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Harry faced The Burrow and he realized after a year being gone from it, he missed it. Home at last. Harry wondered if it would still feel like home. Would there still be random noises coming from George and Fred's bedroom or any part of the house, would there be yelling from Mrs. Weasley telling her children to come down for breakfast or constantly tell Harry that he needed to eat more? Would Arthur still be asking Harry what is the function of a rubber duck or would he now stare in space in sadness? The Quidditch games, pranks and jokes, the big family dinner, the Christmas Sweaters, the late-night conversations, the yelling, the laughter, the love?

Harry shook his head and walked into the house. He expected it to be empty but found the one Weasley he had been avoiding there. Her gaze burned through him, so many emotions in her brown eyes. Harry has been reading Ginny's name on the map for ages now and has seen her in person before the final battle, but they were preparing to battle then. Now… now they were alone with no threat of Voldemort over them. He

After a long silent Ginny spoke, "Hey there stranger." The corner of Harry's lip turned upward for a second.

"Hey," Harry whispered. His voice didn't seem to be working, it barely came out as a whisper. If the house wasn't so quiet, he doubts she would've heard him. A pit formed in his stomach filling with butterflies. He thought he didn't have a chance with her. A few times actually the first was when he actually realized he liked her but was worried about her family's reaction. The second was when she went out with Dean. You're not supposed to date a mate's ex, but here Harry was, madly in love with her. The third was after Dumbledore's funeral when she would be imminent trouble if she stuck with him. The fourth time was when he walked into the Forbidden Forrest thinking he was about to join his mum and dad. To have the option of being with her, it was unimaginable.

Ginny looked at him with an unreadable emotion on her face. Was it sadness, longing, anger? She finally broke the silence, "I just came to grab some clothes for the family. We'll be at Hogwarts for a couple of hours, so none of us will be here a couple hours at least unless you want to come?" Ginny said rushing the words out as if she seemed to be wanting to get away from him.

"No, no, go on. I'll see you all soon I reckon," Harry said nonchalantly, he wanted to, but now was not the time. Ginny sighed and shook her head. She went to the Floo and went on her way back to Hogwarts, leaving Harry alone again. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. His body guided him to the room he and Ron have shared many times. He got into the second cot that was in the room and didn't bother taking his clothes off or shoes. He closed his eyes, not fearing he would be sharing minds with Tom Riddle for the first time in a while, but feared the nightmares that would surley accompany him.

Ginny let out a breath after she stepped off the Floo. The last time she saw Harry was him dead. He was dead. He was in Hagrid's arms, dead. She felt her heart racing in a panic thinking about that moment but shook her head. He was alive, he just spoke to her. She saw him kill Voldemort. But why did she still feel like he was dead?

Perhaps she was thinking of his life. Not the living and dead part, but him. He would never be the same. Each year, she has seen the little wonderstruck boy slowly changing. He was now the boy who had been through too much for a seventeen-year-old. Hell, she's seen too much for a sixteen-year-old girl. Possessed by Voldemort at the age of eleven, fighting her first battle at the Department of Ministries and her final battle here in Hogwarts for over a year.

She cried. She cried for her brother that would no longer to be there cheering her on at Quidditch Games, no longer to make her laugh when times were down, no one to encourage her to be her best and break all the norms. She cried for Harry who though is not dead will be going through hell dealing with what he has been dealt with. She cried for Colin, Tonks, and all those she will never get to see again.

She cried until she couldn't and then pulled herself together. She wasn't a crier before and she had to be there for her family. She'll cry at the funerals and in her room if she needed, but that's it. Her family who is broken at the moment needs someone to guide them. That's why she went and got the clothes, so she could do something as she was barely allowed to fight in the battle till. She walked to the Great Hall where her mother embraced her, nearly knocking the clothes out of her arms.

"I told you I would be back soon," said Ginny softly. She was not going to fight with her mother today or for a while if she could help it.

Her mother sniffed."Sorry dear, you just took a little longer than expected," her mother said trying not to show she has been crying. She was allowed to, Ginny wanted to tell her mum. She lost her son, she could cry in public if she wants days, and no one would think less. Nor should she care.

"Oh, I ran into Harry at the house," Ginny said coolly. Yes, she saw him, but that's not what made her take so long. She wasn't about to tell her that she'd been crying for the last five minutes.

"Is he alright, oh should I go home and cook him up something? He must be starving being god knows where for a year," said Molly frantically.

"He's fine he said, he'll see us soon. I reckon he just wants to sleep though," said Ginny. She walked over to Andromeda who was bouncing a little black head boy on her knee. He cooed at her and his hair changed from black to match her red hair and even had little freckles on his tiny nose and cheeks. She gave a small smile at the tiny human.

"And how is my favorite godson doing, Mrs. Tonks?" asked Ginny picking him up and cradling him.

"Like there is no chaos going on. It's sad I am jealous of a baby, isn't it? And Ginny I told you to call me Andromeda," she shook her head.

"I understand the jealously believe me. I can take him for an hour if you want?" Ginny knew that she needed to grieve for the daughter and husband she lost. Even her sister, though demented, she knew she'll grieve for Bellatrix. Not the Bellatrix she became, but for the one when they were young. Andromeda nodded and left the hall. Ginny walked back to her family to reminisce on Fred's memories and to plan his funeral. She was very glad she was holding a baby right now because it let her mind not think of all death around her.

Whenever someone was dreading something, it tended to come faster. For Harry, that was the memorial service that was being held the next Sunday. Harry was awoken by Ron who left the room to get some breakfast. Kreacher had gotten him a piece of toast like every day. He ate it slowly looking out the window. The memorial service was at nine, but most of the funerals have been held already. The only one he had left was Snape's at four. He was asked to speak for both but hasn't put together a speech. There was a very small hope in the back of his brain that they will say he doesn't have to speak, but the chance was very small. Plus, he rather deal with the speech once and not think about it for days prior.

He was downstairs dressed in his black dress robes. Most of the Weasley's were ready. It was odd to see so many of them wearing black. He fidgets with his watch that the Weasley's gave him for his birthday and sought Ginny. When he focused on her, it was easier. He didn't know why he just knew. She gave him a sad smile.

"Harry dear, would you mind side-apparating with Ginny? Arthur and I will wait for George and Percy. Harry nodded, and Ginny held his arms and for a moment and they went off to Hogwarts.

The moment they got to Hogwarts, she let go of him and the arm she had been holding was cold. It felt warm when they apparated and now he felt empty. He sighed and walked with her in silence. The two have been withdrawn between them since he saw it after the battle. They both have been avoiding talking about the battle, the year spent apart, his death, death of their loved ones, everything but small talk. She was very good at doing that, small talk without it being something like how is the weather.

"You ready?" she asked near the gates.

"No, but I am usually not ready for most things," said Harry truthfully. Ginny looked at him for a moment. He didn't know what she was thinking, but the next thing he knew, she held her hand out. He stared at it, then her, and grabbed her hand. He bit his lips nervously and let her lead them to the service. He didn't realize something as much as holding hands made him feel a lot more relaxed. It also made him realize how much something as simple as holding hands.

"Did you prepare a speech?" she asked as she took a seat next to Hermione.

"No," said Harry truthfully.

"Harry!-"

"You speak better when you don't have a speech ready. Like when starting up for the DA, you're better, not prepared," said Ginny ignoring Hermione shock at Harry.

Harry snorted. "That's a first I have heard that."

The rest of the Weasley's joined him and the ceremony soon began. There was a wall with names of all those who died in the second and first war. To remind everyone how many lives fought against Voldemort, who all were brave. Those who people who were not expecting like Regulus and Severus were shocked, but Harry was thankful they added those to the wall. They fought, not in the crowd like Gryffindors but in the shadows, behind the scenes. He listened to Shacklebolt and McGonagall give their speeches, listing all the names, their role, and their classes they received. He got up as he was meant to go after.

"Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who fought in the battle, and to those who didn't but still sided with the light side, thank you to you as well. Those names on the wall, they had a choice. They didn't have to fight. They choice too. Professor Dumbledore told me once, it was the choices that makes us who we are, not what we are meant to do. They were brothers, sisters, parents, and friends. They are heroes. Do not blame yourself for their loss. Blame Voldemort and their killers. Blame the Death Eaters.

These people, you cannot tell their blood status, if they were a wizard or a werewolf or house-elf, or what house they were from their name. You can ask around, but by simply looking, if you didn't know, you wouldn't know. This is what we fought for and what they fought for. To live in a world in which we do not judge people based on their last names or if they are human or not. They fought to live in a world where children won't fear a name.

Today and every day, we honor all the people on the wall. When we tell our children about this war, we mention those who fought with us. We will tell them to not judge and mock others because of what or who they are. We teach love. Love is a power which Voldemort did not know and is what killed him. It is what makes life worth living."

The crowd applause. He again looked to Ginny, because that last line was meant for her. She smiled at him with tears she was holding back. He stepped down and sat back down with her.

Snape's funeral. Harry did not expect many people to show up because it was still getting around that he was a hero. Though he was surprised who did show up. Half of the Order that was remaining joined as well as Ron, Neville, Hermione, and Ginny. Some of his Slytherin students also showed as well.

"I know most of you were surprised that Severus Snape's name was on the wall. He is a hero. He was a double agent. He was a Death Eater yes. But after his changed in loyalty in the first war, he has never wavered. Why you may ask, well… that is between me and his memories. But know that he fought for the light side," Harry could have said a lot more, but that would require bring up the memories which he did not feel that Snape would appreciate.

Though the funerals and memorials were finished, the grieving will never be. Harry knew this and was wondering how long it would be for him not to feel guilty or to be reminded of someone he lost. Yes, he told the people at the memorial they shouldn't, but they hadn't been the reason Voldemort came to Hogwarts, they weren't' the reason their parents were dead or godfather. They weren't the reason that a child is an orphan, or a twin is not a twin anymore.

He apparated back to The Burrow, changed out of the dress robes and slept wondering if the guilt and nightmares are ever going to go away.

Thanks for reading!