Resurrection

When Dobby and Winky returned with Ron, Hermione, Joseph and Eileen Ethrindell looked around the Entrance Hall and, spotting Remus, said, "Mr. Lupin, if you will. Your assistance is required."

Remus stepped forward.

Turning towards Hagrid Ethrindell said, "Mr. Hagrid, I believe you were Harry's first friend in the wizarding world. Your assistance is required as well." Turning to Winky he said, "Winky, I need you to retrieve the headmaster and his phoenix if you could."

Winky, apparently sensing the need for speed, nodded quickly and was gone.

"What about Emric?" Ron asked as soon as Winky had disappeared.

"He did not make it," Ethrindell said matter-of-factly. "It would have been nice if he had survived but he is no longer in this world."

As soon as Winky arrived with Albus and Fawkes in tow Ethrindell took absolute control of the situation. "Alright, Everyone, he commanded, "gather 'round. We are coing to form a circle with Harry's body in the center. Ginny, you are at his head. Dobby, Winky, you are on either side of Ginny. Ron and Hermione are next. Joseph, Eileen, you two are the compass points. Albus and I are next. Remus, you are next to Albus." Looking up he called out to the ghost of Helena Ravenclaw, "Helena, you are going to represent the ghosts." Helena floated over and stood next to Ethrindell. "Hagrid," Ethrindell continued in a commanding voice that brokered no argument, "You are the other cardinal point. You opposite Ginny."

When everyone was in position and holding hands Ethrindell said, "Joseph, Eileen, I spent the last two months teaching you the Resurrection Song. Now is the time." Looking over at Fawkes he said, "Fawkes, if you will, begin."

Fawkes bobbed his head and lifted off, rising on the air currents as he sang a hauntingly melodious song of hope, faith and healing. Moments later Joseph and Eileen began their duet, Joseph's rich baritone perfectly complimenting Eileen's sweet soprano.

As the song progressed the air in the Entrance Hall began to glow with an otherworldly sheen. It was the purest and brightest white that anyone in the room had ever seen and yet it was a soft light that was easy on they eyes. It didn't take long for the light to fill the chamber and overwhelm everything else. It was at this point that the members of the healing circle experienced something they would not soon forget.

Harry had just finished telling Merlin his plans for the Elder Wand when a blonde-haired little boy burst through the castle doors, a look of sheer panic on his fade. When he saw Godric and the others sitting on the front steps he ran over to them and, through his gasping breaths, said, "Sir! A group of people just appeared in the Entrance Hall!" Spotting Harry he added, indicating The-boy-who-lived, "They are in a circle around his body."

Merlin nodded and smiled warmly down at the lad. "Thank you, Joshua," he said. "There is nothing to fear. They are friends and have come for Harry."

"No matter what happens," Ethrindell yelled above the singing as the four founders, Merlin, Sirius, James, Lilly, Harry and Harry's children entered the castle, "the circle must not be broken! We are only partially in this dimension and cannot stay!"

Walking slowly around the circle, Harry's eyes filled with tears as the sheer enormity of the situation hit home. Not only were these people taking a terrible risk to repair his body and call his soul back through the veil but they were his family and loved him more than he could ever hope to imagine. When he spotted Helena, who looked very much alive, he glanced curiously at Ethrindell.

"Emric didn't make it," Ethrindell said in response to Harry's glance. "We needed twelve for the circle and it is important for her to know that she has been forgiven."

Harry nodded and, stepping under Hagrid's arm, walked over to Helena and said, "Thank you."

Helena smiled. "Any time, Harry. Any time. You may be in Gryffindor but you are an honorable man and I am proud to call you friend."

Rowena looked up at the sound of Helena's voice and quickly strode across the Entrance Hall, inadvertently passing through Joseph, thus demonstrating the reality of being a part of two dimensions at the same time, and cautiously approached her daughter. "Helena?" she asked.

Helena's eyes widened and he mouth fell slightly open at the sight of her mother. "Mother?"

Rowena nodded. "Yes, Helena. It is I. I know you have other issues you need to work through before you can join us but the locket has been destroyed and I want you to know that I forgive you."

Tears of happiness, sorrow and relief spilled down Helena's cheeks. Rather than allow her daughter to break the connection so that she could wipe them away herself, however, Rowena conjured a handkerchief and dried her daughter's face.

James and Lilly, Harry and Ginny's children stepped between Hagrid's legs, apparently not trusting the dimensional split that Rowena had demonstrated, and approached their mother. "Is this our mummy?" Lilly asked.

Harry nodded. "Yes, this is your mum." Turning to Ginny he said, 'Gin, I would like you to meet our children. This is James," he said, resting a hand on James' shoulder and, wrapping an arm around Lilly's shoulders said, "and this is Lilly."

Ginny smiled down at her children. "Hello," she said, her voice choked with emotion.

Harry could tell that she wanted to say more but he could sense that time was running out so moved on. Kneeling down in front of Ginny he turned towards Dobby and then Winky and said, "Guys, I want you to know that no matter what your former masters might have said, you really are wonderful people. You may be house elves on the outside but on the inside you are more human that a lot of the witches and wizards I've met."

Dobby's smile spread until Harry was sure it would split his face wide open if it got any bigger. Winky, on the other hand, began to cry softly. Harry scooted over to her and gently brushed her tears away with the backs of his fingers.

Ron and Hermione looked to be in shock. It was almost as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing. Harry looked at each of them in turn and silently thanked them for everything they had done for him over the years. They were, spiritually speaking, his brother and sister and he vowed that he would always cherish their love, friendship and support.

Joseph and Eileen were singing their hearts out and Harry dared not disturb them. Any laps in concentration on their part could spell disaster for what they were trying to do. Looking up, Harry saw that Fawkes was slowly circling the group in a counterclockwise direction, adding his own brand of magic to the enchantment.

Albus, clearly confused by what was happening, this being a branch of magical endeavor he had never thought possible, still found it within himself to smile softly as Harry approached. "I know you don't have any children, Albus," Harry said, "but I want you to know that you are one heck of a great grandfather."

A tear began to trickle down Albus cheek. When Harry moved to brush it away Albus shook his head. "No," he said. "Let it go. It is one of the few tears I have shed in great joy. Thank you, Harry."

Harry nodded then turned towards Remus who looked to be at a loss for words. On the one hand he had never expected to experience anything quite like this. On the other he was seeing three of the best friends a werewolf could ever hope to have again, after they had left their physical bodies behind. As his parents and Sirius stepped aside Harry looked into Remus' eyes. "Moony," he said, "Now that you know the truth, that we are spiritual beings who choose to inhabit physical bodies and not physical bodies that happen to be in possession of a spiritual presence I have a feeling that your life will get a lot easier."

Remus smiled then nodded.

"I want you to know that you and Tonks will always be welcome at our house. I plan on rebuilding the place at Godric's Hollow and you and yours will always be welcome. Besides, with Padfoot and Prongs having moved on I need an uncle, someone closer to my own age than Albus, I can turn to for advice from time to time and I was hoping that you might be willing to fill that role."

Remus smiled. "Sure."

Looking up at Hagrid Harry said, "Hagrid, I want you to know that you were my first real friend, not just in the wizarding world but in the whole world. Thank you for coming."

Hagrid smiled. "Tha's what frien's 're for, Harry"

Harry smiled brightly up at his friend then turned towards Ethrindell.

Ethrindell nodded. "It's time, Harry." Raising his voice he commanded, "Everyone who is not a part of the circle please exit." Then, locking eyes with Harry, said, All you have to do, Harry, is lie down inside your body and let the magic do its work."

Harry nodded and turned towards the image of his body that lay in the center of the circle. Walking over he got down on all fours and then lay down, attempting to consciously align himself with its position. As he struggled with the details he heard Ethrindell's voice telling him to relax and let his soul do the work because it would remember the body's position. Before allowing himself to relax Harry called out, "Mum, Dad, James, Lilly, Sirius, I love you."

Moments later, as Harry allowed himself to relax into the magical processes, he felt the darkness that separated the two worlds approaching and, as Joseph, Eileen and Fakes sang, felt himself returning to his physical body and the people who loved him so much that thy were unwilling to give up on him without a fight.

When Harry next opened his eyes he knew that his trunk's Room of Requirement. In it current configuration it resembled Madam Pomfrey's Hospital Wing with a few changes that he and Ginny had programmed in to make it feel more humane. He was lying in a bed with crisp, white sanitary sheets but the ceiling displayed a clear blue sky and the walls were wizarding windows that displayed the Hogwarts grounds. "Your body is still mending," Ethrindell said, but it shouldn't be long now. I think another day should do it."

Harry blinked. He could see without his glasses. His face felt somehow naked without them but he could see. "Another day?" he asked. "How long have I been here?"

"A week," Ron said, getting up from a chair in the corner of the room. "Welcome back, mate."

Harry looked over and smiled up at his friend. "Hey, Ron. Thanks for coming after me."

"No problem, mate. Like Hagrid said, that's what friends are for." Then grinning, Ron asked, "Are those really your children?"

Harry smiled fondly at the memory of his children. "Yeah. That was James and Lilly. I guess Ginny and I are going to be naming them after my parents."

Ron nodded his head, grinning stupidly. "Yeah. Ginny hasn't been the same since. None of us have been, really, but it's nice to know that it is possible. Extremely risky but possible."

"How is Ginny?" Harry asked.

"She's fine," Remus said from the opposite corner. "The people have been celebrating all week but Ginny has been keeping a low profile. I think meeting her children has had an affect on her. She is still Ginny but she is a little more introspective now."

"How about Hermione?"

Ethrindell, Remus and Ron spent the next twenty minutes catching Harry up on the events of the past week and how everyone was doing when Harry turned towards Remus and said, "Alright, Remus, I know I can count on you to be honest with me, what are the final numbers?"

Remus sighed and sat down on the edge of Harry's bed. "I knew you were going to ask that," he said. Taking a deep breath he looked into Harry's eyes. "You can see me, can't you."

Harry nodded. "Yes, I can. Now quit stalling and give me the numbers."

Remus smiled sadly. "150 Death Eater survived." Harry looked at him curiously. "It was easier to count the survivors that the dead," Remus explained."

"Alright, what about students and elves?"

Remus hesitated. "Seventy-five students died; fifty wood elves didn't make it; forty-three high elves have crossed over; and sixteen house elves have gone home."

Harry was silent for almost a minute as he composed himself. That's more than half the students in the top three years."

Remus nodded sadly. "I know."

What about the other numbers?"

"The aurors and hit wizards lost fifty of their own. I guess the fighting was particularly brutal at the ministry. Saint Mungo's lost five employees and twenty-three civilians died in the fighting."

"Including Fred and Alastor …" Harry finished for his friend.

Ron looked up. "How did you know?"

"I met them on the other side," Harry explained. "Fred died a hero – a heroe who will be remembered as a purple pygmy puff, I might add – and Alastor went down fighting. Neither one of them would have had it any other way. Oh, and, Ron?"

"Yeah?"

"Fred said that he was going to let you have the last laugh."

Ron grinned then smiled then burst out laughing. "Good," he said after he had gotten his laughter under control, "it's about time."

"How's your family taking it?"

Ron hung his head in thought for several seconds. "George is devastated. It's like half of him is missing. Some of Joseph's friends are running the store and helping George recover but I honestly don't think he will ever be the same. Mum is taking it pretty hard as well but she is thankful that we only lost one member if the family; Dad has been give some paid vacation so that he can grieve; and Percy … well, Percy has changed. I think he has begun to appreciate Fred's sense of humor and is spending a lot of time with George. Most of the time they just talk but occasionally they will pull a prank together."

Harry's mouth fell slightly open in disbelief.

"Yeah, I know," Ron said. "Who would have thought that Percy Weasley, Mr. Big Head Boy, had a sense of humor? You know, I hate to say this because it almost sounds disrespectful but I think Fred's death did Percy a world of good.

"The rest of us are coping. We knew it was unlikely that all of us would survive but it still hurts."

"Harry nodded his understanding. "What about Malfoy?" Harry didn't know why he had asked the question but for some reason it seemed important for him to know the fate of his rival.

Ron grimaced. "He survived," he said. "God only knows how because he is in pretty rough shape but he was one of the survivors. He's in Saint Mungo's. They don't expect him to come out of his coma for another week or so but he should make a full recovery."

Harry noticed the lack of malice in Ron's voice and was about to ask him about it when Ron interrupted his thoughts. "Even after all the stuff he's put us through, Harry, I can't find it in me to hate the git. I may not like him after everything we've been through I honestly don't think I have the energy to hate him anymore."

Again, Harry nodded his understanding.

"Ginny, Hermione, Luna and Neville will most likely be in to see you this afternoon," Ethrindell said. "Dobby and Winky have been helping the Hogwarts house elves pick up the slack but I am fairly certain they will be in as well. And tomorrow you have two meetings. The first is with Ragnok and the second is with Madam Bones. I believe she would like to introduce you to the Prime Minister."

Harry took a deep breath and blew it out in an explosive sigh. "How are they doing?"