Harry's eyes still heavy with sleep opened as a slat of light crept across his face through the curtains of his bed in the Gryffindor Dormitory. He blinked a few times as the memories of the past weeks and months flowed into his brain. The faces of those who he had lost washed over him. He felt the tears flow as he mourned the loss of them. He winced as he slowly sat up in the bed. His whole body ached, but for once his scar did not sting one bit. As he stood and slowly stretched he heard footsteps on the stair headed his way. Out of instinct he grabbed his wand as his body tensed ready to attack. He relaxed the moment he saw the shining head of red hair appear. Ginny Weasley appeared in the doorway, a smile breaking across her face when she saw Harry. She launched herself at him nearly knocking him onto his bed. He automatically locked his arms around her waist as he nestled his face in her hair and breathed the familiar scent of her in. The emotions overwhelmed him again as the thought of her brother Fred being gone hit him. He held tightly to her as he sobbed, her arms around him as well, until he felt he could cry no more. He pulled back wiping his face and eyes with the sleeve of his shirt.
"Sorry", he whispered. They both sat on the bed facing each other.
"Harry, what makes you think you need to apologize?", she asked. " Everyone is in mourning for those we lost. Mum and Dad are still here, Mum can't bear to leave Fred, neither can George".
"Thanks, I'm sorry I left so quickly I had to sleep. I didn't realize how exhausted I was till it was all over". Harry explained as he lay back against his pillow.
"I'd say you were tired you've been asleep for a whole day, Harry!" she smiled at him.
Harry bolted up from the bed. A whole day! He needed to go to the Hall immediately and give his condolences to the families of all those who died. He began to search about for his shoe.
"Oi! Harry! Slow down, what are you rushing to do?" she asked grabbing his arm.
" I .. need too.. go.. the Great Hall..." he huffed as he found is left shoe under the bed.
" Why don't you shower and changed first. You've been in the same clothes for days. You will feel loads better and more ready to see people once you do." Ginny advised as she took his shoes from him.
Harry stopped and took a deep breath. A shower did sound fantastic. "Could you find me some clothes? Hermione may have some in her bag," he asked as he gathered a towel and other items from the nearby closet and headed down the stairs to get cleaned up.
A few hours later Harry and Ginny walked hand and hand into the Great Hall. It had been cleaned up and they had placed those who were gone in a row down the center. Glowing candles were placed in a circle around the group of them and each person had been covered in a Hogwarts Crest Flag. They made their way down the line stopping at each one to pay their respects to the family. Halfway down they came to an older witch, Andromeda Tonks. She was cradling a baby with bright turquoise hair, Teddy, Harry's godson. Harry automatically reached for the baby. Andromeda passed Teddy to Harry with a faint smile.
"I'm glad he still has you" she whispered, tears forming. Ginny wrapped her in a hug as Harry rocked Teddy gently.
" Hello, mate. I'm your Uncle Harry. I'm going to make sure you never forget them. I promise.I..." Harry got choked up as he held close the son of two of the people he respected most in the world. He would make sure Teddy had a life full of love and he would teach him all the things Lupin and Tonks would want him to know. He huged the boy close as the baby drifted off to sleep. Harry soon handed him back to his grandmother.
He and Ginny continued down the long line. Collin Creevy's parents and his brother all looked worn and his parents seemed a bit lost. Harry remembered that they were muggles so the onslaught of magic around them added to their son's death must be overwhelming. He and Ginny stood with them and comforted them. Harry kindly offered to pay for Collin's memorial service. He planned to attend each and every funeral.
Finally towards the end of the long line was the Weasley family all huddled around Fred. Ron had his arm around Hermione, her arms wrapped about his waist. Harry approached Mr and Mrs Weasley. Before he could speak tears began to pour from his eyes. The next thing he knew Arthur Weasley tightly embraced Harry as Molly gently rubbed his back. " I know, son, it's alright let it out," Arthur said to Harry not loosening his hold one bit. Harry hugged him back and sobbed harder at the kind words. The guilt was almost too much to bear. Harry began to calm after a few moments and Arthurt pulled back and looked him directly in his eyes, his hands firm on his shoulders, "Harry, listen to me, do NOT blame yourself for this not for any of it. Blame Voldemort, his evil mission was all he cared for and HE didn't care whose blood he had to spill to get there. Fred died fighting for what he knew was right. He knew the risks. He knew what could happen and he was willing to do it. So was EVERYONE else here!".
Harry took a long deep breath and nodded. He turned and hugged Molly Weasley. "Harry, dear, I know I have said it before, but please call me Mum. You truly are like one of my own..."she turned her head and smiled at her only daughter," And I could not be any happier for you and Ginny, maybe one day you will be one of the family for real". Ginny blushed as bright as her hair at her mothers comment. However, in her heart it was her deepest wish to one day be Ginny Potter. Harry too turned pink but quickly turned to hug the rest of Weasley family. Including Fleur and Bill and Charlie who were all sporting bandages on various appendages.
Finally, Harry approached George. He had never seen anyone look so very lost. He had been sitting next to Fred talking to him in a hushed voice. He rose when he saw Harry. Harry had no idea what to say, he looked George in the eyes and tried to tell him without words how deeply sorry he was.
"It's alright, mate. I know. Fred knew what he was getting into. I'm just glad I was with him. I...I...just need time, I don't know how to be without him." He turned quietly and sat by Fred again and started talking to him. Harry stood talking to the Weasley's with Ginny by his side her hand wrapped firmly in his. Soon, he spotted Professor McGonagall, and broke away from Ginny and the others and approached her.
"Hello, Professor McGonagall... or is it Headmistress now?" he asked with a small smile.
Minerva smiled warmly at him, "Yes, Mr. Potter, it is Headmistress. I was appointed yesterday. Now, what can I do for you? I was about to make an announcement."
"By, all means go ahead, Headmistress" he said as he moved back to rejoin the others.
Minerva moved to the head of the hall and amplified her voice with a flick of her wand. "Good afternoon, ladies and gentleman, and students. The Ministry of Magic has ordered that a plot of land here at Hogwarts be made a final resting place for those who lost their lives in the Battle of Hogwarts, for those who wish to use it. Those whose families wish them transported home, will find the Hogwarts Express has been transformed to do so. When we have a list of those who will be put to rest here, We will schedule two memorials a day until the last one. Following that there will be a Ceremony to Honor the fallen here in the great hall. Hosted by the Ministry of Magic and presided over by our new Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt. Now, will a member of each family of those who gave their lives please come forward and inform me of what decision you have made. Myself and Professor Sprout will be here at this table", she swept her wand and a sturdy table, two chairs and ink, quills and parchment appeared. "We will make the lists and begin to proceed. Hagrid will be in charge of transport to the train as needed. Thank you". She turned and sat at the table as Professor Sprout waddled up to the table and sat two lines formed, the line to have their loved ones interred at Hogwarts was noticeable longer. The Weasley family gathered into a circle to talk about what they wanted to do.
"George, my son, what do you think Fred would have wanted?" Arthur Weasley asked him.
"Here, he'd want to stay here, with our friends, where we played Quidditch, played pranks and Fred snogged his first girlfriend down by the lake', George answered cracking a brief grin, that vanished as soon as it appeared.
"Alright, son, I think we all agree" Arthur answered looking at the others who all nodded.
"I'll go tell McGonagall", Charlie said and he went to join the line.
"Mum and I will apparate home and get clothes to bury him in, and something for us all to wear to his service, and the others. We will need to stop in Diagon Alley for most of it though. Ginny, will you come with us please to help out?" Arthur said as he put his arm around Molly.
"Yes, Dad" Ginny answered. She turned to Harry, and hugged him close. "I'm not sure how long it will take we may not be back till tomorrow".
" I know, I'll keep busy helping set up and prepare for all the services". Harry replied. " I need to speak to your Dad before you go, Ill be back in a bit" Harry said as he headed to where Mr Weasley was talking to Molly, Bill and Fleur.
"Mr Weasley, may I have word... in private?" he asked quietly, avoiding looking at the others.
They walked toward the front of the great hall aways from the people,stopping near the staff table. Harry pulled a leather coin bag from his pocket and handed it to Mr Weasley.
"Here, Mr Weasley, let me pay for everything, please." Mr Weasley looked in the bag to see what appeared to be a thousand gold galleons. His eyes got big, he tried to push the money back to Harry. Harry refused to take it. "Please,...Arthur," he said using his given name for the first time. "You're all my family and Fred is like my brother. Besides I need new things too. The Minitry has been dysfunctional for months I can't imagine you've been paid. It's the least I can do." Harry insisted.
Arthur, looked at the bag and back at Harry and pulled the young man into a bear like hug for a long moment. " Call me, Dad. Like Molly said, we already think of you as a son and from the looks of it you may be true family one day".
Harry smiled and they walked side by side back to the others. Mr and Mrs Weasley and Ginny said their goodybyes and headed to the front gates so they could disapperate to diagon alley. George went back to his place besides Fred, Percy chose to hover nearby to keep an eye on him. He was mourning hard for his twin and Percy wanted to be there in case he needed anything. The others headed out to the grounds toward the area that was to be the Hogwarts Memorial Cemetery.
Hagrid was organizing the construction of the fences, he saw the group approaching and put them to work with the more important task. Creating the headstones, they were given a list of the names and information of those who would be put to rest. The stones were made of marble and smooth, each one would have the Hogwarts crest at the top and below the name their house crest. They used their wands to etch the names and birth and deaths of their friends on each stone. Harry got to the stone for Tonks, after adding her name, he smiled and tapped the stone with his wand and turned it bright pink. Hermione smiled when she saw it.
"Harry, that's just how Tonks would have wanted it! Each time we visit we should change the color!"
Harry nodded in agreement, though he had a smile on his face the memory of his friends, now gone, caught in his throat. Silent tears slid down his face as Hermiome wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. Her own face wet with tears.
Soon enough everything was in order for the memorial service. There were rows upon rows of chairs and three members of the staff were positioned at the back of the area to summon more chairs if need be. They were not sure how many people would show up for the services. The house elves had set up a massive tent nearby with tables, tons of food and drink to keep the mourners fed throughout the day. In typical McGonagall style each memorial was given a slot of time with time in between for seating changes and food. Then as they began to arrive Harry and the others were in awe at the sheer number of the crowd. More and more chairs continued to be added and the elves had to expand the tent twice and add a second buffet to accommodate them all. Hermione was helping to attend the guest books located at 3 different entry points to the memorial area. When it seemed that most were settled into there seats and only a few more people trickled in Hermione summoned the guest books and tapped each with her wand and a number magically appeared on each one giving the number of guests who had signed.
"Oh, my" she breathed as she added the figures rapidly ,"there are over 2,000 people here." No one was surprised there was hardly a single wizarding family that had not been touched by the tragedy. 20 souls would be laid to rest today and another 30 at private services around the country.
A small group of witches and wizards began to play a soft piece of music to signal the services were to begin. Harry and Ginny took their seats near the front next to Mr and Mrs Weasley. The first to be laid to rest were Remus and Tonks. Tonks' mother, Andromeda, was there holding Teddy. His hair was a dark shade of blue today, as if he knew it was a quiet day. When it was time for the eulogy Andromeda stood and handed Teddy to Harry. Harry held Teddy firmly in his arms as the small boy stared quietly at his grandmother.
By the end of the day Harry and his friends were all exhausted. The emotional toll of laying their friends to rest could be seen clearly on their faces. All Harry was able to think of was sleep, but that also conjured up a pondering question. Where was home now? He didn't really want to go stay at Grimmauld place. It needed more work than he was prepared for at the moment. There was what was left of his parent's home as well, but it needed even more work than Grimmauld place did. He knew the Weasley's would happily let him stay with them, but he did not want to impose on them especially while they were in mourning for Fred. He quickly made up his mind to take a room at the Leaky Cauldron until he was able to figure out a more permanent solution. For tonight however, he would spend the night in his bed in the Gryffindor dorm with his friends.