A/N: This is a work of fiction using the characters from Harry Potter that are trademarked by J.K. Rowling.
Harry closed his eyes in relief. Pain radiated across his body. His forearm felt like it was on fire, and he could feel bruises forming on various parts of his body. All his energy had fled his body and all he wanted to do was sleep. Voldemort's body lay still only six feet in front of him, but it didn't feel real. He couldn't believe it was truly over.
The sun rose on the horizon of a brand-new day. Finally, he was free from this burden that had weighed heavily on him for the past seven years.
The sounds around him were still muffled around him but he heard what sounded like a large cheerful celebration echo through the remaining survivors. He felt arms wrap around him from behind and when Harry turned his head, he saw the blonde hair of Luna. He had missed his blonde best friend while he was on the hunt, and he prayed every day that she was as safe as she could be at Hogwarts.
Neville reached him next, and he was pulled out of Luna's arms and Neville wrapped him in a hug as well. More and more hands grabbed at him. He caught sight of the Weasleys, McGonagall, Hermione, and Ron. He even thought he caught sight of Flitwick and Sprout. He was being pulled in multiple directions and the only thing that kept him calm and stopped him from snapping at the crowd around him was Neville's hand on his shoulder and Luna's hand laced with his own.
Before long, he was pulled into Hogwarts and directed towards the Great Hall that was burst with life. Harry was pulled from one group to the next. Everyone wanted answers. They wanted him to celebrate with them or mourn with them. It was becoming too much. He had lost sight of Neville when he had been pulled away by Susan and her Aunt Amelia Bones.
Harry had finally escaped from Kingsley Shacklebolt and Flitwick and found a free seat in the far corner of the Hall. He took a deep breath and tried to settle his racing heart. He could see people in the crowd eyeing him as if waiting for the right moment to strike. As if he hadn't earned a moment of peace after he had defeated Voldemort.
"I'd want some peace and quiet if it were me," Luna said. Her dreamy voice washed over him, and Harry felt his shoulder relax.
"I'll admit, the idea is…tempting. I'd give anything to just disappear, even for only a few minutes."
"Use your cloak," Luna said with a nod towards the shimmering cloak she just dumped into his lap, "I'll distract them."
Before Harry could react, Luna was up and moving, "Look! A Blibbering Humdinger!" she yelled and pointed out towards the quidditch field in the distance. Everyone heard her yelling and looked in her direction without fully understanding what she had said.
Harry smiled softly and wasted no time and wrapped the cloak around himself and got to his feet. Harry slipped from the Great Hall and stopped. He held his breath as he found himself right in front of Ron and Hermione. While he knew they couldn't see him he knew that they would still be able to hear him. He carefully side-stepped the duo and it wasn't until he was further down the hall that he exhaled. That was close. He continued down the hall, towards the South exit, intent on completing his escape unseen.
Harry found a seat on the cold stone pathway with his gaze locked onto his forearm that was hidden beneath the sleeve of his dirt-covered jumper.
He could still feel pins and needles that caused his muscles to jump randomly but was relieved that the intense burning sensation had faded quickly. As soon as the Elder Wand had hit his palm, he felt a burning sensation so intense that it took all his willpower to keep hold of the wand. It was only now, away from the mob, that his thoughts returned to the pain he had felt.
He still had not mustered the courage to pull back his sleeve, unsure if he wanted to see the next scar to adorn his already damaged body. He knew though that it was now time. He could not delay any further since he didn't know when he would have another moment alone once people found his hiding spot.
Harry reached out and grabbed the cuff of his jumper and slowly pulled the sleeve back up to his elbow. His eye widened as he caught sight of his now-branded forearm.
His once unblemished skin now held the Deathly Hallows symbol carved out in varying shades of red. The triangle and circle looked almost completely healed but the line through the middle was an angry, deep red and Harry was surprised it no longer burned after seeing the colour.
Harry's hand trembled as he ran a finger down the length of the symbol, and he gasped at the indescribable feeling that shot up his arm. His breath caught in his chest when he dropped the Elder Wand beside him, and the line faded from a deep red to the same pink as the other lines. When he picked the wand back up the line deepened back into that familiar red.
"Well…that can't be good," Harry whispered.
"There you are!" Harry heard from behind him, and he quickly pulled down his sleeve to hide the brand. He looked over his shoulder and saw Ron and Hermione, holding hands, a few feet behind him.
He holstered the wand and stood up to greet his friends. They hadn't had a chance to talk after he had defeated Voldemort and he owed them an explanation of what had happened. He didn't know what the brand meant but was sure that his life was about to change again, and knowing his luck, for the worse.
Word Count: 992
Challenges/Prompts:
Hogwarts Assignment 5 (Quidditch Lessons Task 3) – Write about someone not wanting to be seen.
Wicked Webs – Harry & Luna, Best Friends
Writing Club: What's in a Month? – 11. Write about someone making an escape
Writing Club: Superpower House – 10. Object: Cloak