Finally Potter

Chapter seventeen

The sun shone down and Harry stood in front of the stage looking out at the group of people. The ceremony was only just starting and Ginny could tell that he was surprised by the differences that this years had over the last.

Harry was alone on the stage and was the one who would be leading in the memorial service that would take place before the party. He had only been involved in the one before so Ginny guessed he was unaware of how each year it was different.

The first year they had just had a service where the students of Hogwarts along with a few invited guests had attended. It had been Ginny's final year in Hogwarts and as Head Girl she had done a special reading while Richard Jenkins the Head Boy had listed those who had been lost.

Then for the second anniversary Ron and Hermione had told the world of Harry's heroics listing all the adventures they had been through and of everything he had had to fight. It had been touching and Ginny still remembered sitting there.

Of course the third year had been special since so many people had been involved and it was of course Harry's first year awake after the ceremony. But this year it was going to be just Harry speaking and nobody else.

Ginny was sat in the front row between Hermione and Neville. She could feel fluttering in her stomach and she looked between the two of them, both were rather pale and she knew it was because they too were thinking of that horrible day four years ago.

Suddenly a silence fell over the audience and Ginny looked up at Harry standing there, he was paler than normal but looked ready to start speaking.

"It has been four years since we've known fear and terror. In the four years of peace the lives of all those affected have altered dramatically and we've all had to come to terms with the way in which our lives have altered. However more importantly and with much more difficulty we have had to come to terms with living without our loved ones and friends. I would like everyone to take the next two minutes to remember those we lost."

As the silence stretched out Ginny closed her eyes and allowed the memories to take over. She remembered sitting in the Burrow with her mother at the cooker making something for them all to eat. Then there would be her father sitting on the chair with his face hidden within the prophet reading up on the latest news.

She could just picture Bill and Charlie sat playing exploding snap while her mum would yell at Bill to get his hair cut. Then Fred and George would be in the corner working on something that they shouldn't be, with every few minutes they would flick something at Percy who was sat on another chair reading a book.

Then she could see Ron opposite her with a chess set between them smiling. She loved this memory of her family, she couldn't even remember if it was real anymore but it didn't matter because her family had always been like that.

As she sat there her memories shifted and she saw Luna sitting next to her in a lesson with Colin on her other side. It was strange how time passed and she didn't like it, she would give anything to have these people back and she knew she wasn't the only one.

"We've all lost a lot of people some more than others and today isn't a day to dwell on the deaths on the sadness, our loved ones would like us to remember them as filled with life and happy. I wish to tell you of some of my own happy memories with those that were lost."

He smiled down at the front row and Ginny smiled happily up at him.

"I think everyone knows of the first people I lost, my parents and it won't come as a surprise for me to say I have no memories of them, but that doesn't mean I haven't learnt about them. Someone dear to me once said that as long as we remember our loved ones they'll never leave us."

Ginny saw the way his focus slipped and his eyes seemed to focus on Remus.

"One of my father's best friends is still alive and he's sitting in the front row. Remus Lupin has become like an uncle to me over the last few years and because of him I can say that my parents live on in a form other than as the parents of the boy-who- lived."

"Then there was my godfather Sirius Black, he was an innocent man believed guilty for something that he never did. He died six years ago saving not only my life but the lives of my friends. He was a heroic man and that's how I'll always remember him."

People around Ginny seemed to be a little confused by what this had to do with the memorial service; he wasn't speaking of how these people died but of their lives and how they touched his. Ginny thought though this was fitting because there was more to these people than death and to most that's all that had been remembered.

"Then there were a group of people that became my family, they welcomed me into their home and showed me love even though they didn't have to. I'm talking of a family that I will soon be legally a part of the Weasleys. Most people know of my relationship with the youngest two of that family, my best friend Ron and fiancée Ginny but their family has been more to me than I can possibly explain."

"Mrs Weasley cared for me as another son, taking care of me, worrying about me and even giving me the same knit wear she always gave her sons. Then there were Fred and George, they lightened the atmosphere for me, I remember my second year when people thought I was the heir of Slytherin they joked about so much that they made me laugh.

"Mr Weasley now he fascinated me because muggles fascinated him. In a time where it was social suicide to have anything to do with muggles he worked with them protecting them from the wizarding menace trying to learn of their ways. They've gone now but the remaining Weasleys still welcome me into their homes."

"Then there was my first fiancée most people know of her but not much about her. Luna Lovegood meant a lot to me and she made me realise that in a world of darkness there can still be light. I lost her and thought I'd never love again because she was perfect for me, but the war altered me so much that all our ideals changed."

Ginny met his eyes and nodded slightly as if trying to indicate that she completely understood what Harry was doing.

"I bet that you're all wondering why I've told you all this but I'm trying to show that the people that you are remembering are more than just victims to Voldemort they were people. Each one was different and meant something to at least one other person. We must never forget what has happened because people died. It is four years ago to the minute that I defeated Voldemort and please join me once more to remember those people that we all cared for that gave their lives so that we could be free."

Ginny sat there once more in silence remembering all her friends and family that she had lost. She hated this day so much but it was a good way to make sure that it was never forgotten.