Harry breathed in the cold, crisp morning air, pulling his scarf tighter around his neck. He looked up to the sky, it was clear, hardly a cloud in sight. But the sun wasn't shining, and the air was bitter. He buttoned up his blazer, heading through the gates, and into the cemetery. All noise seemed to stop as he walked into the graveyard. He didn't have to think about where to go. He had visited this same place for almost five consecutive years.
He was twenty-two, almost twenty-three now. It had been five fateful years since he had destroyed every last one of the Horcruxes. Five years since he had sent Voldemort to his real death. Five years since Neville had died, Kingsley had died, Charlie had died. He looked down at the grave before him. It was pure white, decorated with flowers. They never faded, and they never stopped coming.
Ginny. The first girl that he had ever loved. When he had broken it off with her at the end of his sixth year, he thought he had been protecting her. But they had killed her regardless. It had been Bellatrix. The woman that had taken away Sirius from him when he was fifteen. He had seen the cold look in her eyes as she sent, frail, pure Ginny to her death. That look had turned to fear the minute that Harry raised his wand, and sent her off. He had been too late. Ginny was gone.
He crouched down, his fingers running over the cold stone of the grave. Five years, and his heart still broke when he saw it.
"Hey there." He said quietly, laying down a bouquet of lilies next to the grass. "I came to see how you were doing." He said, closing his eyes. "I know you're fine. Wherever you are. I just…" His voice broke off, and he lowered his head into his hands. "I miss you Ginny."
The wind rustled, sending a cascade of leaves in his direction. He sniffed, wiping his eyes, which were damp with tears. He had held onto her memory for so long. But he was beginning to forget the way she smiled when she had said something particularly snarky, and the way her hair whipped in the wind during a Quidditch match. He was beginning to forget all the little things that made Ginny what she was to him.
He gave a small wave, and stood up, stretching out his legs. As he walked away from the grave, he felt his head clear, and his heart return to is neutral state. And as the sun came up over the Horizon, warming the air a few degrees, he felt that maybe it was time to let go.
"Wotcher Harry!" Yelled a women with shocking pink hair, and a bulging stomach. Tonks enveloped the man in a hug, taking his jacket from him, and hanging it on the cook hook behind him.
"Tonks. How are you?" He asked politely, removing his scarf, and hanging it next to his jacket. Although she and Lupin were now married, she had not given up her old nickname. She still preferred to be called by her maiden name.
Tonks and Lupin were currently living in a little cottage just outside of London. Lupin had finally given into Tonks, forgetting his protests that he was too old, and too dangerous for her. Harry had never seen the woman so happy, and Lupin hardly looked haggard himself anymore.
Tonks laughed her tinkling laugh, running her hand over her "Weird Sisters," maternity tee shirt. "Fine. You know how it is." She paused. "Well, actually you have no idea what it's like to be pregnant." She said, laughing. "But Remus and I are getting through it. We can't wait. Only a couple of more months before you'll have another one calling you 'Uncle Harry.'" She said, referring to Charlie, Bill and Fleur's son, who had started the trend of calling Harry his Uncle.
"You're making me feel old, Nymphadora." He teased, letting her guide him into the living room. His eyes widened when he entered. There, sitting on the couch was none other than Luna Lovegood. Her hair was still waist length, yet it was no longer lank, and disheveled. And although her butter beer necklace still hung faithfully around her delicate neck, it was complemented by a pair of jeans and a smart Muggle looking shirt. Her face still held the innocence she had at Hogwarts, but here was a hint of seriousness in it. He knew that look well, everyone who had fought in that last battle had the same look. Her eyes were big, and blue, and her face would have looked almost different if it weren't for the eyes. She smiled, standing up to greet her old friend. "Harry." She said, walking over to him, and throwing her arms around her neck. "How have you been?" She asked, her voice still light, and airy as ever.
Harry was surprised to see Luna sitting in the Lupin's living room. Ever since the last battle when he was seventeen, the old DA had been in and out of contact. Last he had heard, Luna had been in Sweden with her father again.
"Good." He said, sitting down. "What about you? This is certainly a surprise."
Luna smiled serenely. "Well, Father and I have been traveling around Europe. You wouldn't believe the things we've seen." She said, her voice becoming high pitched with excitement. Harry couldn't help but smile. She was still the same as ever. Nothing could change the raw hope that he had seen in Luna.
"I'm working for the Quibbler now." She said, smiling. "Father got me the job, but I am quite good at what I do. I'm a field reporter." She said, smiling proudly. "That's why I was here. You know, we're doing a piece on Interspecies relationships." She said, smiling at Tonks. "Remus just went to fetch me…"
"…a picture." Said a voice from the hallway. Remus Lupin entered the room grinning. He walked over to Luna, handing her a picture from his wedding, which had taken place earlier that year. He turned, and saw Harry sitting on the couch, and a smile spread to his face, reaching his eyes. "Harry." He said quietly, walking over, and pulling him into a hug. "It's good to see you, my boy." He said. "Nymphadora said you would be joining us for lunch today." He said, walking to his wife, and wrapping an arm around her.
Luna stood, placing the picture carefully into her bag. "Well, I'll just be off then." She said, tucking a strand of long blonde hair behind her ear. "Thank you very much for the interview," She said to Tonks, "And Harry. It was lovely to see you again." She said, walking over to the door.
Tonks tore away from Lupin, walking over to the girl. "Luna. Why don't you join us for lunch as well. I'm sure you an d Harry have lots to catch up on." She said, putting her arm around the girl's shoulder.
"Well…I don't know. I don't want to intrude." She said, her cheeks turning a shade of light pink.
Lupin laughed. "Don't be silly. Nympha has cooked up enough food for a whole army." He said. "And we'd love your company. I'm sure you have an array of stories to tell."
Luna looked as if she were considering for a moment, and then gave a smile. "Well, Father isn't expecting me back home until tonight, and I'm not doing anything else." She nodded. "Of course I'll stay." She said, putting her back down, and sitting back in the chair that she had been occupying when Harry had entered. Tonks and Lupin made their way to the kitchen, rambling about catching up to the two younger ones. Luna glanced over to Harry, her eyes full of understanding.
She had so much that she wanted to say to him. Things that didn't involve Crumple Horned Snorkacks, and tale of Sweden. "I'm sorry." She said, finally. She looked at her hands, which she had been wringing in her lap, and Harry could have sworn her eyes shrunk considerably.
Harry nodded. She knew what he was feeling. Ginny had been Luna's only friend at one point in time. She had been just as special to Luna as she had been to Harry.
"Lunch is ready." Came a cry from the kitchen, and before anymore could be said, Harry and Luna were on their feet, and into the kitchen, smiles on their faces.