Just Old Friends
Chapter 34: The Ceremony
The summer sun shone down onto the embankment, next to the raised platform the lake shimmered. On its surface the squid lay unaware of the madness going on around it.
The students were already seated at the back of the crowd surrounded by Aurors lining the back and then their own professors in the row in front. The seats at the very front were beginning to fill as were the ones on the podium.
Snape was sat on the end seat on the raised stand with Flitwick and McGonagall next to him, then there was a space for Neville and his wheelchair, next to him was Hermione. Then there were two seats that had remained empty and on the other side sat Ron, Ginny, Remus and lastly Tonks.
It wasn't surprising that they were there since they were classed as the heroes of the war although none would admit that they had done more than was needed. Each person had lost so much and yet carried on as if nothing had happened, or so people thought. It was known that they were not the only ones involved but it was their initiative and quick thinking that had kept so many people alive.
On the grass in the front few seats were the survivors, people who had fought in the war and made a difference and among them the relatives of those affected who had been lost. In the very front row however sat the heads of each of the departments from within the ministry and the press.
Among the many people sat a large group who were happily chatting and laughing Bill was close to Charlie telling jokes, and pointing out certain areas of the ground. Next to Charlie was Oliver with Percy who were deep in conversation. Robin was bouncing on her seat next to her father looking around at everything with her mother on her other side trying to keep her seated. The last person in the row was April who was carefully bouncing the five month old Sirius on her lap.
It was nearing twelve o'clock and the last of the people were finally arriving among the masses one head stood above the rest and Hagrid waved happily up at Hermione. Suddenly a silence took over all there as the ceremony began.
All those who were seated stood up as one holding an almighty silence. Dumbledore walked out of the doors to the old school and for those around the platform it was like stepping back in time and watching their headmaster once more. Following quickly beside him stood Harry and within seconds the two stood on the stage.
Dumbledore moved towards the front of the stage while Harry took the seat that had been assigned to him right next to Ron. All eyes turned to the Minister as he cleared his throat.
"Thank you all for coming here today, this day marks one of the saddest yet most joyous days in the wizarding history. So many were lost that must be remembered but we succeeded in something thought impossible."
Applause sounded and Dumbledore took his seat next to Hermione and Harry. Harry glanced sideways at him unsure of what was happening, shouldn't the minister be up there giving a speech. Then he saw Snape stand up and turning he saw Remus join him at the front of the stage.
Snape looked around and his dark hair flew around him hitting his face, he cleared his throat in much the same manner that Dumbledore had before speaking.
"You are all here to remember the end of the war three years ago. Most here though will say that the war only begun five years ago but that is not true, it began thirty years ago in 1960."
Again he cleared his throat batting his hair from his eyes before continuing.
"The war didn't end in end in 1981 with the death of the Potters that was only a break in the fight. The sides we would fight for had already been chosen and we are here to remind you of those times."
His voice faded and Remus took control of the speech.
"Most of you know me, know what I am. I lost everything in the first part of the war, my family and my friends. Nobody trusted each other which was a smart thing to do considering what happened. But although it was bad good things did happen and they are the things we need to hold onto."
Snape spoke up taking over for Remus who it seemed was reminiscing about the good old days.
"Many people died and more were seriously injured and are no longer themselves we shall now name them…"
Harry sat there listening to those lost between 1960 and 1981. As the list went on he realised for the first time just how bad things had been and that explained the behaviour of their elders during their war. Most of the names called didn't mean a thing to him until they reached the order members and the last affected.
"… Edgar Bones, Marlene Mackinnon, Benjy Fenwick, Caradoc Dearborn, Gideon Prewett, Fabian Prewett, Dorcas Meadowes, Lily Potter, James Potter, Alice Longbottom and Frank Longbottom."
Although these were only a few names of many these were the few that Harry had heard of through Moody in his fifth year at school. What really struck him though was the fact his parents were being remembered and not for being his parents but for being themselves.
Two minutes followed filled with nothing but silence and then Snape and Remus moved back to their seats. A small sniffle followed by a babies cry brought everyone back to the present. Just the other side of Ron Ginny stood up and with Hermione and moved to the front.
Harry watched them take their positions, Hermione stood slightly slouched but Ginny was standing tall. Harry knew he was suppose to be listening but he couldn't take his eyes off of Ginny, but forcing himself he began to pay attention.
"I'm Hermione Granger, a muggleborn. I knew nothing of the war that took place between 1960 and 1981 because I was only just two when Voldemort was first defeated. But by the time I was eleven I knew. I saw my friend struggle to prevent Voldemort's return then and he succeeded although no one knew."
"I'm Ginny Weasley and when I was eleven a year later I faced Tom Riddle, Voldemort, in memory form. I'm lucky to be alive I should be dead but I was saved. In 1994 a full year before the ministry believed it Voldemort arose and killed."
Hermione placed an arm around Ginny and Harry could see the way that Ginny leaned into her friend letting her take over. It was no secret that Ginny hated talking about her first year in Hogwarts and to have told the world must have been horrible for her.
"The names you're about to hear were those killed and mentally destroyed by Voldemort between 1982 and 1995 when the ministry finally accepted the truth."
Harry sat there as they spoke the names together.
"Quirinus Quirrell, Gilderoy Lockhart, Bertha Jorkins, Frank Bryce, Cedric Diddory and Sirius Black."
Another two minutes of silence fell as the names sunk in. Harry had never thought of Quirrell as a victim but he had been killed by Voldemort and Lockhart, well the only reason his memory was erased was because they went to save Ginny from Voldemort.
Hearing Cedric's name though forced him to remember that night in the graveyard sending chills down his spine but worse was Sirius' name although the fact he was being remembered as a good guy made him feel better.
It didn't really surprise him that as Ginny and Hermione took their seats Ron stood up and moved to the front of the stage, next to him in his chair was Neville, and it made Harry really think. There had been a time when the two boys stood shoulder to shoulder literally and yet even now when Neville couldn't walk they still stood together shoulder to shoulder.
Harry was brought out of those thoughts as Neville began to speak.
"Longbottom that's me and you'll notice that my parents were named by Snape and Lupin. My parents aren't dead though like me they were spared but serious damage occurred. It's no secret I can't walk but my parents are insane like many other victims."
"Neville's right. People think that the only casualties are those killed but they're not. My own family was ripped apart some killed some in a state worse than death. There is hope for cures though and Harry woke up."
"What Ron means is that the next list are those that are not dead but not quite themselves."
Harry sat there listening to the pair take in turns to say names. They meant more to him than any other list so far since these were people he had known, and the fact that Fred and Mrs Weasley were called out didn't make him feel much better.
Once they had finished Flitwick and McGonagall took charge and gave their own speech naming all those killed and Harry felt his heart flutter slightly when Luna's name was called out. Last to go forward though was Tonks who gave a speech about the ministry and how they had been split before coming together to fight the common enemy.
Once she had taken her seat again Dumbledore stood up and walked to the front, the people sitting were beginning to wriggle and Harry couldn't blame them since it was close to two o'clock and they had been sat there for two hours.
"Thank you for being so patient today we will now take another moments silence as it is two o'clock and as everyone knows it is now exactly three years to the minute Voldemort was defeated."
Silence engulfed the area and Harry realised suddenly that he was right; it must have been around this time the battle had ended after all if had begun early and hadn't lasted too long.
As the time ended Dumbledore looked towards him and he knew it was time for him to come forward. As he stood his legs began to shake, he didn't want to do this he didn't know why he should. But the fact it was the anniversary of the end of the war and he had never told his story the world would want to know.
As Dumbledore took his seat he looked out and felt his hands begin to shake. Looking out he realised for the first time what a big deal this truly was. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before speaking.
"Okay so I guess you all want to know what actually happened here three years ago. Well I defeated Voldemort, the end."
He heard a few people laugh and that gave him more courage.
"Okay honestly it wasn't just me that defeated him; it was a lot of people. You see my friend Hermione she loved the library in school it was a running joke between the rest of us if there was ever a problem she'd head for the library. Well we were all lucky that she did that, you see Hermione found a book filled with these complicated spells."
He cleared his throat a little looking around him.
"It showed a spell for passing emotions onto another person. We'd already discovered that Voldemort's biggest flaw was that he underestimated the impact love had. So using this spell I passed all the love that I had onto him casing him to weaken."
With a smile he turned slightly to look at those sitting behind him.
"If it hadn't been for those people around me I wouldn't have defeated him, I didn't know love as a child because he killed my parents and my godfather was thrown into Azkaban and the people who raised me weren't the best. But my friends they showed me kindness and love as did their families. So although I said the words of the spell and shot the final spell it was their love that defeated Voldemort and I'm thankful for their help."
It was with these words that the ceremony ended and everyone began to move to head to the school and the Great Hall for food.
Okay so it's been a while since I last updated this story, and I must warn this one hasn't been beta read yet coughAnniecough but I've gone through it a few times and it seems alright to me.
Annie I owe you a big thanks for sending over those chapters I'm glad that I sent them to you and I've improved those that I lost. I know you're unhappy with ff but I hope you'll still beta the chapters for me. And that you're doing okay what with everything that is happening in life. Email me when you get a chance.
Jessie what am I doing to you, I'm driving you mad. How are things your end anyway? Nicole had her baby, little Roman he's tiny she was only 26weeks he's in an incubator and everything. He's really pretty though but we're not sure if he'll pull through although we're all praying he will be okay, but the doctors have warned there could be brain damage.
Brilliant Author I missed that line; I honestly don't remember writing about Neville threatening Harry with his wheelchair and sorry it took so long but with me losing the chapters it made it a bit harder to post.
Chica91 thanks so much and things are starting to work together now so here's another chapter for you all.
Harryp123 thanks for the review and hope you like this chapter.
Okay so now my exams have started so it might be a while until I post and like I've just said to Jessie my mate has had her baby, but she's going to be discharged soon but Roman will have to stay in until August at least and I've volunteered to take her back and fore because she doesn't drive, so if you don't hear from me, don't worry I haven't given up on this story.
Kris