Chapter 5
Goodbye Fred
Ron and Hermione got back the day after the monument was moved to the front of the castle, "This is amazing" said Hermione as she suddenly burst into tears, Ron couldn't comfort her as he could not speak. He was just staring at his brothers name, when he finally found his voice it was rather croakly, like there was a lump in the back of his throat "who did this" he asked "Neville" said Harry walking down the entrance steps to the grounds to greet his friends. Hermione ran up to Harry and hugged him "I got your owl, glad you found your mum and dad. How are they?" asked Harry excitedly, "they're really good, they were rather annoyed after I told them what had happened but its okay now " said Hermione "what about Ron?" asked Harry worryingly "he just misses Fred and couldn't wait to see you again" said Hermione jokingly "yeah I bet, I will talk to him" Harry said, he left Hermione and walked over to Ron.
" Hey youhungry big man?" asked Harry "I could eat" said Ron with a bit of a smile "lets eat then and afterwards I'll beat you at a game of chess" said Harry burst out laughing "oi your not the chosen one anymore, I wont have to go easy on you now, Ginny will see the real Potter" said Ron playfully "oh is that right Weasley?" said Harry laughing along with Ron. Harry pulled his wand out so fast Ron didn't know what happened until it happened, Rictusempra! Ron hit the floor doubling over with laughter between breaths shouting " haha I'm...hahah going... hahaha... to kill... hahaha you Arry!" once Ron got himself together he ran after Harry who was running towards their favourite tree by the lake, as Harry ran he seen Ginny sitting by the tree reading what looked like a quidditch book "Hey Ginny look who I found" before he could say anything else all he heard was Tarantallegra at this moment Ginny looked up and burst out laughing as Harry was uncontrollably dancing around her, then she spotted his attacker "Ron!" she shouted excitedly whilst getting to her feet and running towards him, Ron got his wand ready but was shocked when she jumped on him with a big hug "I've missed you bro, what took you so long?" asked Ginny. Harry managed to stop the dancing jinx to his legs and looked at them and smiled.
"I will let use get a catch up" said Harry as he went to walk away, both Ron and Ginny asked "where you going?" Harry was startled "I just thought I would let use sort out your family stuff, its okay I will catch up later" said Harry with a small smile on his face, both Ron and Ginny looked at each other then burst into fits of laughter again "what's so funny?" asked Harry a bit annoyed "oh Harry you ARE part of this family, you always were" said Ginny who walked over and kissed him gently on the lips. " I mean, didn't you know this all ready Potter, and you call yourself the chosen one?" said Ron in his best woman voice, they all started laughing "no but seriously mate, you are a huge part of this family" said Ron talking seriously this time. Harry smiled and wrapped an arm around the both of them "Thank You" he said smiling at each of them.
"Where is Hermione by the way?" asked Ginny, both Harry and Ron looked at each other and smiled at the same time and said "Library", they all laughed heading back to the castle, it felt good to laugh after all that had happened lately, it was good to see everyone with smiles on their faces again.
Harry made arrangements to go stay at 12 Grimmauld Place but Mrs Weasley was having none of it, so because of her persuasion Harry was to spend his last few weeks of the summer holidays at the Burrow. If Harry was honest with himself it didn't take much to persuade him, as he loved staying at the Burrow with his best friends and his girlfriend, and that's when it hit him what Ginny and Ron said to him back at Hogwarts a few weeks before "you are part of this family and you always have been" and they were right, he was treated as a equal in this house as well, which he loved, no special treatment for him. He had to do dishes, help clean up, tidy his and Ron's room, small things like this just made him smile. Ginny caught this smile as she walked into the kitchen and walked up behind him where he was doing the dishes "you know you can use your wand Harry" she asked with a puzzled look on her face, "yeah but sometimes taking the time to do something makes it more satisfying when its done" he replied with a smile on his face. Ginny smiled at him "okay, whatever makes you happy Potter" she said while cuddling into his back, he turned round and lifted Ginny up from the waist as if she was his trophy for finishing the dishes the muggle way. Ginny laughed at him and put her hands on his cheeks and leaned down and kissed him. Harry got it every time he kissed Ginny and this is why he loved her so much, his stomach starts doing back flips and it tickles like there is a thousand butterfly's in his stomach trying to fly away, it always felt like it was the first time.
"I love you Mr Potter" she whispered to him once they unlocked lips "I love you so much Miss Weasley" Harry replied. "That's lovely use two but we are having a family meeting in the sitting room in five minutes" chuckled Mrs Weasley, Mr and Mrs Weasley where standing there with big smiles on their faces watching them, usually Harry would blush and apologize for something like this but not today, he didn't care, he simply nodded at them and turned back kissed her one more time before they headed into the sitting room.
All the family were there. George, Ron, Bill, Fluer, Percy, Charlie and Hermione. They were all sat quietly round a circle, there was a few more seats which where pulled in from the kitchen, "please, sit down Harry dear" said Mrs Weasley pointing over at the empty seats beside Ron and Hermione. Harry walked over and sat down beside Ron who gave him a small smile, Ginny sat on the floor leaning against Harry's legs instead of sitting on the seat beside him. Mrs Weasley sat on a seat next to Mr Weasley "Molly and I have been talking and we wanted to talk to use about tomorrow" spoke Mr Weasley "about what?" asked Ron stiffly, "About Fred's Funeral..." said Mr Weasley trying to hide the hurt in his voice. Everyones face went white and they all looked at the floor, they where all wishing this day would never have to came, "now, we have decided to place him to rest under the apple tree at the end of the garden" said Mr Weasley "what made use pick that spot?" asked Ron without thinking, "it was my idea" spoke George, this was the first time Harry heard George speak since the day after the war. "We used to do a lot of our thinking and came up with a lot of our merchandise sitting there and I know that is where he would want to be because its where I would want to be".
Mrs Weasley walked over to her son and grabbed him in a tight hug both in tears, Ron looked angry, Harry imagined it was because of seeing his mum and brother in so much pain, Harry imagined this because he felt the same way but he also felt guilty because in the end it was between him and Voldemort, "Why did they have to suffer because of me, why did they have to die because of me...why?" just then Harry came back to what was going on in the room, it took him a few moments to realise that Ginny was holding him, and Ron had his arm around him, then he realised a tear was running down his face he was crying for Fred, Lupin, Tonks, Dobby, Siruis, Mad Eye, Cedric Diggory, Dumbledore, His mum and dad and even Snape.
"Its okay Harry, I'm here, I'm here" said Ginny softly while stroking the back of his head, which made Harry feel safer, warmer and a bit better. "Harry we would like you to say some words tomorrow if you feel up for it" said George which took him by surprise but he didn't hesitate, he answered straight away "it would be my honour" replied Harry. George gave a simple nod and a little sad smile at Harry.
The next day was still dark, Harry still felt deeply down in the dumps, today was the day... Fred Weasley`s funeral. Harry made sure he got up extra early this morning as he would help Mrs Weasley with whatever she needed him to do, but when Harry went downstairs the Burrow looked completely different, everything was neat and tidy, all the dirty boots and shoes at the back door in the kitchen where gone and there sitting at the table with a cup of tea "Harry dear why are you up at this hour" asked Mrs Weasley " I knew you would get up early to prepare, I wanted to help you but I see you got up earlier than I thought" said Harry with a smile, Mrs Weasley gave a small chuckle "I haven't been to bed yet Harry... If I'm honest, I cant remember the last time I slept more than 3 hours" Harry didn't see it before but now that Mrs Weasley mentioned it, she did look very tired round the eyes" anyway Harry dear come sit down, I will make a pot of tea" said Mrs Weasley "No" Harry said in a demanding voice "you stay where you are, I will make the tea, would you like a fresh one?" he asked Mrs Weasley smiled and said "Yes dear thank you".
Harry made the teas and sat beside Mrs Weasley "I'm sorry Mrs Weasley" said Harry in a near whisper "Whatever for?" she asked "I didn't want anyone to get hurt for me especially any of use...use are the only family I have and I...I...I am so sorry about everything, Ginny with the diary, Bill with the werewolf, Mr Weasley with the snake, always getting Ron into trouble. taking him with me to fight Voldemort and George with his ear and Fred... oh god, Freds dead. I am so sorry" cried Harry "Now you listen hear" said Mrs Weasley in her strictest voice but holding back, trying to hold back the tears but couldn't "none of this was your fault Harry! none of this! it was evil witches and wizards that caused all of this, not you Harry don't you EVER let me hear you blaming yourself again, I would just have been as heart broking if it were you Harry and not Fred, we all would have you, you were always one of us Harry" Mrs Weasley said to him calmly " look what you have done Harry, you made my son a brave young man who has self-confidence in himself now. You helped Fred and George open their own store" Harry looked up "don't worry they never told me, I seen their founders contract and you were classed as the none existing founder" Mrs Weasley said this with a smile, Harry couldn't help but chuckle, "Ginny is the happiest I have ever seen her and that's because she has you Harry...You! I know those eyes and I am telling you she loves you deeply, she looks at you the way I looked at Arthur when we first started dating. She was heartbroken when you left Harry, she understood why but she couldn't bare the fact of living without you and I feel you are the same with her" Mrs Weasley said with a big smile looking at Harry who smiled back and says to Mrs Weasley what he said to Ginny the day after the word when she was sleeping in his bed "I am going to marry her one day" he said and Mrs Weasley laughed so did Harry, they laughed for about ten minutes "I hope you do Harry, I hope you do, I couldn't see anyone else better suited than use two" said Mrs Weasley "Thank you Harry I haven't laughed like that in a while", "What's all the noise down here? its Five o'clock in the morning" "Oh Ginny dear you gave me a fright there, I got up and came down stairs to get a cup of tea, I couldn't sleep, I think I will go to bed now, night Harry" said Mrs Weasley kissing him on the head, she walked over to Ginny "goodnight" Ginny hugged her mum and came over to the table and flopped on Harry's knees "so why you up?" Ginny asked Harry "I wanted to get up early and help your mum out but everything is ready" said Harry truthfully he could not lie to Ginny he loved her to much "Could you sleep?" asked Ginny "yeah" said Harry realising he was still tired, "come on" said Ginny standing up and taking Harry's hand and leading him up stairs they reach Ginny's bedroom door and Harry kissed Ginny and wished her a good night but she stopped him "where do you think your going?" Ginny asked him "I was going back to bed, I thought that's where I was to go" said Harry confused Ginny laughed a little and says "yeah but my rooms got to smell better than Rons" "but... your mum and..." before Harry could finish his sentence she said "shut up Potter and get in, its freezing!" Harry stepped into Ginny's room and she was right, it did smell better than Ron's room, Ginny yawned and started climbing into bed when she looked over at Harry who was still standing at the door, "Are you going to sleep standing up? Come over Harry" she said and laughed at Harry as he crossed the room and laid down on the bed with Ginny, he lay on his back and Ginny leaned on her elbow to prop herself up and said "Goodnight" and kissed him on the head and she laid her arm and her head on his chest and placed her leg over his legs. Harry wrapped his arm around her waist and gave her a soft squeeze "Goodnight" he said smiling.
Three hours later Mrs Weasley came in the room "use two better get up before Arthur finds out you were sleeping here" she smiled at them "Don't worry Molly, I know and I trust Harry to keep it in his pants" said Mr Weasley with a raised eyebrow to Harry "Of course sir" said Harry jumping out the bed so Mr Weasley could see he was still fully clothed "Good boy" said Arthur "does that mean Harry can sleep in here with me now?" asked Ginny, only if the door is left open when use go to bed. "Yes" said Ginny and Harry together. "What? I don't bloody think so!" shouted Ron from two floors up "don't worry that means Hermione can stop sneaking out your room, she is allowed to sleep in there" shouted up Mr Weasley "ermm.. em.. O..okay" said Ron embarrassed that his parents knew. "Thanks for that picture dad" said Ginny making a vomit sound Harry laughed at her.
After a quiet breakfast Harry went upstairs to get ready, he found this easier now because Ginnys room was on the first floor, his belongings were moved to her room so Hermione had more space in Ron's room. Harry walked in and stopped dead, Ginny was standing in front of him in a long smooth black dress, Harry couldn't stop looking at her "close your mouth Potter or you will catch some Pixies" Ginny said looking at Harry. Harry just smiled at her and said "you look amazing Ginny" Ginny just smiled at him and said "thanks I would say the same but you have tomato sauce all down the front of you" Ginny said, Harry looked at his shirt and said "yummy very attractive what ever do you see in me Ginny?" Harry laughed so did Ginny, she walked over the room towards Harry "take it off, mums asked for my washing so I will throw it down with the rest of the stuff just now", Harry didn't argue with her, he took it off and got a fright as Ginny gave out a little gasp of shock "what... what is it?" he said looking around the room, Ginny was pointing at his chest what he thought was a bruise was actually a scar that looked like it had not been closed properly. "Oh Harry your just full of war wounds" Ginny said with a worrying look whilst brushing her fingers over the scar then gently kissing it. "Its nothing, don't worry about it" said Harry "sure" said Ginny looking at him with worry, Ginny decided to go downstairs with the washing leaving Harry to get dressed.
Once dressed, Harry met the rest of the Weasley`s in the kitchen "We all here?" asked Arthur doing a head count "okay, we are, lets go" Arthur led the way out of the kitchen door into the back garden, the sun was splitting the sky, it was such a beautiful day they all walked along the garden until they came to the apple tree which was a beautiful tree. There was rows of chairs, in front of these chairs there was a closed cast where Fred lay. Lots of people turned up for the funeral all of what looked like the Gryffindor House even a lot of Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws where there. The school teachers where there along with Hagrid and Andromeda Tonks with Lupin and Tonks son Teddy, who looked like his father but had Tonks crazy hair. A lot of people from all over the wizarding world came to say fair well to Fred. The minister finally got up and asked all to be seated, Harry noticed it was the same man from Dumbledore's funeral and Bill and Fluer's wedding. "Thank you for joining us in this sad day, indeed today we say goodbye to dear Fred for I believe he will be in all of our hearts.." He went on for a while and then said"I believe Mr Harry Potter has a few words for us" the minister called out.
Harry stood up and walked down the aisle without looking at anyone, he finally got to the front and stopped to look at the casket that was in front of him for a second, then he turned to face the crowd, he cleared his voice and spoke loudly so everyone could hear him "I was lucky enough to be part of Freds life and I am so sorry that he has gone, Fred was one of the bravest men I knew, he was always there to help a friend and he could make you laugh, god he could do that. I remember one time we were all playing quidditch and Katie Bell got hit in the nose with a bludger and Fred and George were at her rescue and they stupidly gave her the wrong side of a blood Gusher, now even though they managed to get the bleeding stopped by Madam Pomfres handy work for months and months after that they always apologised to her because Fred and George are very caring men and amazing pranksters, now I, like most here today are grieving for Fred but then I remember something a very wise man told me that helps me through these hard dark days, don't pity the dead, pity the living" Harry's eyes where tearing up "all my love goes to the Weasley family who I love with all my heart I thank you for always being there for me each and everyone of you, Ron you are my best friend and I understand what you are feeling today because I feel as if I have lost a brother also, Mr & Mrs Weasley use were always like my parents thank you for that" Harry finished this and said thank you and went to sit back next to Ginny, but before he could he was pulled into a hug by Mrs Weasley "thank you Harry that was perfect" she said with a shakey voice. He sat back down Ginny held him "That was wonderful" she whispered in his ear whilst trying to wipe her eyes with her free hand. The minister stood up and was about to end the ceremony when some one said "I would like to say something" it was George, he got to his feet walked up the aisle when he got to the cast he stopped and stared at it he slowly laid his hand on the casket and kissed it he then turned to the crowd and cleared his throat
"Thank you, all of you for coming today its been a tough few years, a lot of people lost love ones... I would like for everyone to take a moment to think of all the people we have lost through the dark times, everyone bowed their heads, a few moments went past and George started talking to the crowd but more to the casket than anything "most people who knew me and Fred together will tell you we used to be good at making people laugh, one thing we always did was argue who was the better looking one, well I always said me but the truth is, it was Fred, he was better looking, funnier, braver and a better man than anyone I know. The hardest thing for me Fred, is that I will see your face every day when I look in the mirror, I love you brother and I will miss you" he touched the casket again and couldn't help himself when he burst into uncontrollable sobs, Mr & Mrs Weasley grabbed their son and brought him down in a deep hug, Harry done the same with Ginny as she was crying uncontrollably now. The minister finally said a few last words and flicked his wand it slowly lowered the casket into the earth once the dirt was over it, the minister flicked his wand again and a lovely marble headstone that read
Fred Weasley
Son, Friend and the best brother
Good night Prankster see you soon
Love You Always
Harry watched as the crowd started clearing, they where all heading back to the Burrow. Harry turned round and watched as he seen George lay what looked like a puking pastel on top of the head stone then he walked with the crowd. Ginny took Harry by the hand and there and then he knew what he wanted to do, he pulled Ginny away from the crowd and the both of them walked up a near by hill "Harry what's going on?" said Ginny looking worried "when we are done with school will you do me a big favour? Asked Harry "what's the favour first?" asked Ginny still worried as she thought to herself "why was he was acting like this, was he planning on dumping her again?", "Ginny... will you love me forever?" Harry asked her, Ginny smiled at him "oh Harry your not going to get rid of me easy, I waited a long time to get you, I'm not letting you go anywhere" she said smiling at Harry, Harry smiled back and grabbed her and kissed her.