In Memory
By Jana Skoupy
dedicated to all that died in the fight against evil and to J. K. Rowling for producing such a fascinating literary peace of fiction.
The last time he had been at this place, it had been Christmas Eve. Snow had been laying, people had been singing and not even an hour later he had almost died. Today the sun was shining. A moderate breeze was cooling his face. On his left side Andromeda was standing, holding little Teddy, who just had quiet down. Ginny, on his other side, was holding his hand firmly. He could see tears running down her face.
A small wizard with grey hair and a tiny mustache was talking quietly to the people. Harry couldn't follow his words. All the time his eyes wandered to the white marble stones, standing just a few feet away. He had asked Andromeda to choose that place. Remus would have liked it. He would sleep his final sleep amongst wizard families, which he thought would have never accepted him and right next to his best friends.
His thoughts were interrupted. He was supposed to hold a speech and now, this was the time. He took another glance towards Ginny, who nodded encouraging. He stepped in front of the crowed. They had taken all protections they could, not to be discovered.
He looked around and he saw all those familiar faces. Weasleys, who had buried Fred yesterday and Mrs. Weasley seemed to have not slept at all; Kingsley Shakelbolt, new Minister of Magic, whose eyes starred towards the ground; Hagrid, who was weeping loudly breaking the silent mourning; McGonagall, whose eyes were filled with tears and who didn't look as firm as she used to. The whole order was present.
Harry took a deep breath. He had written down a few words, but his eyes were filled with tears and he couldn't quite read them.
“It's an honor to stand here being allowed to say a few words about those we mourn. We are burying three loved people today. Most of you”, he looked around again and tried to steady his voice, “have known them a lot longer and better than I. You have seen them grow up, knew them, when they were pure and innocent. Still I am supposed to find a few words to keep them for all of us in memory.”
He took another deep breath. He couldn't read the parchment anymore. He looked at Ginny. “Grief fills my heart, when I think about those laying in their final bed and still I have to remind myself that death is but the next great adventure. I am almost positive that Sirius, Remus and Tonks are enjoying their selves, wherever they might be now. I even like the thought that they are together with James and Lily, maybe even Dumbledore and are standing today between us, trying to smooth our mourning, to comfort us.”
He looked again towards the marble stones and before going on; he took another view around the guests.
“When I thought about the words to say, today, I didn't know how to start. As I said I haven't known them a long time and it was hard to find the right words to describe them accurately. And so I just wrote down the things I remember, when I think about Sirius, Remus or Tonks.”
He took another deep breath.
“When I think about Nymphadora Tonks, I remember how clumsy she was and how she always took it with a grin. She made quite a noise, when they first arrived to bring me to Grimmault place three years ago.” He chuckled sadly. “But she still was a gorgeous and lovely woman, always laughing, always in a good mood. Her soul was shining brightly, whenever I met her. She fought for her love. I remember how brilliant she beamed about her marriage to Remus. She was so proud showing all who wanted to know the sign of marriage, her ring.”
He could see Andromeda crying.
“When I think about Remus Lupin the first that comes to my mind is that he was the one to teach me to produce a Patronus, which saved me more than once. He was the first to tell me about my parents, because he knew them so well. He was kind and protective and always concerned he could do harm, because of his 'little abnormality'. I remember his wise advices and how proud and cheerful he was to have his little son.” His eyes fell again on little Teddy, who slept in Andromedas arms. “I remember him accompanied me on my hardest way, giving me strength to do, what had to be done.
“Even though, I have them in loving memory, my thoughts are with little Teddy Lupin. I know how it feels to grow up, not even remembering your parents. I know how hard it is and how lonely you sometimes feel. I don't want little Teddy to suffer the same fate. That's why I ask all of you to give him your liveliest memories of his parents. To tell him how caring and brave they were and for what cause they fought.”
He took another look around and saw a few agreeing faces, nodding.
“What is there to say about Sirius Black?”, now tears ran streaming down his cheeks and he was chocking, “For most of his life he suffered for something he hadn't done. He was the best friend of my father, and I have to admit he sometimes confused my dad and me, but he was loving and brave. He was the one, who was my family, with whom I felt at home.
“He, too, was there to support me, on my way to fight.”
He choked again.
“All three of them fought brave for their loved ones, fought to make a better, happier world. All of them died fighting evil, as so many others did, who are buried those days by there loved ones.”
His eyes cleared a little.
“In want to remember with you all those, who died in the fight. Just to name a few,
“Mad Eye Moody, who always fought the Dark Arts brave and with all his strength,
“Ted Tonks”, he could see the tears running down Andromedas face, “whose only mistake was to be non-magical,
“Dooby, the free elf, who saved my life more than once, dying in the attempt of it,
“Fred Weasley,”, he could see and hear, Mrs. Weasley bursting in tears, “who gave us in such dark times, always something to laugh about,
“Remus and Nymphadora, who bravely fought for their little Ted,
“Little Colin Creevy, who wasn't even of age, but fought against evil as any of us,
“Albus Dumbledore, who overcame his own desires to end evils power,
“And last but not least Severus Snape, who has endangered his life for three years, just because he loved.
“I want all of you to take a minute to honor all those, who fell in this battle.”
There was an awkward silent, broken by the noisy sobs of Hagrid, Mrs. Weasley and Andromeda. He saw Sirius, Remus and Tonks laughing faces in front of him. He heard their cheerful laughters, felt their happiness and now all of that is supposed to be gone. He would never again feel Sirius hug, he would never again see Tonks changing her appearance before his eyes, he would never get any more advices from Lupin. He wouldn’t see Tonks and Remus holding their little boy, proudly. He wouldn't be able to live with Sirius as with family. It all was gone.
He stepped in front of Tonks and Remus tombstone. With a wave of his wand the words “Friendship is everlasting” appeared on the stone. Andromeda and he had had a long talk about it, but finally agreed on it. They both had paid half of the stone. “Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks, you'll always be in our hearts and we miss you.”
He let a white rose fall into either grave. Then he stepped a little way over. There was no grave, just a stone; he bought for Sirius to give him a real funeral, even though his body couldn't be laid to rest in it. The stone was standing, just next to James'. With another wave of his wand appeared “Mischief managed“ on the stone. He thought it fitted to Sirius, rather than to Fred and George. He had had a discussion about that with Ron and Hermione, but Sirius, James, Remus and Peter were the ones who had produced the Marauders Map. Without it Fred and George had never known the saying.
He laid another white rose in front of the stone: “Sirius, I miss you a lot. Thanks for everything. I wish I could have buried your body, but I guess it's gone.”
His voice broke and his hand was now taken by Ginny, who had just laid another rose on Sirius grave. Harry turned around and walked with her in front of his parents’ graves. He just looked at it, Ginny silently weeping next to him.
He couldn't quite figure that he finally had the revenge he had wanted. He had revenged his parents’ death and now they could rest in peace. He just looked at the grave. “Mom, Dad.” Ginnys grip was tighter. “I revenged you. Now you can rest. I am happy, now.”
He sighted, then he looked at Ginny: “Let's go.”
They walked towards Ron and Hermione and left together the courtyard.
