Disclaimer- Jo owns all the character, not me
So here is chapter two, I hope you enjoy it. Thanks to the people who reviewed the first chapter, liongirrl4eva and Xugra, it's nice to hear what I have written is appreciated.
Anyways, once again, on with the story.
Chapter Two- Back To The Burrow
The sun was setting across the spring night's sky, and as darkness enclosed the garden of the Burrow, magically enchanted lanterns came to life. In the overgrown garden, gnomes were wondering around unkempt bushes, getting up to unknown mischief, and in the centre of the garden, two old and battered tables had been pushed together, and were groaning under the weight at the number of people sitting at them.
The groaning of the tables couldn't be heard though due to the amount of noise from the people sat at the tables. Although the chatter appeared cheery, a lingering sense of sombreness hung over them, like a cloak that they couldn't take off.
As usual, Mrs Weasley had outdone herself with the food; as soon as they had arrived back she set to work in the kitchen, refusing offers of help from everyone, including Harry who had volunteered Kreatcher to help. Everyone knew however that throwing herself into her cooking was what she needed to keep her mind of things. The others busied themselves tidying up the house, laying the tables in the garden and unpacking. Harry was staying in Ron's room as usual, and Hermione was to be in Ginny's. Percy, Bill and Fleur, who had decided to stay at the Burrow for a few nights, took their old rooms, and Charlie, who would not be returning to Romania for a while was to be with George. Fortunately, Hermione had managed to keep the small, beaded bag that contained everything they had taken safe, so at least they had a lot of their magical belongings.
Harry and Ron did have to ask Mr Weasley and Bill for help however in explaining the ghoul who had been pretending to be Ron all year that they needed the room back for a while. They managed to get the ghoul, who still had red hair and was dressed in Ron's old pyjamas, back into the attic, with the promise, that he could have his own room again, as soon as there was space for him, or it, they weren't really sure.
The topic of conversation that night wasn't about anything in particular. People jumped in and out of the light conversations about what would happen to the magical community in the coming months and years, remembering good times with those that had been lost over the past few years, and catching up with what had been happening at Hogwarts and within the Ministry the past year while Harry, Ron and Hermione had been separated from the community.
Earlier, the trio had managed to have a quick conversation, where they agreed that now was not the right time to tell everyone exactly what they had been up to the previous year, with the exception of Ginny of course. They announced that they would be telling everyone in due course, but asked them to refrain from questions for a little why, which everyone managed to agree on, if a little annoyed at being asked to wait.
Slowly, the tables started to empty as people trickled off to bed, until only Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were left. They had purposely stayed back so they could talk uninterrupted, and when Charlie bid them goodnight they were finally alone.
"So," Ron said looking at Harry.
"So," Harry replied.
"It's over mate! I can't believe we finished it, well, you finished it really, but it's only just sinking in."
"No, it is we, we all played our part, everyone did. I could never have done this alone, and I apologise to each of you, for thinking that I ever could and attempting to push each of you away."
"Does that mean you regret breaking up with me last year?" Ginny asked him.
"I always regretted that, but at the time, I thought it was the right thing to do. Perhaps it was, it meant I had something to fight for." Harry smiled at her.
"Hmm, is that supposed to make me feel better?"
"Why? Is it working?" He asked her.
"Well, it's something I guess."
Ron and Hermione exchanged glances smirking. "I suppose now we will have to start thinking about our futures."
"Hermione!" Ron cried, "We've only just finished, can we not have a bit of our break before we start thinking about our futures? I'm pretty happy just thinking about the now thank you very much."
"I only meant that there was talk that we may be given the opportunity to go back to Hogwarts in September to take our 7th year, if we did, it wouldn't be compulsory, but there is the offer. We weren't the only ones to miss out, none of the muggle-borns were allowed to attend, and to be honest, from what I heard, the ones who did didn't really get round too much learning," was her response.
"Go back to Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
Hermione nodded, "if we wanted to, yes. Anyone who wanted to retake whatever year they were in can either do that, or discuss with McGonagall about moving up to the next year if she felt they were good enough. There would also be a double intake of new first years, to include or the muggle-borns who weren't allowed to start last year."
"I think I would like that, going back to Hogwarts. It would be a chance to have a normal life for a year, with no threats of death lingering over us."
"Don't jinx us mate! Who know what else is out there, there is bound to be a few Death Eaters still floating about," came Ron's reply.
"Sorry, but I am going to assume there isn't, not until I see any proof anyway. I just don't want to think about it."
"Well, I guess I am up for going back, I gotta complete my Newts if I still wanna be an Auror one day."
"And whatever career I eventually plan on following, I need as many Newts as possible," was Hermione's response.
"Any ideas what you want to do yet?" Ginny asked her.
"I'm going to keep my options open at the moment; I want to see what sort of direction the Ministry goes in this year. What about you Ginny? Will you be willing to put up with us all next year?"
"I think I may ask McGonagall if I can go into my 7th year. I didn't miss any important exams, and I am willing to some extra work over the summer if I have to because, even if I do have to put up with you, it's almost certainly going to be better than last year," she said sticking her tongue out at them.
"Hey!" Harry exclaimed, but he couldn't keep a straight face for long, and he led the others into a fit of laughter.
After a few minutes of non stop laughing, it slowly died away, but their grins lingered on their faces.
"Aww man, I can't believe I forgot!" Harry cried.
"Forgot what?" Hermione asked him.
"Teddy, little Teddy. I'm such a bad Godfather."
"Harry, you shouldn't feel bad, it's only been one day, and you can't be expected to have done everything in one day."
"I know, it's just, here I am, planning out my future, and he has just lost both of his parents. I don't know what is expected of me, am I suppose to look after him? I don't think I am quite ready to look after a little baby. I never really got a chance to think it through when Remus asked me, I always just thought I would be the cool Godfather who just visited and bought presents, like Sirius was when I was young, it never occurred to me that we could loose Remus and Tonks."
"Harry, don't worry, " Ginny said, "I don't think you will be expected to look after Teddy full time, he has his Grandmother, Andromeda, and she was looking after him a lot. You will have to talk to her, but since she lost Ted, and now Tonks, I think she would like the opportunity to raise her grandson herself, and the company. Thought I doubt she would mind if you were the 'cool' godfather, in fact, I think she would like the extra help. It means that you can get on with your schooling, and she can get to raise Teddy."
"You think?" Harry still looked worried.
"You will be fine. Perhaps you could try and meet Andromeda in the next few days to talk to her."
"I haven't even met him yet."
"You had other things to do, now that you have finished that, you can spend as much time as you like with him," said Hermione.
"Yeah, I guess you are right," Harry agreed nodding, and they all fell silent.
"Well, I guess we should all head in," said Ron, breaking the silence, looking towards the darkened house.
"Wait," Ginny's voice made them falter as they started to stand up, "I'm curious Harry, what were you doing earlier when we couldn't find you. You just said you had things to do."
Ron and Hermione sat back down straight away, eager to find out also. Harry rolled his eyes, but also sat back down.
Harry took a deep breath and told them, "I went to see Voldermort."
"You what?" Was Ron's response, but Hermione and Ginny shushed him.
"I went to see Voldermort, well, his body anyway. I couldn't stop thinking about him. I needed to make sure he really was gone, I couldn't stand thinking that he could some how managed to find a way to cheat death again, and he could come after us all still. So, I went to see him, and he's gone, he really is. It feels like such a weight has been lifted off of my chest, and now I can finally get on with my life. I now can finish school, get a job, laugh with my friends and not have to worry about who's trying to kill me next, and who knows, maybe one day I will even start a family of my own. Before, I never could have thought about it, but now, seeing him, lying there, most defiantly dead, I can. And I love this feeling. So much has been sacrificed already, now we can make the most of it!"
As he finished his speech he looked at his friends, each of whom were wearing their mixed emotions on their faces, all of them looked torn between feeling shocked and happiness.
Ginny was first to break the silence, "How did you ever manage to stay so strong? You have had to put up with so much all these years, no wonder you wanted some closure."
"Wow mate, that must have been well scary, but I'm glad you feel like you can get on with your life now, we all can, but what was that bit about starting a family? Who do you plan on starting a family with?"
"Shut up Ron!" Exclaimed Hermione, "That's great Harry, I am sure everything will be great in the future."
"Yeah, but still, family?"
"Don't worry Ron; I don't foresee starting a family for a few years yet. I've got my whole life to live, and I plan to make the best of this. But know this, when I am ready to have my own family, I will make sure it's with the best girl in the world," he looked over towards Ginny, who smiled and blushed in response.
"Because Harry deserves the best," she replied.
"I'm not sure I deserve the best, but I do have the best," he leant over and kissed her on the lips, while Ron looked away and Hermione just smiled at the pair.
They broke apart and Ginny yawned widely, "sorry Harry! Don't worry, its not your kissing that's making me sleepy, I'm just tired."
"That's ok, it's been a long few days, and we should all try and get some proper rest. Can I walk you to your room?" He asked her, offering her his arm.
"Of course you can, "Ginny was smiling widely.
"Oi you two, keep it clean!" Ron called after them as they started walking towards the house, leaving Ron and Hermione alone in the garden. Both of them rolled their eyes and carried on walking.
They walked in silence to the door of Ginny's room, and when they reached the closed door, Harry turned to face Ginny, and took both of her hands in his. "So, have I been the perfect gentleman in walking you back to your room?"
"Well, I'm not sure about the 'perfect,' but a gentleman, I guess," she giggled. Harry thought it was the best sound he had ever heard.
"I'm offended," he replied.
"You know I'm only joking. I still can't believe I have you back. All this year I never thought I would see you again, and now you are here. I just want to hold you forever, I'm scared that, if you leave me, even for just a moment," and once again she was looking at him with her big brown eyes.
"Gin, I'm never going to leave you again, but your brothers would kill me if I didn't return to Ron's room tonight, and if they decided to kill me tonight, then you defiantly wouldn't get to see me again." He had tried to keep it light hearted, but she didn't smile. "Oh, Gin, I'm stupid, I shouldn't have said that."
"No, its ok, he would have thought it was funny anyway, and he would probably have been leading the pack to get you. I can't believe I won't seem his smiling face again, no more practical jokes, and I can't even begin to think what George is going through."
"He's tough, George. It will take time, but he will pull through, he just needs everyone there for him."
Ginny nodded, and yawned again.
"Now, you are going to go into your room and sleep and have sweet dreams," Harry told her.
"Am I really?"
"Yes, now go. I promise I will be here in the morning." He kissed her softly and she turned around and opened the door to her room.
"Night," she said.
"Night," Harry replied, and he watched as she shut the door behind her.
Harry stood outside the door for several moments, before realising he should get to bed also. As he climbed the stairs to Ron's attic room, he was very aware of how heavy his legs felt, and it occurred to him that he hadn't slept in what felt like a year.
He reached Ron's room and sat on his bed. He slowly pulled off his clothes and pulled his night clothes one, and while he was doing so, he debated on whether to wait up for Ron or not. As far as he knew Ron and Hermione were still outside, expressing their love to each other or something like that, but he never even managed to think of anything sarcastic to say to Ron when he returned half an hour later, as he had fallen asleep as soon as his head had touched his pillow, his glasses still on his face. For the first time in a long time, his dreams were not filled with glimpses of whatever Voldermort was up to, but instead they were filled with love, and even as he slept, there was a smile on his face.
