All credits for Harry Potter go to JK Rowling.

Chapter One: Eat, Sleep and Showers

Harry found himself more tired than he had ever been. Slowly, he dragged his aching body through the rubble left throughout the castle after the defeat of Voldemort. He climbed the stairs towards Gryffindor tower. As he approached the familiar portrait hole he realized he didn't have any idea what the password was.

Harry looked at the Fat Lady and quietly said, "I am so sorry but I do not know the password. But I am hoping to find somewhere quiet to rest."

"Oh dear, you don't need a password. Not for the savior of the Wizarding World!" The Fat Lady was quick to swing open her door and let Harry through. Harry gave the portrait a small smile and made his way through the portrait hole.

He reminisced as he walked through the common room, he noticed nothing had changed much while he was gone. He sat in one of the big chairs in the corner of the quiet room and contemplated what to do next. He knew of four things that absolutely had to be done before he could settle into the next part of his life. He needed a good meal, a hot shower, a long night of sleep, and he needed the one person who lived rent free in his every thought.

The sound of the portrait opening shook him from his thoughts, and as he looked up to see who was coming he started to smirk. He watched gleefully as his two best friends walked in holding hands, looking just as dirty and tired as he felt.

"We thought you'd be up here, mate." Ron said as he guided himself and Hermione to the sofa across from Harry.

"I was looking for somewhere to rest, and maybe hoping to get some food before I take a shower." When both friends softly nodded in agreement to his statement, Harry called out, "Kreacher!"

With a soft pop the old raggedy dressed house elf appeared. "Master Harry called?"

"Kreacher, if it isn't too much trouble could you please bring my friends and I some light sandwiches and pumpkin juice?"

"Of course, Kreacher is proud to serve Master Harry who has defeated the evil dark lord that defeated Master Regulus." With a snap of his fingers Kreacher was gone.

"Wow, I must say that is a great improvement compared to how he was before." Ron chuckled. "I hope he brings a lot of sandwiches, I'm starving.

"Honestly Ron, when aren't you hungry? Just because he may have been awful before doesn't mean Harry should treat him like a slave." Hermione rolled her eyes while chastising both boys.

"Calm down, Hermione. I will properly treat Kreacher when I am settled back at home. For now, I think we have all more than earned a good meal. No offense, your cooking is just fine Hermione but I could use something other than wild mushrooms." Harry was quick to snip back, as he was finished speaking Kreacher popped back in. He snapped his fingers and platters of various sandwiches appeared with a pitcher of Pumpkin Juice and three goblets.

"Thank you, Kreacher." Hermione said sincerely as the boys hungrily dug into the spread before them.

Kreacher turned to Hermione with a disgruntled look on his face. Both boys sat up straighter expecting Kreacher to say something nasty to Hermione. His face softened, and he spoke softly, "Anything for the loyal friends of Master Harry." With that he bowed slightly and popped out of the room.

The friends shared a look of astonishment but continued to eat in peace.

"Harry, no pressure at all, but can you share with us what happened after you went into the forest?" Hermione said quietly.

Harry put the final bite of his last sandwich into his mouth and swallowed before saying, "I will, but not now. I know the Minister is waiting for information about our year away, and the Weasley's, as well as a few others deserve to know as well. And if it is okay with you two, I would really like to shower and get some sleep. But I promise to share what happened in the forest with you when we tell our story to everyone that needs to know."

His friends nodded and they tidied up their mess. Together they climbed the stairs to the 7th year boy's dorm room. Hermione reached into her magically extended bag and pulled out shower stuff and clean clothes for each boy.

"I am going to go shower in the girls dorm, but if it's okay with the both of you I would like to come back here to sleep." She said sheepishly.

"Of course, I think it's best we stick together still. Besides, it's not the first time we've slept in the same room in the last several months." Harry said with a firm squeeze to Hermione's shoulder and a warm smile.

Him and Ron made their way into the bathroom to get showered up. Harry felt his sore muscles relax under the hot water. Each scrape and bruise burned with the pressure from the water. He examined his torso as he took care to wash his body. There above his heart lay a small scar where the killing curse hit him. He gently washed his chest and thought painfully of all the loss the war caused. How could he face the rest of the Weasley's after they lost their son and brother, Fred? Would Ginny even be able to look at him? He could only hope. Her fiery hair, and blazing look as she battled Bellatrix Estrange during the battle still burned in his memory. He finished up in the shower, as he dried himself off and got dressed he looked at himself in the mirror. His hair was overgrown and he needed a clean shave. He made his way out of the bathroom and saw Hermione shyly climbing into the four poster bed next to his. With a quick glance he saw a pale arm and head of red hair snuggle in close to his female best friend, he smiled to himself has he climbed under his own covers and laid his head down. Within moments he knew no more, and he was in a peaceful dreamless sleep.