Chapter 7

When Harry and Ginny returned to the house, they did so holding hands. Everyone looked up and saw them but it was Hermione who saw the necklace Ginny was wearing. "Well Harry, that's certainly not flowers." she said.

When Ginny turned to look at him for an explanation, Harry could only reply, "I wanted to give you something special, but flowers didn't seem to be enough. So when I found my mom's jewelry box, I knew right away I wanted you to have something out of it. Something of hers. So that you would know how special you are to me."

Mrs. Weasley got up to come look at the necklace. She was fawning over it, Ginny, and Harry when Aunt Muriel came into the room.

"Why is there a house elf in my kitchen?" she asked. Then, on noticing Harry said, "Oi! Who are you?"

"Muriel, this is Harry Potter." Mrs. Weasley said.

"Oh, so you're the one are you?" Aunt Muriel said offering her hand to Harry.

"Yes, ma'am." was the only reply Harry could think of as he shook her hand.

Aunt Muriel looked Harry up and down, and then from Harry to Ginny, and back to Harry again. "You'll do." The old woman pronounced. She then went back into the kitchen and could soon be heard ordering Kreacher around as if she owned him.

Harry, a little bewildered by the exchange, looked over at Ron who was unsuccessfully stiffeling a laugh.

It was a little while later when Bill and Charley came into the house. They both looked spent, and their demeanor was quiet and withdrawn. Mrs. Weasley's eyes began to tear up when she saw them. Each one hugged their mother, and then sat down at the table.

"Fred's funeral will be the day after tomorrow. I was asked to let you know that the Creevy boy's funeral will be that day as well. Remus and Tonks will have their funeral the day after." Charley said quietly.

"Harry," Bill said addressing him, "The Creevy's have asked to have you speak at their son's funeral, and since Remus didn't have any relatives, it would be nice if you spoke at his funeral as well. Tonk's mother also wants you to speak at her funeral, but understands if you can't or don't want to."

Harry was overwhelmed, and didn't quite know what to say. Then he realized he should have expected this, and it was with a firm voice that he replied to Bill; "I'll do it."

For the next three days, the house was a very sad place to be. Everyone was quiet and withdrawn. The only one who seemed to be happy was Kreacher. The elf stayed busy making meals, cleaning, scrubbing, and making sure clothes were washed, folded and mended.

It was decided to put off returning to the burrow until after Fred's funeral. No one was in any hurry to return to a house where his presence was so prevalent.

Through it all, Harry stayed close to Ginny. He held her when she wanted held, dried her tears, and took long quiet walks around the grounds of the house. He, who was so new at experiencing his own grief, could only sit by and offer quiet support to Ginny and her family. It was a time of many tears, many hugs, and much love.

Ginny never took off her necklace, and in quiet moments she would reach up and touch it, as if convincing herself that Harry was really there. That he was hers.

Hermione helped Harry to compose some remarks for the funerals he was asked to speak at, and once, when Ginny was out of the room for a moment, commented to Harry about how well things were going. Harry could only give her silent thanks as his cheeks turned red from the praise.

Then it was time.

One by one the funerals came and went. Fred, Colin, Remus, and Tonks were all laid to rest. Tears were shed, comments made, and the healing process was begun. Harry saw Hagrid, Kingsley, and Mrs. McGonagall, and others from the Ministry or Hogwarts. Many people spoke to him.

Again Harry felt his own grief. He was able to share in the grief Ginny and the Weasley carried for their lost one. He knew that it was necessary to grieve for the loss of those loved, and through that grief the healing could begin.

It was the day after the last funeral that it was decided to go back to the Burrow. Harry and Hermione were invited to go along, and so that morning they packed up their things and prepared to leave. Harry was reminded of those late summer mornings when they were leaving for Hogwarts. Ginny, who was the only one not of age, did a side along apparation with Harry.

They arrived at the Burrow and were shocked to see the state it was in. The house looked a wreck. The broom shed, barn, and the workshop were all destroyed. It was clear the Death Eaters had been through the place and that there was much work to be done.

Again, Harry called upon Kreacher to help out. This time the elf surprised them all with his ability to use his magic to help restore things to their rightful order. He was indispensable in putting the kitchen back together, and was soon cooking meals again.

Slowly, piece by piece, the house was put back together again. Those things that could be fixed were mended. Those that could not were thrown away. Harry helped out the best he could, but largely he and Hermione just provided silent comfort to the grieving family.

Time passed as it always does and things began to change again. Life started to pick up around the Weasley home. Smiles were shared and not long after that laughter found its way back into the house as well. The family was able to remember Fred and speak of him out loud without breaking down in tears. Ginny and Ron's sleeping habits started to return to what they were before. Things could never return to what they were. Fred was gone and everyone knew there was no changing that. A new sense of normal was found. One that allowed for the absence of Fred, but kept him close to heart and mind.