8th year was finally over. Harry stepped into the great hall. There were more people. A lot of them were people he knew, they were surrounded by their families.

He saw Hermione talking with her parents. Because Oblivate is just the supression of memories, she undid the spell easily after the war. They looked so proud of her. He smiled as he wondered what his parents thought of him now. He'd made it. 7 straight years of hell and one dealing with the backlash of living through a war. But he still made it out okay. What would his family say?

Harry thought of Serious and Remus. All his friends that were dead now. Harry hadn't planned on going back to Hogwarts. Infact, he was leaving to go on a trip before he changed his mind last minute. Very, last minute. He had to apperated himself onto the train because it was already pulling out of the station when he got there. It was still in veiw, he just couldn't get on any other way.

Still, what finally pulled Harry back was thinking about all his friends. All the ones who died because of him. Because he failed. He figured, he owed it to them, to do what they now couldn't. Graduate Hogwarts School of Whitchcraft and Wizardry. And Harry had finaly done it.

Yet, Harry couldn't help but realize how alone he was. Everyone had their parents. Even Neville was hanging out with his grandma. Everyone had family. But Harry, he could only seem to get them killed. Anyone, everyone. Even George was gone now. Killed himself because he couldn't handle being without his brother. A death, Harry held on his shoulders. So he added George's death to the pile as well. He couldn't stop thinking, if just tried harder.

Harry wished Ron were here. He wished the Weaslys were here, but he couldn't face them. They didn't even know he had changed his mind since he made Hermione swear she wouldn't tell.

Music started, indicating the begining of the ceremony. Everyone took their places. It was exactly how you expect it to go.

Soon, the music played louder and the graduates were each given 3 roses to give to their family memebers that inspired them.

Everyone rushed off the stage to their families, but Harry. He stood alone on the stage looking down at the roses, trying not to cry. Everybody noticed, but they tried to be subtle. They weren't though.

Harry started moving when he visably got an idea. Nervously, he walk toward Headmistress McGonagale and held out a rose. She could see he was shaking. "I-I know you're technically not family, but I want you to know that you mean a lot to me and have inspired me to do over half the stuff I've done, that didn't involve breaking the rules." He laughed shakily at that last part. He'd honestly added to save his neck.

The headmistresses eyes welled up with tears as she took the rose and wrapped Harry in a big hug. Then she let him go. "You will always have a home here. You know that?" Harry nodded gratefully before heading off to his next target. Hagrid.

Harry felt himself be crushed by a big, sweaty, tear soaked man. Hagrid tried to say something, but Harry couldn't make it out through the bubbering.

Harry had one rose left. Yet nobody left to share it with. Most the students had already returned to their posts. Their hands empty. Harry returned sadly, with the one rose still in his hands.

Once everyone returned, Harry noted that he was the only one not empty handed.

Done it was all over. Harry, rather than stay and mingle, left the great hall. There was someone he had to see. Someone he found himself looking for during the graduation.

Finding an empty classroom, Harry locked the door and put a silencing charm on. He pulled a small black pebble from he pocket. The resurrection stone. It also allowed the user to see the dead.

Harry thought long and hard about the people he wanted to see. One by one, they appeared.

His mom and dad.
Serious and Remus.
And Snape.

"I almost thought you wouldn't call us today." His mother teased him. Snape looked about. "Why am I here? What's going on? Potter what did you do?!" He scolded him. Harry honsetly wanted to cry and he looked the part.

His mother tried to give him a hug. Harry sniffed and looked at all of them. "First off, I want to say thanks, to all of you. For being my family and looking after me. I was given 3 roses today that I had to give to family. Obviously I just stood there for a moment, before it hit me. A family, is a group of people who look after eachother. Who care about eachother for no apparent or logical reason. People who-" Harry's voice caught and he took a moment to steady his breathing. "Sorry." He said, rubbing his eyes. "Anyways, I just wanted to say that I'm proud to call all of you family.

Evryone laughed and cried, but Snape just looked at Harry.  "So, I'm here because...?" Harry chuckled and walked over to Snape. "I know we've never been on the best of terms." Harry started. "But I wanted to give these roses to my family. The one who's raised me up to be who I am. My Hogwarts family."

Harry looked over at his parents, hoping he didn't just let them down. They nodded knowingly. Harry took a breath for continuing. "I know you still don't like me. I know everything really. But I also know you've saved my life more than once. My first Quitage match for example." Snape's eyes widened. "How did you kn-""At first we thought you were the one jinxing my broom, so Hermione set you on fire." James and Serious almost bust out laughing. They stopped themselves, but not before a snicker of sorts escaped them. Snape glared at them before Harry spoke again.

"That's why, even though I know you may never accept me, I have found myself thinking of you as part of my family. Please. Take this rose as a thank you for the years you spent putting up with my nonsense. "

Snaped stared, utterly surpised. When he finally spoke. It was a very formal tone. "You may set the rose on the frame of my portrait. " that was all he said. Harry look up at him with tears in his eyes. Everyone was so wrapped up in the interaction, they didn't watch the time. One by one, they disappeared.

Harry was alone again. He went to Snape's portrait and place the rose. Then Harry went up to the astronomy tower and he cried. For the first time since the war, Harry James Potter cried.

Years later he had a muggle house and lived a rather quiet life. He worked in a little shop. In front if his house, at the front of his garden you can always clearly see, 3 roses.