Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or anything else you may recognize to be from the original books, sadly enough.
WARNING THIS STORY CONTAINS SPOLERS TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET READ THE SIXTH INSTALMENT OF THE HARRY POTTER SERIES. PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS STORY IF YOU HAVE NOT READ HBP THIS STORY CONTAINS SPOILERS THAT COULD RUIN THE STORY FOR YOU. PLEASE DO NOT CONTINUE WITHOUT READING HBP. Story takes place where sixth book leaves off. Do NOT read with out reading Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince!
A/N: Okay, I do realize that this is posted on the day that HBP was released. I didn't stand at line in Barnes and Noble at one in the morning for nothing! Like I said, I'm going to start off right where the sixth book leaves off, and try and make it as good as possible. Any complaints that aren't due to the spoilers this story contains for those who have not read the newest book, don't hesitate to drop a review – I can't fix anything if you don't tell me what's wrong! Thanks! Now, on with the story!
Until Death Tears Us Apart
Nymphadora Tonks felt as if the whole world had turned upside down. She knew this day would come, but she hadn't expected the old headmaster's death to be what it was – a murder. By none other then the once-thought-reformed death eater that had abused his trust, and been right under everyone's nose for years. How she longed to go back and time and kill the greasy git whilst she'd had the chance all those years ago. As she stared, tears streaming down her face, at the tomb of the beloved headmaster, she some how felt it was her fault. They all did. Everyone thought they could have done something to stop Severus Snape from murdering the great Albus Dumbledore; if only they had known.
Feeling a comforting hand on her shoulder, she glanced up at an equally tearful Remus Lupin. The very fact that he could try to comfort her, in the midst of what they were going through, and what everyone else was going through, was stunning. Leaning in closer to him, she felt safer. How one could feel safe in the dark times they were in is mind-boggling, and the fact that Hogwarts, the one place many were sure couldn't be over-run by Death Eaters, had indeed been attacked, throw everyone into a wider state of panic. But yet, she still felt safer with him then she had in a very long time.
Remus Lupin, on the other hand, could hardly stand. Albus Dumbledore, the man who hadn't turned him away because of his condition, the man who treated him as an equal, the man who had been like a father to Remus was dead. Killed by a man all knew, and most despised. However, they had all been forced to believe him. To trust that Snape was what he said. No matter how much anyone hated him, no one could speak badly of him in Albus's presence. And this is how he was repaid.
Snape had escaped; he'd gone off to hide with the dark lord, to hide like the coward he is. As if that wasn't enough, he had taken someone with him, another Death Eater; a smug, power-hungry sixteen year old. It had been that same blonde that had devised the whole plan to get the Death Eaters in the castle. How he had succeeded, and why no one had stopped him if they had, was only known by a small handful of people. Some believed it to be cunning and brains. No, it was the same hope that Albus had had for Snape. The same feeble hope that Draco Malfoy could change, that he wouldn't be doomed to the same fate as the other Death Eaters; the same fate as his father.
As the ceremony ended, and the guests, all of whom had tears rolling down their faces, began to leave, Remus looked for the only person, other then the wretched Death Eaters, which had been with Albus when he died. Remus felt the need to talk to Harry; there were still things from that night he was holding back. There were things Harry Potter alone knew that would make a world of difference as Lord Voldemort steadily rose back to power.
Searching the crowd for the jet-black, ruffled hair and piercing green eyes, he watched as he saw Harry, his last connection to the original Marauders, talked with his best friends. Though Remus couldn't tell what it was exactly that they were talking about, he knew that it wasn't going to be good. Knowing Harry, he felt as if the whole thing had been his fault, that he had been right all along, which in fact he had, and was now going to try and finish whatever Dumbledore had started. By the way Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley were moving, they were probably giving the same speech they gave Harry every time he had tried to go off on his own, telling them to stay behind.
"Good old Hermione and Ron." Remus said softly. Deciding now was more then likely not the best time to talk to Harry, Remus walked toward the white memorial that now held the body of the best Headmaster Hogwarts had known in a while to say his own, last, little good-bye to the man that meant so much to him.
A/N: sorry it was such a short chapter, really I am. I would love some feed back on this, to see if it makes any sense considering the recent events in the book. Thanks to those who choose to review!
