Dumbledore floated up into the air from his coffin as smoke billowed in gray wisps around him. Instead, of floating up further though he remained hovering in the air above his coffin. He could see and hear everything that was going on surrounding him. He saw the centaurs giving their tribute and the merpeople sinking back into the depths of the Lake.
Those things didn't matter though to him though. The only person he was interested in was Harry Potter.
He saw Harry and Ginny Weasly talking from a distance and could unfortunately over hear their conversation about breaking up. Eventually, Ginny left Harry to be by himself.
Across the field though, he saw Rufus Scrimgeour walking in Harry's direction and then asking him if he could have a word.
"Harry, this was a dreadful tragedy," said Scrimgeour so quietly Dumbledore could hardly hear him. "I cannot tell you how appalled I was to hear of it. Dumbledore was a very great wizard. He paused for a second. We had our disagreements, as you know. But-"
"What do you want?" Harry replied coldly. His hand tightened itself into a fist in anger.
Good job Harry. Thought Dumbledore. Make him get to the point.
"You are of course devastated." Said Scrimgeour with a false look of sorrowful and understanding on his face. "I'm aware that you were very close to Dumbledore. You may have possibly been his favorite pupil ever. The bond between the two of you..." He trailed off. Well you know.
At least he finally got something right.
"What do you want, Scrimgeour?" Harry repeated for the second time. His tone was icy now and he tilted up his chin to glare at the Minister of Magic in a challenging way.
Scrimgeour leaned in close his stick suddenly dropping his sympathetic facade. His face was twisted in a grimace of annoyance.
"The word is that you were with him when he left the school the night that he died."
"Whose words?" Ask Harry.
"Somebody Stupefied a Death Eater on top of the tower after Dumbledore died. There were two broomsticks up there. The ministry can add two and two."
"Glad to hear it." Harry replied sarcastically. "Where I went with Dumbledore that night and why we did is my business. It is not for other's to know."
That's right, Harry. Keep him in the dark. It's our business not his.
"Such loyalty is admirable, of course." Scrimgeour replied with irritation in his voice."But, Dumbledore is gone, Harry. He's gone."
"He will only be gone from the school when none here are loyal to him," Said Harry, with what appeared to be a smile on his face.
Dumbledore felt himself swell with pride because of Harry's statement (and the fact that at least the boy had listened to him about something for once.)
"My dear boy, even Dumbledore cannot return from the..."
"I am not saying he can. You wouldn't understand. But I have for nothing to tell you."
Suddenly, Dumbledore was lost in his own thoughts. He pondered about all the sights he had seenand could see. If I am truly dead than why haven't I passed on? And instead, why am I seeing the present?
As Dumbledore was brooding over this Harry and Scrimgeour's conversation continued. Dumbledore had tuned out and forgotten about about them both until he heard Harry say.
"Dumbledore man through and through. That's right."
He saw Scrimgeour glare at Harry for a moment, then with resolution he turned and limped away.
Ron and Hermione then hurried toward Harry.
"What did Scrimgeour want?" Asked Hermione.
"Same information as he wanted at Christmas. He wanted me to give him the inside on Dumbledore's activities and be the Ministry's new poster boy."
Ron glanced at Hermione and twist his body to turn around. "Look, let me go back and hit Percy!"
"No!" Said Hermione, grabbing his arm.
"It'll make me feel better!"
Harry laughed and even Hermione grinned for a moment before it faded away as she looked up at the castle.
"I can't bear the idea that we might never come back." She said softly. "How can Hogwarts close next year?"
"Maybe it won't." Said Ron. "We're not in any more danger here than we are at home, are we? Every where it's the same now. I'd even say Hogwarts is safer. There are more wizards inside to defend the place. What d'you reckon, Harry?"
Mr. Weasly is right. I had hoped that before I died the world would be free of it's greatest enemy. Thought Dumbledore.
While still deep in his thoughts he almost missed Harry response. "I'm not coming back next year even if it the school reopens.
Dumbledore watched Ron and Hermione's reaction. He had known that if he had died Harry would pursue Voldemur and whoever else was responsible.
He also knew before the words that popped into their heads that they would faithfully follow Harry in his ventures.
Dumbledore then watched as the trio walked away as they began discussing the upcoming Weasly wedding.
Suddenly, Dumbledore felt a strange pulling, but it wasn't upwards as he had expected. Before he knew it he was in Diagon Alley. But, he wasn't himself anymore. He looked at his unwrinkled hands in disbelief. He was younger and alive again. Fawkes, his phoenix landed on his shoulder and chirrped at him happily.
