The battle was over. After a lifetime of worrying, of feeling his destiny pressing down on him, Harry had completed the task he was destined to complete. And he should be happy. He knew that. He should be ecstatic right now, should be thrilled. But what Harry felt wasn’t exactly happiness, not quite. Actually, he didn’t feel anything. It was a strange sort of numbness. Looking over his shoulder, always feeling like Voldemort could attack at any moment, the knowledge that someday, a confrontation would come; that had all been part of Harry’s life. It was a part that he wished had never existed, a part that had separated him from his friends, and from those he loved, but still, it had been a part of his life. Now that it was over, he didn’t really know what to do with himself.

Harry had never really given much thought to what his future would be like with Voldemort gone. He had always just set the borderline of his thoughts on destroying Voldemort, set all his hopes on that happening, and never really going any further. But now, Harry felt like he had a huge expanse of opportunity before him, and he was somewhat intimidated to find that he wasn’t sure how to fill it.

With that on his mind, Harry set off for a walk around the grounds. The early morning sun was just beginning to heat up the air, and Harry could feel the moisture of dew soaking into his shoes. Most of those who had been wounded out here had already been brought in to the makeshift hospital being run at Hogwarts for those injured in the battle. Others had been beyond help, and were being taken care of appropriately. People were still running here and there on the grounds, but for the most part, it was peaceful out here.

As Harry turned a corner, he saw a figure walking towards him out of the castle. As he looked closer, he saw that it was Hermione, limping slightly from an injury on her leg, but otherwise unharmed. She obviously saw Harry, as she was making a beeline right for him. Harry considered pretending not to have seen her, so that he could stay alone with his thoughts, but that would be a horrible thing to do. Besides, this was Hermione he was talking about; she would see right through that.

When Hermione got closer, she gave him a small smile. “Alright?” she asked simply.

Harry shrugged. “Yeah, I guess I am. I just…I don’t know, it feels strange.”

Hermione nodded. “I know what you mean. It wasn’t as bad for Ron and I of course, because we never had a prophecy looming over us, but all three of us have grown up knowing deep down that someday, there would have to be a final reckoning with Voldemort, and that until that happened, none of us would really be able to be safe. Now, it’s just over.”

Harry marveled at Hermione. He wondered if she had employed Legilimency to read his mind, or if she really felt the same way that he did. “Yeah,” he murmured, “That’s exactly right. I really am happy that he’s gone, don’t worry about that, but it doesn’t feel right to be out and out happy right now. Especially with Lupin, and Tonks, and Fred, and…” Harry faded off, staring out over the Black Lake.

Without saying a word, Hermione walked closer to Harry and wrapped her arms around him. Then, she pulled away. “They’d want you to keep living,” Hermione said softly. “They wouldn’t want you to spend your time mourning for them. I know that you aren’t going to forget about their deaths, and I would never ask you to. But eventually, you’ll start living normally again. It may not be today, or tomorrow, but eventually, you’ll be alright.”

Harry grinned slightly. “Have you been taking Muggle Psychology on the side, or are you just more philosophical than usual tonight?”

Hermione reddened. “Harry! I’m just trying-“

“I know,” he assured her. “I was just teasing.”

She rolled her eyes. “It is true, though.”

“I know it is,” Harry replied, beginning to walk back toward the castle. “I know it is.”