Chapter two: funerals and new beginnings

The next few days were a whirlwind of activity. Harry attended funeral after funeral for the people who lost their lives at the battle. Tonks' and Lupin's were first. After the funeral they all gathered back at Andromeda's house. The first thing Harry saw when he walked up the garden path toward the house was Andromeda standing with baby Teddy in her arms.

Andromeda looked up as Harry approached. "Harry," she said. "I'd like you to meet your Godson. This is Teddy Remus Lupin."

Harry looked down at the small child in her arms and noticed immediately that he looked so much like his father. His hair was even the same sandy color.

"Usually he elects to have bright turquoise hair, but today for some reason he decided to have this," said Andromeda, noticing where Harry was looking. He wondered if Teddy somehow sensed that today they were burying his parents.

Harry looked back up at Andromeda and said, "I want you to know that I will always be there for him." Andromeda smiled. "I'm going to be the best Godfather to him as I possibly can," he added trying to hold back the tears he could feel forming in his eyes. He knew what it was like growing up without parents and he was determined that Teddy knew how much his parents loved him and to make sure that Teddy didn't have the kind of childhood he had.

"I know you will, Harry," said Andromeda with a sad smile. "Remus told me about his decision to make you godfather before . . ."

Harry looked up at her and nodded, wordlessly letting her know that he understood.

"Thank you, Mrs. Tonks," said Harry.

"Call me Andromeda. Mrs. Tonks was my mother-in-law and I dare to say that she was a very foul woman," she said with a watery smile.

Harry grinned and turned his attention to the people gathered around in the garden. No one had come except for the Weasley's and members of the Order. Some prejudices ran too deep. He hoped that someday that would all change.

He spotted Ginny among the sea of redheads that made up the rest of the Weasley's. She had been unusually quiet since they returned to the Burrow.

Before he headed back over to where she was standing next to Hermione, he turned to Andromeda and asked, "Would you mind if I came over from time to time to visit with Teddy?"

"Not at all dear," said Andromeda, "I'm sure Teddy would like that very much," she added with a warm smile.

"Thank you, Andromeda," he said. "I should get going. I'll send you an owl before I come over."

Once back at the Burrow, everyone gathered outside in the back garden. It was now time for Fred's funeral. A lot of people were there that Harry recognized as the twin's friends from school and member's of the Order. There were also a few unfamiliar faces that Harry assumed were friends Fred and George made while working at their shop. As he walked up next to Ginny, she reached down and took his hand. He knew that at the moment it was a completely platonic gesture as she was grieving the death of her brother. But he couldn't help but notice that when she did so, his heart seemed to skip a beat.

Once the funeral was underway, he glanced around at the other Weasley's. Molly was sobbing quietly into her husbands shoulder. Ron had his arm around Hermione's shoulders, his face red. And then there was George, who was standing resolutely off to the side, staring off into the distance. Harry felt a tightening in his chest. Even after what George had told him as they left Hogwarts, he couldn't help but feel that it was still somehow his fault. His vision blurred and soon warm tears were spilling down his cheeks. He felt Ginny squeeze his hand. He looked down at her and noticed that her eyes were red and puffy from the tears that now flowed freely.

Once the funeral was over and Fred's body was laid to rest, George abruptly walked to the front and turned to face his family and friends.

He stood for a moment, seemingly unable to form words. "We miss you, Fred," he choked. He reached into his jacket pocket and extracted his wand and with a wave sent hundreds of the most beautiful fireworks bursting into the sky.

Harry glanced down at Ginny once more and noticed that she was smiling as she wiped the tears from her cheeks.

"Fred wouldn't have wanted me to cry. He would have wanted more laughter in the world, not sadness," she said, noticing what Harry was looking at.

At that moment, Harry realized that he should not mourn for the life Fred would not get to live, but celebrate the one he did.

Later that evening, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny sat around the scrubbed kitchen table. Each of them had a mug of hot chocolate in front of them.

"It's been a long day, huh?" said Ron, staring into his mug.

"Hmm. It certainly has," said Hermione, doing the same.

"I'm just glad that it's finally over. Maybe now we can get back to our lives," said Ginny. "I don't think I'm going back to Hogwarts for my seventh year."

"WHAT?" exclaimed Hermione loudly. '"But you must go back."

"No, I don't think I will. I spoke to Gwenog Jones the other day. She offered me a spot as Chaser for the Holy Head Harpies," said Ginny.

"That's great," said Harry, looking up from his own mug. "Have you told your Mum about this yet?" he asked.

"Not yet. I was kind of waiting for the right moment." she admitted sheepishly.

"She's going to have a litter of Kneazles when you tell her," said Ron with a half grin.

Ginny stood up from the table and started pacing around the kitchen. "Well, it's what I want to do. And I don't have to have NEWTS to play Quidditch," she said defensively, her face getting red.

Harry, noticing this, hastily changed the subject. "What do you think Kingsley wants to talk to us about tomorrow?" he asked Ron and Hermione.

They had received an owl from the Minister the day before requesting that the three of them meet with him at the Ministry.

"Probably just the standard questioning," said Hermione. "And I'm sure we're going to have to answer for ourselves after we broke into Gringotts. I'm sure the Goblins are still pretty upset about that. Not to mention our little excursion into the Ministry."

"Oh yeah," said Harry laughing. "I almost forgot."

The rest joined in and soon they were doubled over with laughter.

"I guess looking back now, it is kind of funny," said Ron. "I wonder whatever happened to that dragon?"

"Well, I'm turning in for the night," announced Ginny abruptly as she stood once more from the table. "Good night everyone," she said. "Goodnight Harry," she added before bending down and kissing him on the cheek. Before he could react, she was gone.

"You still have feelings for her, don't you?" asked Hermione with a sly grin on her face.

"If you mess her around, I swear I'll . . . I'll . . . ," spluttered Ron.

"You'll what? Stutter me to death," said Harry, grinning. "You know that I would never do that. The only reason I ended it with her in the first place was to try to keep her safe."

"I know mate. It's just, she's my baby sister is all," said Ron.

"I know, and I promise I will do my best not to hurt her," said Harry. "Ok. It's been a long day. I'm going to bed, you two coming?"

Hermione looked at Ron questioningly.

"We'll be along in a bit. You go ahead," said Ron.

Harry nodded. With a flick of his wand he banished his and Ginny's mugs to the sink and left the kitchen to make his way through the quiet house, his mind spinning. As he passed Ginny's room, his mind drifted back to the light kiss she planted on his cheek before going to bed. He hesitated outside her room for a moment but decided they would have plenty of time to talk later and continued up the stairs to the room he was still sharing with Ron.

He lay awake for some time, thinking back on the days events. Everything's going to be different now, he thought to himself before finally drifting to sleep.

* * * * *

A/N: Please review!