Chapter 2: In Honour of the Fallen

Ginny woke up a few hours later, having had one of the best nights of sleep she had had in over a year, maybe longer. At first she panicked, not knowing where she was. Then she felt strong arms encircling her and recognized the scent of their owner. She smiled as the memories of how she got here last night (or was it that morning) came back. Her stomach and smile dropped as she remembered what else had happened in the last twelve hours. She felt awful, here in the arms of the boy…no, man she loved. She felt awful because she was happy, when she should be miserable. Her brother and some of her closest friends had died, for Merlin's sake! As she drowned in guilt, new thoughts plagued her mind: 'what if Harry had found someone during the last ten months? What if he didn't really meant what he said last night? What if she had made a fool of herself by inviting herself into his bed?' Ginny Weasley was never as self-conscious and fragile as when Harry Potter was around. 'What if the boy she had fallen for was gone? What had happened during their time apart? What if he saw her scars...? What would happen when he realized how much she had changed? What if he found out what had happened to her while at Hogwarts?'

Ginny untangled herself from Harry's arms; she was glad he didn't even stir as she moved him. He looked so peaceful. Someone that didn't know who this boy was would have even said he looked innocent. Ginny knew better, this raven-haired boy had been to hell and back. She opened the curtains around the bed and was happy to see the dorm as empty. She got up and looked back at the boy that had plagued her mind since she was eleven one last time. She closed the curtains, and left the seventh year boys dorm.


Harry didn't wake up for another couple of hours. He had had the best night (or morning) sleep in what felt like forever. No nightmares, no scar bothering him, no Voldemort visions, and no feeling that someone was watching him. He slowly opened his eyes, and immediately knew something was off. His arms were empty, even if he remembered falling sleep with a beautiful girl in his arms. Her scent still lingered in his pillow. A mixture of flowers and strawberries somewhat dulled by dust, ash and who knows what.

Harry stood up, opened the curtains around his bed and started to do things automatically. He headed towards the bathroom and called for Kreacher. He asked for some sandwiches and juice, as well a towels and clean clothes. After dismissing his elf, he went into the shower. He stood under the water for what felt like hours. His head was down, seeing his blood and grime wash away from his body. He dried and clothes himself with what Kreacher had brought. His old clothes were gone, but his wand, cloak, and pouch awaited him atop his bed, next to a tray with not only sandwiches and juice, but eggs, bacon, toast, fruit, sausage links, shepherd's pie, roasted chicken, potatoes, and tea. Harry smiled, Kreacher outdid himself.

Harry had just sat down and looked out the window, realizing he had probably slept for over fifteen hours straight, it was dark outside, again. He looked for his watch, wanting to know the time. He found it inside his pouch, not remembering when he had put it there. It was almost 9:00 PM of the first day after Voldemort, May 3rd. A part of Harry was happy people let him sleep, but he wanted to know what was going on. 'What had happened since he left the Great Hall? Where was everyone? Why wasn't Ginny with him? Had he read too much into what had happened that morning? Did she mean what she had said? How were the Weasleys? Merlin, the Weasleys. They had lost a son…a brother. They were most likely grieving and he had been sleeping. How could they even consider him one of their own?!'

Before Harry's thoughts could run their course, Neville opened the door and smiled as he saw Harry up and about. Dean and Seamus followed him in. Before Harry could say or do anything, the three of them embraced him. A little while later, again without waiting for Harry to ask, they started telling him what had happened earlier in the day after the battle. He found out that everybody except Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and himself had been celebrating in the Great Hall.

"It wasn't until McGonagall started talking and asked you, Ron, and Hermione to come forward that we realised you weren't there," Neville commented.

"It sounds like you missed us a lot," Harry replied sarcastically.

"Actually, everybody cheered for you, Harry, with some for Ron, Hermione, and for the deceased... and even for Neville," Dean added.

"Well, I don't need that, you know," said Harry.

"But it's cool," Dean added.

"Not for me," Harry responded. "And what did McGonagall say?"

"Well, it's kind of complicated, but tomorrow morning we are going to honour the fallen," Neville explained. "The Weasleys were going crazy looking for you around lunch time, but Ron told them you were still asleep. You might want to go and let them know you are awake. Madam Pomfrey was also trying to find you and see if you needed medical attention".

Harry nodded his head in understanding and felt the dorm so that his roommates of six years could get ready for bed.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Harry put his invisibility cloak on, he didn't want anyone to see him. He had a lot on his mind and he didn't want to speak about the last ten months. The Common Room was surprisingly empty, so he was able to slip out easily. His mind wandered to his earlier thoughts and he started swallowing in self pity. 'He had let many people die. He should have acted sooner. Ginny had probably gotten herself a new boyfriend. She had only slept in his bed, because he had made her do it…'

It wasn't until Harry arrived at the Hospital Wing, that he took off the invisibility cloak. Thankfully, the occupied beds had curtains around them, so no one, but Madam Pomfrey, who looked up as the door opened, saw him. She smiled, and gestured him towards a free bed. With a wave of her wand there were curtains around his bed as well. A few minutes later, the matron came to see him and stared examining him. Harry was glad she didn't ask any questions, or even try to make him speak past asking him if any part of his body hurt.

She preformed some spells in his body and gave him some potions to drink. Harry thanked her, and she smiled.

"I'm really glad you are all right Harry," Madam Pomfrey said at last. Harry was surprised, it was the first time the matron had called him by his first name and it felt nice, weird, but nice. Harry smiled and let her tuck him in bed.

So, without another word, Harry closed his eyes and started to fall asleep. How could he sleep again? After only being awake for a couple of hours was beyond him. Madam Pomfrey looked at him, and sighted. She looked at the saviour of the Wizarding World, not even eighteen. She had seen him grow up, and turn from a tiny sweet boy, to a battled and brave man. She hoped that no other child would need to experience what this one had. Silently she sent a patronus to Molly Weasley, letting her know Harry was sleeping at the Infirmary.

Harry slowly drifted, remembering that last kiss with Ginny. His sweet dreams didn't last long, though. He had flashbacks from the battle, combined with images of the bodies he had seen the Great Hall, and the sensation of Ginny in his arms.


Harry appeared in the Great Hall for lunch the next day, after a brief talk regarding Snape with Professor McGonagall and Kinsgley, who had been named interim Minister for Magic. Ginny, Ron and Hermione had waited for him in the Common Room, and when he came back, they made their way towards the Great Hall together.

As they approached the Gryffindor table, everybody got up and started clapping and congratulating them. Ginny tried to run to where her mother was, but before she could start walking away Harry, pulled her closer and whispered, "Please, I need you here with me." After that, Ginny didn't attempt to run away again.

The four of them walked towards the Weasleys, and sat next to them. Harry caught the look Mrs. Weasley was giving her only daughter, and realised that he was holding her tightly by the waist. He loosened his grip and felt Ginny relax. They ate in silence. When they were done, Harry could feel five pairs of eyes staring at him; it felt like the Weasley men minus Ron and George were trying to enter his brain and read his intentions with Ginny, because surely all of them had mixed reactions and even more mixed feelings towards him after he left.

At the exact moment Harry felt like he couldn't stand their stares anymore, Professor McGonagall stood up and spoke, "Now if everyone is settled, we can go out to the school grounds and honour the fallen. If you will all follow me, we may start."

McGonagall's words reached everyone, a melancholic silence invaded the Great Hall. They all stood up and slowly, like a funerary procession, and walked out of the castle.

When they arrived in the grounds, they found a huge statue that looked like an obelisk. The obelisk had a shining star on the top and a plaque on the bottom. It stood a few yards from Dumbledore's white tomb. Harry was once again amazed at what magic could do. Most of the rubble in the grounds was gone, and even if the castle still needed lots of work, a ceremony had been organized. There were no rows of chairs, or podium, juts a white obelisk near Dumbledore's tomb, which had also been fixed and closed. There were a couple of reporters as well, some taking pictures of the monument, others of the people approaching it. Harry was happy to see Rita Skeeter was not there. Kingsley had explained that the only reporters allowed were the ones that had agreed not to interview anyone. They had been warned against disturbing people's mourning and healing.

"Now I need everyone to take out your wands, point them at the statue and think of a word, just one word that may explain the reason we are all here now. The reason for trying to defeat Voldemort and the reason each of you had for fighting".

Everybody lifted their wands and did as McGonagall asked. Harry knew the exact word to choose: "Love". The reason his parents had died trying to save him, the reason Sirius had fought Bellatrix on the day he died, the reason Dumbledore had died in the Astronomy tower, the reason Harry had walked towards the Forbidden Forest last night. That one syllable word said it all.

Too busy with his thoughts, Harry didn't hear the spell McGonagall used, but he did see how hundreds of strips of light came out of everyone's wands. The lights rushed towards the statue and engraved the word each person had thought.

"Now, my friends, I shall name all of the fallen in battle, and I want after every name I say for all the ones that loved or cared about that person step forward. Then, for only one of them to engrave the name of that fallen and what they meant to all of us," Professor McGonagall informed them.

She started calling out familiar names to Harry, familiar because most of them were people Harry had heard about but never met. Harry lost count of how many people were named, even though he stepped forward every time.

"Colin Creevey," Professor Sprout called, and Harry felt pain.

All sixth years, professors, Ron, Hermione, Harry, Dennis (who had arrived as soon as he found out about his brother), and a man who looked like Mr. Creevey stepped forward.

It was Dennis who walked to the statue and wrote:

Colin Creevey

Brother, Son and Friend

More names were called, until Harry recognised another one. "Remus Lupin."

Almost every student taught by him, every professor, and every Order member stepped forward. As well as the Weasleys, Hermione, Harry. Basically everyone who knew him well, but nobody attempted to walk near the plaques. Harry took a deep breath and slowly stepped towards that magnificent statue. He took out his wand, and in the best handwriting he could manage, wrote:

Remus "Moony" Lupin

Father, Husband, Professor, Marauder, and Friend

As he finished engraving those few words, Harry realised he was crying. By losing Lupin, he had lost the last father-like figure he'd ever had, the last link he had to his parents and he wouldn't be the only one suffering. Teddy, his godson, would have to live like him—without a father, without a mother. Teddy's case was different—he would be raised by Tonks' mother, and he would have a father-like figure; Harry would make sure of it. In that moment, without even noticing, he promised himself that he would help raise Teddy. He would be there for him, as Sirius would have been there for Harry if he hadn't gone to Azkaban.

Harry felt Ginny taking his hand, and looked down. He hadn't moved from next to the statue, so the others couldn't go on.

"Come on, Harry. Let's go back to our places," she whispered. He obeyed her and walked back.

As if nothing had happened, Professor McGonagall continued, "Nymphadora Tonks-Lupin."

Harry was surprised to see so many people step forward, but only one in particular caught his eye: Andromeda Tonks—Tonks' mother, a lady Harry had met about a year ago. Now, Harry realised she looked nothing like her dead sister, she was the picture of a broken woman, she had lost everything to the war, her husband, her daughter and her son in law. She stepped forward, looked for someone in the crowd, and walked straight to Harry.

Without saying anything, Harry took the little boy nested in her arms. Andromeda smiled softly and turned around to walk towards the plaques. She then took out her wand and wrote:

"Nymphadora Tonks-Lupin"

Daughter, Mother, Wife, and Friend

When she walked back, she didn't ask Harry to give her Teddy. She just looked at both of them and smiled at the silent conversation godfather and godson seemed to be having. As always Harry stepped forward at each name, even when Snape was called, it seemed like McGonagall and Kinsley had decided that he should be mentioned. Most people started whispering and wondering why was a Death Eater being mentioned. Harry knew the story would be featured in the Evening Prophet, per the Minister's request. Besides Harry, just the ones who knew about his true story stepped forward. McGonagall walked towards the plaque and simply wrote:

"Severus Snape"

Professor, friend, and faithful spy

A few more names passed, but this time Harry wasn't paying as much attention as before, he only had eyes and ears for Teddy, until the last name was pronounced: "Fred Weasley," Professor McGonagall finished. Harry stepped forward, looked up and realise that almost everyone had stepped forward; but the only faces Harry could distinguish were the Weasleys, Hermione and Lee Jordan, who were standing right next to him. George with his eyes totally red walked towards the statue, took out two wands and with the one from his twin he engraved:

"Fred Weasley (Forge)"

Brother, Son, Joker, and Friend.

George slowly, walked back to where his family stood crying in silence, as McGonagall declared the ceremony finished and everyone started walking back to the castle.

Harry felt like an intruder in the Weasleys grief so he held Teddy more tightly and walked back to the castle. The place he had once called "Home" was now destroyed and full of terrible memories for him and for others.

He walked silently trough the corridors looking for Andromeda, while talking to Teddy about all the adventures the Marauders, he, and his friends had had between those now destroyed walls.