The characters of the Harry Potter universe belong to Ms. Rowlings. I'm borrowing them for my own imagination.

Chapter 50 - Five Years Ago Today

Harry walks nervously up to the podium. Looking at Ron and Hermione's reassuring smiles, he began to speak.

"As Minister Shacklebolt stated, we have come here today to remember not only the Battle of Hogwarts, but all who sacrificed themselves for our freedom from Voldermort. My participation started with a prophecy. A prophecy Voldermort chose to believe and made it about me. My parents lost their lives in order to protect me. The reason Voldermort had disappeared for so long was do to the ultimate love my mother showed for me. Very ancient magic.

I did not learn of any of this until I was eleven. That is when I learned of wizards and witches and wonderful places like Hogwarts. And even though I have had to face many trials and loose many loved ones, I would not trade any of it for the life I had led before. For one, it would be a disgrace for all those who suffered along with me, and two I would have never learned what a real loving family is like.

I would like to tell you of some of the people who have helped to give us this freedom we now have today. People who have shaped my life. My parents, James and Lily Potter. James was a pure-blood and Lily was muggle-born. They were members of the original Order of the Phoenix, and even in death, they influenced the lives of those that loved them. Beginning with my father's best friends Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. They were all betrayed by Peter Pettigrew, and Sirius suffered in Azkaban for years because of it. But Sirius offered a home to the reorganized Order, and sacrificed his own life for mine.

Remus has been my teacher and friend since the age of thirteen. He has stepped in as a surrogate father and I am grateful to have him still in my life." Harry smiled at Remus who was mist eyed in remembrance and gratitude.

"My mother's first friend in the wizarding world was Severus Snape. My mother had shown Professor Snape love and compassion that no one in his life ever had before. Even when they went their separate ways, it was that love and the love he continued to have for her that ultimately led to Voldermort's down fall. While he became Voldermort's trusted confidant, he remained ultimately loyal to my mother and Albus Dumbledore. In the end, he became Professor Dumbledore's most trusted ally, and when it became apparent to everyone that he had truly betrayed Professor Dumbledore, that is when he remained the most loyal.

Professor Dumbledore was our leader, and even after his death he still lead myself and my friends. He worked hard to protect me and to prepare me for what my future would hold and I admire him a great deal for those sacrifices he made.

The members of the DA. They gave me hope and kept up the fight even when I was not here at Hogwarts. I want to especial thank Neville Longbottom who took an active leadership role and Luna Lovegood for her loyalty and insight and Ginny Weasley for her courage and talent." Harry looked at Neville who sat with his grandmother and Hannah then Luna who sat next to George, Harry couldn't tell who was clutching whose hand.

Then looking down the aisle, he looked at George, Percy with Perry, Penny with Patricia, Charlie and Katie with Chris, then in the row in front of them, Arthur, Molly, Ginny, Bill with Victoire and Fluer with Dominque. "The Weasley family has been my greatest support. They have lost brothers, a son and many friends, but they continued to fight for what they believed in. They have loved me and supported me and given me two of the three most important people in my life.

But ultimately I would not be standing up here today if wasn't for two people. Ron and Hermione Granger-Weasley." Harry looks down at them forgetting that there are other people listen. He just starts talking to his best friends. "Ron, you are the most loyal, compassionate, and the best strategist I will ever meet. I know that Professor McGonagall will agree with me on that. Even when we fought you always came back, and you saved my life more then once. Hermione, your are as Ron has saod, 'brilliant, scary but brilliant.'. You are loving, loyal, and you kept me focused on the goal. I love the both of you more then words can say, and I thank Merlin for that troll that ultimately brought us all together." All three were misty eyed as he finished.

Then refocusing on the crowd, "I have asked Ron and Hermione along with some of my friends to help me for the last bit."

Ron and Hermione rose and collected Chris and Patricia from their mothers before leading six more children up to the stage.

"Sometimes it is easy to wonder why all those people sacrificed their lives to defeat Voldermort. Because their were so many more that I could talk about. Cedric Diggory, Colin Creevey, Ted Tonks, Emmeline Vance, Alistor Moody, Gideon and Fabian Prewet, Fred Weasley, Amelia Bones, and so many more. This is the reason." He said lifting Sirius up into his arms and gesturing to the other eight children. "They get to grow up in a safer happier world. These children are Teddy, Alista, Sirius, Victoire, Dominique, Perry, Patricia and Christopher, and they get to grow up without the fear and death that surrounded our lives. Five years ago today we gave them that gift. I thank you all for that."

Katie and Penny came forward to retrieve their children and led the rest of the children off the stage as Remus joined the rest of the committee on the stage. Kingsley taking center stage again.

"For the unveiling the monument, I have with the advisement of Remus and Minerva chosen two member of the Order to participate. I have asked Harry to choose two members of the DA in addition to Ron and Hermione as well. To represent the new Order, will Bill and George Weasley please come forward." Bill passed his daughter to Ginny and with George moved up to the stage.

Then Harry handed Kingsley a slip of paper. "To represent the DA, Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood, please come forward." Both Neville and Luna looked surprise at being called up. But quietly joined the others on stage.

Kingsley paired them off, Harry and Remus, Hermione and Minerva, Ron and Bill, Luna and George, and Neville with himself. Taking their positions, and with the waves of their wands, the tarp covering the statue disappeared.

The statues was fifteen feet high in the shape of a phoenix. On the wings were etched the names of all who lost their lives to defeat Voldermort. Finding the name of his parents, Harry ran his finger over their names their face appearing for all to see. Remus found Sirius's name and as he ran his finger over is name, Sirius face appeared. George, Bill and Ron found Fred's name and Fred's face appeared before him. The ten of them continued until all those who had died were seen and remembered.

As the hour struck at the time of Voldermort's defeat, a tear dropped from the phoenix's eyes, representing the healing that started at that hour in the wizarding community.

Kingsley then invited everyone to come forward and view the statue, then at their own leisure they were invited to view the reconstructed Hogwarts before attending the feast in the Great Hall.

TBC