CHANGES

An: I don't own Harry Potter.

Summary: Seven years after the war, Harry, Ron and Ginny have returned to find that life is not as they expected it. Many things have changed both within the Weasley family and the wizarding world. Can they fit back in?

Prologue

It had been seven years since Harry had set foot on English soil. The war against Voldemort had left him emotionally scared. The hunt for the horcruxes had been difficult. Ron and Hermione had followed him every step of the way right up to the final battle at Hogwarts. The castle had received a great deal of damage and up until six months after the war, when Harry left, the castle was still under repair. Professors Vector, Sinistra, Sprout, Slughorn, Trewlany, Madames Pompfrey and Hooch, Hagrid and Headmistress McGonagall all died at the final battle. He had heard during his travels that Professor Flitwich was the current headmaster of Hogwarts but he didn't know who took over the other teaching positions.

There was so much pain and suffering both during and after the war. Everywhere Harry turned he saw it. It reached to the point where he couldn't stand it. He had to leave. He had intended to leave alone but life hadn't worked out that way. Ron had volunteered to go with him but Harry didn't want to take him away from his family. They had a long discussion about it but eventually Harry caved. The night they had prepared to leave, Ginny appeared fully packed and ready to go with them. She essentially tricked them into taking her with them.

Hermione did not know they were leaving. Both Ron and Harry agreed that she needed to stay with her muggle parents. She had already devoted too much time to him. He owled her a note after they were far enough away. In the note he said he was leaving for a short time to clear his head. He promised he would be back soon. He hadn't expected to be gone so long though it could be argued that seven years was a short time since wizards often had a long life. To guarantee his return, he left Hedwig in her care. He remembered telling Hedwig to look after Hermione for him.

They had toured Europe, both the magical and muggle versions, the first year they were gone. After that they trekked into Asia exploring the different cultures on that continent. They spent a year in Australia before going to South America then North America. The last country they were in before they decided it was time to return home was Egypt.

Harry had learned a lot and matured quite a bit in the last few years. He had learned to deal with his past and cope with the horrors he had seen. He was no longer plagued with the horrible nightmares that left him struggling for breath. He no longer felt the weight of the wizarding world on him but that was not what was driving him home. He had another reason for returning to England.

He knew Ron and Ginny were happy to be home but they were just as nervous as him. They had never contacted anyone while they were away. They expected the family to be angry with them. They expected lots of yelling and accusations and name calling. They were ready for that. They hoped that maybe after a day or two things would settle and they would be forgiven.

With Ron and Ginny on either side of him, he stood in front of the gate to the Burrow. He really did hope that the Weasleys would accept him back after he absconded with the two youngest members of their family. The outer appearance of the Burrow hadn't changed but that didn't mean that people that lived there hadn't. Ginny opened the gate and made her way to the front door. She paused for a second before she lifted her hand and knocked.

The three of them had imagined this moment vividly but they never even considered that the person they were now staring at would answer the door to the Burrow.