Disclaimer- I don't own anything that JRK does, if it goes up for sale someone please tell me
Harry walked out of the headmaster's office; he went to the Gryffindor common room to tell Ron, Hermione and Ginny of his short conversation with the portrait. He paused in the fourth floor corridor, seeing the shattered remains left till the next morning to be cleaned up. When finally getting to the Fat Lady's Portrait he pause and realized that he had no idea of what the password was.
"Err, Umm sorry I um, well see…" He stumbled trying to make his excuse.
"Oh, for heavens sake, I've seen you enter countless times, just go in," the Fat Lady said, tired from the long day as she sung open.
Harry walked into a common room when he had had nearly all the memorable moments of his life, and noticed an empty room. Tomorrow, he thought, then there will be a party, tonight everyone is too sad and tired. He went up the dormitory he had abandoned this year to find his bed untouched and Ron asleep in the next one. Next year there will be first years in this room, no longer us. Harry lazily climbed into bed and within instants was fast asleep, in a dreamless state.
"Shhh, Ron you'll wake him up," a giggling voice said.
"Ginny, look he's slept long enough, I mean he has to come and see this, for God's sake stop protecting him," said another voice.
Harry opened his eyes, Ron and Ginny were sanding next to his bed while Hermione stood in the doorway.
"Ron, I'm not protecting him, he just happened to do a lot more then you did last night and he stayed up later, he's tired."
"Look Gin, he has to get up for this, I mean can you imagine what he'd say if we told him we didn't wake him up."
With that Harry figured to end the siblings' rivalry and wake up.
"Morning," Harry said, "Now what is this thing I need to be waken up for?"
"They're going to bury Vol—you know who." Ron said not quite ready to say his name.
"And you wanted me to sleep through this?" Harry said to Ginny while getting out of bed and grabbing her hand to pull her out the room.
"Well you looked so tired, and well…." Ginny stumbled looking into his eyes as if to find an excuse to be forgiven.
Harry looked into her eyes, smiled and leaned down to kiss her.
"Hem Hem, you know we're going to miss it if we don't move," Hermione said, and took the lead.
They got there 5 minutes before anything started. Benches had been placed in rows facing the hearth. A small stage was in front of it with Dumbledore's portrait was brought down from his office and stood waiting for the mass in the great hall to quite down. To its left laid Voldemort's body on a table. The large hearth was blazing behind them and professor McGonagall stood to the portrait's right.
After a few minutes, Professor McGonagall called the hall to a silence.
"Good Afternoon everyone," She said, "Because of his great influence and his work to destroy You Know Who, we have brought down the portrait of Professor Dumbledore to share some words on his own battles against him."
The great hall burst into applause for a moment and then silenced itself waiting to hear what the deceased headmaster would say about this event.
"Thank you, though it is not I that brought down the great wizard, yes I do think Voldemort was a great wizard, though an evil man, he accomplished great powerful things and that does define him as one of the greatest of our time. I would though like to take a short moment to thank Mr. Harry Potter for bring down this man," the portrait said, pausing as the Great hall broke out in to more applause. Harry stood for a moment and this caused greater applause, as most didn't realize he was up yet.
When the hall silenced itself once again Dumbledore continued, "What most people forget about this man is he is a man, and grew up and attended this school, when I solely taught. He was then Tom Riddle and a very smart mischievous boy. He grew up in a Muggle orphanage, and was more then pleased to find he was in fact a wizard. Had I known then what I know now I don't know if I would have acted differently. However one must remember Tom rose to great heights here, receiving awards and becoming a prefect. While I am unsure of his life after Hogwarts, I do know that he had a distanced group of friends, preferring to work alone, or with people below him, never his equals. Tom Marvalo Riddle was one of the greatest wizards of all time; he just seamed to want to help the 'bad' side." With that Dumbledore vanished from his portrait, applause broke out, and Flitch came up to take it away.
Professor McGonagall walked to where the portrait had been and asked, "Would anyone else like to speak?" Half of the Hall turned to Harry.
Harry got up, and walked up the center aisle to McGonagall, "Professor, may I please speak?" he asked
McGonagall said nothing and stepped out of his way, "Go ahead Mr. Potter."
"Unlike most I have faced Voldemort and survived too many times. I am the only known person to survive the killing curse. I was the only one that was told could overcome him. Yet he has a strange place inside of me, giving me powers to make my magic grow and yet flaws in my scholarly work. Voldemort had one weakness against me placed by my mother, Love, and it was this advantage that assisted me in escaping him 3 times, however as he became stronger this advantage lost some of it's power, however it has allowed me to be here today. To clear up any rumors about last night, Voldemort did use the killing curse on me; however, three years ago at the end of the tri wizard tournament, he had taken some of my blood to make his human form, and because my blood, with my mother's magic of love was still alive, I was able to stay alive. All through my years at Hogwarts, Dumbledore has been telling me of how this love will save me, it was not until last night that I believed him, and I thank my mother for sacrificing herself to save me, so many years ago. I also encourage all that are out there to love one another. Though the leader is dead his followers will still fight and it is until all evil is destroyed that we will no longer need love, for as long as there is evil out there, there's a need for love. Thank you." Harry finished and the hall bust out in to applause and he walked back to his place.
"Is there anyone else who would like to speak? No? Well Mr. Flitch will you please dispose of the body please?" McGonagall said more then asked of Flitch as he and Hagrid lifted the top of the table and the body in the massive fireplace. McGonagall quickly placed a sealing smell around it so the stench of burring flesh wouldn't go in to the hall. People waited a moment and then left, gathering and forming small conversations for a few minutes before going back to work on repairing the castle.
Harry left with his friends a bit worried his speech had been too much about him, Ginny had said he'd done brilliantly and Ron said he should take to writing speeches, personally he had felt it was awful and dealt to much about him. I am the one who defeated him, Harry thought, and I only went up there 'cause that's what everyone wanted. He went with his friends and began repairing the school, lighting up as the day went on.
After about a week the castle was back to its original state, save a few upgrades. Fred had had a funeral along with Lupin and Tonks and the rest who had died a three days after they had died. While people were said about those who had died, the death of Voldemort brought cheer throughout the castle and country, and there had been a lot of fun going on while reaping happened. However once it was finished the school went right back in to lesson with McGonagall serving as headmistress.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting in the silent common room disusing what they should do.
"Really Ron I think Hermione's right, I mean we can't really get decent jobs with out NEWTs, we need to come back." Harry said.
"I don't know I mean George said he wanted me to help him with the joke shop, and well I don't need Newts for that," Ron protested
"Ron, Look I'm going to be here and so is Harry, you should just finish Hogwarts and then you can help George," Hermione said, looking in to his eyes to try to convince him.
"Okay, but don't you think we should talk to McGonagall first, I mean we are technically dropouts," Ron added, still not fully wanting to go back to school though knowing that it was in his favor to do so.
"Yes, let's go now," Hermione said, and was through the portrait hole before the boys were up.
"Well I must say I don't think I've really had this issue, I mean there's nothing against school rules about it, and I can see why you three took a year off. I dare say it did help the school and well you know, so I guess I can have you three attend next year. In fact I think it will show the students how much we thank you. Though Mr. Potter and Wesley I think you should try to abstain from some of your mischief, so this won't reflect badly on me. Though I know it is what Dumbledore would have wanted, and I know you three will need your NEWTs to do well." McGonagall paused from her rambling to look at Hermione's large smile. "Though really you all should leave tomorrow, I mean you aren't currently students and all the cleaning up is finished, so perhaps I think it would be best if you left. Oh and Harry?"
"Yes Professor?" Harry asked
"Well I know that Voldemort is dead, but do you think we could use your house for the order meetings until nearly all the death eaters are rounded up?"
"Sure, I have no other uses for it I guess."
"Good, so I'll have the express in Hogsmeade tomorrow, at 10 O'clock."
"Thank you Professor," Hermione said.
"Thanks Professor," Harry said.
"Yeah, we owe you one," Ron said as he left with Harry. They turned at the doorway for Hermione, but she waved them along, and talked to McGonagall some more.
The three waited in the Gryffindor Common room for Ginny and the other students to come back from classes. When a large amount of their friends we there, the three began to tell them that they would be leaving tomorrow, but would be back next year.
"See, I would stay but McGonagall doesn't want me interfering with all of your guys' lessons. And also it is rather boring all day waiting for your classes to finish." Harry said jokingly. Ginny smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
"I think McGonagall had a certain student in mind when she said you would interfere with lessons," Ginny said back. With that Harry looked in to her eyes and kissed her full on, causing Ron to look away. While he preferred Harry to all the guys Ginny had dated, he still would have rather she not date at all. The group went down to dinner together, noticing some of their favorite foods placed about. The dinner was one of the merriest and Harry was glad he would be coming back next year.
"So," Ron said on the train ride back to kings cross, "We've landed ourselves a long summer break to train for Quidditch Harry."
"Yeah, but I'm not spending my whole summer throwing balls at you and looking for the snitch," Harry laughed back.
"What did you have in mind, Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Well I wanted to visit my Parents home again, this time really see it, I mean I was sorta rushed out of there last time. And go and sort through all the stuff in Sirius' and Regulus' rooms. But then I guess I could play Quidditch with you Ron.
"It's certainly going to be different from now on," Hermione noted
"Yeah it is," Ron said as the train came in to London.