A/N: SO SORRY FOR THE WAIT-DAMN YOU DEPRESSION! As a result, I either can do frequent chapters that are very short, or longer ones like this that may be awhile getting out to y'all. Tell me in the reviews! Also-Did anyone else hear about J.K.'s announcement that she should not have put Ron and Hermione together? I was actually pretty surprised. I know there are plenty of people who disliked Ron in the series and thought him a boorish and stupid character, and they welcomed the confirmation of their Harry and Hermione ship. I never understood all the Ron hate, honestly. I actually always pitied him, in a different way than I did Harry, our main character, in that Ron just wanted attention and to be special (don't we all?)-being one of many siblings, and whose friend constantly received adoration and a spotlight. I know Harry addressed this with Ron in GOF, and the two reconciled after Ron realized that Harry never wanted any accolades and media coverage, only peace and normality. I always thought Ron and Hermione balanced each other out quite nicely, and as for Harry and Ginny, I personally always saw Harry as a lifelong childless wifeless hermit, growing up to become a wise Merlin-Obi Wan archetype. That's only my preference though, and how I like to see and write him.

Two parts of the trio were sitting on the grass in their robes, disregarding grass stains and mud splatter. The whole of the school was waiting for the private burial portion of the service to finish.

Hermione was beginning to worry about Harry's disappearance until Ron reminded her, "He's probably putting back the 'You Know What'. I'd expect he'll be back soon," Ron pursed his lips, and his face hardened "sort of wish he'd kept that wand, though. The masses of leftover Death Eaters we could obliterate!" Grinning now, he continued, "all the ones that haven't run like cowards, that is." Hermione gave him a disapproving look, but silently agreed, to her surprise. She'd changed more than she realized. A shiver went through her at this thought. How much more would she uncover about herself before school got started again? Would she even be allowed to go back? She was sure McGonagall would let her-

Luna sat down in the grass next to them, Neville and Angelina Bell trailing behind her. Angelina let out a sigh and said, "Is Harry here? Some people have been looking for him. Wanting to thank him or take photos and whatnot." The annoyance was clear on her face.

"Wish they'd just leave him be," said Neville, "but it's unlikely to happen." He rubbed a grass stain on his elbow and looked out into the distance. "Hey," he said suddenly, "there he is!"

Harry was making his way toward them and hoping to go unnoticed when he was surrounded by reporters. Flashbulbs went off in his face as he had question after question thrown at him-

" , tell us how exactly you killed You Know Who-"

"Harry, could you give us an idea of when you'll be getting married-"

"Do you think you will be involved in taking down future Dark witches and wizards?"

"What can you tell us about Albus Dumbledore's involvement in your education? Is he as big of a crackpot as said in her wonderful novel-"

This last question so infuriated Harry that he was about to fling a curse at the bunch of them and see if any of them stuck, when he was saved by Kingsley. Thank Merlin for Kingsley. The head auror reached in and seized Harry's hand while scattering the reporters like the flies they were.

"Get out of here! You are not allowed on these premises, there is a barrier that should have been sealed off-HOW DID ANY OF YOU EVEN GET IN?!"

As Kingsley herded the reporters away to be reprimanded, Harry met his friends in the long grasses where they stood waiting for him. Hermione approached him, concerned, "How did they let them in-oh, Harry, are you alright? This is terrible, this is a funeral! They're going to disturb those mourning families-"

Ron looked away, and Hermione snapped her mouth shut. Harry put a hand on Ron's shoulder-(it's my fault, how DARE I try to comfort him) but was shrugged off by his friend, who walked away sullenly.

"Let him be," said Bill, who appeared out of nowhere, "give him a few hours and some food, and he'll be alright."

Harry, who couldn't bring himself to look Bill in the eye, looked instead down at his hand. 'I must not tell lies' still raised faintly upon his skin. He looked back up and met Bill's eyes. They were sad and tired.

"I won't pretend that I'm not grieving as well, but Ron has his own way of dealing with everything," Bill grimaced and turned to Hermione, "how are you doing now? Fleur still asks after you, with what happened at the cottage," at this Hermione paled, but Bill went on unnoticing, "I told her it's clear you were obviously tortured-"

Harry stared desperately at Hermione, hoping she could perceive all of the guilt that overflowed in his mind. She didn't see him. Hermione couldn't see anything but Bill's necktie, with the red stripes and-

Red-like the blood from her cheek that pooled on the tile floor under her-it hurt, make it stop, please, just KILL ME-

"Hermione?"

Hermione's neck snapped up to his Bill frowning at her. She inhaled sharply.

"Sorry, Bill. I...don't know what came over me."

Harry did. Though he severely wished he hadn't any idea of what had just happened to her.

Bill nodded and clapped a hand on Hermione's shoulder, "If you ever need anything, Fleur and I would be happy to have you back at Shell Cottage."

Hermione could barely keep a smile on her lips as Bill left. I could never go back to that place, she thought. It was really quite a shame, though. It was a beautiful place. But the War had ruined everything beautiful about life, hadn't it?

She noticed Harry start towards her, then stop. She looked at him through now teary eyes,

"Yes, Harry?"

He opened his mouth slightly, closed it, and then she knew.

"Harry, it wasn't your fault."

Harry's face hardened, "It was, though, 'Mione. That's the thing. You were tortured because of me."

Hermione bit her lip, "Oh, Harry, you mustn't think that, really! It was all Vold-"

"I was just looking at my hand, the one Umbridge scarred," said Harry bitterly, "remember at the end of fifth year when she dragged us all into her office and was about to put the Cruciatus on me? You stopped her! You put your own life on the line to intercede for me, and look what I did for you in the Manor? Nothing! Bloody nothing," he finished, defeatedly.

"Harry, I..." Hermione fell silent as Harry walked away towards the castle. They were calling everyone in now, for the feast. She didn't know how anyone could eat after a funeral service.

Hermione followed behind him, quietly berating herself for not saying anything to counter Harry's guilt towards her torture.

And cursing herself for almost agreeing with his words.

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