Harry woke up with a pounding headache.
The light filtering through the window felt too bright, too sharp. Every movement sent a dull wave of pain through his skull. From the bed nearby, Ron groaned loudly.
Clearly, he wasn't the only one suffering.
"Here," Charlie said as he entered the room, holding out a small vial. "Hangover cure. You'll need it. Sleep well, Harry?"
Harry pushed himself up slowly.
"What's a hangover cure?" he asked, suddenly interested despite the pain.
"A potion," Charlie replied with a grin. "And trust me, you need it."
Harry took the vial and drank it in one gulp.
The effect was immediate.
The headache vanished. His vision cleared. Even his voice felt steadier.
Ron sat up, blinking.
"Better?"
"Yeah," Harry said.
"Same," Ron added, already sounding more alive.
"Good," Charlie said. "Because the garden needs cleaning spells."
Harry and Ron exchanged a glance.
So much for rest.
They got dressed and went downstairs, where breakfast turned into lunch before they even sat down.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of work.
Alongside Hermione and Ginny, they cleaned the garden, removed the tables, and took down the decorations. It was faster than setting everything up had been, Harry noticed.
Most of the decorations disappeared with the right spell, leaving the garden slowly returning to normal.
By the end of the afternoon, only the large white tent remained.
"Ron, you're pulling too far left," Fred called out.
"I can't help it," Ron snapped. "It's about to collapse on me!"
After fifteen minutes of effort, a minor disaster, and pulling Ron out from under part of the collapsing structure, the job was finally done.
Everyone gathered around the table for dinner.
There were still many people present, though not as many as the day before.
Mrs. Weasley had insisted that none of the leftover food from the wedding go to waste.
So she had invited nearly everyone back.
Lupin, Tonks, Hagrid, McGonagall, Gabrielle, Mrs. Delacour, Harry, Hermione, and the entire Weasley family, including Fleur.
Percy had been invited as well, but he hadn't come.
He and Penelope had only attended the ceremony before leaving after offering their congratulations to Bill and Fleur.
Even so, Mrs. Weasley seemed… happy.
"At least this time," she said through tears, "he came on his own… and spoke to one of us. Well… two of us."
She gave Fleur a warm smile, and Fleur returned it gently.
"Potter, may I have a word?"
Harry turned.
Professor McGonagall stood nearby, her expression calm but serious.
They stepped away from the table.
"I will ask you again," she said quietly. "Where did you go with Professor Dumbledore before his death?"
Harry met her gaze.
"And once again, Professor, I won't answer."
His tone was calm, respectful.
But firm.
McGonagall studied him for a moment.
"I hope you know what you are doing, Potter," she said, her voice soft but heavy with meaning.
"Professor," Harry said after a pause, "is Grimmauld Place still occupied by members of the Order?"
"Yes," she replied. "But it belongs to you. You may reclaim it whenever you wish."
"No," Harry said quickly. "I just want to know if I can stay there… and bring Ron and Hermione."
"Of course."
Harry nodded.
"Will Hogwarts reopen?"
"Most likely," she said, though there was sadness in her voice. "Your letters will arrive tomorrow."
Harry hesitated.
"I don't think I'll be returning this year."
McGonagall stopped walking.
She looked at him closely.
"I hope, once again, that you understand what you are doing. Your education is not complete. Your place will remain open to you."
"Thank you, Professor."
He paused, then added,
"Have you found a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"
"Perhaps," she said carefully. "I have someone in mind. I only need to convince them."
They returned to the table.
Harry caught Ron's eye and gave him a small signal.
Ron understood immediately.
He would have to explain things to his parents.
The next morning, Harry received his usual Hogwarts letter.
Along with it came a notice from the Ministry.
He had been summoned to take his Apparition test.
Ron had received the same letter. The exam was scheduled for August thirteenth.
Hermione, unsurprisingly, had been named Head Girl.
"Harry!"
Ron burst into the room, nearly knocking Hermione over as he flung the door open.
"Ginny's waiting outside," he said quickly, slightly out of breath. "Right by the front door. Don't forget what I told you."
Hermione rolled her eyes.
Harry nodded.
The Weasley twins helped them carry their trunks, along with a generous amount of food Mrs. Weasley had insisted they take.
When they reached the door, Ron was right.
Ginny was there.
She stood with her arms crossed, her expression clearly annoyed.
Beside her was Mrs. Weasley.
Both of them watched closely.
Suspicious.
But neither asked any questions.
For a brief moment, everything felt… still.
Then Harry stepped forward.
He wrapped his arms around Ginny.
A simple goodbye.
Nothing more.
He let go.
He didn't trust himself to stay any longer.
A second later, he focused on London.
And disappeared.