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Voldemort? Killed
The war? Over
All of the survivors were heading back home; those who were lucky enough to see their loved ones still alive, left with just slight traumas and bad memories; those who didn't share this luck left also with their corresponding bodies and a greater feeling of grief. This was the case of the Weasley family, including the honorary members Harry and Hermione, all mourning over Fred, who was now being carried away inside a wooden coffin to The Burrow, where a ceremony in his honor would take place, before meeting his final destination in the family graveyard.
After about two months, everyone was starting to get back to life, the Golden Trio and Ginny went every few days to Hogwarts to help with the reconstruction, Arthur and Molly Weasley went back to their daily activities and even though George still stayed locked up in his room, he was starting to talk and eat a bit more, which was a relief for everyone.
Everything had changed, and Harry and Ginny's relationship (which they had resumed only two months ago) had that very clear, so the golden boy decided it was time to have a little talk with his girlfriend.
*Knock, Knock*
-Come in- Answered Ginny softly from her place next to the window in her room.
-Hey, how are you holding up?- Asked Harry
-Fine I guess, how about you?-
Harry stayed silent, staring out the window while he collected his thoughts.
-There's something I need to talk to you about-
-Oh?- Ginny turned to face him, already prepared for what she knew was coming.
-Ginny, I don't think we should date anymore... It's just that, everything is so different now, and- Harry's speech was interrupted by the girl's finger in his lips.
-I understand, I was thinking about it too actually, but I *sigh*... At least this didn't happen in a funeral like last time, heh, talk about bad timing-
-Yeah, sorry about that...-
-It's okay, things are not so bad anymore...-
The two Gryffindors looked at each other and smiled.
-Friends?- Asked Harry
-Friends- Replied Ginny as she pulled him into a hug, both glad that there were no hard feelings.
Many miles away, Draco Malfoy watched through his own window how his father was being taken to Azkaban by some aurors; it had been decided by the Ministry that both his mother and himself had acted against their will and therefore were free to go, but Draco felt as if he were still trapped inside his own mind, the guilt eating him alive. He really wanted to stay strong for his mother, but as each day passed the weight of his past actions drowned him more and more. He was ashamed of the person he used to be and resented his father for raising him that way, but the true Draco had finally been released into the world and could see clearly the man who he really wanted to be, it was a shame that it had taken a whole war just to figure that out.
Looking into the past, the blond Slytherin was able to identify very specific moments of his life where he had taken all the wrong choices and now regretted them deeply, knowing how different his life would be right now if only he had been a bit nicer, maybe he would have enough courage to help out at school or give his condolences to the Weasley family and the others, maybe he wouldn't feel so lonely. How would he face his former classmates in case he had to see them again? How could he show the Golden Trio how sorry he was for the person he used to be? How could he make up for his mistakes and clean his name? It's true that Draco had no choice when going into the Dark Lord's side, but his previous behavior showed nothing of it and Draco knew that. He would always be a filthy Death Eater in the eyes of everyone. The only ones who understood him were his best friends Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini, who had seen in firsthand how his life had taken such horrible turns.
Draco felt as if no one else would ever understand, and that thought made him feel extremely lonely; he was on the verge of tears when he realized that none of that needed to happen, he could move to another country and start over, maybe things wouldn't play out as badly and he could have a real life, maybe...
This little ray of hope was quickly shattered as an owl tapped on his window and dropped a letter on his desk, making him break down with the sight of the purple wax seal in the envelope, the letter that would change his life, the letter inviting all of the students back to Hogwarts.