Disclaimer- I do not own the Harry Potter series

Harry woke to a pain in his hand. It was an indescribable feeling but one that he had had before in his second year. It was like his bones were just randomly appearing back in his body and then sprouting out from the nubs that were once his fingers. With shaking fingers Harry unrolled the gauze that covered his hand and was appalled yet fascinated at what he saw. It was his hand but his little finger didn't have any skin or nerves or veins but a slight whiteness had crept out of the stub and would creep out even more as each wave of pain hit Harry.

He remembered a similar time he had woken in the middle of the night with the same circumstances. Dobby had come to him then, and though Harry had been mad at him for sending the blunger, he was glad he had that moment with the little elf. It was one of the few that he had had with him. Dobby was gone like the rest of them, Colin, Remus, Sirius, Tonks, Cedric, his parents, Fred, and Dumbledore. These people were supposed to be in his life but their time on earth had been cut short and no matter how many times he tried to deny it, in his heart Harry knew it was his fault. He could have done something more, he could have sacrificed more, but after all he had done, it wasn't enough.

These feelings of guilt hit Harry to the core. He didn't know how Ginny and Ron could look at him every day when he was the reason their brother was dead. How could George? Ginny, his sweet angel, a Greek goddess made human, the person that slept peacefully beside him, how could she love him and she didn't even know what he was?

Right then Harry made the decision that he would have to tell them all the truth, even if it meant having them look at him differently every day, they deserved it. They needed to know what had happened, why everything turned out the way it did. How many people had sacrificed their lives so that he might live? Who was he, Harry, to not give credit to those who actually lost their lives, and didn't come back. He owed them that much. Harry owed them much more than that and he would bare the consequences for the rest of his life.

About two days later...

Harry sat on the edge of his hospital bed. His hands and feet were still bandaged, for fear of infection, but they would be gone in another few days time. Most of his body was still bandaged for the most part, well the wounds inflicted by Voldemort himself through his new spell and Bellatrix's poisoned knife. Madam Pomfrey said it was okay for him to leave though; he just had to take several potions per day.

Harry was glad she had let him get out earlier; he couldn't stand being in there anymore. It was like a pillow pushing on his airways, suffocating him. All the pain and suffering in this room, looking at all the people that fought for him and didn't get away scotch free. It was too much to bare sometimes and it was time Harry got out.

Over the past few days he was in an exhausted sleep. The guilt that burned in his chest, his wounds, and not to mention the past few months had taken their toll on him and it was time that he paid up. Ginny, Ron, and Hermione had come and seen him as much as possible but Harry would pretend to be asleep or just sit staring out the large windows across from him, thinking of things far off and in the past. They wouldn't disturb him in these times, knowing that this was his way of dealing with things even though they wanted to help him through it all. Today though he would be having his first meal in the Great Hall after everything. He didn't know how everyone would react to seeing him. He had heard that some were calling him The-Boy-That-Saved-Us but he hoped that it was just a rumor, he didn't want to be even more famous, but it was kind of inevitable after the darkest wizard of all time.

"Hey Harry, ready to go?" Ginny asked pulling his face towards her and pecking him on the cheek.

"I've been ready for a few days now," Harry said pulling her close to him again when she started to pull away and gave her a proper kiss. Ginny giggled and grabbed his hand making for the doors leading out.

Harry gave on last look back at all the wounded wishing he could be there for them but at the same time wishing he never had to return.

The moment Harry stepped into the Great Hall a great hush ensued. It was a moment of awe as they gazed upon the boy who defeated the dark lord, the one who had saved them all. Harry didn't turn to meet any of their gazes he set his eyes forward to where Ron and Hermione were sitting and didn't stray. He didn't want to have to meet their eyes, it wasn't because he was coward, he was just afraid at what he would see in them. Would he be strong enough to see the sadness and feel the guilt pressing in? Would he break down? He didn't need for them to see that, right now he just had to get through the day and hope for better things.

When he sat next to Hermione everything seemed to go back to normal speed. People began their conversations again, bits of laughter could be heard but it had decreased considerably, but yet it was still a sort of happy sound that Harry heard, one of mourning, yes, but one of long awaited relief. To not have to look behind your back at all times and worry that your husband coming home is under the imperious curse or a deatheater using polyjuice potion. To not be afraid anymore. It was good to hear it, real good.

"Hey mate," Ron greeted him threw a mouthful of chicken and mashed potatoes.

"Hi Harry, it's about time we saw you out of the hospital wing," Hermione hugged him.

"Hey guys, did I miss anything important?"

"No just that this one kid walked in and everyone like went silent. It was weird," Ron joked causing everyone in hearing distance to laugh.

"I think I might know this person, care to exaggerate," Harry joked along with him.

"Well, he was this really strange looking bloke. Something was really wrong with his face, about the most ghastly face I have ever seen," Ron laughed and then tried to dodge a piece of cake coming right for his face, but was too late as it smashed all over him. Ron growled something low trying to wipe the cake off of his face.

"What was that, I didn't quite catch it?" Harry said in a fake innocent voice.

Friendly banter was passed between the four friends for the rest of the meal, like old times. Then a great commotion made everyone turn toward the big oak doors. Ron and Harry already had their wands out before they knew who it was.

"Bloody hell, Luna! What are you wearing?" Ron said stashing his wand hastily away.

"Oh it's a traditional mourning robe. The furs are for the different animals that each person represents, with their favorite colors dyed in." Luna said in a singsong voice like it was everyday stuff.

"You look like the rainbow threw up and killed a bunch of harmless animals," Ron said causing Hermione to elbow him in the ribs.

"Ron, you're being rude," Hermione breathed under her breath.

"Well that's an interpretation I hadn't thought of yet. Thank you, Ronald," Luna said before gliding down the bench to sit next to Neville.

"Well that was interesting," Harry said breaking the silence that had ensued.

"I will never understand that girl," Ron said looking bemused.

"Give it to Luna to find something so radical at a time like this," Ginny laughed.

"Harry, are you ready to meet Kingsley?" Hermione asked later that night after dinner.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Harry replied morbidly. Today was the day he would tell his story, their story. Kingsley had been nagging about it to him since the last time they had met and now it was finally happening. Harry had no idea how people would react and that fact scared him. It was better going into something knowing what to expect but right now, he was blind.

When Harry opened the door into the Headmistress's office he was surprised at how many people he saw there. Kingsley, all the Order members, a ministry official who was going to be recording the meeting, the Weasley's including George, most of the teachers, and a few other people Harry didn't know.

"Umm," Harry said awkwardly. "I didn't know that all of you were coming."

"I thought it was only fair that the main people get the story first so better anticipate how the public will react and what we should leave out," Kingsley explained gesturing at three chairs that were waiting for him, Hermione, and Ron.

Harry sat down and looked around at all the people waiting eagerly to hear his story. He had no idea where to start, much less how to begin.

"Where should I start?" he asked to no one in particular.

"How about where you three have been these past few months," Kingsley suggested. It sounded like a good place and if some stuff needed explaining he would do that where it was needed.

"As you all know me, Hermione, and Ron were sent on a mission by Dumbledore," many people nodded at this and Mrs. Weasley seemed to get a little red in the face because that was all they had told her. Kingsley nodded to him to continue. "Well we were on a mission to find..." Harry stopped. He had forgotten someone who was supposed to be here. "Excuse me," he said before running out.

Authors Note- hope it was good and please review :P

Also sorry that this was updated so late there was some weird error thing :(