I Own Nothing! :) Final chapter. If you have alerted or favourited, I would like at least one review now please. I am aware this isn't my best fanfiction, and I would like advice on how to improve it later. Probably much later. :)

I suppose I could apologise about this being late but life was hard and I didn't have any time.

"Okay kiddies, my question is the last one and I wanted to make it as good as possible!" Madame Hooch winked at the three causing shivers to go down their spines.

"Now, as you know we staff like to keep a very close eye on our students to keep them out of trouble- not that it ever works with you three. However, we are limited in the fact that our reach doesn't stretch as far as the summer holidays, when we give you over to your parents." Harry noticeably stiffened. "What I want to know was, why did they let you come to school after all of that? I know, that if I ever had children who had been attacked by a troll at the age of eleven they would be under my nose wrapped in bubble charms every minute of the day!" The trio opened their mouths to argue, but she held up her hand and quietened them. "Now, I know that a lot of that was due to us teachers, and Ron's parents knew nothing about anything, but surely your parents Hermione, and your guardians Harry must've been a little worried?"

The three shuffled guiltily. Ron smiled apologetically to his parents. "I only ever really told you what Harry did, I kinda just skipped out me, that way you weren't worried. It worked out better for me anyway."

Molly spluttered. "But, you always said Dumbledore was protecting Harry!" Ron's lips quirked.

"He wasn't ever with us, but he technically gave any help we needed." Arthur and Bill both frowned.

"So all those years you were doing all of those dangerous things together? Without an adult?" Bill clarified.

"I already told you, we were alone, all of those times and the ones we've told you about. But we always scraped through with help. And luck." Ron explained. The adults in the room frowned. "I always told you the important stuff," Ron hurriedly put in "I just toned it all down. Would you really have wanted to know at the time that your eleven year old son was battling trolls whilst in the safest place in the world?" Molly looked torn.

"I still would've preferred it if you'd have told me Ronnie." Ron winced at his nickname, and smiled weakly with his only reply being a shrug. He then nudged Hermione who jumped and bit her lip. As she spoke the words seemed to tumble from her mouth in slow motion.

"I told my parents very brief stories about what had happened in our second year. You yourself visited and explained everything in my second year professor." She nodded to McGonagall. "But aside from whatever I had to explain, they never knew anything else…. I didn't want them to worry." She murmured the next part very lowly. "I also wanted them to send me back the next year."

"But, weren't they worried after your second year? I distinctly remember having to explain in strenuous detail, and having your parents asking quite a few questions afterwards." Minerva's voice interrupted.

Hermione's skin tinged pink. "Ah, well we had quite a few… disagreements over the subject. They weren't very happy, but I was aghast at the thought of not returning." She looked down. "Hogwarts was always a touchy subject for them."

Feeling slightly remorseful that she had obviously made Hermione upset, Rolanda tried to lighten the mood. "But they're surely fine with it now? After all, you're a national heroine!"

Hermione winced visibly, and tried to ignore the question. "Harry, what about you?" She smiled at him apologetically and nudged him to continue.

Looking at her helplessly, Harry sighed. "The Dursleys never were very supportive. We never talked about Hogwarts, and to be honest they'd always try to stop me going. I never spoke about what happened at school, because they wouldn't care. They'd have probably been happy if I'd gone and got myself killed." The last part was said in a lighter tone, but it did nothing to stifle the gasps that went around the room.

"Harry…" Ginny reached for his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

He just shrugged slightly. "It's okay. I've never known any better; besides you guys showed more care than I'd ever need." He avoided people's eyes determinedly and examined the scars on his hands. As he stared at them, visions of his time with the Dursleys flitted through his mind, all of the nasty comments and casual insults. Then the rows. Happiness had seemed a rather unattainable thing in those days…

"Harry?" Abruptly, he was brought back to the present by another soft hand encompassing his own. He smiled weakly at his best female friend and turned to the rest of the group.

"I don't talk to the Dursleys now. I don't know how much you told them, but I'd be very surprised if they changed at all." His tone was final. "I don't want to ever see them again really."

"Harry-" The former headmaster's voice broke the silence.

"I don't. I'm not discussing it."

"I am not thinking of them, merely of you. Such a grudge weighs heavily on a person." Harry's thoughts flicked briefly to Snape, and the trouble his grudge had brought him, and he shook his head.

"I won't forgive them sir." He turned to meet Snape's eyes. "But I won't let my grudge cloud my mind either. I've learnt too much."

"Harry-" Harry's face screwed up as he heard the old man try to argue again! He felt something snap, and oblivious to the other people in the room he cut the esteemed headmaster before he could continue any further.

"YOU WEREN'T THERE! Stop trying to control me and tell me what to do! You don't understand! You weren't there!" He was roaring before he really knew what was happening. All the stress from the past few hours was unravelling, and as his hands balled into fists, Harry had the extreme urge to point his wand at the portrait and blow it up.

"… Harry-"

"Leave it Albus." Once again he was interrupted, this time by the headmistress who was now staring at him sternly.

The room stayed silent for a few moments before Molly's voice whispered out to Harry. "You said they never hurt you. They didn't, did they?" Her voice was uncertain, like she didn't want to hear the answer. Harry blinked, coming out of his daze and gritted his teeth.

"No. The worst it ever came to was throwing a pan at my head. It missed." He tried in vain to keep his tone light, but the room's atmosphere dropped dramatically.

"I…I'd like to talk with you about that, afterwards Harry- if it's alright." Arthur's voice was again uncertain, but Molly was nodding vigorously, and Harry tiredly assented.

The next moment dragged awkwardly.

"Soo…Uh Ron. You're alright aren't you? No issues you want to get off your chest?" George smiled heartily. Ron scowled, and after looking briefly at Hermione shrugged.

"I had issues. They're okay now." He muttered lightly. Bill frowned.

"You had issues?" Instantly Ron felt on edge, he definitely didn't want the interrogation squad on his back. That would bring about a lot of unwanted talking, and many unwanted confessions. So he answered defensively.

"Yes. It's not like anyone noticed is it? I sorted them out with Harry and Hermione. Last year. So if you want to talk about it it's a little late." Suddenly his tone was scathing, and Bill backed off.

George however, looked shocked. "Whoa. What's with the attitude?"

"Nothing."

"You obviously have an issue."

"Look. It's over now. I'm working on it, with friends there, so I really don't want to speak about it to a room full of strangers." George fell silent, and locked eyes with his mother, silently mouthing 'we'll ask about it later'. Instead of cornering Ron, he turned to Hermione sarcastically.

"So, Herms, any issues you have? You're not secretly being abused by your parents are you?" The playfulness in his voice was almost gone, and Hermione winced.

"No."

George raised an eyebrow.

"Bit quiet there Herms."

"I don't feel like talking. That was just tactless George." Instinctively, she reached for both of the boy's hands, and the three circled closer to each other.

In return George winced, realising the effect his words had. Bill nudged his brother and then addressed Hermione again. "Well….what is the matter? A problem shared and all that…"

She frowned, and surveyed the remaining people in the room. She really was beginning to get tired of divulging all of their secrets, and was beyond relieved by now that soon they would be able to leave the room. Inspiration suddenly struck her, and she crossed the room to the door and firmly yanked on the handle. Expecting it to give way, she was rather shocked when the handle didn't even move and inch. Behind her, Ron turned and scowled at the assembly. "We've answered all of your questions…can we leave now?" He protested when Hermione elbowed him, hissing that he should be polite, and belatedly added a 'please' on the end. Flitwick immediately stood to counter the charm that led sealed the doors, but his hand was stayed by Arthur.

"If you don't mind Filius, I think we'd all like to know what's bothering Hermione and what had previously bothered Ron." Harry smirked slightly, feeling the irony of the situation when the two turned to him for help. "And no Harry, we haven't forgotten you."

Molly stepped forward. "Why don't you want us to help you?" She pleaded.
"Mum." Ron stepped forward. "We've been in a war, and that changes people. Whatever's wrong we can deal with it on our own. And if we need help then we'll come to you, you just have to let it go. We're 17 now, and old enough to take care of each other." Molly's eyes started tearing up, and Arthur put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Molly…." Hermione started forward, a regretful look upon her face. "We don't mean to be rude." She looked around the room pleadingly. "We never meant to be rude, but…. You have to understand. You've forced secrets out of us that we'd really rather we never told you- or anyone for that matter. This whole day we've been confessing, crying and shouting to get our point across. I know you care about us, and we're grateful for that. But you can't just expect us to tell you everything after one day. It doesn't work that way."

Minerva frowned. "But don't you think they have a right-"

"-No. I don't." Harry interrupted flatly. "We went through these things Professor. Don't you think we should've been able to talk about it in our own time? True, we may never have told you anything, but now you know. And we won't be able to avoid that. I'm just asking you to give us a bit of time to actually think about it."

George laughed, and Ron looked over. "George, you don't honestly think we've had enough time? I don't sit there and think about how I feel." He looked uncomfortable. "I don't like to. But before I tell you, or talk to any of you- and no offence I won't talk to all of you- I need to know how I feel. I –We don't need to be forced into the hospital again and interrogated like we're twelve years old anymore." The stern expression that adorned his face sent the room's eyes to the floor.

"So can we please go now?" Hermione whispered, her voice soft in response to the atmosphere in the room.

"…But you will…get help won't you?" Molly asked, her eyes wide.

"You will eventually talk to us?" Arthur finished.

The three nodded solemnly. Exchanging glances, the adults in the room looked uncertain. "Well I suppose they are adults now…" Minerva spoke first. "We can't protect them forever."

"Perhaps it would be better to let them help themselves. They don't need to tell you everything, and it's all a part of growing up, dealing with their problems. Even if theirs are considerably larger than most." Flitwick reasoned. All nodded, and he then swished his wand, opening the door in one smooth movement.

As the three moved to leave, Poppy stood abruptly, calling out "But you'll still need to be checked up! It's mandatory!" Rolling their eyes Harry, Hermione and Ron linked hands before walking out the door together.

They knew that in time, they would heal. Perhaps the scars would always be there, but now the three would always be watched over with some understanding, they would be allowed to grow and change on their own, but no longer would they need to suffer in silence. And though the three would vehemently deny it, they knew that perhaps the unearthing of their secrets did them more good than they could ever achieve by themselves.

I don't think it'd end so happy. Didn't feel right. Kids that go through that aren't going to accept it as well.

In truth I looked back at this and realised I really didn't like it. I was going to delete it, but then I thought about what I said about never abandoning a story and my conscience got the better of me….

I do think I'm a different person to what I was when I started this story, and sorry I tried not to reflect that but it did come through. I got darker. ;)