Chapter 1: After the War

Six months had drifted by like fleeting specters since the Battle of Hogwarts, leaving behind a world forever changed. The aftermath of the Dark Lord's defeat was a spectacle that had captivated the hearts of people worldwide, igniting a month-long celebration marked by brilliant fireworks that streaked across the night sky. The Golden Trio, consisting of Harry, Hermione, and Ron, had become veritable celebrities in their own right. Everywhere they ventured, they found themselves enveloped in a tide of adoring fans and curious onlookers, their faces etched with the indelible marks of heroes.

Ron, the once bashful wizard, had grown to revel in the newfound fame. It was a boon for him, and he harnessed it brilliantly to drive customers to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, the whimsical joke shop he co-owned with his resilient brother, George. The loss of Fred had been a searing wound in their hearts, but working together provided solace and purpose, helping them mend the cracks in their shattered spirits.

Harry and Hermione, on the other hand, made the unconventional decision to return to Hogwarts for a seventh year, even though it was the year they were slated to take their NEWTs. Their dedication was undeniable, as they excelled in every subject. Much of what their professors taught seemed like echoes of lessons they had absorbed while on the run, constantly evading danger and gaining an education in survival. The dynamics of their trio had shifted, and Ron, Hermione, and Harry had amicably realized that their destinies were better served as friends, not lovers.

Harry had attempted to rekindle his romance with Ginny during the summer months, but the chasm of change between them proved insurmountable. The crucible of war had molded him into a different man, rendering their past love unrecognizable in the harsh light of the present.

The scars of the war were etched deep into their souls, but none bore its weight as Harry and Hermione did. Night after night, they wrestled with haunting nightmares, the relentless echoes of past horrors. For Hermione, it was the recurring horrors of Malfoy Manor or the sight of Hagrid carrying a lifeless Harry in his arms. Meanwhile, Harry's sleep was a relentless cycle of that fateful green flash from Voldemort's wand, the haunting screams from his captivity at Malfoy Manor, and the sea of faces lost during the Battle of Hogwarts.

Returning to normalcy was a treacherous path. Their footsteps echoed in the Hogwarts corridors as they warily checked for imaginary pursuers. They found solace in each other, sharing the same dorms as Head Boy and Head Girl. In the beginning, it was not uncommon for one to slip into the other's bed after a nightmarish ordeal, seeking comfort in their presence. As the weeks passed, an unspoken pact formed between them, always going to sleep together, their shared presence a bulwark against the relentless tides of their nightmares.

Despite their struggles, Harry and Hermione discovered a rift had formed between them and many of their friends. Neville, Luna, and Ginny were their steadfast companions, yet an unbridgeable gap seemed to separate them. They clung to the hope that things would someday return to normal, but the distance persisted. This led the two survivors to spend the majority of their time in the secluded sanctuary of the Head Boy and Head Girl common room, where they now sat on this particular night, finding solace in each other's presence amid the shadowy remnants of their former lives.

On this specific night, they both occupied opposite ends of the plush sofa in the cozy common room, Harry intently engrossed in his final pages of History of Magic homework, while Hermione, her nose buried in a worn tome, absorbed herself in its cryptic contents. The room was bathed in the warm, flickering glow of the common room's fire, casting dancing shadows upon the tapestries that adorned the walls. Silence enveloped them, but it was a silence that had evolved into something deeply comfortable, where words were superfluous to understanding each other's thoughts.

Breaking the tranquil hush, Hermione softly called Harry's name, her voice slicing through the quiet like a feathered whisper. Harry, still engrossed in the parchment before him, responded with a nonchalant "Hmm?"

"I think I've found a way to destroy the Deathly Hallows so that no one can wield their power again," she said, her eyes never leaving the pages of her book.

In their scarce moments of respite, they had embarked on a quest to discover a means of eradicating the Deathly Hallows completely. They had experimented with various spells in a futile attempt to break these seemingly indestructible artifacts. Each time they managed to damage the Cloak of Invisibility, snap the Elder Wand, or mar the Resurrection Stone, the objects miraculously mended themselves.

"I came across this book in the restricted section," Hermione continued, her gaze now fixed on Harry. "It reveals a spell capable of dismantling even the most unbreakable of items."

Harry looked up from his homework, interest piqued. "When do you want to try it?"

With a thoughtful expression, Hermione replied, "Term ends in just two days, right before Christmas. I'd prefer to perform it within the safety of Hogwarts rather than risk anything going awry in the Muggle world."

Harry nodded, finding her reasoning sound. "Alright then. Let's do it tonight. I'll go fetch them."

"Make sure to bring the map," she called after him as he made his way to his dormitory.

A few minutes later, both armed with the items they needed, they stood ready to attempt the spell. They consulted the Marauder's Map, ensuring that no prying eyes approached. Then, they stealthily maneuvered through the labyrinthine corridors of the castle, slipping through its grand doors. They walked in silence for a few minutes, ensuring that they were well out of sight.

Finally, they discovered a secluded clearing, obscured from view by a dense thicket of ancient trees. Harry meticulously arranged the artifacts in a precise triangle, while Hermione consulted her book for the intricate spell. In no time, everything was prepared.

"Harry, this is a highly complex, two-part spell," Hermione explained, her voice tinged with a touch of apprehension. "You'll need to execute the first part, and then I'll follow with the second. If all goes as planned, they'll ascend, transform into smoke, and vanish."

Hermione gave Harry detailed instructions, and after several minutes of mentally rehearsing his part, he was ready.

"Okay, Harry, whenever you're ready, cast the first part of the spell at the center of the triangle, and then I'll do the same."

With a nod, Harry silently recited the spell one last time to himself before raising his wand, aiming it at the triangular arrangement, and uttering the incantation

"Transitio Nexus"

" Porta Universis"

Hermione intoned as her wand joined Harry's in the ritual. Their eyes remained fixated on the hovering artifacts, which, as if in accordance with their intent, gradually transformed into ethereal wisps of smoke. In the next instant, the smoke coalesced at the triangle's center before vanishing into thin air, taking Harry and Hermione along with it.