Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me, but the plot does.
CHAPTER XII: NEVER BE FORGOTTEN
Once the people in the yard had quieted down, Albus Dumbledore stood up. "Last week," he began gravely. "Last week Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry lost two of their finest and bravest students ever. Harry James Potter and Ronald Arthur Weasley died fighting against Voldemort." A unified flinch happened throughout the crowd, but ignoring it the Headmaster continued, "These two boys died while protecting their fellow wizards from danger. They died young, but their spirits will continue to live on forever.
Voldemort is spending a lifelong sentence in Azkaban where our most powerful wizards are guarding him. He is there because of the bravery the two young men showed against him. And I want them to be commemorated with honor and dignity. That is why," and at this he pointed towards the two empty caskets. "That is why I've asked each and everyone of you to put in a little something that reminds you of Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. But before that I would like to call Ms. Weasley to come up on stage and say a few words about Harry."
Everyone waited politely as a very stiff Ginny approached the front and stood at the podium. Once she got there, she looked around and stared directly at Hermione, who clasped her hands tightly and gave her a watery smile. She smiled back and turning her attention back at the audience she started to speak.
"Harry James Potter or better known as the famous Boy-Who-Lived was someone I grew to respect and soon love. I remember when I was a little girl I used to beg my mother to tell me the story about how he defeated You-Know-Who, again and again. As a young child, I pictured myself meeting the famous Harry Potter and instantly falling in love with him."
A few chuckles rang out in the crowd. She chuckled softly too. "Yes, I was such a silly girl. And then on the day Ron, my favorite brother, was going to Hogwarts, I heard Harry was on the train. I so wanted to meet him, but naturally, my mother forbid me to see him, saying he's not an animal at the zoo. When I finally entered school, I'd developed a secret crush on him. I even sent him a valentine's card."
Ginny paused, shaking her head slightly. "I'll never forget the look on his face when he rescued me from the Chamber of Secrets. Two years went by, and we got along fine. But, one blissful day, Harry took me out to the lake…" she hesitated and fumbled with her hands.
"Harry told me he liked me. I was so astounded that the brilliant Harry liked me, a Weasley. Naturally, being the overly protective sibling Ron is, Harry traveled around school with a black eye for a week." She stopped as laughter rang on in the air. "But I loved Harry. I loved him with all my heart. He was always there for me."
She sighed quietly. "And now he's not," she added softly. The tears were starting to brim in her eyes, but she needed to finish so Hermione could speak. "I really did love Harry. I loved him deeply and I never wanted to see him hurt. I just wish I could be able to say this to his face rather than to his empty grave. I guess the only thing to do is," she reached into her pocket and pulled out an odd-looking crumpled Valentine card. "Is to placed this in Harry's grave."
Ginny gently placed the card inside the casket. "It was at this time Harry realized I did have true feelings for him." Wiping the tears, she stood up slowly. "Harry's gone, but I know that he will never be forgotten." Looking up from his empty coffin, she finished quietly, "Now Hermione's going to say a few words about my dear brother, Ron."
As Hermione stood up, her parents gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. They had been owled instantly after Ron and Harry had been pronounced dead, and she was glad that they were here with her. They Weasley family was sitting with them, as well. Before she got up on stage, her eyes locked with the teary blue eyes of Ginny, who mouthed, "Don't cry." She smirked kindly at the worried girl and stood at the front of the audience. Taking a deep breath, she began to speak.
"Ronald Arthur Weasley…what can you say about him? He was known as Harry Potter's best friend, the youngest Weasley, the know-it-all's insulter, Head Boy, Keeper of the Quidditch team and by some people a Weasel. But Ron was more than that. He was my best friend. Sure, there was Harry, but he was like a brother to me. He would always be there for me if I needed to talk to someone about a problem I was facing or need a shoulder to cry on. I was glad he took me as a sister, especially since I was the one who persuaded him to ask Ginny out." A few people sniggered at that concept, as Ginny's face turned a deep pink, matching her hair.
"Nonetheless," she carried on. "Ron was someone who was very special. He possessed every quality a hero should have even though Harry was always the one who basked in the glory. The first time I met Ron, he was sitting with his future best friend, and was making a ridiculous attempt at a ludicrous spell given to him by his twin brothers." Fred and George grinned sheepishly at one another as their mother passed them a stern look.
"He also had a smudge on his nose. But he was the very boy that turned into a handsome young mean and was the same boy who had captured my heart for seven years. He could make me feel every emotion there was. And when we kissed, well," she grinned playfully, tucking a lock of curly hair around her ear. "I won't go into detail about that. But," she was quiet for a moment as she fingered the locket around her neck and twirled the chess piece in her hand. She finally held it up. "This is a knight," she announced loudly. "This also happens to be my favorite piece, because this is what I would use to describe Ron. When we were in our first year, while protecting the philosopher's stone, we came across a giant chess board, thanks to yours truly, Professor McGonagall."
"Ron was the only one out of the three of us who was capable of playing chess. Thus, he led us across the board until the very end of the game, fighting with such intelligence and wit that I was sure if he only applied it in his studies he would be smarter than me. At the end of the game, he sacrificed himself for Harry, and me, while riding the horse. It symbolized a loyal and courageous knight." The tears were starting to fall now, but she didn't care. She couldn't keep up all her sorrow inside of her anymore. "He was such an amazing friend," she whispered, kneeling down and gently placing the knight piece in the casket.
She stood up, brushing the tears away, but they kept on coming. "Who would have thought," she sobbed through the tears. "That I would be crying over a Weasley when there are 5 other Weasleys sitting here in front of me? Oh God," she moaned weakly. "I loved him so much and I know Ron Weasley will have a safe place in your hearts as well as mine."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~**************************~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ms. Granger," Dumbledore stated, as the crowd started to move towards the graves.
"Professor Dumbledore," Hermione answered, wiping the tears away with the hem of her robes. He embraced her warmly. "That was a beautiful speech," he murmured in her ear. She pulled away shyly. "Thank you," she muttered. "Mr. Weasley would have loved it," he went on, smiling at her sudden shyness. She smiled at him, as her parents approached them. "Hermione, you gave a wonderful speech," her mother complimented, giving her daughter a tight hug.
"Hermione," Ginny began, interrupting the mother-daughter embrace. "Oh Ginny," she replied, moving away from Mrs. Granger and wrapped her arms firmly around her best friend's sister. "Mum wants to see you," Ginny mumbled softly. The Weasleys surrounded the two girls, Molly weeping freely. "Hermione, I never knew you had so many feeling for Ron," Molly commented, pulling her son's girlfriend into her arms. Somehow, Hermione didn't want to leave her embrace, but she reluctantly released her she could talk to all of them.
"I'm glad you all here," she began hesitatingly. "Because I have something to tell you."
"You know we're always here for you," Mr. Weasley reassured her. She smiled at him, "Thank you."
"Well, what is it?" Charlie demanded, running his fingers through his hair, which instantly reminded her of Ron.
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and clutched tightly onto the heart locket Ron had given her. "Ron give me strength," she murmured to herself. Opening her eyes, she looked at all of the awaiting people. "I'm pregnant with Ron's child," she announced.
***
CHAPTER XII: NEVER BE FORGOTTEN
Once the people in the yard had quieted down, Albus Dumbledore stood up. "Last week," he began gravely. "Last week Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry lost two of their finest and bravest students ever. Harry James Potter and Ronald Arthur Weasley died fighting against Voldemort." A unified flinch happened throughout the crowd, but ignoring it the Headmaster continued, "These two boys died while protecting their fellow wizards from danger. They died young, but their spirits will continue to live on forever.
Voldemort is spending a lifelong sentence in Azkaban where our most powerful wizards are guarding him. He is there because of the bravery the two young men showed against him. And I want them to be commemorated with honor and dignity. That is why," and at this he pointed towards the two empty caskets. "That is why I've asked each and everyone of you to put in a little something that reminds you of Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. But before that I would like to call Ms. Weasley to come up on stage and say a few words about Harry."
Everyone waited politely as a very stiff Ginny approached the front and stood at the podium. Once she got there, she looked around and stared directly at Hermione, who clasped her hands tightly and gave her a watery smile. She smiled back and turning her attention back at the audience she started to speak.
"Harry James Potter or better known as the famous Boy-Who-Lived was someone I grew to respect and soon love. I remember when I was a little girl I used to beg my mother to tell me the story about how he defeated You-Know-Who, again and again. As a young child, I pictured myself meeting the famous Harry Potter and instantly falling in love with him."
A few chuckles rang out in the crowd. She chuckled softly too. "Yes, I was such a silly girl. And then on the day Ron, my favorite brother, was going to Hogwarts, I heard Harry was on the train. I so wanted to meet him, but naturally, my mother forbid me to see him, saying he's not an animal at the zoo. When I finally entered school, I'd developed a secret crush on him. I even sent him a valentine's card."
Ginny paused, shaking her head slightly. "I'll never forget the look on his face when he rescued me from the Chamber of Secrets. Two years went by, and we got along fine. But, one blissful day, Harry took me out to the lake…" she hesitated and fumbled with her hands.
"Harry told me he liked me. I was so astounded that the brilliant Harry liked me, a Weasley. Naturally, being the overly protective sibling Ron is, Harry traveled around school with a black eye for a week." She stopped as laughter rang on in the air. "But I loved Harry. I loved him with all my heart. He was always there for me."
She sighed quietly. "And now he's not," she added softly. The tears were starting to brim in her eyes, but she needed to finish so Hermione could speak. "I really did love Harry. I loved him deeply and I never wanted to see him hurt. I just wish I could be able to say this to his face rather than to his empty grave. I guess the only thing to do is," she reached into her pocket and pulled out an odd-looking crumpled Valentine card. "Is to placed this in Harry's grave."
Ginny gently placed the card inside the casket. "It was at this time Harry realized I did have true feelings for him." Wiping the tears, she stood up slowly. "Harry's gone, but I know that he will never be forgotten." Looking up from his empty coffin, she finished quietly, "Now Hermione's going to say a few words about my dear brother, Ron."
As Hermione stood up, her parents gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. They had been owled instantly after Ron and Harry had been pronounced dead, and she was glad that they were here with her. They Weasley family was sitting with them, as well. Before she got up on stage, her eyes locked with the teary blue eyes of Ginny, who mouthed, "Don't cry." She smirked kindly at the worried girl and stood at the front of the audience. Taking a deep breath, she began to speak.
"Ronald Arthur Weasley…what can you say about him? He was known as Harry Potter's best friend, the youngest Weasley, the know-it-all's insulter, Head Boy, Keeper of the Quidditch team and by some people a Weasel. But Ron was more than that. He was my best friend. Sure, there was Harry, but he was like a brother to me. He would always be there for me if I needed to talk to someone about a problem I was facing or need a shoulder to cry on. I was glad he took me as a sister, especially since I was the one who persuaded him to ask Ginny out." A few people sniggered at that concept, as Ginny's face turned a deep pink, matching her hair.
"Nonetheless," she carried on. "Ron was someone who was very special. He possessed every quality a hero should have even though Harry was always the one who basked in the glory. The first time I met Ron, he was sitting with his future best friend, and was making a ridiculous attempt at a ludicrous spell given to him by his twin brothers." Fred and George grinned sheepishly at one another as their mother passed them a stern look.
"He also had a smudge on his nose. But he was the very boy that turned into a handsome young mean and was the same boy who had captured my heart for seven years. He could make me feel every emotion there was. And when we kissed, well," she grinned playfully, tucking a lock of curly hair around her ear. "I won't go into detail about that. But," she was quiet for a moment as she fingered the locket around her neck and twirled the chess piece in her hand. She finally held it up. "This is a knight," she announced loudly. "This also happens to be my favorite piece, because this is what I would use to describe Ron. When we were in our first year, while protecting the philosopher's stone, we came across a giant chess board, thanks to yours truly, Professor McGonagall."
"Ron was the only one out of the three of us who was capable of playing chess. Thus, he led us across the board until the very end of the game, fighting with such intelligence and wit that I was sure if he only applied it in his studies he would be smarter than me. At the end of the game, he sacrificed himself for Harry, and me, while riding the horse. It symbolized a loyal and courageous knight." The tears were starting to fall now, but she didn't care. She couldn't keep up all her sorrow inside of her anymore. "He was such an amazing friend," she whispered, kneeling down and gently placing the knight piece in the casket.
She stood up, brushing the tears away, but they kept on coming. "Who would have thought," she sobbed through the tears. "That I would be crying over a Weasley when there are 5 other Weasleys sitting here in front of me? Oh God," she moaned weakly. "I loved him so much and I know Ron Weasley will have a safe place in your hearts as well as mine."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~**************************~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ms. Granger," Dumbledore stated, as the crowd started to move towards the graves.
"Professor Dumbledore," Hermione answered, wiping the tears away with the hem of her robes. He embraced her warmly. "That was a beautiful speech," he murmured in her ear. She pulled away shyly. "Thank you," she muttered. "Mr. Weasley would have loved it," he went on, smiling at her sudden shyness. She smiled at him, as her parents approached them. "Hermione, you gave a wonderful speech," her mother complimented, giving her daughter a tight hug.
"Hermione," Ginny began, interrupting the mother-daughter embrace. "Oh Ginny," she replied, moving away from Mrs. Granger and wrapped her arms firmly around her best friend's sister. "Mum wants to see you," Ginny mumbled softly. The Weasleys surrounded the two girls, Molly weeping freely. "Hermione, I never knew you had so many feeling for Ron," Molly commented, pulling her son's girlfriend into her arms. Somehow, Hermione didn't want to leave her embrace, but she reluctantly released her she could talk to all of them.
"I'm glad you all here," she began hesitatingly. "Because I have something to tell you."
"You know we're always here for you," Mr. Weasley reassured her. She smiled at him, "Thank you."
"Well, what is it?" Charlie demanded, running his fingers through his hair, which instantly reminded her of Ron.
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and clutched tightly onto the heart locket Ron had given her. "Ron give me strength," she murmured to herself. Opening her eyes, she looked at all of the awaiting people. "I'm pregnant with Ron's child," she announced.
***