A/N: I know it says HGDM, and it will be. But I want this to be a DH compliant fic…except the epilogue. Give it a few more chapters.
Harry caught up to Ginny about halfway up the stairs. "Ginny," he said, glad that he finally got a chance to talk to her, as he hadn't had a decent conversation with her since the summer. "Oh, hi, Harry. I've missed you. I'm so glad I don't have to worry about you, Ron and Hermione anymore. I was so worried that I'd never see you again. I lo-" Harry cut her off with a soft kiss that quickly turned into a more passionate one, all of Harry's feelings for Ginny seemed to be expressed in that one, never-leave-me-again, I-love-you-so-much, kiss.
Harry and Ginny went into the Common Room and collapsed on one of the couches. Harry put his arm around her, holding her tight as if he never wanted to let go. And he didn't.
"Harry, you're hurting me a bit." Ginny's voice pulled him from his thoughts back to reality. "Sorry Ginny, I just don't want to let you go…ever."
"I know. I feel the same way about you. But right now, I just want to be alone. I'm sorry…it's just…George…I can't believe…over…" her words were becoming incoherent as she burst into tears, over her brother, over Tonks and Remus, and over everything.
Harry didn't know what to do, but as she had expressed the want to be alone, he headed out the portrait hole to find Hermione. He didn't have far to go, as soon as he exited Gryffindor Tower, he saw her with Ron.
"Hermione, can you go talk to Ginny? She's really upset, and she said she wants to be alone, but I don't think she should be."
"Yeah, sure Harry."
"Thanks. I'm going to find McGonagall and talk to her. Then I think I'll go back to Number 12, Grimauld Place."
"Harry, I don't think you should go back there alone just yet. There could be a Death Eater there waiting for you to go home. I think you should wait and have Ron and I come with you. You shouldn't be alone right now, anyway. You've been through so much."
"Fine," he said, too emotionally exhausted to argue. "I'll come get you when I'm done talking to McGonagall. You just go and make sure Ginny's okay."
"Alright. See you in a bit, Harry."
Harry left to talk to Professor McGonagall. He found her in the Headmaster's Office. "Potter –," Harry cut her off. "Professor, I was wondering, would it be possible for Ron, Hermione and me, and everyone else that wasn't here this year, would it be possible for us to come back next year to finish school?"
"I was actually just talking to Kingsley about that, and although it is not mandatory, yes, it will be an option for you. If you still want to become an Auror, it is highly recommended that you do come back."
"Also, I was wondering when Professor Snape's portrait will be hung in here. I'd really like to speak to him, but have to wait for his portrait to be hung. I need to thank him, and apologise. I also want to ask him a few questions."
"Professor Snape's portrait will be hung by the end of the day, but when it will start moving is unknown. The timing is different for every Headmaster. However, I will be able to inform you immediately when it does start to move, as the Minister has informed me I will be Headmistress."
"Thank you so much Professor, I really appreciate it."
"Not at all Mr. Potter, I owe you. The entire world owes you."
"Thanks Professor, but no, you don't. You don't owe me any more than you owe Narcissa Malfoy, who, by the way, should be one of the people getting an award in the ceremony tomorrow. She saved my life, and without her, Riddle would have won. She's a hero, although she'll never admit it."
"What on earth are you talking about Potter? You've been affected by the trauma, I'd say."
"No, Professor. You weren't in the Forest, you didn't see. Riddle told her to check if I was alive, and she told him I wasn't. If asked, she'll say that she only did it so she could see her son, but the reason is irrelevant. The fact is, she saved me, and in doing so, saved the world."
"Alright, Potter, I will talk with the Minister. Actually he said he would like to speak to you as well. Maybe we could go together, as I'm not sure I would get your story correct. In regards to Professor Snape's portrait, where will I be able to reach you when it starts to move?"
"After we're done talking to Kingsley, I will be going back to Sirius' house. You can send an owl there. But don't tell anyone where I am, please. I will be telling anyone I want to be in touch with where I'll be, but I don't want any added attention, although I'll get it anyway."
"I will not tell anyone where you are, Mr. Potter. That decision is yours, but I believe you will need to speak to more than just myself and the Minister before you leave the school. I know Mr. Longbottom wishes to speak to you, as well as many of your schoolmates. If you wish to make a quick getaway, I would suggest talking to the Minister later. He is, after all, quite busy. The Aurors do need to figure out who was acting of their own accord and who was under the Imperius Curse."
"Thank you Professor. I will owl him – " Harry broke off, remembering that he no longer had an owl. He realised that he did not want another, either. Not yet. Harry sighed. He had so much to do before he finally had a normal life. He also realised that he did not want to go back and get Ron and Hermione. He just wanted to go to Grimauld Place and sleep for a week.
He did go up to get them, and Ginny, and the four of them left Hogwarts through the tunnel in the Room of Requirement, to the Hog's Head. From there, they Apparated to Sirius' house, which Harry could still not bring himself to call his own.