"Hey Fred," said Ginny, kneeling at his grave site. "It's me, your favourite sister." She lay a small bouquet of flowers on it. "They're from Mum's garden. I know you were never into flowers, but they're my favourite, so..." Ginny's voice died away.
"It's taken me a few weeks to come out here to talk to you alone, and for that, I'm sorry. I just...I just still can't believe you're gone, and I'm never going to see you again," she half whispered, as the emotion almost became too much.
"It wasn't supposed to be like this. You weren't supposed to die, Fred and I'm damn mad at you, all right!"
"Coming home was harder than I thought. Everything was the same, but different. My annnoying, smelly, pain in the ass brothers were all gone, and in their place were men. Married, working, responsible men."
"I missed all that, you growing up. Hell, I've grown up too. I guess that's why I felt a bit lost when I first got back. You had all been so involved in the war, and I couldn't relate to that."
"I was happy in Salem, and that even made me feel a bit guilty. I made a family with Tonks and her cute baby boy Teddy. Can I tell you a secret? As much as I love our family, sometimes I love that it's just me, Tonks and Teddy. Oh, if you meet Remus, will you tell him Teddy is wonderful and happy and healthy? Thanks, in advance.
"Keep an eye out for Sirius, and Mr and Mrs Potter, too. Sirius used to tell me stories about him, James and Remus pulling pranks, so you'll be in good company if you do meet up. They'll be able to tell you all about some map they made, um, a Marauder's Map, or something? George mentioned it the other day."
Ginny sighed. "We need to talk about George. As hard as it's been for him to be without you, I'm sure it's just as hard for you to be without him, even where you are. I hope you can see us; watch over us. Not all the time, you pervy git, but some of the time."
"George is...he's doing okay. We're all rallying behind him, and your friends from Hogwarts are really helping him. He's planning on re-opening the store soon, and I think that's going to help. Ron's going to work with him, and I'm sure Lee will too."
"I'm going back to Salem with Tonks soon, so it will be awhile before I'm back at the Burrow, talking to you here."
She looked around and saw Harry exit the Burrow and head her way. Seeing him made her heart jump and she turned back to Fred.
"You know, you owe me a knut. We made a bet when I was five that I would get a date with Harry Potter, and I did. I did it, you prat, and now you're not here to pay up," she sniffed, tears welling as she tried to finish before Harry reached her. He had slowed to give her time but she held out her hand for him to join her. He took it and knelt next to her.
"You were a pest of a brother, always pranking, always teasing. But it was your bed I climbed in to when I was little and the thunder was really loud, or when I had a nightmare. It was you who stuck up for me when the kids in the village called me Carrots. It was you who took the blame that time when I was mad at Ron and hexed his eyebrows off accidentally. It was you who didn't make fun of me when I told everyone I was going to marry Harry Potter," she chuckled through her tears. Harry chuckled too, his arm around her. "But it was alsoyou who drew a lightening bolt on my forehead that same night when I was asleep, to see what it would be like to be Mrs Potter." Harry laughed and shook his head in amusement.
"I can never say I have a favourite brother, because you all have been my favourite at one time or another, and in many different ways. Through George, I'll be able to see you grow older, but it won't be the same."
"I love you Fred, and I'll miss you every day for the rest of my life," said Ginny, sniffing and wiping away the tears with the back of her hand.
"Same, mate," said Harry softly.
"You know Fred, Harry told me Dumbledore came to meet him at Kings Cross. Well, when my time comes, you may not be the first person to meet me, but you better be there," said Ginny.
Harry stood and held his hand out to help her. She stood next to him and took one last look at Fred's resting place.
"Goodbye, my brother," she said.
She and Harry walked quietly back to the Burrow. Before she went inside, she took a deep breath. "Merlin that was hard."
"Did it help? That's what's important. Even if you're angry or sad at the person, it helps to get it all out. I've been to my parents and Sirius' gravesites a lot since the end of the war, and I've had a lot of conversations with them."
"Yeah, it helped. Having you there helped too," said Ginny. She slid her arms around his waist and rested her head on his shoulders.
"Harry, Ginny, it's-what's going on here?" asked Molly, looking at the two of them standing so close together.
"Nothing, Mum. I just went to speak to Fred, and I was a bit emotional. Harry was just comforting me, that's all," said Ginny, pulling away from Harry.
"Oh, well, lunch is ready," said Molly, her gaze going from one to the other. Harry couldn't meet her eyes, so he shuffled past her on his way to the table.
Ginny plastered the innocent look she'd mastered by the age of five on her face as she walked past her Mum.
"Great, I'm starving," she said, sliding into the seat next to Harry.
Under the table she curled her feet around his.
Later that day-
"So you're leaving in three days time," said Luna, reclining against the trunk of the tree.
"Yeah. Tonks starts her new job next week. Harry and I will leave next weekend to meet up with my friends from school," said Ginny, dangling her feet in the Lovegood's pond.
"And you're leaving too, Luna?" asked Neville, picking up sticks and stones and throwing them into the pond.
"Yes, tomorrow. Dad needs to get away. He feels so bad that the Death Eaters nearly got Harry, Ronald and Hermione. I thought a change of scenery would do him good," said Luna.
"Well, if you're ever in the States, send us an owl. Maybe we can catch up," said Ginny.
"You're all moving on with your lives, while I'm going back to Hogwarts," sighed Neville.
"Don't you want to go back?" asked Ginny.
"Yeah, I do. It just won't be the same," sighed Neville.
"It never is. Life is constantly changing," said Luna.
"Luna, you're the wisest person I know," said Neville, seriously.
"Are you teasing?" asked Luna. "It's not nice to tease."
"No," gasped Neville. "I would never say or do anything to hurt you. I mean it."
"I know what they call me. Loony Lovegood," said Luna, looking down.
"Those people don't know the real you. They don't know you at all, they don't see what we see when we look at you," said Ginny. Neville nodded, but Luna didn't look convinced.
"They don't know you have the biggest heart ever. Who met a little girl in the village, and saw me surrounded by my brothers, and invited me home to play. I never told my brothers we played with dolls and your kittens, because I knew they'd tease me for being such a girl. But I had the best time that day, and we've been best friends since," said Ginny.
"They don't know how brave you were at Malfoy Manor. How you looked after Mr Ollivander and even Dean. How, thanks to you, Harry knew where to look for the thing he needed to defeat Voldemort," said Neville.
"And Luna, if they don't know how wonderful you are, if they won't give you a chance, then they don't deserve to know you. Your friends and your Dad love you and couldn't imagine a life without you in it," said Ginny.
Luna smiled. "I've missed you, Ginny. My heart is happier when you're with me."
"I wish I knew you both when we were little," sighed Neville.
"But you know us now," said Luna. "Friends forever. No matter where we are."
"I guess," said Neville.
Ginny and Luna looked at each other, then quickly got up, grabbed Neville and tried to push him in the pond. He grabbed Ginny as he fell in, and she grabbed Luna. The three of them gasped at the cold water, then started laughing.
"Neville, we're having a party at the Burrow tomorrow before everyone starts leaving, Please say you'll come," said Ginny, running her hands over her hair.
"Sure. Gran will make sure I'm all packed tomorrow morning, so I'll be free," said Neville.
"Bring your Gran too. I think some of your Hogwarts friends are coming too. Susan, Dean...Hannah," said Ginny.
"Hannah is so nice. She doesn't have any family, you know. I think she spends the holidays with Susan," said Luna, shaking her long silvery hair and spraying Ginny and Neville with droplets.
"Really? I didn't know that," said Neville.
"Sounds like she could use a friend," grinned Ginny.
"I think she's going back to Hogwarts this year too," said Luna. Both Ginny and Luna looked at Neville expectantly.
He held up his hands in surrender and laughed. "Okay, okay. I'll keep an eye on her." He paused. "We'll keep writing to each other, won't we?".
"Yes, of course we will," said Luna.
"You can come and visit me and Harry, wherever we are," invited Ginny.
"Where is Harry tonight?" asked Neville.
"He's spending some time with Ron and Hermione. Her parents are arriving at the Burrow tomorrow, and she and Ron will be spending most of the day with them," said Ginny.
"That will be interesting for them," said Neville.
"My dad can't wait," laughed Ginny. "He wants to ask them so many Muggle questions."
"Imagine being a Muggle and not knowing anything of our world. Not even knowing we just went through a war," mused Luna.
They climbed out of the pond and cast a drying charm on each other. The afternoon sun was fading. In the distance, Mr Lovegood was sitting on the porch, keeping an unobtrusive watch over them.
"He worries about me so much. I don't know if he'll ever get over it," sighed Luna sadly. "I hope our trip will help. We're meeting with Mr Scamander, the grandson of the great author Newt. He and Dad should have much to talk about."
"What about the Quibbler?" asked Neville.
"It's on hold indefinitely. Dad's health is more important," said Luna.
She hugged them both goodbye. "I should go, get dinner ready. We're leaving quite early in the morning."
"Take care, Luna," said Neville. "I'll find the Ravenclaw ghost and tell her you said hello."
"Thank you Neville, Lady Helena seemed much happier the last time we spoke," said Luna.
Ginny hugged her too. "Best friends forever," she whispered.
"Always," said Luna.
The three walked back to the Lovegood house, and said goodbye to a nervous Mr Lovegood. Luna helped him up and they went inside.
"Ginny, want me to see you back to the Burrow?" asked Neville.
"I'll be fine, but do you want to come for tea? Tonks and Teddy are coming with Andromeda," offered Ginny.
Neville shook his head. "Thanks, but Gran will already have tea waiting for me. I'll mention about the party and owl you tomorrow."
"That sounds fine. Neville, Harry's been telling me about the final battle. You really are a hero, you know," said Ginny.
Neville flushed. "Nah, not me. Harry, Ron and Hermione, they're the real heroes. What did I do? Cut the head off a snake? Only because Harry told me to."
"Neville, it wasn't just any snake, and you know it. Don't be so modest. You did good, Neville, and I'm proud to be your friend."
"I hate the attention. Nobody gave a rat's ass about me in all the years I was at Hogwarts. I was the joke; the clumsy one, the scared one. Now, everyone wants to be my friend. I hate it," he declared.
"I think Harry feels the same. I think you'll soon sort out who are the genuine people, and who are the frauds," she said.
"Yeah, I guess. Sometimes I go to the greenhouses just to get away from people," he admitted.
"Be true to yourself, Neville, but don't shut people out. You may miss out on something special by doing that," pointed out Ginny.
Neville sighed. "So, back to being pen pals?"
Ginny laughed. "I guess we are."
"You and Harry, are you...?" Neville wiggled his eyebrows.
"I don't know what you mean, Neville," said Ginny, pretending to be affronted by his suggestion.
Neville blanched. "Oh, er sorry, I just thought you and he were-"
Ginny winked at him.
He chuckled. "You had me going there for a minute. So, you and Harry?"
Ginny nodded happily. "I don't know why we're trying to keep it quiet. Everyone seems to know."
"Harry's happy. We don't usually see him like that," said Neville shrugging.
Ginny hugged Neville. "You're a good friend, Neville. Harry knows it too. This trip will be good for him."
"You're good for him," said Neville.
"It's early days yet. Wait till he sees me first thing in the morning. He might come running screaming back to England," she teased.
"I doubt it. Anyway, I should go. I'll probably see you tomorrow. Bye, Ginny."
"Bye Neville," said Ginny.
