Bloody but Unbowed

Chapter 5: Beating heart

"Professor McGonagall! You too are here!"

"Yes Neville, I was invited last minute..." She glanced at Harry with a maternal smile.

"So... are you ready to join the teachers of Hogwarts, Neville?"

"You haven't told us that you were going to be a teacher!" pointed out Ron. Neville blushed.

"Er - well... as the Muggles say... don't count your chickens before they hatch... I wanted to wait until it was official."

"It is official now." stated professor McGonagall.

Harry was sitting in a corner, cradling Ted who was in his arms. He was admiring the whole picture: all his loved ones chit-chatting, eating, laughing. It had been a while since the last time there was such lightness in the air.

A flash of the funeral came to his mind: after the battle a great ceremony was organized in order to dispose of all the losses. He remembered Ginny's red eyes, he remembered the smell of incense in the Great Hall, which had been set up for the occasion with long black cloths on the walls, he remembered Hermione's body hidden in his arms, her head placed on his chest, trying to find comfort and hope in the sound of Harry's beating heart. Candle lights enlightened all the coffins: they seemed endless. Too many. Too many lives. That was the only thought Harry had in mind.

The Weasley family was seated in the front row, near Fred: he had been cleaned up, changed, and now white roses surrounded his cold and white body. Harry and Hermione were standing near the wall, Lupin and Tonks's coffin near them.

Professor McGonagall gave a speech. She said many gentle and touching words, and at last she added: if Doumbledor had been here tonight, he would have certainly finished this speech saying this: "Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!".

Everybody smiled remembering how odd Dumbledore sometimes could have been, and for a split second their hearts were relieved from reality.

"Harry? Are you ok? You haven't eaten much..." Ginny's voice brought him back to reality.

"Er - I was just lost in some memories... I was also thinking that I'm so happy you are all here today." Harry looked down, meeting Ted's eyes: he was very drowsy, comforted by the warmth of Harry's body. Ginny stared at Harry, trying to understand what was going on in his head. After a few minutes she decided to give up, so she asked: "I was wondering how you want to act with this situationship between me and you... since I am going back to Hogwarts and all..."

"Aren't we together?" asked Harry boldly. Ginny held her breath, caught by surprise.

"I mean... I thought we were already a couple... it's not like I can think of a future with anyone else except you, Ginny." added Harry, this time with a hint of uncertainty and embarrassment.

"Oh.. well then..." her face was turning red and a complex mixture of feelings crossed her eyes. Harry placed Ted, already asleep, in his cradle, then he turned to Ginny, wrapped her in his arms and whispered, while looking deep down in her eyes: "Ginny, I love you." She was startled. She kept quiet for what it seemed like an eternity to Harry, then whispered back: "I love you too, Harry Potter." And they kissed - are we surprised? Not at all... but you know... some cheesiness is always needed in a good Wattpad novel.

"Excuse me! Some decorum is required in public gatherings!" erupted Ron.

"You're only jealous because Hermione doesn't want to kiss in public!" Ginny shushed him.

Hermione blushed "It's not like I feel ashamed... it's just awkward..." A few seconds of silence fell in the room then everybody burst into laughter.

"Harry, may I have a word?" asked Mr Weasley.

"Yes, sir"

"I have to give you my apologies, Harry, for not telling you sooner... But I thought that your nineteenth birthday was far enough in time from the battle...You see... Lupin left a will. Apparently, other than taking care of Ted, he left you something. It's this."

Arthur took out of his clock what seemed like a big book, but then, looking closely, Harry understood that it was not a normal book: it was a photo album. It was entitled: Marauders' story.

He opened the first page just to find a happy and younger version of his father smiling at him. The caption indicated in golden letters: "James - Prongs". He flipped the page and his heart sank: young Sirius with his arm around Lupin's shoulders. "Moony + Padfoot = BFF" Harry giggled.

"Thank you, Mr Weasley" said Harry, glancing at him.

"Please, Harry, after all that happened, call me Arthur"