AN: Newly edited chapters will have 'be' before the title.

Disclaimer: sadly I do not own the HP world; it belongs to JKR and Bloomsbury publishing. The lucky bastards! J/k! lol! I love you JKR for inventing HP!

'be' Purple, Green, and Blue

Harry, Hermione, and the Weasley's all trudged up to the Gryffindor common room. It was mid-afternoon and none of them had eaten anything since the day before, the trio even longer. When they got to the common room and told the Fat Lady the headmistress's orders she set a new password for them only. Harry called Kreacher to the room and asked him to bring a light lunch for everyone from the kitchens. The Weasley's were all astounded at how much of a turnaround Kreacher had made since they had all last seen him. He bowed to Harry and called him master, and never once did the insults blood-traitors or mudblood leave his mouth, in fact he didn't even mutter to himself anymore. After he brought up enough food to feed seven Weasley families, he bowed to Harry and left with a crack.

Harry looked around the room and looked at his friends. The loss of Fred was loud and clear in the room. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had not touched their food, but were staring, red-eyed, into space, her head on his shoulder silently crying. Charlie, Bill, and Fleur were sitting together eating slowly at the table Harry usually sat at to do his homework. They weren't speaking but Harry could tell that the brothers had cried recently and were trying to stay sane together. Fleur simply looked lost wanting to comfort her husband but not knowing how. Ron and Hermione, now that their story had been told could finally show their emotions and were comforting each other quietly in the corner, softly crying and sharing their thoughts. Percy and Ginny were sitting together on a couch in the center of the room. Percy, while crying himself, was also comforting Ginny, who was sobbing noiselessly onto his shoulder. The last member of the family Harry observed was the most heartbreaking. George was staring at his hands, his dry eyes wide and blank, and his mouth slightly open. He was obviously in severe shock. Harry didn't know where to go or what to do. The rest of the family seemed to be so consumed in their own grief and mourning that they seemed to have forgotten the one person who was probably hurt the most by the whole situation. Harry had never dealt with a person in shock before but George looked so forlorn sitting there all by himself, he knew that he had to do something. So he walked over and sat down next to him.

Harry looked at his friend and put his hand on his shoulder. At the physical contact George jumped slightly, but the touch brought him out of his reverie. He looked at Harry, and Harry's heart broke. George saw Harry start to tear up and it broke down the dam of emotion and pain that George was feeling. Suddenly, it all hit him at once and the pain was like that of running headlong into a brick wall. At Harry's tears, George broke down and began crying. He progressively got louder, and Harry knew that he had to do something so he did the first thing that came to mind. He hugged him. He grabbed onto George like he was his own brother and he let him cry on his shoulder. George, not fully realizing who he was holding onto, held Harry in a death grip and sobbed into his shoulder. After a few moments George let go and put his head in his hands and his elbows on his knees crying and rocking back and forth. Suddenly he screamed. He screamed so hard with such agony that his family finally looked up from their own sorrow and remembered Fred's twin. They all stood up simultaneously and ran to him. Harry had got down on his knees in front of George right before he screamed and was the first one in front of George. George was screaming again, and the sound was like listening to pure agony, worse than the Cruciatus curse. His family, seeing his pain, didn't know what to do. Harry reached up and grabbed George's hands and pulled them away from his head, he then grabbed George's face and made him look into his eyes.

"George, I want you to listen to me, ok? Are you listening?' Harry asked him, George nodded. He was still sobbing almost uncontrollably. "George, listen to me, you have to calm down; you'll hurt yourself if you don't. Do you understand?" Harry asked him slowly and firmly. George tried to start rocking again, but Harry had a firm grip on him and wouldn't let him. Harry and George locked eyes for several moments, while George calmed down enough so that Harry could let go of his head. "Your dad's going to sit down next to you, ok?" Harry asked him and George nodded mutely. Arthur looked at Harry and nodded his thanks before sitting down on the couch next to George. He pulled his second youngest son to him and hugged him tight to let George know that his dad was there. Everyone was crying silently surrounding the couch and sitting on chairs, leaving the couch to the father and son.

"Sshhh, sh, sh. It's going to be all right son. I know everything looks bleak right now, but he wouldn't have wanted you to give up on life for him. He went bravely and nobly. I'm very proud of him and you should be too. He would have wanted you to go on. He wouldn't have wanted you to give up." Arthur was softly saying soothing sounds and trying to comfort his inconsolable child.

"It hurts so badly. It hurts…what am I going to do? I…I feel like…a part of me is…gone. I don't…" George broke off into a new bout of heart wrenching, body wracking sobs. All Arthur could do was to softly talk to George and try to calm him down. Ten minutes passed of Arthur's soft murmurs and George's steadily quieting sniffs. Soon, George was sound asleep in his father's arms. When Arthur realized that George was asleep he pried himself out his grip and stood up, he then bent over and swiftly picked up his full grown son and carried him to the boys dormitory.

He returned a few minutes later, staring at the ground and walking slowly. Losing a child was one thing, but losing a child who left a twin behind was a whole different deal. He now not only had to stay strong for his wife and children but also had to stay doubly strong for George, for if George broke and gave up, his family would lose another child and brother also. As he walked into the room he looked up and saw his family watching him.

"He's asleep. In the first year dormitory. I…I think someone should go the infirmary and get something that will help us all sleep tonight." Arthur looked so forlorn and as Harry looked around him he realized that no one wanted to leave the safety of the common room, or have someone else leave.

"Kreacher!" Harry said firmly. A loud crack sounded through the room as a small elf bowed.

"Yes, master Harry? You called Kreacher?" he croaked.

"Kreacher, go the Hospital wing and bring back about…eleven doses of Sleeping Draught back here, please. If Madam Pomfrey asks, say it's for the Weasley family, ok? Thanks." Harry had stooped to the elf's level, and he rose as he finished speaking. The elf agreed and left with a pop.

"Thank you Harry, I don't want anyone separated for even a moment right now. Oh dear, my poor Georgie, my poor Fred." Molly moaned and laid her head back to rest on the back of the sofa her tears streaming back into her hair.

Harry walked over to the couch where Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Percy were sitting, and sat in an armchair. Percy was holding his head in his hands with a handkerchief to his eyes, silently shaking. Ginny was crying and hiccupping while rubbing Percy on the back. Ron had Hermione's head on his shoulder and was whispering to her words of comfort. Harry sat for a long time staring nothing and thinking. He had cried himself dry in the headmaster's office earlier; he missed everyone dearly, but could not cry anymore. Kreacher had come and gone again, leaving the corked vials of sleeping draught on a table for them. Harry felt weary, he knew his job was done, Voldemort was gone, but at what cost? So many lives were lost, his childhood was long past, and his surrogate family was slowly becoming zombies. Harry sat for a long time, thinking and wondering. When he finally looked up the only people left in the room were Ron and Hermione. They looked over at him when he looked up.

"Well, look who finally came out of his trance, are you going to make a prediction for us now, too?" Ron asked with a smirk. Harry looked quizzically at him. "I thought I'd lighten the mood, guess it was too soon." Ron shrugged.

"Harry, what are you thinking about?" Hermione asked him quietly. Harry thought for another moment before replying.

"I can't believe Mrs. Weasley swore." He said, causing them both to look at him and Ron to burst out laughing. Hermione looked at him shocked then she too started laughing. Soon all three were laughing harder than they had in many months. The relief of being done with their mission had finally sunk in and the release of their stress was amazing, and slightly liberating. They were still laughing hysterically when a slight cough resounded from the other side of the room. Their laughter died when they realized it was George standing there.

"Oh, hi George, um, we didn't wake you did we?" asked Hermione.

"No. I was awake and I heard laughter, so I thought that maybe…Fred…" George stopped talking and sighed; he looked up at them and asked, "So, what were you laughing about?" They looked slightly put out before Harry spoke.

"Well, Hermione asked me what I was thinking, and I said, um, I can't believe Mrs. Weasley swore." For a second George looked the same as before, forlorn and lost, but then he looked up at them and smiled his sideways smile and said, "Wait, what? She did what? What did she say?" for a second they saw a flash his old self again, but the sadness never completely left his eyes. Harry smiled at him before launching into the story about the battle between Mrs. Weasley and Bellatrix Lestrange. By the end they had gotten George to smile and chuckle a little, which they saw as a sign that he hadn't given up yet.

Since Harry had slept earlier in the day and Ron and Hermione had slept a little on the couch and George had slept for a while none of them were very tired so they decided to stay up and chat for a while longer. They asked George about Potterwatch and he asked them about their voyage, but mostly they talked about nothing. They all wanted to keep their minds off the missing twin, but it was a fact that hovered around them. After awhile, the conversation was joined by Ginny who had woken up hearing laughter from the common room and came searching. The small group had been talking about their accidental magic when they were little and Harry was telling the group about the freak haircut he had not wanted and had re-grown over night, when Ginny appeared. She joined in the conversation seeing that George was participating somewhat. After they sat and talked for a good half hour, George suddenly sat forward and looked at Ron.

"Ron you remember when you broke Fred's broomstick and Fred turned your teddy into a spider? Merlin, that was funny, you went screaming out the front door to Mum who was hanging up the wash. She came in and started yelling at us but before she could even get close to us, you did your first accidental magic on us. Remember what you did?" George had done what they couldn't do: he mentioned Fred. That was what broke the ice and the laughter from Ron and Ginny was strong and loud. Hermione and Harry had never heard the story before so they looked at each other and back at the siblings who were all, even George, laughing hard enough to have tears on their cheeks. As soon as Ron got his breath, he told Harry and Hermione.

"I turned their whole bodies purple and green, and their hair became blue. Ha, ha, ha! And they…they…oh Merlin, they stayed that way for a month!" Ron was trying so very hard not to laugh while telling the story, but failing miserably. As soon as Harry and Hermione heard what had happened they burst out laughing.

"And then…when they decided to get him back…I heard their plan and told Ron… he, he, he…and ha, ha, ha …he decided to get them again…" Ginny was laughing so hard she couldn't finish, so George decided to try and give it a shot.

"So we had decided to…he, he, he…we were going to…ha, ha, ha…oh jeez I can't… breathe…ah, ha, ha, ha…we were going to…stick his hand in warm water while he was sleeping, HA, HA, HA!" George was laughing so hard and so loud he couldn't breathe properly. "But he and Ginny…gasp, HA, HA, HA! They…they…they got us back by…gluing our buts to the toilet seats! AH, HA, HA, HA! It hurt so bad, we couldn't sit down for days!" By this time they were all laughing dreadfully loudly, and Ron and Ginny were rolling on the floor laughing so hard they weren't making any noise at all, and having a hard time breathing.

Meanwhile, across the room, Molly, Arthur, Bill, Fleur, Charlie, and Percy were all standing there smiling and chuckling, the women were crying softly.

"Well, I don't think we're going to have to worry about George wallowing in depression." Charlie told Arthur, who chuckled sadly and said, "We'll see."

After the laugh fest was over, everyone was a little hungry so Harry called Kreacher for more food, and they all ate a moderate meal of deli sandwiches and lots of pumpkin juice. They told more stories about Fred and George's antics before, during, and after school for a few more hours, this time the older members of the family adding in their favorites. People were drifting off to sleep in their chairs around midnight, sleeping draughts long forgotten. Molly and Arthur were left awake together.

"Arthur, he'll be okay, right?" Molly asked quietly. Arthur looked at her and asked, "George? Yes, sweetheart, I think he'll be just fine. It'll be a long hard road for him, but I think he will recover just fine. At least I hope so. These first few weeks will be the hardest." She laid her head down on his shoulder and sighed.

"I can't believe he's gone, Arthur. My poor babies. I'm going to miss him so much." She cried quietly on her husband's shoulder till she fell asleep. Arthur, left awake, sighed, and whispered, "I'll miss him too." He wiped a stray tear from his wife's face as a single tear of his own trailed down to his chin.

The next day Harry rose before the sun, he sat and watched the Weasley's and Hermione sleeping. He rose and walked over to Mrs. Weasley and laid his blanket that he had conjured in the night across her sleeping form, before moving towards the portrait hole. He thought he would go for a walk before everyone woke up. He didn't know that at that moment a pair of bright brown eyes was watching his exit.

He walked for a while through the quiet castle before heading to the Owlery. He sat on a ledge overlooking the grounds and lake; a small barn owl flew in and landed next to Harry. For a quarter of an hour Harry sat and stroked the owl softly while waiting for the sun to rise. He wasn't expecting a slight cough behind him and nearly fell out of the window as he turned to see who was behind him. It was Ginny. They had spoken briefly during the battle, and shortly the day before but other than that they hadn't been alone since his birthday the summer before.

"Ginny! What are you doing up here?" He asked her surprised.

"I followed you. I saw you leave the common room and followed you up here. I saw what you did for Mum before you left. It was one of the sweetest things I've ever seen. Thank you for that. She's going to have the hardest time of it, after George that is." She sighed. "So, what are you doing up here?" she asked. She had remained by the door the whole interaction.

"Well, I used to come up here to see Hedwig and watch the sunrise. Since Hedwig is gone, this little guy here joined me," abruptly the little owl flew to a perch to sleep. "But I guess he was tired, so…um, would you like to join me?" he suddenly realized she might be mad at him and was worried she might want to discuss his voyage, or why she couldn't have come with. He looked at her as she ventured nearer to him; she was smiling softly so his worries flew out the overlarge window. She climbed onto the ledge with him and sat a bit apart from him. They looked at each other and Harry opened his mouth to speak just as the sunlight rose over the forest. She put her finger over his lips and said, "Not right now Harry, lets just enjoy the sunrise." She scooted closer to him and he wrapped his arm around her, she laid her head on his shoulder and they watched the sun rise over the forest and Hogwarts. For a half hour they sat silently, and just looked at the grounds. When Ginny's stomach growled they giggled, and she lifted her head and looked at him with an embarrassed smile.

"I guess that means it's time for food, huh?" Harry chuckled.

"I guess we should head back now, Mum will be worried." Ginny looked out at the grounds once more before standing back up and moving out of the way for Harry.

"Ginny, I just want to say, I'm sorry. I know you were worried about us, I just didn't know how to let you know that we were okay," Harry broke off not knowing what else to say.

"Harry, it's okay, I understand that you had to go. I knew that no news probably meant good news, or at least that you weren't captured and taken to Tom. There were moments that I was furious with you for leaving me behind, but then my more logical side took over and I understood. I just wish we could have done more to help you. There were nights that I thought about you, and imagined you were watching over me somehow, it's silly I know," she mumbled.

"No, it's not silly. There were many nights that I…um, well, I took out the Marauders map and watched your dot just lying in your bed. I wished that I could have been there with you guys. I am sorry I had to leave you Gin." He had finished speaking, and looked at her, she was crying slightly. "Gin? What's the matter, did I say the wrong thing?" he looked at her worriedly. She giggled.

"No Harry, these are happy tears. I can't believe that you watched me on the map. Harry, at Dumbledore's funeral you said that…that we couldn't be together, because you had to go after Tom. It's just that…well, he's dead now and…well, wouldyoubemyboyfriendagain?" she finished in a rush. Harry looked incredulous. She looked worried that he would say no, and quickly went on, "You don't have to, I know it's a little rushed but…you know what, never mind, it's okay." She turned to run out, but Harry grabbed her wrist to stop her.

"Gin, it's okay, I was just surprised, that's all. I was worried that you had moved on and didn't think of me that way, I'd love to be your boyfriend again." He chuckled and pulled her into a tight embraced and hugged her as if he would never get to again.

The two showed up in the common room shortly after their relationship reconciliation. They were holding hands as they walked through the portrait hole, and they saw that people were still sleeping, so they walked over to an empty couch and sat down. They sat and whispered stories to each other for a while until more people were awake. Ron and Hermione were the first to notice how close they were sitting.

"Well, what do you know? Didn't take them long, did it?" Ron chuckled.

"Oh Ron, leave them alone, Harry's had a tough enough year being away from Ginny, if you tease them, so help me I will curse you into the next century. Or better yet, I'll sic Ginny on you." She smirked at the horrified look on her boyfriends face, and then laid her head back onto his shoulder.

"You know, I kind of like the sound of that…" he chuckled.

"Of what?" she asked suspiciously.

"Ginevra Molly Potter." He was laughing out loud now. Hermione punched him on the arm hard.

"Oh no you don't Ronald Weasley, you will not torment them now; I refuse to allow you to…" she broke off when he reached over and kissed her.

"Wow, there's finally a way to make her be quiet!" Harry had watched across the room. Harry and Ginny had heard only Hermione raising her voice right before Ron had kissed her, but never the less; she turned away from Ron and blushed.

"I love you Hermione Granger, and there's nothing you can do about it," he whispered in her ear. She smiled and turned to him and kissed him soundly on the lips before replying, "I love you too, Ron Weasley, you're stuck with me."

Across the room, Harry and Ginny were smiling and watching the two snogging.

"Well, they look happy." Ginny snickered. "I wonder how long before—"

"Ronald Weasley!" shouted Molly.

"Oh, right on schedule!" snorted Ginny. Molly went on lecturing her youngest son about treating a lady with respect and not parading her about in public snogging and being inappropriate. Ron looked horrified, while Hermione turned purple trying not to laugh at her boyfriend's misfortune. Harry, Ginny, Bill, Fleur, Charlie, Arthur, Percy, and George all sat chuckling in the background. Eventually Arthur rescued Ron and Hermione by pulling Molly away and engaging her into a conversation with her elder children about when to return to the Burrow, while everyone had a small breakfast brought by Kreacher.

A short while later, McGonagall came in and walked over to Molly and Arthur.

"May I sit?" she asked them.

"Of course, Minerva. What brings you up here?" asked Molly.

"Well, I know this is a hard time for all of you, but we need to know what to do with Fred's body. I know it's only been a day, but we need to take the deceased to the funeral home's." She said all this very quietly, so that George, who was sitting in the corner with his older brothers, wouldn't hear. At her words Molly teared up, Arthur however knew that he had to take care of his son's body soon. He leaned over his wife and told Minerva he would meet her in her office a half an hour later to discuss it with her. She nodded and stood up. She then walked over to Harry, who was sitting with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny.

"Mr. Potter, the minister would like to see you in my office in an hour, please. Come by yourself. Mr. Weasley, Ms Granger, please come to my office a half an hour after Harry, the minister would like to see you two then, also." She smiled and nodded to Ginny before turning and leaving the room.

"Wonder what Kingsley wants to talk to me about," Harry wondered out loud.

"He probably wants to discuss the press conference with you and what you're going to talk about. He wants to make sure you both have your stories straightened out," Hermione replied matter-of-factly.

Exactly an hour later, Harry walked up to the newly fixed gargoyle leading to the headmaster's office. He stood looking at the gargoyle realizing he didn't know the password. Suddenly, the sound of stone grinding on stone came and the gargoyle moved over to reveal Professor McGonagall.

"Good, you're on time." She turned to the statue and waved her wand and muttered something under the breath so Harry didn't hear, then turned to him and said, "Follow me." She led the way up the winding staircase, at the top Mr. Weasley was waiting for them. He said goodbye to the professor and patted Harry on the shoulder and wished him a quiet good luck before taking his leave. Harry watched the defeated looking hunched form of Arthur Weasley traveling downwards until he could no longer see him before he turned around. Minerva McGonagall, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Professors Flitwick, Sprout, Slughorn, and several staff and Order members were also present and watching him. Harry stopped and stared.

"Please come in Mr. Potter, have a seat," McGonagall said kindly. Harry walked over to the only seat left open next to the head desk. The chairs were arranged in a circle so everyone could see everyone else.

"Mr. Potter, er, may I just call you Harry for now, it makes things a lot easier?" asked Kingsley.

"I don't see why not," Harry replied.

"Harry, I asked that you come here today to discuss the press conference we have to hold in a day or two. We need to discuss what you're going to tell them—"

"Wait, wait, wait. What I'm going to tell them? Do I really have to say anything?" Harry interrupted.

"Yes, Harry, since you're the one who delivered the final blow, I think it best if you tell your story. Of course, keeping certain, er, details to yourself." Harry fought to not roll his eyes. Well, of course I'm going to keep some things to myself. Why in the world would they think I'd tell the world about Horcruxes? Harry thought to himself. "The Wizengamot feels it would be best if you only told the public that, yes, you were on the run, but you got tired of running and decided to fight. You thought the best place to join the fight would be Hogsmeade or Hogwarts. So you traveled to Hogsmeade and then to the school where the fight began and ended." Kingsley was talking in his calming tone of voice, but Harry wasn't agreeing.

"What about when people begin to ask why Voldemort was after me, a mere seventeen year old in the first place? Or, where was I that whole time? Or, why didn't I come back sooner? Or why I chose Hogwarts and endangered the children there? Listen, I know you're trying to make sure the information about the Horcruxes doesn't get out, but I know that and so do Hermione and Ron. We won't let that secret get out because we know the ramifications if it does. Have you forgotten, we were the ones to hunt down and destroy the Horcruxes, if anyone understands the magnitude of this secret, it's us three?

"I don't agree with keeping everything a secret from the public. I hate the press, and would like to never deal with them ever again, but I know that's never going to happen, so I want to make sure I answer as many people's questions during the press conference so that I don't have to deal with it again. I am a member of the public and I know what it's like not getting the truth from the press. I hate it. So, if I can, I will make sure the people know the truth. Oh, and if Rita Skeeter shows her ugly face there, I'll turn her into the dog she is, understand?" Harry looked to the minister, who nodded.

"I understand your concerns about Rita Skeeter, and she won't be there. But what are you going to be talking about during the press conference, where you were, what happened, what?" Kingsley looked like he was getting frustrated. He knew that being the Interim Minister would be difficult; Kingsley was in charge of keeping the public calm and re-building the ministry from the destruction of Voldemort's reign.

"Kingsley, I'm sure Mr. Potter knows what not to say. As long as that cow, Rita Skeeter won't be there, I believe everything will be okay. Right, Mr. Potter?" The Headmistress looked at Harry sternly. He nodded trying not to smile at the stern professor's jibe against another person.

"Actually, I would like to know what the whole conference is going to entail, who all will be there, who'll be talking besides me, and what will they be talking about?" Harry asked, but before he could be answered a knock came from the door. McGonagall got up and said come in. When Harry looked over he saw Ron and Hermione walking in. He waved hello to them and they walked over to where he was sitting, just as two more chairs showed up. They sat down and looked to Harry, wondering what they were doing here.

"Mr. Weasley, Ms Granger, Kingsley asked for you two to join us. We are discussing the nature of the press conference we will be having with in the next few days and we wish for you two to stand up with Harry and tell a part of your journey or mention something. We are also coming up with an idea of what else we will be covering in the meeting with the press. If you have any ideas let us know. Kingsley?" McGonagall looked at him.

"Well, so far we know for sure that I will stand up and announce that, yes, Voldemort is unequivocally dead and then we will have Harry and his friends get up and share their story. I will also be mentioning certain people who helped in the war effort and resistance. I will also publicly announce that anyone the 'Corrupt Ministry' has declared unfit to practice magic is now allowed to, and anyone dubbed Undesirable, are no longer. If someone had their wand destroyed or confiscated by the Ministry, the Ministry will replace or give back their wand. We will be going back to the way the Ministry was run before Voldemort got his claws into it through Pius Thicknesse. Minus the press manipulation and bribes, of course. Is there anything that anyone feels I have left out?" He finished looking around the room. No one said anything for a minute before Ron cleared his throat.

"Er, well, what about…all the people who died. Will anyone be saying anything about them, mentioning them?" Ron suddenly realized who he was talking to and turned red. The room looked at Ron, which caused him to turn even redder, although they were all looking approvingly at him.

"Well, we have been thinking about doing a memorial sometime this week or next. That will be where we will honor those who fought and died for the cause. We will also need people to speak at that event also, but that is not what we came here to talk about right now. We will actually be holding another meeting tomorrow, or possibly today, to discuss the memorial. You three are also welcome to attend that meeting if you want. But other than that, do you all think we have the press covered?"

Hermione cleared her throat, "Will the school be opening next year?" she asked quietly.

"Well," McGonagall began, "The board of Governors has yet to give me an answer on that. I believe they are waiting to hear that V-Voldemort will not be returning. I'm sure that it will be opening again next year, though I'm not sure what we'll do about all the students that missed the last year," she finished while looking at the trio.

"Well, is there anything else?" Everyone shook their heads so Kingsley went on. "Well, does anyone need to go anywhere right away? We are done a little early, but we could get a head start on tomorrows meeting." Only one person said they needed to go so they continued with the meeting.

Thirty minutes later, it had been decided that Kingsley would start the memorial, McGonagall, Hermione, Ron, Harry and a few others would get up and say a few words. A monument would also be unveiled. It would be held the day after the press meeting, or in other words, in two days and there would be a luncheon afterwards. The whole memorial was completely planned out by the end of the meeting.

The trio left and realized that they had missed lunch so they decided to go to the kitchens for some leftovers before heading back up to the common room. As they reached the kitchens Harry suddenly had a memory flash of a short elf, running and hugging him around the knees at the beginning of every kitchen visit. He stopped suddenly.

"Harry, what's the matter?" Hermione looked at him with an anxious glance when she realized that he wasn't with them anymore.

"I don't…think I can go in there yet…I just…Dobby…" he whispered, tears welled up in his eyes but he refused to let them fall.

"Oh, Harry, it's okay, we understand. Should we all just go up to the common room and you could call Kreacher?" she asked, but her stomach gave an obvious growl.

"No, it's okay; you two go ahead and get some lunch. I'll go somewhere and call Kreacher. No, really it's okay. You two haven't had any alone time together for so long anyways, I'd feel like a third wheel, go on." Harry smiled reassuringly and turned away to walk back to the main hallway. "Just don't do anything I wouldn't do!" he called back over his shoulder chortling to himself. His walk back to the castle entrance hall went slowly; he used the time to reminisce about the time he had spent over the years with his two best friends. He was so into his thoughts, he ran straight into something very solid.

"Oomph! Good God, Potter, watch where you're going! Great, now I need to go wash and shower, thanks a lot, Potter." Draco Malfoy was the last person Harry wanted to see at that moment. As malicious as Malfoy was Harry couldn't find the energy to retort.

"Whatever, Malfoy. Enjoy your shower then," he replied as he walked away.

"Jeez Potter, you just defeated the evilest wizard in the last century, shouldn't you be signing autographs and giving interviews? Why are you sulking around the dungeons, when your fan club awaits you?" Malfoy was sneering at Harry blocking his way forward, the only way to get away from him was either back the way he came or to push passed Malfoy and hope he didn't deck him.

"What do you want Malfoy? I'm not exactly in the mood to deal with you right now. Maybe you could go and annoy someone else for once." It was apparently the wrong thing to say because Malfoy retorted with, "But why would I want to do that? You're so much fun to annoy, maybe I should just follow you and—" Malfoy broke off there because of the wand shoved into his face.

"Malfoy, as so well put a moment ago, I just defeated the evilest wizard in the last century…do you really think that annoying me is that great of an idea? You don't think that maybe I've been pressed a little too thinly this last year, HUH? I AM SO SICK OF YOU AND YOUR ARROGENCE! Get the HELL away from me if you value your life." With that Harry pushed past Malfoy and stormed off away from the shocked individual. Malfoy stared at Harry back and muttered, "Nutter," before turning and walking down towards the Slytherin common room.

Harry's anger blinded him to where he was walking, but after his emotions subsided he looked up to see Hagrid's hut before him. He saw smoke rising from the chimney and knew his friend was home, so he stepped forward and knocked. Instantaneous barking and shuffling feet was heard from within.

"Fang! Shut up you dozy dog. Who is it? Who's there?" shouted Hagrid from inside as he fumbled with his doorknob. The door swung open before Harry could say it was him.

"Harry! What are you doing here? Come in, come in. Down Fang!" As soon as Harry entered the threshold he was assailed by Fang, and within seconds covered in slimy drool.

"Yes, hi Fang, it's good to see you too." Harry chuckled as he patted the boarhound on the head. He turned to look at Hagrid and abruptly remembered the last time he had really seen Hagrid; in the forest before he sacrificed himself. He knew the same thought was passing through the half-giant's head at the same time, because Hagrid suddenly looked angrier than Harry had ever seen him, even when he had yelled at the Dursley's for not telling Harry who he really was. Harry unconsciously took a step backwards, which Hagrid mistook as Harry was trying to leave.

"Oh no you don't, Harry! You and I need to have a little chat. Sit down. Now!" Harry sat quickly. "Now, what in Merlin's name were you thinking? Huh? Sacrificing yourself? Did you really think that You-Know-Who would leave the rest of us alone if you were dead? Of course he wouldn't have! He marched right down to the castle to show off your body to everyone and then there was more fighting. What were you thinking!?" Hagrid had been steadily turning redder as he gained steam and volume. He continued his tirade for several more minutes. When he paused to take a breath Harry found his moment to interrupt safely.

"Hagrid, were you in the headmaster's office yesterday?" he asked quietly. The half-giant stopped his next sentence and looked at Harry warily before replying, "No, why?" Harry sighed.

"Hagrid, can you keep a secret? Like, truly not let this out to anyone?" Harry looked at his friend, who nodded his agreement. "Hagrid, have you ever heard of Horcruxes?"

An hour later Harry was finishing up his tale of his death defying action.

"So you see Hagrid, I had to sacrifice myself so that Voldemort could finally be killed. If I hadn't, his followers could have used the piece of soul that resided in me to bring him back again. I had to do it, there was no other way. You understand right? I didn't mean for you to have to witness it, or have to carry me back. If I could have given you a sign that I was still there, alive, I would have. But there were too many Death Eaters around, not to mention Voldemort himself." Harry finished looking up at his first wizard friend and saw tears in his eyes.

"Aw, Harry, I knew you would have had a good reason to do what you did. I was just surprised that's all. I understand why you did it, but I don't think I'll ever understand how you could bring yourself to go through with that. But, I'm not going to sit here and praise you to the high heavens; I know you don't like that kind of attention.

"Now, I'm sure you didn't come all the way down to my hut to spill your soul to me about everything you did for the last year. So, why did you come down here?" Hagrid, Harry suddenly realized, was a lot more receptive than he let on, for he had a knowing look in his eye.

"Well, I kind of had a run in with Malfoy and he got me all irritated and I sort of just walked and when I had cooled off enough to see where I was going I was at your door. I guess I needed to get away from all the people in the castle. Ron and Hermione were in need some alone time, so I figured I would let them have lunch together. I just realized that I haven't had lunch; I think I may go up to the castle now. Thanks for listening Hagrid; I really needed to get some things off my chest." Harry and Hagrid stood up from the table and walked towards the door.

"Ah, Harry, you know I am always here if you need some one to talk to. My door is always open to you. You've grown so much since I first told you about magic and our world. I'm proud of how you've turned out, Harry. Now, go eat something. I'll see you later." Harry wiped the tears from his eyes after hearing what hagrid said and walked up to the castle. As he approached it he decided to make a quick dash to the kitchens, despite it bringing back memories of Dobby, to get a bite to eat before returning to the Gryffindor common room.

On his way up the marble staircase fifteen minutes later, he looked up to see a short red head coming towards him. She sped up as she saw him and when she got closer Harry saw the look of worry etched into her face.

"Harry, where the bloody hell have you been? We've got practically the whole castle looking for you!" She looked pretty angry, but her announcement shocked him, he didn't think he had been gone for that long.

"What! Why?" Harry shouted.

"When Ron and Hermione got back from the kitchens they found out you had never come back and they panicked. They said something about you remembering Dobby and making an excuse to leave them at the kitchens. They said you were going to come back here and have Kreacher come bring you some food, but you never showed up, where were you?" She said all this very fast to him.

"I…well, I had a run in with Malfoy and it got me seeing red, so I stormed out of the castle and wound up at Hagrid's. Then, since he wasn't in the head office when we told everyone our story, I had to tell him. He was right barmy with me about sacrificing myself that night. He yelled a bit and I had to calm him down. It took a while, then when I came back in I remembered I hadn't eaten anything since way this morning so I went back to the kitchens and grabbed a quick lunch, and decided to come back up to the common room, and here we are. Are you serious? The whole castle is looking for me?" He really hadn't wanted to bring himself so much attention and now he was worried about how he'd explain to the whole castle that he was just out visiting a friend.

"Well, not the whole castle; just the family, Hermione, and McGonagall are looking for you. Come on we'd better hurry up, it's about the time that we agreed to meet up again. Hurry!" She grabbed his hand and began to run. Harry wondered why she was in such a hurry to get to the common room, but as soon as they entered he understood completely. Mrs. Weasley, Hermione, and Ron were all sitting on the couch; Mrs. Weasley and Hermione were crying and Ron looked very pale. They looked up as Harry and Ginny entered and all three jumped up and ran over to them.

"Oh, Harry! Where were you, what happened?"

"You just disappeared, we didn't know where you were, what happened?"

"What the bloody hell were you thinking running off like that?"

Harry's ears were assaulted and he found himself being hugged very tightly, as Hermione and Mrs. Weasley were both squeezing him and shouting in his ears. It was a testament to how worried they had been that they didn't admonish Ron for cursing. Ginny stepped back and smirked.

"Er, maybe you guys could let him breathe and he'll tell you where he was," she shouted over the din. They all stepped back and looked to Harry.

"Er, well, I was down at Hagrid's," he muttered.

"What? Why?" asked Hermione and Ron. Harry smiled.

"He wasn't in the head office yesterday so he didn't hear the story. He thought I had just decided to give up and sacrifice myself for no reason. I had to explain to him why I did that. He was pretty angry at first. I thought I was going to get pummeled," Harry chuckled, the girls sighed and Ron just looked at him stunned.

"Why didn't you tell us you were going to Hagrid's? We'd have gone with you. You didn't have to make up something about Kreacher and letting us be alone," Ron said quietly.

"I know, I kind of just ended up there. See, when I left you guys I was thinking about everything that has been happening the last year, and I literally ran into Malfoy. He annoyed me to the point of threatening his life before I was able to walk away. I was so angry I just walked and didn't pay attention to where I was going and I ended up at Hagrid's house. It kind of just happened. Besides, you two did need some alone time together. We spent the last year living in a tent and me being the third wheel, I wanted to let you two be alone." Harry looked at Mrs. Weasley. "Mrs. Weasley, I'm really sorry I worried you. I wasn't thinking about it, and spent more time than I thought there, and then decided that I needed food before I came back. Will you be alright?" She smiled and nodded her head.

"Of course I will. I'm sorry I panicked so. I just thought of all the Death Eaters out there that hadn't been caught yet, and you disappeared and my imagination ran wild. You're a good boy— or I should say man. I know I shouldn't worry about you so, but I love you, and I am a mother and that's what mother's do, they worry. I'm going to go and find the rest of the family and let them know where you were, you four stay here and I'll be back later." She walked towards the door, but before she opened it she paused, waved her wand and muttered a spell none of them could hear then she left.

A/N: This chapter was a little longer than i had anticipated, but i enjoyed it. I wanted to extend the Malfoy encounter, but sadly everything I came up with didn't work out well. You will all see Malfoy later in the summer! I also am Horrible at writing in the vernacular of Hagrid and later Fleur. So, I'm sorry Hagrid sounded normal, I didn't want to attempt it and have it sound atrocious.Tell me what you are thinking. Like it, hate it, never reading ff again because of it. (In which case I'll say, oh, too bad so sad!) Thanks to Aliey for betaing this chapter!