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For several moments Harry felt he was unable to do anything, so he sat on his bed watching the light change on the walls as the clouds rolled over the morning sun.

Harry knew he couldn't be too mad at Ron, after all if it was Harry who woke one day to a picture of Ron snogging Goyle in the Daily Prophet, he couldn't imagine his reaction would be any better. Yet still Harry didn't want to face him again, and he took as long as he possibly could to unfold his uniform that Mrs Weasley had left in a freshly ironed pile.

Since the end of the Wizarding War Harry had been working alongside Ron for the Auror Office, a department in the Ministry of Magic involved in the capture of dark wizards. Becoming an Auror was very difficult, it took top grades, years of training and a series of tests. Harry had all but given up on his dreams to be trained as an Auror when he didn't return to Hogwarts for his final year, instead going on his own pursuit of Lord Voldemort with Ron and Hermione.

But the wizarding war wasn't over with the death of Voldemort. There were still hundreds of death eaters who had escaped capture, some who were still waging torment across Britain. With the loss of many skilled Aurors who died fighting in the war (or converted to the dark side themselves, in the case of one Gilbert Goldlock) the ministry of magic was struggling to regain control.

Kingsley Shacklebolt was the previous head of the Auror Office, and when he was later appointed Minister of Magic he hesitantly changed the requirements for a\Aurors- any of age student who fought at the battle of Hogwarts could be trained under the guidance of senior officers.

Of course Harry and Ron jumped at the opportunity. Admittedly, Harry thought Kingsley would reconsider his proposal when Neville showed up at the office the same day, sweating so profusely his dress robes were dark around the armpits.. But evidently Kingsley was impressed with Neville's heroics at the battle, because he welcomed him with a pat on the back and a compliment to his parents.

The offer had also been extended to Hermione, with Kingsley even suggesting she worked closely with him in the high office. Hermione, though, had politely refused and returned to Hogwarts to complete her seventh year. Harry couldn't say he didn't understand why Hermione would return, for Harry Hogwarts had been the closest thing to a home for the past six years. He would have loved to go back to the quidditch games and feasts and even the classes, but after the battle, he knew the school would never be the same.

Every room was tainted with death now. That was all he would remember, as he walked through the hallways (this is where Fred died), as he trudged up the stairs to the owlery (this is where Remus and Tonks died), as he sat for feasts in the great hall (this is where they laid the bodies) and as visited Hagrid near the forbidden forest (and this is where I died, how lovely)

"Breakfast!" came Mrs Weasley's bellow from below, interrupting Harry's thoughts.

Harry pulled on his pair of sock-patterned socks that dobby had gifted him and begrudgingly made his way down stairs. He stopped at the landing that overlooked the dining table where Hermione, Ron and Ginny were passing around plates of toast, eggs and black pudding while Harry could hear Mrs Weasley still clanging pots around in the distant kitchen.

A holly centerpiece sat in the middle of the table and Harry realized he had never seen the Weasley house so empty this close to Christmas, it was usually bustling with red-headed people. But all the Weasley brothers were as busy as ever with their jobs, and Mr Weasley was being worked to the bone at the ministry, often leaving the house before even the chickens awoke. And of course there was Fred's absence too.

"Morning Harry!" Mrs Weasley sang as the last step creaked under his weight. She was smiling widely as she buttered a slice of toast and her overly-cheerful nature confirmed to Harry that she had heard every word of his argument with Ron. "Sleep well?"

"Oh yes" Harry said, deliberately looking away from the dining table, where he could see Ron scowling in the corner of his eye. "That heating charm was excellent."

Mrs Weasley's eyes twinkled as she handed him a plate, "I'm glad. Do you have work today too?"

"Yup" Harry nodded glumbly and pushed two slices of pudding onto his plate. It was his 26th day in a row working at the Auror's office and Harry could feel his whole body sagging, as though his bones were too heavy for his muscles to support.

"They're overworking you boys," Mrs Weasley sighed and frown lines creased the space between her eyebrows, "It's not right. Not so close to Christmas."

"It's okay, Friedrich thinks this group of death eaters are the last ones. He's got me talking to Victor  Lannister today. His sister is one of the death-" Harry pulled out a chair to sit down but was taken aback when he saw what Ron was scowling at. The same copy of the daily prophet was spread across the table and there was that stupid kiss, happening again and again and again. Harry's face grew hot.

 "I know Lannister," Mrs Weasley continued on, "Arthur's had a lot of trouble with him over the years. Make sure you have a good breakfast, you'll have your work cut out for you". She affectionately buttered a third slice of toast for Harry, then with the slices stacked together, she cut the bread into four even triangles. "At least it seems things are finally getting better," she added, placing the toast on Harry's already full plate. 

"It must be," Ginny quipped in with her mouth half full, "If Harry kissing someone is making the front page."

There was a moment of uncertain silence but then Hermione started laughing and Harry couldn't help but to join in. He was relieved to feel some of the tension ease, even if Ron was still staring unblinkingly at the photo, and spearing his food violently with his fork, as though imagining his egg was Draco's face- or perhaps Harry's.

Ron's chair scraped loudly across the wooden floor as he stood up suddenly. Harry quickly stopped laughing.

"Excuse me," he said, a look of disgust twisting his mouth into a sneer, "but I've lost my appetite."

Before anyone could respond Ron was striding out the room, he grabbed his bag and swung the front door closed behind him with such force the wooden beams supporting the house shook, and Harry heard the ghoul that resided in the Weasley's attic begin to clang around.

"Ronald Weasley, you come back here right now!"Mrs Weasley yelled at the closed door, but Harry suspected that Ron had already apparated and was several hundred miles away in London.

Mrs Weasley muttered under her breath as she flicked her wand upwards, making Ron's abandoned plate jerk into the air and drop with a loud clatter into the sink. Herimione suddenly became very interested in the label on the marmalade jar and didn't seem keen to take any sides.

"What a prat," Ginny said and pursed her lips. "Don't listen to him, Harry."

"Yes, if it's any consolation I thought it was sweet," Mrs Weasley took off her apron and folded it into a square. "I admit it took me by surprise but I'm very happy for you, of course."

Harry suddenly felt a wave of sadness wash over him, it was the way Mrs Weasley was implying that Draco Malfoy and Harry were an item, when really Harry had no idea whether they were even friends. Draco had left their brief catch up with a hast promise that he would owl him, but that was over a week ago now, and Harry hadn't received so much as a postcard. Instead he had been left wondering what had happened to turn Draco away so suddenly when it seemed they had only just reconnected.

"And you're most welcome to bring your boyfriend around for tea sometime. Although I'm not sure what Arthur would say to a Malfoy in the house ...." Mrs Weasley let out a nervous chuckle and quickly added "Only joking!" when Ginny shot her a warning look.

Harry closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. "Look, I appreciate it guys, I really do. But Draco isn't my boyfriend- the whole thing was a mistake and I want to forget it ever happened, honestly."

With that Harry drew out his wand and tapped the copy of the Daily Prophet with the tip of his wand. Ginny and Mrs Weasley said nothing as the paper burst into a quiet blue flame, and just as quickly dissolved into a neat little pile of ash that Harry swept onto his plate and tipped into the rubbish bin. 

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