The Battle of Hogwarts Afterlife (A Romione Fan Fiction Story)

Chapter 1

Rubble and ashes filled the air. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood there with their eyes full of tears and memories. Hermione clung to Ron who was embracing her. Harry watched them and felt happy. Back in Hogwarts, everyone was participating to help the wounded and clean up the mess.

After everything was pretty much under control, Professor McGonagall walked up to the 3, and started, "Well. I wish you all the best. Just, try not to get trampled on out there." She chuckled. "But first, I have a few gifts to hand on to you." Reaching into a purse she had on a strap hanging on her shoulder, she pulled out a rather old piece of parchment and handed it over to Harry.

"This here is for you, Harry. From Sirius. A letter from your mother, Lily Potter, to him. He thought you might want it for a sentimental souvenir." She gave Potter a wink, pulled back tears and proceeded with the distribution.

Reaching back into the purse, she pulled out a small baby rat, with a red ribbon tied in a bow around its neck. "Ron, for you. Since Scabbers turned out to be Peter Pettigrew and fled from you to go off to tend to his true master, Voldemort, Sirius wanted you to have this proper rat, that won't transform into a human... Or any other sort of thing besides a rat, and run off to serve a Dark Lord." All of them couldn't help but remember what happened that day, and they forced a smile to reassure Professor McGonagall that they were alright.

Finally, reaching deep within the purse, she pulled out a small squarish box that was wrapped in parchment paper with a rope tied around it like a ribbon on a gift.

"Hermione, this final gift is for you. Sirius said it is to be unwrapped at home." Hermione, expecting to hear more, but did not get another word from Professor McGonagall to her about the gift. All that was said, is all that was needed to be it seemed, but Hermione still felt quite unsettled about it. Handing the suspicious box to Hermione, McGonagall gave Hermione a warm hug, then turned around to give Harry and Ron one as well.

After the day's work was all done, wounded tended to, runes tidied up until further construction and renovation of the castle took place, the dead bodies with their own ceremonies to go along with them, the 3 headed for their new home. A safe home in the Burrow. A driver, who was hired by an anonymous person, picked them up and drove off.

"It's never going to normal, is it?" Hermione asked with sparkles in her eyes.

Ron and Harry shook their heads, and went back to staring outside the car window. 30 minutes later, the car pulled up to the Weasley's house which was unexpected. It even shook Ron a bit. Hopping out of the car, the three headed for the front door which was really the only good quality part of the whole flat. At the window, to all of their surprises, a ginger cat was sitting on the windowsill, grooming itself. It was Crookshanks, Hermione's cat. Hermione had an odd, unsettled look to her face. "How'd she get h-" and at that moment, the door opened wide. It was Mrs. Weasley. She stood in the doorway with an apron on and a wooden spatula in her right hand, her wand in her apron pouch, and a big, delighted, relieved, and worried look on her rounded face.

"Darlings! Welcome to your home! Now, you all have been here before so I don't suspect I'll be needing to remind you of anything around here." feeling a brisk breeze go through her hair, she shivered, "You must all be freezing!" as she guided them indoors, an aroma of beef stew, baked potatoes, hot tea, and roasted vegetables filled the air. At that instant, all 3 of them felt right at home; warm, and comfortable. Ron stopped his mom for a moment, turned her around and gave her a big hug. He was a giant teddy bear, that Ronald Weasley.

"Thanks mum." With all the smiling he had in him, he winked at his mom and went on into the house.

In the dining room, the table was set, cups were full of milk awaiting their company. At the sight of this, Ron ran over to the table and started chugging a glass full of milk. They hadn't drank, or eaten anything for 3 whole days now. It was pretty self explanatory. Then, all of them went to the table and sat down awaiting the delicious smelling food. Mrs. Weasley transferred the hot dishes from the counter to the dining table and placed serving spoons in each dish. Without a thought or a flinch, Ron grabbed a piece of bread on the bread platter and scarfed it down. Inhaling every little piece of food he could. Hermione sat there, waiting till he'd stop. She was about to tell him to stop eating so fast, but from what they all went through, she reconsidered and just let him be.