Warnings: slash, sex scenes, strong language.

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Chapter one

After everyone finished cheering and celebrating, families started to drift off home. Neville and some of the DA didn't, they stayed and helped the staff look for anyone that might be under the rubble either dead or they hoped alive and just injured. Harry did tell Neville that Snape was really helping and he would explain more later and asked if they could get some people to go into the shrieking shake and retrieve his body. Neville nodded to Harry then got some friends and headed outside. Harry had spoken with Bill Weasley for a few minutes, then Mr. Weasley before he watched as he took his family home. Hermione was going to the Burrow to be with Ron.

Minerva McGonagall stepped over to Harry who was sitting at one of the tables, drinking a cup of tea. She could see he was tired, a few injuries and a lot of blood over him. It got her wondering what Voldemort did to Harry this time. But she figured now it's over, she had time to find that out.

'Alright Harry, time to see Madame Pomfrey.'

'I always planned to Professor, she's just been a bit busy.'

'Well she's got time now, so we'll go see her together.'

'Alright, I know that face, no use arguing with you,' Harry gave his professor a smile then pushed himself up to a groan, 'Oh blimey, I've been sitting too long.'

'That and you have some injuries that you are now feeling, so let's go.'

Harry nodded then walked with Minerva McGonagall up to the hospital wing where they saw more beds than ever before and every bed had someone in it. Two other healers were also with Poppy Pomfrey, all three of them going from bed to bed tending to the wounded.

'I was hoping you two would come see me, so which one first?'

'You go Professor, I'm just going to sit right here.'

'Alright, just don't go anywhere Harry or I'll go find you.'

'I'll be here,' Harry watched as his professor and the healer walked over to a bed. He spotted some of his friends in other beds, so he got up and walked over to one, 'Hey Susan, how you doing?'

'I'm good, but they told me he's dead, you killed him. Is it really over Harry?'

'Yeah, it's over, I just saw Kingsley and some aurors taking his body away. The three of us came upon you and saw what was happening, then Hermione saved you.'

'Oh, I didn't know who it was, can you tell her I would like to see her when she has a chance?'

'I'll tell her, but he's dead too, Greyback. Hermione flung him out the window and for whatever reason, he never levitated himself.'

'He kept telling me he was going to keep me and change me. I'd rather die than be one of those even if Professor Lupin was nice, most aren't.'

'You don't have to worry, you're not going to change. It's just like with Bill Weasley, you never got bit during the three phases of the full moon.'

'Hearing it from you makes me believe it, thanks Harry. Madame Pomfrey said I would have some contamination, some small werewolf traits, but I won't want to bite anyone or change.'

'No you won't, but now rest okay,' Harry leaned over and kissed her forehead as that was one part of her face that wasn't scared, then he moved over to another bed, 'Hi Cho, what happened?'

'Part of the wall fell on me, Madame Pomfrey said I can't move for at least a week, and I need a lot of potions,' Cho sniffed and gestured Harry closer, 'I can't feel my legs, she said they will heal, but I'm not sure. Will they Harry, tell me if they will?'

Harry sat gently on the bed next to Cho, 'If Madame Pomfrey said they will, then they will. She never lied to me, maybe just exaggerated the time I had to stay in here, but that's all.'

'Thanks, I believe you because you never lied to us, but did Colin really die?'

Harry nodded as he sighed, 'Yeah, he did, but he shouldn't have snuck back. He didn't have enough experience to go up against death eaters.'

'Harry, we didn't have enough experience to go up against death eaters. You taught us really well and advanced magic, but they were using the unforgivables.'

'I know,' Harry sighed heavily, 'Not really a fair fight was it Cho, but I'll tell you something,' Harry leaned closer, 'I used an unforgivable on a few.'

Cho smiled, 'Really, you did?'

'Yeah, I did, I just got so angry I couldn't help myself.'

'Don't tell anyone, but I really wanted to kill them Harry. I saw them do some terrible things. I know you've seen things, death, torture. How do you live with all that?'

'Time,' Harry took Cho's hand, 'family, having people you care about around you. That's who you need right now, you're family and your friends. You know if you ever want to talk, I'll be here for you and you do need to talk Cho, and it's better if it's to someone that can understand. But you have a lot of people that do understand now.'

'Yeah,' Cho looked up and down at all the beds, 'Do you know how many died?'

'No, a lot though, but considering how many supporters he had, we did come out of this pretty good. I wish no one died, but when you get into a fight like that one, death is just part of it. But we survived Cho, a lot of us and we can go on. Think of this, he's gone so we've got a good chance at a decent and safe life now.'

'Yes, we do and even though I did help, you did kill him. It seemed it was always going to come down to you in the end.'

'It was going to be either him or me to kill the other. That's basically what the prophecy said.'

'But I heard rumours that it was broken, the night you're godfather died.'

'It was, but Dumbledore was told the prophecy by the seer, so he told me.'

'Alright Harry, you're turn,' the matron said walked over to him.

'I'll talk to you later Cho and you will get better, trust Madame Pomfrey,' Harry leaned in and kissed her forehead, gave her a small smile. He followed the matron to another bed with screens around it and waited to see what problems she would find.

As Harry was lying down watching the matron move her wand all over him, he kept seeing the red eyes of Voldemort. He kept seeing the little smile he had on his face right before he lifted the wand, kept seeing the jet of green light coming towards him.

'Harry, Harry,' the matron said as she gave him a small shake, 'Harry, are you okay?'

Harry shook his head to clear the image, 'Yeah, sorry, spaced out for a moment, I'm fine. So what's the verdict Madame Pomfrey?'

'You have a couple of small breaks, but a few potions should take care of those. I have no idea how you were able to stand let alone walk. Now you have a large cut on your chest, I need to see it.'

'As long as you don't tell anyone,' Harry sighed, then unbuttoned his shirt and saw the matron's shocked face, 'It's a lot bigger than the other one.'

'Was that caused by the killing curse?'

'Yep, he liked that spell, we all know that.'

'It's going to take a long time to heal, dark magic is very difficult to heal, always leaves traces and it will scar.'

'Well I have enough of those, what's one more. But how long do you think?'

'A few months at least, you will need daily potions, so you will have to either come back, or go to St Mungo's. I can do the charms now though.'

'I'm staying here for a while, so I'll see you, I trust you and you've looked after me for years.'

'Thank you Harry and you can trust me,' she moved her wand over Harry's chest, then she summoned three bottles of potions flew into her hand, 'Sit up and drink these.'

Harry did his shirt back up, then sat up taking the potions, shuddering at the taste as he drunk each one.

'Thanks, but I'm not looking forward to drinking these for the next few months.'

'Well, one of them you better get used to it. I would like you to stay here, but I've come to know you Harry, so you can go, as long as you rest.'

'After the last seven years, that's all I am going to do. I'm so tired Madame Pomfrey, completely exhausted.'

'Yes, I think a lot of people will feel that way.' she sighed wearily.

'Then you should rest to,' Harry gave her a small smile then slowly walked back down the ward and out the doors. He never stopped or slowed down just kept walking until he came to the portrait of the fat lady, who gave Harry a smile, then opened.

Harry stepped into the common room, saw a few people he knew, who all nodded to Harry as he walked past up to the dorm room. Harry knew he should sleep, but he just couldn't, so he walked over to the window and stood there staring out over the grounds.

Harry sagged a little, 'It's really over, he's dead,' Harry could feel himself choke up, then just let loose. He stood there staring out the window as he cried. Cried for the injured, cried for the dead and cried for the people that lost someone. But most of all, Harry cried for Sirius and his parents, 'If you are with me like you said, then you know it's over, he's gone, for good this time. I hope that means you can all rest in peace now.'

'Harry, you need to sleep, Hermione mentioned how long you three have been awake.'

Harry turned and saw McGonagall, sniffed and wiped his face with his sleeve, 'I will Professor, I'm just on edge at the moment. Everything's going through my head, one thing after another, it doesn't want to close down.'

'Yes, I do understand and it will. I think for all of us, it's going to take a while before we all believe it's truly over this time. Do you know that night, when you got your scar, celebrations were going all night and right through the next day, a lot like what is happening now. I was sitting outside you're relatives house, watching them when I'd see spells being shot into the sky, the muggles all thought it was fireworks, then owls were flying through the day. The muggles didn't know what to make of everything. We thought it was over then, well everyone did except Albus. But since you and Albus were having a lot of secret meetings, can you tell me, is it over this time, truly over?'

Harry saw the worried look on his professor's face, 'Yes, it's really over this time. You would have heard me tell him all his horcruxes were gone, do you know what they are Professor?'

Minerva McGonagall stiffened, 'Yes, I do and when you said that I was completely shocked. So that's why he never died seventeen years ago?'

'Yeah, he had five out there at the time. But I will be explaining some things to you, Kingsley, the Weasley's, Neville, a couple of others. But if you have time, there's a memory in Dumbledore's pensieve, it explains more. I want the part about me kept just between us. Hermione and Ron know, but that's all.'

'Harry, don't you realise how our world works with important information?'

'What do you mean Professor?'

'Even though authors will write books, important and significant events, like last night will automatically and magically of course, update into the relevant books. So if you were reading Hogwarts: a history right now, you would see that it has everything that happened over the last year, including last night. Now if certain events were not spoken about, then they wouldn't be included. But you just said Hermione and Ron know, which means you must have spoken to them about it. So what you told them would now be in some books.'

'So a book like the rise and fall of the dark arts would have that piece of information. Oh blimey, well, I suppose I'll have to hope everyone realises it never did anything to me.'

'What are you talking about Harry?'

'That night, when he killed my parents, Dumbledore thinks he was going to make another horcrux. But because of my mother, I got made into one before he disappeared. That's why I knew he was going to turn up last night, I could see into his mind, see what he was doing and thinking about. That's the part in the memory, Dumbledore was telling Snape so he could tell me at the right time.'

'Oh, a lot of things make sense now Harry. But I can see you're the same, I'm sure when people see you they will realise you're fine. Now why don't you try and sleep Harry, you look like you can barely stand.'

'I'm going to, just waiting until I'm too exhausted to stay awake. I'm fine though Professor, I just need to unwind a bit.'

'Alright, if you need anything, let me know,' Minerva gave Harry a smile then left. Harry turned back to the window and stared down at the grounds. He saw people moving about, but being so high up, he couldn't tell who it was. Finally he took his ruined shoes, jumper and jeans off, climbed into his four poster bed and that was the last thing Harry Potter remembered as he drifted off to sleep.