Defeating the Dark Lord

Dear Harry,

What was it like defeating Voldemort? Were you happy? Were you relieved that it was finally over?

Oswin

From the Desk of Harry Potter, Head Auror
Auror Office
Ministry of Magic
London

Dear Oswin,

In the immediate moment, all I felt was . . . exhaustion. Absolute exhaustion. I suppose there was a sense of relief, but it wasn’t that jubilant relief one feels when finishing a task that needs doing. It was more the relief that the secrets, the quests, the deaths . . . all of those concerns would no longer be weighing upon me. Well, at least the former two. There was still much grieving ahead at the time.

I also had an intense need to talk to my two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, who had been by my side at Hogwarts for all six years that I attended, and without whose help I never would have defeated Voldemort. I think after all that we’d been through together, I felt they were ready to hear everything. And that I was ready to tell it to those who I knew would listen. Truly listen.

I was also hungry. For a sandwich, specifically (funny, the things we remember). Thirsty, too; my rather long discourse with Voldemort left me feeling as if someone had cast a Tongue-Tying Spell on me. But I suppose that’s of no interest to anyone.

Forgive my morbid, anticlimactic answer to this query. As you can imagine, the Battle of Hogwarts is not something I often care to discuss at length with the public, despite the distance time has given me from it.

But, if we’re looking for a silver lining, I can certainly say that I am very happy now.

All is well,
Harry