THE LEAVES – CHAPTER ELEVEN
Harry wandered down the stairs of the Gryffindor Tower at around two in the afternoon on May the 2nd. Bleary eyed and aching, he made his way nonetheless towards the armchair in the Common Room where Ron sat reading an old book of Hermione's.
"Mornin'," Harry spoke groggily.
"Hey, how you doing, mate?"
"I'm alright, I guess. Could do with a good bath though,"
"I think we all could to be honest. Hermione mentioned the idea of us all using the Prefect baths as a swimming pool, grabbing our shorts and towels, heading there after breakfast, you know?"
"Sounds like another wonderful idea from our bright best friend." Harry grinned for the first time in what felt like years. "Where is she anyway?"
"Her and Fred headed down for a bite to eat in the Hall. I said I'd wait for you and we'd meet them in there,"
"Have I been long?"
"Merlin, no. They only went down around five minutes ago,"
Harry nodded and the two rose from their positions on the Common Room's sofas. They headed down the stairs and everyone they passed stopped to clap, wave or watch them pass with faces filled with happiness towards two-thirds of the trio that finished the oppression.
The Great Hall was packed with people, each and every one had a smile or wave for the trio. Harry easily spotted the flames of Weasley hair as he and Ron made their way over. Molly and Arthur were smiling and chatting to all their children, catching up after all the time spent in hiding during the war. Bill was talking to Percy, no doubt about something at the Ministry. George was happily talking to his sister-in-law whilst applying Bruise Removal paste to Ginny's signs of Carrow teaching methods. It was pleasant to see everyone working together and helping each other out after everything they had all been through.
Harry cast another gaze over the Weasley family and spotted Fred and Hermione curled up together on the bench. Harry had known that they were together but as he had been informed by Hermione herself, they had never really had the time to make it to the boyfriend/girlfriend stage of the relationship due to the ever looming thought of the war. Now it was all over, Harry supposed that the two had gotten together properly and he was glad for them. Hermione felt like a sister to him and it made him happy to know that she had found someone that would take care of her because after taking care of himself and Ron all these months, Merlin knows she deserves him.
Hermione was leant into Fred's side and he had his arm lazily slung over her shoulder. He had just whispered in her ear – no doubt something about the current state of the leaves – and her cheeks had flushed red and the comment which made the grin across his face spread even bigger if possible.
Harry took a deep breath and looked around. This was what he had won the war for.