Harry and Ginny

Chapter Five

Here is the next chapter! I hope you like it!

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It was time for lunch by the time Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Hermione apparated to the Burrow. They all made their way inside to the kitchen, where Mrs. Weasley had prepared several plates stacked with sandwiches, and two large bowls of salad. They all filled their plates, and sat around the long table where everyone else was already eating. They all made small talk about the weather and quidditch matches, eating until they were full. When they had finished, they got up, and Mrs. Weasley cleared the table with a flick of her wand. Everyone thanked her, and headed out of the kitchen.

When they had walked out, Harry stopped and looked down at the watch the Weasleys had given him for his seventeenth birthday. He grimly looked up at them. "There is going to be a service today. In memory of everyone we lost," he told them. "It will start in an hour." They all nodded, and headed up the stairs, except for Harry who had gone to tell the rest of the Weasleys. Ginny and Hermione went into her room, where they changed into their best dress clothes, and combed their hair. "Oh, Ginny I don't know if I will be able to bear it. This is all so soon," said Hermione.

Ginny walked over to her and took both of her hands. "I know," she said. "We will be able to make it. Somehow." Hermione had tears in her eyes and Ginny gave her a hug. She held on for a long time. A new weight had been added to her already heavy heart when she let go. "Come on, lets go downstairs," said Ginny. They went downstairs to find Harry and Ron dressed and waiting.

"I figured we could go early and help them with any last minute preparations," said Harry. At that moment Mrs. Weasley came bustling in, already dressed. "Mum," said Ginny, "we are going early to help." Mrs. Weasley nodded. "Alright. The rest of us will be there soon," she said. Ron and Hermione turned and dissaparated to Hogwarts, where the funeral would be held. Harry held out his arm out to Ginny for side-along apparation. Ginny took his arm, and he turned. A few seconds later, they were standing in the Entrance Hall of Hogwarts.

Ron and Hermione were waiting for them a few feet away. They all started walking towards the Great Hall. The castle was still in ruins. Ginny felt a pang in her heart seeing it like that. When they reached the Great Hall, no one was there. Ginny realized she was still clutching Harry's arm, and let go. Harry reached out and took her hand. "Where is everyone?" asked Ron.

"They must be outside, by the lake," said Ginny, remembering the funeral of Albus Dumbledore. So they all walked down the hall, through the great oak front doors, and toward the lake, where sure enough, chairs being set up. Professors Flitwick and McGonagall were waving their wands, setting up white chairs. The other Professors were hurrying around, setting up flowers, and decorations, and doing odd jobs to finish setting up. There was a large white table over to one side, and a podium had been set up in front of the chairs that were facing the lake.

They walked over to Professor McGonagal."Hello Professor, is there anything we can do to help?" asked Hermione. Startled, Professor McGonagall jumped and dropped the chairs she had been levitating. "Oh!" she exclaimed. She smiled weakly at them. "Hello. As a matter of fact, yes there is. We could use a hand setting up more chairs. I expect we will be having a lot of guests," she said. They all nodded and raised their wands.

They began levitating and setting the chairs up in rows behind the others that were already set up. As she worked, Ginny began to steel herself for the pain she was going to experience again. She wasn't ready to remember yet. She agreed with Hermione that it was coming on too soon. When the chairs had all been set up, people had started apparating around the grounds, greeting each other and making their way toward the chairs.

Ginny made her way over to Harry, Ron and Hermione. She slipped her hand into Harry's, and he smiled down at her. Ron gave them an incredulous look, which Ginny imitated, looking at his and Hermione's entwined hands. Ron scowled at her, but Harry and Hermione laughed. Their happiness was short lived, and they soon grew quiet and solemn again, watching people filling into the rows. Ginny saw some of her friends already seated with their parents, a few professors still hurrying around, and still many more witches and wizards she had never seen before.