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Part 2
The Weasleys went ahead as the three followed them to the great hall. The trio soon learned from Mr.Weasley as they came down the hall that there was going to be a meeting in the great hall, later that evening- all the witches and wizards who were still left at Hogwarts, offering their help, all those who have fought bravely, all those who have lost their loved ones- everyone will be addressed by the Minister Kingley Shacklebolt- himself. There were decisions to be made- for hogwarts and in general certain speech had to be made after the victory of the war.
It had already been decided that the Weasleys would be taking Harry and Hermione with them to Burrow that evening. Bill had arranged the portkey to deport at 8, so that they can attend the meeting and leave soon after.
Harry had an uneasy feeling in his stomach as soon as he heard about the meeting- he wished Kingsley wouldnt call his name and praise him with so much credit that he felt he did not deserve- All of this thought rooted from the guilt that he started to feel strongly as he descended down the stairs - observing the damage, a war of this magnitude has inflicted upon the place which was closest to his heart and the people who had supported him.
Though he had to acknowledge the congratulations and waving of hands at him very often than not by the people he passed, he still couldnt get over the feeling that- he didnt deserve their gratitude- He should have surely done something soon enough- something that could have saved all these lives- He didnt feel he was the major reason it was over- rather he was the reason it all started in the first place...
Hermione and Ron knew why their friend was brooding- and was the reason why hermione was throwing sympethetic look towards Harry and when ever he would catch her throwing those looks, she would look away.
What is it hermione? Harry asked her atlast, getting more worried that whatever she is lecture him about is not going to help him at all. The guilt was there and no one can help him overcome it- He should have done something sooner- He kept telling to himself.
Hermione started to tell something but caught Ron's warning eyes and fell silent.
"Nothing Harry" She said at last
Ron kept patting Harry's shoulder, mentioning him about some aspect of the war- where they have outdone themselves- how the DA performed in realtime- their hunt for horcruxes - and the like trying to make Harry realise that the war had been building up for quiet a long time and it was Harry who had at last put an end to it.
Hermione, had been generally nodding in affirmative for Ron's casual facts- in actually wondering when Ron had grown to be so sensitive to other's emotions.
They reached the Great hall and the families of the students who had stayed back to fight the war had started to arrive, if they were not already a part of the war last night. The bodies of those students who had died a brave death was being handed over to their tearful parents.
They saw Mrs. Tonks, standing amongst the crowd, She was being comforted by Fluer who took the little bundle that Mrs.tonks had been carrying - with utmost care- and with a jolt of guilt Harry realised that it was little teddy- his god son- who was orphaned last night. As soon as Mrs.Weasley saw her, she ran across and hugged the elderly lady- and the others who accompanied them rushed forward. As the grief was shared by the two parties, Harry stood there in pained silence as he watched Hermione approach Fluer who was holding little Teddy. She suddenly turned to him and getured him to come and have a closer look. Ron nudged him forward.
"He eez lovely" Fluer told as Hermione held his little chubby fingers- and Ron exclaimed as the little one's hair turned red as soon as his eyes fell on Ron's hair.
"He looks like one of the weasley's with that hair" he commented.
"He eez your godson eeznt he?" Fluer asked Harry suddenly- making him nod awkwardly.
"Come closer Harry- Do you want to hold him" Hermione asked him
The other weasleys and Mrs. tonks who were quiet absorbed in their condolence talks were distracted too watching Harry go near Teddy. Oddly, the scene of Tonks and Lupin lying lifeless flashed before him- then he remembered talking to Lupin in the great forest last night when he was ready to die- He remembered the day when Lupin had asked him to let him at Grimauld place one dasy to accompany the three when they went on their secret mission- then the day when Lupin announced them all that it was boy flashed before him- then he recollected what followed that announcement- Lupin had told him that they have made him little teddy's god father- and he reminisced with a little chuckle that he had infact vowed himself to be as reckless a godfather as Sirius was to him.
He held the little one's hand.
"Hi teddy" he called out "Your godfather Harry at your service"
"yup, he has just come to meet you after making this world a little better to live in- I am Ron, by the way"
"Teddy would be very proud of his parents as he grows up" Mrs.Tonks told suddenly " and ofcourse of his Godfather too" She smiled at him kindly. Harry swallowed a lump in his throat.
"That he will surely be" Mr. Weasly tapped Harry's shoulder.
As the tension in the air eased out, Mrs. Tonks ventured to talk to the authorities to hand over Lupin's and Tonks Bodies. Mr. Weasley and Bill went with her to help her out.
They spent the reminder of the late afternoon helping wounded people, house elfs and centuars or helping families that arrived for the bodies of loved ones or clearing debris that were piled on the hogwarts floors in general- which were blocking the paths to the other areas of hogwarts, helping students- or wizards trapped there- needing medical attention.
Soon they were heading downstairs to the great hall where Kingsley was to address the group of people. The Great hall was already half full as they ventured in to find some place to sit down. As the three sat down, Neville came down the hall along with Seamus and Dean.
"Have you seen Ginny?" He asked them looking a little apprehensive
"No" Hermione told him after throwing a quick look at Harry and Ron "I saw her last when she was talking to you"
"Oh - thats alright then..." he said as he made a fleeting glance across the room and moved to sit beside Seemus and Dean a little further along the line.
"See you all later then"
As soon as Neville left them, Harry started looking around to see if he can get to see Ginny- High time they started bridging the gaps, he thought as he felt so relieved to see that his entire life was there before him to live-
He was wondering again about Ron's reactions when he found her coming towards them. She caught his eyes, smiled at him, and just when he thought she would come and sit near him, She waved to them and stopped by for a customery chat as Neville called out to her. She turned and smiled at Neville as he gestured her to come and join him- and then there was a general hush as the Minister of magic entered the hall who was accompanied by prof. Mcgonagall.
She quickly bid them bye and went to sit with Neville- and before the commencement of the meeting, Harry noticed that she and Neville were talking in hushed tones with such great interest- that put him off for strange reasons which he couldnt fathome- and to his right, Ron was also not very happy with his sister's behaviour or Neville's- and Harry felt that he shared Ron's sentiments in this matter- the resentment was equal to Ron's if not more.
To be continued
Edited by abavi - 12 years ago
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile
Tum Se Tum Tak
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Vasudha
