And, he needed to sort out his career. He didn't need money. But he knew he would only be satisfied if he continued working hard - contributing to the magical world he loved. Willing to give his life for it, now given more time, there were still a lot of issues in the world Harry could help improve.
Calling, "Kreacher!" he was happy when he heard a crack and the house elf appeared before him.
"Kreacher, I cannot express how grateful I am for you. Thank you for caring for us at Grimmauld Place, and leading the house elves at Hogwarts. I'm sorry we couldn't return like we had planned…"
Kreacher held up his hand and said, "It's okay Master! I do not need your gratitude. I believe in what you believe."
This turn of events caught Harry off guard. Kreacher believed in equality? In the light side? Had they positively influenced him at last?
Harry beamed. He also wanted to hug the house elf in front of him.
Standing, he asked Kreacher if he would like to join him for breakfast. Together, they made their way into the castle and could smell breakfast wafting from the Great Hall.
Realizing he was still in sleep wear, he told Kreacher he would have to make his way to the dormitories before eating. Kreacher nodded his head and said, "I will go say good morning to the other elves, I have been busy away from the castle recently."
Though Harry was intrigued and wanted to know what Kreacher had been doing since the battle, he also wanted to avoid as much attention as he could – especially in pajamas – and vacated the front foyer. There would be time at breakfast to ask Kreacher about his life and plans. Maybe it would help Harry plan too.
**xx**xx**xx
Walking to the portrait hole he was concerned when the portrait lady opened for him without a password. He could be an intruder under polyjuice. He knew Voldemort was gone – his scar hadn't hurt since the last battle – but there were still people with malicious intents around. People who would, he acrimoniously acknowledged, desire vengeance on those who stayed in the Gryffindor commons.
It was still quiet inside. George was sitting in an armchair facing away from the fire. He almost looked suspicious, watching the boys' dorms. 'Was he waiting for me?' Harry thought, feeling awful. He owed George apologies and sympathy. Harry couldn't imagine losing his second half.
Harry walked past the scattered families meeting throughout the room, giving a small wave to some and a smile to others. His walking was better after seeing Madame Pomfrey. Ginny was right.
George didn't pay him any attention but sat attentively. Facing George, as Harry walked past the spot he seemed to be casually watching, Harry let out a sharp and loud yelp.
"Aow!" he started as he was flung into the air by his left ankle. His robes hung down past his face as they untied from the fast motion and began falling off. After only one kick, Harry realized that he was a donner. He hadn't even his wand with him.
George cancelled the spell and Harry plummeted to the ground.
"Harry!" he said surprised, as he dropped on his knees, helping Harry into a sitting position.
"Harry! That was not for you." George continued. "I was testing a new specialization charm Fred and I had just made before …" George left off, righting the glasses on Harry's shocked face.
"Charli and I went to our flat above the shop, to collect memories for the funeral." George restarted with a crack in his voice. "I put the specialization charm on the garland above your head, to only hoist family into the air. I was watching out for a red head – or Fleur - and didn't expect anyone else to identify with our family."
Harry was definitely in shock. He was not prepared for attacks. He was vulnerable, and exposed. His pulse was pounding away erratically; he felt like he could have just died.
"Constant Vigilance" ran through Harry's mind. He was going to end up as senile as Alastor Moody. There was no way his heart could handle another shock. Never in his life. The fuse that could depart him from sanity was too short, and his grip on life too strong.
"It's okay George," Harry offered and George helped him to his feet. Not wanting to make eye contact with onlookers in the room, he hastened to straighten the robe on his shoulders.
'What must people in the room think?' he mused. Their chosen one, scared silly from a prank.
"Harry," George began again, upon seeing his torso. "Harry, you look bad. Are you okay?"
"Fine," Harry answered with an attempt at a reassuring smile, and he turned towards the boys' dormitories to finish pulling the robes closed.
Too late.
Ginny, followed by Ron and Hermione, were on the way out of the stairway. And Ginny, for certain, had gotten a look at him.
**xx**xx**xx
Just the person she was thinking of. This wasn't a surprise, as everyone thought habitually of Harry Potter, the saviour. Adding to that though, were her common and dwelling thoughts of Harry, the now man, she knew.
His stance screamed a vulnerability to her that was out of place for the post-battle, collected and confident Harry that he had been displaying to the world. Turning from George she heard him say "Fine" without true heart, and watched as he reached to tie up his robes.
His chest was all shades of dark. His rib bones easily visible. He broke eye contact as soon as he had made it with her.
She realized he had hoped to retreat to the solitude of the dorms. He didn't think he'd run into them.
**xx**xx**xx
It was Hermione's intake of breath he heard, however, as he looked away.
Wishful in his thinking, he considered that they might just let him pass without question if he carried on silently. He closed the gap between where they stood stationary, then relented.
"Morning," he said, more brightly than he felt.
Ron looked unsettled, while Hermione and Ginny looked on with concern for different reasons.
"Morning mate," Ron greeted. "I think we're heading for breakfast. Didn't know where you were."
"I was just at the lake, being outside seems more natural now." Harry shared freely.
He hoped his openness would grant what he intended by it. He thought it was the best chance to relax his friends enough for them to leave him - without worrying over him.
Hermione and Ron bore faces of understanding, but Ron admonished, "But there is food here, and beds."
Harry let out a laugh while he passed them on the stairs, agreeing, "There is little I miss about being cooped up in that tent."
**xx**xx**xx
They shared the laugh, even Ginny - who could only imagine those three desolates for months with nothing, and only themselves for company.
Ginny's laugh was natural, in hearing Harry's. His was bloody endearing.
Since Ron and Hermione seemed to indicate they would carry on, Ginny walked forward into the common room. Stopping to talk with George, Ron and Hermione hung back as well.
Because she felt it was unavoidable, she brought up the topic of Harry's condition. Ron said he'd seen Harry worse, and that he would heal. Already he was walking better than yesterday. Ron couldn't help thinking also that he would – at least try to - make Harry purple himself if Harry passed the line with Ginny.
Hermione was less convinced; she asked if Harry had been assessed. She smiled approvingly at Ginny's reassurance that she had advised him on that yesterday and that he'd followed her advice.
Not wanting George to be alone, and wanting to discuss more about this prank specialization charm, Ron asked George to breakfast. Ginny commented she'd meet them later, crediting that she should get dressed, she let them go.
Turning first to the girls' dormitories, she was off.
**xx**xx**xx
Heart still beating faster than normal, Harry breathed calmly and pulled the wand from the pocket of the discarded khakis. He really had been relaxed – or just worn out – last night going to bed, being so careless. He started putting up the privacy wards that had been the first thing the trio would have done wherever they stayed. The ritual was so second nature, the act reassuring in itself to him.
Satisfied that the dorm was secure, he could compose himself without concerns. The obvious first morals he accepted from the morning's events were that he should stay alert to his surroundings, and not wander defenceless.
Taking off his robe, his bruises did look bad. But they did not hurt. He was concerned about the others; he had asked them, of course, how they were earlier, but he had accepted their favourable responses without looking into them further. He knew he had a knack for brushing things off when he was hurt, but didn't want that for the others. He did imagine Mrs. Weasley or Hermione would have made everyone get assessed by now though.
Stepping into the shower, Harry made a mental note to retrieve his own clothing that he had tucked away last summer at the Burrow. The dress robes he donned at Dumbledore's funeral would do for the memorial this afternoon.
Rubbing a towel over his hair, he cast a "Scourgify" on the khakis he wore yesterday and pulled them on.
Conscientious of his health – not wanting to think of the ear drum damage an angry Madame Pomfrey or Molly Weasley could inflict on him – he then picked up the bruise salve to reapply.
Unscrewing the lid he heard knocking coming from what sounded like the stairwell wall. Throwing on the robe over his pants he opened the door wand in hand.
Ginny was standing, idly tapping around on the wall left of the door.
Harry grinned; so pleased with his wards, touched she was here, and humoured by her misaimed knocking. In a fluid motion he leapt from the still camouflaged doorway, greeting a cheery "Hey Ginny!" at her while pulling on her shoulder to swing her to face him. His full out laughter at her satisfyingly surprised scream, died prematurely. He realized he had seriously frightened her.
Ginny's fleeing retreat resulted in her back pressing up against the wall she had previously been knocking on - her free hands clutching her heart.
Harry's heart melting at seeing her genuinely frightened, he let his laughing die out as he replaced it with an encouraging smile. Moving towards her and opening his arms he offered "I'm sorry, it's okay, the dorm is up three more stairs," slowly, as he embraced her.
Ginny readily accepted and returned his embrace. Her body leaning into his as she listened to his comforting words.
Someone downstairs called up asking if everyone was okay. Ginny called out that she was just fine as she pulled away from Harry.
Now, feeling like laughing herself, she walked up three more stairs looking expectantly at Harry.
Harry looked back and forth before he pointed his wand at the wall. He began rhyming off a series of incantations she did not recognize with their associated wand movements. All his spells sounded like one run-on incantation; she mused he must be very practiced at these spells and this sequencing. Finishing with a, "Now you can turn around," Ginny almost thought he was still casting.
They entered his dorm and Harry asked how she'd slept. He had not, been intending the question in reference to that she had slept in this very room last night. He was just thinking of normal morning conversation.
"Pretty good, in a boy's bed," Ginny quickly replied cheekily.
"Oh, right." Harry dumbly answered. "Well, I'm glad you had an okay night's sleep. I'm concerned that people might have difficulty."
Ginny knew he must be. She sat on the edge of his bed watching him. "Are you coming down for breakfast this morning?" she asked.
"I was planning on it. I just needed to… Madame Pomfrey gave me bruise salve." Harry relented.
"Do you want me to help put it on?" caringly she offered.
Harry let out a bark of laughter and "Sure," and then quickly backtracked. Of course he wanted her touch - that would be brilliant. But no, they were not intimate. "But no, it's okay, I can manage."
Ginny raised an eyebrow and made no indication of leaving.
"Haa," Harry sighed resigning himself to her staying; she didn't seem to be offering to grant him privacy.
Harry took off the robe, acquired the salve from where he'd left it in the washroom, and sat across from her on Ron's bed applying it to himself. He assured her Madame Pomfrey had fixed him up and he had no pain. Harry was glad to hear that Madame Pomfrey had confirmed Ginny had no injuries from the battle. Apprehensive about the next answer, Harry asked her if she was injured from her time at Hogwarts this past year.
"I'm healthy Harry," she replied. "We can talk about what you missed another time."
Steeling herself, she asked about the prank. "George really got you earlier. Are you feeling anxious or uneasy?"
He told her he just needed to be more aware of his surroundings, and keep his wand on him. And he joked that he felt like he could understand why Moody was the way he was.
Before heading for breakfast, she pulled her wand on his borrowed clothing. "Tailori" she sung twice with a swish across the pants and shirt he donned.
"Growing up with boy's hand-me-downs, I know how to make clothes look good."
And she wasn't kidding. To her, Harry looked rather sharp.
**xx**xx**xx
**xx**xx**xx
**xx**xx**xx
/A.N.
(N.N. Natalie Note.)
Thank you for reading the first fanfiction I've written since I was a tween! I appreciate any feedback (positive, critical, or opinions on how the 'post-battle' moments should have gone so far! Also, please feel free to comment on characterization. I am trying to stay true to cannon. But, also, endeavor to create how Harry could be redefining himself as he takes on new roles.).
I'd love to hear any recommendations for fanfictions I should read myself.
Thank you, blessings!
Up next - Breakfast with Kreacher. The trio plan. The memorial. The media.