Chapter 4

Saying Goodbye

Miles back at Grimmauld Place, Ginny Weasley bolted upright in her bed after having an interesting dream. As the initial shock wore off, she found that her mind had gone blank. She couldn't remember the dream. She searched her mind but found that the memory was gone. Ginny sat there for a moment before standing up and making her way down to breakfast.

When she made it down to the breakfast table, Ginny was surprised at the guests at the table. Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore sat at the table speaking to Tonks. She felt a blush creep up as she figured out she was wearing her fuzzy pink robe and bunny slippers.

Bidding them hello, Ginny quickly slid into a seat at the table next to Hermione. She gave her friend a sad smile.

"Morning dear," Molly said in monotone as she handed her daughter a plate of bacon and eggs. Ever since Sirius, Remus, and Harry died she had not been the same. It was like she had lost a part of herself. Harry was as much as a son as Ron was and Sirius and Remus kept Molly from falling apart from the pressures of having her family so involved in the war. Now, there was no one who could fill their space.

"Morning mum," Ginny replied. She dug into her eggs hoping to not be included in any conversation. That was not the case.

"Ginny, we were just talking about how we think we should have a dinner in memory of," Ron choked a bit. Lately, he had been having problems saying their names but he continued on, "Harry, Remus, and Sirius." He looked up at his sister.

Her stomach plummeted. This dinner would mean that Harry was really gone; that they were all gone. Her voice failed her so Ginny just nodded in response. She studied her eggs for a while, playing with them and moving them about her plate.

"Miss. Weasley, I know this is something that is very hard for you but it is also hard for us. We need to grieve and this may be our final time to do so. The war is starting," Dumbledore said to the youngest Weasley.

Ginny looked up and met Dumbledore's intense eyes. She nodded again, trying to understand how he could hide his emotions and fears so well. Ginny couldn't imagine just putting the lose behind her. It was too hard but she had to do it. She had to hide her sadness and fear just like her headmaster.

Hermione threw down her napkin and quickly excused herself. She ran up the stairs and the sound of a slamming door nearly shook the entire house. Ron and Ginny glanced at each other before excusing themselves and following Hermione.

The two Weasley's rushed up the stairs after Hermione. Ginny opened the door to her bedroom and sighed as Hermione sat on the bed, tears falling down her face.

"What's wrong Hermione?" Ron asked concernedly. He walked quickly into the room and sat next to her.

"I just don't want to accept that their gone. I mean Harry was… is our best friend. We can't just give up on him! The same goes for Sirius and Remus," she said frustrated. Her hands formed into fists.

"Hermione," Ron said standing up and kneeling in front of her, "Harry's gone. It's so hard for me to say that but it's true. Now, he's probably happy; Sirius and Remus too. They may finally be at peace."

"NO! HE'S…HE'S… ANGRY! SOMETHING! HE WOULDN'T HAVE WANTED TO DIE! DON'T YOU DARE TELL ME THAT RONALD WEASLEY!" instead of Hermione, Ginny screamed those words at her brother. Her face matched her hair and she could feel herself begin to sob.

"Ginny, he can see his parents," Ron told her almost pleadingly, "I loved Harry like he was my brother. He was the greatest friend anyone could ever have and I don't think my life will ever be the same without him but I can't stay and grieve for him for the rest of my life. Knowing Harry, he wouldn't want it that way for any of us," Ron's voice became thick with emotion and he looked away from the two girls.

Hermione turned to Ron and cried into his shoulder. He slowly put an arm around her and sighed. Ginny stood where she was sobbing, not sure what she should do with herself. The reality of the situation was setting in and she wasn't sure she could take it.

Ron opened an arm up and motioned with his hand for his little sister to come to him. Ginny put a hand on her face, wiping the tears and made her way to her brother. She fell into his arms and let her tears fall once again. Now, more than ever, they needed each other.

Outside the door, Tonks stood with Molly listening to the crying teenagers.

"Molly, this is terrible. They've have just lost their best friend and we can't do anything!" Tonks said quietly to Mrs. Weasley.

Molly turned to a very sad and angry looking Tonks. She was surprised at her appearance. It was here that she knew how much Tonks was hurting. She looked more like Sirius than she knew but some aspects of her appearance fit Remus'. Only Molly knew the relationship going on between the werewolf and young Auror.

"I… I don't know. The only way we can do is to let them grieve. I think that the going away dinner should do them some good," she answered. In all honestly, this probably was the only situation Molly Weasley did not know what to do. She had tried so hard to make things better but a hearty breakfast and a family dinner wouldn't close this wound.

"No stupid dinner is going to help everyone get past this Molly. I miss them, I miss the way each one of them treated me with respect even though I'm so young and naive kid. We could've done something back there but now their dead and as for the rest of us," Tonks turned her back to Molly and whispered with a voice unlike her own, "it really is only a matter of time."

The rest of the day for the young teenagers was spent in Ginny and Hermione's room. Ron, who had not slept in his old room since Harry's parting, refused to even step foot in there now. He had told his mother of the many memories he had from the room and understandingly, Molly allowed Ron to walk around in a fish-smelling shirt after he dropped his lunch on his shirt. That day was spent in silence. Ron sat on the bed staring into space while Ginny and Hermione sat on the ground with their heads together.

"I miss Harry's stupid hair," Hermione grumbled suddenly, catching them all off guard. The sound made their head's pop up from surprise. Ginny chuckled.

"Yeah, me too," Ginny commented fiddling with her fingers. She wistfully looked up and imagined Harry; running his fingers through his hair while he nervously studied his potions book.

"You know what I miss?" Ron added quietly from his corner. The two girls looked at him and waited for his answer, "I miss when he used to play chess with me and when he'd lose he'd say 'I was distracted' or 'this chessboard has something against me'," Ron smiled a distant smile remembering his friend.

"I miss his eyes," Ginny said, "and I miss how he made me laugh, how he made me happy when I was sad, how he would hold the door open for me if we were together, and I miss how tall he was and when he'd talk to me he'd have to lean down a bit," Ginny continued on, not noticing the looks on Ron and Hermione's faces, "I miss his laugh and I miss the way he crinkles his nose when he doesn't like something..." Ginny could've carried on but stopped herself.

"Oh god," she thought, "did I say that out loud?"

Ginny looked up to find Ron and Hermione gapping at her. Ron looked utterly confused but Hermione looked as though she was calculating something in her head. Suddenly, she put a hand on her mouth and a smile crept onto her face.

"Oh my gosh! Ginny! You still fancy Harry, don't you?" Hermione gasped. Ron suddenly became aware and looked from Hermione to his sister.

Ginny blushed crimson and turned around to look at the window, "More like did."

"Ginny! Why didn't you say you fancied him?" Ron asked standing up and going over to his sister.

Not turning from the window, Ginny answered, "It's embarrassing, okay! He's my brother's best mate and my best friends other best friend! It'd be weird!"

Hermione looked at Ginny while Ron burst out laughing. His laughter was loud and hysterical and Ginny's face turned even redder. Hermione soon joined in, falling to the floor clutching her stomach.

"Oh you guys are such hypocrites! You both like each other. Hermione, you're to nervous to admit and Ron, you're to thick to even know that you do!" Ginny yelled over the laughter. Suddenly they both became quiet.

"W-What?" Ron stuttered.

"You heard me," Ginny said with her hands on her hips. It was their turn to blush. She knew she had them. There was no way out now.

"Ha! Look now! Both of you, admit you like each other before it's too late," she told her brother and her friend in an all-knowing kind of voice.

Hermione turned to Ron, "Fine. Ron, I fancy you," she answered causing Ginny to squeal in delight.

Ron looked startled at Hermione then broke out into a smile.

"Well Ron? You feel the same way about Hermione, don't you?" Ginny questioned.

"Yes," he mumbled bashfully.

Hermione's face broke into a large smile and she hugged Ron tightly which he gladly returned. She smiled. Seeing them happy made Ginny somewhat happy. At least someone found happiness and although it wasn't her, Ginny was glad it was Ron and Hermione. They deserved it.

As the dinner approached, the three friends found themselves not looking forward to it. When Mrs. Weasley finally called them down, they shared a determined look and made their way to the dining room slowly and remorsefully.

When they reached the dinning room, people were already being seated. Among them was the entire Weasley clan, the advanced guard that had picked up Harry from Privet Drive that summer, and surprisingly enough, Professor Snape. He had his usual 'I-hate-the-world-and-my-life' scowl on his face. Ginny noticed immediately that he was sitting a considerable amount away from everybody else.

The kids walked to their seats and the table lapsed into silence as Dumbledore stood up. He held a glass on wine and held a somber look on his face.

"We are here to remember those who we have lost. Remus Lupin was a wonderful man. He was a bright pupil and was best friends with James Potter and Sirius Black. He was indeed a werewolf but in real life he a very different man. He was quiet and preferred reading over many things but one thing was for sure: he was one of the kindest and most loving men you would ever meet in your lifetime. I had the pleasure of being his headmaster and being in his presence. I know that everyone here respected him as an adult figure and good friend.

"Sirius Black was definitely a different person than Remus. He was falsely imprisoned for murders he did not commit but after those long years in Azkaban Prison he came back and all he wanted to do was care for his godson. He was a loving man who was quite the kid. He was followed around by many young ladies in his years at Hogwarts and cared for his friends, especially James Potter. He loved him like a brother. Although he was born into the infamous Black family, Sirius defied their rules and beliefs and became a better person than even I could imagine. He entertained us in these dark times and would easily have died to help anyone from young Miss. Weasley to even Severus Snape," Albus turned his gaze to Severus who showed no sign of emotion on his pale, peaky face.

Dumbledore took a breath before finishing his speech.

"Then there was young Harry Potter. He was no ordinary boy. I know that if he is indeed watching us he would be flattered and quite embarrassed to hear what so many people have to say about him. He was a very kind young man and one of the best quidditch players I have ever seen in my many years at Hogwarts. He cared for so many people and would have died for any one of us. This boy was destined for big things and his life was cut short. All of us here owe Harry our lives since he has saved us all more than once before. I know that his friends," Dumbledore looked directly at Ron and Hermione who were sitting quietly avoiding everyone's gaze, "cared about Mr. Potter and the people here were considered his family.

"None of them deserved death. We are here to say goodbye. Goodbye to our friends and family. You will always be remembered as great people," Albus concluded raising his glass high in the air.

He looked up and nodded to the group sitting around the table. Just as he sat down, a bang came from above and a yell of pain emitted through out the house.

Ginny was the first to get up and went on a steady run up to where the bang came from. She sprinted up the stairs and it was silent only for a moment.

"HARRY!"