Chapter 3
The day Remus and Tonks Lupin were buried was a beautiful day. There was not a single cloud in the sky and the sun shone brightly throughout the ceremony. Harry spent the entire time staring at Mrs. Tonks, who was sitting on the chair in front of him quietly sobbing. The minister spoke, but he could hardly even hear him. The words seemed meaningless in the face of reality.
But just when the ceremony was about to end Mrs. Tonks shifted slightly, revealing a tiny face with a small turquoise tuft on his head. Teddy, his godson. The thought struck him like lighting and as he looked at the boy, feeling his eyes tear up. The picture Remus had shown him did not make justice to the small wonder he had in front of him and as soon as the ceremony was over, he walked over to where Andromeda stood. She was being consoled by Molly Weasley, but as he approached she looked up.
"Harry" she said, her voice thick and, to his surprise, enveloped him in a hug. Teddy, who was squeezed in between them, cried out a protest and they hurriedly broke apart.
"May I" he said quietly and held out his arms to Teddy. Andromeda nodded and handed him the surprisingly light baby.
"Hi" he said, as she turned away from him. Not that he noticed, his eyes were only on Teddy, who just stared at him with big eyes. Then, slowly, his hair started to change until it was the exact same jet black as Harry, who was in absolute awe.
He spent the rest of the afternoon with Teddy, ignoring everything and everyone else. Now and then, Andromeda would check in with him to make sure he could handle it. She seemed lost without her grandson, like he was the anchor that was keeping her from drifting away, which was why Harry, after a long time, handed his godson back to her before leaving for the Burrow. But first they had a long conversation about Teddy and what they should do. Harry knew perfectly well that he was not ready to take care of a baby full time and Andromeda did not want to let him go, in the end they decided that he would live with Andromeda, but Harry could visit at any time and would be babysitting whenever she needed a break. Harry also insisted on helping them financially, because with her husband gone and a baby to take care of Andromeda could not work and therefore she had no income. Andromeda was hesitant but after much convincing, she accepted his offer.
He looked over at the Weasleys, who were standing together on the other side of the room. Hermione was leaning against Ron, who had his arm around her. Ginny was standing closely with Molly and Arthur was quietly speaking to Percy, who had come to the funeral despite not really knowing Remus or Tonks. Bill and Fleur had been there, but had to go after the ceremony was finished and Charlie was still at Hogwarts. George had hardly left his room since returning, not saying a word to anyone.
He went over to them to show that he was ready and after a few words with the other guests, they apparated back to the Burrow.
They had hardly been there for five seconds before being swamped by journalists, who had taken to camping out just outside the protection spells they had set up. Harry growled as they attacked him and allowed himself to be led towards the gate by Arthur and Percy while the others ran after them.
"Merlin´s pants" Ron exclaimed, slightly out of breath, when they got inside. "It´s just getting worse by the day, isn't it". Harry just gritted his teeth. When the press had realized that Harry wasn't on Hogwarts grounds anymore, they had started appearing everywhere. But somehow, they had gotten word that he was living at The Burrow and after that there had been no getting in or out of the place without them finding them. Harry, at least, was used to the attention (even though he did not like it), however Hermione and Ron, were not.
"I think I´d rather face a group of death eaters, don't you think?" Ron had exclaimed just a few days prior when he had gone to visit his dad at the ministry and been absolutely swamped by the journalists standing outside of the entrance. They were not used to the fame they had gained without even noticing, and even though Ron liked it in the beginning, even he admitted that it wasn't as great as you would think.
"You have to go public sooner or later Harry" Hermione said "otherwise they'll never go away" Harry knew that she was right, Kingsley had been trying to get him to make an appearance to the press ever since the whole thing started, but he could not get the image of Rita Skeeter out of his head.
He looked at Mrs. Weasley who was staring out the window, exhaustion clearly visible in her eyes.
They don't need this, he thought, they have been through enough already. I can´t put them through this. And it was with that in mind that he borrowed Piggy from Ron and sent a letter to Kingsley, explaining what he wanted.
The room was already filled with people, journalists, ministry employees and other people who were just there to watch. He was standing hidden from their eyes, although not for much longer, with Hermione and Ron beside him. At first they had protested about having to be in the press conference as well, but after some arguing, and heavy guilt tripping from Harry´s side, they had reluctantly agreed.
Kingsley had already talked to them about how they should act and how much they should say. He begged them to try and answer all questions, even personal ones (he looked at Ron and Hermione when saying that, which caused them to blush and Harry to grin).
His eyes scanned the crowd and the walls, one of his conditions for doing this was that Rita Skeeter was not permitted within one mile of the room, but he knew very well that she had other ways to get in.
A young witch with her wand stuck in her very messy bun waved them forward with a stressed look. She was the one responsible for the arranging (he couldn't quite recall her name) and he couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Quickly she put a sornus charm on each of them ("That´s the only way you´ll ever get heard") and gave the signal for the three of them to step out on the stage set out for them, just to be immediately blinded by camera flashes from all directions.
"Smile" Ron muttered under his breath and poked Harry with his elbow.
They walked up to the podium, him in the middle and with Ron and Hermione flanking him. It felt safe knowing that they were there with him, as they had been so many times before.
After a short statement by Kingsley the questioning began.
"Mr. Potter!" a man on their far left shouted "Is it true that you broke into Gringotts?"
"Hm, yes" he begun, ignoring the shouts "But it was to retrieve an item that was crucial to the fall of Voldemort"
"Harry! Harry!" another one screamed "Can you confirm the rumors that you and Hermione are an item?" Harry´s eyes widened and both Ron and Hermione went bright red.
"No that is not true" he answered firmly.
"What do you say Ms. Granger?" the same one shouted.
"The same, Harry and I are not an item" she responded.
It went on that way for what seemed like hours, questions about what had happened with Voldemort, although surprisingly few of those. Instead it seemed like the reporters were more interested in their personal life´s, going as far as asking Harry if he had any tattoos, and when he said no, asking him to prove it.
"Merlin" Ron said, about two hours later as they walked backstage again "I am never doing that again. Ever. Threaten me all you want but that was the first and last time. Did you hear that last woman! ´Have you and Harry ever dueled about a girl? ´" mimicking the rather high pitched voice of the reporter. "We defeated bloody Voldemort and all they want to know is whether or not we have fought about a girl!" Harry grunted in agreement.
With just one week left to the memorial service at Hogwarts, and Fred´s funeral just one day away, they certainly had more important things to think about then what the papers said about them (which was a lot, despite the complete lack of any information whatsoever).
"Harry!" he heard someone shout just as they were getting ready to leave, Kingsley was walking towards them in long strides. Harry smiled a bit when he saw him, even though Kingsley had been appointed temporary minister just three weeks ago, it had already been decided that he was now acting as a permanent Minister of Magic. Maybe we can finally get someone who knows what they are doing, he thought bitterly.
"Harry, can I have a word?" he asked as he came closer. Harry nodded.
"Here" Kingsley said and gave him a piece of paper. "This whole thing madeit possible, and it was the least I could do". Harry quickly scanned the paper and grinned. It was a proclamation, signed by the Minister of Magic, that journalists and reporters were now prohibited to go within one mile of the Burrow while on duty.
"And Minerva told me to give you this" Kingsley handed him a letter before being called off and, after a brief excuse and goodbye, walked away. Harry stuffed the letter in his pocket before nodding at Ron and Hermione. They apparated back to the Burrow (both he and Ron had been given their licenses just the day before) and found to their immense relief that the reporters were gone. All that was left was the Burrow, in all its shabby looking, slightly crooked glory.
Fred´s funeral was probably the most un-Fred-ish thing he had ever been through. It was a quiet ceremony, the remaining members of DA, some from the order and everyone in the Wesley family in attendance. Well, almost everyone.
That morning, Mrs. Weasley had finally had enough and blasted Georges door from its hinges (it turned out that he was incredibly good at locking charms), just to find his room empty and a note on his bed saying that he would be back soon, and not to worry. Mrs. Weasley had of course spent the next hour storming around the house, snapping at everyone who dared approach her, but thankfully calmed down just before leaving.
Ginny and Harry spent most of the time before the funeral together, laying in the garden watching the gnomes run back and forth. They didn't talk much, it just felt unnecessary.
The grave was in the same cemetery that Remus and Tonks had been buried at, their graves almost visible from where Harry sat. There was no minister making speeches, like the one at Dumbledore´s funeral, and that he was thankful for. It felt like it would have been to disrespect Fred and the person he was.
After a short while, Fred´s body was lowered into the ground and a lump started to build in Harry throat. All too soon, it was done and they were left to stare at the glaringly white, marble tombstone.
Fred Weasley
1978-1998
Beloved son, brother and friend.
Harry couldn't look at it. It looked too much like his parents graves.
Just as the gathering were preparing to leave, a large bang made them jump and draw out their wands. A giant dragon rose from Fred´s grave, fireworks exploding around it, and soared through the air until it finally stopped and went out with a massive roar. Harry looked around him, his eyes finally stopping at Percy who was standing right beside him grinning, with tears in his eyes. When he saw that Harry was looking at him, he leaned down and said:
"It´s what he would have wanted" Harry just nodded, quietly taking in the scene before him, because even though the fireworks were done, the ground was now littered with glitter in red and gold. It was everywhere, on the people watching, in the trees, on the tombstone. And he knew that if Fred really was still out there, watching them, he would be laughing his arse off.
Georges POV
He stood hidden among the trees, watching the ceremony in peace. He knew that he could just go out there, be with his famil, but something stopped him. They would comfort him, look at him with sad eyes because he reminded them of him. He knew the feeling.
The prank with the fireworks, he had to admit, was genius. Fred would have loved it. He smiled slightly to the Gryffindor tribute. Probably his first smile in over three weeks.
After they had gone, some of them laughing, some crying (and some cases, both), he walked out of his hiding place and up to the grave. He huffed at the words carved on the tomb. Fred was probably rolling in his grave, that´s how cheesy they were.
He got down on his knees, his hands hugging the dirt that was now concealing his brother from the world. He should probably cry, he knew that, but there was no tears left. Just emptiness and loneliness. Like half of him was cut off. He sat there for a long time, how long he didn't know.
"Goodbye Fred" he whispered "make then laugh up there, and I´ll be there before you know it". He got up and started walking away, but stopping. He pointed his wand at the grave and those stupid, sentimental words was replaced by the only thing Fred would have wanted.
Fred Weasley
1978-1998
Mischief managed.
As he was walking out of the cemetery he caught a glimpse of himself in a pond, and jumped almost a yard in the air before realizing what it was. The disappointment and sorrow hit him like a brick wall, it apparently didn't matter that he had covered all of the reflective surfaces in the room. He would never be able to look himself in the mirror again.
Angrily he looked away, before coming to a decision and apparating to the first place he could think off.
Okay. Now I´m sad. I needed to write this chapter but now I´ve just been spending the last half hour scrolling through Tumblr, looking at pics/texts about Fred and George and crying.
Don´t worry, there will be more Harry/Ginny soon, but I felt like the family stuff needed to happen first, with all the funerals and Teddy and also a bit more George.