Epilogue

Well, this is my first Harry Potter fanfiction! First of all, I would just like to apologise in advance for any references I get wrong. I have read all the books and seen all the movies, but my memory isn't its best. I'm open to all feedback, good or bad!

This story takes place shortly after Harry has defeated Voldemort, and he, along with Hermione, Ron and Ginny returned to Shell Cottage for the summer holidays. Enjoy!

Chapter 1

The waves crashed gently along the golden grains of sand on the beach. The regular pattern of the white waves reflected the dazzling sun that burnt brightly overhead. The beach laid still, undisturbed save for the beating of the ocean. A short walk away, a cosy cottage stood proud, casting its careful shadow across the ground. In a top window, a boy looked out, his gaze scanning the sand dunes carefully. When at last his eyes found their target, a weathered stone sticking out of the ground he gave a weak smile, and retreated back inside the room.

Harry sat gently on his bed. It still felt, almost weird he could call it, to think that almost a month ago; he had been engaged in combat with one of the darkest wizards of all time. And he had won. After years of dangerous encounters that had left Harry fighting for his life, he had come out on top. Of course he hadn't been alone. The ones he loved had been there to help him; dead or alive; and given him the courage to continue on.

His room in shell cottage was extremely cosy. It was too big, nor too small, and had a single window overlooking the beach and its surrounding sand dunes. The walls had been painted a pale blue, decorated by various shells. Across the room from him, a red headed boy laid asleep, his snores echoing around the room. Smiling, he averted his gaze to his sleeping friend. Ron had been only too happy to adapt to a lifestyle of relaxing everyday. A muffled snort arose from him, as he steadily opened his eyes.

"Mornin' Harry." He yawned and sleepily rubbed his eyes.

"Morning Ron. Sleep well?"

"S'alright." He sat up, squinting as the morning sunlight poured in through the open window.

The door to the room gave a creak before swinging open. "Oh good, you're awake. Mum's getting breakfast ready."

A bright eyed red headed girl poked her head in the door. She gaze Harry a shy smile before returning back into the corridor. Now that Harry was sure he wasn't going to be killed, he'd resumed his kindling relationship with his friend's younger sister, Ginny. Spending the summer holidays at Shell Cottage had enabled them lots of free time together; the very thing they'd missed at Hogwarts.

"Better get going then." Heaving himself out of bed, Ron traped downstairs, followed shortly by Harry.

The kitchen of Shell Cottage was big and airy. The windows were almost as big as the walls themselves, allowing you to bathe in the sunlight whilst you were in there. Harry and Ron were greeted eagerly by Mr and Mrs Weasley and Hermione, along with Fleur and Bill, who owned Shell Cottage. Pots and pans were working their own way around the kitchen, with the help of Mrs Weasley flicking her wand occasionally. Harry took a seat next to Ginny, giving her a light peck on the peck, whilst Ron plonked down next to Hermione, giving her a goofy smile.

"Good morning everyone." Mr Weasley. "Has anyone seen the paper yet? Our George is in it."

Harry looked at the paper sitting on the table. A picture covered half the page; it was George waving and smiling in front of a shop that had become very popular very quickly; Weasley's Wizardly Wheezes. Underneath was a caption that read 'Despite the grief at one of the owner's deaths recently; Fred Weasley, this shop has continued to thrive and pass the record for becoming the most popular shop in Diagon Alley.'

"Making quite a name for himself isn't he?" Hermione peered over at the paper.

"Well I reckon it's what everyone needs isn't it? A good joke after all that's happened." Ron sat back, closing his eyes and letting the sun dance across his eyelids.

"How many eggs would you like Harry?"

"Oh, two will be fine Mrs Weasley."

Whilst everyone else was preparing breakfast or busying themselves in the paper, Ginny turned to Harry.

"It's going to be so weird being at Hogwarts without you this year Harry."

Ginny had voiced the feeling that had been settling in Harry's stomach all year. The thought that he was no longer a student at Hogwarts. The place he had considered his home for all these years. The place that had made him who he was. And the place where a raging battle had finally ended.

"Yeah…"

"You will write to me won't you?"

"How's every day?"

Ginny laughed. "Whenever you can." She smiled and got up to help her mum serve breakfast.

Harry averted his eyes back to the paper but something caught his eye. Glancing out the window, he saw figures in the sky. Slowly they were getting bigger and bigger. Noticing that Harry was squinting out the window, Hermione swivelled round in her chair.

"Owls!" She jumped up and ran to open the window. After a few minutes, three large barn owls landed gracefully on the ledge of the window and stuck their legs out.

"Harry, Ron…these letters are for us!" Hermione untied each one and gave it to them. Harry examined the scroll. It had the Hogwarts seal on it. His heart sped up instantly as he opened it.

'Dear Mr Potter,

Since you were absent in your final year of Hogwarts, you failed to complete the courses which you would have normally done. It is my request that you, along with all the other previous 7th years return to Hogwarts to fully complete your education. The castle is in a state of being repaired as you read this, and it is my hope that it will be ready for the new school year.

Headmistress McGonagall'

Three smiles lit up the entire kitchen.

"We're going back to Hogwarts!"

Hermione squealed. "I've been made Head Girl!"

Ginny threw herself at Harry embracing him in a hug. "This is great!"

Mrs Weasley instantly forgot about making breakfast and started fussing over the letters. "Oh my! We'll have to go and buy your books along with Ginny's, oh you'll all need new school robes too, you've all grown so much…"

The level of noise at the table increased dramatically as everyone started talking about going back.

"Head Girl! This is such an honour!"

"Grats 'Mione." Ron kissed her cheek. "One more year! Perhaps a year where we don't have to sit there thinking about what's coming to kill us next."

Harry lay in his bed, staring up at the dark ceiling. The moon lit up the room considerably well, but it did nothing to distract Harry from his thoughts. Truth be told, ever since he had left Hogwarts before summer, he had felt a rather large gap in his life. He passed it off as knowing that he wouldn't be a student at Hogwarts anymore. But here he was, returning to Hogwarts in only a matter of weeks. But it didn't settle that feeling. He still had that gaping hole, as though something was missing and he couldn't figure out what. What did he need? Here he was, with the people he considered friends and family; he was happy and relaxed. There was nothing missing…was there?

The next few weeks passed in a breeze and Harry was soon packing his trunk for Hogwarts. He had several new robes, along with all his textbooks he would need for the year. His invisibility cloak was folded up neatly alongside his wand. Content that this was as neat as he could make it, he shut the lid and locked it up. As though a force of habit, he turned around, only to remember that he no longer had an owl cage to carry. It still tugged at him occasionally; his beautiful snowy owl taken cruelly from this world. Sighing, he took his trunk downstairs, echoing the house with bangs as it hit every step.

"You're all packed then Harry?"

"Yes Mrs Weasley, all done."

She smiled, planting a kiss on his head before rushing off to check the others had packed. Harry, catching a glimpse of something outside, deposited his trunk near the doorway and stepped out the open door. It was a warm summer's day, thought a gentle, steady breeze rustled across the land. He stepped forward till he was level with the red headed girl, leaning on the fence, her eyes wandering aimlessly across the beach.

"Hey Harry." Ginny turned and flashed him a smile. "You excited for tomorrow?"

"You bet I am."

"I wonder how different it will be…less people…the castle got hit pretty bad…"

"Yeah…"

"But hey, it's a fresh start. It's all over." Ginny turned to him, taking his hand and gently pulling him closer. She tilted her head and closed her eyes, bringing him in to meet her lips. But after a couple of seconds Harry pulled away. She frowned.

"Is there something wrong Harry?"

Harry shook his head. Why had he pulled back like that? "No…I'm sorry, I guess I'm just tired."

Ginny gave a weak smile. "I'll see you back inside Harry." She walked away until her footsteps could no longer be heard patting against the sand.

Harry leaned on the fence again. What was wrong with him? Why did he have this puzzle that he just couldn't work out? When he kissed Ginny…it almost felt like he didn't want to be there. But of course he wanted to be there, she was his girlfriend for Merlin's sake! But even Harry had to admit that things hadn't seemed as sparked as they once were. Or was that just him feeling that? He brought a hand up his head, brushing it roughly through his hair, letting out a sigh. He hated this feeling; as though something was wrong but he didn't know what. Grunting in frustration, he decided the best he could do was to ignore it for now. He was going back to Hogwarts tomorrow; now wasn't the time to get worked up. He walked back down to the cottage in time to find everyone preparing tea.

"Oh there you are Harry, come, eat up, you've got to be up early tomorrow." Mrs Weasley sent dinner plates flying towards the table crammed with food, the dishes that Harry knew would fill this appetite, just like they always did. The other family members joined him round the table but the general buzz of chatter just washed over him. That feeling was still annoying him. The rest of the evening just seemed to fly past him, and he was soon lying in bed, staring up at the dark ceiling. He listened to Ron moving about, packing some last minute things.

"Can't believe we're going back for a year, can you Harry?"

Harry shook his head, not really prepared for conversation. "Oh uh, yeah, big surprise."

"And just think no You-Know-Who coming after you. Perhaps our first normal school year."

Harry smiled. He could still remember his first year at Hogwarts, as though it was merely months ago. Ron took his silence as an indication to talk again.

"I wonder what the castles like. It took a pretty big hit during that battle. I reckon it would take more than a summer holidays to fix up. Anyways, guess we'll find out soon enough. Night Harry."

"Night Ron."

There was a few minutes of blankets being tossed about before the gentle snores from Ron began. But Harry couldn't sleep. He was still thinking. There was something bugging him. It could be anything. Knowing he'd be returning to Hogwarts missing quite a lot of people? Knowing the castle had been damaged so badly? He clenched his eyes shut, blocking out the thoughts so he could get a good nights sleep.

"Come on everyone, gather round, quickly now!" Mr Weasley was belting instructions out to everyone, as Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Harry dragged their suitcases over to an empty soda can lying in the middle of the beach. It was a portkey; Harry knew, that was taking them to London today.

"Av a safe trip ezeryone!"

"Thank you for letting us stay here Fleur."

"It waz no problemz at all Mrs Weazley."

A quick hug was exchanged before Mr Weasley ran over to the portkey, hastily touching a finger to it. Bill and Fleur waved them off, as Harry felt the familiar tugging at the back of his nasal before he was dragged off the ground.

Harry felt himself get thrown down onto gravel, alongside a groaning Ron. Harry was still incapable of coming down gently and landing on his feet like the adults. Even Ginny and Hermione could land somewhat on their feet, even if it was with an added stumble. He got up, wiping the gravel from his hands and glancing round. They were in a back alleyway of London somewhere, from what Harry could guess, not far from Kings Cross Station.

"Come on kids, grab your trunks and let's go."

Harry hoisted his trunk from the ground next to him and started dragging it along. He instinctly followed Mr and Mrs Weasley, Ginny trotting along by his side. Hardly anybody talked; he supposed it was the excitement of going back. Even if it was only for one more year. He'd never give up a chance to spend more time at his 'home'. In only a few minutes, they were in the busy station of Kings Cross. Any other time, Harry would have been happy to wander across the stone platforms, admiring the height of which the structure was built, the different coloured trains rushing in and out of the platforms. But ever since last year, it was a little off putting. He could still see it clearly; him and Dumbledore on a pure white platform. Even now it was a little confusing, but it needn't worry him anymore.

"Harry?"

He blinked, becoming aware that he had just been staring at the floor vacantly.

"Lost in a daydream are we." Mr Weasley chuckled, and then nodded at the wall in front of him. Harry looked up, noticing the platform numbers 9 and 10 either side of the wall. Breaking into a slight run, he headed straight for the wall, going through it and emerging on the other side. He turned, the great scarlet train greeting it's passengers with a loud blow of its whistle. Ginny, Ron and Hermione soon appeared at his side, followed shortly by Mr and Mrs Weasley.

"Give us your luggage kids, we'll give it to the conductor for you, you all hop off onto the train." Mr Weasley took their trunks, waving his wand and making them float after him.

"You all have a good time, be good, especially you Harry." Mrs Weasley smiled, cupping his face in her hands. "Let's make it a trouble free last year shall we?"

"I'll try my best Mrs Weasley, but it usually finds me anyway."

Laughing, she pulled Harry into a hug, followed by the other three. "You best get going then, off you go."

Harry hopped onto the train followed by the others and they began looking for an empty carriage. They found one a lot quicker than it usually took them, and settled in. Harry stared out the window onto the platform. It looked a lot less busy than it had done in previous years. Harry was less than willing to guess why. He felt a touch on his arm and turned to see Ginny had cradled up to him, resting her head on his shoulder. Harry smiled, but something jolted in his stomach. It almost felt as though the touch…was foreign. Harry rubbed his hands across his face and through his hair.

"You alright mate?"

"I'm fine just…a little tired."

Hermione looked across Ron at the platform. "A lot quieter isn't it? I suppose it has to do with the death toll last year…"

Harry winced. He hadn't wanted to voice it out loud but he knew it. Hogwarts was going to be so quiet. He hadn't liked to think about how many people died in the battle, but he knew it wasn't a low number. On top of that, he imagined many parents would be reluctant to send their children to Hogwarts after the recent events that had just taken place. The final blow of the train's whistle drew his attention back to his class mates as the train pulled slowly out the station.

Well, that's the start; any reviews would be greatly appreciated!