Ch 68: 20th Anniversary Part 2

They'd planned to meet up with the Potters at 330 so they would have plenty of time to get settled before the 4 pm ceremony. Most people were apparating or flooing to Hogsmeade and then entering through the gates, but McGonagall had arranged for all of the old Order and DA members to floo to her office so they would have more privacy on such a difficult day. Out of habit, Ron insisted on going first to make sure he was comfortable with what they were walking into. As he came through the floo in McGonagall's office, he was greeted by his old professor.

"Welcome Mr. Weasley," she said.

"Afternoon, Professor," he said. "Are you ready for today?"

"Are any of us?" she quipped, a hint of emotion betrayed in her voice. But then the fireplace roared, and Hugo came through, quickly followed by Hermione.

"Welcome!" she said, mask on once again. "The last time I saw you was your wedding day. You still look wonderful. I must say, married life seems to suit you."

"Thank you so much," said Hermione sweetly. "It meant so much to have you conduct the ceremony."

"I can assure you, it was very meaningful to me as well."

"Have the Potters come through yet?"

"No. Not yet. Have you ever known that crew to be early anywhere?"

"I see your point," Hugo nodded thoughtfully while Hermione and Ron tried to suppress their smirks.

"But, I do believe your sister should be here any minute, Hugo."

"Really? I thought she'd have to sit with the other big kids."

"Well, she will for the ceremony, but I asked her to come here now to have a few moments with you first. The Potter children should be coming as well, so I am confident we will hear them coming."

Again, Hermione and Ron bit their cheeks to hide their giggles, but they needn't have worried as there was soon a commotion from the hallway.

"Ahh, here they come now," quipped the professor. She opened the door, and in came James, Al and Rose in their uniforms. Rose quickly hugged her mother, Hugo and Ron. Hermione visited with Rose for a minute while James and Al kept Hugo entertained while they waited. Eventually the fireplace lit up and Lilly stepped through, running to embrace her brothers. She was followed by Harry and finally Ginny who came through muttering things about "never on time," and "even with only one in the house we are still late." Ron smiled and hugged her, assuring his little sister they had only just arrived themselves.

Harry gave Hermione a hug. "Sorry, you'll have to forgive my wife. But, it's better to have her frustrated at me for making her late than focusing on everything else about today."

"No worries at all; it is simply one of those things," nodded Hermione.

Shortly all nine of them made their way through the corridors. Hugo and Lilly had wide eyes, taking in the wonders of Hogwarts being pointed out by their siblings, while the two couples walked quietly, each wizard tightly gripping the hand of his witch. They made their way to the foyer in front of the Great Hall where the stars for each of the fallen covered the walls. Each took a moment to touch the stars they needed to feel close to that afternoon, and then they all made their way outside to where the stage and chairs had been set up. Families were clearly gathering outside of the roped off area, but the Order and DA members and their loved ones were beginning to greet each other and find their reserved seats in the front section of the audience. Harry and Ron each sighed, noting their seats were on the stage instead of with their families. But, neither was surprised at the arrangement. Kingsley arrived, greeting everyone and going over the order of the service with Harry and Ron before rushing off to discuss some obscure detail with McGonagall.

Soon McGonagall let everyone know to take their seats as she was about to let everyone else in. Hugo gave Ron a hug and headed off with Lilly. Hermione pulled Ron to the side, kissed him firmly and then wiped the lipstick off of his mouth.

"I love you so much. You will be great. Ok. I'm off to take my seat. Love you."

"I love you, too," he assured, stealing one more kiss and holding her hand as long as she could while she headed back to the reserved seating area. Ron and Harry headed off stage to stand with the other dignitaries while the public took their seats and the students came in with their houses to watch as well.

Hermione was relieved to be sitting next to Ginny. She wasn't quite sure what to expect, and was grateful when she found herself sitting between Ginny and Hugo. McGonagall brought the group together and started the ceremony, inviting a student choir to sing a song of remembrance to start the service. This was followed by her own personal reflections, and then by Kingsley's brief remarks. Ron was up next and walked solemnly to the podium. Hermione's eyes were glued on him.

He took a deep breath and glanced down at the notes he had on the podium. Hermione had written on them since he last saw them. Across the top it now said, "Take a deep breath. I love you. Own the moment. Love, H"

"Good afternoon everyone. My name is Ron Weasley, and I am the short entertainment between the Minister of Magic and the Chosen One. So, if you are dying to run to the loo, you can safely scoot out right now and be back in your seat before Harry starts talking. We'll all pretend not to notice so just go on." He paused as the audience giggled nervously.

"Well, alright, I must admit I was not asked to simply fill time today. But it certainly takes the pressure of people expecting me to say something profound when I say that first.

"Every year this is an extremely difficult day for me. Honestly, I usually dread it. I spend the day sequestered off with my family and friends trying to make it to the 3rd avoiding both memories and media. But I knew this year would be different. And it is – but not in the way I had initially anticipated.

"I had an interesting conversation with a young witch recently about the 20th anniversary. She helped me realize that it is no longer just students who don't have a personal memory of the time before or during the war. There are now adult witches and wizards who are working at the Ministry or anywhere in our world who have grown up with May 2nd being a day off of school and maybe a day to feel patriotic or proud of being part of the magical English community. But, for those now young adults, May 2nd wasn't a day to remember loved ones who were gone. It was not a day to reflect on decisions they had made – good and bad – that significantly impacted the lives of others. And it was not a day to remember how really tremendous people who were full of flaws and quirks just like everyone else were willing to risk everything to try to be sure that goodness won. That concept was mind blowing for me, I have to admit. I was now so old that legal adults – colleagues even – were too young to remember what that time – what that day exactly 20 years ago– felt like- what it sounded like, tasted like, smelled like and looked like. To them it was only a day from history class. They never saw the horrors, heard the screams, smelled the carnage or tasted the ash and dust and blood. The Battle of Hogwarts was now nothing more than another battle in another text book on another test in History of Magic. Aside from the way that made me rethink my lack of studious attention in that class, it rattled me in a way that this day hasn't in many, many years.

"So, thanks to that conversation, I realized that today couldn't just be me selfishly remembering my brother Fred, or the great number of friends, mentors and teachers I lost that day. It isn't a day I get to selfishly remember the devastation I felt when I thought Harry had died too; or the elation I felt when I realized he hadn't; or the absolute exhausted relief I felt when Riddle finally died. Those are all important pieces, and they are important stories that need to be told and remembered and passed on.

"But what I really want to focus on today are the incredible lessons I learned in those difficult years. Some were things taught to me by people who are here today," he said pausing to look at McGonagall and Harry. "Some were taught to me by people we have lost. And some I learned the hard way over the years reflecting back on those experiences, and being helped and held by those I love the most," he said catching Hermione's eye.

"If we don't learn and remember those lessons, we will end up at war again. And prejudice, hatred, fear and war are not legacies I want to pass along to future generations.

"When I was eleven and came to Hogwarts as a nervous ginger-haired boy in the early 90s, I was thrilled to be sorted into Gryffindor because I thought that meant I must be brave somehow without knowing it. But it wasn't until many years later that I came to realize we each have- and need -the qualities of courage, wisdom, loyalty and cunning. While one may bubble up for the Sorting Hat, we each have the personalities of each house and each founder inside us, and we have to rely on those different aspects of our personalities at different times in our lives. And only once we realize that we are all more alike than different are we able to really appreciate each other's unique talents and skills. Similarly, the status of our blood or family tree is not remotely relevant to how talented of a witch or wizard one can be. I know it sounds ridiculous now, to talk about people being discriminated against or murdered because of their blood status, but that was a very real, very awful part of our world only two decades ago. If we don't remember that we will be some day doomed to repeat it.

"So if our blood status and house don't define us, then what does? My wonderful teacher, Professor Albus Dumbledore, always insisted that it was our choices that defined us. It wasn't the family we were born into, or what talents or treasures we had or even what thoughts we had, but it was what we chose to do with those thoughts that really mattered. We all have both light and dark inside of us, but it is what we act on that matters.

"And, maybe most importantly for me, Professor Dumbledore also helped me understand that we will all make mistakes. We will all make bad choices at some point, but we can't allow those stumbles to define our lives. We have to make the courageous decision to actively seek forgiveness and work to correct whatever harm we may have caused." Ron paused, eyes scanning the audience. Spotting the steely grey eyes he was looking for, he continued, "Over the years I have had to be at all ends of that equation – being both the one to seek forgiveness, being the one trying to accept forgiveness, as well as the one being asked to forgive actions that caused great anguish. And, honestly, I can tell you that none of those was easier than the others. Needing forgiveness, accepting forgiveness and granting forgiveness is tough stuff. Forgiveness and reconciliation - it is difficult, difficult work. It is one thing to win a war. But it is a far other thing to be able to have someone who tried to kill you, or who you tried to kill, and now you have to find a way to not just coexist but to work together somehow. Or, there is the even more challenging dilemma where your child and the child of your former enemy are now best friends. How do you handle that? You may have buried the hatchet so to speak decades ago. But then, suddenly, you realize that you never really moved past it and you still have work to do. But if we can't get to that place where the children of former enemies can be friends, then what was the bloody point of any of it?" Ron paused again, catching Scorp's eye before shifting his gaze back to Draco standing behind the last row. While he was quite a ways from the stage, Ron could see Draco's hand was partially over his mouth and his eyes seemed on the verge of tears. Ron simply nodded at him, took a deep breath and then continued.

"Forgiveness and reconciliation take courage. A lot of it. For both parties. But it is choosing to do that hard work that defines us. Sometimes the choices and actions that define us take courage because we feel we are acting alone, which is scary. Or – maybe even harder than being alone is feeling you have to find the bravery to stand up to your friends," Ron paused to smile at Neville who nodded back appreciatively. "But if we can't trust our friends to tell us when we are out of line, then who will? Find those friends who will tell you when you're being a ruddy idiot. They will save you in the end."

"And sometimes it feels we are all alone and being consumed completely by the darkness. But if there is one thing I know for sure, it is that even the darkest night cannot snuff out even the tiniest candle. The light always has the upper hand. Always. And it can be lonely and scary holding that tiny candle, but the darkness will not and cannot overcome it. We have to choose what is right instead of what is easy. Actually, in my experience, what is easy is pretty much almost always the wrong decision. But, in that lonely, scary, dark night, seeking out others who can help tend that tiny flame makes all the difference. And there are always others, even when you don't realize it. Help will always be there for those who ask for it. So seek it. It will often come from the most surprising places – an elf, a stranger, a friend, someone you thought was an enemy, a neighbor or even – my family will be shocked to hear me say - a book." He paused while the audience laughed again.

"But it isn't about beating the bad guys or making sure your side wins – unless you're the Gryffindor quidditch team and then it should be totally about winning," he teased, garnering more laughter. "No, when it is about one side beating or defeating the other side there will be a winner and a loser. Then there will always be a person or a group on the outside who will naturally try to work to reverse that power imbalance, locking everyone in a never ending power struggle. The way to get rid of an enemy is not to kill them. Trust me on this one. The way to get rid of an enemy is to befriend them and to let them befriend you. Again, that is not easy. I should know, because I still struggle with this a lot. A whole lot. But I know it is the only way to get through it. In many ways that takes much more courage and risks much more of one's heart than pointing a wand at someone in a battle. Once again Dumbledore was right - love has magic beyond the comprehension of any magical scholar. Love can protect and heal more than you could ever imagine.

"My incredible wife, and yes – I am married," he said holding up his ring finger with a smile, "despite what you may or may not have read. My incredible wife is a wonderfully talented witch who was raised in the muggle world and has helped me learn about great muggle leaders across this world's history. One particular one I was struck by was named Martin Luther King Junior. He was an American muggle man about seventy years ago who was trying to help America move through its struggles around racial discrimination. It reminded me a lot of our struggles. Ours had been around blood status. America's struggle was around skin color. All equally irrelevant in what makes someone a good person, but somehow divisive nonetheless. He said something that has really stuck with me. He said that our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

"I want to say that again – our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. Brilliantly simple isn't it? If you see something that matters to you and don't speak up, you lose. Whether it is a classmate saying mean things about someone else and you stay silent, or sitting quietly through a meeting where someone is trying to enact legislation that would hurt a group of people, even if it wouldn't hurt you. If it matters and you say nothing, your life has begun to end. You lose a part of yourself. Silence is agreement pure and simple. It feels easy to stay silent. It feels neutral, but it is not. Silence is a slippery slope. I heard it then, 'well if the muggle-borns have nothing to hide, then why don't they report to the muggle born commission.' If it is wrong, you must speak up. Even if – or maybe especially if – it puts you at risk to do so. But in speaking out - in protecting that flame of that tiny candle, you will eventually find your ways to others doing the same. And even if it feels hopeless, you have to keep at it and trust that the long arc of history always bends towards justice. And you have to trust that good you put out into the world will grow and make its way back to you. It might not be in the time frame you have in mind, but in the long run, it will come back.

"How different would all of our lives have been if some neighbor had watched the horrible way Tom Riddle was being treated as an infant or growing up in an orphanage and stepped in to show him love? How different would it have been if someone had taken the time to pull him aside and help put him on another path? Would it have been hard? Yes. Would it have been risky? Yes. Would it have been right? Yes.

"So – my challenge to each of you today is to find one thing in the next week. Find one thing that when you see it you feel uncomfortable. And then do something about it. That doesn't mean do something crazy. Maybe it is simply inviting the person who usually eats alone to join you instead. Maybe it is taking supper to the elderly neighbor who never has visitors. Maybe it is speaking up at work and challenging an idea which could lead things in a wrong direction. Maybe it is asking someone who speaks to you inappropriately to change their tone. The more people who speak up early on, the better off we will all be.

"As a father – and yes, I became a father to two amazing children through the miracle of adoption rather late in my life which hasn't been in in the press either. I am sure the Prophet will have a field day with me tomorrow. Anyway – my children have taught me the importance of being true to who you were born to be. You just can't be someone you are not, so why waste your time? Being your authentic self takes courage. But it will make it easier to listen to your gut when you are already practiced in listening to your inner compass. Don't aspire to be an imaginary hero. Be yourself – nothing more, nothing less. There were a lot of amazing people at Hogwarts twenty years ago, and many of them we call heroes, but none of them were perfect. I knew a lot of them very well, and they would have all been very uncomfortable with the title of hero. But they would have been very embracing of being known as people who were true to themselves. They spoke up when they could not stand to be silent. They showed up when they could not stand to be absent. They risked it all for what mattered. And they all paid the ultimate price. The way to honor their sacrifices is not to pretend they were saints or perfect or even necessarily nice people. Well – none were perfect. Some were nice. You have to trust me on that too. Honor them by being yourself. Honor them by speaking up when it matters. Honor them by showing up when it matters. Listen to your gut. It will tell you what to do. Honor the fallen by doing what needs to be done.

"I have another challenge specifically for the group that I now can't believe I fall into – to that group of now old, stodgy fogies who cannot comprehend the fact that that horrible, bloody, dusty, terrifying, never-ending day was two decades ago. The challenge is this: we can no longer hold this sacred day aside to protect ourselves and our hearts and grieve in private. May 2nd cannot be only about remembering those who were hit by a curse, or a wall," here he paused to collect his composure. "It can no longer be a day off to hide at home and drown privately in our awful nightmarish memories washed down with too much firewhisky. It has to be about making sure new generations can avoid having their own war. It can't just be about teaching new generations about the family members they never got to know. It has to be about teaching those new generations about challenging prejudices – prejudices we may not even know we have. It won't be easy. Trust me, it is not a simple day for me either. Some nightmares never leave you. But if all I can do to sooth them is to work to teach others how to not be doomed to repeat those errors, then that is what I must do.

"And, if you will allow me one moment of personal remembrance today, I just have to say a couple short things. My older brother Fred who died twenty years ago today would have been forty this year. Forty! Blimey. That's hard to believe. Anyway, as pretty much all of you know Fred and George knew early on that their vocation was to make people laugh. And trust me, growing up the younger brother of prankster twins was no cake walk. There was quite a bit of hazing in my early years. Finishing off Tom Riddle was much easier in some ways. That said, as I grew older I began to understand how both Fred and George understood the power of laughter. Even in the darkest times we all need to laugh. Really -especially in those time. I remember the year after their now infamous departure from Hogwarts they opened their store in Diagon Alley. I went to visit it in August and was amazed. Their store was packed. Full of kids. Full – absolutely full up. The rest of the street was practically abandoned. You couldn't even buy a wand or get robes or anything. But if you wanted candy to make your little sister suddenly have the head of a hamster, you had to stand in a long line at their shop to give my Hogwarts drop out brothers your sickles and knuts. And it was because we all really needed a good laugh. When Harry and I were out on the mission to bring down Riddle, one night we were able to catch the Potterwatch broadcast on the wireless. We had been desperate for news and were so relieved to listen. But then Fred and George happened to be on it. And they were hilarious. Absolutely barmy. And the power and encouragement and strength we took from moment of laughter to release the stress and just feel good for a bit – well, that was what really enabled us to face the quite dark and difficult weeks ahead. I hope that in honor of, well, of Fred I suppose, but also really in honor of everyone who was brave enough to laugh in the face of utter fear – I hope that you will find a way to laugh this week. I'm not talking about one of those nervous giggles – you know the kind a sort of 'hehehehehe' bizarrely Umbridge like laugh. Yuck. No, I am talking about full on, belly laughter, tears coming out of your eyes, snot coming out of your nose, maybe have to run to the loo kind of laughter. Someone will come out tomorrow and say I am trying to plug my brother's shop, and that is not what I am saying. You don't have to buy anything to laugh. You just have to seek it out. I promise you – it will make life better for you and those around you.

"And, finally, speaking of the loo, I think I have gotten about to my time now, so everyone who ran off for a loo break but wanted to be back in time to hear Harry, well, I think they are all back now. Yup, I see my mum's made it back so I think we are good to go. Right Mum?" he asked as he winked at his mum.

"Finally, Thank you for being here today. Thank you for not using this day as an excuse to sleep in or buy a cheap jumper or something. And thank you in advance for taking up my challenges – my challenge to speak up and act as well as to laugh. If you were there – if you lived through this like I did, then please make a point to share your experience with someone too young to remember. It is not just about the dramatic battle stories. But share what you have really learned about the dangers of prejudice and silence. If your only memory of this day is of a school holiday, then seek out someone who was there. Talk to them, learn from them, listen to them. And then celebrate with them. Because, as Dumbledore said, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if only one remembers to turn on the light."

With that, Ron clicked the deluminator and sent a little ball of light to the large torch in the center of the stage from which families would later light their candles to honor each name recorded on the wall. He glanced down and realized that he had only spoken for around ten minutes, but he managed to have the crowd cry, laugh and smile. He glanced at Hugo and Hermione who were applauding wildly for him, and he could simply feel how proud Hermione was of him. Fuck he loved that witch. He nodded his head appreciatively of the applause from the audience which was now on its feet. Finally, he stepped away from the podium and walked back towards his seat, passing Harry as he went. They exchanged what looked to everyone else like a solemn handshake. But, the interaction was actually quite different.

"You tosser. How am I supposed to follow that?"

"What can I say? You married a quidditch player. I married a brilliant writer."

"For the 25th Hermione just does the speech for the both of us."

"Sorted."

He took his seat, letting out a great sigh of relief when he felt McGonagall's hand pat his knee.

"That was bloody brilliant, Mr. Weasley."

"Thank you, Professor," he said with a bit of a smirk.

"I think both Fred and Albus would have approved. And maybe even Severus. And that, Mr. Weasely," McGonagall said with an arched brow, "is a rare accomplishment."

"I'd say so," Ron replied. He shook his head in laughter and the two turned their attention to Harry who was beginning to speak.

The rest of the ceremony was a blur for Ron. There were more speeches, songs by the school choir and then it closed with the reading of the names of the lost with the family and friends standing to light a candle in honor of each. He had stood with his new wife and children as he heard name after familiar name read out. Though he had endured this ritual many times, it was never easy. But, this time he was experiencing it for the first time through the eyes of Hermione, Hugo and Rose. While he had worried it would be too much for Hugo, the young boy rose to the occasion and stoically honored the uncle he would never know. Hermione, however, was much more emotional than either she or Ron had anticipated. Then they'd made it through the final benediction by McGonagall and finally the ceremony was over.

As much as Ron wanted to immediately head home, he had to smile and shake hands with what felt like hundreds of people. Hermione gave his hand a squeeze and promised to find him later before she stepped back from the crowds with the kids. Rose begged to take Hugo around the castle, so Hermione found herself sitting on an old stone wall overlooking a lake mourning the two boys who had been brothers to her. She let herself give in to the tears, knowing that while she had grieved their deaths before, today was the first time she had truly seen how Collin was remembered and honored by so many. It was so strange to think that the secret of her magic had kept her from knowing Dennis and Collin as she should have. But maybe it also protected her from being a name read aloud at the ceremony today. Lost in memories and tears, she startled as she heard a person coming up behind her, but she smiled when she saw it was Harry.

"Hi, Hermione," he called. "Sorry. Didn't mean to frighten you."

"No. No, I was just lost in thoughts," she said.

"Are you alright?" he asked tentatively. "It must be strange to come in to see all of this for the first time," he observed, taking a seat next to her on the wall.

"I suppose I'm as good as could be expected. But, do you know what is the most surreal? It is knowing that Collin and Dennis, who I knew and loved as brothers, experienced all of this, and I had no idea. Seeing Collin honored today - well, it sort of set me over the edge. I have missed him for years, but I never knew he died in an act of heroism and bravery."

"He wasn't supposed to be here, you know?"

"Pardon?" Hermione asked quietly.

"Collin. He was muggle born, so he hadn't been at school that year. It wasn't safe. And then word spread between the students who had been so supportive that Ron and I were back at Hogwarts and that we were all going to fight Voldemort that night. Of course Ron and I hadn't meant for that to happen, but controlling rumors in that environment was just about impossible. Anyway, Collin just showed up. Stubborn git. He wasn't even of age. McGonagall tried to get him to leave or stay somewhere safe, but he wasn't having it. Said it was the right thing to do."

"I had no idea," she whispered.

"And then I saw his body," Harry said, his voice cracking. "Voldemort said he knew I would give up when I started seeing my friends die for me. And he was almost right. When I saw Collin's body…well. I was pretty close to giving in at that. And then Fred, and then Teddy's parents. Well. It was a shite day."

"I'd say that's the understatement of the century," she scoffed.

"Fair," he conceded. They sat there quietly for a moment watching a hawk circle the lake in the setting sun.

"That was an amazing speech you wrote for Ron," Harry said. "And that piece that was published – you're an incredible writer, Hermione."

"Thanks," she laughed. "Ron and I worked hard on both the essay and the speech. But, Harry, he didn't read the speech I wrote. He improvised up there. That was all him."

"What? He said you wrote his speech."

"I did. I think it's still up there on the podium. It just didn't end up being the speech he gave today."

"Well, that is incredible. I don't know if I am more amazed to realize he could come up with that on his own or confused as to why he said you wrote it."

"Oh, Harry. You know Ron. Always the master chess player. Doesn't want to give away all of his tricks. But I figure as long as you and I work together behind his back we can keep him from doing anything too sacrificially stupid."

Harry stared at his best friend's wife with an open mouth. Finally he put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her into a side hug. "I am so glad you came along, Hermione. Keeping track of Ron had become much too big of a job for me to do alone."

At that they both started laughing, releasing much built up tension from the day.