The rest of the school year passed quickly. On the Hogwarts Express, Ron mentioned to Harry that Bill was getting married during the summer and he's invited to the wedding.

"How is your mother dealing with it?" Harry asked.

"She's still not happy, but she has no choice to accept it," Ron said. "Bill is a big boy who makes his own choices."

The first few weeks of summer went by quickly. On the last Saturday in July, Harry brought Hedwig inside the house. He told Sirius he doesn't want Moody or Hedwig to die.

"They're not dying," Sirius said, "just like I didn't die."

"Today is the battle of the seven Harrys," Harry said.

"Tell me about it," Sirius said curiously.
"It was time for me to leave the Durselys," Harry started. "I was surprised that so many people came to take me. Ron, Fred, George, Hermione, Fleur, and Mundungus all took polyjuice potion to turn into me. I tried telling them not to; that I didn't want them to die for me. Mundungus went with Moody, Fred went with Mr. Weasley, George went with Remus,"

"Maybe Remus should hear this as he's part of the battle," Sirius interrupted. He called Remus through the fireplace.

"Harry was just describing the battle of the seven Harrys," Sirius said. "So far, I know that Moody took Mundungus, Mr. Weasley took Fred, and you took George. They all had polyjuice potion to turn into Harry."

"Tonks took Ron, Bill took Fleur, Kingley took Hermione, and Hagrid took me," Harry continued. "As soon as we left, we saw at least 30 death eaters waiting for us. They split up and we each had a group following us. They killed Hedwig. We had to fight death eaters while flying away from the house. After I disarmed one of them, Voldermort came after me. I dueled him until we reached the Tonks house. Hagrid and I were both injured. Ted Tonks fixed my ribs, tooth and arm while Andromeda fixed Hagrid. We took a portkey to the Weasleys. After that, Remus came, holding a bloody George who was missing an ear. The first thing you did was make sure I was the real Harry by asking me what was in your office the first time I was in it. You yelled at me for disarming Stan. You said that in a battle, you're not supposed to disarm, and that since I already did it to Voldermort in my fourth year, it's becoming my signature. Ironically, I killed Voldermort next year by disarming him."

"How did you do that?" Remus asked.

"I disarmed him the same time he did a killing curse," Harry said. "The spells met midair and his spell rebounded back to him."

"I'll never make fun of you for disarming again," Remus said.

"Anyway," Harry continued his story, "While you were yelling at me, Kingsley came with Hermione. He asked you what the last words Dumbledore said to the two of you were. He was going to check me next, but you told him that you already did. Kingley said Voldermort joined his chase halfway but left quickly. I told him that he started chasing me. Remus told us that Snape cursed off George's ear."

"You know Snape really wouldn't do that," Remus said.

"He was trying to miss," Harry said. "He had to play the part of a death eater."

"How do you feel about it now?" Remus asked.

"I don't want him to do it," Harry said. "I don't think it's fair that Dumbledore put him in that situation. First he was a loyal death eater. When he found out Voldermort was targeting my family, he asked Dumbledore to save my mother. Dumbledore said he will only save her if he agrees to be a spy. He had no interest in spying! He agreed to do whatever Dumbledore asked and my mother died anyway! When my parents were killed, Snape wanted to die! Dumbledore told him he has to stay alive to protect me! When Voldermort came back, Dumbledore had Snape continue acting as a spy, pretending to be a death eater, while telling everything to Dumbledore! Dumbledore asked Snape to kill him! We all hated Snape, thinking that he was still loyal to Voldermort! Dumbledore told Snape he has to be convincing in this battle! That's why George lost his ear! He waited until he was almost dying to tell Snape that I'm a horcrux! Snape was upset that he was risking his life to keep me alive so I can die at the right moment! Of course, I'm angry!"

"So you're angry at Dumbledore for Snape cursing off George's ear?" Remus asked.

"I'm angry at everyone!" Harry yelled. "I don't want any more deaths!"

Hedwig hooted in agreement. Harry stroked her feathers and tried to calm down.

"Maybe we should ask Severus and Professor Dumbledore for their take on the situation," Remus said, "instead of yelling at everyone."

He turned to the fireplace and emerged a few minutes later with Snape and Dumbledore.

"Did you hear Harry screaming all the way from Hogwarts?" Sirius asked, amused.

"It's not going to happen," Dumbledore told Harry. "I'm not going to send you to your death since you figured out a way to destroy Voldermort without destroying the horcruxes. Snape's spying days are over. You don't need to be so concerned."

"Why did you insist that he become a spy?" Harry asked bitterly.

"Do you regret it?" Dumbledore asked Snape.

"I would have ended up in Azkaban if I didn't agree to spy," Snape said.

"You thought you were keeping me alive only to find out that Dumbledore was planning my death," Harry told him.

"Tell me how today's battle starts," Snape said.

"It was time for me to leave the Dursleys," Harry started.

"Considering that you left the Dursleys the day you got Sirius out of Azkaban, why are you worried about it now?" Snape asked.

"Don't get caught up in details," Harry told him.

"But you're not leaving the Dursleys," Snape said again. "So this battle can't happen."

"It could happen some other way," Harry said. "That's why I brought Hedwig inside. She and Moody are supposed to die."

"Am I still alive?" Dumbledore asked.

"You and Sirius have the same lines," Harry complained. "I'm trying to save lives and everyone is getting caught up on silly details."

"If you're not leaving the Dursleys tonight, how is this whole battle supposed to happen?" Snape asked.

"Stop being smart," Harry muttered.

"Someone has to be," Snape said. "You Gryffindors would rather be brawny than brainy."

"Be careful," Harry warned. "Dumbledore was in Gryffindor."

"He's an exception," Snape said.

"McGonagall," Harry added.

"Another exception."

"Hermione."

"That's three exceptions."

"My mum," Harry said.

"Okay, so we have four exceptions in four different time periods," Snape said.

"Me," Harry said with a trace of a smile.

"You're a dunderhead," Snape teased. "I thought I told you that already."

"Don't talk to my godson like that," Sirius reprimanded.

"It's okay," Harry said. "He only said that because he loves me."

Sirius and Remus started laughing.

"I take that back," Snape said. "You're not a dunderhead."

"Wow!" Harry said. "We need to remember today forever. On July 27, 1997, Professor Snape gave me his first compliment. He said I'm not a dunderhead. May this be the first of many more compliments to come."

"You are so much like your father," Sirius said as he and Remus laughed.

"I'm sorry," Harry said, instantly serious again. "I wasn't trying to be like him. I take it back."

"What's wrong with being like your father?" Dumbledore asked.

"He was an arrogant bully," Harry said.

"Who told you that?" Dumbledore asked.

"Before Snape died, he showed me his memories so that I'll know he was really on our side the whole time, and so I'll know why he hated me. I saw how my father acted," Harry said.

"Most people have good character traits and bad," Dumbledore said. "People generally aren't only good or only bad. Look at yourself. Do you have good character traits?"

"I don't know," Harry said.

"Fine," Dumbledore said. "We'll discuss you later. Look at Sirius. Does he have good character traits?"

"Of course," Harry said.

"Can you name some?" Dumbledore asked.

"He's fun, loyal, patient, funny, smart, nice, probably a lot more," Harry said.

"Does he have any negative character traits?" Dumbledore asked.

"Should I answer that in front of him?" Harry asked.

"His ego could use some deflating," Snape commented.

"He's wreckless," Harry said. "He used to be a bully."

"Is he a bad person because he's wreckless?" Dumbledore asked.

"No," Harry said.

"Does your father have any good character traits?" Dumbledore asked.

"I don't remember my parents," Harry confessed. "I came to school with my memories of the Dursleys plus the memories from my dream. In the dream, Snape showed me his memories so I know a little bit about my parents."

"Okay, so you have Snape's positive memories of your mother and negative memories of your father," Dumbledore said. "Now let's even the score a bit. Sirius, could you describe your relationship with James from when you met him until he died?"

"I was really excited to start Hogwarts," Sirius began. "I always got in trouble at home for not acting like a proper Black, but I figured in school, I'll get a chance to be myself. I sat in a compartment with a few other first years. James sat next to me. I noticed right away that he seemed very confident. He also had a great sense of humor, and like me, enjoyed making trouble. We had a great time on the train, making jokes, being loud, and probably bothering people. I was happy we ended up in the same house, but my parents were fuming that I ended up in Gryffindor. James was the only one who knew how bad things were at home. Most of the time, he was a fun, reckless, somewhat arrogant guy, but when I was upset about anything, he was always patient and understanding. He invited me for every holiday and I ended up moving into his house during my fifth year, when my parents disowned me. He never told anyone how crazy my parents were. He knew how to listen and how to cheer me up. When he married Lilly, I was the best man at the wedding. He named me your godfather, and I spent lots of time with you as a baby. You were the cutest baby in the world, and I looked forward to helping raise a miniature James. I was devastated when your parents died. I felt so bad for suggesting that Peter be secret keeper. It's my fault that their dead."

"It's not your fault," Harry said. "You didn't kill them. You didn't tell Voldermort to kill them, and you weren't the baby born on July 31st. If anything, it's my fault that they're dead."

"It's not your fault," four voices said at once.

"It's not my fault the same way it's not anybody in this room's fault," Harry said firmly, looking at Snape. "If anybody else claims the right to blame themselves, then I'll blame myself too."

"Deal," Dumbledore said with a familiar twinkle in his eye. "Remus, could you describe your friendship with James?"

"I was bitten by a werewolf when I was four," Remus began. "I never had any friends after that. My parents kept me away from other kids since they were scared that people would find out. I didn't think I would be able to go to Hogwarts and was thrilled when Professor Dumbledore said I could. I knew I had to keep my condition a secret, so I was hesitant to make friends. James always made sure I was included in everything going on. There were only four of us in our dorm, and James brought us together as a natural leader. He made sure we were all friends and didn't let me stay to myself. When he figured out I was a werewolf, he, Sirius, and Peter decided to become animagi in order to keep me company. I can't explain how much that did for me. Normally, I attacked myself when I transformed since there was nobody else to attack. Once they started running with me, they were able to keep me from hurting myself. They saved me from lots of pain and aggravation. They saved me from myself. More than that, James was the first person to treat me like a normal person despite knowing my condition. He had a great sense of humor and wasn't bothered by anything. He was my first true friend, and it's because of him that I have other friends."

"So Harry," Dumbledore asked again, "does your father have any good characteristics?"

"Yes," Harry said.

"Can you tell me some?" Dumbledore asked.

"He was confident, funny, fun, patient, understanding, a good listener, a good friend, and a natural leader," Harry said.

"So if someone tells you that you're acting like your father, is that an insult?" Dumbledore asked.

"It depends on the situation," Harry said. "I was teasing Professor Snape just for the fun of it. That wasn't nice of me."

"Is that what you meant when you said he was like his father?" Dumbledore asked Sirius and Remus.

"No," Remus said. "James never got insulted no matter what people said to him. He was able to view every insult as a compliment. That's what we were referring to."

"Actually," Harry said, "That's not my real personality. In my dream, I was very insulted every time Professor Snape said anything not nice to me. I don't think I made a single joke my entire six years at Hogwarts. I don't know where that behavior was coming from."

"Whenever you spend time with Sirius, you act more like James," Snape said. "Somehow, he brings out characteristics you don't normally possess."

"I try," Sirius said. "The first holiday that Harry stayed here, I realized he was too serious so I made it my goal to develop his sense of humor. Your behavior before told me I was successful."

"Is everyone happy now?" Dumbledore asked.

"I see Hedwig is still alive," Harry commented. "Could we go check on Moody?"

"No you can't," Dumbledore said firmly. "We're not worrying people about situations that won't happen."

"Could I at least check if George has his ears?" Harry asked.

"Same answer as before," Dumbledore said. "I'll repeat it if you need to hear it again."

"I don't have to tell him anything," Harry said. "I'll just stick my head in the floo and ask him if he has both ears. If he asks why I'm asking, I'll tell him I found some extra ears here."

"You are not using the floo," Sirius said firmly.

"Why not?" Harry complained.

"I don't need you falling out again," Sirius reminded him.

"That was only because Ron was dancing around," Harry said. "I used the floo many times without falling."

"What about when you ended up in Knockturn Alley?" Remus asked with a smile.

"That didn't really happen," Harry said. "It was in the dream."

"Well then, this didn't really happen either," Sirius said firmly. "There's no reason for you to use the floo. If you really want to check on George, I'll apparate you to his store."

Sirius reached down and put Harry on his shoulders.

"I'm turning seventeen in four days," Harry protested. "I'm too big to travel like this."

"In four days, you can apparate on your own," Sirius said. "Today, I still get to do it for you. Hold on tight."

Harry grabbed Sirius's head as the world turned black and he faded to nothing before reappearing at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.