Although, they were at a funeral service, Harry couldn't help but feel happy. He had a family of some sorts. He had his best friends. He had Ginny. Voldemort was gone and Harry had a future. The loss of those loved still lingered at the front of his brain but he knew all to well that the ones he loved would never truly leave him and all he had to do was look into his heart and he would find them. He hoped that Ginny would soon realise that Fred was always with her if she looked but he knew that she had to find that out for herself.
The new Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, stood behind a tall podium in front of the chairs. He was shuffling his papers and constantly tugging on his robes. Then his collar was being stretched and he gulped hard as he watched everyone take their seats. It was his second big speech since he was appointed official Minister of Magic and he knew this would be the most important speech he would ever give.
When the last person took their seat, the audience of the service fell silent. Some pulled out tissues, preparing themselves. Others clutched that their partner's hands. There were a few at the back who obviously had no respect for the dead who were scribbling on pieces of parchments. Harry knew one of those would make their way to the front page of the Daily Prophet but he didn't want to concentrate on that. He was there to commemorate the ones he loved and lost and he would.
"Hello and welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This is the chosen final resting place of the valiant witches and wizards who fought bravely against Dark forces to secure a better and happier world for the ones they left behind. They didn't die in vain. They didn't die in revenge. They died for a worthy cause and their sacrifice will never be forgotten."
Harry looked over to the person on his right. Ginny was holding his hand and looking up at the sky as though she was hoping the tears would roll back the other way. Her other hand was wrapped around George's limp hand. George was silently crying, looking down the floor, clearly in deep thought. Mrs Weasley had her hand resting on George's leg but she was sobbing into Mr Weasley's robes, unable to control her emotions.
When he turned to his left, Ron was next to him, red eyed and sober. His arms were wrapped around Hermione who was on the brink of tears and was doing her best to stay strong. Fleur on the other hand, who was sitting next to Hermione, was unable to do anything but cry. It was obvious that Bill was attempting to hold himself together and be strong but his pale face and lifeless arms cradling Fleur into his chest were obvious signs that his mind was else were, lingering on Fred.
The attention of Harry turned back to Kingsley who was mid way through his speech. "My friends fought along side me in this battle. They fought as true heroes do. Until the very end. I mourn their loss and I thank their sacrifice because now the rest of us can live on safely.
" The sad story of Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks will be told to many. They overcame so much in their lives and it's an epic tragedy that they had to be taken from this Earth. As I'm sure many of you know, Remus was a werewolf. He had been ever since he had been a child and his best friends, Sirius Black and James Potter trained themselves as Animagus to be of comfort with him in his transformation. When the Order of Phoenix was reborn 2 years ago, Remus met Tonks. God, she would be turned in her grave if she heard her being called Nymphadora. It may have been love at first sight for the werewolf and the metamorphmagus but the two saw their differences instead of their similarities. After seeing the light, they confessed their love and decided to marry. At the end of last summer, Tonks told us that she was pregnant and months later, Ted Remus Lupin was born.
"Sadly baby Teddy only spent a couple of months with his parents before they joined the battle so they could fight for their baby's future. Unfortunately, they died in battle. It is a terrible loss to the world. But they died together. They died fighting for what they believed in. And most of all, they died so Teddy could grow up and become a great wizard like his father and mother."
It was almost like it had been planned. As the words left Kingsley's mouth, a baby's cry erupted in the silent crowd, a few rows behind Harry and like many others, Harry turned his head to see the baby that disrupted the silence. Not to his surprise, Harry saw Andromeda Tonks, red cheeked and sobbing, fumbling to stand up and carry a baby and carry a traditional changing bag. When she scurried to the aisle, she briefly waved to Kingsley and apologized for interrupting.
"It's alright Andromeda. I hope Teddy is alright." Many heads did a double take. They put the pieces together and figured out that Teddy Lupin was the baby crying. But the new Minister didn't dwell on the interruption too long before swiftly moving on with his speech.
Harry turned forward to listen to Kingsley but then a pair of lips touched his ear. "Do you want to come back to The Burrow?" Ginny's breath was hot on his ear and he started swooning with the air in his head.
He thought about his options. He could return to Grimmauld Place. He could even ask Ginny to come with him. However he knew she'd want to be with her family. Especially after everything she's been through. Maybe they could all live with him at Grimmauld Place. No it wouldn't be home. It wasn't even home for him. And all the Weasleys wanted him to come. All of them had practically hugged him to death and Harry was radiating with the love they expressed for him. The Burrow was his home. And this summer, he would return home.
"Of course I want to. I'd follow you anywhere," Harry said, his lips tickling Ginny's ear. He moved his lips lower and kissed her cheek. Then Harry looked forward, stealing a glance at Ron who was rigid, focusing too much on the front.
"To conclude, I would like to address the mere teenagers that fought alongside the fully grown witches and wizards. Some hadn't even finished Hogwarts. There is a place for you all at Ministry. We could always use more Aurors. The Wizengamot Court has decided that anyone who's fought in the Battle of Hogwarts can apply to be an Auror, even if you don't have any N.E.W.T.s. You've all shown spectacular bravery and you should be very proud." Kingsley looked directly at Harry, Ron and Hermione and nodded to them secretly.
"This memorial garden will always be here for others to come and observe and remember those that left us. I hope future students will treat this place of rest with respect. Thankyou and I'm sorry for all your losses." Kingsley smiled, waved slightly and he stepped down off the podium.
Once the Minister had left the podium, people stood up and started up the aisle, towards the headstones, many armed with flowers. Instead of following the crowd, Harry remained seated, watching many pass him, gawping at him. His head fell into his hands and he pulled at the strands of his thick black hair. The statement had been released and the fan mail had started to arrive according to Kreacher and the kitchen table was apparently piled high that Kreacher had to use a ladder whenever he had to add to the pile.
"I'm sorry about the stares Harry but you did save us all." Harry looked up to see Kingsley Shacklebolt shadowing over him.
Sitting up promptly, Harry pulled the hands out of his hair and straightened out his robes. "Good afternoon Minister. That was a wonderful speech. Remus and Tonks would have been so proud of what you said," Harry said, standing up and shaking Kingsley's hand.
"Thankyou Harry. I was wondering whether you had thought about becoming an Auror. You have more than enough qualities and qualifications to be an Auror and I think you'd be a fine addition to the Ministry. You all would." Kingsley gestured to all four of them.
"I'm going to stay on at Hogwarts and complete my seventh year and get my N.E.W.T.s. I'm not really too sure what to do," Hermione said, tugging her cardigan around her body and nodding to the Minister.
"I'm on the same page as Hermione. There are a lot of things I want to be but I don't think being an Auror is for me," Ginny said, shaking Kingsley's hand, kissing Harry's cheek and moving towards Hermione and starting her own conversation.
"I hadn't really thought about it. I'm not sure I'm qualified," Harry said, scratching his head. He looked towards Ron who was deep in thought with an angry expression which made Harry almost laugh. "I never got any N.E.W.T.s and my O.W.L.s weren't very good either."
"Harry James Potter," Kingsley said slowly, emphasising every word. "You are the boy, I'm sorry, man that defeated the Dark Lord numerous times and survived. You could be Head Auror one day."
Harry was astounded. He had always defeated Voldemort because otherwise he was going to kill him: never really wanting anything out of the battle except his life. And now he was been commendated for saving his own life. It was a crazy, magical world.
"Er, I guess that is a good enough qualification. But only if Ron can be an Auror too," Harry said quickly, knowing that Ron hated being left out.. He nudged Ron gently and he came out of his daze.
The Minister smiled widely and shuffled to face Ron. "Of course. What do you say Weasley? Do you want to be the first Auror in the family? Molly would be so proud."
"Auror," Ron stuttered, looking 11 all over again. The same stutter. The same scared, shocked face. The same expression of utter disbelief. This made Harry smile, seeing the innocence he became friends with in the beginning. Ron's face lit up like a firework. He'd been constantly overshadowed by his siblings but this time, he was giving his parents something to boast about. "Sign me up!"
"It'll be nice to go home won't it?" Ginny said, laying on the roof of the Astronomy Tower, gazing up at the stars twinkling above them. Her expression was utter delight that in the morning Harry would be Portkeying back to The Burrow with her and she had the whole summer with him. No interruptions. No sudden expeditions. No hunts for horcruxes. Just Harry Potter. 24/7. Minus bathroom breaks.
"I know but I'm slightly sad to leave Hogwarts. Knowing that I might not return again," Harry said solemnly, caressing the back of Ginny's hand with the his thumb. Hogwarts had always been an exciting place to return to. Year after year, he would count down the summer suns until September 1st. And now, it was over. An era had passed and now he was moving on to greater challenges.
"You can always come back. They let guest lecturers take lessons occasionally. You tick all the right boxes. Hogwarts will always be here. You can always come back."
Harry packed the last of his things in his rucksack and sat on the windowsill, looking out at the empty grounds. So many memories had been made at Hogwarts. Sneaking down to Hagrid's Hut for rock cakes. Lounging under the trees on summer afternoons, trying to focus on Potions and Herbology. Spending hours cramming in the library before exams. Flying freely around the Quidditch pitch. Catching the Golden Snitch. Hermione punching Malfoy in the face. Seamus blowing himself up with a simple levitating charm. Kissing Ginny for the first time after winning the House Quidditch Cup. Memories he would take with him forever.
But the future brought more excitement. He was spending his entire summer with Ginny. He never had to let her go. He could spend lazy morning playing with Ginny's hair in bed. The scent of her would linger over him always. He could play countless games of Wizard Chess with Ron until him and Hermione set off to Australia to track down her parents. Quidditch with Ginny in the garden. Mrs Weasley's home cooking. Even the idea of hunting down garden gnomes made him excited.
And then, once he had the best summer to date, he would wave Ginny and Hermione off on the Hogwarts Express and begin Auror training with Ron. He would travel up to Hogsmeade when he could and share a butterbeer with Ginny in the corner of The Three Broomsticks. Ron and Harry would move into Grimmauld Place so they could be closer to training. He would spend Christmas with Ginny. He would kiss Ginny under the mistletoe.
And nowhere in his plans was battling the Dark Lord, risking his life, surviving the Killing Curse, tackling hundreds of Dementors, breaking into Gringotts, escaping the Ministry of Magic. He could be normal and do normal things.
Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, had the chance to get married, watch Ginny walk down the aisle towards him. He could have children and send them off to Hogwarts too. Growing old. Having grandchildren. Maybe even becoming Head of the Auror Office.
For the first time in Harry's life, anything was possible.