A/N: I don't own any of it :(
Chapter One
"Dumbledore is dead."
Hushed whispers ran across Hogwarts, its grounds strewn with the injured and crying. Anguish filled wails rose up into the pitch black of the night. Tears ran down people's faces, leaving silver rivers, gleaming in the moonlight.
Not believing it, but knowing it was true, Harry raced toward the body of Dumbledore, pushing past people in his haste. People let him through, though, as they were aware of his close relationship with the man. Though, none of them would ever be able to understand the pain Harry was feeling right then.
Lying on the ground, underneath the Astronomy tower, was the broken body of the best man Harry had ever known. His half moon spectacles, often covering blue orbs, lay shattered on the ground beside him. The man's eyes were closed in an everlasting slumber. Harry may have believed that he could have survived such a fall – he was a wizard, was he not? But the body proved evidence against him. As well as the pool of blood gathering gently beneath his fragile frame, his leg was bent the wrong way, and the steady rise and fall of his chest had stopped.
Throwing himself to his knees, Harry sobbed over the body, crying to the gods above. Why him? He'd had enough sadness in his life. Everyone he got close to died; first his parents, then Sirius, and now Dumbledore.
And it was all the fault of that sadistic bastard Voldemort.
It was up to Harry to pay the consequences of being born at the wrong time. He couldn't have helped it. He hadn't had any control of the date of his birth. Now, instead of grieving, Dumbledore needed a proper funeral; the greatest funeral in the world, for the greatest man in the world. No one would be turned away if they wanted to pay their respects.
Gathering all of his strength together, Harry kissed the broken old man on his temples.
"Goodbye. You were right you know. Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself. I've been telling people that, and they've been going out on the battlefield unafraid, fighting for you. You were fantastic, and you know what – I was pretty good too! Goodbye Old man."
With that, Harry remembered the words his mentor had once spoken to him.
"Do not pity the dead, Harry, pity the living. Above all pity those who live without love. By returning you may ensure that fewer souls are maimed and fewer families are torn apart. If that seems to you a worthy goal, then we say goodbye for the present."(1)
Harry knew that his mentor would not want pity, that he would want him to celebrate his life, and the love that he had spread throughout the land. Knowing that Dumbledore would be watching him, Harry raced back to Ron and Hermione – the funeral was his next priority.
-1 week later-
Hermione took to the stand just in front of the Black Lake.
"Harry, are you sure you want me to do this? This is Dumbledore's funeral – I don't want to ruin it."
"Trust me Hermione; you'll be fine, okay? You have the best voice I know, and Dumbledore would be proud to see you singing for him – celebrating his life. Just no tears ok?" Harry smiled gently, before pulling her into a hug, calming all of her fears.
"What have you decided to sing anyway?"
"It's called 'Butterflies.' Most people may not have heard of it – Belarus sang it in Eurovision 2010, but it truly is a pretty song," she smiled as she told Harry. "Oh. It's not depressing either," she added on as an afterthought with a solemn smile.
As Harry walked away, she wiped away a tear, and replaced it with a small smile as she magically added the music that would accompany her. Right on cue, Harry, Lupin, Kingsley, and Arthur Weasley appeared outside, bearing the coffin on their shoulders.
"Let's go," she whispered to herself as her cue came in.
"I'm gonna tell you what's inside my soul.
We are as fragile just like melting snow
We'll get to come to see the beauty of love
And imagine, and imagine
Just imagine
And we're like butterflies flying to the sun
The sun will never let us look inside
I believe that this will open up
But at the right time
Heartfully just wait for it, it will come
And even if the whole world was around
And you deny the miracles possible
But you have got to see anyway
And imagine, and imagine
Just imagine
And we're like butterflies flying to the sun
The sun will never let us look inside
I believe that this will open up
But at the right time
Heartfully just wait for it, it will come
And we're like butterflies flying to the sun (sun)
The sun will never let us look inside (look inside)
(I believe) I believe that this will open up
But at the right time
Heartfully just wait for it,
And all secrets will come, come out"(2)
As she sang, she saw the faces of the wizard community tear up, and she cried on the inside, trying not to cry aloud, as she didn't want to break her promise to Harry. She saw the faces of the Weasley family, as well as Neville and his Grandmother, The Order of the Phoenix, and surprisingly, Malfoy.
With everybody else, she turned, and watched as Dumbledore's coffin was lowered into the ground, being watched over by a white, marble monument inscribed with the words:
Time passes,
Memories stay,
Quietly remembered,
Every day
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Defeater of Voldemort, sadly vanquished first.
Nothing else, no more
Life progressed as normal as it could for the children of Hogwarts, until four of its students each received a very special letter. These letters contained something that would shape the rest of their lives. In fact, the only one who understood fully what it meant was Hermione Granger.
Mr. Potter/Mr. Malfoy/Mr. Zabini/Miss Granger,
After the sad departure of Professor Dumbledore, we, the Order of the Phoenix and the staff of Hogwarts, have decided to take extra precautions toward your safety. Even though Voldemort has been vanquished by the hand of the late Albus Dumbledore, there are still rogue Death Eaters around, and we cannot ensure your safety from them.
So we have decided to relocate you to America, in fact, to the small town of Lima, Ohio. You will be living with Mr. Burt Hummel, and you will be attending McKinley High School. Do not worry about the Hummels knowing about your magic, the late Mrs. Hummel was a witch, so they are aware of magic.
Arrangements have already been made with your parents or guardians, and you need to pack a case before meeting in the Headmistress's office at three sharp, where you will be transported by the Floo Network.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
(1) As quoted by Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbldore in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows.
(2) 'Butterflies' as sung by 3+2 for the Belarusian entry for Eurovision 2010.
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