Chapter 1 ~ The Funeral
It was a Saturday; the sun was shining faintly through the trees making thin slits upon the dirty earth. Slowly she opened her eyes; the room in which she lay was small and cramped filled with different objects. There were several women Quidditch posters hanging on the walls, a wardrobe was situated in the corner of the room plus two single beds that were, at that moment being occupied. Hermione Granger sat up on her bed and looked at the sleeping figure on the other bed, her chest rising and falling with every breath she took. Her head of bright red hair resting upon her pillow, while her legs flailed out over the edges of the bed. Hermione suppressed a laugh and got up quietly and looked out over The Burrow, but as she got up she felt something strange in the air.
It had been a week since the defeat of Voldemort and Hermione had spent that time at the Weasley's. She felt as though a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders and that she could finally breathe easily for the first time since she learned of Voldemort. She no longer had to be frightened of turning a corner and there was a Death Eater standing there, waiting to grab and kill you. No more mysteries had to be solved and most importantly, all the Horcruxes had been destroyed.
Over the last week that she had spent at The Burrow she had attended several funerals', all of which had been for people that she knew and had grown to love. Firstly, it was Remus and Nymphadora Lupin she grieved for them, their families and mostly for their young son, Teddy that had been born into the world only a few months before the battle at Hogwarts. Several other funeral's followed, some of them she didn't even know but she still attended and paid respect for those who had fought for a great cause.
But there was one, one special death that touched her heart deeply. A brother, an adopted brother she had gained whilst at school. A witty and smart man who dedicated his life, along with his twin, to making people laugh. Fred Weasley was definitely going to be missed the most Hermione concluded.
The sun was rising higher in the sky before Hermione was pulled out of her reverie. Someone had begun to make noise downstairs, Mrs Weasley Hermione thought. Mrs Weasley had been brave these last few days, putting on a brave face for her family. But everybody knew that she cried in secret, and this pained Hermione very deeply. She couldn't imagine losing anyone in her family let alone your own son.
Hermione made a slow and quiet descent down the stairs. Her ears were met by sobbing, a woman, she immediately knew it was Mrs Weasley by the way she hiccoughed in between of breathes. The cries were filled with anguish and pain, the pain only felt by a mother who lost a child. Unfortunately the step that Hermione rested her foot on squeaked loudly, and the crying stopped.
"Arthur?" Mrs Weasley asked quietly. Hermione knew she couldn't run up the stairs to avoid being caught unless she Apparated, but then again Apparating made a small popping sound when you did. So that option was definitely out Hermione thought, she might as well have to speak to Mrs Weasley.
"No, Mrs Weasley it's me, Hermione. I'm sorry if I interrupted you" said Hermione lamely, clearly caught out on the fact that she just caught Mrs Weasley crying.
"Oh, it's quite alright dear. Come into the kitchen and we'll have a nice spot of tea before I make breakfast," Mrs Weasley said as Hermione walked into the Kitchen.
When Hermione sat down on her chair she looked at Mrs Weasley clearly. She was wearing her day dress which was patterned with lilies, her favourite Hermione guessed, and pink bunny slippers which Fred and George had gotten her for her birthday the previous year. There were dark circles under her eyes and the rims of her eyes were pink, signalling that she had no sleep that night. Mrs Weasley returned from getting mugs and the tea pot and preceded pouring tea into them, she shook slightly but it could have been passed off as weariness. When she turned to look at Hermione she had a warm smile on her face, Hermione was surprised that she could turn on and off her facial expressions, and then again she did have a lot of practice having seven children.
"So, what brings you down so early Hermione?" Mrs Weasley questioned taking a sip of her tea.
"Well, I couldn't really sleep and the sun was getting a bit bright so I decided to get up. I didn't think anybody was down here," Hermione explained also taking a sip of her tea.
"I only just got up myself" Mrs Weasley said and continued in a quieter voice, "You didn't hear that before did you?"
Hermione shifted uncomfortably in her chair, she didn't like to intrude in another families business. Mrs Weasley sensed her uncomfort, and said "Please don't tell anyone, I wouldn't want them to think this should be a sad occasion" she finished. Hermione thought about this for a moment, it was then that she realised what the strange feeling was, it wasn't a mournful sorrow that was usually felt when one went to a funeral. No, it was sadness here at the Weasley household; it was one of joy mingled with sadness. Hermione thoroughly enjoyed this fact about the Weasley family; even if it is a sad occasion they can make it feel not as serious. When all of them are together like they are at that moment, it didn't feel quite so bad. All of the Weasley's had very capable emotional beings, even Ron, and there were so many so there had to be lots of love roaming about the place.
Hermione sat in silence at this strange revelation, and then she turned her head to Mrs Weasley and said, "I won't say anything, I promise,"
Mrs Weasley smiled at that and turned her head just in time to see Ginny entering the room.
"Good morning, Ginny dear" Mrs Weasley said while pouring her a glass of tea.
"Morning Mum, morning Hermione," Ginny replied sitting down next to Hermione, Ginny took her mug and sipped cautiously. Despite it being her brother's funeral, she put on a smile for her mum.
"Mum, when do we need to start waking everybody up?" Ginny asked after her sip of tea.
"Well I can have breakfast ready in about 30 minutes, can you get everybody up?" said her mother.
"Sure thing mum," Ginny got up and gestured for Hermione to follow, when they got far enough away of hearing distance of the kitchen Ginny said, "How do you think she's coping?"
"Well, she seems to be putting on a brave face. She doesn't want any of you to worry about her that's all," Hermione said voicing her observations.
"Ok, well let's get everybody up then," she said making her way up the stairs. The first stop was Charlie's room, Ginny knocked on the door and a voice from within assented for them to enter. Charlie was sitting on his bed laying out his suit for the funeral; he was making sure that they looked good.
"Mum said breakfast's going to be ready in about 30 minutes," she said to Charlie, he just nodded and Ginny and Hermione left go to the next room.
Next stop was Percy, Ginny had stopped at the door and was about to knock when Percy came out of the bathroom, his glasses slightly askew. Ginny told him to be downstairs in 30 minutes. Hermione and Ginny made their way up higher through the house but something made them stop - laughter could be heard from inside Ron and Harry's room. Startled as to why there could be laughter coming from inside on the day of Fred's funeral Hermione and Ginny let themselves in.
Ron, Harry and George were on the floor clutching themselves at the sides, they were absolutely beside themselves. They didn't notice someone had entered until Ginny coughed and they all looked up at them with tears coming out of their eyes. The laughter settled and Hermione asked, "What in the world could be so funny?"
Ron answered, "We were just looking at some photos of Fred when he was younger he sure was a nutter,"
By this time Ginny had gone and sat next to Harry and they were looking at Fred and George's baby pictures. There was one in particular that sent George doubling over laughing.
"Do you remember that fateful day when Fred lit himself on fire!?" he said.
"Ah yes, the summer before I went to Hogwarts, that sure was memorable. Remember how he ran over into the lake to put it out and a fish bit him right on the butt", Ron had a reminiscent gleam in his eye as he said this and Hermione smiled. Ron turned to look at her then and gestured for her to sit down, she did as she was told and sat there. Ron smiled at her, the happiest smile since Fred actually passed. They all sat there recounting stories of there lost brother Fred until Ginny realised the time and sprang up on her feet saying, "Shoot, mum said breakfast would be ready in 30 minutes. And that was 30 minutes ago, come on!"
Hermione and Ginny were already at the door while Ron and Harry ambled there way there. George was putting away the photos still smiling; it amazed Hermione how much love could be in one family. On one hand it was a sombre atmosphere but yet it was mingled with joy and happiness, Hermione liked that feeling.
They all made there way downstairs and sat down at the table, all of them in turn said good morning to Mrs Weasley and she smiled lovingly at them all. Hermione sat next to Ginny and George, George helped himself to a large plate of bacon and eggs and Ron did the same. They all sat and ate for a while until Bill came in wearing his robes already, they all looked up from there quiet chatter and looked at the new comer. His face wore a mask of great concern, he went over to Mrs Weasley and bent over to whisper something in her ear and her face went very grave. She then whispered something to Bill he nodded and exited the room, looking more concerned than before. Everyone who was occupying the table looked at Bill's disappearing form as it went down the hall.
George was the first to speak, "Mum, what was that about?" he asked but not in his usual joking manner. Mrs Weasley turned to look at them all and said in a small voice, "He's here, Fred's body is here," she managed to choke back. Hermione look around the table, waiting for anyone to move, for anyone to breathe.
The fact that Fred, Fred Weasley was lying outside in a carriage, his lifeless body in handsome dress robes. Not ever being able to hear one of his lame jokes again, not ever seeing what his last creation for Weasley's Wizard Wheezes was, not ever seeing him smile again. It was painful – for everybody. Ginny already had tears brimming around the edges of her eyes but they did not fall, all the boys sat motionless not daring to move. Then suddenly, Hermione felt something wet on her cheek she realised it was a tear and quickly wiped it away. She took a quick glance at Ron, he was staring at his hands, oh how she wanted to hold him, comfort him, and tell him everything was going to be fine. But she couldn't, she'd be lying and that would be hurting him more.
When Bill came back into the room everybody snapped out of there trance, and tried to act normal.
"Mum, I've told them to put him round the back," Bill said taking a look at everyone before leaving again. Once he'd gone Hermione didn't feel like eating anymore and she guessed no else did either, Mrs Weasley said, "Maybe you kids should get ready,"
They all nodded and Hermione felt someone touch her arm. Ron was there, looking into her eyes and holding out his hand. She looked back into his deep blue eyes and she took his hand. Ron let go of Hermione's hand and went into his own room followed closely by Harry, they said they'd be about 30 minutes and would meet Hermione and Ginny down there. When George reached his room, he went inside but didn't specify about how long he'd be.
Hermione and Ginny arrived at there room and began to change into there clothes for the event. The funeral was being held in the Weasley's backyard, next to the creek where George and Fred used to make plans for pranks on people. George had suggested it, not only were they twins, they were best friends so George knew exactly where to hold the funeral. It took 35 minutes for Hermione and Ginny to get ready and be downstairs, Ron and Harry were already there wearing there robes. Ron was wearing one that suited his fiery red hair very well, and Harry was wearing one that complimented his green eyes. George came down about 5 minutes later wearing a wide grin of his face; his mood swings were completely strange today. This seemed to puzzle Hermione and she gave him a confused look, George noticed and said, "Hermione, don't look so confused today isn't about weeping and crying and what not. It's about celebrating the life of the coolest person I know,"
"I'm pretty sure he'll be glad you said that," Ron said standing next to his brother and gave him a hug.
"You're right mate, it's about celebrating Fred. And what he did for wizarding society. Even if it was driving Umbridge out of school in our fifth year at school", said Harry grinning broadly.
"Hey, I was co-conspirator," George interjected.
"Oh please, everybody knew he was the smart one" Ginny added teasingly.
Hermione laughed at this, she always knew the Weasley twins were smart but was one really smarter than the other?
They all laughed again, thinking about Fred and his funny antics. Again they lost track of time and Mr and Mrs Weasley, Charlie, Percy and Bill all emerged out of the kitchen door. They were all dressed and ready to go, George, Ron, Harry, Ginny and Hermione all stood and they everyone proceeded into the backyard together.
The yard was full of Fred's favourite flower, lilies the same as his mother, they were scattered everywhere on the ground. There were only a few chairs, just enough for his family and extended family, Harry and Hermione. At the end of the clearing they walked through to get to the creek, there was a beautifully decorated coffin at the end, everybody sat on a chair as George went up to speak.
"To everyone," he said, "today I've composed a little poem for my dearest and favourite brother, no offence guys," he said gesturing to his brothers.
"Your name was Fred
Yes I did know
If you didn't, then you would be quite slow
You made the lamest jokes the world ever did hear
I'm so glad that Charlie threw away his spear
I am your twin brother
Give thanks to our mother
But I truly wish you were still here"
"That's all I'd like to say thanks," concluded George. Mrs Weasley had started sobbing and Mr Weasley had his arm wrapped around her. Hermione looked at Ron sitting next to her and he had tears in his eyes, she grabbed his hand and squeezed, he returned the pressure and smiled at her. She was then aware that she was starting to cry as Bill went up and said his piece, then Charlie and last of all Percy. Mrs Weasley had stopped crying and was letting tears run down her cheeks, Ginny was doing the exact same plus she was holding Harry's hand. The service ended when Mr and Mrs Weasley waved there wands at the coffin and it slowly sank into the earth. Then George and Mrs Weasley made a tomb stone saying, "In memory of Fred Weasley who died fighting for the greater good."
After this, everybody headed back inside for some lunch and reminisced about Fred. During all this talk however, Ron came and sat next to her and said, "Come with me,"
Hermione looked at him and he looked back, he took her hand and they quietly slipped out the back.
