This chapter is back to the usual rating of "T". I hope you enjoy it. It might drag on a bit, but I really felt it was necessary to make this it's own chapter. I didn't want Draco outshining anyone in this chapter. I promise he'll be back in the next one though! So enjoy!
*pop*
Mrs. Weasley is in the kitchen when she hears the popping sound that signals new arrivals by the Floo network. She rushes past the unique Weasley clock that shows Ron's hand shifting to the 'HOME' position and greets Ron and Hermione as they step out from the fireplace.
"I was wondering where you've been! You had me so worried Ron!" exclaims Mrs. Weasley.
"Sorry about that, Mum… Hermione got up late," Ron replies.
Mrs. Weasley frowns at Ron before looking over at Hermione who is straightening out her dress. The dress falls on Hermione like a feather. It is light, but elegant and shines just the right amount in the sunlight. Hermione wears the dress every year for the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts. A smile returns to Mrs. Weasley's face.
"Oh Hermione, dear, that dress looks gorgeous on you like always. It's great having you here again. It's been such a long time."
Hermione blushes and thanks Mrs. Weasley as they are lead back to the kitchen where they find the Creevey family seated with the rest of the Weasley family. It's a tight fit, but they all manage somehow. Every year the Weasley's invite the Creevey family over for the anniversary of the Battle so they don't have to mourn Colin's death alone. Muggles don't know anything about the great war so Colin's parents felt alienated from the rest of the world when Colin died. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley wanted Colin's parents to know they weren't alone so every year on the anniversary there is a Creevey/Weasley memorial at the Burrow. Every loss was remembered and mourned, but the deaths of Fred and Colin were given extra attention.
"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Creevey. Is Dennis still coming? It's been so long since I've seen you all. I do hope you're doing well," says Hermione.
Mrs. Creevey smiles back at Hermione. She always felt a special connection with Hermione because Hermione was a muggle-born child like Colin was.
"Dennis will probably come along later. It's great to see you again, love. Beautiful, like always."
Hermione sits down and Ginny comes running into the room. Everyone turns to admire Ginny's swollen belly. She's seven months pregnant with her and Harry's first child. The proud new parents are expecting a boy and couldn't be happier. Ginny rushes to Hermione's side, ecstatic to see her.
"Hermione! It's been so long! I heard you and Ron are letting Draco Malfoy live in Fred and George's old apartment. I'm surprised Ron is allowing it to be honest!"
Hermione chuckles and says, "Oh, Ginny. I really did miss you. Ronald wasn't too thrilled to be honest, but I couldn't just let Draco die last winter. Even he didn't deserve to freeze to death. Enough about me though… have you and Harry thought of a name?"
Ginny's face lights up and she nearly shouts out, "James Sirius! Now before you go thinking Harry isn't giving me a choice in the name, I actually came up with this one. I only found it right to name our first born after the two father figures in Harry's life. They were both brave men."
"I think it's a wonderful name, Ginny," said Hermione.
A smile comes across their faces until Ginny's eyes fall on Hermione's neck and Ginny whispers with her eyes wide, "Oh my God, what happened? You have bruises on your neck. Is there something I should know?"
Hermione shifts in her chair as she remembers the bruises Ron gave her and quickly tries to find an excuse, "Oh it's nothing to be worried about. I just had a mishap while running an errand down in Knockturn Alley. Terrible place."
Ginny gave Hermione a suspicious look showing that she didn't fully believe what Hermione was saying. However, the hint was loud and clear that Hermione didn't really want to talk about it. Before anything further could be said the food was brought out and everyone ate to their heart's content. At the end of the meal Mr. Weasley raised his glass to start his usual speech.
"Ahem. I'd like to propose a, uh, what's it the Muggles call it?" Mr. Weasley asks Mr. and Mrs. Creevey.
"A toast…" they reply.
"Ah, yes, a toast. Today marks the six year anniversary as you all know. It's a time for great celebration. We defeated You-know-who thanks to Harry and all of the brave witches and wizards who fought along-side him. With this celebration, we also need to remember those who were lost. Those who fought with Harry will not be forgotten. Those who died to make a better future for not only the wizarding world but for the Muggle world too will not be forgotten. Today we gather to remember. We remember Remus and Tonks. We remember Sirius although he died a few years earlier. We remember a boy who was brave, loved his family more than anything, and aspired to be just like Harry. Colin was a bright young wizard and will never be forgotten. We also remember Fred."
Silence falls across the room as everyone notices George sitting in the corner alone. He looks up at everyone with tears streaming down his face. Mr. Weasley is saving Fred's memorial speech for George to give. George usually let his father give the speech, but this year he wanted to do it himself. He had waited long enough to give one, thinking that if he never said anything maybe Fred would come back. George slowly stands up, facing the room and begins to talk.
"I know… I don't usually say anything… but I felt it was important for me to say what I've been wanting to say but avoiding for the past six years. Fred and I were more than just twins. We always had a special bond. Not only were we connected by how we looked, but we were connected by our souls."
George's voice begins to crack as more tears fall. The room is still silent. No one has the desire to interrupt George even if he's not talking. After a few minutes, George gets his voice back and continues.
"Sorry… anyway. Fred always had a smile on his face. Even when he died he smiled at me. He was the best brother I could ever ask for, no offense to my other brothers. We understood each other. Our pranks… they weren't so much for everyone else's entertainment. They were mostly for each other. We bonded when we would come up with new pranks. That's why our joke shop was so amazing for us. We could be who we wanted to be all the time. Back before we left Hogwarts, Fred and I made plans to leave the school in style. We wanted something that we could look back at when we're eighty and laugh at. Fred won't get that chance anymore though. Fred's life ended six years ago… and every day I ask myself... 'Why him and not me?' Every night, I go to bed and as I look at myself in the mirror I pretend I'm actually looking at him. I talk to him. I tell him that if I could go back, I would've tried harder to save him. To protect him. I would've told him that if he had to die then we'd die together because I'd never leave his side. I can't go back though and it kills me. Fred didn't deserve to die then. No one did. Especially not Colin and especially not Fred. Not a day goes by where I don't think about the brother I lost. How could I not think about him? I see him everywhere I go. He was the best person I've ever met and I miss him… So. Much."
George sinks back into his seat and everyone raises their glass and says, "To Colin. To Fred. To those we all lost too soon." The room is silent once more as if everyone has lost their voice. No one gets up and no one talks until a knock on the door makes everyone look up. Hermione's face lights up and confusion crosses the faces of everyone else. No one could believe who was standing at the door. Draco Malfoy.