A/N: there will be some alcohol consumption at the end of the chapter. If you don't want to read it, skip the end of this chapter and go to the next after the girls go to bed. No one is underage though, so it's not too bad. Kinda funny if you ask me! lol

Disclaimer: This really gets old sometimes…still don't own it all. Trying my hardest to live up to the queen…I also don't own Metallica's Whiskey in the Jar or the song the Drunken Scotsmen.

Funerals and Firewhiskey

Previously: He jumped up and pulled his wand out looking for the source. "Harry? Is that you?"

"Harry? Is that you?" whispered a voice from the shadows.

"Who's there? Show yourself," Harry said. The shadow person moved out of the shadows and Harry sighed with relief.

"George? What are you doing out here? It's three am," Harry said sitting back down on the steps. George walked over and sat next to him.

"I could be asking you the same thing. But I think I can guess. You're thinking of Remus…aren't you?"

"How'd you know?" Harry whispered.

"You were watching the moon. I put two and two together," George sighed. They sat for awhile and watched the stars in silence. "He loved you a lot you know, Remus. He felt that he was your default godfather since Sirius died," George said to the sky and Harry. Harry looked at George. He had thought long and hard about the same thing for so long, to hear it from someone else was difficult to take in.

"Really? He didn't…hate me for what I said to him?" Harry choked back a sob. George was answering questions he had wanted to ask but didn't know how or who to approach to ask them. He had loved Remus like a surrogate-godfather for a few years now and hearing that Remus left this world feeling the same way made his weary heart feel just a little better.

"Hate you? Merlin, no, quite the opposite really. He was grateful for what you said to him, it made him return to the one he loved. Why would he have made you godfather to his only child if he hated you?" George asked rhetorically. Harry put his head between his knees and took a deep, steadying breath and blinked away some tears.

"He talked about you all the time. He told us, Fred and I, during Potterwatch, that if he didn't make it that we were supposed to give you some stuff. He had this box, it was full of stuff from his past and the marauders past. He wanted to give it to you himself to answer any questions you had, but he gave it to us and told us when to give it to you if he didn't make it." George was leaning against the house staring at the sky. Harry was staring at the ground his head still between his knees his tears spilling to the ground. After a few minutes, Harry was able to control his emotions better and he sat back up and leaned against the house.

"I suppose he told you to give it to me at a certain time too?" Harry chuckled sadly. George nodded his head saying nothing. Several minutes went by in silent reflection between the two.

"After his funeral," George said quietly. Harry nodded.

"I understand. Besides, I don't think I'll be getting much rest in the weeks to come. There's a lot to do still. Hermione needs to go to Australia to find her family, I need to find out where the Dursley's are and if I need to bring them back. Plus, spend time with Teddy and Ginny, and decide if I want to take my NEWTS." George nodded and paused. Then he asked, "Do you love my sister?" Harry was stunned into silence for a moment.

"Yes, I do love her, very much so," Harry responded quietly but with an obviously loving tone. George looked over at Harry.

"Good. Fred and I both felt that you were the best thing for Ginny, even before you two were dating. I could tell from Ginny's letters to us that she loves you very much. When you broke it off with her, she was devastated. She moped around the house for days, teared up at the very mention of your name, and when we didn't allow her to be apart of the plan to get you from the Dursley's she went berserk on us all. Hit Ron with her best Bat-bogey hex I've ever seen. Took a good fifteen minutes to get rid of them all." They both chuckled at this. "I don't want to see her hurting again like that. You both belong together, anyone with eyes can see that. And anyone with at least one ear can hear that." George smirked and Harry rolled his eyes. "Well, you know what I mean. Just don't forget that she has a boatload of older brothers and two over-protective parents that'll like to do you physical harm if you hurt her. Got it?" Harry nodded and smiled.

"You forget that you all would have to dig me up to do any harm to me, because Ginny will have beat you all to it." They both laughed.

"Good point mate. It's a good thing you know that too. But hey, I had to do the older brother thing. It's my duty as an older brother," George chuckled.

"I hear you, but don't let her hear you saying that. Anyways, believe me, Ron had me going for quite a while. It's partly his fault I didn't ask her earlier. I was worried Ron would have pummeled me if I even thought of asking her out. I didn't want to lose my best mate, especially over a girl." Harry got quiet again. They sat for a half an hour as the sky lightened. Close to sunrise George stood up and stretched.

"Come on, I want to show you something." They started to walk away from the house towards the broom shed.

"Have you ever watched the sunrise from a broom? It's breath taking. I can tell this is going to be a great sunrise. One day when Fred and I couldn't sleep we came out and put a silencing spell around the pitch and played midnight Quidditch. We were still in the air when the sun rose so we watched it rise over the horizon." They got onto broomsticks and flew up to the tree line and waited. "When you see it rise and you're in the sky, there's nothing to obstruct the view, and it makes so much better. Watch."

They sat and watched the sun rise and Harry thought it was the most spectacular one he had ever seen.

"Harry, you're going to be ok. Death is a natural occurrence. You've lost many people in your life. You've bounced back each time, admittedly Cedric's death took you awhile but you do bounce back." George was slowly moving back to the shed, so Harry followed. "Does it get easier?" The question startled Harry, who opened his mouth to reply, then shut it. He knew that George was in a precarious situation so he had to answer carefully.

"Does it get easier? In a way it does. As time goes on you remember the good times more than the bad, though the bad memories do creep back every once in a while. But in a way, no, it doesn't. After a while you forget the little things. Like how they laughed or their smile. Their mannerisms and their faults. When you start to forget those things, you feel like you've lost them all over again," Harry said nostalgically, staring off into space.

"How do…how do you not forget those things," George whispered. They had arrived back at the steps moments before and George sat heavily onto the steps and sat with his head in his hands. Neither noticed the face in the window watching and listening to them.

"Write it all down. Every little detail. Do it soon before you forget, so that when you feel like you're forgetting you can go back and read it, see a picture, smell a bottle of cologne. Keep it all close to where you are, so that you can get to it often. It's the best way to remember because, well, sometimes when you feel really low, reading about a favorite memory is the best way to make you smile. It's what I do." Harry sat down next to him. They sat for a short time, until George stood up.

"Thank you Harry. I know I'll be fine eventually, I just need to keep hearing from others that it will get better. Only time will tell how fast the pain goes away. Everyone else can tell me the same things you did, but unless they actually have lost someone they were as close with as me and Fred, it won't make any difference. But when it comes from you, it means something. Probably because you've been though this so many times." George shook Harry's hand and the two went inside.

Upon entering the house, they smelled breakfast cooking and Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen.

"Boys, why don't you two come help set the table. Okay?" she called to them. George looked at Harry smiling.

"Actually mum, I would like to take a shower. Harry can help you though." He smirked and under his breath said, "If you're going to be my brother, expect to be treated like one." Then he turned and walked through the kitchen, kissed his mother on the check, and went upstairs. Mrs. Weasley touched her check and a tear rolled down. She sighed, wiped the tear and turned back to Harry.

"Well, Harry, here are the dishes and silverware." As he reached for them she put a hand on his shoulder. "Harry, what you said to him outside…thank you. I'm so worried about him, they were so close. He needed to hear that." She gave him a motherly bear hug and kissed him on the top of the head. He smiled and nodded to her and picked up the dishes and set to work. Soon he was finished and went up stairs to get dressed for the day. As he walked to the stairs Mrs. Weasley called him back.

"Dear, would you wake up Ron and the others on your way up. Don't bother with Arthur, he's already up. Thank you." He turned and walked back up stairs. He decided to wake Ginny first. He opened her door and walked in over to her bed. She looked like an angel to him lying there with her vibrant hair and pale complexion. He reached down and kissed her on the nose. She opened her eyes and smiled. He crawled into her bed and under her covers with her.

"Morning gorgeous. Your mum's got breakfast waiting. I was sent to wake everyone," Harry mumbled into her hair.

"Good morning to you too. Better wake up Hermione before we maul each other," she giggled.

"Ah, you're no fun," he growled playfully. She reached up and kissed him soundly on the lips, he opened his mouth and deepened the kiss. The snogged for a few minutes before she pulled away.

"What were you saying?" she chuckled. He kissed her nose again and stood back up.

"I believe I was about to say: But I still love you." He smirked and started to walk towards the other bed in the room as she whispered, "I love you too."

"Hermione," he put his hand on her shoulder and shook gently. "Hermione wake up. Breakfast is about ready. Hermione." She rolled over and sighed but slept on. Ginny giggled.

"Here let me. Sharing a room with her for so many summers, I've gotten to notice a pattern." She walked over to the bed. "Hermione! Wake up! Ron's snogging Lavender!" she shouted close to Hermione's head. The bushy bed-headed Hermione sat bolt upright.

"Where is he? I'll show him! Cheat on me with that slut! Where is he?" she growled sleepily. Harry and Ginny both laughed loudly. Hermione looked around and saw that Harry was in the room with them. "That was not nice Ginny! Harry what are you doing in here? Why are you guys waking me up at the crack of dawn? Go away and let me sleep!" Hermione huffed and rolled over to go back to sleep.

"Nuh-uh, Hermione. No going back to sleep, don't make me get the cold water!" Ginny said sternly trying not to laugh.

"No! No water, please, I'm up, I'm up," said Hermione as she rolled over in bed and sat up rubbing her eyes. She stood up and walked towards the door unsteadily and left the room grumbling like Kreacher used to.

"Wow, I never knew Hermione was such a grump in the morning," Harry laughed.

"Well, she's usually awake after she takes a shower. But I've always been entertained by how I wake her up each morning. If it weren't for me, she'd never wake up in time for breakfast," Ginny giggled. "Now, you had better go wake up my brothers. I'll tell you now, Charlie is a beast when he's woken up. George is like Ron, just wave a piece of bacon under his nose and he'll pop right up. Percy, well, if he hasn't changed since he moved out, he'll be the easiest to wake, just poke him and say wake up." She kissed him and wished him good luck with Charlie and pushed him out the door so she could get dressed.

Harry walked down the hallway and decided to do the easiest first, so he opened Percy's door and walked in and over to the bed.

"Percy? Percy. Wake up," he said in a loud hush while poking the sleeping man.

"Not now Penny, I'm still tired. Let's sleep in a little today." Percy rolled over and hugged his pillow. Harry snorted loudly and then tried to muffle his laughter but failed horribly when Percy sat blot upright looking around him. "Where am I? What's going on? Harry? What are you doing here, where's Penny?" Percy mumbled groggily obviously still half asleep.

"Er, your mum told me to wake everyone. Breakfast is almost ready. Er, I'm not sure who Penny is, but she isn't here." Harry left the room chortling moving towards George and Charlie's room.

He knocked first knowing George was awake and waited till he heard a come in. When he walked in he saw George dressed and sitting on his bed with a journal on his lap. He was smiling as he finished his sentence.

"Harry! Did mum send you to get us? Good luck with Dragon man over there. There's a reason he's called Dragon man, 'cuz not only a dragon would be stupid enough to wake that git up," George laughed loudly and Harry noticed it didn't even phase the sleeping man across the room. Harry gulped and moved towards the snoring lump on the bed.

"Er, George, what's the best way to do this? Cold water?" Harry asked. George laughed.

"Mate, if that's your plan, let me leave now. And plan on running for your life as the bucket drops. Fred and I tried that one once. We never tried it again, and on that note I'm going down stairs. Good morning, and good luck," George laughed and walked out of the room.

"That's the second time I've been told that this morning. Well, he didn't say the water doesn't work on him. I guess I'll just risk it and run for my life. Just my luck, I survive Voldemort and die waking up Charlie. Oh well, here goes." Harry conjured a bucket and filled it with ice cold water and levitated it above the bed. He backed up to the door and cancelled the spell, catching the bucket with another spell before it hit the poor man too. As soon as the water hit Charlie he let out a roar and jumped up falling to the floor cussing and shouting. Harry turned and ran from the room as soon as he saw Charlie's hand move towards his wand. He ran up the stairs faster than he had ever moved, hearing laughter behind him down a flight of stairs. Harry got to Ron's room, shut the door behind him and did a complicated locking spell on the door. Ron, hearing the door slam and a spell being mumbled, shot up out of bed and grabbed his wand and shot a stunner at Harry who blocked it and shot one back at the sleepy red-head. Ron blocked the spell, still not able to see clearly through his sleep crusted eyes, thought someone was trying to kill him so he shot more spells at Harry. Harry did his best to block them without sending any back. Seconds later Harry heard footsteps coming up the stairs, and Charlie yelling for him to unlock the door. Harry shot a petrificus spell at Ron and dove under his bed just as Charlie blasted the door open.

"What do you think you were doing pouring ice water on me to wake me up? HUH?" Charlie was yelling at Ron while Harry cowered under the bed. As Charlie ranted Harry had an idea. He stuck his wand up the side of the bed next to the wall and un-petrified Ron and put a silencing spell on him. Charlie seeing Ron moving around and mouthing unintelligible words got angrier and sent a few hexes and curses towards Ron and stormed out.

Harry got out from under the bed, turned and laughed at the sight before him. Ron was trying to hold down his twitching ears, while his legs flailed about. His hair was bright blue and his skin was sunburned and he was silently babbling nonsense. Harry was laughing still when Ginny and Hermione both showed up. They took one look at Ron and burst out laughing. Hermione undid the spells, but not before she picked up Ron's wand off the bed.

"What the bloody hell was that for Harry? I thought he was going to kill me!" Ron said angrily. Harry who was still laughing hard sat on the bed. He calmed down enough to say, "Well, if you hadn't tried to stun me when I came in maybe I wouldn't have froze you."

The girls laughed and told the boys to hurry up breakfast was just about ready and left the room. The boys got ready quickly laughing about the mishap.

Arriving in the kitchen they saw two owls landing on the counter next to Mrs. Weasley.

"Harry, this one's for you, this one is for the family." She handed over the letter and gave the owls some treats before they flew back out of the window. Harry opened his letter and read it quietly to himself.

Dear Harry,

I know you're probably really busy, but Colin's funeral is today at eleven o'clock. It will be a private memorial for just family and close friends. I'm sure he would have liked for you to be there. He looked up to you a lot. You weren't just a hero to him, you were a friend, and a teacher. The string in the envelope is a portkey to our house. Feel free to enlarge it and bring your friends. Please ask Ginny Weasley if she would come also. I know she and Colin were friends and it would have meant a lot to Colin if she would come also. We live a block away from a cemetery so we'll be walking there from our house. Please come if you can. Thank you. Oh, and if you come wear muggle clothes, please. Our muggle relatives will be here, it would be kind of hard to explain robes to them. Thanks.

You're friend,

Denis Creevey

Harry found he couldn't breathe easily. He felt as if he were suffocating. Ginny noticed this and tried to calm him down without bringing attention to him.

"Harry, what's wrong? What happened?" He handed the letter to her and she read it quickly.

"Oh, Harry. It'll be alright, I'll go with you if you want. Colin and I were friends so I want to go," she whispered in his ear.

"Gin, the only funeral I have been too was Dumbledore's, and he was older and there were so many people there. This one is private. There's a big difference." Harry was calming down and Ginny opened her mouth to say something back but was interrupted by her mother.

"Oh dear. Harry, I think you should read this." She handed him another letter which he took apprehensively. He read:

Dear Weasley family household and friends,

Today at 1 pm, we will be laying to rest my daughter Nymphadora and her husband Remus Lupin. Please join me and my grandson, Teddy, for the service and a light lunch afterwards. Dora and Remus talked about you all so much. They loved you all so very much. You were like family to dear Remus. It would mean a lot to me if you would come. Thank you.

Yours truly,

Andromeda Tonks

PS. If Harry is there with you, please tell him that if he doesn't come to the service today, I'd still like to speak with him soon, about Teddy. Thank you.

Harry sat and stared at the parchment and took a deep shaky breath before looking up.

"Well, this makes two today," he muttered. He stood up and put the letters on the table and walked outside.

"Ginny, what did he mean by that? Two of what?" Hermione asked her.

"Two funerals. The letter he got was from Denis Creevey, the one mum opened was from Tonks' mum. I'm going out to him, he needs me right now." She stood up and handed the letters to Hermione, grabbed some buttered toast and went outside. She saw Harry standing next to a large Oak tree.

"Hey, I brought you some toast. Thought that you'd still be hungry." She handed him a napkin stacked high with crispy, buttery toast, but he handed it back.

"I'm not that hungry. You have it," he muttered. She looked at him and then at the toast and sighed.

"Harry, if you don't eat this I'm going to have to get mad, and you don't want to see that this early in the morning. So eat, or suffer my wrath." She handed him the food again and this time he took it and bit into one. "Good boy." She smiled at him.

"Harry, today is going to be difficult. I know you hate this but, you have to go. Colin looked up to you so much, and Remus made you the godfather to his only child. Funerals are sad, that's a fact. And a war ended a few days ago, many people died, so there will be many funerals. It's a fact of life. You don't have to go to every funeral, just your friends' ones. I'll be with you at Colin's, and I'm sure if we ask them Ron and Hermione would want to come with too. The whole family will be at Remus and Tonks' funerals also. You wont be alone. Ok?" Ginny held him close and he sighed.

"I know Gin, I just hate that these people didn't make it through the war. That I'll never see them again. There are so many questions I should have asked Remus about my parents and Sirius. Now, there's no one to answer them," he sighed. She hugged him and they stood holding each other for a few minutes.

"We should go inside and get ready. We need to let Ron and Hermione know about Colin's funeral and see if they want to come. Come on." She grabbed his hand and pulled him along.

The two arrived inside and told everyone about Colin's funeral and spent the remainder of the morning getting ready.

At five minutes to eleven, Harry enlarged the string portkey so all four of them could touch a piece. They each stood holding it while they waited for it to activate.

"Now, you all know that you have to apparate to Andromeda's house by one pm sharp. Ginny you can side along with Harry. Now, make sure you are on time, and thank Mrs. Creevey for inviting you." Mrs. Weasley hustled around the kitchen cleaning up from their morning tea. She was still rambling on when the string turned blue and started to whisk them away, she had just enough time to shout out a good bye.

The four teens landed in a heap together in the middle of a small bedroom.

"OW! Ginny that was my hand!"

"Ron, you're sitting on my skirt."

"Harry, where are you?"

All three looked up, to see the messy haired wizard standing slightly to the left of them, laughing to himself. They looked at each other and back at Harry.

"Well, I got to say, that's a first," Ron mumbled. "How the blazes did you stay standing and we didn't. You're rubbish with portkeys and floo." Ron stood up helped Hermione up while Harry helped Ginny to her feet.

"Well, it would probably help if you hadn't hit a ceiling fan on your way. I guess I was lucky and missed it by about three inches. You guys however, must have lost your balance traveling threw it." Harry chuckled and looked around. The room they were standing in was fairly small, about three meters by two meters. A small twin sized bed in the corner looked new and relatively unused. A small desk next to a slightly empty bookcase was across from the bed. A wardrobe stood near the foot of the bed. What stood out to them were the hundreds of photo's taped to the wall. While most of the room looked very muggle, most, if not all, of the pictures were moving and waving. Looking closer they saw Denis in a lot, Ginny and a few of her classmates in another grouping. Another group of picture were of the Golden Trio themselves, some waving at the camera, some looking disgruntled at being photographed again. Many different groups of pictures were from different times during their schooling, the Tri-wizard tournament, getting ready for the Yule Ball, many different Quidditch matches, and so on.

"Harry! Look, it's you and Lockhart! And Lockhart signed it! Ha!" Ron had to hold himself up using the desk chair for laughing so hard.

"And look here, Harry! This one was after you fell and Lockhart removed your arm bones! Oh that does look horrible." Hermione looked at the picture with disgust. They sat and looked at the pictures for a short while, occasionally pointing out remembered times, before a small knock at the door startled them.

"Er, come in?" Harry called out gripping his wand discreetly. The door opened and in walked a short, mousy brown haired boy who was distracted by something behind him.

"Yes mum, I'll be down in a moment," Denis called out before shutting the door. "Hey guys, glad you could make it. Sorry I had to have the portkey drop you here. You were the last to arrive by portkey and my mum had me entertaining my grandmum downstairs, so it took me a while to get away. That and Luna arrived wearing bright pink and lime green dress robes. I had to avert that disaster. I'm glad you guys are wearing muggle clothes, it make this much easier. I have to bring you downstairs that back way and let you out the back door. You'll need to walk around to the front door and ring the bell. If anyone asks you about Hogwarts, it's not called that, my relatives were only told that we went to a very strict, very low-key private school. We were asked to join shortly after grade school and we accepted. The only way to get in was to be sought after. We let on that it was for certain lost art forms, since Colin like photography so much, and we led everyone to believe that I was following in his footsteps. My grandmum was very skeptical of it and so she's very suspicious about it. If she knows that you were all friends of mine and Colin's from school she will try to get it out of you. My advice, avoid her. She's the old crotchety one that's in the wheelchair." Colin took a deep breath and continued. "The only other two magical people here are Luna and McGonagall, she's the one who made the portkey. They're downstairs right now. You understand everything?" Denis looked at them. They could see dark circles under his eyes, and when he wasn't speaking he slouched as if the perky little kid they had always known was lost. They nodded and he opened the door and peeked out, pulled his head back in and looked at them again.

"My parents know all about you guys. Me and Colin, we talked a lot about school and everything. They know what really happened to Colin, but the rest think he was involved in an accident in the darkroom. Mixing chemicals can get dangerous, so we said that cause of…cause of death was chemical exposure in an isolated darkroom. McGonagall is here to talk at the funeral about Colin's school experience. Well, lets go, I think that's it." He opened the door and peeked out once again checking that the coast was clear. Apparently it was, for he opened the door further and walked out and down a hallway. They followed quietly down a narrow set of stairs that obviously weren't used much and out a back door to the outside.

"Ok, head around to the front and ring the doorbell. See you there." He shut the door and they turned and followed his directions.

"Does anyone find something odd about Denis? That's probably the most I've ever heard him talk, and he didn't even stutter," Harry whispered.

"Yeah, I noticed too. Did you see his eyes? It looked like he hadn't slept in days," Hermione whispered back.

"Um, guys, he just lost his brother. They were like best friends. He probably feels about the same as George right now," Ginny whispered to them. Ron nodded sadly. But before anyone could reply they were at the front door. Harry reached up and rang the door bell. They heard the cheerful ding dong, and someone say, 'I'll get it.' And soon Denis' face was sadly smiling at them.

"Hey guys, glad you could make it. Come in." He smiled sadly and led them to a clean but homey living room filled with a dozen people. All the women in the room and one man had red puffy eyes, but the man was staring off into the distance sadly. "Everyone, I'd like to introduce mine and Colin's friends from school. This is Ginny Weasley, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were all a grade above Colin, and Ginny was the same grade. Guys, these are my relatives: My mum Crystina, my dad Harvey," here's where Denis pointed to the sad looking man with the puffy red eyes. "My Aunt Gladys, my Uncle Dewy, my Grandmum Creevey, my cousins Jill, Peter, Gertrude, Daniel, and Enya. And you know Luna and Professor McGonagall." Everyone said their hellos, and an awkward silence fell.

"Harrumph, well, you all went to the same school did'ja? Maybe one of these kids could tell me more about it," grumped the old woman in the chair with wheels. All the magical people exchanged confused looks, while Denis' mum looked exasperated.

"How many times do we have to tell you Agnes, we've told you all we know. The school requires the students to sign a waiver promising not to tell anything about their school to outsiders, it's a severely private institution, that values it's secrecy. Do you really have to do this today? I really don't want to have another argument over this, especially today. Please, just be quiet." Denis looked embarrassed about his mother's outburst, everyone else looked like they wished they could sink into the floor. Agnes looked about ready to start something but thought better of it in front of strangers and shut her mouth. Everyone sighed with relief, except Denis' dad, who was still staring off into space. Another awkward silence overcame the living room. Suddenly the phone rang, causing everyone in the vicinity to jump.

"I'll get it," said Denis' mum who left the room. Denis looked at everyone and sighed.

"Well, why don't we sit down." The five of them still standing went and sat on the remaining chairs.

"So, Luna, how are you doing?" asked Ginny.

"Oh, I'm doing fine. Daddy and I are cleaning up our house rather quickly. It was quite a mess." She smiled at them.

"Oh, I had forgot about that. How is your dad doing? There wasn't much damage done was there?" Hermione quickly asked forgetting the muggles.

"No, there wasn't any structural damage, we just had to rebuild the living room, my room, and a large part of the kitchen," she smiled serenely at them. The trio felt very guilty knowing that it was because of them that the Lovegood's home was in shambles.

"What exactly happened to your house, Luna?" asked Denis, glad to be away from the awkward silence.

"Oh, there was a minor explosion after Christmas. Daddy was there when it happened. It was a good thing he wasn't hurt bad, or we'd be having a hard time getting it all back together." The trio's guilt, if possible, grew much more after that statement.

"Er, if you want, Luna, we could come over this summer and help you fix it up," Harry offered. The muggles were listening with rapt curiosity.

"That's so nice of you to offer, Harry. I'll talk to Daddy and ask him about it, and send you a letter about it, alright?" Luna kept smiling. Harry nodded.

"Pardon me, but what caused the explosion in your home? I'm just a little curious," Denis' Aunt Gladys asked Luna. Luna looked to the others quickly knowing that she couldn't tell the truth, but not knowing enough about the muggle world to explain a believable lie. Hermione came to the rescue.

"I remember you telling me when it happened. Wasn't it a gas explosion?" Hermione gave Luna a significant look and nodded when everyone looked at Luna.

"Er, yes, it was. Horrible really. Good thing no one else was home and daddy was downstairs when it happened. I'm a little disappointed that I have to repaint the mural on my wall now, but maybe now I can paint it better than before." Harry remembered the painting of himself, Ron, Hermione, Neville and Ginny on the ceiling.

"Oh, you paint?" asked Jill. She had been wondering about the weird girl since she had arrived. Luna glanced up at her with a confused look on her face.

"Ms. Lovegood here is a painting student at our school. She learns the basics about older forms of painting such as mixing her own paints and lost traditions of painting styles like Fresco painting, and Impressionist art from the late 1800's." McGonagall replied quickly.

"Fresco? That sounds familiar?" Dewy said.

"Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling using the fresco method in the early 1500's. It's the most famous example of Fresco. Another good example would be the art in the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi," Hermione stopped talking when she noticed ever face was gaping at her. She turned beet red and shrunk into her chair.

"And our Ms. Granger has focused her studies on the History aspect of Art." McGonagall smiled at her.

"What do the rest of you study?" asked Agnes cautiously. The group looked at each other and then at McGonagall. Harry thinking fast was the first to answer.

"Well, er, I study, um, ancient forms of…defence. Like um, swordsmanship, and battle stratagies. Ron, well, he studies the same with more ficus on the logic and strategy. We hope to one day join the Military. Ginny is studying…" Harry paused thinking hard.

"Music. I study history of music and current music," Ginny replied.

"That's a fairly wide range of subjects you teach at your school." Gladys said.

"Yes, the students come to us after grade school learning. So they have the basics of mathmatics, English grammer and spelling, some science, and history. When they get to our school they learn for a year all the different subjects in small doses and after First year they are allowed to pick subjects that intrest them. They also have several gerneral education courses that are required." McGonagall spoke as if she had known this all along. The students gaped at her.

"Harumph. Well, I guess there really is a school for the lost arts," Agnes grumbled.

"Um, I'm sorry to break up the conversation but it's time to walk down to the cemetary," Crystina told them. Everyone stood up and headed to the door, except Agnes who was being pushed by Dewy. The group walked in a weird line; first went the Creevey's, mum, Denis, and dad walking together holding each other's hands. Next came Agnes being pushed by Dewy who walked by his wife, Gladys. Follwing them were their children, Denis' cousins. Followed by McGonagall and Luna. The four stragled behind far enough to be able to hold a hushed conversation.

"Now I understand why McGonagall stayed. To make sure we didn't let something slip. I wonder how she came up with that story so fast," Ron whispered to them.

"Oh, Ron, you really need to read Hogwarts: A History. What she told them was the made up story that all professors are supposed to tell a muggle about the school they teach in if asked," Hermione replied quickly. Ron rolled his eyes and they caught up to the small group as everyone entered the gates. The walk to the plot of land was quick but silent. There was a small portly man in a priests outfit standing near the casket waiting for them. When they arrived he held a small hushed conversation with Crystina. She stepped back and stood next to her husband and the priest opened his mouth.

"Thank you all for being here today. I have a quote for you to start the service off. It may be a little unorthodox but I think it's a good quote. 'According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.' Jerry Seinfeld said that," Harry looked at the man with his mouth gaping. Hermione looked at him with a similar look. They looked at each other with horrified looks on their faces. Before they could say anything to each other the man went on.

"Now I know that is a little unorthodox," You think, thought Harry. "But it's good to remember that even in death we need to laugh. Colin was a young man with great passions for life and family." The man rambled a long time about Colin, but Harry's mind wandered. He thought about Colin, the first time they met, the DA, and many more times over the years. The service wasn't a long one. It was over soon afterwards and the small group was walking back to the Creevey's home.

"We really must get going. Yes, thank you for inviting us. Goodbye Denis, it was nice meeting you Mr. and Mrs. Creevey, goodbye."

"Whew, I'm glad that's over. Trying at act muggle is really hard for so long," Ron sighed. "Well, lets find a place to apparate from." The four teens walked down a deserted street and detoured into an empty alley. They stood behind a dumpster.

"Have any of you been to the Tonks' house?" Harry asked and saw three shaking heads. "Ok, well why don't I show one of you two by side along, then we can come back for the others, ok?" Hermione nodded and stepped forward.

"I think I should go, ok Ron?" Ron shrugged. Harry told Hermione to grab onto his arm and they popped away, and back a few seconds later.

"Ok, Ginny take my hand. Lets go on three, one, two, three!" Two loud pops shook the air. The two couples arrived on the lawns of the Tonks residence and they walked up to the door and knocked.

Andromeda answered the door and hugged them all as they entered.

"Oh Harry dear, it's good to see you again. Come on everyone, through here." She ushered them into a large sitting room where the other Weasley's and several Order members were sitting all around two open caskets. Harry gasped and started shaking his head. Ginny held his hand and hushed him. She looked into wide tearful eyes.

"Harry, it's ok. You don't have to go see them, just walk to a chair and sit down. It'll be ok. Alright?" He looked into her eyes, and nodded. It would be alright, he could do this. She started walking, holding his hand, and pulling him slightly into the room. Ron and Hermione looked at him sadly with understanding. The two walked to the chairs next to their friends and sat down.

"Breathe Harry," Ginny whispered. He took a few deep breaths and slowly his panic calmed down. They sat and waited for a while until everyone had showed up. Harry's eyes never left the caskets.

This service went similar to Dumbledore's and Colin's as there was an older man talking about Remus and Tonks. Harry's mind wandered during the service. He noticed Andromeda sitting up front wiping her eyes and holding a small bundle. He saw a tuft of light blue hair sticking out of the top and realized that it was Teddy. After the service she's going to want to talk to me about raising Teddy. What if she wants me to take him? What if she says she can't handle raising a small child again? I'd have to drop out of school, at least if they open it back up. I'd be a parent. But what if she doesn't approve of me being Godfather to Teddy, what if she doesn't want me to have anything to do with him? I won't be absent from his life, I refuse to not be there. I grew up without my parents and godfather, I won't let that happen to Teddy. Harry's thoughts stayed this way for a while. Suddenly, he was drawn from his thoughts as everyone rose to their feet and headed to the back yard.

"What's going on? I think I drifted. Why are we going out here?" Harry whispered to Ginny.

"We're having lunch in the yard. Come on." They went outside and sat down with the rest of the Weasley's. Lunch was shredded barbequed pork sandwiches and scalloped potatoes with vegetables and fruit on the side. Harry poked at his food, not hungry. His head shot up when he heard the loud cry of a small child. He saw Andromeda stand up and walk to the back door and felt the urge to head inside and help out. The baby was part of his responsibility. He stood up and made to follow her when he felt a hand on his. He looked down into Ginny's eyes.

"You should eat something Harry. Andromeda's got Teddy for now. Eat, you barely ate at breakfast." She patted the bench she was sitting on.

"Really Gin, I'm not hungry. I want to go and talk to her now, while she's alone. Maybe I can help her a little." He started to walk away and she stood up. "No, Gin, this is something I need to do alone. They left me as his godfather, I need to do this." She sat back down and watched him go. If he had looked back he would have seen the love in her eyes glowing and her eyes water.

He walked inside and listened. He could hear the cries coming from somewhere to his left. He walked on following the cries until he arrived in the kitchen. He saw Andromeda balancing a baby in her arms and a pan in the other heading to the stove.

"Here let me help you," Harry said. She jumped a little but not much and turned carefully to see who had come in.

"Oh, Harry dear. Come over here and take him, I can cook his bottle then." She set the pan down and handed the small crying bundle to him. He looked down and for the first time saw the little puff of turquoise hair and hazel eyes up close. Harry felt something deep in his heart break. This poor little baby had lost both his parents just as Harry had. He saw so much of himself in little Teddy that he found it hard to breathe. He stood there in the middle of the kitchen staring at the little boy for several moments before his tiny cry of hunger broke the silence. Harry cuddled the bundle to his chest and hushed him.

"Shh, shh it's ok Teddy, it's ok. We're getting you a bottle. You'll have a full tummy in a few moments. Shh, shh." After shushing him for a few minutes Teddy hushed and stared at the man holding him with little teary eyes. The two orphans stared for a long time. Soon Andromeda was coming over with the bottle. She had watched Harry's face when he took Teddy. She knew he probably didn't even know that he had tears running down his cheeks. She saw him fall in love that little boy, just the same as when Remus held him for the first time. Smiling sadly she walked over to them and broke the moment.

"You're a natural. He seems to have really taken to you. Would you like to feed him. I have to get back outside, but if you'd like you can stay here or in the den and feed him if you'd like. Away from the crowd?" She saw Harry look up at her and nod. He followed her across the living room and to a side door he hadn't noticed before. They walked into a small, cozy room equipped with deep blue furnishings. The floor was a dark chestnut wood covered in subtle carpets. Harry walked over to a small sofa and softly sat down careful not to jostle the baby. As soon as he was settled Teddy started to fuss and Andromeda handed Harry a small blue baby's bottle. Harry placed the tip in Teddy's mouth only for the child to spit it back out and promptly begin wailing. Harry tried once more only to have the bottle fly out of his hands because Teddy whacked it with his failing arms and sent it sailing away.

"Accio bottle. Here Harry. He's not used to bottles yet. Please keep trying. If it gets to be too much, send a patronus to come get me, ok?" Harry looked up at her and nodded, and watched her practically run from the room.

"Ok, so we're alone now, and you are screaming. Ok, what did I just get myself into here." Harry looked around the room frantically, and decided to calmly speak to the child. "Teddy, hush, shh. I know your hungry, and I know that bottles probably aren't what you want right now. But…shh, please, try for me ok. It's not so bad. See, there you go, once you get used to it, it's all just the same. Right?" Harry kept soothing the babe by softly speaking to it, soon the bottle was empty and Teddy was staring at Harry curiously.

"Yeah, that was tasty wasn't it? Yeah. You know, we're not that different you and I." Harry didn't notice the short red-head near the door watching him with tears in her eyes. "You're going to grow up not knowing your parents, just like me. But, don't you worry, I'll be here to tell you about them. I'll tell you stories about when Remus was in school with my parents. They were called the Marauders. There was your daddy, Remus, my daddy, James, and my godfather, Sirius. There was one other, but he wasn't a nice guy, so we won't talk about him. My daddy and your daddy's best friend was Sirius Black. He was my godfather. I didn't get to know him very much, see he was in prison for my childhood. Don't get me wrong, he was innocent, but he couldn't be there for me like I'll be there for you. You just have to give me time to get used to this whole adult-parent role, ok? I've never had to take care of a baby before, and to be honest the responsibility makes me a little nervous. But hey, I think I'm doing pretty good, right? You're not crying anymore." Harry smiled at the child and hugged him to his chest holding him and rocking him slightly.

"I'm sure you'll do just fine, Harry," Ginny said quietly as she walked into the room. Harry looked up sadly at her.

"You think?" he said.

"Of course, like you said, he's not crying anymore, right?" she smirked. He smirked back while he lowered the sleeping baby back to his lap. What he saw surprised him. The child he had been hugging had turquoise hair but the baby he laid back down had scruffy black untamable hair. He stared open mouthed at Teddy and back at Ginny who smiled at him sadly.

"See, he already loves you. I bet if his eyes were open they'd be striking emerald green, just like his godfathers. You have spent an hour with him and he already feels safe in your arms, Harry. What more proof do you need?" he smiled at her and she knew she had gotten through to him. They sat and talked for a while until Andromeda came back.

"You got him to sleep? Oh, Harry, thank you. He hasn't been easting or sleeping since it happened. It's like he could sense that they're not here. All he does all day is cry. I just don't know what to do with him. I have to be strong for him, but that doesn't leave me much time to grieve my daughter and son-in-law or my husband. I wanted to talk to you about possibly you coming and staying with me for a few weeks. It'll help us get to know each other better, and you could help me with Teddy until I feel better about all this. You don't have to if you don't want to, please don't feel obligated. I just thought you might…want to spend more time with Teddy. You could have your friends stay some nights and we could switch off waking up at night so that you could go out and be young and carefree still. Please, think about it. Don't answer me today, sleep on it and consider it, please." She took a sleeping Teddy from him and straightened up. "Molly is waiting for you two outside. Better get going. And Harry, thank you for helping me today. I really needed the break. Good bye!" Andromeda turned, holding Teddy, and walked down the hallway away from the stunned Harry and Ginny. Harry looked at Ginny expecting sympathy for the older woman, but instead saw anger and incredulousness.

"Er, Gin? We should get going. Come on." He gently pulled her arm till she followed. They walked out of the den and into the formal living room and Harry stopped. There were the caskets again. This time there was no one in the room but them. Ginny looked at Harry and saw determination, guilt, and sorrow all at once cross his young face. She squeezed his hand and he glanced down at her.

"I have too…I have too see them. One more time," he said in a strained voice, but stayed still. For several minutes they didn't move, until he let go of her hand and stepped forward. Slowly he moved forward alone towards the larger of the two caskets. Before he came into sight of the body, he paused and took a deep breath and swallowed. He nodded his head as if deciding to do something and stepped forward. A sharp intake of air signaled that he saw his mentor's body now. Tears clouded his vision and he found it hard to breathe. There was the man who taught him so many things, how to fight a Bogart and dementors, told him about his parents, and made him a Godfather to his son. Harry took a deep, shaky breath when he realized that he was holding it in.

"I promise I'll take good care of him for you. I won't let you down. Goodbye Moony, the last of the marauders." Harry sniffed loudly and moved towards the smaller casket.

"Hey, Tonks. Or should I say, Nymphadora, since you can't hit me now," Harry chuckled. "Ok, sorry, I didn't mean that. You were a great friend, Tonks. I'll miss you. I promise, Teddy will be well taken care of. He will be so spoiled. I won't let you down. Don't let the marauders get to rowdy now… Goodbye, Mrs. Lupin. Thank you for finally showing him love, he needed it." Ginny walked up to Harry and circled her arms around his waist. She started walking him towards the door.

"Come on, mum's waiting." They walked outside holding each other, feeling each others grief, and letting each other feel it, knowing that to finally overcome grief they'd have to experience grief. They knew the days to come would be hard, but that they would be there for each other, with a shoulder to cry on. Mrs. Weasley saw them coming and noticed their tears. She called to them to meet at home, and disappeared leaving them alone. Harry smiled at Ginny and she smiled up at him. They shared a chaste kiss and a hug and they too disappeared.

After dinner, everyone sat down in the sitting room for a cup of tea and some soft music on the wireless. Mrs. Weasley sat in her rocker and knitted slowly, not really focused on anything going on around her. Mr. Weasley sat in his chair and opened a book titled Muggles: Inventions Made to Compensate for Lack of Magic by Baxter Grae. George sat and read over a few pieces of parchment rosters for the store. Percy worked on something to do with the WWW for George since technically he had quit his job. Ron and Hermione sat near the fire and whispered to each other, while Harry and Ginny did the same near the back of the room. Charlie and Bill sat with Fleur discussing Shell Cottage and the Dragon Preserve. Everyone was content for an hour or so until Mrs. Weasley yawned and looked around the room.

"Well, everyone, I'm sorry but I just can't keep my eyes open any longer. I'm off to bed a little early tonight. Don't you all stay up too late. Good night." She gave Arthur a kiss and passed through to the stairs while everyone said their goodnights to her as well.

Not long after the guys all started playing a card game with their Exploding Snap deck. Arthur reading with a smile on his face would occasionally call out to Harry and Hermione about some invention or other to see if they had used them at some point, the most recent being a Vacuum.

"Yeah, but it's pronounced Vak-yoom. They're really noisy though," Harry responded with a smile. Hermione smirked over at him then yawned. Ginny seeing Hermione yawn, yawned also. Which caused Fleur to yawn as well. Soon all the girls were in bed asleep.

The guys decided to have a late night snack and went to the kitchen. They sat and chatted quietly for a while. Abruptly, George sat up straighter.

"I could really use a drink, right now. Maybe it'll help me forget about tomorrow." Bill stared at his little brother.

"You know George, alcohol won't help you forget, most of the time it causes the feelings you're having to get worse." Everyone was carefully watching George who nodded then stood up.

"I know that, but for right now I want to go out and drink. I at least deserve that before my twins funeral. I'm going to go to the Three Broomsticks. Come if you want, stay if you must, but please don't try to stop me. I need this tonight." George turned to leave but was stopped when a voice called out, but did not turn around.

"Son, I know you feel like you need this but remember that you can always talk to me, and I'm sure everyone in this room will be willing to talk to you, listen to you if you need it. Just don't forget that your mother and I love you, we don't want to see you hurt yourself," Arthur said quietly. George stood still for a moment before nodding and then walking out the door. Arthur turned to the rest of the room. "Please, go with him. Make sure he doesn't hurt himself. Bring him home safely. I'll stay up a little later to make a hangover draught for tomorrow, as I'm sure he'll need it." As one everyone stood up and walked to the door. Bill stopped after everyone had left and turned to his father.

"He'll be fine, dad. He knows we're all here for him. You worry about mum, ok? She's taking this harder than George I think. If Fleur wakes up, let her know where I am ok? We'll see you in the morning I guess." Arthur clapped a hand on the shoulder of his oldest and nodded to him. Bill left and popped to the pub in Hogsmeade.

What he found there was George sitting at a table with his brothers and Harry and Hagrid. Everyone, besides Hagrid, already had one empty shot glass in front of them, George had three. Bill walked up to the table as everyone got ready for another shot. As Charlie handed him one he looked up at him and said, "Make it a double, I gotta catch up, right?" George smiled.

"Damn right. I've already downed three." George was smiling a lot. "You should have seen Ronnie here take his first ever shot of Firewhiskey, it was magnificent. He almost spayed us all and nearly coughed up a lung he did." Clearly George was feeling a little better with some booze in him.

"I did not cough up a lung, I cleared my throat. That's all," Ron sputtered causing everyone to laugh. "Besides, Harry coughed too."

"Yes, ickle Ronnie-kins, but Harry was at least able to get it all down on the first go, didn't he?" George chuckled. "But, hey, if you want another go, then lets do another, so you can prove yourself a true Weasley. On go, wait, clinky, we forgot to clink. Ok, now on go. Go!" After everyone had take their shot, Ron only coughing a little, the group sat and laughed about different things. Charlie talked about getting Norbert, who was shortly re-named Norberta, which raised a few red eyebrows from the older siblings, never having heard the story. Hagrid was just glad to hear that Norberta now had a mate and two little pups. "Aw, my little Norberta's all grown up." Percy was appalled to hear about a Dragon biting Ron, and them helping send it to a safer place.

Several shots later found the group singing along to the music and dancing together loudly.

As I was goin' over the Cork and Kerry mountains
I saw Captain Farrell and his money he was countin'
I first produced my pistol and then produced my rapier
I said stand and deliver or the devil he may take ya.

Bill and Hagrid were chuckling at the four guys singing at the top of their lungs. Harry, Charlie, Percy, and George were all singing the new Metallica version of Whiskey In The Jar so loud other patrons of the bar were complaining of the noise. Bill was just surprised that Percy had even known the words to the song, let alone known the muggle rock version.

Musha ring dum a doo dum a da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There's whiskey in the jar

Bill, Ron and Hagrid all laughed out loud at the guys' drunken attempt at the chorus. Soon the song was done and a new one started. This one Ron and Hagrid knew so they joined in. Bill chuckled before he decided to join them as well. It was a funny song, he had to admit.

Well a Scotsman clad in kilt left a bar one evening fair,
And one could tell by how he walked that he'd drunk more than his share.
He fumbled 'round until he could no longer keep his feet,
And he stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street.

The small group sang the chorus loudly and with huge smiles on their faces.

Ring-ding-diddle-iddle-adi-o
Ring-da-diddly-ai-o
He stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street.

By the second verse many more in the bar had joined in the humorous song.

About that time two young and lovely girls just happened by,
One says to the other with a twinkle in her eye,
"See yon sleeping Scotsman, so strong and handsome build,
I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt?"

Ring-ding-diddle-iddle-adi-o
Ring-da-diddly-ai-o
I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt?

Soon many were dancing a Scottish Jig while singing along.

They crept up on that sleeping Scotsman, quiet as could be,
Lifted up his kilt about an inch so they could see.
And there, behold, for them to view beneath his Scottish shirt,
Was nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth.

Ring-ding-diddle-iddle-adi-o
Ring-da-diddly-ai-o
Was nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth.

They marveled for a moment than one said, "We must be gone,
Let's leave a present for our friend before we move along."
As a gift they left a blue silk ribbon tied into a bow,
Around the bonny-star that the Scot's kilt did lift and show.

Ring-ding-diddle-iddle-adi-o
Ring-da-diddly-ai-o
Around the bonny-star that the Scot's kilt did lift and show.

Before the pub was able to get to the last verse, the door opened and in walked several people, stunned to see almost an entire pub dancing and even more singing. But what stunned them most were the several Weasley's in the center of it all along with Harry Potter. All of them drunk and laughing, singing and dancing.

Now the Scotsman woke to nature's call and stumbled towards a tree,
Behind the bush he lifts his kilt and gawks at what he sees.
And in a startled voice he says to what's before his eyes, oh
"Lad I don't know where ya been but I see you've won first prize."

The newcomers to the pub laughed uproariously when they recognized the song.


Ring-ding-diddle-iddle-adi-o
Ring-da-diddly-ai-o, oh
Lad I don't know where ya been but I see you won first priiiiiiiiiiiize.

"Well, that was quite a show. Did not expect to see them here, let alone doing that," Professor Sprout said to Professor McGonagall, who nodded her head in shock. She walked over to Hagrid and sat down with him, the other Professors following her.

"Hagrid, what are Harry and the Weasley boys doing here? And what in Merlin's name are they doing singing?" Filius Flitwick asked the giant man across from him.

"Ah, they're just lettin' off some steam, Fred Weasley's funeral is tomorrow. I'm sure tha's par' of the reason they're 'ere," Hagrid said thickly. The drunker he gets the thicker his accent gets, the other's understood him clearly though. Suddenly a crash from the other side of the room disturbed them. A rush from a group near the Weasley party caused the teachers to jump up and run over to see what was going on.

"It's not our fault, he's the one who broke the radio. Why isn't he getting kicked out?" shouted a short man, who was obviously too drunk to stand on his own. He was pointing at Charlie Weasley and shouting more, while being held back by his mates. They visibly weren't as drunk as their friend. Madam Rosmerta was directing the group of men holding the obnoxious one outside. After they left the Weasley's burst out laughing. The rest of the Professor's went back and sat down, but McGonagall stayed.

"Charlie, it's nice to see you again. I'm sorry I haven't been able to catch up since the memorial. Bill, does Arthur know where you all are?" She asked the least drunk member.

"What-Oh yeah, he knows. He actually told us to come. You know, keep an eye on the younger ones, and make sure everyone gets home…though that's going to be difficult now. I don't think any of us are going to be able to appaperate, wait, apapper…apperpate. You know what I mean." Bill laughed at his inability to speak clearly, which caused the Charlie, and Percy to laugh also. George, Ron, and Harry all too drunk to understand what was being spoken about heard laughter and laughed also. Bill, Charlie, and Percy followed the professor to the table the others had sat in and engaged in conversation while the three youngest went to another table and ordered another round.

"'Arry, guess what? I love 'ermione so much. I just love her. Don't you just love her, I just want to kiss her and do things with her… I really love 'er," Ron slurred. Harry meanwhile was staring at a cup.

"Ron, I think that they stopped…serving us real whiskey." Harry looked at his friends who stared back with glazed eyes.

"Why you do…why you do…wait, why…do you think that?" George asked slurring even more than Ron.

"I can't taste it anymore. Tastes like…water." Harry glared at the cup.

"Maybe your tongue died," Ron mumbled, then started laughing. "Bill, Harry's tongue died! He can't taste anything!" The drunk trio wandered and stumbled across the bar to the table of teachers and brothers. Harry looked frightened while George and Ron were laughing hysterically between hiccups.

"Bill, Bill, guess...hic…what. Harry's tongue…hic…died! Ha, ha hic ha!" Ron laughed.

"Why did it have to die? Why? I don't want it to be died…dead. Ha, Ronnie's got the hic hiccups! Oh crap! Hic. Now I do hic too!" Everyone, even the Professors, laughed at this. No one had ever seen heroic Harry Potter like this before. And it was a sight to see. It was good to see him acting his age, even though they all disapproved of this type of behavior.

"Hey, how 'bout 'nother round o'r here, Rosie?" George yelled out to the barmaid who smiled and nodded.

"Ok, but after this one, we have to go home. Alright?" Bill, who had sobered up a bit, said to the group. Cries of no, and we're having fun were called out, followed by a very loud hiccup that echoed across the noisy pub from Harry.

"Er, sorry, can't hic help it. Hic." Harry laughed along with the others because of his very persistent, and very loud, hiccups. When the round came everyone took a shot glass and clicked it together with everyone else's.

"A toast!" cried Hagrid loudly.

"Too what?" cried Harry and Ron together equally loudly.

"Oh, I know, pick me!" yelled George. Bill nodded to him and chuckled.

"To Life! And moving on!" said George. Everyone nodded, and raised their glasses.

"Wait, and to hic…family!" yelled Ron.

"And Friends!" said Harry who promptly hiccupped again.

"To Love!" said Bill.

"To Education!" cried little Flitwick.

"To…the end of the war!" said Sprout.

"No kidding!" shouted Harry which made everyone laugh.

"Ok, I think that's the one, to the end of the War!" said McGonagall who the downed her shot of Firewhiskey before anyone could make another toast. Everyone but Ron and Harry downed their shot, the two of them just stared at McGonagall with wide eyes.

"What? Just because I'm a teacher I can't hold my Firewhiskey? You boys have a lot to learn," she chuckled. "Now, finish your shots. I'm going to make a portkey for you boys so you get home safely, ok?" The other professors laughed at Minerva's comment while the boys nodded and took their shots like they were told. Minerva laughed and stood up. Bill, Charlie, and Percy stood up and went to follow her outside but stopped when they realized that Ron, Harry, and George could walk on their own. They each shook their heads and took another under their arm and half lifted them outside where Minerva had a large rock in her hand. She held it out for them and made sure everyone was touching it, placing it in Bill's hand.

"Now, go home and go to sleep, boys. I afraid of what your mother is going to say in the morning. Activus," She smiled at their horrified looks as they popped out of sight. She went back into the bar and sat back down.

"Well, Minerva, I don't think those boys will ever respect you again, if they can even remember what you said," chuckled Pomona. Filius laughed and so did Hagrid. She raised her eyebrows smirked and ordered another round. George was right, it was time to move on.

The boys all landed hard on the ground outside the Burrow. Ron promptly rolled over and threw up in a begonia bush. Harry laid not far from him, having landed on his back after Charlie dropped him to catch himself. Harry stared up at the sky.

"Look at all the stars." Bill and Charlie chuckled and picked Ron and Harry up, while Percy struggled getting George off the ground. The six of them walked inside quietly and into the kitchen. A note was lying in the table, which Bill read aloud.

"Dear kids, I made the potion, but it requires that you drink it upon waking up the next morning. I'll make sure you get it then. Goodnight. Make sure you sleep on your sides. Dad. Well, that was nice of him. Come on, let's get these guys off to bed. Perce, you and Charlie switch brothers, Charlie can put George to bed in their room. Come on, Ron, upstairs." Bill and Percy heaved and pulled the two near dead weights up the five flights of stairs as quietly as they could. By the time the got up them, they were seating profusely and Ron and thrown up twice more. Harry was mumbling something about Ginny that neither wanted to hear completely.

"Ugh, Harry if you get any clearer and I hear something I don't like, I'm pushing you down the stairs," Percy grumbled. Bill chuckled and shoved Ron into his bed where within seconds the young red-head was snoring a loud tune. Bill shook his head and he and Percy went down the stairs to their own rooms, and too bed finally.

Harry having not fallen asleep like Ron, laid in bed thinking of his girlfriend and wanting to see her very badly. He wasn't feeling very good and he knew she could make him feel better. So he stood up and swayed and lurched to the door. He traveled back down the four flights of stairs to her room and opened the door as quietly as he could. He walked in and over to her bed and kneeled on the floor next to her.

"Ginny? Ginny, wake up. I don't feel good and I need you to make it better," Harry whispered loudly. Ginny groaned and rolled over to see a glassy eyed Harry smiling at her.

"Harry? What are you doing in here? What's wrong with you?" she mumbled wishing for sleep. Harry giggled. This woke her up more. "Did you just giggle? Harry are you ok?" She sat up and he pulled back from the bed only to sway and topple to the ground, still giggling. Ginny peeked over the edge of her bed confused and fully awake now.

"Er, Harry, are you ok?" she whispered.

"I'm just fine, Gin, I'm only just a little drunk, not a lot, just a little. Not like Ron, he threw up, um, three times! Ha, ha, I didn't throw up not once!" Harry said a little too loudly, waking up Hermione.

"Ginny, did he just say he was drunk and so was Ron?" Hermione mumbled across the room.

"Oh 'Mione, I didn't mean to wake you up, I just wanted to see Ginny, 'cuz I love her and I don't feel very good and she'll make it better." Harry grinned at her. The two girls looked at each other and grinned.

"Um, Harry, how did you and Ron get drunk?" Ginny asked quietly.

"Er, George said he needed a drink and so we all went to the three brooms and had a few shots. Your dad told us to make sure George was ok, so we kept him company and sang with him." Harry slumped to the floor in his attempt to get into bed with her. "Ow," he muttered rubbing his head which had hit an end table. Hermione giggled while Ginny helped Harry up and onto the edge of her bed. Harry heard Hermione giggle and he giggled back.

"So, um, who all came with you and Ron and George? Did you say that dad knew?" Ginny asked him while smoothing out his hair.

"Mm, that feels so good Gin. I knew you would make it better," Harry mumbled leaning his head into her hand.

"Harry, focus. Who came with you?"

"Um, Bill, and Charlie, and um, oh, Percy. He's a good singer, did you know that?" Harry giggled.

"Er, no, I didn't. Anyone else?" Ginny asked trying not to imagine Percy singing, which she knew he did not, in fact, have a good singing voice.

"Um, Ron and um, George. Oh, and Ron. Oh and I forgot Bill, he was there too." Harry sighed leaning up against Ginny. "Oh, and hagrid, and McGonagall, Sprout and Flitwick. We all drink, er, drank some Firewhiskey, and toasted everything." He smiled at the giggling girls.

"Harry, did you say that you drank with a group of teachers? That I find hard to believe," Hermione chuckled shaking her head.

"They were there, Mc…McGongle, made us a portkey for us 'cuz we were all too drunk to appaperate," Harry said forcefully.

"Did you just appaperate? And McGongle? Wow, you really are drunk," Ginny laughed. "We should really get you to bed Harry." Harry shook his head.

"No, I don't want to go to Ron's room, he's singing too loudly," Harry mumbled. It was obvious that Harry was very close to passing out.

"Um, he's singing Harry?" Hermione questioned him with a wide grin.

"No, silly, he's Singing. Why would he be snoring, 'Mione? He's asleep," Harry giggled which caused the girls to giggle some more.

"Well, Harry I don't know if you can sleep here. Hermione, would you have a problem with Harry staying in here, besides I don't think that the two of us could get him up four flights of stairs when he can barely stand." She looked at Harry to find him asleep on her shoulder. She smiled at him endearingly.

"Well, seeing as how he's sound asleep already, I guess I could enlarge my bed and you could sleep over here with me. Or, you know, share a bed with him." Hermione smirked. Ginny looked at Harry and smirked back.

"I think I will share with him. Besides, you kick in your sleep, and I like my shins thank you." The two girls giggled. Hermione grabbed her wand and enlarged Ginny's bed to a queen size. They laid Harry down and conjured a pillow for him and Ginny laid down next to him.

"Figures, the first time we sleep together he'd have to be passed out," Ginny muttered making Hermione laugh. "I just hope mum doesn't find us like this." With that the two girls went to sleep chuckling at Harry's never before seen drunkenness.

A/N: wow this got long. 22 pages and 12,731 words long. Over twice the minimum length I require for myself. Jeez Louise. About the quote the guy used at Colin's funeral, I have heard that quote at a loved ones funeral service. The guy was nearly thrown out of the building. I thought it was hilarious at the time. Now, well, I still think that at that time it was funny. I just wanted to use it for Harry and Hermione's reactions! Lol. I liked the idea to have a very drunk Harry and Ron. For some reason I figured Ron can't hold his liquor very well. He just seems so innocent to me in that respect. I also thought that George was a happy drunk, he's had so much grief lately that I thought I would let him have some fun. Those two songs I chose are two of my favorites. Whiskey in the Jar seemed to fit the situation, seeing as how they drank a few Jars of Whiskey and I'm not sure when it came out but my computer's Media player says 1998 so it would have been a newer song then. And while it is a pub in a fully magical town Muggle music is better in my opinion so I figured someone may have brought a muggle radio to the pub. and the Drunken Scotsmen song is just the perfect drunk person song to sing in the pub. It's hilarious! I hope I did the funerals justice, I didn't want them to be too long, and so I didn't go into the words said at the services but I guess I failed in the respect cuz now even my a/n is getting long. Reviews are like oxygen people! Please review!