A/N - A quick author's note to say 'thank you' all for the lovely reviews. Since I write a drabble a day, it helps to know your thoughts since they help me come up with some sort of plot line.

Chapter 24 - Sudden and Descriptive (Prompts)

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Harry watched Hermione as she started straightening out the kitchen while he sat idly, waiting for her to say something. He found himself itching to ask her how she had left the Burrow; find out whether Ron had tried to stop her or if they had an argument that ultimately led her here. But more than that, he wanted to know exactly why he felt that she had chosen him over Ron and he wanted her to give him a sign as to whether she did or didn't. His mind would stop circling on various scenarios if he could only get her to answer one simple question: why she was currently in Grimmauld place with him instead of the Burrow comforting their best mate who had just lost his brother?

"Have you read today's paper?" Hermione asked suddenly as she turned towards him.

Harry shook his head. He hadn't even thought about it, to be honest. His mind had been too preoccupied with everything that had happened during the past two days. Besides, he could almost imagine the headline and the article following it. He wasn't naive enough to think that he wasn't mentioned in either. If anything, he wanted to see his name in the Daily Prophet as much as he did when he was fifteen years old and was called an attention seeking liar.

Pulling out the rolled up newspaper from that beaded bag of hers easily, she handed it over to him with a neutral expression on her face. Once Harry took it from her, she took a seat opposite him and watched him expectantly. Feeling like he was placed on the spot, Harry un-rolled the Daily Prophet and scanned the headline.

No surprises there. It was a detailed account of the Last Battle, along with interviews from a few survivors, Aurors and Ministry Officials. The account of the Final Battle was too descriptive for Harry's taste, the words making the incident sound like an epic battle where good finally triumphs without focusing much on the casualties or the people who suffered to bring about the favourable outcome. The newspapers would concentrate on the good that had happened, while downplaying the losses. And why shouldn't they? After years of living in terror, everyone was finally free. This wasn't something he hadn't expected. Confused as to what she had wanted him to read, Harry looked at Hermione in question.

She gestured to the newspaper in his hands. "Page three."

Harry dropped his gaze once more and searched out the article she wanted him to see. It didn't take long for his eyes to fall on his own name, placed boldly among others.

"That's why Kingsley wanted you to speak at the funeral. You've already been mentioned."

Straightening the inky print, Harry quickly scanned the article about the Memorial Service that was to take place the very next day. The article, written by one Sylvia Dredge stated inaccurately that the 'Saviour of the Wizarding World who defeated You-Know-Who with his powerful magic' was to make the closing statements for the ceremony. Harry felt his jaw tighten with anger. Kingsley should have told him.

"I'm not going to speak," he said softly, his tone shaking slightly with the rage he felt he was bottling up inside him.

"I know," Hermione said gently.

Her tone made him look up at her. "But?" He prompted her, knowing full well that she was about to say that word and explain something to him that he didn't really want to hear.

Hermione looked away, embarrassed. "But, would it be so bad?" The expression of incredulity on his face only made her more determined. "Would it be so awful to talk about what happened? To mention all those who fought with us and who didn't...survive?"

But Harry was already shaking his head as he placed the paper down. It was one thing to give an interview and recount everything that happened to a small group of people, it was quite another to stand before a large crowd while they mourned the dead and looked to him to have all the answers. They probably wanted him to give reasons as to why their losses ultimately helped them win the battle; they probably wanted a reason for every death so that it wasn't a waste in the grand scheme of things. And Harry knew deep down, that he wasn't the person to give them those reasons because he himself didn't understand them at all.

Keeping his gaze away from hers, he stood up quickly, suddenly feeling the need to be alone with his thoughts for a bit.

"Thank you for dinner."

Without waiting for her reaction, Harry left the kitchen, part of him feeling guilty when he caught a glimpse of Hermione's face.

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