A/N: Even though I labelled this chapter "One Year Later," this is not a full year later. It's only a few months. I couldn't make it a full year later. Sorry about that. Hope you enjoy it anyways. :] Thanks. Don't forget to review.

ONE YEAR LATER: PART 1

"Get up or you don't get to hear the big news," Sirius said to a sleeping Harry.

"I don't care," Harry groaned and pulled the blankets over his head, despite the summer heat. Harry hadn't had a single nightmare since the night Voldemort was destroyed. Remus and Sirius had been at work often during the following weeks but it only lasted a couple weeks. Now, they were home at least three to four times a week, sometimes more. They hadn't had any problems with Harry's scar either and their home was free of wards.

"I think you do. Get up, kiddo."

Almost all of the Death Eaters had been captured and put in Azkaban. Bellatrix Lestrange was the only one still on the run. She was no danger though. With no master, she didn't dare attack. She was just avoiding Aurors, though still hiding out in London. Harry didn't go out much. Not because he was afraid of being murdered on the spot, but because he didn't want to face the wizarding community yet. He didn't want to know how everyone would treat him. He mostly stayed home and went to the Burrow. Diagon Alley had been restored. All the shops were fixed and, according to his uncles, as busy as it used to be. It was like nothing had happened.

"No. Go away."

A few days after Harry returned home from the hospital, he had become quiet and distant, worrying Remus and Sirius. Harry had explained he was finally feeling the effects of everything that had happened. Everyone else in the world were building their lives back up and trying to forget everything. Harry couldn't forget though. He couldn't act like nothing had happened. He had lost and almost lost too much to pretend it had never happened. It had taken a while, but eventually Harry's personality had returned and he was beginning to be happy again. Now he was as normal as ever.

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Ginny's downstairs." He grinned as Harry sat up.

"Really?" Harry looked at Sirius and noticed his grin. "Prick." He lay down again.

"You're going to school in a month," Sirius said and Harry sat up again.

"What?"

"School starts September first," Sirius tossed the Daily Prophet at Harry who read the front page.

Back to School!

A year later and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is reopening on September the first. Students and staff will be welcomed back. Our world has come a long way the past year. It has been a large struggle and transition to get back on our feet. With the famous wizarding school opening again, we can all proudly say we have succeeded in getting our peaceful way of life back. Students will receive their letters within the weak and are expected to be aboard the Hogwarts Express at eleven o'clock a.m. on September first.

Harry put the paper down. "Your letter came as well." Sirius handed Harry the familiar Hogwarts envelope. "Harry, what's wrong? I thought you'd be excited. You said you wanted to go back." Sirius sat on the bed.

"I know and I do want to go back."

"But-"

"But how is everyone going to treat me? Who will teach Charms and Potions and the other open subjects?" Harry said. "I've barely gone anywhere public the last year. I've been here, the Burrow, Kingsley and Tonks' place, and the Ministry. I haven't even been to Diagon Alley. I've been in complete solitude the last year and now I'll have to face everyone."

"I know it'll be hard, especially because you have kind of hidden from the world, but you'll be fine. Many will probably treat you different, but those that are really your friends will treat you just like Ron and Hermione do."

Harry sighed. "I don't know, Sirius. Not everyone is like you and Remus. Not many will be able to get past the saviour layer."

"Do you remember that day in the hospital when Remus and I brought you to the waiting room and all those people were there?" Sirius wondered.

"Of course I remember. I asked Ginny to marry me that day. What about it?" Harry nodded.

"All those people that had come to see you, care about you and only you. They don't care about this whole saviour thing. They're just grateful you survived. You could be the next Albus Dumbledore and they would only see star Quidditch player, Harry Potter." Harry smiled. "Go back to school, kiddo. Have some fun. Don't worry about those that only see a saviour. They're not worth stressing over." Sirius brushed some hair from Harry's eyes. Harry nodded.

"Breakfast!" Remus called. Harry and Sirius glanced at each other, jumped up, and ran to the door, zooming downstairs. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hey, hey, slow down, pup," Remus said as Harry almost crashed into him.

"Sorry. Hungry." Harry sat down across from Sirius, Remus beside him.

"Well, I know that." Remus grinned and ruffled Harry's hair as the boy glowered at him.

"Did Sirius show you the paper?"

"Yeah," Harry answered simply. Remus raised an eyebrow.

"He's worried about how everyone will treat him now. As the saviour or as Harry. He's hardly faced the public in the last year, besides the Ministry, but he's well known there," Sirius explained.

"I see. Some will treat you differently, Harry, but that's just because they've only known the 'Boy-Who-Lived' and the 'Chosen One'. They're never known you. Stick to those that act like nothing's changed. They're the real friends," Remus said.

"But that's not true. Everything's changed. Why is everyone acting like nothing happened?" Harry said.

"They're not. The only thing everyone's doing is moving on. You're the only one dwelling on it, something that's going to hurt you. I know you had a huge part and you went through things no other wizard would experience in a lifetime, but you can move on. What happened, happened. You changed things and everyone has adjusted to the changes. It's time you did the same," Remus told him.

"I guess," Harry shrugged.

"We know. It's time for you to go back to school and have a normal year," Sirius replied. Harry nodded.

"Oh, Sirius. I've got something for you. Same with you, Remus." Harry turned to the stairs where papers were floating towards him. "Ron and Ginny want me to give these to you. Remus, this is for you." Harry split up the papers and handed them to his uncles.

"These are applications," Sirius said. Harry nodded, taking a bite of his breakfast.

"Hermione's applying for Seth's position," Remus stated.

"Harry, you want to be an Auror?" Sirius wondered.

"Yeah. I didn't know if I wanted to be in your department or Remus' department. After everything, I knew I wanted to be an Auror. Ron and Ginny have wanted to be Aurors for a while. Hermione was going to be a Healer, but she changed her mind after she was released from the hospital. She decided she'd rather deal with creatures with Remus' department. We all talked a few weeks ago and wrote up our applications. I kept forgetting to give them to you," Harry explained.

"I guess I have to start interviewing people," Sirius sighed. Harry laughed at Sirius' reluctance to build a new team.

"Do you still want to have your birthday here, Harry? Or would you rather go to the Burrow?" Remus asked.

"I want to stay home. And just the Weasleys, Hermione, Kingsley, Tonks, and Andromeda. That's it," Harry answered.

"We know. They've all said they'll be here." Remus nodded. Harry smiled. He would be turning eighteen in a few days. He just wanted a small party with those closest to him.

"How will school be working this year? There's going to be an extra year of first years. And who is teaching the open classes?" Harry wondered.

"There will be volunteers to teach for this year until permanent professors are found. The new first years will be joined with the other first years. All other years will go through school like normal. Those who went to school while Voldemort was running it, will repeat that year," Remus explained.

"So who's teaching?"

"Kingsley is teaching Potions. Tonks is teaching Charms. I'm coming back to teach Defence and Sirius is teaching Transfiguration."

"Awesome. Hey, Pig." Harry grabbed the tiny owl when it clumsily landed on the table. He took the letter off its leg and handed Ron's owl to Sirius so he could read.

Harry!
Have you seen the paper? Probably have. Hogwarts is finally reopening! Hermione and I are really excited to be going back. You're still going back, right? Anyways, we were wondering if you'd want to get our things in Diagon Alley together? Mum and Bill are bringing us around one today.
Send Pig back with your answer.
Bye.
Ron

"Ron wants me to go to Diagon Alley to get our school stuff." Harry put the letter down.

"And you don't want to go," Remus said.

"I haven't been to Diagon Alley since I escaped from Gringotts. I didn't even go out into Diagon Alley. I was in the bank trying to stay alive. It's public," Harry replied.

"You're going to have to face the world eventually, kiddo."

"The longer you wait, the harder it'll be," Remus added.

"Isn't that what you said to Bill when you told him you were taking me off life support?" The words came out before Harry could stop them. He saw pained expressions take place on his uncles' faces. They couldn't stand thinking about how close they had been to losing him. "I'm sorry."

"It's all right. I meant it though. Either, you use the month you have to get used to the world again or wait and deal with it at school," Remus explained.

"It's not all right. I shouldn't have said that. Whenever I try not to hurt you two, I do. I'm always hurting you two. I hoped that would stop after I killed Voldemort," Harry told them.

"You've never hurt us, kiddo. You could never hurt us. You didn't mean to say it. People do that all the time. It's normal," Sirius answered.

Harry shrugged. "Why are you having a hard time adjusting to this? You managed to deal with being the Boy-Who-Lived and the Chosen One. Why not this?" Remus asked.

"I don't know. This is just so much bigger than those. Now I'm a saviour. A legend," Harry replied.

"You've been a legend your whole life, Harry," Sirius said.

"And being a saviour is no longer than the Boy-Who-Lived or the Chosen One. The Boy-Who-Lived, a one year old that survived the killing curse and almost destroyed Lord Voldemort. The Chosen One, a teenage boy destined to save the wizarding world from Lord Voldemort. The saviour, a seventeen year old boy that destroyed Lord Voldemort, saved the world, almost died, and recovered from something that's fatal. They're all on the same level, pup," Remus stated.

Harry sighed. "I don't know. I just don't like the thought of being the saviour."

"Then don't think of it that way. Think of it as being a war hero or a war survivor," Sirius said.

Harry shrugged again. "You should go to Diagon Alley, Harry. It's time to face the world again." Remus smiled.

"Will you two come?" Harry asked.

"You'll go after Death Eaters alone, but this you want company for," Sirius joked. Harry grinned and nodded. "We'll come," he agreed.

"Thanks. Guess I'm going to Diagon Alley." Harry summoned a quill and wrote his reply.

Ron,
Don't worry. I'm going back to school. Yeah. I'll come to Diagon Alley. Remus and Sirius are coming with me. I'll meet you in Diagon Alley at one.
Say hi to the girls for me.
Harry

Sirius held out Pigwigeon and Harry tied the letter to its leg. The owl took off. "I'm going to shower then find something to do for two hours." Harry walked upstairs.

"I've changed my mind. I'm going home," Harry said, spinning around. He groaned when Sirius grabbed his arm and pulled him forward. Harry's eyes darted around at the witches and wizards all around. As Harry passed with his uncles, people would stop and stare. Some pointed and others whispered. He heard a couple kids say, "Look, Mummy. It's the saviour. It's the saviour!"

"I want to go home," Harry said as they passed a group of young witches who pointed at him.

"Ignore them, Harry. They mean nothing," Remus told him.

"It's easier said than done, you know," Harry muttered. Remus sighed and they stopped walking. "What?"

"You know what, Harry. Why can't you ignore them like you used to?" Remus asked. "It's been a year since that night. I know it's not something you'll forget. We'll never forget it, but you need to accept everything that's happened and changed. All of this whispering and staring is nothing new. Don't treat it like it's foreign. You don't have to be the saviour everyone says you are. You can be just the Boy-Who-Lived. You can be just Harry."

"Too much has changed for me to be those things. I can't anymore."

"This is mental, Harry. You can't hide from the world forever. You need to accept the way the world sees you. It's time to accept who you are and start living the normal life you now have," Sirius stated.

"I just hoped things would be different. I thought that once I destroyed Voldemort, my life would be normal. I wouldn't be picked out of a crowd. People wouldn't stare and point and whisper. I hate that it didn't happen." Harry sat on the sidewalk, his uncles beside him.

"It did happen, pup. You're life is normal. Sure, people still act like idiots around you but you're used to it. I think the thing that's freaking you out is the idea of a normal life. You've never known a normal life. Now, here you are, at the beginning again. Ready to restart your life. I think you're also worried me and Sirius will leave because now there's no danger we have to protect you from. Guess what? We're not going anywhere," Remus replied.

"Well, not-" Harry moved to object.

"Harry," Remus said knowingly.

Harry sighed. "Yeah, fine. I know you would never leave, but I can't help but worry. The best things I have always disappear."

"We're not disappearing, kiddo." Sirius gave Harry a one-armed hug. "Let's go find the others." Harry nodded and they got up. Talking, they walked down the busy street and rounded a corner.

"Harry!" Ron, Hermione, and Ginny yelled, waving him over.

"Hey, guys. Hey, Ginny." Harry kissed his fiancée and sat down. They were at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. "Where's your mum and Bill?"

"The Apothecary. We didn't feel like going inside so we sat here and got ice cream," Ron replied.

"I'll be right back. I have to go to Gringotts." Harry stood up again and left the table with his uncles.

"See? It's easy if you ignore everyone." Sirius ruffled Harry's hair.

"Yeah, yeah." Harry pushed him away. They headed to the bank and walked up the stone stairs to the doors. Harry stopped walking.

"Harry?" Sirius said when his godson stopped. "What's wrong?"

Harry didn't answer. He just stared at the doors. "It's Gringotts, Sirius. Where he and his friends were held and tortured, remember?" Remus whispered.

"Of course." Sirius nodded. "We can get your money for you. You don't have to come in."

"I shouldn't be afraid of Gringotts. It's a bank," Harry said.

"A bank you almost lost your life in. Harry, there's nothing wrong with the way you're feeling. The feelings will pass," Remus stated.

"But why is it taking so long with me? Ron and Hermione are fine. They haven't been hiding for the past year," Harry replied.

"Actually, I was talking to Molly and Arthur a couple weeks ago. They told me Ron and Hermione wouldn't leave the house unless they were together and someone was with them. They wouldn't even go outside. They've been hiding just as much as you," Sirius answered.

"Really? They never told me that," Harry said.

"They probably didn't tell you for the same reasons you didn't tell them about your seclusion. None of you wanted to show it," Remus told him.

"Yeah," Harry nodded. "Come on. I need money." Remus and Sirius laughed and they walked into the building.

"Harry! Hurry up! You are not going to be late on the first day of school!" Sirius yelled. It was finally September first and almost time to go to King's Cross.

"If I miss the train, I can just Apparate like you and Remus are doing," Harry said, walking down the stairs and pulling a new green sweater on.

"Where's your stuff?"

"My pocket. Except Hedwig. She's right here." Harry waved his hand and Hedwig came floating downstairs in her cage. "Hey, when are you hiring a new team? Ron and Ginny are going mental wondering if they made the team or not," Harry said as they walked outside to Apparate.

"I'm getting there. It's a hard decision," Sirius stated.

"You have seven open spots." Harry raised an eyebrow. They disappeared and were at King's Cross station.

"That doesn't make the decision any less difficult."

Harry rolled his eyes. "You can't hire me just because I'm your nephew either. It wouldn't be fair. Same goes for Ron and Ginny. Don't hire them just because he's my best friend and she's my fiancée. I told Remus the same thing about Hermione," Harry told him and they walked through the banner.

"I won't. I promise. Now, be good. I love you." Sirius hugged Harry tightly.

"Umm, Sirius? I'll be seeing you in a few hours," Harry said.

"What's your point?"

Harry chuckled. "Never mind. I'll see you later."

Sirius kissed his forehead. "Bye, kiddo." Harry shook his head as he got on the Hogwarts Express. Sirius was acting like he'd never see Harry again.

"Bye, Sirius!" Harry called, waving out the window. Sirius waved back. Harry went in search of his friends when Platform Nine and Three-Quarters could no longer be seen.

"Harry, in here!" Hermione called.

"Hey, Potter!" a familiar voice said behind him.

"One minute, Hermione." Harry turned and was face to face with Draco Malfoy. "Hello, Malfoy."

"I didn't think you were coming back," Malfoy stated.

"Believing the papers, are we?" Harry replied.

"Not completely."

"I almost didn't come back," Harry told him. "What about you? Why did you come back? I thought you hated Hogwarts because it wasn't a pureblood school?"

Malfoy shrugged. "I guess it's not so bad. Besides, I wasn't going to move to Germany or wherever to go to Durmstrang. It's also freakin' cold wherever Durmstrang is."

"It's freezing here too, genius." Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Not in the summer," Malfoy protested. Harry grinned and rolled his eyes. "Any idea who the replacement professors are?"

"Yeah. I know," Harry nodded.

"And?"

"Transfiguration is Sirius. Defence is Remus. Potions is Kingsley Shacklebolt. Charms is Nymphadora Tonks," Harry said.

"This should be an interesting year. And the year Slytherin wins the Quidditch and House Cup," Malfoy smirked.

Harry rolled his eyes again. "See you later, Malfoy." He walked to the compartment his friends were in. "Is it weird that it feels normal to be on good terms with Draco Malfoy?" he said as he sat beside Ron.

"A little," Hermione nodded. They all laughed. "I'm so glad we're going back to school."

"Yeah. Things are finally getting back to normal," Ginny sighed.

"Yeah." Harry looked at his friends and smiled. "Things are perfect."