Harry James Potter sat at the bottom of the spiral stairs where the gargoyle once stood proudly guarding the entrance of the headmaster's office and private rooms. The once majestic gargoyle now strewn across the ground in little more than rubble from the battle that had ended only moments before as survivors cried and rejoiced, mourned and remembered, all knowing that while the battle was over there was work still to be done. This time he was going to be sure that none of the truly guilty could claim innocence.

As he eyed the grand entrance of the castle, scorch marks where spells missed their mark little the walls like scars on the soldiers that fought. The shining suits of armor scattered in pieces waiting to be collected and magically put together once more. Chunks of stone missing from the stairs while the handrails had been obliterated.

If he were to turn his head towards the great hall, the price of the battle would be seen, bodies laid out on cots. Sheets pulled over some while others were covered by their loved ones as grief took over their every thought and feeling. Yet others cast spells while helping the healers who flooded the battlefield in a race to keep the mortality rate from climbing. Whispered instructions for the few students who volunteered to aid those now taking charge of the carnage.

"Gin…" the deep voice he knew but couldn't place, broke his solitude.

"Dean." she sobbed softly before the rapid pace of her footfalls echoed off the otherwise cavernous walls.

He watched as the young woman who at one time thought would be his forever rushed into the arms of another. Someone who he saw not as a rival for her heart; but someone who would understand it as more than just the beating muscle that thumped in her chest.

"You're okay. Fuck, you're okay." the catch in his voice as he wrapped her in his arms bled as if he had been cut open.

What could have been minutes, hours or seconds they stood there embraced in one another as the world spun on. He expected pain to explode in his chest as he sat there watching them. He wished for an emotion to rattle him, to let him know he still cared for her.

And it did; just not the one he expected. Instead of pain or envy, he felt relief and happiness. No jealousy or hatred of the man who obviously held her heart. He smiled instead. If he looked deep within him, he knew that the love he felt for her, had felt for her was nothing more than a first love.

Now as he watched his heart soared. The pain that the war had caused, the heartache that ran through their world would not hold onto those who survived. If nothing more, Dean and Ginny were the physical proof he needed to know that the future would be different.

The soft cough he tried for failed spectacularly as it echoed off the walls. He chuckled as they jumped and his heart warmed as he watched Dean pull her physically behind him.

"Harry," the cry from them both varied.

"We didn't, it's just. I'm sorry." a soft hitch in her voice shook him as she clung to the man who held her like the most precious of treasures.

"I'm not upset, Gin." he smiled as he stood once more.

"You're not?" Dean asked as he pulled her tighter to him while gripping his wand tighter.

"You were there for her when I couldn't be. You faced the same trials and terror. I knew when we left the wedding that nothing would ever be the same for me. That included you." he smiled softly as he eyed Ginny as she wiped the tears that ran down her face.

"But, before. At the Burrow." she mumbled.

"If our lives had been different, if this war had never happened and we were just two people who let their feelings mature; who knows what would have happened. But it did Gin, and as much as we wanted it before, neither of us are the same person." he grunted at the end as she rushed him.

As she softly cried for what could have been, he met the eyes of the man who would give her the world. For as strong as Dean was, he wore his heart on his sleeve. The pain that filtered for only a second as she wept in another's arms was quickly replaced with the acceptance that she was not saying I love you, but rather goodbye to the fantasies of childhood.

"He loves you Ginny, I think he would give anything he could to you if he had the chance. Even now, he protected you from an unknown situation. Show him that it wasn't in vain." softly kissing her head he pushed her once to the man who would be her everything.

"Dean," the sudden shift of his voice spoke more than any word that would follow. There was no threat of pain if he hurt her, they all knew that she could do so herself. "She has six brothers here in this world and one waiting on the other side if you hurt her."

"I'd give you my wand to do it if I did." he nodded before they slowly made their way towards the Great hall where the rest of the Weasley clan were seeking comfort in one another.

"Harry, you missed the best opportunity to prank them both there." Fred's voice was soft behind him.

"Somehow I don't think it would be the right time." he shrugged as he looked behind him to see the translucent image of one of the closest men he could call his brother.

"I couldn't do it Harry. Something was holding me back." he sighed as he lent against the wall only to fall straight through it. "Shut it. It's only been a few hours at most."

"You have my word for now." Harry smiled before turning towards the hall, throwing a nod at the crowd he knew were surrounding the still body of the ghost beside him. "Are you going to show yourself to them?"

"Not yet. Maybe you could." he floated to stand before Harry.

"For you, of course. Now I believe that you have a certain poltergeist to reintroduce yourself. Just promise me something; when the next generation comes through, try not to get them into too much trouble." He smiled sadly as Fred's identical laugh rang through the hall, while George jumped to follow the sound.

"Gred, where did you go?" George called as he made his way towards where Harry stood. The rest of the Weasley family rushed behind him as one by one they stopped and turned towards the only one standing there.

"He's not ready. Give him time." he held onto George as he fell once more to his knees. His eyes met Molly Weasley's as she placed a hand onto her lost son, nodding as she too understood what he meant.

"He'll be here when you're ready." Molly whispered as she pulled her son to her.