Chapter Text
Harry woke up in the infirmary. He felt the familiar itch of the sheets below him. It seemed something large had happened but what was it?
The last thing he remembered was entering the fight on Hogwarts ground. The rest was a blur…
Were Hermione and Ron okay? What happened to the Dark Lord? He couldn’t remember.
He heard bickering outside and Madam Pomfrey’s distinct voice. Before he could try to listen in further the curtain around his bed was flung open.
“Harry!” Hermione launched at his chest and started sobbing.
“Mione, what’s going on?”
She pulled back to look into his eyes. “You can’t remember Harry?” She looked perplexed.
“Mate, you killed Voldemort!” Ron spoke for the first time.
Harry didn’t believe him for a second. If Voldemort were dead, he should be as well. Hermione seemed to be giving Ron a death glare.
“Pomfrey told us not to tell him anything he didn’t remember Ronald!”
“Mione, he killed Voldemort! He has to remember that!”
“He doesn’t seem to!”
“I would have to agree with Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley.” Everyone turned to look at Pomfrey as she entered the room. “Harry, what’s the last thing you remember?”
“I remember arriving at Hogwarts and being greeted by Neville, then we met up with the DA.” Harry paused trying to recall further. “Voldemort called to me, he knew I was there. We had to get the diadem before I went out to face him. There was fire and…Did I save Malfoy?” Harry shook his head trying to get beyond that point. “Did Fred die?!” Harry couldn’t remember anything after that so he stopped trying as his head was starting to hurt.
“Well Mr. Potter, it seems that spell affected you more than we thought. You’ll have to remember on your own. Mr. Weasley, no more information passed what Mr. Potter remembers.”
Ron nodded reluctantly and Hermione was staring at Pomfrey.
“Madame Pomfrey, when do you think he’ll remember?”
“I don’t know. Nothing like this has happened in Wizarding history Ms. Granger. We’ll have to wait and see.”
Hermione looked displeased with that.
“Don’t worry Mione, strange things tend to happen to me. I’m sure I’ll be fine.” She looked slightly more pleased with that answer. “Ron, I’m sorry about Fred.”
Ron nodded mutely. It seemed he hadn’t gotten passed the shock.
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A few days later, Harry returned with Ron to the Burrow. Weeks passed and he had recovered none of his memories of the Battle of Hogwarts. So against Mrs. Weasley’s and his friend’s wishes he returned to Grimmauld Place.
Harry looked around the desolate place that he would now call home, and wondered if he had made the right decision. Hermione and Mrs. Weasley had gotten on his last nerve, they coddled him. And Ron wasn’t himself, he was trying to help George at the store and had yet to work through his grief for Fred. If that wasn’t bad enough Ginny had come to talk with him. He remembered that talk well.
“Hey Harry” Ginny looked decidedly tired.
“Ginny, how are you?”
“Not great, thought we needed to talk.” Harry nodded minutely.
“Harry…while you were off finding horcruxes something happened. We were all staying in the room of requirement, even the slytherins. I became friends with Zabini. I don’t know if you know him?” Harry shook his head no.
“Well, he’s quite nice. His family didn’t really pick a side. He’s also good friends with Malfoy. Not that it will help your opinion of him. Malfoy wasn’t himself all year, seemed gaunt and…” Ginny looked up to see Harry did not seem at all interested in hearing about Malfoy. She was babbling anyway. “Well, we hit it off. I really want to give it a shot with him. I came to realize that while I loved you, I loved you as The Harry Potter, not Harry Potter. Harry Potter I loved as a brother.”
Harry was slightly annoyed at this. But he was also surprised to note that he felt the same way. Ginny was like a sister to him.
“I’m happy for you Gin.” She looked dubious at that statement. “Really Gin I am, I love you like a sister. You deserve someone that makes you happy, and that’s not me. Just know I will stand with your brothers when they threaten him if he hurts you.” Ginny laughed.
“I hope we’ll stay close Harry.”
“Of course we will Gin. We’re family.”
While he was sure that was the way he felt about Ginny now, it also meant he had to start dating again. And everyone would see him as The Harry Potter now. Not to mention he wasn’t particularly good with women, the only one he had been able to understand was Hermione, she told him almost everything. While he thought Hermione was grand. He also thought of her as a sister. Not to mention that Ron would likely skin him if he tried to go after her, although they had seemed distant the past couple of weeks. He made a mental note to speak with Hermione about that.
He decided that he would fix Grimmauld up. It would help him clear his mind, and maybe he would remember things better. Plus he was pretty sure he didn’t want to be an Auror anymore. He was tired of fighting.