Chapter Two
Saying Goodbye Isn't Always Easy
"We are gathered her today, to celebrate the life of Fred Weasley and to mourn his departure of the living," the priest said, holding a bible in his hands.
On the front row, sat each of the Weasley family, along with Fleur, Harry and Hermione. George was located in the middle (his cheeks already wet from tears.) His parents sat either side of him, followed by their other children. Harry was sat on the end of the long row of chairs, next to Hermione.
The small church was packed with many cousins, aunts and uncles. As well as members of the order and Fred's friends.
It was the third funeral Harry had attended in the past couple of weeks. The first had been for Tonks and Lupin, who had been buried together. The second had been Collin's, a quiet affair, but sad all the same.
Now was time to say goodbye to Fred. However, it may be, this day couldn't be prevented forever.
It was half way through the sermon, as George began to talk about his twin brother, Ginny burst into tears. They fell thick and fast down her fae
"I'm so sorry," she wailed as she fled her seat and run from the stuffy, over-crowded church.
Harry immediately raised to follow her but Hermione gripped his arm. "Give her some peace, she needs to mourn," Hermione said wisely.
Harry glanced wishfully towards the door of the church, but someone had already closed it. Sighing, Harry sat back down. He couldn't help but worry. The rest of the service passed in a kind of haze. Harry yearned to hold Ginny in his arms; to stroke her hair and tell her everything would be OK.
But since the day of the battle, just over three weeks ago, Harry and Ginny had barely spent any time alone. Harry was beginning to think that Ginny was purposely avoiding him. The thought of that hurt, so he pushed it to the back of his mind, telling himself he was merely over-reacting.
But that morning, as Harry and Ron were getting ready, Harry felt like his worst fears were being confirmed. Ginny dodged him and when Harry tried to walk with her to the church, she sped of and walked hand-in-hand with a boy Harry had never met.
As the people in the church, raised to their feet, ready for the burial of Fred's body, Harry stayed sitting, half lost in thoughts. It was only when Hermione kicked his shin, did he realize what was happening. He clambered to his feet and followed the Weasley family out of the church to the small cemetery.
The grave was already dug. The coffin hovered over the hole in the ground, ready to be lowered and buried forever. As everyone gathered, the coffin began to descend slowly, before being placed in the ground.
"FRED!" George screamed, clinging onto hopes this was all some sort of sick joke. "Fred!" The pain in his voice sent shivers down Harry's spine.
George fell to his knees. Tears pouring down his cheeks. Harry was surprised he had managed to hold it together until then. Bill and Charlie tugged George to his feet and held him back as the body was buried.
Percy raised his wand and flicked it at the grave stones. Etching in Fred's name and the dates of his birth and death. Underneath those, he wrote, In loving memory of the boy who was always laughing.
A tear rolled down Hermione's cheek. Harry squeezed her hand. "It's OK," he whispered, his eyes searching for Ron.
When Harry couldn't see Ron anywhere, her presumed he had gone to find Ginny, as Harry should've done in the first place. Harry sighed as he dropped Hermione's hand. Most of the other people, who had been present at the funeral, had begun to leave; leaving the Weasley family to mourn Fred's death.
Harry decided to search the garden's for Ginny. "Ginny!" he shouted, but never received a reply.
Eventually, he found her, curled up under a willow tree. Harry approached her quietly, as not to startle her. She was singing gently. More like a hum. Harry stopped and listened for a moment. Harry could faintly remember the song. He guessed his parents had sang it to him as a baby.
"Ginny," Harry spoke softly. "Are you OK?"
Ginny raised her head from the soft, mossy ground. "Do I look OK?"
Harry sighed and sat down next to her. He began to pull out bits of grass from her hair. He turned to face her before asking, "Where do we stand? I mean… what are we?"
"Friends, right," Ginny shrugged.
Harry nodded and mumbled. "Yeah friends."
He only stayed a minute longer, before rising to his feet and walking away.
"Harry!" Ginny shouted after him. Harry turned around hopefully but Ginny merely sighed and muttered. "It doesn't matter. See you later, Harry."
