Author's Note:

Hello everyone, welcome to my very first fanfiction! I have spent a lot of time reading fanfics in this universe and I finally decided to write one myself. I have already written seven chapters, and I'm sharing the first two with you today. I would like to apologize in advance for any grammatical errors you may find. English is not my first language, so I have used an AI to help me correct my mistakes. Please let me know in the comments if the story is readable. If it's not, I will try to find a beta reader and make improvements before publishing it again. As for what you can expect from the story, it will take place after Hogwarts, and Harry will be the main character in rebuilding Britain. Harry will be a powerful character, but his journey will be difficult as he faces a lot of opposition. The pairing will remain a secret for now. So please let me know if reading a story that has been corrected by a free AI is possible. Have a great day!

7 A.M. Astronomy Tower

Harry stood alone in the astronomy tower, lost in thought. A gentle breeze blew across his face as the sunset slowly revealed the damage that had befallen Hogwarts. He couldn't stop thinking about the events that had taken place in the past 24 hours. From breaking into Gringotts to escaping on the back of a dragon, to preparing for battle, fighting in the battle, walking into the Forbidden Forest, dying, coming back to life, defeating Voldemort, and finally placing the bodies of those who died in a secluded room, Harry had a lot on his mind. The question that kept crossing his mind was, "What comes next?"

Although many people expected Harry to become an Auror, he wasn't entirely certain that was the right path for him. He was only considering it because he knew that Voldemort would never stop hunting him until one of them was dead. Now that Voldemort and his Horcruxes were gone, Harry was free to think about his future. There were still some Death Eaters out there, but they posed less of a threat, and once they were dealt with, Harry could choose any career he wanted. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do, but he knew that his ultimate goal was to make sure that his future children wouldn't have to face the same challenges he did.

Harry wanted to eradicate bigotry, discrimination against muggle-borns, and the general antiquatedness of the wizarding world. He wanted to push Magical Britain into the new century and beyond to ensure that if any future dark lord attempted to rise, the next generations of teenagers would not have to fight for their freedom after the adults failed so spectacularly. He knew that with his status as the defeater of Voldemort, along with being the last Potter and inheriting from Sirius, he would have the tools to fulfil his goal.

As he was lost in thought, he suddenly sensed someone's presence behind him. He felt that someone was observing him intently but from a distance. His first reaction was to become wary and take out his wand, but he paused when he caught sight of a strand of very familiar brown, bushy hair in a reflection.

"I see that you are maintaining a constant vigilance," said Hermione.

"I think it will take me a long time to be able to sleep with both eyes closed again," he replied.

"I think so as well," said Hermione, coming closer to him and giving him a hug that he reciprocated.

They stood in comfortable silence for a while until Hermione broke it.

"I thought you would be in a far worse mood," she pointed.

Although he wasn't happy, he wasn't overly depressed.

Harry said, "You are right. At first, my thoughts were not very positive, but after some time, I realized something important. No matter how much we grieve for those who lost their lives in this war, they will not come back. They sacrificed their lives so that we could all live freely, and it would be a disservice to them if we just moped around."

"I'm glad you realized that," she replied. "What were you thinking about? You've been here for a while."

"I was thinking about what to do next," he said.

"You've been planning something without me? Things are changing now, aren't they?" she joked.

He pouted at her jab, but then laughed and playfully punched her. "Things aren't changing that much, Miss Granger. I want to take things one day at a time. Maybe I'll come up with something long-term eventually."

"Nice plan," she replied, and they fell silent again.

After a brief moment, Harry asked, "How are the Weasleys holding up?"

"Things are tough. Mrs. Weasley is keeping a close eye on everyone, Ron is feeling powerless, Percy is blaming himself for what happened, and George is simply staring at the wall. The rest of them are doing their best to support each other through this difficult time. And Ginny was looking for you, but I asked her to give you some space. She wanted me to tell you that she would like to speak to you soon."

"Tell her I will speak with her soon, but first, I want to take a day or two to think things through," he replied.

"Do you not want to get back together with her?" Hermione asked, a bit worried.

"I am not entirely certain. While I certainly have feelings for her, I believe it is important to first understand her plans, dreams, and expectations. Although we have been together for a few weeks, we have spent most of that time kissing and not discussing our future. I do not want a casual relationship, and if we were to be together, I would want it to be serious and long-term, not just a fling. Therefore, if we have different visions for our future, it would be best for us to remain friends before things get too serious, and we end up getting hurt even worse."

"Okay, I understand. I'll tell her that you'll speak to her soon," she replied, sounding a little relieved.

"Thanks. Just let her know that it might take me a few days. First, I have a meeting with Gringotts, and then I have to meet with the Ministry and Order," Harry explained.

"Gringotts? Do you have anyone to help you with that meeting? I imagine that the goblins are very unhappy with us," she asked, sounding concerned.

"Don't worry. The worst thing they can do is force me to pay for damages, which I can easily afford," Harry said confidently.

"Okay, just let me know if you need any help. I don't want you to do this alone," she said, offering her support.

"Hey Mione, what are your plans?" Harry asked.

"I'm taking a few days to rest, and then I'm heading to Australia to bring back my parents. Kingsley offered to help me get there and he'll put me in touch with their ministry, so it shouldn't be too difficult," she explained.

"Are you going alone?"

"Yes. Don't get me wrong, Harry, you're my best friend, but I want to be alone for a few days at least. And then I want to spend some time with my parents and explain everything to them," she elaborated.

"Don't worry, I get it. If anyone deserves a vacation, it's you," He said with a smile.

"Thanks, Harry."

They hugged each other tightly and silently watched the sunset, taking comfort in each other's presence.