"Fabiana, come downstairs." Aberforth had stuck his head inside the one room flat some time after the pub had been empty. Ana nodded and laid down the well-worn book she had been reading. She followed Aberforth downstairs where he led her to the mantle in the barroom where there was a picture of his little sister, Ariana. The girl's painting was animated, and Ana knew that it was the way into one of the old passageways that had been sealed off. Aberforth merely dragged a chair over for Ana to step up on and said, "Go on through. The Carrows are around tonight and I think you'll be safer in the room over there for now."

Fabiana gave him an odd look. She had never been moved because the Carrows were around. But then, there had been a few close calls lately when they had made some late night visits during patrols. Perhaps this was simply a new way of ensuring Ana was safe? Aberforth was never one much for explaining his thought process. Either way, Ana heaved herself up onto the mantle and crawled inside the hole behind the opening painting.

She walked for several minutes and at the other end, Ana knocked three times. A second door swung open and she was inside the Room of Requirement. The only other person there was Neville. She was happy to see him, but he didn't stay long.

"Great to see you. But Aberforth sent a patronus this way a while back asking me to rush on over as soon as someone arrived to cover the room. Would you mind?"

Ana shook her head and shrugged. Before she had a chance to sit Neville was gone, and Ana was all alone.

There wasn't much around the room for entertainment. The Ravenclaw section had plenty of books, but mostly they were texts meant for study; not something that was suitable for pleasure reading. Everything was silent around her and Ana was contenting herself with examining the pattern of the cross beams in the ceiling.

After what felt like the longest time, people began showing up. Seamus with his swollen face was there, as well as Lavender, the Patil twins, Terry, Ernie, Anthony and Michael, all former D.A. members. Despite the swell of relief she felt to see other people aside from Aberfoth, she was greatly pained. The last time she had been in here, there had been the most precious moment, as they practiced patronuses. She was sure no one had noticed, but Harry's stag and her gazelle met in the middle of the room and nuzzled one another until they dissipated together.

Someone called attention to a noise behind the corridor. Ana didn't even lift her head from the palm of her hand. She was too caught up with her own thoughts to care who was coming in now. Probably just Neville coming down the tunnel back from the pub.

From the front to the back, there were screams and yells of a joyous tone. It took a moment for Ana to discern what they were saying. When she did, her eyes widened and she froze. It's Potter.

She shot out of her seat and pushed her way through the people ahead of her. Once she had, Fabiana stopped dead. It was true. Harry's hair was longer than normal, his glasses were filthy and his skin had spots of dirt. But regardless of how he looked, it was him. She praised her lucky stars…he was alive.

Ana couldn't move. She couldn't breathe. There was an overwhelming feeling of relief washing over her and so the tears came. There was dead silence. When Ana could manage to raise her face again, the people in the room had backed away from her and she and Harry were standing in the clearing, some ten feet from one another.

"Come on everyone, give them a moment all right?" Neville was shooing everyone back farther and pulled a gold cord as he passed by. Red, blue and gold curtains fell and closed Ana and Harry off from everyone else. Hermione smiled a little and grabbed Ron by his tee shirt. "We'll be right out here, Harry."

Just like that they were alone. Ana didn't know if she should wait for him to make a move or if she should. She was so overwhelmed all she could was put her face back in her hands and begin to sob.

Suddenly there were arms around her, holding her strong and tight. It made her sob harder than ever. She could feel Harry rest his chin on her head and they sank to the floor together. After several moments Harry pulled away and looked her up and down. His eyes were filled with tears of joy like Ana's, but he looked pained. "Look at you." He touched her face and arms, wherever he could see a scar. He grasped her hands and bit his bottom lip before adding, "You're wasted to nothing."

Ana noted his own condition was not much better and took one of her hands back to sign as much. With his free hand Harry cupped Ana's cheek and brushed tears away with his thumb before pulling her in and pressing his lips to hers, insistently and passionately. It was only one kiss, but it was like heaven to her.

"Harry," Hermione said quietly, poking her head in. "I know you want some time, but time isn't exactly on our side."

Harry nodded and half smiled. "She's right. We've got some work to do."