Chapter 1
The Emptiness
The Burrow
Current Day
The two of them enter the main room after changing into something dryer and they look around the room and Hermione's surprised by the number of people here to remember such a great soul. She looks over at two former Professors, Dumbledore and McGonagall. She smiles as she remembers how Harry always took their words to heart, ever since the summer after their fifth year Harry never doubted Dumbledore, he knew Dumbledore only wanted what was best for him. Since then Hermione has come to appreciate them almost as much.
Ron stands up from his place on the couch next to his wife, "I," he starts and is instantly forced to stop as he fights against the sob wanting to escape him. After a moment he continues, "I know we're all here to remember a great person, a man unlike any we've ever seen," Ron says to the group. "My best friend, my brother," he says in a whisper but everyone can hear for the room is in total silence. "I first met him when he was trying to get onto the platform to the Hogwarts Express, though I didn't know who he was. He never cared for the fame he had, he never wanted to go through what he did, I was jealous of him for his fame and bravery until one day I realized he didn't want it and would much rather do without, he was envious of my life and family," Ron says but is unable to continue as the tears finally pour out of his eyes.
"He was forced to carry such a burden," Remus Lupin says continuing to tell a story about the man lost to them. "He was so forgiving and so caring; he was able to accept a truth I didn't even believe. He was able to love a man who was to have killed his parents, he learned to love when he wasn't even showed the way," Remus says before he too is forced to stop talking.
"I met him when the family went to the world cup, but I knew of him before when he helped to get a dragon from Hogwarts to me in Romania and when he saved my little sister from the Chamber of Secrets," Charles says to the group at large. "He was a dose of reality to me; I've never seen anyone so interested in the world around him, innocent is the best word to describe him. As Ron has said he's become family," Charles says honestly, "I've fought beside him and I'm honored to have been able to know him," he says blinking back the tears.
"As Charles said, I met him at the world cup and knew of him before," Bill agrees, "I too was able to fight in many a battle beside this great hero, my brother, and I'll forever miss his easy manor, his simple humor. He could turn the darkest of nights into the funniest of story telling, he had a heart of gold and gave freely to those around him never expecting anything in return," Bill says as he too starts to cry.
"I started out not being able to speak to him or remain in the same room when he was there," Ginny says as the tears continue to flow down her cheeks unchecked. "He never made fun of me for this, he was always kind to me and he later helped me to find the true man of my dreams," she says looking down at her husband Neville, "he helped me to see I didn't care about fame, fortune, but what I did care about was love. He became my brother and I became the sister he never had. I've never fought with him and I'm honored to have been able to call him my brother," she says with a sad smile.
"He was the best seeker we ever flown with," Fred says looking over at George who nods in agreement. "He was the best friend anyone could ask for, he didn't do anything half way," Fred continues.
"He always went for it with everything he had," George says as Fred drifts off, "When the Bludger broke his arm he still continued on until he found the Snitch," he says as he too drifts off.
"He helped us to become what we are today, he did so willingly and without hesitation," Fred picks up. "He made but one request, to buy Ron new robes," he says.
Everyone in the room gasps at this, they have never been told this, "he bought them," Ron asks in shock.
"He paid for them and the shop," George says with a knowing nod, "he then continued to help us when we needed it," he says shaking his head, "he convinced us not to join in the battle but to help from the home front, to help come up with new gadgets that would aide, he knew we would not make good fighters but would make wonderful espionage equipment," George says with a regretful voice.
"He helped us to keep everything hidden and secret for the Order, he helped us to, to," Fred drifts off.
"He was our brother," George says taking the focus off his twin, "we'll miss him," he finishes for the both of them.
"He never made fun of me," Neville Longbottom says from his place beside his crying wife. "He was always kind to me, he was the only person who respected me for who I was," he says to the group gathered there. "He defended and helped me to learn how to defend myself against others. I was proud to be accepted into his squadron, I was proud to fight side by side with him and I knew he was protecting all of us. He's the person who helped me to realize I love Ginny; he helped me to tell her about my feelings while he continued to keep his love and feelings hidden within. He tried to protect everyone by keeping them at a distance, but he knew he couldn't for he would die inside. He told me one day, that he'd thought about just disappearing and never telling anyone where he was but he couldn't for he knew if he did he would die. He hated he needed us to live and he felt he was only putting us in danger by being near us. It was this speech, this confession that showed me I shouldn't fear telling Ginny how I feel. Harry was a brother to me and I'll miss him," Neville says to the mass as he holds tightly to his wife as she cries harder into his shoulder.
"I doubted him," Seamus says, "I thought all the fame went to his head; I never knew he couldn't lie. It wasn't until later I learned this; it wasn't until he gave the interview in our fifth year that I realized he was telling the truth. He never held it against me; he never hated me for disbelieving him. He simply smiled and said it's alright and we're friends and have always been," he says turning to his wife, "I learned a lot from him, it's because of his strength, his belief I took my stand against such evil, I'm honored to have fought beside him and I'll forever miss him," Seamus finishes.
"I first met Harry when my three sons stole my flying car and went to rescue him from his relatives; I was well informed of him through said three sons and the fact he was The Boy Who Lived. But I was unprepared to see the man in children's clothing. He smiled at me even though I asked him some of the most stupid questions, he more than likely thought I was crazy, but he humored me and never once got mad. Over time I guess you could say he became family. He's like a son to Molly and me. He was forced to endure more than any person should. He took this willingly and never complained too much about it. After his fifth year and losing his godfather he seemed to change considerably, he stopped taking chances," he pauses as he gets a look from his sons, "well he stopped taking other people with him," he corrects. "He'll be missed," he says as his wife wraps her arms around him crying into his shirt.
"I first met Harry in King's Crossing as he was trying to find the platform, I wondered why such a kind young man was forced to be there alone," Mrs. Weasley says to the group as she cries. "It soon became evident to me through Ron, Harry had become like a brother to him and that he didn't know anything about his parents. Over time he became our son, he was always helpful, he was always curious as to how everything worked, he was always very kind and understanding," she says wiping her eyes. "His laughter, his smiles, his jokes, him trying to get one over on the twins and succeeding, will be greatly missed. I'll miss him coming to me to listen to my worries though he never told me his he always cared and he always listened to those who needed him. He never judged anyone, for he knew what it was like to be wrongfully judged," she says with a small sob, "I'll miss him dearly," she finishes unable to speak anymore.
"I remember when Dean wasn't able to levitate the feather in class," Professor Flitwick says as he takes the spotlight from the tearful Mrs. Weasley. "The feather exploded leaving both Dean and Harry looking nice and charred. I remember wondering what his reaction would be, if he would shout, yell, and get angry with Dean. He did none of these, he sat there looking wide eyed staring at the slowly falling burned feather and then simply turned to look at me and said, 'I think we're gonna need another feather Professor,' with that I new he was different than any student I'd ever met. He wasn't mad about the burns on his face, he didn't care he looked as though he just hugged a smoldering log, he was enjoying the surprise of the moment too much to care. He found the moment entertaining. This moment set the course of his classes with me. I always looked forward to what he would come up with to say. I was never disappointed," Flitwick says with barely controlled emotions. "I'm honored to have been able to fight beside such a great man, I'm honored to have been able to teach such an entertaining student and I'll miss him and his smile," Flitwick finishes as his voice starts to crack.
"I remember the feather incident oh so clearly," Dean says with a smile and a small laugh, "along with all of my, other blow up stunts. I'd done something like this earlier with a different partner and they shouted at me for my stupidity. Yet when that happened, I knew for sure I'd just pissed off The Great Harry Potter. I waited for his explosion of fury and I nearly passed out when he asked for another feather with such awe and humor in his voice I couldn't help but smile," Dean says with a smile on his face at the memories.
"After that moment I knew he'd be a force to be reckoned with and a true friend. He's a very true friend, always forgiving and apologizing to us for disturbing our sleep when he'd wake from his nightmare screaming. We understood, we also knew and could see the tolls the dreams were having on him. He never weighed us down with them. He even helped Ron and Hermione to reconcile their differences after their very nasty break up. He hated seeing them fight, he hated them being sad. He never chose sides; he never took one over the other, and was always there for either of them. I think it was this more than anything else that allowed them to continue their friendship; it was this that showed me the true meaning of friendship and love. For he loved them both with all his heart and he hated they might be in danger because of knowing him. He needed for them to have each other if anything were ever to happen to him and he succeeded not only in that, but teaching the rest of us in the same year dorm a very important life lesson," Dean says to the gathering mourners.
"I remember when he had that dream about Mr. Weasley just before the Christmas break. He didn't care about the fact he was in shock, all he cared about was getting help to him before it was too late. He didn't care what happened to himself; he only wanted to help others. I was honored to know him; I'm honored to have been able to call him my friend. I'm honored to have been able to serve with him and by him. He treated everyone as the most important person in the world, he never got too angry with any of us, I'll miss him," Dean finishes.
"I met Harry during the summer before his fifth year; he didn't seem to want to come with us. Yet this reaction was understandable, he didn't know most of us. I helped him pack; I was able to see the room he was forced to remain in for the duration of his stay at his relatives. I was amazed with the fact the great Harry Potter wasn't famous in the Muggle world as well as our world. He didn't comment on who he was it was as though he would much rather be, well someone else. It took some time for me to realize he didn't believe he was anything special," Tonks says honestly.
"As soon as I realized this we were able to become friends, I know his fifth year was anything but easy, I know he was very angry that summer and school year, but he was still kinder than most of the people I've ever seen," she continues as the tears slide down her face at the memories. "Since then I too have fought in his squadron and have been saved many times by him. He never complained about my clumsiness, he always tried to help me feel better about myself and my abilities. I'll miss him more than I ever thought possible," she finishes unable to continue.
"When I stepped into the class room when Mr. Potter was in his first lesson in my class, I must admit I humiliated him beyond reason, I did so intentionally," Professor Snape says surprising the people there with the regret they can hear in his voice at his confession. "I continued this until his last year at Hogwarts, during his fifth year I was especially hard on him," Professor Snape continues. "I was placed with the difficult task of teaching him Occlumency and I failed. I was unable to see past how much I hated his father to see the boy before me was nothing like his father," he explains. "It took him risking his own life to save mine for me to see him for who he really was," Severus explains. "I felt indebted to him and thought he'd rub it in," he pauses, "he didn't, in fact he never even brought it up. To say I was surprised is an understatement," he smiles at the memory.
"I confronted him one day about what he was trying to play; he was honestly confused by my question. He told me he didn't want anything in return, he just wanted to, needed to help me," Severus says softly and sincerely. "After that, I took a look at the boy who first arrived in my class and I realized I was wrong, oh so very wrong. He could've let me die, he had every reason to let me die and only one to help me. He respected me though I'd never respected him, I do now and am honored to have known him and to have fought with him," he finishes his memories.
"I met Harry before Hermione's second year at Hogwarts," Mr. Granger says, "well we were introduced to each other briefly, but it was at Diagon Alley so we didn't have time to really talk with him," he corrects. "I'd of course heard all about him from my daughter who told us everything about her great friends and their dangerous adventures. I was happy beyond words to hear Hermione had finally found friends worthy of her friendship. I'd feared she wouldn't. I latter learned from Ron it was Harry who made their friendship possible. It was Harry who helped Ron and Hermione to return to friends after they'd broken up," he says with a sad smile. "I remember when he came to our house after graduating from Hogwarts," as he says this everyone in the room looks up at him in shock, including Hermione. They had not known this.
"He stopped in the day before he was to leave for training. He knew Hermione wasn't going to be there so he was there only to speak with us," he continues. "We talked," he says pointing to his wife and himself, "for the whole day, I was surprised by his kindness and his caring nature. I finally got to know the man who'd changed my daughter from the insecure little girl who first stepped onto the platform into the brave lady she is now. I was honored to talk with him that day," he says looking over at his crying wife. "He arrived shortly after eight in the morning; he gave us an owl as a gift. I didn't know anything about owning owls or that you could, turns out our daughter had forgot to mention this small fact," he says looking over at a blushing Hermione.
"He instructed us on how to use him, and gave us treats and such for him. Prometheus became very useful, our only form of communication with our wayward daughter and Harry," he tells them all. "By nightfall we'd talked the whole day, he had to leave to catch his bus to get to school, he took his last day free from school to come and visit us. He gave us something we always wished for but never dreamed possible that day, we'd gotten to know a great man who we'd heard so much about and had seen on few occasions, we continued to speak with him and to get to know him more so over the years since that day. I can honestly say he became the son we never had and he didn't even know it," Mr. Granger finishes off with regret.
"The day he came to visit us, David," Mrs. Granger says pointing to her husband, "had to quickly run to the store to pick up some supplies," she tells them. "It was during this time Harry asked me a favor I was honored to keep, he asked me to keep him updated on Hermione. He asked for me to tell him if she was hurt, either emotionally or physically and to let him know anything I could and to please not tell Hermione about it, he didn't want her to know. I made my promise to him and ever since that day I did," she says to her shocked daughter.
"You're his secret source," she asks in shock.
"Yes dear, I was the one who told him about Jack," she confirms. "I asked him not to tell you so you wouldn't get mad with me or him for me informing him about you without me informing you about him. I was surprised to hear from you after his three day visit and I was ecstatic he was willing and able to help you. I loved him for it. He helped to put the life back into your eyes and soul. He never once talked bad about anyone in our letters and I knew he was having very difficult times. When he took his vacation to come and see you after Jack, he got in trouble, he wasn't supposed to leave the area but he did. He didn't care what they'd do to him; he was too worried about you. He didn't know if he could help you, but he was damned if anyone was going to stop him from trying," she says with a smile.
"We talked almost weekly, I told him about you and everything in our lives," she explains. "He cared about us," she says pointing to David and herself, "he always wrote to us even if he didn't have the time to. Sometimes it was just a small note saying he was too busy to write at the moment, but he let us know he was okay. Sometimes he wrote three or four feet of parchment in the tiniest of writing. He never did tell us what he was going through, but we could tell it was horrible. He didn't want to burden us with his pain, even though we burdened him with our own and yours," she says crying into David's embrace. "I'll miss writing him, I'll miss reading his words that never failed to make me smile and lift my soul," she finishes.
"When James and Lily told me they were expecting a child, I knew then the child would be a great one. Though I never expected them to die, I never thought their child would be without them in its life. The day of their death, I waited on Privet drive and watched the Muggles in the area. I observed his relatives with distaste and knew they wouldn't care for him as they should," Minerva McGonagall says softly as she fights against the emotions once again fighting to get to the surface.
"When Albus arrived that night, I understood his reasons, but I didn't want poor Harry to live there. Eleven years passed since that night and I found myself looking down upon the new coming students knowing he would be among them. I couldn't figure out who he was, I hoped he wouldn't be full of hatred or anger. When I seen the scrawny looking boy standing on the steps next to Mr. Weasley I knew I had been correct in my observations all those years ago. The Dursleys didn't take care of him, they didn't care for him, he was just there," she informs them of her first impression of this young man. "I must admit my pride for him as he grew and defeated the most difficult of tasks. His life was never an easy one, but he stood up to the challenges with honor and courage beyond his years. I'm honored to have known such a great man, such a dear friend, his loss is a great one to everyone who ever knew him," she finishes quickly before she loses the fight on her emotions.
"I knew of Harry before I'd even met him," Hermione says to the group. "I know he was well known to the Wizarding world, but I was Muggle born. I read all about this boy who defeated the undefeatable at the age of one. I knew for a fact he would be easy to spot; I knew he would be self-centered and rude. I knew he'd want the center of attention. He was after all the Boy Who Lived and the most popular and well known name in many years, little did I know how wrong I was," she says with sad smile.
"When I stepped into the booth containing him and Ron I was shocked to see he wasn't any of the things I knew he had to be. I was shocked to see a shy boy who didn't even know a thing about his parents, magic, or anything about his own past," she tells them. "I so wanted to have friends," she says looking over at her parents, "I was never the one to get friends, but I didn't know how. It seemed all I could do was piss people off. Yet, even during all this, even though he didn't heed my warnings, he never was rude to me or mean. He wasn't friendly either, but it was only because I reputed him," she tells them.
"Then came Halloween and the mountain troll," she says getting a smile from the Professors and a snort from Ron. "Well needless to say the three of us became friends and were inseparable for many years to come," she says not wanting to drag this out too far, for she knows the tears are still rolling down her face. "Right after Sirius died Harry became distant, he didn't tell us anything. We thought it was because he'd just lost his godfather. Though this was a large part of it, it wasn't all of it. I didn't learn what it was until after graduating and joining the Order. To say I was shock, I think I cried myself to sleep that night," she confesses. "I understood his distancing, I hated he didn't tell me, but I understood. He helped me to see Ron and I could never be lovers as we tried to be, but we're meant to always be friends and that Ron and Ginny and the rest of the Weasley's were my family which is why the relationship didn't last. I'm thankful for his trust and his knowledge," she says with a knowing nod from Ron.
"He came to me after my divorce and healed my broken heart. I didn't know how he'd heard and he refused to tell me. He never even told me he was breaking the rules just to visit me. I did however realize he'd come to help me. I was very grateful for this. He just showed up at my door and held me while I cried, knowing but not knowing what was wrong. He never said anything but soothing words as I cried myself to sleep in his caring arms. I woke later to him fixing dinner, we talked all during dinner, remembering our school days and laughing at them. After dinner I poured my soul out to him and he glued the pieces of my heart back together. We spent the next three days having fun, he spent those three days making sure the glue was working," she says with a knowing smile.
"I loved him and I didn't even know it," she tells them. "One year ago I pushed him away from me with the force of lightning, he never got mad at me, he never shouted or yelled, but I could see the pain in his eyes as he wished me well," she tells them something they'd all figured out and could never figure out how to fix. "I broke his heart and mine that day and I've regretted it ever since, so much so I couldn't ever look him in the eyes again. If I could tell him right now how I feel, I would without hesitation, I miss him and he'll be the only soul mate for me. I'll love him till I die and I'll miss and cry for him until my last breath, he isn't here to glue this broken heart," she says finally breaking down in tears.
"I knew and loved him dearly," Dumbledore says to the group. "I was the one who witnessed the Prophecy that changed his life so drastically, I was the one who placed him with relatives who hated and despised him so, I was the one who forced him to return there every year, I was the one who kept him in the dark, I was the cause of so much of his pain, he had every reason to hate me and only one not to," Dumbledore tells them, the twinkle absent from his eyes.
"Yet even though he knew all this, even though he was mad with me for a time, he forgave me of everything and loved me as no one ever has. He once called me the grandfather he never had, the father he lost and the friend he could trust and never have to explain anything to for I already knew it," he says as the group laughs through their tears with the truth of this statement. "He told me once all he had to do was think of being in all of our presence and he could find the peace that seemed to be eluding him. I watched him grow from the boy he was forced to be to the man he chose to be. I've never been more proud of him; I'll miss his smile, the twinkle in his eyes as he tells stories to eager listeners. His very essence demanded respect, but he personally never did," he says as everyone in the room nods in agreement.
"I remember the day he came to me, it was shortly after I'd just informed him of the greatest of burdens he must carry. I knew the day he walked out of my office right after the death of his godfather, I knew he had every right to hate me and that day he did. So when he stepped into my office and asked me to be his secret keeper, to say I was shocked, honored beyond belief and the proudest I had ever been is an understatement," he continues to everyone surprise. "I asked him why he'd wish for me to be his keeper when I'd caused him so much pain. He smiled and told me 'you may have placed me in a place where no one cared about me, you may have told me to return there each year, and this may be true. The fact I can't over look and won't over look is the reason behind why, you're the only person who cared for me all of my life, you've protected me beyond reason. I love you as more than a Professor or Headmaster. You've become my grandfather, my father, and my friend. I trust you with my feelings and with my secrets,'" Albus tells the group with a tear rolling down his cheek into his sliver beard. "He was the son I never had," he says sadly as the room remains silent in memory of the kindest man they have ever known.
"And as his Secret Keeper, it is now time for me to tell you one of his secrets as per his request," Dumbledore informs them. "I was given the knowledge he possessed, the care he had for those he called family," he continues. "For Harry had come to believe he had no friends," he pauses as a shocked whisper erupts in the room.
"He knew us only as," he says silencing the whispers and pain caused by those words, he continues telling them there is more to be said. All eyes turn to Dumbledore, waiting silently to hear just what Harry knew them as. "Family," he finishes as everyone bursts into fresh tears at these words. "He considered all here as the family he never had," he tells the stunned gatherers.
Dumbledore pauses for a moment as everyone continues in shocked tears and whispers; he looks around at them each individually for a moment before going on to the next one. "Is this really that surprising," he asks knowingly. Everyone pauses in their whisperings to think about this question and they find the answer surprising, "I didn't think so," he says seeing their reaction to his question. "He was rejected by his biological family but embraced so tightly by his family of the heart, namely us," he says with a gentle wave of his hand to indicate all here. "More surprisingly is he returned our embraces, he was able to love when he had never known what it was," he continues to tell them. "He will be greatly missed," he finishes with a small nod and another tear.