Harry Potter and Morpheus's Plea

Rating: Teen

Warnings: Occasional bad language, action violence, fluff, spoilers for those who have not read the books & ooc main characters.

Standard Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling and do not own any of the copyrights to any borrowed characters or locations used in this work and this is not written for profit. All other known characters and locations borrowed in this work belong to their respective copyright owners.

Authors note: Thanks to all my recent reviewers as ever, and once again I'm sorry about the delay in releasing this next chapter. But once again real life has a habit of getting in the way and my free time has now been severely curtailed, now we begin to explore my take of the aftermath of the death of the dark lord.

Chapter 11: A New Day Dawns

Harry awoke the next morning to the pleasurable sensation of a soft hand brushing gently through his hair and down his cheek as the clear golden rays of the sun shone through the open window close to his bed in the hospital wing. Overall Harry felt a lot better in himself, though he still felt somewhat overwhelmed by all that had happened as he thought of the events of the previous evening. As Harry looked up into a pair of unmistakable clear blue eyes he felt all the better as Fleur's lips descended on his, before she spoke to him in the same throaty soprano that never failed to send shivers down his spine.

'Bon martin 'Mon chevalier, are you feeling any better?'

'All the better for seeing you, but what's going on at the moment?'

Fleur shrugged, seemingly lost in how best to answer his question before she answered.'

'Total chaos, zat's what, last night ze aurors went on a series of raids of ze 'ome addresses of all ze death eaters whose bodies zey identified from ze graveyard. Zey arrested a few more 'angers on who weren't active death eaters but you might want to read zis, eet 'as all ze details.'

Dark Lord Returns! But Dies Very Quickly Afterwards

Professor Snape Vindicated

By Rita Skeeter

Yesterday evening in an extraordinary turn of events during the final task of the Triwizard tournament, Harry Potter was abducted by death eaters and was forced to watch as they used a dark potion to resurrect he who must not be named himself. However, quick action by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and his own actions and the heroic sacrifice of the now deceased Professor Snape enabled him to escape the scene with only minor injuries while he who must not be named was obliterated by the late Hogwarts Potions master and now confirmed double agent. Several high ranking death eaters who were previously cleared by the Wizenagmot at the end of the first war were also killed in the blast which local muggles are blaming on an unexploded bomb from the Second World War. Auror strike teams were quick to raid the homes of the deceased and arrested several more witches and wizards based on the information that was uncovered. Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge issued a statement resigning his post as Minister in a move that surprised few as the rumours of his involvement with the now late Lucius Malfoy and others among the deceased were becoming more substantiated. An emergency meeting of the Wizenagmot chose Amelia Bones as acting minister while preparations are made for fresh elections to choose a permanent replacement. Her first act with her new authority was to call for OM's to be awarded to both Harry Potter and a posthumous award for Professor Snape.

A further article inside the paper was just as unbelievable to Harry as he read.

Senior Cabinet Corrupt? How Deep Does the Rot Go?

By Rita Skeeter

In further news relating to the return of the dark lord and the corruption scandal in the upper echelons of the ministry of magic, serious power vacuums are expected to form as several of the dead at the graveyard or arrested in the aftermath were amongst the most notable among our government. Names such as McNair, Umbridge, Yaxley, Runcorn and Malfoy all commanded large amounts of prestige and all had influence at the Ministry and yet seemingly all stood to benefit from the return of our enemy. To what extent the corruption ran and what shall be done now it has been brought to light is still unclear but it is the hope of the Daily Prophet that an immediate enquiry is launched. No statement has yet been released on the details of each arrestee's involvement in the greater crime but will be published as soon as the information becomes available.

The article went on to speculate a lot on what the accused and the dead were responsible for and the possible implications for society if they hadn't been detected when they had been. It made for sobering reading as did a more articles which detailed a lot of Tom's early history which had been seemingly leaked by Dumbledore of all people and a man named Horace Slughorn.

'Well who would have thought it, Rita can sell more papers with the truth than horrible lies.'

'You taught her a valuable lesson zis year mon Chevalier, one zat she took to 'eart.'

Fleur sat down on his bed and pulled him close and whispered, 'ow do you feel, really?'

Harry sighed, 'I don't know, really, kind of numb. For four whole years I've had that homicidal snake doing his best to kill me, and Snape never leaving me in peace just because I am my father's son. Now all of a sudden they're both dead, I hardly know what to think now, let alone do.'

'Zat is good to 'ear. I would be worried if you didn't feel zat way. But now we 'ave our whole lives to find out.'

Madam Pomfrey bustled in and shooed Fleur off him though Harry could see the smirk in her eyes at Harry and Fleur's embarrassment before she checked him over. After pronouncing him fit she got a tray of breakfast for him promising him he could go after he'd eaten.

Fleur passed him a clean uniform and after he'd changed into it he led the way out

and to the Gryffindor common room, while the fat lady looked suspiciously at Fleur she did end up letting her in once Harry explained their relationship. Soon they were both inside the familiar space where his friends were waiting for them. Neville led them both to a couch, and asked.

'Are you ok Harry? We all would have come to see you this morning, but Dumbledore kept the whole school away from the hospital after I took your things around, he said you needed some peace and quiet.'

Harry sighed as he thought of all that had happened, 'its crazy that it's all over but what's supposed to happen now? Last thing we need is for some idiot to try and fill old snake faces shoes and start the whole business up again.'

Neville grimaced, 'no, but you've done enough mate. Let the adults do their jobs for once

Hermione moved to his other side.

'I doubt there's much anybody can do yet apart from clean up the mess and try and stop it happening again.'

Ron smirked, 'well with change at the ministry anything's possible, dad might even get promoted, finally, and Slytherin have been put in their place at long last, so not a bad result all around Harry.'

Harry frowned, 'Snape was a complete prat, we all know that but even he didn't deserve what happened to him, and all those others had familys too Ron even if they were death eaters. But still, hopefully we can finally end this idiotic gang feud, and we're going to need to sooner or later.'

Ron looked sceptical for a moment and clearly looked conflicted before he finally said, 'ok, ok, they aren't all like Malfoy and Parkinson but there's some people in that house who really can't be trusted.'

Neville grinned, 'the fact that you just admitted that is pretty good, Luna seems to be rubbing off on you.'

Ron smiled, 'That whole Loony personality, it's just an act, once you actually get past it she's incredible, I can't believe I never noticed it before.'

Fleur looked serenely at him and said, 'simple reason for zat is because you're a boy.'

Ron looked like he wanted to argue for a moment as everyone laughed but stayed silent as they all proceeded to try and keep their minds off what had happened and just try to act their ages. The last few days of term passed in relative calm throughout the halls of Hogwarts, the students whispering about what might be going on, some pausing as Harry passed them to stare at him, not that he cared much as he had seen it all before and this time the stares did not seem hostile. The Slytherins even began to lose some of their arrogance and snooty sense of superiority for the most part as the other houses slowly began to treat them with some level of respect. Some of them were even being seen openly associating with the other houses though Harry had yet to see a Slytherin at the Gryffindor table or vice versa nor had Pansy or Malfoy changed their ways one bit, though both looked subdued and hardly spoke to anybody outside their usual circle.

On Thursday afternoon they visited Hagrid who greeted them cheerfully as they approached his hut.

'Harry!' he said as he came up and hugged him, 'good to see you.'

When they got into his hut, it was obvious that somebody else had just left as there were two of Hagrid's bucket sized cups on the table and Harry could smell a lingering scent of perfume in the air.

'Bin havin a cuppa with Olympe, she's just left.'

'Who?' asked Ron?

'Madam Maxime, o course.'

'You two patched things up?' asked Neville

Fleur smiled at the byplay, amused that her headmistress had managed to find someone her own size to even have possible boyfriend troubles with in the first place.

'Dunno what yeh're talkin' about.' Said Hagrid as he fetched more cups and saucers and passed around biscuits before he asked Harry.

'You all righ'?'

Harry said, 'Yes.'

'No yeh're not, course not, but yeh will be.'

Hagrid told them of his thoughts about what was happening and about how he hoped things might finally begin to change for the better. He even shared a few anecdotes about his time at Hogwarts as a student, reminiscing about Tom Riddle.

'I always thought there was summat funny about him, oh he always seemed to follow the rules. But he always had the strangest calculating look in his eyes when he thought nobody was watching him.'

The days began to wind down towards the leaving feast and Harry's heart lurched as it meant Fleur's impending departure. On the night when Harry took his seat for the leaving feast noticing that the normal house banners in the great hall had been replaced by black drapes which he guessed were a mark of respect for Professor Snape. He was surprised to see Amelia Bones sitting at the staff table and was curious as to why she was there but put it out of his mind as Dumbledore began to speak.

'The end of another year, a year that has seen a great deal of change and the end of one of the most significant periods of history of the wizarding world. The Triwizard tournament was begun with the aims of fostering fellowship amongst young witches and wizards from different nations and now such bonds will become more important than ever.'

He paused as he gazed at the halls occupants, pausing on the students of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang before he continued.

'Every single witch and wizard in this hall shall be welcomed back as we all stand together to face the trial which has emerged, we have all been given a new chance, to forge a new world of opportunity. To finally put to bed years, indeed centuries of prejudice and build a better future for all.

Harry couldn't help but approve as Dumbledore spoke, but felt embarrassed a second later as he said.

'Before we begin our feast, the tournament must be concluded by the presentation of the trophy to our winner and I now call on the new interim minister for magic, Amelia Bones to present the cup to our winner, Harry James Potter.'

Harry felt his face burn as he felt himself being pushed out of his seat and began to walk forward slowly, again feeling the eyes of the hall on him as he walked to the staff table before he reached Amelia who came towards him smiling as he passed over the large trophy.

Harry raised it into the air as the occupants of the hall began to clap, before Dumbledore spoke again,

'Harry Potter fought against many things in the tournament and not just the dangers in the tasks, but also the suspicion and the hatred of many of the people in this room but despite this, he persevered and with all his bravery overcame all the trials he faced before finally going beyond the call of duty in standing against the enemy of the free peoples of this world. In doing so, he has demonstrated beyond measure, the qualities that befit Gryffindor house.

'But it was not only Harry Potter who was responsible for this new beginning, for we now must remember the brave Slytherin who gave his life to save us all. Severus Snape was a man who despite his grim upbringing and the choices he made in his earlier life sought to atone for his crimes and finally willingly sacrificed his own life for the son of his worst enemy. While he was hated by many of you, he still did what he could to spare you the worst of Voldemort's wrath and to teach the subject which was his lifelong passion. It is in his honour that the school board have universally decided to set up a prize for students gifted in the art of potions beginning next year.'

Dumbledore paused for a moment before he continued.

'For many centuries, the houses of Godric and Salazar have fought against each other in the belief that each was superior to the other, but this must stop for the prejudice has only created violence and centuries of hatred . Salazar in his way was as noble as Godric and if you all check the histories you will learn of his many triumphs. So for the sake of all who dwell in this world, the feud must end. I ask both houses to put aside your differences and learn to stand together as brothers and sisters in fellowship as the four founders once did.'

The school gave a standing ovation as he finished before he called for them to settle down as the feast began, many in the school were staring at him but Harry tried to ignore it and focussed on his meal and the beautiful witch sitting to his right.

The next day as the students from the three schools were preparing to depart for their destinations Fleur hurried over to him.

'Arry.'

Harry smiled warmly at Fleur who he had once thought of as snooty and arrogant before they had both changed so much, 'yes Fleur.'

Fleur smiled, 'I'm 'oping I can get some work 'ere in England for ze next few years, zat should at least allow me to visit 'Ogsmeade.'

Harry grinned, 'what a difference a year makes? If someone told me at the start of the year that all this was going to happen to us I would have said said they were crazier than Trelawney.'

Fleur's eyes bored into his and here face took on a determined expression, 'we veela don't need divination to find zere mates mon Chevalier'

Fleur pulled him into her arms and kissed him deeply, not caring about the audience all around them before drawing away and getting into the carriage.

'I'll see you at home my love,' Harry said as he watched the carriage ascend into the sky.

'Harry, are you going to be alright? You've really been through a lot this year.' Hermione asked him, interrupting him as he watched the carriage disappear into the horizon.

Harry was touched by her kindness but tried to be reassuring, 'it's alright, I might have gone through a lot but it's had advantages. Tom's gone, I'll never have to go near the Dursleys again, and now I've got hopefully three normal years of Hogwarts to look forward to with hardly any risk to life and limb. But what about you? Will you be ok?'

Hermione smiled warmly and leaned into him affectionately, 'yes, I think I will, anything can happen and now thing look like they're going to get better for everyone.'

When Harry and his friends had got a compartment on the train, talk was just turning to possibilities for the summer when the door opened and Pansy and Malfoy came in with some of their gang.

Pansy was the first to speak, 'you think you've won? You think now he's gone that you've all won your golden age and that we'll all just go away and die? Well you're wrong.'

Draco followed up, 'you murdered my father Potter and you're going to pay for that.'

With a flash of lights from all directions, the gang were all unconscious just as the twins came in and Fred began to speak just as he sat down with Hermione.

'Thought we'd drop by and check what was going on when he heard the noise of a rather upset puppy and a ferret with a temper nearby.'

George continued, 'you know, I never understood why they do this to themselves every year, surely they must have realised that coming in here and trying to preach pure blood rhetoric is dumb.'

'Too true, but they don't exactly enhance the décor so let's remove the rubbish.'

Fred and George along with Ron and Neville rolled the unconscious and badly hexed members of Malfoy and Pansy's gang into the hall and closed the door before resuming their seats.

The rest of the trip passed pleasantly enough and soon they stepped off the train, dressed as muggles and ready to begin the holidays. Making a sudden decision, Harry drew the Weasley twins aside and passed them the sack that had been inside the Triwizard cup and said to them.

'Take this, I don't want it, nor do I need it, use it and go build that shop of yours. I think you both need it more than I do.'

Fred tried to give it back, 'Harry no, it's yours you won it, we couldn't.'

Harry continued, 'if you won't take it as a gift, consider it an investment in your shop. If all your products are as good as what I've already seen, then I think you two would be a good investment and that money should give you enough to launch your business venture. A thousand galleons is pocket change for me, I'm rich in my own right and the Delacours are too, so Fleur and I won't need to worry about finance much.'

George grinned, 'wow, thank you Harry, we'll put this to good use, don't you worry.'

Fred added, 'you don't know how much this means to us, don't you worry, we'll use it wisely.'

Harry smiled as they both hugged him before they all joined the throng exiting the train and soon bade the Weasleys, Hermione and Neville goodbye before he found his way towards Alphonse and Apolline who were waiting with Gabrielle who let out a loud squeal and started babbling away in French as she caught sight of him.

Apolline enfolded him in her arms and kissed both his cheeks,

'Ready to go 'ome Mon garcon? Fleur should almost be ready to be collected by now.'

Harry grinned 'lead the way.'