Chapter 2 : Goodbyes
A week had passed since the Battle of Hogwarts. It had been a difficult week for everyone, and now it was the day of the funerals. Fred's was to be that afternoon and then Remus and Tonks' was to follow not long after at Tonks childhood home. Harry was standing in front of the mirror in Ron's room trying to tame his hopelessly messy hair. Harry was struggling to come to terms with all the deaths. He couldn't help, but think maybe there was something he could have done differently to prevent these deaths. Ginny and everyone around him kept telling him it was all Riddle's fault. He knew they where right, and in time he would comes to terms with it in time.
He headed down the stairs to the sitting room. There he found Ginny sitting on the couch on the verge of tears. He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her.
"I just can't believe he's gone Harry," she said through tears.
"I know Gin, I know," he replied holding back tears of his own. He knew she needed him to be strong.
About half an hour later they made their way down to the burial site . They were burying Fred under oak tree on the near the back of the Burrow property. Kingsley was standing near the coffin waiting for them. He was presiding over the ceremony. The mourners took their seats and the ceremony began. After Kingsley stood and said a few words, George got up to give the eulogy.
"Fred was I guess you could say my partner in crime. We were the pranksters of the Weasley family. He was my twin brother and my business partner. You would seldom hear one of our names without the other. It is going to be really hard to go on without him, but he would want us to move on. He would not want us to sulk in our misery. Fred knew what he was doing when he entered into battle that night, and he died exactly as he would have wanted, fighting for he felt was right and laughing"
With that George sat down, and the next thing they knew it Weasley Wizard Wheezes fireworks were going off.
After the fireworks everyone started to apperate to the next funeral. The funeral of Remus John Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks- Lupin. Harry took Ginny by side-along apperation to the Tonk's home. When he arrived he saw that there were not as many people at this funeral. He looked around and saw across the room Tonk's mother Andromeda. She was holding a little boy he assumed to be her grandson, his godson, Teddy. He decided he was going to go talk to her and finally meet his godson. He turned to Ginny and motioned toward Andromeda. She gave him a smile of understanding.
"Hello Mrs. Tonks," Harry said as he walked up to Andromeda
"Hello Harry, please call me Andromeda," she said smiling at him and then down at her grandson, "I guess you are here to meet little Teddy here"
"Yes, I thought I would see how you are doing and meet my godson", Harry answered. Before he knew it Andromeda was putting little Teddy into his arms.
"Mrs. T…I mean Andromeda I really don't have any experience with babies," he replied uneasily as she finished putting him is his arms.
" Well I guess you'll just have to get used to him then wont you. You are his godfather after all," Andromeda replied with a smile.
" Your right," Harry answered. He relaxed a little and looked down at his little godson. He looked a lot like Remus, but Harry wasn't sure since he was a metamorphamagus like his mother. Harry gave to baby back to Andromeda, "If you or Teddy need anything don't be afraid to ask, and I'll get around to see him as often as I can."
" Thank you Harry, I will," She assured him, " There is something you could do for me. Harry would you give Remus' Eulogy?"
Harry was shocked, but composed himself quickly. " Yes Andromeda I would be honored," Harry accepted.
They took their seats and the double funeral began. Again Kingsley was presiding over the service and started with a few words followed by Mrs. Tonks' giving Tonk's eulogy. Finally it was time for Harry to give Remus' Eulogy. Harry got up and headed toward the front of the group where the coffins where situated. He faced the group and began:
"I first met Professor Lupin on the train to Hogwarts my third year of school. He was the best defense teacher we ever had. That year he taught me how to conjure a pratonus to ward off the dementers. It was through him that I began to learn about who my parents really were. He was forced to leave teaching because most people were not excepting of what my father called his furry little problem. I miss him dearly and Tonks too. I will make sure his son grows up knowing that his mum and dad died so that he could have a better life. All who died that day died to make sure that the rest of us would have a chance to live in happiness."
With that Harry walked back to his seated next to Ginny tears rolling down his cheeks. Ginny put her arms around him. She knew it was her turn to be strong for him.
