Chapter one

After the death of Voldemort, everyone rushed to the ministry to capture any of his supporters before they could escape. They also were not going to listen to any excuse, not like last time. There would be no "I was under the imperius curse" like many had claimed before. This time they would face the wizengamot and be questioned using the truth potion.

Harry Potter watched the Weasley's and Hermione leave after sorting out details in regards to Fred's body, then Harry sat outside on the steps leading to the castle. No matter how exhausted he was, he knew he wouldn't sleep, not yet. The images of the people that died kept going through his head. The injured were being treated, the worst sent to St Mungo's. Harry wanted to visit the injured, to thank them for turning up. He wasn't sure how it would go but Harry felt like he needed to speak with them. The only reason he hadn't gone in yet was he knew Madame Pomfrey would make him take a bed and Harry knew he's injuries weren't that bad and the healers had enough to do. He wanted to give them time to deal with the seriously injured before he saw them.

'I thought you left with the Weasley's.'

Harry turned as Kingsley sat beside him, 'There's a few things I want to do before I leave, but I'm going to stay at the Hogs Head for a while. I already worked it out with Aberforth.'

'When do you think you'll be up to explaining?'

Harry sighed, 'Soon, I know it needs to be done. I gave you what was necessary for now, so can you give me a week or so?'

'I can wait that long.'

'Did you take him away?'

'Him as in Voldemort?' Kingsley saw Harry nod, 'Yes, he's gone. I have to ask Harry, but how did you stay so calm?'

'It was going to end for one of us Kingsley, I knew it, he knew it, he thought it would be me that would die. If I'm honest, I thought he was right, but I wasn't going to give up. If I died though I knew there were enough of you left that you could take care of him. Me, well, I would have gone on and met up with my family.'

'You're not the type to give up, that's why you will make one hell of an auror.'

'What happens now though?'

'Working on everything, but whatever gets organised, you lot, the ones you're age that fought tonight will be looked after. Now whether that's to return to Hogwarts and finish your last year or you get given your N.E.W.T.s, maybe even the jobs you want, I'm not sure just yet. It's too early to work on all that just yet.'

'I really don't want to come back here as a student, I don't think I would be able to concentrate. It would be hard on others, like Ron who lost Fred.'

'I'll take that into consideration, then talk to the new governors once we find people that did not support him.'

'I love this place Kingsley, I don't want another Lucius Malfoy ending up as one of the governors. So unless you think I'm too young or might be too busy, I wouldn't mind being involved in how Hogwarts is run. McGonagall and the staff that are here now deserve to be treated right. I would hate for anyone to try and say they were in the wrong by allowing the older students to stay and fight. Everyone was given the choice of staying or leaving, most stayed.'

'Maybe someone like you as a governor will be good for Hogwarts, I'll work on it.'

'So onto a different subject, did they get everyone out of the ministry?'

'Yes, their locked up, the ones we know supported him or the death eaters. We're not taking any chances this time though. Everyone will be questioned using veritaserum. More things I need to work out, who I can trust then how to go about checking everyone.'

'You can trust me and if you give me a few weeks I want to keep going now we've got them on the run.'

'Look Harry, yes we could use aurors, use a lot of people, but you should rest for a while.'

'If we don't get them now we might miss our chance Kingsley. I'm fine, all I want to do is rest for a week or so.'

'Then I'll speak with Gawain, I told him he was taking the job as head auror, he's the only one with experience. Now there are two others, but that's all, one only just finished training, the other has only been an auror for two years. I can tell you now that they were all checked and they okay, good men.'

'I trust your judgement Kingsley. But are you sure you want to stay as minister, it's all political and paperwork?'

'For now I am, Gawain knows it might be temporary. At least if I'm in charge I can work on a few things.'

'After what I told you about Snape, what's going to happen to him?'

'After talking to you I spoke with Albus' portrait and he confirmed what was in that memory so he won't be punished, I'll make sure of that.'

'I might not like him but he deserves to be recognised for what he has been doing for years.'

'Yes, he does, had all of us fooled, including Voldemort. Blimey Harry, it's so hard to believe he's dead, our war is officially over even if there are still some out there.'

'I don't think it's really sunk in yet.'

'No, for you I suppose it wouldn't. So apart from becoming an auror, what are you going to do now you don't have to worry about him?'

'Good question, I never expected to survive so I never made plans. I'll just take one day as it comes, see what happens. Have you heard from Hestia and Dedilus?'

'I sent them a message, they will probably head back with your relatives tomorrow. You don't have to stay there anymore.'

'I know and I'm not going to see them again either, I just want to know that they are back, that's all.'

'Albus never told us much, but they didn't treat you very good, did they?'

Harry shrugged, 'They never wanted me, something Dumbledore said made them keep me though. It wasn't a nice way for a kid to grow up. I spent most of my time alone, locked up, I think that's why I'm fine with my own company.'

'You do seem that type, but did they ever hurt you Harry?'

Harry shrugged, 'The occasionally beating, when I told them about Sirius they left me alone, they saw the picture of him on the television. I said he was my godfather and he would be checking up on me occasionally to make sure I was happy. I never told them he wasn't a criminal.'

'Smart, the way Sirius looked in those pictures would make most muggles cautious. I know I should get back to work, there is so much to do, but this is the first time in years where I've just been able to sit and not think about what he's up to.'

'I get you there, I was always wondering about that.'

'And wondering when he was going to try and kill you again. How many times did you escape him?'

'Five, not including tonight, or last night. So have you told the muggle prime minister it's over?'

'Sent him a letter, that's all he needed to know for now. I'll contact him as soon as I have time. I wrote that in the letter. I'm sure he understands. Anyway, I should get to work, still so much to do.'

'I might come in, I have to see Madame Pomfrey.'

'Were you hurt during the normal fighting or was it him?'

'Him, he couldn't pass up that opportunity.'

Kingsley stood and pulled Harry to his feet, 'No, he wouldn't, but you got him in the end saviour.'

'Oh please tell me that's not true?' Harry groaned.

Kingsley chuckled, 'All true, Harry Potter, saviour of the wizarding world. Most people know you had help Harry, but he did keep trying to kill you, from the time you were a baby, yet he died. You have to understand why everyone thinks of you as their hero.'

Harry groaned again, 'People like Snape is a hero, the ones that turned up to fight knowing they could die, their heroes, the ones that died are heroes. I really didn't do that much.'

'Still modest, but you will just have to get used to it. Now come on.'

Harry sighed but followed Kingsley back into the wrecked castle. He kept thinking about the old school and wondered if Hogwarts will ever be as it was, he hoped it would, one day. Even though the good side was victorious, there were deaths so there were bad memories associated with Hogwarts now.

After Harry saw Madame Pomfrey, he spoke with any patient that was awake. Some looked surprised, but Harry just sat beside the bed and asked how they were, if there was anyone that needed contacting. Harry found that all these people had suffered in one way or another due to Voldemort and it made him realised just how far Voldemort went to cause all this pain and suffering of so many people.

Harry took a deep breath then walked over to the last patient, 'Hello Professor.'

Severus turned his head, 'Potter.'

'Are you okay?'

'I'm fine.'

'We thought you died, sorry we left you there.'

'You believed I was a traitor Potter, what else would you do?'

'I still would have gotten you help if I knew. But I wanted to apologise to you, for what I thought and for what I called you. You're not a coward, you're a very brave man, so I'm sorry.'

Severus stared up at Potter for a minute, 'Apology accepted, but it wasn't necessary. I played my part so all of you would believe I was Voldemort's man. How did you survive?'

Harry sighed, 'I have no idea, I was hoping you might know the answer to that question.'

'Albus never told me any more than what you saw, I can only assume it had something to do with the horcrux.'

'So when he used the killing curse that got destroyed but what, protected me at the same time?'

'Yes, it's the logical answer.'

'Sorry, I didn't mean to get into a heavy conversation. I mainly wanted to see if you were alright.'

'I am fine, it seems the ones that thought they would die, lived. Do you know how Draco and his mother are?'

'There still here, I explained how they helped me, so they're not being locked up.'

'They helped you, how?'

'We got captured, taken to the Malfoy home, old man Malfoy and Bellatrix wanted Draco to see if it was me. He lied, said he wasn't sure, but I knew he recognised me. His mother lied to Voldemort, said I was dead when I wasn't. She asked if Draco was alive in the castle. I know you let him get away with a lot in class, but it sounds more than just that.'

'Draco is my godson.'

'Makes more sense now, he's family. Anyway, I'll let you rest, I'm glad you're okay though.'

'Thank you, but Potter, your mother would be proud of you.'

Harry smiled, 'I hope so Professor, but thanks,' Harry turned and left the hospital, hardly believing he just had a conversation with Snape where neither of them had a go at each other. He walked towards the white marble tomb.

'Hey Potter.'

'I really wish people would use my name,' Harry sighed but turned, 'Malfoy, is there something you want?'

'You could say that,' Draco stared down at his feet for a few minutes and Harry could tell he was uncomfortable. Finally he looked up, 'I wanted to say thanks, for the room of requirement.'

'You're welcome, but I wouldn't let anyone die like that. It was a way of saying thanks to you as well, for lying to your father and aunt.'

'So you realised I knew it was you.'

'Yeah, saw the recognition on your face. We've known each other for seven years Malfoy, I think we would know each other know matter what spell had been used on us.'

'True, but I also wanted to tell you that since he's dead and my father is locked up, it's given my mother and I a second chance, we're not going to make the same mistakes.'

'Good for you, I always knew there was more to you than snide comments.'

'I've given names to the minister, anyone that I know was on his side.'

'I knew some names, not a lot, let's hope the ones that ran will be caught soon. But won't they wonder why you and your mother aren't locked up?'

'The minister is going to put us in a safe house until he can work something out. He just needs to find one that hasn't been compromised. That's why he worked it with McGonagall for us to stay here for now.'

'I would suggest my house that the order of the phoenix used but we took a death eater through the fidelius charm. That would need doing again to make it safe.'

'You own a house?'

'My godfather left it to me, but I don't want to live there, I'll buy something, when I'm ready.'

'Oh the Black house, I was in there once, as a kid.'

'Yeah, Sirius told me your mother is his cousin.'

'Makes us sort of connected in a way.'

'More than you know,' Harry stared at Draco, 'You're cousin, Tonks, you know her right?'

'The one that married Lupin?'

'Yeah, I'm godfather to their son, Remus told me a few weeks back.'

'Then you're right, we are connected. This is strange, you know Potter?'

'That we're talking and not trying to kill each other, yep.'

'Do you think people like us can put everything behind us? I'm not talking about becoming best friends, but not enemies anymore.'

'I think anything is possible now, as long as you start thinking for yourself.'

'I think it's time, anyway,' Draco held out his hand, Harry shook it, 'Thanks.'

'Yeah, thanks Malfoy,' Harry watched the blond walk away, 'Well, miracles can happen Dumbledore. But you knew Malfoy didn't want to do any of that, I found that to be true,' Harry stared down at the face of Albus Dumbledore, 'I'm confused about something, if I give you back your wand the wrong people might work it out, I don't want to keep it though, it's too dangerous. Maybe I can figure out somewhere else to hide it,' Harry fixed Dumbledore's glasses and his hair, 'Even though I'm still mad at you and believe you did a lot of things wrong, I have to thank you…Albus. Sorry, but that's all you get from me. There's just too much that you did or didn't do that could have made my life better,' Harry kept staring at his face for a few more minutes then turned and walked away. He found his bag, slung it over his shoulder, 'Professor.'

'Potter, are you leaving?'

'Yeah, time to head out. Did you need help with anything before I leave?'

'I believe…Harry that you have done enough, go rest.'

'Okay, thanks…for everything,' Harry smiled then left the castle. He glanced back the moment he was down on the grass, 'Let's hope the founders were right and this place will be the same,' Harry sighed then headed down to the gates then up the road to the Hogs Head, ready to start a life that he never expected to have.