A/N: You'll notice a few alterations I made, mostly for the sake of the story and realism. Should I continue it? I don't know. Maybe it will be a two-shot. Leave a review if you would be so kind.

Battle of Hogwarts known Order of the Phoenix casualties:

approximately sixty

Harry woke up knowing he would be expected to attend two funerals today: one service for Lavender Brown, and one for Colin Creevey. He also knew that he owed it to them. Everyone had lost friends and family, but how many years had past since Harry didn't watch someone die? Four years now, all punctuated by at least one death. Cedric, Sirius, Dumbledore, Snape...

What a self-centered thought. He should be used to it.

Fred's funeral was yesterday. That'd been hard. George kept saying what a dull party it was, and that there ought to be fireworks. Then the last Weasley twin held his wand up to the bruise-colored sky and set off some sparks, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"It's what he wants," George said softly. Everyone broke down, because present tense hurt so much. Ginny clung to Harry for a long time in the graveyard.

She wasn't here now. She must be awake already, drinking her third cup of coffee. That sounded quite appealing, actually. Somehow he always found a reason to get out of bed every morning, even if that reason was coffee, and this never failed to surprise him. Harry put on a black robe without thinking about it.

"Good morning," Ginny said, not because it was true, but merely the thing to say. Harry kissed her, because it was merely the thing to do. Coffee, sure enough.

"You don't have to go," he said quietly. "After yesterday...I mean, it wasn't easy for you..."

"It wasn't easy for anyone, Harry. It wasn't easy watching them bury Remus and Tonks, seeing their baby..." Her voice died away for a moment before she said firmly: "I know I have a choice, but I'm still going to every funeral."

"As long as you're sure." Merlin, she was so strong...

"By the way, Mum invited everyone for supper tonight at the Burrow."

"Who's everyone?"

"So far it's just Mum, Dad, George, Neville, Luna, Hermione and Ron. Plus you and me, obviously."

"It'll be good to see them again." Harry said thoughtfully.

"Yeah, it will be."

)O(

The Burrow: one of those places that felt like home even if you didn't live there. It could be the presence of family, the aroma of a comforting meal, or simply the way you knew you were loved unconditionally and always welcome. Molly looked tired and her eyes were red, but she smiled and hugged him.

"Oh Harry," Mrs. Weasley breathed, pulling back from the embrace but keeping her hands on his shoulders. She studied him as if she couldn't believe he was alive. It had only been a few hours since they saw each other. But that was different: someone's funeral.

"Hi, Mrs. Weasley." Harry smiled.

"Could you please set the table, dear?"

He did so while Ginny, Neville and Mr. Weasley chatted away. It was what passed for normal conversation these days, such as Daily Prophet headlines, the Ministry's current state, etc.

"Lucius Malfoy got twenty years in Azkaban," Arthur supplied. "Personally I don't think it's enough."

"Can't blame a Dementor for not wanting to Kiss him." George said darkly. Everyone fell silent, unsure if they should laugh.

"What about his wife and son?" Molly wondered.

"Draco is going to trial next week, apparently to determine whether any charges should be pressed." Arthur replied. "Narcissa will probably be let off with a year's probation since she isn't officially a Death Eater and switched sides at the last second."

Mrs. Weasley had disappeared into the kitchen.

"Bellatrix Lestrange is dead." Neville said flatly. They all knew this, of course, since the woman currently preparing their supper had killed her. The world seemed like a far better place without Bellatrix around to hurt people, such as Neville's parents.

Mrs. Weasley scurried through the living room, opened the front door wide, and smothered Hermione and Ron in a great hug.

"Let them breathe, Molly," Arthur chuckled.

"How was the honeymoon?" Harry asked, smiling freely for the first time in six months.

"Amsterdam is beautiful!" Hermione exclaimed, barely able to control her excitement. "They have the largest library in Europe there, you know."

"I didn't know. That's really great, Hermione."

"How have you been?" she asked quietly, while Ron began catching up with his family.

Harry shrugged. "I'm fine."

"I've known you for years," Hermione said severely. "You're not fine. Are things okay with you and Ginny?"

He lowered his voice to a desperate whisper. "Can we please talk about this later? My life isn't falling apart right now and I'd really like to just eat a delicious meal and have a normal evening with my friends, all right?"

Hermione relented at the force of his honesty. "All right, I understand."

Luna arrived not long afterward, her blond hair tangled and mismatched socks on her feet. She carried a large bag filled with the latest issue of The Quibbler.

"Hello, everyone," she greeted, a distinct sadness present in that dreamy tone. "Would anyone like to buy a copy of the latest Quibbler? It's my only source of income at the moment."

Neville immediately handed over a whole thirty galleons. I'm mad for her, Harry...

"Supper's ready!" Molly called from the dining room.

Once everyone had been seated and served generous portions, a silence came over them, broken only by the scraping of forks. Harry realized how much he'd missed this. Such a simple thing, too, food and good company. Sometimes he forgot they won the war. It seemed wrong to be happy again.

No one had noticed, but George was shaking with silent fury.

"Doesn't anyone else care?" he demanded. "We buried Fred yesterday! Where the hell were you, Ron? Huh?"

"George, please don't..." Molly begged.

"No! I want him to answer me!" the grief-stricken Weasley shouted. "Why weren't you there? What was so much more bloody important than your own brother's funeral? It broke Mum's heart!"

Suddenly Luna jumped up from the table and bolted out of the back door. Neville chased after her. Meanwhile, Ron just stared down at his plate.

"I didn't go because..." he answered slowly, shakily. "I couldn't bear it, okay? I couldn't handle that. I'm a coward. I'm really sorry, George...Mum...Dad...Ginny...I just can't..."

Supper ended abruptly. No one felt very hungry anymore. George fled the house, despite his mother's protests; she didn't think he ought to apparate while so upset. Ginny and Mrs. Weasley cleared dishes away, Neville and Luna seemed inclined to remain outside for sometime, so it came down to the three of them sitting alone. The Golden Trio together again.

Arthur wordlessly set a bottle of firewhiskey on the table, and walked away.

"I don't think you're a coward, Ron," Harry said.

"Thanks, mate. But I am."

"No, you're not," Hermione insisted, grasping his hands and kissing them. "I love you."

)O(

Luna sobbed gently. Every tear broke Neville's heart. He sat beside her in the grass, wishing he was confident enough to find whatever words she needed to hear.

"Hi, Neville," the Ravenclaw sniffed. "You should know you overpaid for that Quibbler."

"No, I didn't." He looked away, blushing. "Remember how some people at school called you 'Loony' Lovegood? Well, um, I sort of had a nickname for you as well..."

"Oh?"

"Yes, it was...uh...Lovely Lovegood. Hah. Bit redundant, I suppose, now that I've said it aloud."

Luna blinked. She'd stopped crying. "I'm flattered, Neville, but I don't think it's wise to rush into anything. We have time now, you see? Ron and Hermione, Harry and Ginny: they got married so soon after the war ended. It's not over yet."

"What isn't?" he asked softly.

"Life, of course," Luna gave him this sad, brilliant smile. "Life goes on for us."

"I'm sorry about your dad."

"Yes, I've been quite lonely," she admitted, allowing him to place an arm around her shoulder and embrace her. They watched as daylight yielded to full on dusk. There was a slight chill in the early autumn air.

There were no endings.