Disclaimer- I do not own the Harry Potter series
The following morning after Georges breakdown things got back to normal, or as normal as they could be in this situation. The Weasleys, Hermione, and Harry all sat down together in the Great Hall and enjoyed a breakfast together. They, for once, were forgetting their worries and just enjoying the happiness of the moment.
George's breakdown the night before was not forgotten, but for the moment, they could focus on other things. The best medicine right now for him was just to be with family and learn how to find joy without his twin there.
After Harry had left the Weasleys in the hallway to deal with George he knew that the guy would be okay. He was in a bad time but he was strong, and though the strong could be weak at times they never fail in their true nature. Harry was still worried about him but he felt that now they were out of the danger zone and that George wouldn't try another stunt like that. That was one of the reasons and one of the Weasleys, Hermione, or himself was always with George to make sure he didn't do it again.
"Harry, Kingsley's coming over and he wants to talk to you," Hermione said tapping him on the shoulder, gently taking him out of his thoughts.
"Oh, thanks, Hermione," Harry said nodding to her and rising from his seat, slowly. He was still a little sore from his injuries, magic could only do so much, but some days were better than others and today were an okay day.
"Hello, Harry, how is you?" Kingsley said shaking his hand firmly.
"I'm alright and you, Kingsley?" Harry asked politely.
"I could be better but I've been worse," he chuckled and Harry nervously did also.
"So what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" Harry asked after a brief moment of awkward silence.
"Well a number of things, but first things first. I know these may be hard subjects for you but it needs to be done. In Remus Lupins will he left you some money and a few objects that pertain to your parents. Because he has no living family members that are of age you were the next one I had to talk to about this. What would you like to do with his body?" Kingsley asked softly.
Harry stopped his nodding for a second, completely surprised by the question and unprepared.
"What about Andromeda?" Harry asked.
"Well... she isn't technically family and she wasn't written in his will and so that leaves you."
"Well, I think he would have wanted to be buried next to his wife, if that is okay with Andromeda. Do you think you could set up a meeting for me and her?" Harry asked.
"She's actually here right now going over preparations for Dora's funeral. She is right over there," Kingsley said indicating the said direction. "When you are done be sure to get the correct documents to make it official and then he can finally be at peace," Kingsley said before giving Harry one last nod and bustling away on some other ministry business.
Harry then walked over to where Kingsley had indicated and found the women in question. She was so familiar to his torturer that it brought up sour memories that Harry would have gathered forgotten. He couldn't stop them though and flashes of Bellatrix's face swam in his mind as her shrieking laughter filled his ears.
He felt the burn of his old wounds and hissed in pain. He could almost feel the blood trickling down his limbs. Somewhere in the back of his mind, though he knew that it wasn't real and tried to fight back to reality.
He gasped like he had just come out of water for air. He saw the Great Hall around him, people all about enjoying their breakfasts and chattering happily with no worries, since the Dark Lord was dead. It seemed Harry had only been in his mind for a few seconds and continued his trek towards the dark haired and heavy lidded women.
"Hello, Andromeda," Harry said once he reached her and stuck out a hand.
"Oh, Harry, it's nice to see you again," she said in a fake cheerful voice. Harry noticed her tear stained face and puffy eyes. She had just lost her husband and her daughter, the two last remaining people of her family who weren't completely crazy, well except for Teddy.
"How are you and Teddy doing?" Harry asked remembering the boy and wondering where he was at.
"We are both fine. I just sat him down for a nap a few minutes ago," she said looking at Harry with those sad light copper eyes of hers, but he could detect a hint of that motherly affection in both her eyes and voice.
"Well that's great. If I had known you both were here I would have come and seen the little tyke. I've only heard a little about him but haven't actually had the pleasure myself."
"Well, of course, I had completely forgotten. I'll let you know once he wakes up so you can meet him," she said and gestured down to a bench next to her for both of them to sit at. "I know why you came over here, Harry; Kingsley has already talked to me. I think it would be wonderful if we could have both...both of their gr...Graves next to each other. It's what my daughter would have wanted."
Harry was glad that she saw it his way, it made things a lot easier.
"That is just what I was thinking. I just came over here to see if it was alright with you," Harry said brighter than he had been in days.
"That's wonderful. I have already begun planning Dora's funeral and I can easily do it for both of them and make it combined," Andromeda said not even stuttering on the word funeral. "You won't have to worry about a thing, dear, I will take care of everything."
"Are you sure? I would be happy to help, it is part of my responsibility," Harry said feeling like he was just putting more weight on this poor women's shoulders.
"No no don't even think that. It will keep my mind off things actually doing something productive," she said waving him off.
"Well, at least let me help out with Teddy a bit-"
"Oh that was the other thing I was going to talk to you about! In their wills they put both me and you as Teddy's guardians. How would you like to do that? Do you want to do a split guardianship? We could also have it where he had a main guardian and then like once a month or weekends or something they go to the others house, but of course you don't need to take him at all if you don't want to, it could just be better if he stays with one person for now," she blabbered on.
"I would never think of laying all that responsibility on you, he is my godson and I plan to be part of his life. I don't know much about babies, but I'm willing to learn, if you could teach me. It might be best if he stays at your house for now and I'll come and visit, and once I'm able to I can take care of him and then we can go from there," Harry said creating a plan inside of his mind.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Andromeda said dead serious, she wasn't about to leave her grandson in someone's hands who wasn't a hundred percent sure.
"Positive," Harry said a hard look on his face, clearly saying he wasn't joking.
"Then it's settled. Thank you, Harry, this really means a lot to me and I'm sure Teddy will appreciate it when he's older. It also gives him a good male role model to look up too. I have only heard good things about you, Harry, and thank you for everything you have done," she said giving him a crushing hug before walking in an unseen direction.
Later that week...
The memorial service was planned for today. People from all over, friends, family, everyone who ever had an attachment to Hogwarts came to honor the dead. They also came in part because afterwards the story of the golden trio's adventure would be announced.
Harry had told Kingsley that he thought it would just be best to do the whole thing in one big blow so he could get it over with and then people wouldn't have to gather twice. Kingsley had agreed and here they were.
The sun was shining bright and the sweet smell of flowers and green grass filled the air, making a beautiful spring day, a good day.
Harry walked to the podium with Ron and Hermione on either sides of him.
"You ready to do this, mate?" Ron asked patting him on the shoulder.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Harry said.
"What about you Hermione?" Ron said turning towards her.
"Now is as good a time as any. What about you Ron?"
"Happy to get it over with and then I can go home and have some of my mums home cooking's," Ron said with a reminiscent look on his face, like he hadn't seen his mums cooking in years, when in reality it had only been a few months.
"Home sounds good," Harry said looking at both of them with a smile on his face, the first one in days.
"Yeah, yeah it does..."
And that's the end of it! I hope you guys all liked it and thank you for sticking with me throughout my terrible writers block. As I have said I have a sequel like thingy that comes after this, for a warning it is very angsty. That should be popping up in the next month and hopefully you guys will consider reading it
