Emerging With Grace

The Harry Potter Series and it's characters belong to J K Rowling. I make no profit whatsover from the story or it's characters. No copyright infringement intended.


Chapter 2

The sun wasn't emerging today. Why should it? The sky was dark above us, clouded in gray. The rain didn't surprise me. It was cold and somewhat heavy. Layering all of us watching with a weighty pressure. As much as I could feel the pain in my heart, I knew that whatever or whomever controlled the weather was feeling the departure of brave men and women.

I tried to hide myself in the gathered crowd. Today was the day that we were remembering all of those that we had lost. They were to be laid to rest here on the vast grounds of Hogwarts as a memorial.

Kingsley who had been named Minister of Magic believed that it was appropriate for the people who had fought so hard to be honored with a monument at where so many hero's had fallen. Where better to do it than here? The place where magical children would learn about the world for years to come. They would walk past the monuments, past the numerous gravestone and know that people had sacrificed themselves so that they could live free and in peace.

It had been decided to have one large memorial service and following that would be the private funerals. My heartbroke time and time again when I thought of all the people we were saying good bye to for good. That we were not going to see their faces anymore.

I had dressed quickly this morning from my room in the castle in a simple black dress and matching pumps. It was muggle clothing, but I didn't have any black robes that fit the occasion. So, I stood there watching the grief of all the people around me, while heels of my shoes were sinking slowly into the damp ground and the rain fell in a steady stream around me.

Kingsley stood up to the podium, exuding authority, confidence, but you couldn't fail to notice the sorrow that was carved deeply into his proud features. He cleared his voice and held his wand to his throat so that everyone would be able to hear him properly.

“It is with a heavy heart that we are gathered here.” He seemed to stop for only a moment, his voice cracking slightly. He looked up surveying the massive crowd around him. His chest seeming to rise with pride when he noticed that every face was turned up to him ready for his words of comfort.

“Today we honor those who fought, those who sacrificed, the brave men and women who lost their lives for our freedoms. Without their courage we would not be standing here today free from persecution and tyranny. I had the privilege.” He paused, knowing that privilege was not the correct word. “I have had the honor of knowing and fighting along side those that we are saying farewell to today, and I can assure you that I feel the deep sorrow that each of you feel.”

He seemed to look at every person in the crowd and seeing their emotions so clearly before he continued.

“I know that words will not take away the pain that we are each feeling. I know that each and every one of us will carry the scars of this long war for the rest of our lives. But, by gaining those wounds it will strengthen us against possible threats to come. They will give us the opportunity to live the lives that we all fought so hard for, that those we are mourning wanted us to have. So, if we could begin by the speakers coming up to the podium.”

A line of witches and wizards lined up and took seats waiting their turns to speak. The first to stand was Harry.

A great cheer rose up from the crowd for the man who had finally conquered Voldemort, the man who had sacrificed his life to protect all of us. He had found the courage to say good bye to this life, to his friends and family. He had given his life to ensure that Voldemort would be destroyed once and for all.

He made his way up to the podium. He obviously still hadn't recovered from it all, but his stance was straight and his voice shook with determination as he looked over his tearful audience.

“Today I would like to remember a few of my dearest friends who were lost to us.” He cleared the unshed tears from my throat before he resumed his speech.

“Albus Dumbledore was a great man. Much of our great victory was because of him. I remember him as the man who wanted wool socks, the man whose half-moon spectacles were always sliding down his nose, the man always fought for what was right, the man who saved our lives. His intellect and his generosity is a credit to the magical community and he will always be remembered.”

I brought my kerchief up to my cheek to dab away a fallen tear. Harry continued to speak about some of the others we had lost. He spoke of Sirius, his beloved godfather, of Remus who had taught him so much of what he knew, not only of magic, but of his parents as well. The last person he spoke of was Severus Snape and the brave deeds he had committed and of the sacrifices that he had made to keep us all alive. I of course knew about Snape and his love for Harry's mother, and of the double life he had lead for Dumbledore. It came as a bit of a shock to others, but if Harry, the boy who had fought his whole life said it was true, then it must be.

When he finished he turned around and with a wave of his wand a large white marble obelisk was erected. Etched inside the hard stone was the names of those who had lost their lives. People continued to speak after that, but the ones that were the hardest to listen to were those who spoke of the people that I had known. Andromeda Tonks spoke of her husband and her daughter. She never wavered in her speech, she never shed a tear. When she was done she took little Teddy Lupin from Harry and tucked him into her arm. She turned to the crowd and introduced her daughter and son-in-laws child to the audience. People applauded and cheered, wishing the boy well.

The hardest one to listen to was the speech made by Molly Weasley. She had lost two children that night. My heart was heavy as I watched her stand up at the podium and talk of her beloved boys. Fred and Ron. It seemed such a cruel joke that Fred who loved to laugh was not here to crack a joke about our victory, or Ron who had been in from the beginning not live to see the efforts of his sacrifices. The saying goodbye to these two amazing men was the most difficult thing I had done. Mrs. Weasley spoke for only a minute before she was unable to continue. The family gathered around her before she could faint and brought her down to sit.

The crowd dispersed as people made their way to the private funerals. She trailed behind the large family, fat cheeks rolling down her cheeks as she walked.

When they reached the grave site she saw that Fred and Ron were to be laid to rest next to each other in large white tombs. She was surprised to see the number of people in attendance. The minister who had presided over Bill and Fleur's wedding would be conducting the funeral. I stepped up to stand next to Harry, not wanting to intrude on the family, but also not wanting to stand alone. She looked him in the eye and smiled at him. The corners of her mouth lifting slightly as her mind was flooded with memories of their closest friend. Instantly the tears flowed heavier as the reality sunk in. Harry's arm snaked around my shoulder as the minister began. Some how during the service Ginny came over to stand next to Harry. She broke down in sobs and he removed his arm from me and embraced Ginny tightly in his arms. Their tears mixed together as they feel on the cold earth.

I stepped further away from them, not wanting to stand there next to them and watch their pain. I hadn't taken more than a step before I bumped into another mourner. I murmured a quiet apology and looked up. I had bumped into Charlie. I saw the tears glistening in his eyes and I reached out to touch his arm in comfort. He looked at me briefly, probably not even noticing who I was, but he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in closer to him.

I hadn't spoken to him once since the night of the battle. We were all grieving too deeply for any other thoughts to push their way in. I was surprised by his gesture but accepted his comfort anyway. The minister had finished and motioned for the family to step up to say their final goodbyes. My tears burned the back of my throat as I watched Mrs. Weasley fall over the bodies of her two sons. Her sobs clenched at my chest but I couldn't walk away. I waited for everyone else to say their goodbyes before I stepped up to marble slab that Ron's body was laying on.

He was dressed in his quidditch jersey. We had all agreed that he would have been most happy in it. I looked at my friend of so many years before I touched his cold hand folded over his chest. I leaned in and whispered into his ear as if he would turn and look at me, a smile plastered on his face.

“Thank you. For everything.”

I couldn't think of anything else to say. I would never be able to say the right words for him because there weren't words to express how much him and his friendship had meant to me.

When the minister tapped his wand on the marble tables bright silver mist shot out of his wand and marble encasements had placed themselves onto the pyres. Their names engraved in the cold stone along with their birth and dates of death.

I watched Mr. Weasley lead his wife away. I knew they were apperating to the Burrow to mourn in private. I nodded to Harry as he with Ginny to the same spot that the other Weasley's had disappeared. I wasn't sure what to do now. I was alone. I wasn't sure if I could go and be with the rest of the family in the home where I had so many happy memories of my best friend and his brother.

I decided that my presence would probably be missed since I was considered to be a part of the family, and by not being there I would hurt them further. I walked up to the castle and went to my room. I tossed my belongings in a trunk that Professor McGonagall had lent me since all I had was the small beaded bag. I shrunk the trunk and placed it in the beaded bag that I had. I looked over the castle as I left. Reconstruction wouldn't be starting for a while. The pain was still too much for it to be repaired, but I was sure that rebuilding would begin in the summer before students would be storming the halls.

I surveyed the broken structure and knew that I wouldn't be continuing my education within its walls. I couldn't go back especially knowing that several of my classmates wouldn't be joining me. I reached up and brushed away the newly fallen tears before turning with the three d's, focusing completely on the Burrow.