A/N: I don't own nothing! It all belongs to JKR… Enjoi!

Saluting the Heroes

"Harry! Ginny! Guess what?"

Harry cracked open an eye to see Hermione standing over them looking terribly excited and Neville standing a few paces behind wearing a bemused look.

As it was the first day after Ginny's N.E.W.T.s, they had both decided to take advantage of the excellent weather and laze outside. Ginny's sleepless week had taken its toll and she'd fallen asleep as they'd sat under the shade of an old birch tree enjoying the view.

"Judging by your expression, I'd imagine a revised edition of Hogwarts: A History was just released, Hermione," Ginny quipped.

"Very funny," said Hermione dryly, settling down with Neville. "No, Chocolate Frogs Inc. just released a new set of cards!" she finished excitedly.

"Really?" Harry's interest piqued. "Of whom?"

"Luna, Remus, Fred, Sirius and… Snape," she said the last name hesitantly.

"Oh," was all Harry could say. He didn't know what to think of Snape anymore. He had spared no effort in making Harry's life at Hogwarts difficult but he'd always looked out for Harry and was loyal to Dumbledore to the very end. Complicating everything even further, Snape had been his mother's best friend and had been in love with her for his entire life.

"You know, I wonder why Luna's card wasn't released with all of ours," said Neville, breaking the silence that had enveloped them.

"Dunno," said Ginny shrugging. "Maybe they just had a harder time compiling her card. She is rather unique," she smiled. "How's your training coming along, Neville? What are you doing here?"

"Auror training's brutal," he replied, grimacing. "Professor Sprout said she'd acquired a Fanged Germanium for the greenhouses, so I thought I'd come have a look see. They're really fascinating; you should come along, Hermione," he said smiling.

"I will," she said, handing out Chocolate Frogs to everyone.

They ate in silence as Harry wondered what the card would have to say about Sirius, convicted and imprisoned for twelve years for a crime he hadn't committed, Remus, who'd been ostracized most of his adult life through no fault of his own and Snape, who was believed to have been Voldemort's right-hand-man and, by Harry's own account, a murderer.

"I've got Fred's," Ginny whispered. Harry put an arm around her in an effort to comfort her. She was staring at the miniature Fred, who was holding a flesh colored string, which Harry recognized to be an Extendable Ear, grinning and winking up at them all.

Ginny smiled up at Harry, her eyes shining with unshed tears. She turned over the card and read out:

Fred Weasley

1978-1998

Fred Weasley was an inventor and an entrepreneur, establishing and running, along with his twin George, the Wizarding joke shop, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. The shop is famous for equipping the Ministry of Magic with a wide range of defensive items during the war against Lord Voldemort. Mr. Weasley was an active member of the Order of the Phoenix and was instrumental in disseminating vital information to the wizarding public, through the radio broadcast Potterwatch, during Lord Voldemort's reign. Mr. Weasley died in the Battle of Hogwarts at the hands of Death Eater Augustus Rookwood, who was later apprehended and sentenced to Azkaban. Fred Weasley enjoyed playing pranks and was an exceptional Beater while at Hogwarts.

Ginny could hardly choke out the last sentence as she succumbed to her grief and buried her head in Harry's shoulder. Harry held her shaking frame, thinking about Fred, brave and loyal and always ready with a joke; a true Gryffindor. He reflected as well on how much his death had affected George, who'd become reserved and moody. George had been catatonic for weeks following the Final Battle until, finally, Angelina and Percy, who'd also taken Fred's death hard, had been able to get through to him.

''That was really good, but I think everyone will always remember Fred for all his pranks, rather than this stuff,'' said Neville quietly.

''He really was something else, wasn't he?'' Hermione said smiling. ''Well, I have Sirius'. Here goes...''

Sirius Black

1959-1996

Sirius Black was the last in the line of Blacks and the first to be sorted into Gryffindor. He succeeded in mastering the Animagus transformation at the age of 15 and his animagus form was a large black dog. Mr. Black became infamous when he was wrongly convicted (without trial) and imprisoned for the murders of Peter Pettigrew and twelve Muggle bystanders. Mr. Black gained further notoriety by becoming the first person to successfully break out of Azkaban(without external help). Sirius Black died during the attack on the Ministry of Magic in 1996, in which he assisted the Order of the Phoenix against the Death Eaters. He was exonerated posthumously later in the same year.

''At least now everyone will know he was innocent,'' Harry said quietly. Fudge, while admitting Sirius was innocent, had glossed over the details in the media and, with the hysteria surrounding Lord Voldemort's public appearance, his exoneration went largely unnoticed.

''This will cheer everyone up,'' said Neville brightly, smiling as he held up a card depicting a smiling girl with long dirty-blonde hair and protuberant eyes, who was waving her arms around her head.

Luna Lovegood

1981-Present

Currently traveling the world in search of exotic magical creatures. Considered by many to be eccentric and atypical, Ms. Lovegood shot into prominence when she participated in the defense of the Ministry of Magic against Lord Voldemort's Death Eaters in 1996 and aided the Order of the Phoenix in the defense of Hogwarts Castle against Death Eaters in 1997. Ms. Lovegood (along with fellow students Neville Longbottom and Ginevra Weasley) co-led the Hogwarts rebellion group, Dumbledore's Army (D.A.) during the 1997-98 school year and participated in the Battle of Hogwarts in 1998. Ms. Lovegood enjoys waltz and has a keen interest in magical creatures.

''Atypical! That's the word I've been searching for for four years!'' Hermione exclaimed, as the others laughed.

''I received a letter from her last week,'' said Neville. ''She and her father met Newt Scamander during their stay in Africa; she seems to be getting along well with his grandson, Rolf.''

''And I'm sure she's having a grand time learning all about different magical creatures from Newt Scamander himself!'' Ginny said smiling.

''Yeah,'' said Harry, happy for his strange friend. He looked at his card and groaned. Looking up at him was the familiar scowling face of Severus Snape in his trademark black robes.

''Just my luck,'' he muttered, though he was secretly glad that he wouldn't have to read Remus' card. He read aloud:

Severus Snape

1960-1998

Former Potions Master and Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. At 21, Professor became the Potions Professor at Hogwarts
and also assumed the Head of House duties for Slytherin, the youngest to do so. Professor Snape was wrongly accused of the murder of then
Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and was forced to flee Hogwarts Castle at the end of the 1996-97 school year. He was later appointed Headmaster
of the school the following year, under Lord Voldemort's regime. Professor Snape was killed by Voldemort during the Battle of Hogwarts
and later proven to be innocent of Professor Dumbledore's murder and revealed to be a spy against Voldemort.

''I guess its good that word will spread that he's innocent, too,'' Harry said heavily. While Harry had tried hard to let everyone know that Snape had remained loyal to Dumbledore until the very end, people still had trouble believing that the former Death Eater was innocent. Harry hoped that this would help spread the message more effectively.

Hermione snagged the final frog and ripped the wrapping off in a hurry.

''My dear brother having an influence on you, Hermione?'' said Ginny, smirking as Hermione started devouring the frog.

''No,'' she replied with dignity, her mouth full of frog. ''I'm just interested in finding out what the card has to say about Remus. You know, with him being a werewolf.''

This piqued Harry's curiosity. While he worked hard campaigning for werewolves' acceptance into wizarding society and Hermione was busy trying to overturn all the anti-werewolf legislature that had been passed over the years, the general public's fear and prejudice, built over many decades and two damaging wizarding wars, was high. Harry feared the kind of treatment young Teddy would have to endure in a decade's time, though he was hopeful that Remus' card would mark a change in public perception.

Remus Lupin

1960-1998


Remus Lupin was a werewolf and served as Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts in the 1993-94 school year. Bitten at a young age, Professor Lupin was educated at Hogwarts through the benevolence of then Headmaster Professor Dumbledore. Professor Lupin tried to integrate into wizarding society and was a member of the Order of the Phoenix during both wizarding wars against Lord Voldemort. His notable contributions include aiding the Order of the Phoenix in the defense of the Ministry of Magic in 1996 and Hogwarts Castle in 1997, against Voldemort's Death Eaters. He was also an active part of the resistance during Voldemort's regime and participated in the Battle of Hogwarts in 1998 in which he was killed. He is survived by his son, Teddy Remus Lupin. Professor Lupin was fond of chocolate and enjoyed reading.

''Excellent!'' said Hermione happily. ''This will definitely go a long way in helping people accept werewolves. In fact, I think I'll circulate this card in the Department. Want to go see the Fanged Germanium now, Neville?'' she asked getting up.

''Ok, he said, also standing up and waving Harry and Ginny goodbye. ''And you can fill me in on what Ron's been up to, it's been ages since I've seen him.''

''What say we go up to the castle ourselves?'' Harry asked, getting up and pulling Ginny along with him. ''I'm sure there're a few secluded places in there we haven't explored yet.''

Ginny's mischievous smile was answer enough and they set of towards the castle holding hands.