Chapter 32: In Loving Memory
The next few days passed by slowly. Harry spent as much time as he possibly could with Ginny, Ron, and Hermione. He and Ginny told Rosemerta that they were moving back to the school for the last few days that they would be there before going home to the Burrow. Rosemerta had not been surprised and offered her assistance saying that she had thoroughly loved having them stay in the flat. Harry respectfully turned down her offer but found himself in possession of a large quantity of her mulled mead as well as several cases of butterbeer and three bottles of Ogden's Old Firewhiskey. When he tried to give some of it back Rosemerta refused to take it telling him that, as he ought to be thinking about celebrating life free of Voldemort, she felt that he would make better use of the drinks. Harry thanked her but refused to take anything without paying for it. Rosemerta relented but finally caved in when Harry made a point to remind her that she would have to replace the drinks later.
Harry also found himself thinking constantly about the early close of term. He had not sat his NEWTs and was not sure of what he should do. He knew that these thoughts were really a distraction from the real reasons that he was worried and confused but it was all he had at the moment.
It was mid day on the fourth day after the battle and Harry was sitting with Ginny eating lunch. Professor McGonagall made her way to the top of the hall and called for everyone's attention.
"This evening at five o'clock we will be holding a candle light memorial for those who so bravely gave their lives defending our world. As I know that there will be a number of you attending more personal memorials when you leave here, I am allowing anyone who wishes to speak at the memorial to do so. I feel it would do us good to remember our family and friends as a group before we all face the sorrows of the coming days as those heroes are laid to rest," Professor McGonagall said.
Harry looked at his wife seemingly caught between what he wanted to do and what he wanted to avoid.
"You don't have to say anything Harry, you can just go to the memorial and say nothing," Ginny said reassuringly.
"I know, but I feel like I should speak," Harry replied.
"Then you have to decide whether you will, or even if you can," Ginny told him.
"That's just it. I don't know if I can, at least not alone," Harry said softly.
"Then you won't be alone, I'll go with you if you speak," Ginny reassured him.
Harry knew that Ginny would do her best to comfort and support him if he decided to speak but he also felt like someone else's presence would be a bit more comforting. Ginny picked up on his thoughts through his feelings. She understood why he might find another presence more comforting and decided that she would do something about it.
"Let's go for a walk," she said, standing and holding her hand out to him.
Harry nodded and took her hand in his as he stood. Ginny led Harry out onto the grounds and took him in the direction of the lake. She pulled him close so that she could wrap her arm around his waist and hold him close to her. Harry sighed in saddened contentment as he wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulders. Ginny started talking to Harry hoping to keep him distracted long enough to keep her intended destination a secret until the last possible moment. She kept her disappointment in Harry's need well hidden only because she understood why he needed to feel like he had the person that they were going to visit's support if he spoke. She did, however, feel his heart telling him that he would need her just as much. After several minutes Ginny saw her destination and noticed that Harry had started to work out where they were going. When they were just a few meters away Ginny stopped and turned to Harry. She took both of his hands in hers as she looked into his eyes.
"Harry the reason I brought you here is so that you can talk to him or do whatever you need to do to feel like he is with you. I'm going to stay over here so that you have some privacy. Now, you go and take as much time as you need and remember that I'll be close if you need me," she told him.
Harry pulled Ginny into a tight hug. As he held her Harry whispered his thanks and kissed her cheek.
Harry approached the White Tomb slowly, thinking about what he wanted to say. When he looked upon the smooth surfaces he felt a lump form in his throat. He knelt down just a few centimeters away and brought his hand up to touch the polished stone surface. As a tear slowly rolled down his cheek Harry began to speak. He told his mentor and friend about everything that had happened since his last visit so many months ago when Hermione had promised to cover for him. He told of his horcrux hunt and his battles with dark wizards and creatures alike. He told of his marriage to Ginny and Ron's proposal to Hermione. He lastly told of the final battle and the deaths that had occurred. As he finished he asked for some way to always remember those whom had sacrificed themselves to help him win and the courage and guidance he would need to speak at the memorial service. It was then that his resolve broke and tears spilled forward. He sat for some undetermined amount of time crying for those who were gone and those loved ones they left behind. Just when Harry felt he couldn't bring himself to continue, he heard something in the gentle breeze that had picked up.
"Remember, Harry, those we love never truly leave us but remain in our hearts forever."
Harry smiled sadly when he heard those words that he had heard seven years ago when he was caught staring in the Mirror of Erised. Those words had been said to him by the very person whom would have comforted him as much as his wife, the same person whom lay in the tomb before him.
Harry got to his feet and waved Ginny over to him.
"Thanks for understanding," he said as he pulled her into his arms.
"You don't need to thank me love, I knew that you needed this," she replied.
The couple stood together looking into each other's eyes saying, without words, how much they loved each other.
At five o'clock Harry and Ginny made their way into the Great Hall just ahead of the Weasleys. They had chosen to sit near the end of the row so that they could easily get out when the time came for them to speak. When everyone was seated, Professor McGonagall stood and took her place at the top of the hall. With a wave of her wand everyone present found a white candle floating in front of them. As each person took their candle the taper lit with a softly glowing flame. Harry stared at the flame for a moment before Ginny told him that the color of the flame represented the sorrow and hurt in each person's heart. Harry's flame was glowing a deep purple-blue which Ginny told him meant that his sorrow was very strong. Harry looked around the room seeing only two other purple flames, one of which was Ginny's and the other was Neville's. Most of the flames were glowing a deep crimson and a few were orange which told Harry, by Ginny's brief list, that most of the people were in a deep grief but were being comforted. Professor McGonagall lowered the light in the hall and spoke.
"Students, parents, teachers, and friends, we have come together this evening to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our world four days ago. On this sad occasion we gather here as one group to honor these brave people's lives and support each other in our sorrow. As only three of you have chosen to speak this evening, I'd like for us to take a moment and think about those we have lost."
Professor McGonagall went silent and looked over the hall. She saw many people clinging to friends and family, supporting each other in their grief. She saw many who looked dazed, as if waking up from a nightmare only to find that the dream had come true. She saw tears and smiles as each person thought about the friends and loved ones they were remembering.
When Professor McGonagall felt that enough time had passed she spoke again.
"As I said, there are three people who wish to speak tonight. The first is Zacharias Smith who lost his cousin in battle".
Zacharias stood and walked slowly to the top of the hall and turned to face everyone.
"Thank you, Professor. As you all know I lost a cousin in the battle four days ago. His name was Jonathan and he was in Gryffindor. I remember when he first came to Hogwarts. He was completely in awe of the castle. When he was sorted into Gryffindor he was both excited and disappointed. He was excited that he had stayed out of Slytherin but was a bit disappointed that he had been sorted into the same house as Harry Potter. You see he was afraid that he would have to live up to the reputation of the Boy-Who- Lived after he had heard about Harry saving the Sorcerer's Stone from Voldemort in his first year and then saving Ginny Weasley in his second. He felt that he would never have the courage to do something like that. I stand here now to tell all of you that my cousin was one of the most courageous people in my family. I would even venture to say that he was the one true Gryffindor in a family that has been in Hufflepuff for generations".
Zacharias held his candle aloft for a second before slowly making his way back to his seat. Harry watched the once arrogant young man sit down and made a mental note to speak to him after the memorial. Professor McGonagall stood again and looked out across the hall.
"Thank you Mr. Smith. Now we will hear from Ginny Potter".
Ginny looked at Harry for a moment before rising from her seat and making her way to the top of the hall.
"I'm sure you all know who I am and who my family is, and who my husband is so I'll try to get through this. My brother, Percy, sacrificed himself to save his three younger brothers' lives. As many of you know he was first Prefect, and then Head Boy and he was very ambitious about starting a career with the Ministry. What you may not know is that same person had a side that only his family saw. He was often trying to look out for his younger siblings and, even though he came across as a prat most of the time, always proud of each of us. He also wanted the best things to happen for each of us. But most of all Percy loved all of us. As a Prefect he cared about everyone in his house succeeding in everything that they did and that didn't change when he became Head Boy. I know that almost everyone saw him as a prat but that only went as deep as his skin. Behind all of that he had the heart of a true Gryffindor. Most of us only got to see it when it was too late. As we are assembled tonight, I want each of you to remember what this conflict was about and think hard. Percy and so many others fought four days ago for a better world without petty prejudices over blood. Don't let their sacrifice be in vain".
Most of the crowd had tears in their eyes as Ginny finished her speech. Just before she turned to walk back to her sear, Ginny felt Professor McGonagall's hand on her shoulder.
"Our final speaker will be Harry Potter, who has requested that his wife be with him while he speaks," Professor McGonagall said.
Harry looked up to Ginny silently pleading with her to come to his side so that he could walk with her. Ginny understood and walked quickly to her empty seat. Harry stood and put his arms around her, pulling her into a hug, before running his hands down her arms to take her hands. Ginny smiled a bit as she felt his fingers interlace with hers knowing that his candle was floating between them as a symbol of their shared loss. Ginny's candle, which was still floating at the top of the hall, began to glow with a softer purple flame instead of the dark purple-blue that it had been. The couple walked slowly to the top of the hall hand in hand with Harry's candle between them. When they reached the place where Harry would speak, Harry drew his wand and conjured a tall candle stand. He placed his candle in it as Ginny did the same with hers. They then stood together facing the crowd.
"For all of the nicknames I've been given, none of them have ever said anything about me. Today I came up here intending to share with you about my loss, and I will do that, but I also want to share something about me. You know my story probably better than I do so I'll skip all of that and begin with seven years ago. I walked into this castle as a first year with no family to speak of and one friend, who I had just met that day. As the year went on and we arrived at Halloween I gained another friend when I helped save her life from a full grown troll. Most of you know this and know that we've been nearly inseparable since then. What you don't know is that those two people are as much my brother and sister now as they are my best friends. Not very long after that I gained Neville as a friend and he showed me what it was to truly be a Gryffindor. You also know how the rest of that year went. Six years ago that first friend and his twin brothers broke me out of my muggle family's house and brought me to their home. That was when I got to meet the two people who have been as much my mum and dad as my own parents would have been. It is true that I met Mrs. Weasley one year earlier but that was so brief that I never truly found anything out. I also got to meet this very special young woman standing next to me. It is true that I had no idea then how much she would mean to me, but then again, most twelve year old boys have no idea of how nice girls are. Much later that same year, I saved that young woman's life from a monster. Little did I know that my act of love had bonded our souls. The following year I came to school and met the man I am up here to remember today along with my godfather. Remus Lupin told me about my parents and eventually about how my family was betrayed by someone that they thought was a friend. Well, we all know that Sirius got away and that year ended. My fourth year I found myself in a desperate challenge in the Tournament and witnessed on of the first deaths in this war. You all remember me appearing with Cedric's body. Then my fifth year came and I was called a nutter. It was then that I learned the value of my friends when the rest of the world had turned their back on me. You all know about my trip to the Department of Mysteries and that I lost my godfather, but I gained a large number of friends outside of my house and got to know Ginny. In my sixth year I learned everything Professor Dumbledore knew about Voldemort. I also realized my feelings for Ginny but I was a fool. When we all lost Professor Dumbledore I broke Ginny's heart by leaving her. Over this last summer Ginny and I reconciled our differences and I realized that I love her more than life itself. We were married in this very room on Valentine's Day and I don't think I could have been happier. Only four days ago I lost Remus Lupin, Percy Weasley, and Jonathan Smith. Each of these people sacrificed their lives so that I could keep going and win the war. Remus saved my life by distracting Snape, Jonathan held off several Slytherins which made sure that I could keep going and Percy was a member of my family. The point is that, even though I fought Voldemort, I was always surrounded by people who love me and they always helped me. The reason I bring all of this up is so that you all know that the three people we remember today made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could all see a world free from hatred based on blood. Jonathan, as Zacharias said, was a true Gryffindor through and through. He was loyal and brave to the very end. Percy showed his true colors when he fought overwhelming odds to protect his younger brothers. Remus, he was my last remaining link to a family that I lost when I was only a year old. I know…"
Harry's voice cracked and failed as his tears began to fall. Ginny pulled Harry into a hug but it only made him cry a little harder. Mrs. Weasley immediately jumped from her seat and ran forward, closely followed my Mr. Weasley and all of Ginny's brothers. Hermione ran forward too and had just reached Harry as he fell to his knees trying to get control of himself. Ginny knelt down on one side of Harry while Hermione knelt on the other. Mrs. Weasley knelt down in front of Harry and pulled him to her.
"Harry I'm here, it'll be okay. Mum's here," she said softly.
Harry collapsed against Mrs. Weasley and felt Ginny lean against his back with her arms around him. He slowly got his emotions under control and his tears slowed to a point that he could steady himself. Together Mrs. Weasley and Ginny helped Harry to his feet. Hermione stepped over and pulled Harry into a hug.
"You feel better," she asked.
"Not really," Harry answered.
"Well your family's all here Harry, we're all here for you," Hermione said softly.
Harry hugged Hermione back and turned to the Weasleys.
"Thanks," he said.
Ginny took his hands in hers, looking into his eyes.
"That's what families do Harry. They support each other," she said.
Harry smiled and then turned to face the Hall.
"I'm sorry everyone. Remus was a very good friend and I know he was as brave as they come. I also know that he was happy. He leaves behind his beloved wife, whom should be standing here now as well, but he's gone to be with his best friends. He's in a much better place now and he'll be happy while he waits for you Dora. My mum and dad and Sirius will make sure of that. So, I ask all of you to remember not only the three people we lost four days ago but all of those who have given their lives in this war".
With that Harry turned and nodded to Professor McGonagall. She nodded in return and gave a wave of her wand. With a flash of light a smooth white stone tablet appeared. Harry drew his wand and wrote on the stone.
In Loving Memory of Those Who Have Sacrificed Their Lives in the Second War.
Remus Lupin
Percy Weasley
Jonathan Smith
Albus Dumbledore
Sirius Black
Cedric Diggory
May their sacrifice never be forgotten, may their souls rest in peace.
He then levitated the tablet and moved it to the doors of the Great Hall. With a wave of his wand Harry mounted it to the door so that anyone who passed through it would see the tablet. He turned and walked back to his seat with his family after he had done this. Professor McGonagall stood and looked out across the Hall.
"I wish to thank those whom have spoken. Yes each of those who gave their lives fought for a better world. Let us not forget that sacrifice".
With that the service ended and the alcohols that Harry had been given appeared on a table near the wall with some food. Harry made his way over to Zacharias Smith with Ron and Hermione, all of them holding on to a bottle of butterbeer, Harry carrying one for Zacharias.
"I'm sorry Zach, Jonathan was a very brave wizard," Harry said, handing him the bottle.
"He looked up to you Harry, especially after you put him in his place when he joined the D.A.," Zacharias said.
'He had talent but he needed control. I'm sure he would have done well," Harry told the Hufflepuff.
"We were there Zach. He fought very bravely," Ron said while Hermione nodded.
"I heard about what happened and I know that he would have chosen to go in battle over almost anything else," Zacharias replied.
Harry and Ron raised their bottles of butterbeer.
"To Jonathan, may he rest knowing that we won," Ron said.
Zacharias and Hermione raised their bottles for a moment before Zacharias turned to leave. As he walked away he stopped and looked at the stone tablet on the doors. His hand went to his cousin's name for a moment before he continued out of the Hall.
Harry turned and walked back to the Weasleys.
"Thanks everyone, for helping me get through that," Harry said.
Mrs. Weasley walked over to him and pulled him into a hug.
"No Harry, thank you for letting us," she said.