Ginny woke up the next morning to someone shoving her. She groaned and turned around to find Hermione standing there, arms folded and she whispered so as not to wake Harry, "Ginny! That's the second time I've caught you two sleeping together!" Ginny got up but struggled to as she found Harry's arms were wrapped around her waist. She turned to Hermione, "Help please!"
Hermione smirked and gently lifted Harry's one arm off her. He was in such a dead sleep that he didn't even move. Ginny turned to Hermione, "Thanks. Ron would have had a hissy fit if he'd seen us out here." Hermione raised her eyebrows, "And you actually care about what Ron thinks?" She sighed, "You know I don't, but sometimes it's not always worth facing."
Her friend nodded and then they sat at a table in the corner of the common. They were the only two up. Ginny asked, "Ron still sleeping?" Hermione nodded and replied, "Of course. But enough of me. What happened to you two yesterday? Things seem to have changed…."
She raised her eyebrow skeptically and Ginny sighed, "I told Harry about everything that happened to me this last year. Everything the Carrow's did to me. He handled it surprisingly well. I thought he was going to get all moody about it. So far he hasn't been too bad." Hermione smiled and said quietly, "I think it's just because he's trying to be there for you. I'm sure internally he's still battling those things. You must know that it will never go away completely?"
Ginny smiled a sad smile, "I know. He wants me to help him get through it, and he's not just meaning now. He's meaning long term." Hermione didn't seem at all surprised, "He missed you Ginny. I don't know if he told you this but he used to look at the map all the time- every day if he got a moment to- and I know he didn't say it but he was looking for you. When he saw you with Malfoy on the map once or twice he sort of flipped out." Ginny cringed and asked a little confusedly, "He was watching me? Why?" She smirked as if it was obvious, "He was worried sick about you. He just wanted to make sure you will still around. I think he also felt closer to you when he did. He could see what you would be doing. He noticed you were also around Neville a lot, and Colin and Seamus." Ginny sighed, "So that's where his jealousy for Neville comes from." Hermione grimaced, "Yeah, but it makes sense. If I had to watch Ron from a distance spend a lot of time with say…Lavender…then I would also feel that way." Hermione's face contorted in pain at the mention of Lavender. Ginny nodded and murmured, "I get it. I get his reasons. There's just so much that has happened between us Hermione. I don't trust that he's not going to run off and try and save the world any time soon." Hermione smiled kindly, "I think he will be here for a while still, don't you worry. And if he did, he would always come back to you. I think your time apart has shown him what he wants most."
Ginny contemplated everything she just said. Then she got up to go and watch the sleeping figure on the couch, kneeling down in front of him and pushing his messy locks out of his face. Harry awoke with a start, surprise vibrant in his eyes. Ginny leant down and kissed him gently before she whispered, "You better go back to bed, sleepyhead. People are going to wake up soon." He nodded and yawned, "You coming with me?" Ginny glanced at Hermione and Harry startled again, "You've been here the whole time?" Hermione shrugged a little, "Not long. Just chatting with Ginny about some girl stuff."
Harry sighed and muttered irritably, "Girls. I'll see you both in a bit." He trudged up the stairs and Ginny turned back to Hermione, "You're not going to say anything about this conversation, are you?" Hermione laughed, "Nope. He's like a brother to me but I think he would kill me if he found out I told you all of this. Girls honor." Ginny smirked and then came to sit back opposite Hermione as she confessed, "You know I always felt jealous of you. You and Harry seemed so close and I could never figure out why- what kind of a relationship you had. Now I know."
Hermione snorted a little and it sounded so unlike her that it made Ginny smile. Hermione replied, "You
sound exactly like Ron. He was convinced on our travels that Harry and I were being…well more than friends towards each other. His jealousy made him mad." Ginny was surprised. She raised her eyebrows and muttered, "Who would have thought it would take your friendship with Harry to make him realize his feelings for you?" Hermione grinned at Ginny, "He's your brother. We all know how slow he can be with this kind of thing." Ginny nodded with a smile, "True. I'm sorry I got jealous too though. I couldn't understand why Harry let you and Ron when he had told me he was going on his own. But I know now." Hermione sighed and whispered, "Ginny, you know why he had to, and it wasn't because he didn't want to. But he desperately wants to make it up to you now. I will never feel that way for Harry…to would be too weird." Hermione shuddered and said firmly, "But I'm sorry if you ever felt excluded too. That was never intentional. It's just always been the three of us, since day one. And I know change is hard, but it's something we all need to work on. From now on you don't need to be left out of anything. There will be no more secrets and no more lying. I promise you we will make the effort to include you in every way possible."
This caused Ginny to genuinely smile. She leant over and hugged Hermione and whispered, "Thank you my friend. Those words mean a lot to me. I don't think it will bother me so much now that I have friends of my own. But it was hard knowing you were with Harry when I couldn't be." Hermione nodded somberly, "I understand. I'm sorry again." Ginny sighed and said, "Let us stop apologizing. I think I'm going to go back upstairs to Harry and get some sleep before the wake later today." Both girls made their way up to the dormitories.
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That afternoon was the wake as McGonagall had promised. It was going to be a somber affair and so Ginny dressed appropriately in black. She wore a navy blue headband to keep her hair back so that it didn't look so bright and fiery.
When she got downstairs, Harry held out his arm to her, "How do manage to look so beautiful even though it's a day we're saying goodbye to so many?" He had been by the lake all morning and Ginny had been with him, trying to distract him with any means of conversation possible. Needles to say, she hadn't been particularly successful at it. He'd been in a constant mood all day and Ginny knew what was bothering him. It was his fault, he kept saying. His fault. But Ginny knew that it wasn't true. She just had to make him believe it too.
They walked downstairs together not really talking much. When they arrived in the entrance hall, the entire room was lit with candles. Thousands lined the ceiling and as they did in every square inch possible in the outskirts of the hall. Hermione whispered, "McGonagall and Kingsley have done an amazing job!" They all nodded in agreement.
They headed towards the lake but not before McGonagall stopped them at the entrance hall door. She said to Harry, "I'm glad to see you're all appropriately dressed. Mr Potter, would you mind saying a few words on part of all of the students please?" Harry blanched and before he had time to reply McGonagall patted his shoulder, "Thank you Harry. Professor Dumbledore would have been very proud of you!"
Harry looked at Ginny as if he was drowning. She smiled feebly and said, "Just keep it short and sweet Harry. You don't need to go on and on. Just get the point you want to make across." Harry grumbled as they walked slightly ahead of Ron and Hermione, "Why did she only ask me now
Ginny shrugged, "Probably because she wouldn't if she thought you had too much time to contemplate it." Harry grimaced, "That's true." They eventually reached their destination and Ginny sighed at how pretty it all looked. Instead of black drapes there were white and there were candles floating around everywhere. When they reached the outskirts of the gathering Kingsley approached them and nodded at each in greeting, "Hello Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny. I would ask you how you're all fairing but given the circumstances…" He shrugged and sighed, "I think we are all feeling the same." Harry nodded "Indeed. How can I help you Mr Shacklebolt?" Kingsley nodded and got to business as usual with a clearing of his throat, "Well Harry, Ron and Hermione, I'd like to have a word with you after the ceremony please? I'd just like to discuss the future with you three, if you're up to it." The three of them glanced at each other and Hermione said, "We'd be grateful, thank you Kinsley."
Ginny remained silent. She feared she knew what Kinsley wanted to speak to them about: their future careers. It was something she worried about in concern with her future with Harry. He would surely be offered any job he wanted? He did after all defeat The Dark Lord. Ginny's morbid thoughts quickly became distracted as she heard a familiar voice saying "Ginny? Ginny?"
She blinked and realized it was Neville! She hugged him firmly and she sighed, "I'm so glad you're here. I feel like I've hardly seen you!" Neville smiled grimly at her and patted her back, "Where else would I be? Hi you three." He nodded at Ron, Harry and Hermione. They greeted him politely back and Ginny released him, "You coming to sit with us?" Neville shook his head, "Nope. First few rows are assigned seating. You four are up there." He pointed in the direction of the front of the gathering. Ginny frowned in confusion, "But you had as much to do in the battle as anyone!" Neville shrugged and Luna made a sudden appearance. She was wearing a particularly pretty night blue dress. It was probably the brightest colour in the crowd! She was trying to be respectful and remain true to herself. Luna said in an airy fairy voice, "Well it's obvious why Harry, Ron and Hermione are in the front, but I suppose they thought you were Harry's girlfriend Ginny so they better put you next to him."
Luna wasn't intending to be spiteful but her honest words did hurt. Ginny sighed, "You know what? I don't feel like I deserve to be there either. I think I'll rather sit beside the people I fought with, if you don't mind Harry?" He shook his head, "Nope I'm proud of you for doing what is right." Ginny smiled bleakly at him and watched him walk to the front with the other two. Neville grimaced at her, "We're over here Gin. Come join us."
Ginny sat next to Neville and the rest of the D.A. She felt incredibly empty sitting there without Colin. She'd been trying hard not to think of it but now she felt ill at the thought. Once she started thinking of him, the rest came back in a rush and each one was like a punch to the gut in a quick succession. Colin. Punch. Lupin. Punch. Tonks. Punch. It made her feel physically ill.
Seamus noticed, "You alright there, Ginny? You sure you don't want to be with Harry?" Ginny swallowed hard, "I'll be fine thanks, Seamus. Thinking of them…it's just…" Seamus smiled comfortingly, "I know. But we're all in this together. We have been since the beginning and that's not going to change." Ginny smiled at him grimly, "Thanks Seamus. That does make feel a bit better."
Shortly afterward the ceremony began. They had the same short wizard they'd had at Dumbledore's funeral. Ginny was surprised. He had bored nearly everyone to death with his pretense ramblings. However Ginny was surprised again when he said "I can't pretend to know all of those whose lives were lost in the fatal battle that occurred on these very grounds on Friday evening leading into Saturday morning. To do so would be disrespectful to everyone here."
Ginny was impressed that he had admitted this. He carried on, "I just want to tell everyone that the end of a life does not mean that person stops living in our memories and thoughts. All it means is that they have simply moved on from their time in this world into another." Ginny nodded in agreement. She liked the idea that death was not finality. That life continued after death. Otherwise what was the point of it all?
Then he surprised Ginny by saying, "I'd like to open up the floor and anyone who knew one of the deceased and who was closed to then may say what they need to say." There was a silence and then a blonde haired blue eyed lady came up. She was wearing red and her husband stood beside her. She could have only been Colin's mom.
She paused for a second, gathering her thoughts and said slowly, "Hi everyone, I'm Debbie Creevey, Colin's mom." There was a silence. Ginny held her breath before Mrs Creevey continued, "I lost ny son Colon during the battle. He was so young and innocent. He had a very bright future in front of him and I'm sure he would have invented the world's first colour wizarding camera or something along those lines." Ginny couldn't help but laugh at that. She earned a chuckle from several audiences members and Ginny smiled.
It had been a gloomy day and then suddenly a burst of sun came through the clouds.
Ginny noticed Colin's mother shaking and she saw her husband put his arm around her. They were muggles so it must have been overwhelming to come here in a group of witches and wizards they didn't know to speak about their son. Ginny made up her mind there and then that she would go and chat to Colin's mother after the ceremony.
When Mrs Creevey sat back down, Ginny couldn't help herself. Automatically her legs lifted themselves up off the chair and she headed for the podium. She hadn't prepared anything for this but she knew Colin would want her to say something. She got to the podium and inhaled sharply, "Hi everyone. For those who don't know me, I'm Ginny Weasley. Colin was my first friend at Hogwarts. In the beginning he attached himself to me firmly to the point where I found it irritating." She paused and swallowed and then continued, "But he grew on me because he gave me the space I needed and after that he was one of my dearest friends. He was a truly kind, caring and fiercely loyal friend. It hurts to think that he's not here anymore and I miss him everyday that goes by. I do know that where ever he is he'll be there with a camera snapping pictures of us. I'll always miss you Colin."
Ginny felt tears in her eyes as she made her way back to her seat. Neville put an arm around her and Luna took her hand in hers. She whispered, "Colin would have loved that." Ginny smiled tearfully, "Thanks Luna." hadn't noticed until now that Rita Skeeter was there with aa photographer and her quick quotes quill. This made Ginny mad. She was surprised McGonagall allowed it!
The rest of the service passed and at the end, Harry got up and stood at the podium. He said nervously, "Hi…hi everyone. I've been asked to give a speech today. I wasn't sure what to talk about and I'm still not. I know I do want to say thank you to everyone who fought against evil for us. You gave me the most precious gift in the world: time. I can never thank you all enough. I will live with this guilt for the rest of my life and there are days when I'm not sure I'll get through that guilt. But then I have incredible friends who remind me that the people who risked their lives did it to protect something they believe in: their school. Those closest to me know that Hogwarts is one of the few homes I've ever had and so for everyone else to defend it because they love it as much as I do, means more than words can describe. I hope that everyone who lost their lives in this battle is at least at peace within themselves and I am eternally grateful that they were willing to risk their lives for a cause which they believed in. May their memories live on forever."
Harry finished his speech and he hung his head in empathy. Then, unexpectedly, there rose a clap from the audience. Ginny looked and saw Colin's mother clapping. His father followed seconds later and then so did Hagrid, Ginny's mum and dad, and Ginny eventually did too. The crowd began rising in solidarity and in that moment Ginny couldn't have felt prouder of Harry than she had ever. He had said everything everyone needed to hear and Ginny hoped that by some small miracle, Harry could set himself free from all the guilt that plagued him. Everyone else had clearly forgiven him. He now needed to forgive himself.
A/N Hi All, thanks so much for the positive feedback again! This chapter took me forever mostly because my computer screen cracked and blacked out half way through it! It's about 4 and a half years old now but I still can't believe it. Anyway I've been typing this on my phone for you guys! Predictive text has actually really helped in that regard! Hope you guys enjoy tbis chapter xxx