Even though the bodies had been buried, a funeral was held in the graveyard.

Ginny, Snape, Draco, Ron, Parvati, Lavender, Fred and George, Percy, Bill, Dumbledore, Molly, and many others lined the seats. In the front was a podium for the speaker: Dumbledore.

"Thank you all for coming to mourn the loss of our dear beloved friends," Dumbledore began.

"Many have died on the battlefield a few days ago. But although they are buried, they will continue to live on in our hearts and minds. We should never forget them but we must not allow their deaths to take over our lives. We shall keep on living. But today let us all mourn together the loss so that our pain will be shared and henceforth making it all the more bearable."

Dumbledore stepped down from the podium and a grave, heavy silence ensued. It lasted for a few minutes. Then sobbing broke through like a dart piercing through the air.

Ginny covered her face with her hands and let her tears free. Draco and Snape got up and dragged Ginny to a corner in the graveyard.

"What's the matter?" Draco asked patiently.

"It's my fault they all died" she wailed.

"No it's not. We told you not to blame yourself, Ginny. You didn't know what you were doing. Do not punish yourself for it," Snape said.

Ginny looked up into the eyes of Draco and Snape and wiped a tear off her face.

"But I can't help feeling as if it was partly my fault!" She cried as she broke down again. Draco embraced her warmly and she buried her face in his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. He stroked her hair gently, twisting a copper lock between his pale fingers.

"I think you should release her now. Her family doesn't look all too happy about it," Snape warned Draco.

Although Draco longed to hold her forever, he let her go slowly. She looked up at him and murmured a soft 'thank you'. He smiled and replied in a whisper 'your welcome'.

The funeral ended and everyone began to drift off back to their daily lives.

"Albus, may I have a word," Snape said. Albus nodded.

"Miss Weasley has asked permission to stay with Draco and me at my house until the end of the year. As there is only two more months, I wouldn't mind so-"

"Of course she may stay, Severus. Keep an eye on her and Mr. Malfoy," Albus said and left.

Ginny waited anxiously next to Draco for an answer to her request. Snape walked up to her sadly.

"Ginny, I'm afraid you may not stay," Snape said gloomily. Ginny looked at the floor in despair and pouted. She started to walk away when Snape called her back.

"I was just playing with you," Snape stated. "You may stay." Ginny's eyes lit up with happiness as she embraced her professor.

"Who ever knew the Potions Master had a sense of humor," Draco commented. Snape smirked.

"Never do that to me again!" Ginny chided him.

"Yes, mother," Snape replied. Ginny and Draco chuckled. "Let's go."

And the three of them left happily, leaving behind a confused family of Weasleys.

"Why did she want to stay with them?" Ron asked. Dumbledore came up next to him.

"I believe she has found something special in each of them," Dumbledore stated.

"But he's a Malfoy! And the other's our slimy professor!" Ron argued.

"Yes, to you they are Malfoy and the slimy git. But to her, they are much more, they're family," Dumbledore said and left, allowing 'they're family' to linger in their minds.

"Family?" Fred and George choked in unison.

"She found a family in those two? Poor Ginny! She must've gotten hit on the head harder than I thought!" Ron cried.

Molly smiled and thought to herself, 'Maybe there's more to them than meets the eye.'

Now Ron roamed the hallways, lonely. Occasionally Lavender would speak to him and try to make him laugh, but it never worked.

"Hey Ron," Lavender greeted. Ron nodded to acknowledge her. "Um, well, I was thinking, do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me? I mean I know about your loss and all, but please, Ron, please?"

Ron thought about it for a while. What would've Harry told him?

'Take the chance, mate!" advised an imaginary Harry inside Ron's brain. 

"Fine, I'll go," Ron surrendered.

"Thank you!" Lavender squealed as she gave him a brief hug and walked away.

~~~HOGSMEADE TRIP~~~~~

"Hey, Ron!" Lavender said as she walked up next to him.

"Hi," Ron managed to say.

"Aw, come on! Cheer up! You'll have a wonderful time! Dumbledore knew everyone would be all gloomy, that's why he made the trip: "A time for everyone's minds to wander inside shops instead of inside gloominess." That's exactly what he said. You'll have a wonderful time," Lavender squealed.

"Okay," Ron said. Lavender hooked arms with him and dragged him through the streets.

And he had a wonderful time.

They had hugs of butterbeer and tons of candy. They even got a sneak peek at a taste of firewhiskey for the first time! Lavender got quite drunk.

"Ron?" Lavender asked dizzily.

"Yeah?"

"Now that Hermione's gone, do you think you could learn to love me?" Ron was taken aback by the question but thought about it for a while.

"I guess so." Lavender giggled and pulled his collar closer to her as she placed her think pink lips on his. She licked his bottom lip and nibbled on it sweetly. Ron leaned in closer and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

A few minutes later they went back to Hogwarts.

They both parted separate ways to their dorms though Ron had a strong feeling that Lavender had wanted to stay with him.

Ron lay in bed deep in thought. Was it fair to love Lavender when a few days ago he had loved Hermione?

He decided that as long as he mourned a bit for Hermione, it was fair.

I know it's sort of a short chapter but I needed one like this. Sorry!

Thank yous:

1. Idako Tsukiru- It's okay as long as you review sometime! Thanks for voting! And thanks for reviewing!

2. Cathy-I'm glad I stunned you. I am on my holz but this Monday is my last day off. *sobs* I'm on today rite now which is 10:46 am here. I should be on for a while then I'm going to go watch ella then come back at around 5 or so. So I might be on then, too. If we don't get to chat you can always email me! Well, thanks for the review!

3. ILUVRONWEASLEY-Thanks for the review! Hope to chat with you soon?

4. MikiBaby-Yup, it won't end till chappie 38! As for the happy ending, I don't know about that. It's going to be happy/sad I think. I haven't written the last chapter out yet. Thanks for the review!

5. Murderbynight1313-Didn't I already give you my rights to everything, Ansel? You better not change my sweet g and pg stories to gory r rated ones! Anyways, I cannot believe you think I actually think that andre was over. That's sad. Anyways, thanks for the review!

6. Daisie-Thanks for the review! *Cheerio Cheers!*

7. Ckat44-Thanks for the review, buddy!