A/N- first off i would like apologise for any mistakes, whether they be factual or grammatical that have made in this. As far as im aware, the grammar isnt overly bad, but as far as factuality, i think i may have wiggled a few things about. Please don't hate me for that! if it becomes a big issue i can change it, but for now im quite happy with it. This is my first fanfic so please be somewhat nice (ahaha!) I know this chapter is pretty long, and I highly doubt they'll all be this long but i got into the swing of things for this one. Oh also, i know i include a lot of speech in this chapter, for which again I apologise. I'm not quite sure why I wrote so much speech, maybe because i find it easier than descriptive.. hmm we'll see. Apart from that, that's all I have to say. Enjoy!
"I.. I'm not sure I can." Hermione stopped walking, causing Ron to be stopped abruptly as she was holding his hand.
Harry, who was a little ahead walking with Ginny and Neville stopped and turned around. "Common 'mione, its ok. We'll be there." Harry said, in the most reassuring tone he could manage. It was obvious that the whole group was feeling the same way, it was just Hermione that voiced it.
"Harry!" she said walking strongly forward, dragging Ron with her "Don't call me 'mione! Im not a rodent" it was times like this that she had to listen to her head, and so she said, trying to forget her fears and be rational.
The group laughed, and Ron wrapped the arm that Hermione was holding round her in an affectionate gesture. They walked along the familiar path from the train until they got to the carriages. When they were first years, none of them had been able to see the Threstrals pulling the carriages, but now they could all see them. They stopped, and looked solemnly at the carriages only a few had been able to see previously.
"Can you believe it's been a whole year?!" Ginny said wiping her eyes with the sleeve of the robe as she sat onto one of the familiar benches in the carriage.
"Weird how quick it goes isn't it." Neville replied, looking down at his feet soberly.
During the ride to the castle nobody said anything. Instead they sat huddled up to each other ,in a way that said "I understand what you're feeling," but without actually having to voice it. Physical closeness was enough. When the castle finally came into sight all of them looked at it in awe. The castle looked almost exactly the same. In fact, there was almost no difference. The only obvious sign that there had been a battle was Albus Dumbledore's gravestone by the lake, with about a hundred headstones surrounding it. The group bowed their heads at the graveyard as they passed.
When they finally got to the castle, they all looked up at it, necks craning to see the top, all filled with a weird feeling. It was like being home, but then again, it was the site where so many loved ones were killed. Walking up the steps, Ron ran forward, away from the group. He crouched in front of someone, and the group, who were all giving each other weird confused looks, followed. When Hermione got to the top step she saw who Ron was talking to. There, sat on a low bit of wall was George, head in his hands, shaking. George had told them that he'd meet them there, insisting that he would travel with his mother, father and Percy.
"George, look at me. You don't have to go in there if you don't want." Ron told him, standing up and sitting on the edge of the wall beside him.
"I thought I'd be ok.. but.. i...i..." George sobbed, unaware that the group had turned away, pretending to look at the once forbidden forest.
"Oh big brother..." Ginny said softly, sitting the other side of her brother and putting her arm round him, whilst begging herself not to let herself cry.
From where they were sat, the three of them heard a child's giggle. They all looked up questioningly to see Ted Tonks and his wife carrying a now two year old Teddy Tonks. When is Lupin and Tonks had died, Tonk's parents took the role of "mum and dad". It was obvious it was hard for him which is why Teddy was shared around the Potters, Weasley , and Tonk's. Much to his excitement, as he loved his adopted family.
Teddy looked at George, and cocked his head to the side. "cry.." he said questioningly. That gave George the strength he needed, and he stood bolt upright, wiped his eyes and reached out towards Teddy. Automatically Mr Tonks passed the baby to George, looking almost relieved that he was out of his arms, meaning he could comfort his wife, who was weeping silently.
"Well well well, it isn't Teddy Tonks is it?!" Harry had turned around, as had the rest of his friends, and he looked at his godson with a bright expression on his face. Teddy nodded slowly and said "everyone cry like baby". To that everyone looked unsure as to what to say, so George busied the baby by pretending he was a rocket and swinging him around. "Noooooooo not wocket Porge, bwroom stick" teddy said after George had shouted "Look at that rocket go!" and swung him around once more.
"Shall we.." Neville said pointing to the large brown doors that they'd been stood near for about 10 minutes.
Taking a deep breath, it was Harry who entered first followed by Ginny, Neville, Hermione, Ron and Finally George who had Teddy on his hip, as if holding Teddy was the only thing stopping him from crying. The first thing Harry noticed is how the paintings that were hung on the walls, were replaced with paintings of people he recognised. It took him a split second to realise that it was the pictures of the people who had been killed in the Battle, all smiling, looking extremely happy. Fred was placed on the wall near one of the staircases leading to the Great Hall. He was smiling at them, but pulling a funny face. Hermione had decided that now was not the time to look at the pictures, as it would cause her to break down, so instead she busied herself looking for a sign telling her where to go. There were no signs that she could see, but she could hear noise coming from the Great Hall so she assumed thats where everyone was gathering. Hermione started walking towards the hall, not bothering to see if anyone was following. As she made her way, she passed the House Points Hourglasses. She looked at them fondly, smiling at the fact that Gryffindor had the most house points. Her eyes wondered to the Slytherin Hour Glass and she was reminded of how much she resented those in Slytherin, and almost laughed at how naive she'd been in her young age "if I'd given them half a shot, i bet some were quite nice" she told herself, regret then filling her head.
She was then pulled into another reverie of her first day. She was so nervous, but was trying to pretend she wasn't. Getting sorted into the best house was one of the proudest moments she'd had as a first year, and the feeling was something she still called on if she was feeling down. She'd sat right next to Fred and George, and they'd treated her as if she was a normal witch, not one that was Muggle Born. That was one thing she loved about the Weasley . If you were good to them, they protected you to the death. Once you were "in" they loved you like one of their own. She'd felt an arm slip round her waist and knowing it was Ron she leaned into his embrace.
"Remising?" He asked, holding her close.
"I was remembering the day I got sorted. I sat next to Fred and George and do you know the first thing they asked me? It was 'do you like gingers?' after that, i knew I'd have some connection to you Weasley " she told him with a giggle. The feeling of laugher was one that she knew she wouldn't feel for the rest of today.
"Well I'm lucky i got there first, before they did" he said quietly laughing.
He then felt guilty for laughing, and taking a deep breath he allowed his mental barriers to be lifted. For about 6 months, Ron had forced his mind not to think about The Battle, not wanting the emotions it brought with it. If anyone mentioned it while he was in the room he would stand up and leave, or if anyone made any comment about going to visit Hogwarts he'd slam whatever he was holding down and busy himself with a different task. But today he knew it would be different. It was ok for him to cry today, for him to feel the emotions that he'd forced away, because today marked the day the wizarding community had come together, good against evil.
The Group walked into the Great Hall and were all faced with more emotions. There was a sense of unease, as groups of people that were stood around all turned to look at who had entered. Within seconds everyone in the room was clapping, and Ron swiftly walked down the steps, trying to get away from the sudden burst of attention. He was briskly followed by his friends, who were obviously feeling the same way. George, who had walked over to his parents held out Teddy at arms length, a clear indication that someone needed to come and take him off him. Feeling guilty George ruffled the little boys head and then passed him to Harry who was stopped with the intention of talking to the Weasleys. "Sorry.." George muttered, and then turned around and walked out of the Great Hall door.
The tables that normally ran along the length of the hall had been pushed to the sides of the room, acting as a boarder, and were filled with food. Apart from the head table, which was exactly where it always had been. Harry suddenly remembered the last time he'd stepped into this room. There were hundreds of people, all gathering round each other checking they were all ok, and there at the back of the room, were rows of the people who had died. People who fought for what they thought was right, people who essentially fought to the death. His head was filled with screaming, and people shouting "help!" or "Quick behind you!" If he could have fought the battle alone, he would have. He shouldn't have asked them to stay. The teachers had been sat along the head table, as they always had. Apart from the centre seat, which was empty, and Harry knew nobody would fill that seat. That seat was saved for Albus Dumbledore. There was the sound of a chair being pushed back along the stone floor and Professor McGonagall stood up. Everyone turned to face her and a silence fell over the hall.
"On behalf of every member of staff here, i would like to thank you all for coming. Today's ceremony is going to be highly emotive, and i expect it to be an extremely long one. Because of that we would like to offer everyone a bed for the night. There will be a quill at the end of the hall, and if those intending to stay could write their names then we can make appropriate arrangements. As far as an order of service goes, there should be owls delivering them to you as i speak." She paused, and as expected hundreds of owls came flying in, and dropping leaflets into the hands of every guest which was around 100 people. "I'd just like to highlight one thing on the order of service. We are offering 3 separate commemorations. Those who we greatly urge to come to these ceremonies should be listed underneath, but if you feel like you should be added to one of the services please come and see me before hand." She paused once again, and picked up her goblet." Once again, thank you for coming. May we pay respect to those who we lost, but also celebrate the end of an unfortunate era." She raised her goblet, and all of a sudden everyone was holding a goblet, and did the same. McGonagall then sat down, and turned to talk to another professor
Ron looked up at the enchanted ceiling to see what it was doing, and today there was a bright sky. It was as if it was a crisp winter morning. That was something he missed about this place, how something used to change every day.
Hermione was scanning the order of service and stared confusedly at it. "I think there must be a mistake," Hermione mumbled more to herself, scanning the leaflet thoroughly, "we're on all 3 lists"
Ginny, who was stood scanning her leaflet as well, "As is everyone in the order. This can't be right can it? I mean look, two of them are at the same time."
"Wait, it says here that I'm on all three lists too." Neville was staring at his leaflet looking confused.
"Oh of course you are Nev, don't be bloody stupid" Ron said, looking at Neville as if he'd just asked what 2+2 was.
"But I wasn't a member of the Order" He said, still looking unsure.
"No, but you parents were. Plus, you were a member of the D.A. A bloody good one at that." Ron said, sounding a little exasperated, as if this was obvious.
"But how can we go to two things at once?" Ginny asked looking at Hermione
"With this little blast from the past" a voice came from behind the group.
A/N: thanks for reading, please review & all that jazz. :)