The characters of the Harry Potter universe belong to Ms. Rowlings. I'm borrowing them for my own imagination.
Chapter 49 - In the Morning
"So was Ginny mad that you were not coming to grave with the rest of the family?" Hermione asked as she and Harry stood back to allow Ron some private time at Fred's grave.
"No. But I don't think she realized I was coming early with you and Ron. She just knew that I need to be a Hogwarts early to make sure everything was ready for today." Harry said as they watched Ron talk quietly.
"Hey, Fred. The rest of the family will be here a little later, but Harry, Hermione and I needed to be here early. I'm sorry I haven't stopped by to talk to you lately. Hermione and I have had a rough few days. With the memorial coming up, she was already stressed, then we found out once again that she isn't pregnant. She wants a baby so bad, I don't know how to make her feel better anymore. It is like a monthly occurrence of her being disappointed, and I hate seeing her so heartbroken. But other then that we are doing okay. She loves her job, and I am actually at the top of my class for the Auror training." Ron said as he sat next to the tombstone picking at the grass around the grave.
"Mum and Dad are doing well. Mum enjoys spending time with all her grandchildren and Dad is now intrigued by a muggle electronic game. Bill and Fleur have two beautiful daughters, Victoire who is three and Dominique who is seventeen months. Fleur stays home with them, while Bill still works for Gringotts. Charlie and Katie just two days ago had a little boy, Christopher William. They both still teach at Hogwarts, and love it. Percy and Penny have Perry who is sixteen months and Patricia who is two months old. Patricia was actually born on St. Patty's day. Percy is Minister Shacklebolt's right hand man, and Penny work with Bill at Gringotts. Mum watches the kids."
"George is doing better. He's stopped dating anything with a skirt on, and I don't think he has been on a date in over a year. He's in love with Luna. Yeah, I know not someone you would expect, but they are actually good for each other. Only trouble is, he won't admit it to anyone, especially Luna, and she is just head over heals for him. They are living together, and after Harry marries Gin tomorrow, it will just be the two of them in the flat. Mum's not to thrilled by that idea." Ron said as he waved Hermione and Harry over to join him.
"Hey, Fred. We miss you." Hermione said as she stood next to the grave, Ron standing and taking her right hand. Harry already holding her left.
"Wish you were here with us to honor all those that fought for our freedom." Harry said. "Ginny really wishes you were here for our wedding tomorrow. I'll take care of her, I promise. But don't ever tell her I told you that. She's still very independent."
"Thanks, Fred. And we love you." Hermione finished for them. She looked at both her boys who nodded and with a turn she apparated them away.
RWHG-RLNT-HPGW-GWLL-PWPC-CWKB-BWFD-AWMW-GWLL-HPGW-RLNT-RWHG
"How is everything looking?" Kingsley asked Minerva as they walked toward the site of the memorial.
"Our young trio has arrived and has helped Remus and several other members of the staff to set up all of the chairs that will be needed. Neville and Hannah Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Lee and Angelina Jordan, and Oliver and Alicia Woods are stationed at the gates to direct everyone to the memorial." Minerva responded.
"Excellent, thank you so much of taking charge of the whole memorial. I greatly appreciate all the time and effort you put in." Kingsley said.
"Remus and the kids made an excellent team. They put their heart and soul into this whole service." Minerva responded as they arrived at the memorial site.
"Mr. Potter are you ready?" Kingsley asked.
"I doubt I will ever be truly ready, but I am comfortable with my speech." Harry said.
"Good. I am sure you will do very well." Kingsley stated as they watched as Oliver and Alicia lead the first of the attendees to the site.
"Mum!" Hermione called out as she rushed over to greet her mother and Stephen.
"I hope we are not too early. Neither Stephen nor Mr. Dursley has been here before, and we were not sure at how long our travel time would be." Her mother said as she hugged her daughter.
"Mr. Dursley?" Hermione questioned, but then she heard Harry gasp, "Dudley?"
"Oi, Harry. Thank you for giving me Mr. & Mrs. Cornwell's address. They were nice enough to bring me to the memorial." Dudley responded somewhat nervously.
"I'm glad you came. Honestly, I wasn't completely sure you would." Harry said as he shook his cousin's hand.
"Yeah, well if it hadn't been for Dad's utter hatred of anything magical, Mum may have come as well. But she can't get over all of the nonsense Dad is about." Dudley responded apologetically.
"Ron and Hermione, this is my cousin, Dudley." Harry introduced.
"Yeah, we've met before." Ron said as he grudgingly shook Dudley's hand.
"Sorry about the way you family was treated when you came to my families home previously." Dudley said. Ron just nodded in response.
"We told Dudley that he could stay with us and we will bring him back for the wedding tomorrow." Stephen said.
"Thank you, both." Harry said.
"It will be nice to not be the lone muggle at a family function for once." Jane said.
"You should probably take him over to meet Remus so they will be acquainted before tomorrow." Hermione suggested.
"Yeah, good idea." Harry said as he led Dudley away.
"Blimey, I knew they were meeting for lunch monthly, but I never thought he'd actually show up." Ron said.
"I think it is nice that they are both making an effort. Correcting some of the bad blood from the previous generation." Hermione said. "Kind of gives us even more hope for the future."
"Let's see how you handle this." Minerva said as they saw Andromeda, Tonks and the kids walking in with a nervous looking Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, and a young lady they didn't recognize.
"Now there is the last family I thought I would see here." Ron muttered to Hermione.
"Won! Mione!" Alista called and barreled toward them. Tripping she skidded into the grass crying out. Draco reached her first and scooped her up into his arms.
"Now there is a sight, I'd never thought I'd see." Hermione muttered as she and Ron hurried over to the chair that Draco had sat with a sobbing Alista in his lap.
"Draco." Ron said briskly then squat down to Alista's eye level. "Hey sweetheart. Where are you hurt?"
She raised her skirt up to show Ron were she scraped her knees and he saw her hands were scraped up as well.
"I see you also have a slight rip in your dress." Ron said and she started to sob harder which caused Sirius to start crying in sympathy.
"Tonks, we have Alista. Why don't you go take the others to see Remus." Hermione suggested.
"Thanks." Tonks said as she led other adults away along with her sons. The new girl opting to stay with them.
"Who's going to be mad?" Ron asked trying to understand Alista through her crying.
"I think she is referring to Aunt Andy. Didn't your grandmum give you the new dress for today?" Draco then asked Alista. Alista nodded her head in response.
"I'll get your wounds cleaned up and healed, then Hermione can fix your dress up okay. You are going to need to sit still on Draco's lap. Can you do that?" Ron asked her.
"Yes." She said and sat herself up straighter as Ron and Hermione did their magic while Draco took out a handkerchief to clean her face up.
"Okay, lets set you down so you can turn and we can make sure you are all healed up and your dress is fixed up." Hermione said when they were done. Draco sat her on the ground and Alista turned slowly around while Ron and Hermione checked her over. "Anything hurt?" Hermione asked.
"No." Alista said.
"Good. And what do you say?" Ron asked as he lifted her off the ground.
"Thank you for healing me and fixing my dress. An' Draco thank you for taking care of me." Alista said.
"You're very welcome." Draco said then taking the hand of the new girl, he pulled her to his side, "This is my wife, Astoria. Astoria, this is Ron and Hermione Weasley."
Astoria offered her hand and both Ron and Hermione shook it.
"I know you are surprised to see me and my parents here. Mum and Aunt Andy have been working to heal their relationship over the past few years. Aunt Andy asked us to come." Draco said.
"We are all trying to rebuild a better community. I think your family being here is a great way to show that reconciliation is possible." Hermione said.
"We should take our seats." Ron said and snatching his wife's hand with his free hand to lead her to their seats next to Tonks and Remus on the first row. Draco and his wife joining his family and Aunt on the next row.
Hermione leaned over to where Ron was sitting next to her with Alista on his lap. "I love you and I'm so proud to be your wife." She whispered to him before kissing his cheek.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome and thank you for coming today to honor all those who bravely fought for the freedoms we all now share." Kingsley said as he stood at the podium, Professor McGonagall and Harry seated behind him.
TBC
