If he looked back on it later he would realize that he had walked around in a daze for quite sometime. He vaguely remembered the celebration that followed the battle, and helping make the decision about what to do with Voldemorts body. But at the same time he could only seem to remember faces. He didn't know half of what he had said to anyone or what he had looked like.

Then suddenly he realized he was arriving back at the burrow and marching up to bed with the rest of the Weasleys. He was going to be spending the time before Fred's memorial service with them, as family.

He woke to the sound of a high-pitched screech coming from downstairs and nearly smiled to himself. Mrs. Weasley must have caught Ron and Hermione snogging again. This had been happening at regular intervals since before their arrival back at the Burrow and while no one really wanted to walk in on the pair of them, at the same time it gave everyone something to think about and smile over, that didn't involve the war or the final battle at Hogwarts.

He got up and shuffled over to the dresser grabbing his things and making his way toward the bathroom. It was locked when he got their so he waited outside the door for a moment yawning and stretching his limbs. It had been a long couple of days at Hogwarts and he still had a lot to think about.

A moment later Ginny emerged dressed and looking subdued but wonderful.

She spotted Harry and stopped.

"Oh, um.. good morning Harry."

Harry smiled softly.

"Morning Gin."

"Well.. I'll see you downstairs in a bit then." She mumbled distractedly and moved past him to head down to what was smelling like a promising breakfast.

Harry sighed inwardly. They hadn't really spoken to one another since before the battle and he knew why. She wasn't completely happy with him. He couldn't blame her. He had left her to go off and chase Voldemort, trying to pretend he didn't have feelings for her when all the while she had been there in the back of his mind. There was a lot that needed to be fixed these days, his relationship with Ginny was just one more thing.

When he ambled down to breakfast he found he was just in time as Bill and Fleur and Mr. Weasley were just walking in from the living room as well.

"Harry! Good morning son." Mr. Weasley greeted cheerfully. "Hope you slept alright."

Harry nodded. "Very well sir thankyou."

Mr. Weasley sighed and shook his head. He was still trying to get Harry to call him Arthur.

"Alright you lot. Eat up while its hot." Mrs. Weasley said bustling about setting their meal before them.

As usual the Weasley boys attacked their plates with vigor. It was halfway through the meal when the first interruption came.

There was a noise from the living room, indicating someone had called from the floo. Mr. Weasley stood along with Bill and made his way over to it, returning a moment later looking worried.

"Harry, there's someone who needs to speak with you lad."

Harry stood and followed the two older men until he stood before the fireplace, where he met with Kingsley Shacklebolt's head.

"Kingsley?" Harry said intrigued.

"Hello Harry." The new minister remarked smiling before his expression turned solemn. "Look I'm afraid this isn't a social call. It's been three days since the fight at Hogwarts and well, I'm afraid we are going to have to tell the people something soon."

"You told them he is gone right?" Harry questioned.

"Of course, but.. well I'm afraid they want to know, and I'm a bit curious myself, how you did it? What happened you know?"

Harry frowned.

"Look I know you are all curious but, I'm still trying to figure a lot of it out myself okay. I mean… there are just some things that I'd rather not talk about yet. I.." He trailed off knowing Mr. Weasley, Bill and Kingsley were waiting expectantly. "Could you give me a few days? I want to tell the Weasleys first and.. I need to fix things with some people. Then I'll come in and explain okay? But I don't think the whole of it should be let out, and once you hear the story I'm pretty sure you won't think so either."

Kingsley nodded.

"I'll stall a bit longer and say you are coming in to talk to me in a few days after you get some affairs in order, alright? I'm sorry to bother you Harry and.. Well I just wanted to say, thankyou, for everything. For what you've done for all of us. You don't know what it means to our world and to our people that you've.. well that you saved us all." Harry was staring intently at the floor now. "See you later this week then Harry. I'll owl you. Arthur, Bill. Have a good day."

When he was gone Harry raised his eyes to Bill and Mr. Weasley.

He smiled slightly.

"I suppose you are all just as curious to know what happened." He stated.

Bill grinned, "Well its not like you just toppled Draco Malfoy or something Harry. It was no small thing what you did."

Harry nodded.

"Alright. After breakfast then." He said softly and moved back in to the kitchen to finish what was left of his meal.

Once the meal was over Harry had everyone gather in the living room and as they fussed about getting comfortable his eyes connected with Ginny's. She smiled softly and nodded moving suddenly to sit next to him on the sofa.

Harry didn't know what to say so he settled for taking her hand and squeezing it gently.

Once everyone was settled and quiet he took a deep breath.

"Um.. I guess the place to start this story is at the beginning.."

So that's what he did. He talked and he talked more and he was relieved when he got to parts Ron and Hermione could fill in. He let them talk and while they did he watched the Weasleys. They had mixed reactions ranging from shock to acceptance to horror to wonder. He started speaking again when Ron and Hermione had run out of things to say.

"And that's when we came down from Dumbledore's office and met with all of you after the battle." He finished quietly.

No one had spoken the entire time other than him and Ron and Hermione, now the questions began coming.

"I don't understand Harry. You went to face him assuming you were going to die?" Charlie said in amazement.

Harry nodded. "It was how it had to be. I.." he trailed off not knowing what to say.

"I think I understand Harry." Mr. Weasley said finally. "You did what you did because you loved us. All of us. You put what you feared aside, knowing that you wouldn't be coming back from it all, so that we all could live. So that we could all have a future."

Harry nodded.

"I know it sound stupid. But.. I had to do it.. if it meant you would all be okay. If it meant that my parents, and Dumbledore and even Snape hadn't died in vain. If it meant that everyone had a future that didn't involve so much death and darkness. Then I had to."

Hermione spoke up then.

"I know I've said this before Harry. But you really are a truly great wizard."

Harry shook his head.

"I did what anyone else would have done..I mean any of you wou.."

"No Harry." Ron interrupted. He smiled slightly as he looked at Harry from across the living room. Their eyes connecting best mate to best mate. "Look we are best mates and we have been since day one, so I feel I owe it to you to be honest with you here. I don't think there are many people in the world who could have done what you did. Actually I think there was only one. It was you Harry. Only you. I mean.. I care about everybody honestly truly I do.. but mate I'm selfish. I couldn't have given it all up. Not with the risk of losing Hermione. Not with the possibility of losing you and my family and everything I had ever known."

He paused for a moment his blue eyes as serious as Harry had ever seen them.

"What you did.. that was the most unselfish, bloody noble thing I've ever seen or heard of in my life." Ron finished quietly.

They hadn't broken eye contact yet.

"Ron.." Harry choked.

"No mate. I've stood by you through everything, through the worst things imaginable. And I know you. I know there isn't a better best mate out there because mine.. my best mate. He was willing to give up his life. For me. For my family. For my woman." He grinned. "For my friends. For strangers."

Ron smiled brightly now.

"For my sister."

Ron sat back against the cushions. "There's no one like you Harry and I'm proud to say I have the best mate of anyone in the world."

Harry was about to argue when Ron added chuckling.

"It's just a pity I have to share you with Hermione."

All the Weasley's chuckled after that and the tension in the room seemed to ease up.

After a few more questions and some slightly awkward moments when Harry thought someone might cry, the girls made their way to the kitchen to help Mrs. Weasley start dinner, as the telling of the story had stretched out the whole day.

Harry smiled at Ginny softly as she left to help her mother and found he was in a room surrounded by Weasley men.