When he arrived at the Burrow, his friends were waiting for him with questions in their eyes. Harry told them that he and Snape had argued and that the man wouldn't be coming to the funeral the next day but didn't offer much more detail. He didn't want to think too much about what had happened and luckily Ginny, Ron and Hermione understood instantly. They put the subject aside without him having to tell them and spent their time talking about unimportant things, rather than hounding him for more information. Those conversations, while playing chess or flying their brooms, made him feel almost normal, and caused Harry's mood to improve considerably from when he had run out of the dungeons. It also helped him to see the change in the other Weasleys, the new energy they had gained from saying goodbye to Fred. Harry watched George riding his broom, joining them in the sky above the Burrow, playing until the Sun began to set; Mr. and Mrs. Weasley smiling fondly at each other, cuddling on the sofa as they listened to Percy talk about his plans for the future; Bill and Fleur, who had returned that morning, holding hands, strolling through the garden, their eyes full of affection for each other... And those everyday scenes filled him with optimism for the days ahead.

That night, however, lying on his bed and staring at the ceiling in the dark, he couldn't help but feel sadness deep in his chest. Ron was snoring next to him, but Harry was still awake, wide-eyed and deep in thoughts he would have preferred to ignore. That afternoon at the Burrow had been quiet and pleasant, but now, in the dark, without any distractions, it was impossible to escape reality. Things had changed, and not for the better. The sweet summer days at the Weasleys' house, where the only worry had been trying to figure out what the adults were talking about and what new and exciting things would be happening that year at Hogwarts, were over. They weren't coming back. As much as he wanted them to. And Harry's heart ached for it.

The hours passed, slow and silent, as the boy laid there, accompanied by Ron's breathing and his own, the creaking of the Burrow and the singing of cicadas coming from the garden. His body was sore, and although he had missed that familiar ache of his muscles, it had been months since he had ridden a broom and his legs were reminding him of it. He also felt the exhaustion of his mind and emotions, brought on by his argument with Snape and the effort he had made all afternoon to push the man's words out of his head. Taking a deep breath, Harry tried to clear his mind, forcing himself to sleep, knowing he needed rest to face Remus and Tonks' funeral the next day. Finally, his eyelids began to give way, heavy from accumulated exhaustion. And though finally, exhausted, he managed to let the longed-for sleep take hold of him, Snape's angry face was the last thing he saw before he lost consciousness.

When he awoke, Ron's bed was empty, the room too warm, and the light reflecting off the floor, coming in where the curtains ended, was much brighter than it should be during the early hours of the day. Dizzy, Harry ran a hand over his face and bent down to pick up the socks he had left on the side of the bed the night before. After putting them on, he walked out of the room and down the stairs until he reached the kitchen. Molly was there and, seeing him, greeted him with a warm smile.

"Good morning, Harry."

"Good morning, Mrs. Weasley." He murmured, sleep still in his voice. "What time is it?"

"It's almost eleven."

"Eleven o'clock?"

It had been a long time since Harry had slept this late.

"That's right." Molly smiled at him. "You must have been tired."

The boy remembered the night before and nodded absently.

"I was." He acknowledged. "Have the others woken up yet?"

Mrs. Weasley nodded.

"They're in the garden." She told him, tilting her head towards the door. "But don't worry, I'll go get them. You sit down and eat your breakfast."

She waved her hand at the table in front of him and Harry noticed a plate he hadn't seen before. It was full of food and accompanied by a glass of orange juice.

The boy felt his belly growl.

"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley."

"You're welcome, dear." She told him. "Eat as much as you want, and if you are still hungry, there's more food in the fridge."

Harry didn't think he'd be able to finish that first plate, but he nodded anyway and sat down in the chair. Watching him nibble on a piece of toast, Molly smiled in satisfaction. Then she pushed herself away from the table and walked over to the door that led to the garden. Harry watched her leave, as he picked up a piece of scrambled eggs with his fork and popped them into his mouth.

He was just finishing the last bite when the door opened again and Ron, followed by Ginny and Hermione, came through.

"Are you all right, Harry?" Asked his friend, after bidding him good morning. "You slept a lot and when I came in to get my clothes you didn't even notice."

"I'm fine." Harry reassured him. "I was just tired. Besides... I had trouble falling asleep. I had too much on my mind."

"The usual?" Ginny asked him. 'The usual' meant the War, the people who had died, the future... The minds of those who had survived were usually filled with those thoughts. She knew it well.

"Yes... The usual." Harry replied. "But, besides all that... I was also thinking about what happened with Snape. I know I haven't told you everything that happened, but... Let's just say it wasn't pretty. Someday I'll give you the details, I promise. For now, let's just leave it at that I'm very disappointed and angry with him. And I don't know if we'll ever be able to work it out. Or if I want us to..."

His friends' gazes were on him, showing that they listened to him and understood, and that made Harry feel a little better.

"But let's drop the subject. I don't want to talk about Snape." He said, getting up from the chair and carrying the now empty plate towards the sink. "Today I just want to think about Remus and Tonks. And about the... the funeral."

When he turned, he saw how the faces of the others had darkened at the reminder.

"Alright, Harry." Hermione told him, as Ron and Ginny nodded. "Did you know Kingsley will be there? Mr. Weasley told us this morning."

Harry didn't know, but it made sense. Kingsley was a member of the Order of the Phoenix, had known Remus for many years, and in Tonks' case, they also worked in the same department at the Ministry.

"There are probably other Aurors coming as well." Ron added. "It would be nice to talk to them to see what they're like. They could end up being your colleagues, Harry."

It took the boy a while to understand what he was referring to. He had forgotten for a moment that he wanted to be an Auror.

"Yeah..." He muttered, distracted.

"I was wondering if any of Remus' relatives were coming?" Ginny said. "I never heard him talk about his parents and I don't know if he had any siblings..."

"Probably not." Harry muttered, thinking about how few things he knew about the man. He wished he had asked him more about himself when he was still alive. "Talking to Sirius, it always seemed to me that the Marauders had been his first family. And the only one. Unfortunately, a werewolf's life is a lonely one."

But not his death, Harry thought, stubbornly. Dozens of people who loved him were going to say goodbye to him. And his wife, the mother of his child, would forever rest beside him. Remus was never going to be alone again.

"You've been to the Tonks' before, haven't you Harry?" Hermione suddenly remembered, changing the subject.

The boy's mind transported him back to that night, almost a year ago, when Hedwig and Mad-Eye had died.

"That's right. Though only for a few minutes."

"Is it true that Andromeda looks so much like Bellatrix?" Ginny asked. "I heard Mum and Dad talking about it the other day."

"The first time I saw her, I tried to cast a curse on her. Luckily I didn't have my wand nearby."

Ron's mouth dropped open in surprise.

"Really?"

Harry nodded.

"They do look a lot alike. But, when she talks or smiles, the difference with Bellatrix is clear."

"How do you think she'll be doing, after all she's been through?" Ginny said.

Ron sighed.

"Well, she's lost her husband, daughter and son-in-law in just one year. I don't think she will be doing very well..."

Those words woke up Harry's mind, the thought that had been lingering in it for days. He bit his lip and looked around. The kitchen was deserted, save for the four of them.

"Speaking of which..." He began, catching the attention of the others. "I wanted to talk to you guys about something. I've been thinking that... That I want to offer her to use the Stone as well."

There was a silence as the three teenagers took in his words.

"...Harry." Hermione began, just as he expected her to do. "Are you sure?"

The boy nodded, determined.

"I've seen how useful he can be. How much it has helped you guys." He said, nodding to Ron and Ginny. "And Andromeda has lost her entire family. It seems only fair that she gets to say goodbye as well."

This time it was Ron who spoke first.

"I've experienced first-hand the power of that Stone. The good it offers, but also the bad. It's quite possible that I can help her, but I'm worried about one thing, Harry. For us it was just one person. Just Fred. And it was already almost impossible to let him go. I don't even want to imagine how it will make her feel. How do you know it won't be too much temptation?"

Harry took a deep breath.

"I've thought about it. But she has Teddy, doesn't she? As much as it pains her, I know she won't abandon her grandson. And, besides, Remus and Tonks, even Ted... They wouldn't let her do it. And neither would I."

Ron bit his lip, thoughtfully.

"It could work." He said finally. "And even if it doesn't... We already know what to expect and we wouldn't be jumping in blindly like we did with Fred. We could help her come to her senses if necessary. Especially Mom and Dad who know her well. I'm sure she'd listen to them."

Those words reaffirmed Harry in his decision. He had been sure of it, but, when it came to the Stone things were never simple or straightforward and, with Snape's words still echoing in his mind, the boy had begun to doubt himself.

"Thank you, Ron." He said, before turning to his friends. "What do you girls think?"

"When you said it, I got worried." Hermione confessed. "But after listening to you and Ron... I'm calmer. I don't know Andromeda, but I trust you and the other Weasleys. If there's a problem, if she needs help, I know that between all of us we'll manage to sort it out."

Harry nodded firmly.

"We will." He promised her. Then he turned to Ginny, expectantly.

"I agree with Hermione." She said, though she was looking at Harry with something that he couldn't quite identify in her eyes. The boy was about to ask her what was going on when she blinked, and that expression vanished from her face so quickly he thought he had imagined it.

After that, the conversation eventually returned to other less important topics. As the minutes passed, Harry became aware that it was almost noon, and he was the only one still wearing his pajamas. So, he said goodbye to his friends and started walking up the stairs to the upper floor, where the shower awaited him, along with his clothes and the black robes he had worn during Fred's funeral. He was halfway up when Ginny stopped him, calling his name from downstairs.

"Wait, Harry."

The boy turned, confusion in his eyes.

"Ginny?

"I wanted to talk to you for a second."

Harry swallowed and nodded, stepping down a few steps to approach the girl, as she climbed up to each him.

"Has something happened?"

"No, nothing's happened. It's just... All this talk about the Stone... There's something I want to tell you."

He looked at her expectantly, but, for a few seconds, Ginny said nothing. Then she sighed, exhaling loudly, and avoided Harry's gaze. That worried him; the girl usually spoke her mind bluntly, and that was one of the things he liked most about her. He didn't understand what could be so serious as to make her react that way.

"Look, Harry." She said finally, her eyes glued to the stair railing. "I'm grateful for the gift you gave us, for letting us say goodbye to Fred. I always will be. More than I can put into words. And I'm sure Andromeda will be too. But..." Ginny took a deep breath and forced herself to look him in the eye. "I understand that you want to help others, I do. And you are. But, still, I can't stop thinking about what effect using the Stone has on you. Even if we are also participating on the decision… At the end of the day it's you who has the final say. And it's not fair to you. It's too much responsibility."

Harry had been too surprised to say anything, so Ginny continued speaking.

"I'm scared for you, Harry, do you understand? I know you and I know you're not going to want to stop at Andromeda. Not when so many people have lost loved ones and may need you. And that makes me wonder: how is this story going to end? When are you going to decide that it's enough? That it's over? You won't be able to. I know. Because there will always be one more person who has lost someone and will need to say goodbye. And then another. And then another. And that scares me. I don't want you to have to go through this thing for the rest of your life."

Ginny's words floated in the air for a few seconds as Harry took them in. He hadn't imagined having a conversation like that under those circumstances, still in his pajamas, without having even washed his face, standing on the stairs of the Burrow. From the back of his mind, the words Snape had spoken the day before rang out. Is that what you are planning on doing with your life, Potter? Wandering the Earth for the next hundred years? Using the Stone on every person who has lost someone?

Harry gulped.

"Ginny..."

"I'm not saying this to judge you. I understand. But I want you to be okay. I know it's selfish to say it, but I don't give a damn about those people." She said it angrily and part of it was directed at herself. "The important thing is that you, Harry Potter, are okay." She repeated. "Because I don't want to lose you too."

Those words squeezed Harry's heart, and the boy felt the mix of emotions inside him.

"You're not going to lose me." He promised her. "It's just... I feel guilty." He admitted. "And using the Stone helps."

"I understand." She told him, slowly approaching and taking his hand into hers. "But you've been doing things for others your whole life. Everything you've done has been to stop Voldemort. And now that he's gone... Don't you think you deserve to be free? To be happy? You don't have to waste the rest of your days."

"I don't want to waste them. But... It seems unfair to do nothing. I can help others. What kind of person am I if I don't?"

"An amazing person, Harry. You always have been. This doesn't change that." Ginny met his gaze with her own, seriousness in her features. "You can't help everyone. Not only it's not your responsibility, but it's literally impossible."

Harry opened his mouth to retort, but Ginny kept talking.

"You know I'm right." She told him firmly. "You can't save every single person on the planet. The same way we couldn't save Fred or Remus or Tonks. It's hard to accept. But it's the truth."

Harry swallowed hard and averted her gaze, as the girl's words began to sink in.

"Listen to me, Harry." Ginny continued. "There's a part of you that knows what you have to do. Your instinct, your heart... Call it what you will. There are times when it's hard to hear it, when you have so much noise inside you. But it's always there. And I know you feel that with the Stone. At the time you felt that you had to use it with us. And now you feel that you should use it with Andromeda. And that's fine. But there will come a day when your instinct will tell you that you must stop. And even if it's hard, even if it's scary, even if you still feel guilty... You have to promise me that you will listen to yourself. That you'll be brave and that you will do the right thing."

Ginny's eyes shone, dark and solemn, but also full of affection. Harry watched them for a few moments, as his heart pounded.

"Okay." He said finally, giving her hand a squeeze, feeling the warmth between his fingers. "I promise."

Ginny nodded; relief evident on her face.

"Thank you, Harry."

The boy stepped closer and, though it frightened him to face that truth Ginny had shown him, or perhaps because of it, he hugged her tightly.

"Thank you."

They stayed like that for a few minutes, neither wanting to part from the other, until noises coming from the kitchen brought them back to reality. Mrs. Weasley had just entered and was talking loudly to Ron and Hermione, though from there Harry couldn't understand what she was saying to them. Still, that distraction was enough to make the boy take a small step back, finally separating from her arms and instantly missing her.

"I should go get ready." He told her.

"And I should go see what my mother is saying." Ginny sighed. "I swear, if she asks me again if my robes are clean..."

Harry smiled as he saw the exasperation on her face. Then he waved goodbye and finished climbing the last flight of stairs, heading for the shower.

The next few hours passed too quickly for the boy's liking. They all ate in the Burrow's kitchen, each dressed in their black robes, and then waited in a tense calm for the minutes to pass. Finally, the hour indicated by Andromeda arrived and together they walked through the garden, to the edge of the protective spells that still surrounded the Burrow. Harry checked that both the Stone and his wand were safe in the pocket of his pants, before looking up and watching Bill and Fleur disappear in front of him. A few seconds later, he followed their example. He closed his eyes and felt the ground vanish beneath him. His body spun on itself, and a feeling of unpleasant dizziness churned his stomach. Suddenly, it was all over, and the firmness of the solid ground beneath his shoes helped him steady himself. Still with his eyes closed, the smell of lavender, wet earth and grass filled his nose and the sound of muffled conversations reached his ears.

Harry opened his eyes, looking around. He stood on an orange stone terrace, with a large house looming behind it. At the edge of the terrace, wooden benches overlooked a vast field of swaying grass, stretching hundreds of yards to the horizon, all the way to small green hills that hid the house from the rest of the world. The Weasleys were beside him, a few meters away. In that moment, Molly and Arthur were hugging a woman with long dark hair, which Harry immediately recognized as Andromeda Tonks. Her face was still very much like her sister Bellatrix's, but the pronounced dark circles under her eyes and the wrinkles that had appeared on it over the past year accentuated their differences even more.

"Harry!" She called out when she saw him, and started approaching.

The boy wasn't sure how he should react. He had only seen her on one occasion, but, at the same time, he felt a kind of connection with the woman. She had suffered a lot too and felt the loss of Remus and Tonks even more than Harry himself. Not to mention the fact that she was now the only family of Teddy, his godson. Dismissing the idea of greeting her formally, with a handshake, Harry leaned over to hug her, pleased to see how she had already raised her arms even before he did. That comforted and reassured him. There would be no need for awkwardness or false pleasantries with Andromeda Tonks.

"It's good to see you again." She told him, giving his arm a squeeze. "Though I wish the circumstances were different."

Harry watched the slump of her shoulders with a lump in his throat.

"Me too." He said, sadness in his voice. "I'm so sorry. For Tonks and for Remus. And for Ted too."

She nodded, accepting his words and for a moment it seemed her eyes had filled with tears. But then she blinked and squared her shoulders, lifting them up.

"It's not your fault. And the ones who did it paid with their own lives." She said. "But let's focus on more pleasant topics." Her lips formed a small smile. Not the grimace his sister Bellatrix usually displayed, but a gesture that denoted affection and tenderness. "I want to introduce you to someone."

Harry's eyes widened in surprise.

"Teddy?" He murmured. He hadn't thought about what it would be like to meet his godson, Remus and Tonks' son, but in that moment, he began to feel nervous.

Andromeda nodded, her smile widening.

"He's inside, in his crib. Give me a second to say hello to everyone and then we'll go."

The boy stepped aside to let her pass towards the other Weasleys behind him. Harry felt his palms sweat, as he heard Ron introduce himself. He wanted to be as good a godfather as Sirius had been to him, even better. He wanted Teddy to never feel alone. To never lack anything: clothes, food, but also affection or a shoulder to cry on. He wanted to be brave, to always be there for him. But, at the same time, the consequences of the War were still present on Harry's soul, and he was still very young. He needed an adult figure too, even if he didn't want to admit it, even if he hated Snape for saying it out loud... How could he be the perfect godfather to Teddy when he wasn't even capable of taking care of himself?

"Harry? Shall we?"

Andromeda was back pointing with an outstretched hand in the direction of the house. The boy nodded, pushing down those thoughts, and followed her to the door.

Once inside, Harry recognized the room he had been in a year ago, but not the two men sitting on the couch. They wore dark, elegant attire and greeted them with a nod, but quickly returned to their conversation. One of them, Harry noticed, was missing a leg and wore a silver prosthetic that seemed to ripple, turning darker or lighter in different areas, showing the magic encased in it. They must be Aurors, the boy realized. They must have been colleagues of Tonks from the Ministry. He wasn't able to look at them too much, however, as Andromeda continued walking, leaving the living room behind, with Harry close on her heels. They entered through a corridor and walked through it until they arrived to a closed door. This one, unlike the others, was not only white, but had also been decorated with drawings of flowers, animals and toys that moved and made different sounds. Andromeda opened it and Harry took a deep breath.

Teddy was lying in his crib, his eyes closed and his hands clutching his little blanket. His hair was the same bluish color as in the picture Remus had shown him the night of the Battle and Harry felt a twinge of pain at the sight of it.

"Do you want to hold him?" Andromeda asked him quietly. "He won't wake up, he sleeps too deeply."

Harry swallowed and nodded, nervously. He had never held a baby before. She smiled and bent to pick him up carefully, lifting him out of the crib and depositing him in his arms. He was heavier than Harry had imagined, but he quickly got used to it. He watched his face, trying to find similarities to those of Remus and Tonks, but he wasn't sure. Most babies looked the same to the boy's untrained eyes.

"You're good at it." Andromeda told him, gently stroking Teddy's blue hair. "I'm glad Remus made you his godfather."

Harry moved nervously and that caused the baby to wake up. Teddy yawned and, after blinking a couple of times, opened his eyes, looking at him curiously. Then he let out a small squeak of excitement and raised a hand, reaching up, trying to grab one of the dark strands of Harry's hair.

"Oh... He seems to like you." Smiled Andromeda.

Teddy continued to babble, looking at him wide-eyed, with a big toothless grin and Harry couldn't help but return it. Maybe, being a godfather wasn't going to be as hard as he thought.

"Here, let me help you. He starts to get heavy after a while." Andromeda slipped her arms under Harry's and removed Teddy from them. Then she turned to deposit him back in the cradle, pushed his hair away from his face and stroked one cheek. Harry couldn't help the deep sadness that came over him at the sight of it. It should be Tonks standing there, kissing her baby. Her and Remus. And, although he knew that, unlike Aunt Petunia, Andromeda would care for and love Teddy with all her being, it was unfair that it had to be this way.

"You know you can come over anytime, eh, Harry?" The woman's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "We'll be here."

The boy swallowed hard.

"Yes, I know, and I appreciate it, I really do. I'd like to come more often. It's just..."

She held up a hand, reassuring him.

"You don't have to excuse yourself. I understand this isn't an easy period for anyone. I just want you to know that, if you want to come over, you can." She smiled. "Nothing more."

Harry bowed his head, suddenly overwhelmed by his emotions.

"Thank you, really... I..." He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the Stone in his pocket, as it had been during Fred's funeral. Hours before, at the Burrow, with his friends they had decided to tell her about the Relic together, but something told Harry that he should do it now. There, in Teddy's room, there was a strange peace. No unwanted guests would interrupt them, and the baby's presence would remind Andromeda of the need to continue living in the real world.

"Harry? Are you all right? You've turned a little pale."

The boy shook his head.

"I'm fine. It's just... I have to tell you something."

She watched him, with those kind eyes that were so like Tonks' that Harry wondered how he could have mistaken her for Bellatrix.

"What I'm about to say may sound crazy." The boy began. "But I swear it's true."

Andromeda continued to watch him, initial concern giving way to curiosity.

"There is an object, very ancient and powerful. It is called the Resurrection Stone." Harry looked at her, waiting for her reaction to his next words. "Only it doesn't resurrect the dead, not really. But it allows you to create a reflection of them, of the person they were. To be able to talk to them. To be able to say goodbye properly."

Those words didn't seem to affect Andromeda. The woman simply raised an eyebrow and continued to look at him.

"And you possess such an object?" She asked, though it was clear she already expected his answer.

"That's right. And, if you want, we could use it to say goodbye to Remus and Tonks. Even Ted. The only thing I must warn you is that they can't stay here forever. That, after we talk to them, we'll have to let them go."

"I see…"

"All right." Harry nodded. "Do you want us to do it now? Or after the funeral?"

"No." Andromeda Tonks said.

"Sorry?"

"No." She repeated. "I appreciate the proposal, Harry. It's very thoughtful of you to worry about me... But I'm fine as it is."

Andromeda smiled at the confusion on his face.

"I don't understand." He said. "Don't you want a chance to say goodbye? To see them one more time? To say things you should have said to them?"

She continued to smile, looking at him with those lines of weariness and pain on her face, but there was serenity in her eyes.

"We were at war, Harry. We had already said our goodbyes; we knew we could die at any moment. And as far as talking to them again... What would I tell them? That I love them? They already knew. And so did I. No, boy. It's best to the dead alone. And the living too. My husband, my daughter and my son-in-law are no longer here. And prolonging the farewell will only serve to do more harm. I prefer to do as we are going to today. To say goodbye to their bodies. Because their spirits, their souls, will always remain with me."

Harry's mouth had dropped open in surprise. He hadn't expected that answer. The boy forced himself to close it and asked:

"Are you sure?"

She nodded; tranquility evident in her eyes.

"Yes. Completely sure. But I can't decide for Teddy. If possible, offer him this when he's old enough to choose for himself. When he's mature enough. Perhaps when he comes of age." She suggested.

Harry nodded, still taking in the woman's words.

"I will." He promised.

"Good. Now, was there anything else you had to tell me?"

Harry shook his head.

"Perfect. Then I think we should meet up with the others. Surely more guests have arrived and must be wondering where we are."

Still somewhat confused by Andromeda's reaction, Harry said goodbye to Teddy and followed her back to the garden. Once there, the woman excused herself and went to greet a group of Aurors who had just arrived. Harry, now alone, searched around for his friends until he found them, away from the other groups of people that were standing up in the garden, talking to each other.

"Harry!" Ron called to him as he saw him approaching. "Where have you been?"

"Andromeda wanted to introduce me to Teddy." He explained. Then he moved a little closer so that only they could hear him. "By the way, what we talked about this morning, about the Stone? She said she doesn't want to do it."

"What?" Ron blurted out. "Are you sure?"

Hermione frowned.

"But did she understand what you were offering her?"

"Yes, Hermione." Harry replied, somewhat irritated. "I explained it to her just fine.

Ginny gave his arm a squeeze.

"I'm sure she appreciated the offer. But at the end of the day, it's her decision."

Hermione raised an eyebrow, still surprised.

"Well..." She muttered. "I guess there are people who need it, who it can help saying goodbye. And people who don't..."

Harry nodded, not quite sure what to say, then realized the rest of the Weasleys where nowhere to be seen.

"Hey, what about the others, where did they go?"

"To the back of the house." Ron replied. "It's where they put the...the coffins. They wanted to pay their respects before it got crowded."

Harry nodded, though his mouth had suddenly gone dry.

"I see. Did you guys go?"

"No, we were waiting for you." Ginny told him.

The boy thanked her with a nod.

"Shall we?" Hermione asked him, showing her own nervousness.

Harry nodded.

"Yes, let's go."

The four of them started walking towards the back garden when, halfway there, they ran into Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

"Ah, there you are!" Molly exclaimed. "We've been looking for you. Are you going to see Remus and Tonks?"

Harry thought how strange that sounded, as if they were still alive. As if they were going to have tea with them and not to say goodbye in front of their caskets.

Ron nodded.

"Well done." Arthur said with sad smile. "It's important."

Molly ran a hand over his shoulders affectionately.

"Yes, it is. And you are doing good by going now; there were few people around. You'll have more privacy."

The teenagers nodded and, with a few last affectionate words, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley took their leave, allowing them to continue on their way.

The scene that greeted them upon arrival was eerily familiar, similar to the one in the Weasley's garden during Fred's funeral. Two identical coffins, side by side, stood at one end, lying on the grass. In front of them, wooden chairs formed rows that stretched all the way to the end of the garden.

Harry took a deep breath and approached the two coffins, accompanied by his friends. His heart raced, as the faces of Remus and Tonks appeared in his mind. He brushed his fingertips over the dark wood of the first coffin, caressing it gently, as if he could feel the body lying inside. Was it Remus or Tonks? A part of him wondered. But it didn't really matter. They had died together. They would bury them together. They would rest together. And Harry would cry for them both. Tears welled up in his eyes and fell silently down his cheeks, as memories of his friends danced in his pupils. The first time he had seen Remus on the Hogwarts express, that class with the Boggart, the lessons learning how to conjure the Patronus, conversations about his parents, about Sirius, about the past... That argument at Grimmauld Place and the joy at seeing him again months later, at learning that he was Teddy's godfather... And finally, the pain at seeing his body lying in the Great Dining Hall. The tears fell harder, and Remus' face was replaced by Tonks'. He remembered the day he had met her, the immediate connection he had felt towards her. Her bubbly personality, her awkwardness, her jokes, her kindness, the number of times she had cheered him up, made him laugh. He remembered, too, all the times she had risked her life for him: in the Department of Mysteries, running away from Privet Drive, and, finally, at the Battle of Hogwarts. He could never thank her. And she could never enjoy her love for Remus, after how hard she had fought for it. She could never hold her son in her arms again. Nor hug her mother. Harry ducked his head and ran a hand over his cheeks, wiping away tears.

Suddenly, he was aware of a hand on his shoulder. Ginny was beside him. Red-eyed and sniffling through her nose, with the same pain on her face. She had a box of tissues in her left hand.

"Here." She said, offering it to him. "I knew you'd forget to bring for yourself."

That caused a small smile from the boy.

"Thank you, Ginny."

She smiled back at him, though a couple of tears fell from her eyes as she did so. Harry watched her sigh, eyes glued to the coffins as he blew his nose.

"I'm going to miss them so much." Replied the girl quietly. "So much."

"Me too." Harry said. There was nothing more to say, so they remained silent.

Ron and Hermione were still beside them, standing in front of the coffins, hugging each other.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked them.

"No." Ron smiled, through his tears. "But that's how it should be."

Hermione nodded, running a hand over her red eyes.

"That's how it should be." She repeated.

Minutes passed until, finally, the four of them felt strong enough to pull away a little. Then, seeing that more guests were coming forward to pay their respects, they decided to head back toward the house. Looking for a place to sit down and pull themselves together, they saw a long wooden table that was empty. They had just settled down at it when a conversation reached Harry's ears.

"...It's a disgrace. He should be rooting in Azkaban already."

"Keep your voice down."

"Why, am I wrong? Do you really believe that bullshit that he was working for Dumbledore all this time? Come on, please..."

Harry turned in the direction of the voices. A couple of Aurors, standing next to the house, were talking loudly. And one of them had raised his voice enough to understand what they were saying. Ron, Ginny and Hermione also seemed to have picked up on it, because they kept silent and tilted their heads towards them, trying to hear as much of the conversation as possible.

"Kingsley said it was true. And Potter himself shouted it in the middle of the Battle."

"Come on, man..." Replied the other, with obvious skepticism. "It was also Potter who said that Snape had killed Dumbledore. So, which one is true? Did he work for him? Or did he murder him? If you ask me, I'm sure that snake confused Potter. Made him believe that lie. The only thing that surprises me is that Kingsley was fooled too."

"Keep your voice down." Repeated the other, and Harry realized it was the Auror he had seen earlier, the one with the prosthetic leg. "Do you really think Kingsley is stupid enough to let himself be tricked like that? And Potter... he may be young but he's no idiot. Remember, he defeated Voldemort."

"Yes, yes..." Replied his colleague with boredom. "And that's why we have to kneel before him and believe every story he tells us."

Harry frowned. Maybe all Aurors weren't as incredible as he had imagined them to be. As Mad-Eye and Tonks had been. As Kingsley was.

"What's your problem?" The man retorted, causing the Sun to shine on his prosthetic leg as he shook it nervously. "Have a little respect. If we're here today, alive, and not inside a wooden box, it's because of that boy."

The auror in front of him let out a humorless laugh.

"Yeah... Tell that to Tonks... If he'd been a little quicker to take that bastard out, she'd still be alive today."

Harry couldn't take it anymore. He was about to get up from his chair to tell them a thing or two when a deep voice startled him.

"There you are."

Kingsley Shacklebolt, dressed in elegant black robes, stood a few feet away from them. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry could see the two Aurors stir uncomfortably.

"I've been looking for you guys." He said. "I wanted to say hello before the ceremony started."

Kingsley sat down next to them; exhaustion evident on his face.

"I'm sorry I'm late, but the Ministry is in complete chaos these days. In fact, it seems that Andromeda was waiting for me to start the ceremony."

He hadn't finished saying that sentence, when Andromeda herself appeared in front of them, gesturing for the guests to accompany her.

"Follow me, this way, please. There are chairs for everyone. Though I would appreciate it if you would leave the front rows for family and close friends."

Harry's heart, which had calmed somewhat with the last few distractions, began to pound. Kingsley sighed, rising heavily and followed the river of people heading towards the back of the house. Harry joined him and eventually sat in the chairs closest to the coffins, along with the other Weasleys, Hermione and Kingsley himself. The boy was surprised to see Teddy in Molly's arms, but he supposed Andromeda would want him to be able to say goodbye too, even if he didn't quite understand what was going on.

Once they were all seated, Harry looked around, searching for the Ministry wizard. But standing in front of Remus and Tonks was no one but Andromeda. The woman pointed her wand at her own neck, causing the volume of her voice to increase, and began to speak.

Harry couldn't help but feel admiration towards her. Towards her courage, her resolve, and her ability to keep her composure. He wasn't sure he would have been able to do that.

The funeral was relatively short. Andromeda thanked them for coming, and then began to talk about Remus and Tonks. The love on her face, as well as the pain, was evident and soon tears were spreading among the guests. Harry merely fixed his gaze on the coffins, remembering his two friends, bidding them farewell once more. Finally, Andromeda approached Mrs. Weasley, taking Teddy from her lap. The baby relaxed in the arms of his grandmother, who carried him over to the caskets, to place a little hand on first one, then the other. When she finished, Andromeda turned to look directly at him.

"Harry." She called.

For an instant the boy didn't understand what she was asking, until Ron gave him a gentle push. Automatically, Harry rose from his seat, ignoring the stares he felt on his back, and approached the woman. She smiled at him, tears streaming down her cheeks, and then placed Teddy in his arms. This time, Harry felt more secure. The fear of dropping him had subsided. Holding his breath, he watched as Andromeda raised her wand and, with a precise gesture, created a rectangular hole in the floor, enough for the two coffins. Harry watched Teddy's little face, his big eyes looking at what was happening, and wondered if he was understanding what was happening. If he knew that his parents were in those wooden boxes and that in a few moments, they would be swallowed up by the earth and he would never see them again. It was a harsh image for a child of less than a year old, but Harry would have given anything to have been able to be at Lily and James' funeral. He didn't need to ask to know that Petunia hadn't gone to bury her parents, and she certainly hadn't brought her nephew with her.

He sighed, cradling Teddy in his arms, and promised him and Remus and Tonks, as the coffins began to be covered in dirt, that their son would never have to go through a childhood like the one he had.

When it was all over, Andromeda approached him. With a sad smile, she picked Teddy up once more, thanking him with her eyes for his help. Harry nodded and turned to sit back in the chair, as dozens of people stood up and approached to pay their respects. Suddenly, he felt a gaze piercing him, coming from somewhere in the garden. His instincts, which had kept him alive until now, led his eyes to the last rows of chairs, all empty except for two people sitting in them, separated from the rest of the guests. One figure he recognized instantly: dressed in dark green robes, her hair pulled back in an elegant bun, Professor McGonagall met his gaze and greeted him with a nod. The other person he would have recognized immediately as well, except that it was impossible for him to be there. Attired in his usual black robes, his straight hair partially hiding his face, Severus Snape was staring at him from across the garden, his black eyes locked on him.