The procession into the small graveyard was silent, save for a few sobs heard from a mother or twin brother. The crowd of red-heads was accented by brown, blonde and black hair, with friends, officials and even fans coming to farewell the entrepreneur, the son, the brother, the warrior. Once the gathering had reached the headstone that would mark the young man's final resting place, a small, tufty-haired wizard stood behind it and began to speak about Fred Weasley. How he was an honourable man, how he had been a troublemaker but incredibly beloved by many. Then, the closest person to the fallen man stood up. The mirror image of Fred stood and spoke about his brother.
"Fred, Fred wasn't just my brother. He wasn't just my twin. He was my other half. We were two parts of one soul. We always joked that he was the smart one and I was the good looking one. Well, we had one thing right. I was the good looking one." This raised a few chuckles from those gathered. "But in all truthfulness, he was the smart one. Most of the time at least. I'll never forget that it was his idea to take aging potion to try and enter the Tri-Wizard Tournament. That's just one of the absolutely countless memories I have with my brother. A bit like when we transfigured Ron's teddy bear into a spider. Guess we're to blame for that fear. I remember us sending our baby sister a school toilet seat, and the subsequent howler we received from mum. And the toilet seat we sent Harry on one of his multiple hospital wing visits. I remember his face looking at me like he'd lost me when I lost my ear. And then his disappointment in me saying that I felt saint-like. Apparently with all of the ear-related comedy in the world, saying 'I'm hole-y' wasn't the best joke. I remember just before…just before the Battle, us talking and telling each other that once Harry got rid of Voldemort, we'd reopen the shop in no time so Britain's schoolkids could continue pranking in style. I remember how we promised to look out for each other in the battle. We promised each other we'd both go home and eat Mum's roast. I'm sorry Freddie. I failed you. You weren't supposed to die. We were supposed to open the shop up again. The one memory that will never leave my head is seeing that jet of light and then seeing you on the ground. Not moving. Then seeing you in the Great Hall, laying amongst so many other bodies. But all I could see was you. All I could see was my brother, my twin, my best friend, my other half, laying there, not moving. I was hoping you'd jump up and say 'Gotcha!' and we'd all laugh as Mum yelled at you for scaring her. But you never jumped up. And you never will again. And that breaks my fucking heart Gred. We were supposed to be each other's best men, at the same wedding of course. We were supposed to be the godfather to the other's first kid. We were supposed to keep our shop going. We were supposed to live. I can't say goodbye Fred, but I have to. I'm sorry I couldn't save you. I'm sorry that I failed you. I'm sorry that I broke my promise to look out for you. I love you Fred. I'll see you soon. Goodbye Fred."
By the end of the speech, there wasn't a dry eye in the audience. Molly was doubled-over, leaning into her husband, sobbing uncontrollably. Arthur was rubbing her back while silent tears rolled down his face. Fred's brothers all stood in one line, looking at their other brother, tears falling quickly. His sister leaned on two people for support, as she tried to stop herself from being sick, as a result of the crying. Friends stood, linked in arms, heads on shoulders. Everyone agreed that no one could have said it better than George, who, after his speech concluded, sat on the edge of the grave, currently holding the open coffin of the man they were all there to honour. He broke the silence to speak directly to his brother.
"Whattya say Fred? One more show before you go?"
Everyone looked at the living twin and then down to the resting one. George bent down and grabbed an object from the coffin. As he rose again, everyone saw that it was a wand. He retrieved his own wand from his pocket, turned his back to the crowd and pointed both towards the horizon. And then it began. There were bangs first, then there were sparks in the sky. It was brilliant, in colours of red and yellow, for Gryffindor house, blues and greens for the favourite colours of both twins. The display went on for five minutes until a giant Fred appeared in the sky, his name under his shoulders, where the fireworks finished. The face stayed there for a few minutes, until it transformed into a big red love heart and then showered down over the coffin of Fred. George then returned Fred's wand, and closed the coffin. With the help of his father, brothers , and Harry, he lifted up the previously dug up earth and transported it to cover the final resting place of his brother.
Hours later, George was finally in bed, after having had to endure the wake for Fred. He looked at the bed opposite his own, wishing that his twin was currently occupying that and not a grave. He stood up quietly and slipped between the sheets. That's where Charlie found him the next morning, cuddling Fred's childhood teddy bear.
The joint funeral of Remus and Dora wasn't until Monday. Harry, along with the entire Weasley family, and Hermione were to attend. For Harry, this funeral was to be particularly hard. For him, he was saying goodbye to the last of his father's closest friends, saying to goodbye to his mentor, and saying goodbye to his own great friend. Remus had been there for him since he was thirteen. But saying goodbye to Remus, and to Dora, meant saying hello to something else. His responsibility to little Teddy, as his godfather. As the original orphan of war, Harry hoped he would be there for Teddy, just like Sirius had wished he had been. Harry would never condemn Sirius, as it wasn't his fault he had been kept from Harry, but Harry wanted to be there for Teddy for his whole life.
Harry was deep in thought about this when he was interrupted by a musical voice.
"Harry? Are you ready? We told Mrs Tonks we'd meet her at her house before the funeral. We should leave now if we're to be there on time."
"Of course, Ginny. I'm ready. Are we going to Floo or shall we Apparate?"
"Side-Along? I don't feel like dirtying my robes." She displayed a small smile, before grasping Harry's hand and half-dragging him to the Burrow's kitchen. "Mum?" Molly was standing at the bench, along with Hermione and Fleur, making breakfast for the current inhabitants of the Burrow. Molly turned to face the two intruders upon hearing her name.
"Ginny, Harry! You're ready quite early! Is everything okay?"
"Yes, Mum. But we told Mrs Tonks we'd go and see her before the funeral, remember?"
"Oh, of course. You're not waiting for breakfast?"
"Having tea with Mrs Tonks, mum. We'll…we'll see…see you there, okay?"
"Yes, of course, dear. Give Andromeda a hug for me, and let her know I will see her later."
"Yes, mum." They both gave the matriarch a hug, and then preceded out the back door, to the garden. They walked past the wards, where, still holding hands, Harry turned and Apparated them to just outside the wards of the Tonks' cottage.
They could hear a wailing from inside the cottage, that of a baby. The two hurried to the front door, where Harry lightly knocked and patiently waited. The heard a voice from inside.
"Coming! I'm coming! Teddy, shh, shh little baby." The door opened and the face of a harried looking Andormeda Tonks became visible. "Harry! Ginny! Oh, Merlin! I forgot you were coming over! I haven't even started the tea. Teddy hasn't been sleeping properly you see. I think he can sense what has happened. My poor little boy. Now, come in both of you."
The two teenagers entered the cottage and made their way to the sitting room. Andromeda followed them, still holding the little baby.
"Harry, would you like to nurse him?" She offered him the baby, almost with a look of eagerness in her eye. Harry took the young babe, and looked into his eyes. The little Lupin suddenly changed his appearance to include jet black hair and green eyes. It shocked Harry and he startled a bit, then remembered that he was holding a baby. He sat down, and Andromeda left the room. Ginny sat beside him and began talking to Teddy. Harry just watched the two of them, joining in every now and then. Andromeda returned with tea and biscuits and sat in an armchair.
"There is a reason I asked you both here today before the funerals. I need to ask you something. It is not something little, I will admit that but it is something I cannot do at the moment."
The two teenagers looked at the older woman, waiting in anticipation of what she had to say. She continued, though quiet, but they were still able to hear her.
"I need to ask you if you will consider taking Teddy for a while. I cannot be sure how long that while will be but right now, I need some time to grieve and to collect myself." She looked at them with pleading eyes.
A few hours later, Harry and Ginny stood together, watching the coffins of two of their great friends being lowered into the ground. They then went to the Tonks cottage for a small wake, before returning to the Burrow, with a baby and a portion of his belongings with them.