Chapter 37 - Order Restored

Harry didn't remember much of the aftermath of the battle with the Death Eaters. He sat with Ron in an empty classroom, just looking at the floor for a long time. Occasionally one would look across at the other, but neither could bring themselves to say something. Ron looked haggard and drawn; he had stopped crying, but Harry suspected that this was because he had no more tears left.

Harry himself didn't know what to think. He was torn between enormous grief at the deaths of Hermione, Colin, Cho, Lavender and Professor Sprout, and anger and confusion at Percy's betrayal. Ron seemed to have calmed down slightly on that front, but Harry could see his fists clenching and unclenching on the arms of his chair.

The first thing that made Harry smile since Hermione's death was the arrival of Ginny. Although she also looked deeply saddened, (Harry suspected Dumbledore had told them all), the relief at seeing her okay had a startling effect on Ron and on Harry. She hugged Ron tightly, and Harry was gladdened, as Ron seemed to rise from his depression on her arrival. Then she walked over to Harry.

She looked like wanting to kiss him but Harry turned her away and hugged her tightly instead. He whispered his reason into her ear.

"I don't think Ron could take that," he said softly, as Ron looked wistfully out of the window. As he hugged her tightly, Harry could tell from her laboured breathing that she was crying.

"Why her though?" she said it as much to herself as to anyone.

Harry sighed softly and ran his hand absentmindedly through her hair. "I don't know. I just don't know."


The next few days were a bit of haze for Harry. There was one bit though that neither Harry nor Ron would ever forget, and that was the meeting with Hermione's parents.

Mr and Mrs Granger had arrived at Hogwarts the day after the battle, as soon as arrangements could be made. With them came a small girl who Harry knew to be Hermione's little sister, Sarah, who was nine. She had wept throughout the meeting, like her mother, and when Harry had passed on Hermione's final words of love to her parents Mr Granger broke down also.

Both parents thanked Harry and Ron for being there for their daughter through the years, and both said Hermione had spoken of the two of them with love, respect and admiration. Mr Granger decided later that they would hold the funeral at Hogwarts, with her friends around her, along with the others who had died in the battle.

Harry was not looking forward to the funeral. He had suffered enough grief by anyone's standards, and he also had the added trouble of being "famous Harry Potter". He had been asked half-heartedly by Dumbledore if he wanted to say something at the funeral, but Harry knew he wouldn't have been able to convey anything he wanted to say into a good speech. He would say goodbye to Hermione privately after the funeral.

There were many tears at the funeral. The students wore their black uniform, though each wore a white armband as a mark of respect for the wonderful pupils and staff who had fallen. Gryffindor house were particularly upset, having lost three, though Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were also looking thoroughly dejected.

There were very few Slytherins left, and these did not look very happy either. Malfoy stood off by himself, and at one point in the ceremony, when he had stood next to Harry, Harry had put a comforting hand on his shoulder. He was not sure why this effected him so much, but he knew that now he had another life long friend, one whom he would never have guessed at the beginning of his first year.

The funeral ended with Dumbledore addressing the students. He reminded the students to unite, and love one another, and to take care of all. He raised his goblet gravely to those who had died, and to those who had fought valiantly in the D.A.

After the funeral Harry, Ron and Ginny went and sat with their backs to a tree over looking the lake. They were going to wait for everyone to leave before they paid their last respects to Hermione. They sat in comfortable, grieving silence, before Harry looked up to see Professor Dumbledore striding the lawn to meet them. He motioned for them to stay sitting before conjuring a chair for himself to sit down on. He sat with them in silence for a few moments before speaking.

"I assume you are going back later?" he asked quietly. Harry nodded, averting his gaze from that of his headmaster. Dumbledore looked at them all in turn, and he smiled fondly. "Never in all my years have I known wizards and witches like you three. With Hermione you were some of the most inquisitive, intelligent and brave people of your age. You truly would have made your father proud Harry. I can accord you no higher honour."

Harry looked up into Dumbledore's tired face. He opened his mouth to speak, but Dumbledore held up a hand. "I came to ask you something Harry." His eyes, although obviously still mournful from the funeral, had regained a small amount of their old sparkle. "Do you want to move into Godric's Hollow?"

Harry's heart leapt. "You mean, I could live there? And Voldemort wouldn't find me?"

"We could again use the Fidelius Charm while you are there," said Dumbledore simply. "Because this would be a different charm, you would be quite safe at Godric's Hollow. Who would you like as your secret keeper?"

Harry's reply was instant. "Ron." He said it simply and he exchanged a look with Ron. Ron looked truly happy for the first time since Hermione had died, and he gave Harry a smile. Ginny saw it and understood why Harry had chosen Ron instead of her, and Harry was grateful for this.

Dumbledore smiled. "OK then. Mr Weasley if you would follow me then, I'm sure the others will wait here for you." Ron got to his feet.

"Doesn't Harry need to come?" Ron asked, frowning.

"Not at all," said Dumbledore amiably, "as long as you tell him it's ok for him to live there."

Ron laughed, and walked away with Dumbledore. Ginny leant back against Harry and they sat in silence for a while. Then Ginny sighed softly.

"Thanks for doing that," she said. "For Ron I mean. I didn't know if he would ever smile again."

Harry nodded. "I had the same worry myself."
The last month at school passed very quickly. Each day Harry, Ron and Ginny would go down to the graves to pay their respects. The graves had been placed next to the castle on a bit of lawn over looking the lake. Sometimes other Gryffindors, friends of Hermione and Lavender and Colin Creevey, would accompany them.

Harry decided that he would go on the train with Ron and Ginny, so that he could see Mr and Mrs Weasley, but also so that he could thank the Dursleys. He knew that he had had a lot of miserable times at the Dursleys' house, but he knew also that they had taken him in, and they had taken care of him, so he really should thank them.

The end of year feast the day before the journey, reminded Harry forcefully of his fourth year. There were black banners up as a mark of respect for those lost, and the cheers for Gryffindor winning the house cup again were muted and short. Dumbledore had delivered a very similar speech to his speech at the funeral, although this time he acknowledged Harry in person. Harry looked down at his feet as the school toasted to him, and to his fighting off Voldemort and his worst Death Eater, Bellatrix Lestrange.

Perhaps the most emotional moment came after the speech. Harry had been left sat at the table having wanted to just sit for awhile. As he left the hall a few minutes later, he found Neville in the Entrance Hall. He had obviously been waiting for Harry.

"Harry I..." he was stammering slightly. "I didn't know you killed... her." Neville looked up at Harry, a glimmer of hope and happiness in his eyes. "Thank you Harry. Thank you for getting some revenge for me."

And with that, Neville turned and walked back up the stairs, leaving Harry standing by himself in the Entrance Hall. He couldn't help smiling slightly and he felt a tear rolling down his cheek.
The train journey home was a subdued one. Harry sat in a compartment with Neville, Ron and Ginny. None said much. Harry watched the castle out of sight, knowing he would see it again very soon, for Professor Dumbledore had told him to ride back on the train the following night.

The four of them stepped off the platform at King's Cross Station. Neville bid them good bye, before walking off to find his grandmother. Harry turned with Ron and Ginny to see the other Weasley's making their way swiftly through the station. Mrs Weasley immediately pulled her two children into a fierce hug, and Harry allowed himself a small, sad smile. He more then anything wanted a parent to do that to him. He found one, as Mrs Weasley turned to him, her eyes shining brightly with fresh tears.

"Harry, dear." She pulled him into a hug as well, and Harry felt his own tears suddenly blurring his vision. After a few moments she pushed him away from her slightly. "It will be ok some day. You will see. You will see her again."

Harry looked up at her, frowning slightly. "Why, you don't think that this is the end do you Harry?" She gave him an encouraging smile, which he returned. Then he looked behind the Weasley's and saw the Dursley's, all three of them standing. He separated himself from the Weasley's and walked over to them.

"Where is your stuff boy?" Mr Dursley said, craning his neck to look at the Weasley's. "And where is your other friend, the one with bushy brown hair?"

Harry looked up at them sadly. "My stuff is at the school still. And Hermione..." he couldn't help it. He trailed off and put a hand over his eyes, his face scrunched up in his sadness. "She's dead."

Aunt Petunia clapped a hand to her mouth. "How? Not... him?" Harry nodded mutely. Then Aunt Petunia did something she had never done before; she hugged Harry. Then she pulled back. "I'm sorry Harry." There was a brief pause. "Why is your stuff at your school?"

Harry looked up at the Dursley's, who were all looking at him in a different way to ever before. "Well... I've got a house!" he said it suddenly, and he wasn't sure why this made him feel good, but he felt an elated bubble inside him.

"A house?" asked Uncle Vernon, obviously shocked.

"It was my parents," Harry said simply. "It was rebuilt earlier this year."

"So... you're not coming back?" Aunt Petunia said it, almost as a whisper, but there was no hope in her voice, as Harry would have thought there would have been. There was sadness. Harry nodded, looking up into his Aunt's concerned face.

"I just came back on the train to... to say... to say thanks." Harry said it clearly, and his eyes met with his Aunt's, then his Uncle's, then with Dudley's. Aunt Petunia started to cry and she pulled Harry again into a hug.

"You're more like Lily then you know," she said quietly, and Harry knew how much these words meant to his Aunt. She broke away from him and stepped aside as Uncle Vernon stepped forward.

He was looking at Harry in a very strange, almost protective way. He coughed slightly, as if unsure of what his words should be. After a few awkward moments, he cleared his throat.

"You'll always have a home at number four, privet drive, if ever you need it. Just send us an owl." Harry was stunned. This almost fatherly show of affection was unheard of for Uncle Vernon, and his hatred of owls was renowned. Harry nodded dumbly, but Uncle Vernon seemed to understand. He extended a large hand, which Harry shook. Even Dudley came forward to shake Harry's hand.

Harry led them over to where the Weasley's were still standing, where they had obviously been watching. Arthur was looking approvingly at the way the Dursleys had treated Harry. Harry turned to face the Weasley's and the Dursley's in one go. He wasn't sure himself as to what he was going to say, but he knew he had to say something. He looked up at them in a totally new light. They were his family.

"Thank you," he said simply and quietly, his eyes meeting those of every person in the group in turn. "Thank you all for being here for me. I'll never forget it." He smiled at them, and Ginny hurried forwards and hugged him. The others smiled back at him. He separated himself from Ginny, shook Ron's hand and gave them all a final smile, before walking back to the train.

He watched them all from out of his window. He waved at them as the train hissed steam out of its top before finally pulling out of the station. He leaned out of the window and he yelled his goodbyes until they were out of sight.
The next day, Harry found himself trudging up the summer-spilled lanes of Hogsmeade, his suitcase held tightly behind him, Hedwig's empty cage under one arm. He wandered up the main street, and then down the driveway to his house, Godric's Hollow. Upon opening the door, he found Dobby and Winky awaiting him.

"We will take your suitcase Mr Potter," Dobby said excitedly. "How are you?"

"Well Dobby," said Harry slowly, "I'm home." And with that, he placed his possessions on the floor, and went upstairs into his bedroom. His parents were waiting for him.

THE END
Author's note: Thank you all for reading my story, I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. I am sorry for the sad times towards the end, but do not worry: Harry Potter will return. The sequel is in the planning stages and will run through Harry's seventh and final year at Hogwarts. It will be called "Harry Potter and the Next Realm." Maybe Hermione isn't as gone as you would think...

Please review this story and my other little, short one. I may write a much bigger sequel to that as well at some point, but Harry Potter is my priority.

Wish you all the best

The Guitarist