Well here is part number 3. Thanks again to those who are reading it. I would like a little more feedback. I know the last part had quite a few errors in it as I posted it quickly before heading away with my father for a few days. Hopefully this one is better. I will also repost the first two parts now I've had time to look them over and correct them. (Not that perfect English has ever been my strong point. Even if it is my native tongue.).
Harry tried hard for the rest of the day to focus on the questions and answers he was expected to make to a few top Auror's and Kingsley about the lead up to and final defeat of Tom Riddle. But he continued to find again and again that his mind would wander back to Ginny. Did the fact she was having nightmares about his death possibly mean that she still had feelings for him? Could he dare to hope that she hadn't bonded and formed a new relationship in the underground she had been running with Neville at Hogwarts for the past year?
Hermione had had to keep elbowing him, and he was asked several times if he wanted to go and have a meal and a sleep in the room he had clearly spent hours sleeping in after the battle. But Harry wanted this over with. He knew now without a doubt that life wasn't just going to return to a so called normal where he was just the Boy who lived. Now he was the Boy who lived twice and 'The Savior of the Wizarding race.'
This was the new line on the hourly news report they had listened too while they had eaten a late lunch in the ministry cafe it had been bad enough having people watching their every move. Harry not that he wanted to admit it even to himself had been glad Kingsley had sent two so called bodyguards with them to the Cafe. It had seemed to signal that they weren't to be approached and talked to by the few people that were having a late lunch as well. But it hadn't stopped everyone in the Cafe clapping loudly and smiling at the trio when the radio announcer had called him 'The Savior.'
"So these Horcrux's they all needed to be gotten rid of before Volermort could truly die?" Asked a much older Auror who had continued to look at Ron, Hermione and Harry throughout the whole meeting with disbelief and frustration that Tom Riddle had been brought down by three teenagers. "Are you sure you got them all?"
"We destroyed 7 of them, one of them being me. I highly doubt there are anymore." Harry tried to explain again.
Hermione sat there. "I know this sort of dark magic isn't easy to find out about even in the restricted section of the library at Hogwarts. But I truly doubt that Volermort would have been able to make anymore Horcrux's. In fact I've started to wonder if Harry becoming a Horcrux the first time Tom tried to kill him was what defeated him then more than the rebound of the curse. His soul was spilt one too many times."
Ron just starred at his new girlfriend like he couldn't follow her at all and Harry frowned thinking over what she had just said in his mind. He thought she could be on to something there but still thought he was over thinking about it all. After all it had been all he had thought about for most of the last year.
Kingsley had nodded as Hermione spoke. "Something to look into I think, but for another time. There are more pressing matters at hand. Harry I know you would like to hide out from all the attention but we think a few well placed sightings and words from you at a few events will help the wizarding world to believe that Tom Riddle is truly no more."
Harry wanted to groan again. "Why does it have to be me? Hermione could do it."
"Don't be silly Harry Kingsley is right. I think if people could see you and hear you it would help. Maybe you should talk at the Memorial Service for all those who died next week. I think that would be a way for you to remind people not to focus on you but to focus on rebuilding our world and on those who lost their lives to give us freedom." Hermione answered half thinking out loud again.
Harry just pointed at her and looked at Kingsley with raised eyebrows. "See much better at putting thoughts into words than I am."
Kingsley smiled. "You could get her to write what you are going to say. Excellent idea Hermione, I think that's the perfect place. I was wondering as well if you would do an interview with your friend Lee Jordon. Many wizards all over the world tuned into Potter Watch. It would be a good way to end the show and reach those who won't be able to be at the memorial."
Harry groaned again. "Do I have too?" He muttered. "But I suppose Lee is easier to talk to than Rita Skeeter."
"Hmm, another person we want to talk too after reading Miss Granger's diary." One of the Auror's commented. "So it's true she's an Animagus? My wife has always wondered just how she managed to get information no one else did."
"Oh she most defiantly is. Hermione kept her in a jar for quite a while after the Tri-wizard Tournament in our 4th year." Ron answered sending Hermione a smile.
"Not sure we want to know about you kidnapping a witch Miss Granger. It might be best that you didn't boast about that Mr. Weasley especially when you should have reported her to the ministry." The old Auror told them looking at them like he had known that three teenagers weren't mature.
Kingsley looked at the older man then back at the three best friends. "As a member of the Order of the Phoenix I think I can understand why Miss Granger wouldn't trust the ministry at that time. I recall the minister then liked to call Mr. Potter and Dumbledore crack pots."
Hermione smiled and looked at her watch. "It's after dinnertime. I think it's time we take Harry back to the Burrow. He's very tired and we seem to be going around in circles."
Kingsley nodded. "Yes, we have enough to go on, and we know how to contact you all if we need anything more. Just please give us a list of the funerals you will be attending Harry. We will need to add some extra people at them just to make it safe and I will get back to you with the program for the memorial next week and the radio interview."
Harry just nodded. He saw the chance to escape and wasn't about to argue anymore. Just the thought of getting out of the Ministry relaxed him greatly. Not that he was really sure just what he would find at the burrow other than a hug from Mrs. Weasley.
It was twilight when they finally apparated back to the burrow. Two young Auror's had gone before them to scout out the area and Kingsley himself came back with them to pay his condolences to the Weasley family.
Hermione and Ron seemed to continue to find each other's hands whenever they were walking somewhere. Harry had to admit it was nice to see them leaning on each other after all they had been through. But it surprised him how much he felt slightly separated from them even though he had seen this coming for years. One thing was for sure though he hoped it worked out for them.
Harry's first sight of the Burrow in 10 months was almost a relief. There was something about its towering miss-matched structure that felt peaceful. Yet the comments about Ginny earlier in the day still had him slightly on edge. He knew beyond a doubt after all these months that he loved her. Had she really woken every few hours last night screaming for him? He felt almost guilty having finally slept peacefully for so long and what did the Weasley's think about it all? After all they had pretty much adopted him over the years and now he wanted to date again the baby of the family.
Ron and Hermione led the way with Harry and Kingsley walking behind them. "Sorry it's taken so long to get you back here Harry. I want you to know I don't like having to guard you but I don't see any other way of you getting anytime alone or privacy."
Harry shook his head. "What being watched 24/7 is privacy now is it?" He joked.
"You know what I mean. Anyway while you are at the burrow the Auror's will be outside the wards. Just let them know if you need them inside I hear my old friend Bill Weasley wants to talk to you about his little sister." Kingsley smirked at Harry. "But you could do worse she's a fine looking girl, and knows you for who you are not what you have done."
"I've got to find out if she will have me. I haven't talked to her in almost a year." Harry told Kingsley thinking that this was a very private conversation to have with the Minister of Magic. But then again none of the other ministers Harry had met had also risked their lives over and over again to save his and the other members of the order.
They were just approaching the kitchen door when it opened to reveal Molly Weasley beckoning them in. "It's about time you lot got here. Really Kingsley that boy needs a good meal and family not to be answering all your questions." Molly scolded the Minister.
Kingsley just smiled at her while Molly pulled Harry into a large hug. "Oh Harry you have no idea how proud of you Arthur and I are. To think we almost lost you as well." Molly cried over him. Harry felt very uncomfortable, especially with the pain that was coming from his chest due to the almost bone crushing hug.
"Mum, he's hurt, and you're making it worse." Rom exclaimed after noticing the look of distress on Harry's face.
"Oh, oh I'm sorry Harry. Have you been checked out by a healer?" Molly asked releasing him and having a good look at his face. "Where does it hurt?"
"I'm fine. It's just a big bruise." Harry answered straightening his shirt, and wincing again at the fact his chest was so sensitive.
Molly looked at him shocked and then up at Kingsley. "You haven't had him checked out have you? After all he's been through you didn't even think to get a healer into the ministry to make sure he was alright." She accused.
Kingsley had the good sense to look sheepish. "I sort of had a lot going on today Molly." He answered her. "We did have someone check his vitals while he slept. But no, not since he woke up."
She just sighed at the minister nodding her head. "Right into the house then Harry, on up to Ron's room and shirt off. I'll be there in a minute after I've got my healing spells book." She ordered.
"I don't think you'll find much about Killing Curses that didn't kill. Mrs. Weasley." Hermione dared to half question Molly. "I mean they don't leave any mark at all on those who are killed by them. I'm still trying to work out why it did hurt Harry."
Harry starred at Hermione. "They always seem to leave a mark on me." He muttered pointing to his forehead.
Ron had to hide the smirk on his face from his girlfriend as they had always known ever since meeting Harry that the 'Avada Kedavra' curse had most defiantly left a mark on him. While Kingsley let out a bark of a laugh.
"Enough of that. Upstairs shirt off Harry." Molly ordered him again.
Harry just nodded. In a way it was nice to have Mrs. Weasley so worried about him that she actually cared to look at his bruise. It wasn't something he was used to having grown up with the Dursley's.
Walking into the kitchen Harry was greeted with a cheer from Charlie, Bill and Percy who were sitting at the table drinking a butter beer each. But he didn't have time to greet them before his eye was caught by Ginny rushing down the stairs. She stopped on the third to last step and just stared at him for what seemed like an eternity to Harry before jumping the last stairs and almost flying across the kitchen towards him.
He wanted to open his arms and hold her, to keep her there close to him forever, never letting go. But before he could even think she had stopped only a foot away from him, glaring with a look of anger Harry wasn't sure he had ever seen on her face before. "How dare you?" She asked poking him in the rib cage hard near his heart. Harry winced with the pain, starting to feel light headed. She poked him again harder. "How dare you go and get yourself killed." Was the last thing Harry heard as the room spun out of focus.