A/N R&R Enjoy!
(Harry's Chudley Cannons T-shirt & Dress Shirt are on my profile)
Harry stepped out of the fireplace. The first sounds to insult his ears were shouting and a door slamming. Hermione was standing in front of the fireplace frozen to the spot as everything fell apart in front of her eyes. Hermione grabbed Harry by the arm and pulled him outside.
"Ouch! Why'd you do that for 'ermione," he asked while rubbing his arm.
"We shouldn't be here. I shouldn't be here. Everything's a mess right now. I feel like every time I turn around that it should only be family here. I feel like I'm intruding right now Harry." Silent tears started streaming down her face. Harry silently held his arm out. Hermione launched herself into his arms. He started rubbing her back.
"I know Hermione. But you know what Mrs. Weasley would tell us. Don't you?" She nodded against his chest.
"She would tell us we are family."
"Exactly. We just have to stay low for a while. Everything will work out in the end. I promise." Harry reassured her. Hermione sobbed into his chest. Everyone was hurting. The people he loved shouldn't have to go through this. He could have stopped all of this before now. He felt like he was responsible for all of this. He was responsible for everyone's pain. He started to cry himself until they were both wracking with sobs. They sat down on the bench that was right behind him. Him and Hermione were like siblings and they brought comfort to each other. Soon they were both done crying. Hermione stood up and extended her hand to help Harry up. Harry embraced her and they both walked into the house side by side.
As soon as they were in, he passed everyone and went up to the room he and Ron shared. He searched through the closet to find a clean shirt. He found a black Chudley Cannons t-shirt and slipped it over his head carefully. He put his arm back in his sling and slipped back downstairs.
The only seat left was on the sofa beside Ginny. She smiled at him. He sat down on the seat beside her and Ginny snuggled closer to him. Harry heard a sniffling in the corner and turned to look at George. He must have came back before the arrangements were made. He was really hurting. Fred was George's other half and they were never alone. Harry had been through a lot of things, but he couldn't even begin to understand what George was going through. He had been close to people, but only for a little while and not his whole life. He turned around before George could look up. He sighed deeply. As he did, Arthur, Charlie, and Bill walked through the door. Everyone's head snapped up. Arthur clapped his hands together, his face tear stained.
"His funeral is on Tuesday at eleven o'clock in the morning. It's of course at the cemetery in the village." With that Arthur turned and walked into the kitchen. Bill stepped around Charlie and gave Harry a sheet of parchment that he unfolded. It had the time and date of every funeral that was to take place. Fred's was first; Colin Creevey's was at two o'clock in the afternoon on the same day. Crabbe's was at three o'clock, but he wouldn't dare go. Crabbe was a death eater at heart up until the moment he died in the Room of Requirement. There were other funerals but there were none that he would make the effort to go to. The following day after Fred's was Remus and Tonks funeral. That was the one Harry dreaded the most. Then, he remembered what McGonagall had told him. He cleared his throat. Everyone looked up.
"When I was in McGonagall's office, she told me there would be a memorial service tomorrow at eleven o'clock. She told me to tell everyone. I'm going to engrave Remus' name on the stone. I suspect someone would have to do Fred's name too." He told everyone. Everyone's head looked toward George. He just nodded his head.
"Well that's settled then. Everyone go ahead to bed. It's been a long couple of days. Everyone needs rest." Molly paused. Everyone sat still. "Well go on. Off to bed with you all." Everyone stood up simultaneously. They all walked up the stairs like they were robots. While everyone branched off into their rooms, Harry and Ron continued up to the last floor besides the attic. Ron opened the door and collapsed onto his bed right away. Harry took off his trousers and laid on the bed. It was quite sometime before he went to sleep. It was a fitful one at that.
Harry woke up in a cold sweat with someone roughly shaking his shoulders. He opened his eyes. His eyes focused slowly. Ron was a blurry figure standing over him. Ron silently handed him his glasses and walked out the door. Harry sat up slowly, remembering the contents of his dream. Voldemort was standing in the center of the Great Hall and the Death Eaters were around him. Everyone Harry loved was lying on the floor around him ,dead. He suddenly couldn't breath. He got up and stumbled his way to the loo. It was nine-thirty in the morning. He still had time to get ready for the memorial services. He took off his clothes and his bandages carefully. He ran the water for his bath. He looked in the mirror while he was waiting. The gash on his chest was looking exceptionally better. Hopefully it would eventually just become a scar. The other ones were already gone. He turned away and shut off the water. He carefully stepped into the tub. The water felt good and he was feeling back to normal in no time at all. He stepped out and wrapped a towel around his waist and put his clothes in the hamper. He walked back to his room to get dressed for the day.
There were new bandages lying on his nightstand when he came back. He put them on as best as he could. He then, walked over to the closet to find his dress clothes. He didn't think he should wear dress robes, so he put on a nice pair of khakis and a black button up dress shirt with a striped tie. Before he left the room, Harry stuck the Elder Wand in his pocket. He tromped downstairs. Everyone was eating breakfast at the kitchen table.
"Morning 'Arry." Fleur was the first one to notice Harry walk in the room. Other murmurs of good morning followed Fleur's.
"Good Morning," he replied.
"Sit down dear. We'll be leaving in a while," said Mrs. Weasley. He took the seat next to Ginny since it was the only one left. It's not that he would complain anyway. Mrs. Weasley levitated a plate over to him and he nodded his thanks.
Breakfast passed without any complications and in the next half hour, they were ready to go. Molly and Arthur apparated first followed by Charlie and Ginny, Percy, Bill and Fleur, Ron, Hermione, and Harry. There were already a lot of people seated. The site was set up not far from Dumbledore's tomb. Harry quickly found everyone. He sat in the third row right behind George. Ginny was seated on his left. Molly and Arthur were sitting in the second row with George. Everyone who arrived took his or her seats quickly. Harry looked around. He spotted Colin Creevey's parents, Andromeda Tonks, and other family members who were grieving. He suddenly felt like he would be sick. Ginny put a hand on his knee.
"Harry? Are you okay?" Harry couldn't catch his breath. How could he ever agree to carve Remus' name. He couldn't even sit. Ginny put her hands on either side of his face and turned his to face her.
"Just take deep breaths Harry. None of this is your fault. If it weren't for you so many more people would be dead. It's not your fault." Ginny reassured him. Harry took two deep breaths.
"Okay. I'm good. I'm fine." Ginny dropped her hands but instead held his hand. As soon as everyone was seated, the ceremony started. McGonagall stepped up to the podium.
"Thank you all for coming today… The Battle of Hogwarts will go down in history. Every person who gave his or her life for the better of the world will never be forgotten. We have come up with a way to make sure that your children, friends, and family will never be forgotten. One member of every family member will come up here and carve their lost ones name on the stone. It took brave men and women to fight and your losses were not in vain. I will now read off the names. Please come forward to engrave your loved ones name on this stone. " McGonagall waved her hand and a large stone rose out of the ground. Suddenly Harry felt a tap on his shoulder. Kingsley Shacklebolt stood before him.
"Hello Harry. I'm sorry to bother you, but we have no one to carve Severus Snape's name on the stone. Will you do it Harry?" Harry nodded his head and Shacklebolt gave him a warm smile before walking away to go back to stand beside Prof. McGonagall.
"Colin Creevey." Professor McGonagall called out. Colin's dad stood up to go carve his name on the stone. His face was tear stained and he was shaking. He couldn't make it back to his seat. George and Harry quickly stood up to help the man back to his seat in the fifth row. His wife nodded his thanks and they quickly returned to their seats. He sat back down next to Ginny. Harry grabbed her hand up again and squeezed it. She glanced up at him. There were tears streaming down her face and he quickly wiped them away with his thumb.
All too soon Remus' name was called and he shakily stood up. He was on the verge of tears himself. He used the incantation everyone used and he shakily carved his name on the stone. He stood there for a second and turned around and walked back to his seat. He almost tripped by George. George steadied Harry and Harry patted him on the back. He sat down next to Ginny and put his elbows on his thighs. He was shaking with silent tears. He felt Ginny rubbing his back. He was soon brought back to reality by Snape's name being called. He again shakily stood up. Ginny gave him a questioning look and he just nodded. Harry walked to the stone and carved Snape's name and sat down again. While he was walking back to his seat, he saw the Weasley's giving him a weird look. Everyone except Hermione, Ron, and Fleur was looking at him funny. He would have to explain it to them later. Tonks name was called and Andromeda stood up and carved her name and sat down.
All too soon Fred's name was called. By that time George was in no condition to walk up there by himself. Harry motioned to Ron. They stood up and hooked their arms under George's arms. They helped him to the stone and George took out his wand and shakily wrote Fred's name. Harry and Ron helped him back to his seat. By the time he got there he was sobbing so hard they were almost carrying him. Ron stayed but George while Harry sat down. Ginny was shaking and Harry wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close.
Kingsley gave a speech and McGonagall closed the ceremony. Everyone was dismissed. All the Weasley's stood up. Harry walked with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny.
"Harry, Ron!" yelled Kingsley. He motioned them over with his hands. Hermione and Ginny kept walking over to the Weasley's that had stopped by the tree. They were all looking at him and Ron. They strode over to the new Minister of Magic.
"I would like to thank you guys for helping defeat Voldemort. It has also come to my attention that it's your dream to become Auror. Does that still stand?" asked Kingsley. Harry and Ron shook their heads vehemently. Kingsley chuckled.
"Well I'm offering you guys a job in the Auror Department." Kingsley looked back and forth between Ron and Harry. Ron gulped audibly.
"Blimey. How? We didn't even finish our last year of school. We have to have our N.E.W.T.S.," exclaimed Ron.
"Well being on the run for a whole year and not being caught… it has to take some talent. The school couldn't teach your more than what you already know. Even Auror training couldn't teach you that much more. You'll learn on the job."
"Sir, we really appreciate this. This has been my dream job for a long time. But, if you don't mind, can I get back with you on my decision. I'm not sure yet," said Harry.
"Yeah, blimey, what he said," agreed Ron.
"Of course boys. The decision will still stand for a while. Take your time. Just get back to me in the next month, yeah?"
"Of course, Sir. Thank you," replied Harry. Kingsley shook his hand out to Ron and Harry. They shook hands and parted their ways. They started walking over to the Weasley's with still shocked looks on their faces. Everyone was gone except for them.
"What was that about, Harry?" asked Ginny.
Ron replied, "We'll tell you all when we get home." The Weasley's nodded. Everyone started to walk to the apparition point. Harry stuck his hand in his pocket and remembered the reason he had brought the Elder Wand.
"Wait!" he yelled. Everyone stopped dead in their tracks and spun around.
They all walked over to Dumbledore's tomb. The Weasley's stopped twenty feet away, but Ron and Hermione kept going. Harry stopped in front of the tomb and took the wand out. He flicked it and the lid slid off. The lid was already cracked; it would have to be fixed. Harry gulped and took a step towards Dumbledore's body. He felt like Dumbledore would snap his eyes open any second, but he never did. The Gryffindor shroud was thrown off of his body. Harry slipped the wand under his hands and wrapped the covers over him again. Harry took a step back as Ron slid the lid back on with his wand and Hermione casted the reparo charm on the lid. The Elder Wand would lie there forever hopefully. It could never fall into the hands of anyone else. They all turned and walked away to the apparition point to go home to The Burrow. Harry was relieved of a great burden.