Main Characters:

Harry Potter

Ron Weasley

Hermione Granger

OC

Dean Thomas

Seamus Finnigan

Summary:

Harry, Ron and Hermione have returned to Hogwarts after the Final Battle, and soon start to discover more about themselves than they ever had chance to previously. But what exactly will they discover about themselves and about one another? When love blossoms between two best friends, someone is bound to get hurt. But who, and when?

Genre:

This is a slash fiction between multiple couples and characters. There is a sequel to this story, which was released in January 2013 called "Moving On". It is to be updated in July 2014.

Harry descended the steps off the Hogwarts Express with mixed emotions. He was back at Hogwarts, his home, his one happy place, but all that he could remember was the amount of people who had died here less than a year ago in his name. How was he supposed to be happy with that weighing down on his mind? He felt the throng of the crowd push him towards the mass of carriages, anticipating the sight of the skeletal beasts pulling them along, craving for some weird normality in a world that seemed so upside down to him. He jumped when he felt a hand on his arm dragging him back to a reality that he would rather stay far away from. Ron's smiling face appeared mere inches from his own in the tight press of the crowd on Hogsmeade platform as he pulled him to an embankment to the side of the platform where Hermione was standing waving them over with a harassed look on her face as she watched the entirety of the school pass her by. Smiling to himself, he let Ron lead him through the crowd towards Hermione, their height giving them an advantage over the smaller children around them.

"All righ' 'Arry!" came the booming voice of Hagrid the grounds keeper as his lantern bobbed towards them, followed by a group of petrified looking first years. Harry grinned widely at the sight of the large professer. The three people around him were the only things keeping him sane, and he would give anything to keep them by his side. He bounded towards Hagrid with enough force to knock a normal man off their feet, but Hagrid only laughed at the enthusiasm and hugged Harry, his black eyes glinting with sheer joy at the sight of his three most treasured friends.

"Hagrid, you look amazing!" cried Hermione, closely following behind Harry, "You can hardly see the scar's..." She trailed off. No-one had spoken of the war around Harry all summer, and no one had planned on it giving Harry's previous displays of emotion.

"Arr it all comes with the job" He smiled back at them "Yeh don't spend most o' yeh days outside 'nd not benefit from the fresh air." Hagrid said wisely before turning and looking at the first years. "Well I bet'r be going, but pop down me hut soon for a cuppa you three!" And with that he turned and shepherded the first years towards the boats, inevitably bobbing in the surprising calm of the September night.

"Well we better be off ourselves" said Ron, grinning sheepishly as he wound his arm around Hermione's back "McGonagall probably needs to tell the school where the eighth years'll be sleeping".

"Yes I'd thought about that to" said Hermione as they all turned and headed towards one of the final carriages "There are only enough dormitories for seven year groups."

"I think Seamus said something about Head Boy and Girl, Quidditch Captains, and prefects getting moved to old classrooms that they've transformed into bedrooms throughout the school, but then again, it is Seamus and he's notorious for talking s-"

"Ronald Weasley!" Hermione rebuked him playfully "What would your mother say?"

Harry let the conversation wash over him as he walked behind them with his head down catching a few words like "Dormitories" and "Quidditch". He slowly realised that he was staring at Hermione's hand clasped over Ron's arse, or more specifically, Ron's arse. Tearing his eyes away, he moved forward to step into one of the carriages.

The journey to the castle was exceptionally awkward, in Harry's opinion at least. Ron and Hermione sat opposite Harry in the carriage, holding hands and staring into each others eyes with daft, loved-up expressions plastered over their faces.

"Ohhh ickle Potty me rotty!" Sang Peeves the instant Harry walked through the familiar oak front doors into the entrance hall. He noticed with dismay that the marble flooring was gone, replaced by a lighter flag stone. They were very similar to the original, but Harry couldn't help but notice as he stared around the room that some aspects of Hogwarts History would be forgotten forever as his generation moved on from the castle.

Hermione watched Harry as he looked around the room with a blank expression on his face, breathing in all that had changed and, not for the first time since they had stepped off the train, she wished that she could find Harry someone who could hold him and love him, and someone who Harry could love back.

A golden light fell across Ron as he crossed the threshold into the great hall and Hermione stared at him with a smile on her face. It was times like these that made her really think about what it was that she loved about Ron. Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione saw Harry looking at Ron with a smile on his face that could probably be matched to that of hers. Ron led them into the Great Hall, choosing seats in the center of the Gryffindor table and waving a quick hello to Nearly Headless Nick before looking up at the head table.

"Two new teachers" Hermione noted, making Harry and Ron scan the table for the said newcomers.

"Oh yeah" Ron said "But why two, there's only Defense Against The Dark Arts open isn't there?"

"McGonagall won't be teaching anymore now she's head" Harry said, staring at the female of the two new staff members "I'm sure I recognize her".

Hermione looked at where Harry was staring.

"I think I do too actually" she said "Probably just from a magazine or something, I suppose we'll just have to see what she's called".

The door's to the great hall quietly became a bustle of activity and heads turned in one swift movement to watch as the new first years made their way up the hall, led by Professor Flitwick, the new Deputy Head of Hogwarts, towards the head table where a patched and frayed old hat lay atop a three-legged stool. Professor Flitwick moved behind it and stood silently.

Suddenly, the hat moved, causing the first-years to look around the room in shock as a voice came from it.

"A thousand years or more ago,

When I was newly sewn,

There lived four wizards of renown,

Whose names are still well known:

Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,

Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,

Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,

Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.

They shared a wish, a hope, a dream,

They hatched a daring plan

To educate young sorcerers

Thus Hogwarts School began.

Now each of these four founders

Formed their own house, for each

Did value different virtues

In the ones they had to teach.

By Gryffindor, the bravest were

Prized far beyond the rest;

For Ravenclaw, the cleverest

Would always be the best;

For Hufflepuff, hard workers were

Most worthy of admission;

And power-hungry Slytherin

Loved those of great ambition.

While still alive they did divide

Their favorites from the throng,

Yet how to pick the worthy ones

When they were dead and gone?

'Twas Gryffindor who found the way,

He whipped me off his head

The founders put some brains in me

So I could choose instead!

Now slip me snug about your ears,

I've never yet been wrong,

I'll have a look inside your mind

And tell where you belong!

Now after times of turmoil,

The world may seem unknown,

But stick together and all will see,

You'll fit in fine, just so!"

The hat sat still again as applause broke out amongst the students and staff in the hall. The first years clapped timidly, wondering whether this meant it was not going to be as bad as older siblings had told them it would be.

Professor Flitwick stepped forward from behind the hat and cleared his throat, lifting a large roll of parchment as he did so.

"Ambleton, Elizabeth" squeaked the tiny professor as Hagrid squeezed in through a side door and took his seat at the head table. A small girl walked forward trembling from head to foot. Professor Flitwick lifted the hat and placed it on her head as she sat on the stool. The brim fell past her eyes, resting just above her nose for almost a minute until it opened it's mouth and shouted "GRYFFINDOR!". Taking the hat off, Elizabeth tottered towards the applauding table to her right and took a seat.

Ron looked at his plate and then up at Harry as "Heffer, Liam" joined the Ravenclaw table. Harry laughed as he heard Ron's stomach rumble whilst Professor Flitwick called the final name on the list of about thirty students and the sorting hit instantly placed "Walker, Danielle" in Slytherin. The tiny professor then picked up the stool and hat and walked out of the hall, returning as Professor McGonagall rose to make a quick speech.

"I feel that unfortunately, my welcoming speech may not live up to those of Dumbledore's, but I may as well give it a try". She smiled down at them all before saying lightly, "Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!" and sitting back down to cheers as the spotless golden plates filled with all sorts of food.

Ron tried to fight back his laugh as Hermione playfully hit Harry's wrist for what he had just said about Padma's new hairstyle, knowing that if he laughed too hard, the trifle he just forced down his throat would be sure to explode back out of him. The plates in front of them cleared, returning to their usual immaculate quality and the buzz around the room slowly died down as all heads turned to the head table. Professor McGonagall stood and called for the last few whispers to die out before starting.

"Firstly I would like to start with a hello. Hello to everyone, old and new, those of you who have been here before, those of you who haven't. I just wish to express my gratitude at having you all here today, seeing your faces smiling up at me fills with a much needed joy." Harry remembered the start of his fifth year where Umbridge had said those words. This time however, people were actually smiling at McGonagall. "Before I get down to business however, I would like to get a few simple announcements out of the way. Our caretaker, Mr Filch" she paused as a few heads turned to look at the wizened old man standing in the corner, "would like to remind all students that the forbidden forest is out of bounds, the clue lies, surprisingly, in the name. Also all Zonko's and Weasley Wizard Wheezes products and other nuisances like that are banned. The full list of which can be found on his office door."

McGonagall paused for a few moments, looking down at the lectern in front of her before continuing with a stern expression on her face.

"After the unfortunate events of recent years, we have had to make minor adjustments to staffing here. So could you please welcome Professor Henderson who will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts and Professor Tofty, granddaughter of the examiner, who shall be taking my role as Transfiguration professor." A large applause swept through the room at this news.

"That's where I recognize her from!" Harry whispered to Ron.

"Professor Henderson will also be taking on another role" McGonagall continued, "as he has kindly accepted the job of Head Of Gryffindor House, since I have had to move up the ladder, so to speak".

A few audible moans and an Irish voice shouting "we'll miss you" could be heard from the Gryffindor table.

"Thank you, Finnigan" McGonagall said with a slight smirk. "Now before you go off to your warm, comfortable beds there is something else that you need to know which may help that process. As you were informed in the holidays, we have an extra year group with us which means an extra problem of where to let everyone sleep, so, this is how it shall work."

Silence fell once again across the hall as the question everyone had been asking was about to be answered.

"Some of the disused classrooms were renovated to bedrooms when the castle was repaired and rebuilt, and so prefects; you have bedrooms on the second floor east wing corridor. Your names will be on the doors. Quidditch captains you are in the west wing on the second floor." Harry looked in horror at Ron and Hermione then back at Professor McGonagall. "In addition to this, Mr Weasley and Miss Granger, our new head boy and girl will be in the west wing of the third floor. Mr Potter..." She looked around for him in the crowd and upon finally locating him said, "Unfortunately there is no room for you on the second floor with the other Quidditch captains so you shall be sharing a room with Weasley and Granger on the third floor. Now then, everyone else will have a notice in your common rooms as to which dormitory you are in. For the first time in the history of Hogwarts, you will have the chance to switch which room you sleep in but that is to be arranged between yourselves and not between you and your head of house. You may not sleep in the same room as other year groups, nor in different houses. The usual rules also apply to the mixture of genders in dormitories - there shall be none. There should now be enough beds for everyone. If not, there are camp beds in each common room and a list on your notice boards. If you have no bed, write down your name and sleep on a camp bed for the night.

"So now, you may make the most of your warm bed pans. Good Night." She waved at the students before sitting back down and immersing herself in conversation with Professor Henderson as though she was never disturbed.

Harry looked around at Ron and Hermione in relief as the benches around them scraped against the hard stone floor and hundreds of feet headed for the doors to the great hall. Hermione pulled Ron's shirt as he made to stand up, pulling him back down beside her.

"We may as well wait a bit" she explained to her two friends "let the crowds die down a bit so we can look for our rooms in peace."

"Well personally I'm glad we're out of the common room" said Ron "I was starting to grow sick of all the little kid's messing about when we were trying to concentrate."

"To be honest Ron, we were just as bad in our first year" laughed Harry.

"Yeah but not that bad! All we did was fight a giant three headed dog, fly around chasing keys under the castle and chase a troll. Seriously, kid's these days" Ron said with a straight face. Harry and Hermione laughed as the latter put her arm around Ron's shoulder and kissed him.

"Shall we head off then?" Harry suggested noticing the crowd around the doors thinning. As they stood, Ron slipped his hand into Hermione's and they started walking out of the great hall, wearily mounted the marble staircase on the trek for their beds.

"It's good to be back" Hermione said, twisting her head onto Ron's shoulder. She pulled Harry next to her, gripping his hand in an unusual show of emotion and smiled as they all headed off towards the warmth and comfort of their new dormitory.

"Winds picking up" Ron commented, looking out the window's as they walked along the third floor corridor, passing creaking suits of armor by the flickering candle light.

"Eight years I've been in this school now" Harry said gazing around for their room "and not once have I been down here."

"Well I suppose it's a good thing really, the N.E.W.T's require a lot of study and now we won't have people running around like idiots outside" Hermione chimed in happily. Ron gazed round at her before looking at Harry for support.

"Mione, they may as well have placed us in the Sahara!" He whined "Why can't they have put us somewhere on the seventh floor, there's a disused classroom opposite the Fat Lady for god's sake"

"Ron, think of it positively for once wont you?"

"Yeah mate" said Harry "Just think, we'll probably have a small common room for the three of us, perfect area to study, a private bedroom and bathroom"

"And" Hermione added with a smile "You're closer to the food than all the other Gryffindor's"

"Just because I have a big appetite" he answered damply. "Hey" Ron suddenly shouted, walking up to an old oak door set into its own alcove and pulling a small note from the door.

"Mr Potter, Mr Weasley and Miss Granger" It began "Inside is a small common room with three private bedrooms leading off it. The bedrooms to the right and straight ahead share a bathroom. I advise that Mr Weasley and Mr Potter take these two bedrooms, leaving Miss Granger with the private bedroom and bathroom to the left.

"Sincerely Professor McGonagall"

"Come on then" Harry said with a smile before proceeding past Ron and pushing the door open, unveiling a small, comfortable lounge and study area with a fire burning merrily in the corner. Three doors led off this room on each of the three different walls.

"Well I don't know about you but I am extremely tired" said Hermione, leaning over to Ron and kissing him before heading merrily towards the door on the left. Ron closed and locked the door to the common room behind him as Harry stretched out on one of the two brown leather chesterfield love seats.

"Well I s'pose it'll do for now" Ron said to Harry as he sat beside him staring into the fire with a faint smile etched into his every being.

"So who gets which room?" he asked, looking at the two remaining door's.

"Well..." said Ron looking at Hermione's door, "would you mind if I had this one" indicating towards the middle doorway next to Hermione's "Just for... you know, just for ease" Ron winked at Harry before they both stood. Suddenly, Ron walked forward and hugged his friend.

"Welcome back mate" Ron said before walking into his new bedroom.

Harry watched as the door closed behind his friend before turning and heading towards the fire. He picked a lightly burning log off the top of the heap and twisted it around in his hands. He cast his mind back to his fourth year, when he first spoke to Sirius through the fire. He had been so sure that things would get better with Sirius.

And now he was gone.

Harry threw the log back into the fire and walked away into his bedroom. As soon as he stepped inside the room, the candles around the room ignited casting a dim yet warming glow across the room. There was a small yet spacious double bed in the middle of the room, with a bedside cabinet at each side. A chest of drawers sat next to a door that Harry assumed led into the bathroom. Opposite the drawers, a window looked out across the lake and surrounding mountains. Rich red curtains hung either side, framed themselves by two red, leather armchairs. At the end of his bed, his trunk lay open with nothing inside but a small note.

"Master Potter sir," it began, "I took the liberty of putting your clothes in the drawers, and books on the bookshelf in the common room. All your other items have been placed in your bedside cabinets for your own organisation. I have left your school robes on the armchair beside the window for tomorrow.

"Kreacher"

Harry smiled as he closed the trunk and pushed it under the bed. Pulling his wand out of his pocket, he closed the curtains and extinguished all the candles but for the one beside his bed. He stepped forward and perched himself on the end of his bed, leaning down to undo his shoelaces, kicking them off into the corner of the room before taking off his cloak and tie and throwing them onto the back of the empty armchair. Harry twisted around and headed for the bathroom door, taking his shirt off as he went and dropping it by the drawers just before he walked through the door. However, before he could open the door he heard soft moans and gasps from the other side. He slowly cracked the door open an inch, enough to see exactly what was happening inside. Ron was on the other side leaning against the sink with his hand clenched around his long, stiff, arousal. Harry reluctantly retreated back to his own bed feeling slightly embarrassed for walking in on his best friend masturbating, though he couldn't help but admit that he had enjoyed the few seconds of viewing he did have.

He lay on his bed wishing that he had closed the bathroom door properly as Ron's low grunts and moans could still be heard circulating the room, which only worked to fuel his own arousal. As quietly as he could, Harry stood and crept back to the bathroom door trying with all his might to keep his eyes from wandering past the door and settling on Ron, knowing that this would be a gross invasion of Ron's privacy, but try as he might, he simply couldn't resist. He stood with his head resting on the door frame watching Ron's rhythmical movements as his hand slid up and down. Suddenly, Ron threw his head back and groaned again as he shot his come repeatedly across the bathroom. Harry realised he was holding his breath and shakily let it out before closing the door and casting a locking charm on it. He twisted around and faced the bed, imagining Ron masturbating on it. He popped the button on his trousers and hastily forced the zip down before pulling them off and throwing them aside, peeling his tight boxer shorts from his legs and dropping them to the floor then diving onto his bed, relishing in the comfort of the mattress and the memory of Ron's arousal. He clenched his hand around his own and started imitating Ron, though less verbally in case he heard him at it.

After about a minute of hard pumping, Harry climaxed, spraying his juices across his sheet and onto the plush, cream carpet. He moaned softly before letting go of his drooping arousal and resting his head back on his pillow. After a minute of panting, Harry sat up on his bed and cast a quick scourgify to rid the room of his sperm. Harry then removed his glasses, placing them on the bedside table along with his wand, before blowing out the final candle and settling in to his first sleep in his new home.