Harry and Ginny walked out on to the grounds, trying to stay out of the way of St. Mungo's personnel who were coming in and out of the castle in swarms. They were transporting bodies to St. Mungo's to be cleaned and dressed for burial. They had the same emblem the Healers had on their chests-a wand crossed with a bone but they wore midnight blue robes, not the lime green robes Healers donned. Bodies lay covered on stretchers and two by two the transport teams would Disapparate with them.

Ginny slipped her hand into Harry's and they walked around to the other side of the Black Lake and sat in the shade under a beech tree. "How are they? How are you?" Harry asked as he watched the grass dance in the wind.

"There's an undeniable emptiness at home." Ginny swallowed, her throat felt like it was constricting and she remembered seeing them bring Fred down into the Great Hall. She remembered the sinking feeling in her chest and she looked down, her red hair falling like a curtain to hide her face. "Losing someone so quickly, so unexpectedly...it's the worst feeling in the world. Just thinking about how I'll never see him again, I'll never be able to speak to him again, I'll never be able to hug him again..." Her face crumpled as tears flooded her eyes and when she closed them, they spilled down her cheeks.

Harry moved her hair aside and pulled her into his arms. He stroked her hair lightly and felt his heart clench. "I don't even remember what the last thing I said to him was." She managed to get out through muffled sobs.

"Sshh" Harry whispered. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter what you said to him because he knew you loved him. He knew." Harry hugged her tighter and she began crying, without restraint, into his chest.

"I miss him so much, Harry" she whispered, there was an undeniable grief in her eyes as she buried her face into his chest.

"I know.." Harry said quietly as he buried his face into her fiery-red hair.


Hermione found Ron sitting near the Herbology greenhouses. He was violently ripping blades of grass out of the ground and had built up a small pile beside himself. Professor McGonagall had asked Hermione for a word and when she turned back around, Ron was gone.

She sat down beside him and put her hand over his. "Ron..." His hand unclenched, relaxing into the dirt but he glowered into the distance.

"Seeing him standing there.." Ron made out through gritted teeth, the same rage he'd felt when he saw Harry at the meeting reared up inside of him again. "I wanted to hurt him. I wanted to make him feel the way I do. I wanted to break every single one of his ribs so he'd feel the same pain I feel every time I breathe. A pain that no one can see but I feel every second of every day."

"He's your best friend Ron. How can you say that?" Hermione whispered in shock.

"HE KILLED MY BROTHER, HERMIONE!" Ron yelled angrily.

Hermione removed her hand, looking startled by his sudden explosion. She opened her mouth to speak but Ron stood up. He rubbed his face roughly and paced around in front of her. "Everything...Since the day I met him..." He shook his head. "He's been the catalyst for everything. Ginny getting taken into the Chamber of Secrets, my Dad almost dying, George losing his ear, and now...Fred's death."

Hermione stood and touched his arm but he shrugged her off and continued pacing. "Ron, Fred died in an explosion and Professor Snape was the one that cursed George's ear off, not Harry. He loves you, he loves all of you! He saved Ginny from the Chamber, he's the reason your Father was saved. Please, don't be like this." Hermione pleaded with him.

Ron turned on her and said angrily "I figured you'd take his side. Why am I always surprised? You do it time and time again."

"You know that's not true!" Hermione said.

"I do know. He's a saint to you just like he is to every other damn person around!" Ron stalked off, disappearing into the castle. Hermione was at a loss for words and all she could do was watch him go.


Harry had three hours before the Ceremony for the Fallen started. The sun was already hanging low in the sky. He needed to get ready and go to Andromeda's house. He would be watching Teddy for a while to give her a chance to get ready. The Ceremony was to celebrate the lives of those witches and wizards that had been lost in the battle but families would bury their loved ones themselves and in the manner of their choosing. The bodies were being held at St. Mungo's until families came to claim them for their funerals. Harry had already assured Andromeda that he would accompany her to St. Mungo's to claim Remus and Tonks' bodies. He didn't want her to have to go through it alone, Remus had been like a second Godfather to him.

Kreacher had unpacked the contents of his trunk for him and organized his clothes in Sirius' old dresser. He had also taken the liberty of ironing Harry's dress robes and black button down shirt which were now laying on the bed, ready for him to wear to the Ceremony.

As Harry rummaged around in a dresser drawer for a pair of socks, he came across a thick, emerald green sweater that Mrs. Weasley had knitted for him during his first year at Hogwarts. Harry picked up the sweater, it brought back a lot of memories. He had been so shocked when he'd woken up that Christmas morning and seen the pile of presents at the foot of his bed. He hadn't expected anything but was still looking forward to the food and fun that would come with Christmas at the castle. "What did you expect, turnips?" Ron had said to him when he'd pointed them out. Ron had been embarrassed when he noticed the lumpy parcel the sweater had come in. "I think I know who that one's from. My mum. I told her you didn't expect any presents and-oh no, she's made you a Weasley sweater." Ron had written to Mrs. Weasley to ensure Harry got at least one present that year. He had no idea how much that sweater had meant to Harry.

Harry glanced at the picture on the desk beneath the window. It was one of Ron, Hermione, and himself. They were standing arm in arm and grinning up at the camera. Hagrid had taken it at the end of their third year at Hogwarts. Portrait Harry would free one arm every so often to push his glasses back up the bridge of his nose, completely oblivious to the fact that Ron was holding two fingers up above his head and Hermione kept trying to swat them down so they could get a nice picture. She'd gone on and on about how she wanted one for her room. Harry smiled as he watched them in the portrait for awhile before walking away to continue getting ready.


"Harry, thank you for coming." Andromeda said when he arrived. She looked on edge and her hands were trembling. Harry knew it had to do with claiming Tonks' body. "Teddy is in his bassinet in the living room."

"Alright. You go on ahead and get ready, I'll keep him busy." Harry walked into the living room as Andromeda went back upstairs. He pulled his robe off and laid it on the sofa before peering into Teddy's bassinet. He was gurgling and cooing. His hair was purple today. When Teddy saw Harry looking down at him, he smiled and reached toward him with a tiny hand. "Hey...I like your hair" Harry said softly, smiling a little as Teddy grabbed hold of one of his fingers.

"You know that was your Mum's favorite shade of purple too. It was always that or this mauve color, I think it was mauve...I could never quite put my finger on it. She could change it to loads of different colors just like you can." Harry stroked Teddy's cheek lightly, making the boy laugh.

"I know you miss them but I promise, I'll always be here for you. No matter what." Harry watched Teddy for awhile, he couldn't believe how entertaining it was to just watch him coo and grasp at the air. Everything seemed to be going well, until twenty minutes later when Teddy began crying loudly. Harry's eyes widened in panic as he stood and looked around the room wildly. What do I do? What do I do?!

"It's okay Teddy, don't cry. Everything's alright!" Harry tried to comfort him but Teddy only cried louder which Harry couldn't believe was possible. He did his best to calm down as he pushed the top of the bassinet down. You have to pick him up! A little voice in his head, in the form of Mina Lufkin, said. Harry reached down and carefully lifted Teddy out of the bassinet. He was careful to support his head and neck, like Andromeda had instructed, as he paced around, trying to calm the child down. "What's wrong Ted?" Harry was getting more and more anxious by the second. This would be so much easier if he could speak! "Are you hungry? Do you need your nappy changed?" He didn't smell like he needed to be changed. Harry saw a bottle on the side table and snatched it up, uncapping it. He took it as a good sign when Teddy stopped, mid-sob at the sight of it. Harry sat down in an armchair and put the bottle to Teddy's lips. Relief filled him when Teddy began sucking at the bottle and gulping down the milk. Bloody hell that was terrifying...but I guess it could've been worse. He thought.

Andromeda came down a little over an hour later. "How was it?" She asked, looking a bit amused at Harry's current situation. He was sitting stiffly in an armchair with Teddy fast asleep in his arms. Teddy had drifted off after finishing his bottle but Harry didn't want to shift him for fear of waking him so he'd been sitting in the same position for over forty-five minutes.

"Honestly? I think my arm is cramping up." Harry whispered, wincing as he tried to flex his fingers.

Andromeda carefully took Teddy from out of Harry's arms and put him in his pram before covering him snugly with his blankets. "We should get going, shouldn't we?"

Harry nodded. He grabbed Teddy's diaper bag and his robe before following Andromeda out of the house. Harry waited for Andromeda to Disapparate with Teddy before following.


Harry and Andromeda walked through the gates of Hogwarts along with hundreds of other witches and wizards that had decided to come early. The moon hung high over the Black Lake, its reflection winking at them in the water. A light breeze whistled through the grounds, making ripples in the lake. Andromeda tucked Teddy's blankets around him more securely.

Everyone was dressed in black and wearing somber expressions on their faces. The set up was simple, honest, and to the point. There were no frills, no gratuitous decorations. Harry estimated maybe five hundred chairs, set out in rows with an aisle running down the center. He could see lights in the castle windows. There were lanterns, here and there, illuminating areas around the lake. Harry looked around for Hermione and the Weasleys. Mrs. Weasley was sitting in the front, her arms around George who looked white as a ghost in the dim lighting. Ginny was sitting on his other side and stroking his arm as she whispered to him. Percy was standing by the lake with Mr. Weasley who seemed to be comforting him as he cried.

Harry felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Hermione. He could tell she'd been crying. She hugged him and closed her eyes tightly as tears spilled down her cheeks, Harry could feel them seep through his shirt. He returned the hug but said nothing, his heart was heavy. "Don't hold it in, not tonight okay?" Hermione whispered to him. She feared he'd keep everything pent up like he always did. She knew he needed to cry, he'd feel better for it. He couldn't go on this way forever. He'd eventually have to confront his feelings and come to terms with everything which he most certainly wasn't doing yet. Her eyes were glistening. "You have just as much a right to cry as anyone here, just as much reason. Please, Harry..."

Harry wiped away her tears. "I won't. I won't hold it in." He said as more and more people spilled onto the grounds for the ceremony. Within the span of half an hour, every seat was filled. Harry saw students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang seated in the back. There were witches and wizards attending from all over the world. He even saw the Centaurs hidden in the shadows of the Forbidden Forest. Harry found his seat with Andromeda and Teddy, when he saw Headmistress McGonagall coming down from the castle with Kingsley. Everyone fell silent when she reached the stage-less podium.

Professor McGonagall didn't say anything for a few seconds. "Fifty-four fallen. Brave witches and wizards that gave up their lives to protect others and to protect this castle. These people were mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters…They were friends. They stood up, they stood united, and they fought until their last breath. Their actions defined courage. They were selfless, honorable, and heroic. When they needed to make a decision between what was right and what was easy they remembered." They remembered Cedric Diggory. They remembered Dumbledore's speech. Harry thought to himself. He remembered what Dumbledore had said, as if he'd said it yesterday. "Remember Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory."

Professor McGonagall continued on, speaking passionately, her eyes burning with conviction. "Bonds of friendship and love shined bright, allowing us to drive out the darkness and define the outcome of this long, arduous war. Our fallen will forever be remembered, their sacrifice never forgotten. Let us treasure them and their memory." She paused here and took a shaky breath, trying to keep herself composed. "Grief is the last act of love we can give to those we loved and so we will grieve for them. And if we cry, we cry for tears are words the heart can't say." Her voice wavered slightly and Harry saw tears leave her eyes. "Tonight we will honor all fifty-four witches and wizards. We will celebrate their lives and unburden our hearts so that we may look to a hopeful tomorrow, a privilege we have been granted because of their sacrifice." She wiped her eyes and did her best to force the tremble out of her voice. "Human lives weren't the only ones lost during the battle, however. Centaur and house elf lives were also lost. As valiant in character as any witch or wizard, their lives equally as meaningful…they too laid down their lives for the good of our world and this castle. They joined the fray and made a difference."

Harry witnessed the Centaur's tribute for the second time in his life. The first had been at Dumbledore's funeral, this was the second. A shower of arrows soared through the air, falling a safe distance away from the crowd. The Centaurs turned and disappeared into the Forbidden Forest. Professor McGonagall unfurled a long piece of parchment and began reading the names of those lost in the battle. Harry winced when he heard George's strangled sobs and wailing from the front row when Fred's name was read. Harry felt repeated, sharp stabs of pain in his chest and his eyes burned-blurring his vision. When Professor McGonagall said Tonks' name, Andromeda began weeping beside him. Harry put an arm around her and let out a shuddering breath. Remus' name was spoken. Then Lavender Brown's. Then Colin Creevey's. Harry dropped his walls, lowered his guard, and let himself cry for the first time in a long time. Soon, people were bawling from all around them, crying freely. Harry could hear Hagrid blowing his nose from somewhere behind him, it sounded like a trumpet in the night.

Professor McGonagall raised her wand high in the air; it's tip was lit. "To our Fallen" she said.

Everyone present stood and raised their illuminated wands high in the air, repeating "To our Fallen." Balls of light left each witch and wizard's wand and together, hundreds of these balls of light soared upward into the air, going higher and higher up. They lingered above them for many moments before disappearing. Professor McGonagall then took a seat and witches and wizards that had lost loved ones, came up to the podium one by one to give speeches and share stories.

As the ceremony came to a close, most people went home but others decided to continue celebrating life in Hogsmeade. Andromeda took Teddy home to get some rest. Harry would be going back to see her in the morning. She wanted to lay Tonks and Remus to rest the next day so Harry would be visiting St. Mungo's with her and helping with funeral arrangements. He watched her Disapparate and upon seeing that Hermione had her hands full with Ron and Ginny with George, he too went home. He had wanted to speak to Professor McGonagall after the ceremony but she was surrounded by a crowd and he decided he'd save it for another time. I'll stop in and visit Hagrid then, too. Harry thought as he arrived back at Grimmauld Place.

After declining Kreacher's offer of supper, Harry went straight to bed.


Phew! Okay, this chapter was longer than any other and it was hard to write especially McGonagall's speech. I wanted to do it justice so I hope I did alright. I haven't even slept yet but I really wanted to finish and edit this chapter so I could get it posted for you guys. Hope you enjoyed it. :)

-M