EFFF You Harry!

Hogwarts was devastated. The beautiful alabaster parapets that greeted First Year Harry Potter were scarred with scorch marks. Mighty towers that overlooked once lush gardens were now in ruins. Some places were stained with blood. The Boy Who Lived opened his eyes, sat up, grabbed his Elder Wand reflexively, then relaxed "Guess we won." He observed.

"Disarm!" a stentorian command issued from a large black man in Auror armor "Your master is dead! Fair trial is guaranteed for all who surrender!"

Utterly demoralized Death Eaters, who saw the end of Voldemort's reign threw down their wands and allowed themselves to be taken into custody. Without the Dark Lord to hold it together, the invading army of dark creatures dispersed and fled.

"Well done Potter!" Kingsley Shacklebolt bellowed. He bounded up, hammered the boy's shoulder and shook hands violently.

Harry yanked his hand away, looked around and snarled "You call this victory! Take a good look around! You're an arse!" He swung a roundhouse punch with his left hand and caught the head of Aurors on the chin. Then furiously stomped off.

"Look! There he is!" an excited Ginny charged down the semi-wrecked stairs and into his arms. "Going off to die like that! I should be royally pissed at you!"

It was his first moment of happiness... in ….well- as long as he could remember "But you're not." He cut in and cut off any retort with a searing kiss.

"Ah-hem." Ron interrupted after an unknown time.

Hermione pushed at his shoulder, scolded "Oh leave them alone! Neville! Harry! It was Neville that got Nagini. And with the Sword of Gryffindor no less!"

"Un-bloody-believable!" Harry broke the kiss and cheered "Well done. Nev, if it wasn't for you, we'd be doing this all again one day."

The formerly chubby, goofy roommate grinned, shrugged "Just killed a snake." He said, nonchalantly.

"Cut the bloody monster into five different pieces." A boy in half-shredded Ravenclaw robes reported breathlessly, plainly worshipful.

Harry smiled and guided Ginny and his friends away "No." he said, wisely "Let's give the Boy-Who-Lived a day off."

"Ginevra, Ronald." A saddened Arthur called from a fairly undamaged alcove. George and Mrs. Weasley were huddled over a very still body. There was a streak of blood marring the pillar.

Ron dropped Hermione's hand and dashed over. Ginny squeezed her eyes shut and whimpered "Freddie! No! He's fine." Ron slumped next to George while Ginny began sobbing onto Fred's unmoving leg.

Hermione and Harry stood together in shock. The scene wrenched at their hearts. She buried her face in his shoulder and cried briefly. Looked him in the eyes, patted his chest affectionately, smiled tearily "Come on. I'll take care of my Weasley, you take care of yours."

"Right, Mione." He whispered, squeezed her tightly and released her. Watched her approach Ron, saw it go well, considering, and put a hand on Ginny's shoulder. She didn't respond to his touch, so he just left his hand there. They sat there in collective misery. All he did was rub a little and whisper "I'm so sorry, Gin."

She lashed out, enraged "SORRY? SORRY!? THAT DOESN'T BEGIN TO HELP! MY BROTHER IS DEAD! DEAD! DO YOU HEAR? DEAD! FUCK YOU HARRY! I HATE THE SIGHT OF YOU! CRAWL OFF AND DIE! FUCK YOU HARRY!" Ginny shoved him away and slapped his face.

"Petrificus Totalis!" a blue-white spell struck Ginny square in the torso. Her arms and legs snapped together, the red-haired firestorm fell over, thumping like a dead tree. The source of the spell was Luna Lovegood, who stepped forward and spoke coldly "Yell louder, Ginevra, and your brother… you'll wake him up."

The Weasleys glared openly at the blonde witch. Soon, disbelief became anger. Not only had Luna assaulted their youngest, she also insulted the memory of their fallen. By far, the mildest of them, Arthur spoke "Harry, give us a little time. And Luna, I think it wise you put some distance between us and yourself. Quickly."

"Yeah, fine." Harry muttered and slumped off.

Luna skittered around into the path Harry followed, said airily "You will remember this as the day you lost two sons. Shame on the lot of you." Then she turned on her heals and followed. But her pursuit of the horribly rejected hero was interrupted with her wrist being grabbed.

"Tell me I seriously didn't see what I think I saw." Demanded a seriously agitated, different, redhead.

Luna glared at her "I've no time for you, Susan Bones. I have a life to save."

"I give you my oath." The older witch said "Harry Potter will only kill himself over my dead body."

Luna was so concerned for Harry that, instead of a long-winded answer, she merely nodded and released her grip on the Hufflepuff's arm "So be it." Was all she said.

Harry walked without seeing. Witches, wizards in his path stood aside not believing anyone could show such pain. Mediwitches and Healers paused in treating patients, the wounded even looked up and forgot their own pain for a moment. People who wanted to thank their hero simply bowed their head and slid aside. Utterly drained of life, Harry climbed his lonely way through Hogwarts Castle. All along, a silent companion kept pace and kept watch.