Chapter 2
The Last Laugh
Author's Note: Made a couple of mistakes in the first chapter. For example when Hagrid leaves, it said he left the "office" and not the Great Hall. My apologies. Didn't catch this until after I posted the chapter. Time to answer a question already!
Q:What did Scabior mean about his prize? I thought that Bellatrix promised Hermione to Greyback not Scabior?
A: This will – er – sorta be answered in Chapter 3. Lets just say Scabior had a wee bit of a obsession with Hermione ever since he met her in Malfoy Manor (in "What If?")
(Hermione's PoV)
Hermione stared at the ceiling of the Burrow's living room, as she lay on the couch. The to-do list she had been working on at Hogwarts was sitting on the coffee table nearby, though she hadn't done any more modifications.
It had been almost an hour since she had arrived at the Burrow with Ron, Harry, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley. Ron's mother had noticed that Hermione was still very shaken from the attempted kidnapping, so she sent Hermione off to get a bit of rest before the funeral, which would take place in a couple of hours. However, Hermione had insisted that she wanted to at least be updated on everything that was going on, so it had been compromised that she rest on the couch.
A few minutes after Hermione had arrived, Mr. Weasley had returned with George and Angelina. However, George had not stepped one foot in the house, and instead had been seen walking up to the barn across the plot, with Angelina hastily following him, trying to comfort him. It was obvious George still wanted to be alone, except for Angelina it seemed, and Hermione knew that his old bedroom would not have been the best choice because he had shared it with Fred.
"Ronald Weasley, you are quite filthy!" Mrs. Weasley's voice rang out from the kitchen, "March upstairs and get washed."
"Of course I am filthy, Mum," Ron said, "I've been digging the – well – I've been digging – I'll just leave it at that."
Hermione frowned and felt a tear escape her eye. She knew Ron had been digging the hole for Fred's grave. Obviously it was difficult for him to talk about. Ron walked into the living room, and indeed looked quite filthy. His moody expression instantly brightened when he saw Hermione. She waved lightly.
"Where are Harry and Ginny?" she asked, "I thought they were helping you."
"I had to do it myself," Ron said, "because Ginny could only stick the shovel in the ground before she burst into tears and ran off out of the graveyard. Harry went to comfort her. I expect they're down by the lake. I need to wash up. I'll be back shortly."
Hermione nodded. Ron disappeared up the stairwell. Hermione saw Mrs. Weasley pacing around in the kitchen, and the next moment, she broke down into tears and collapsed into a chair. Hermione felt helpless as she watched Mr. Weasley comfort his wife. Seeing Mrs. Weasley cry only made her cry. Mrs. Weasley was such an innocent, kind soul, and she had been put through so much recently. Months of worry when Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Harry had gone on the hunt for the Horcruxes, and everything leading up to the loss of Fred. But she had also been put through so much in the Battle of Hogwarts, including when she dueled and killed Bellatrix Lestrange, while defending Ginny, Luna and Hermione.
The thought of Bellatrix Lestrange only brought memories back to Hermione: when she found out her parents were dead, on Halloween; when she was tortured by Bellatrix in Malfoy Manor and found out during the torture that Bellatrix had been responsible for the murder of her parents; training at Shell Cottage during the month of April in hopes that she would battle Bellatrix Lestrange using the woman's own wand and, for a while, hoping that she would be the one responsible for Bellatrix's death.
Three pops of Apparation, separated by one second each, split the air. Hermione heard footsteps rushing down the stairwell as Ron, naked from the waist up, his wand in his hand, rushed onto the bottom floor. Hermione stood up and walked toward the kitchen, but Ron stood in front of her, guarding her from what he probably thought was some kind of opposition.
"It's okay!" Mr. Weasley said, looking through the window of the kitchen, "It is just Bill, Fleur and Percy back from the Ministry."
Ron and Hermione followed Mr. Weasley outside. Mrs. Weasley remained at the table, her shivering hands wrapped around a cup of tea.
"How did it go, Bill?" Mr. Weasley asked, when they met up at the end of the driveway..
"Everything has been settled," Bill said, "Members of the Ministry will bring Fred here in a couple of hours. Pallbearers, I guess."
"I cannot believe zey would not let us do eet," Fleur said, "Very disrespectful of ze Ministry 'aving to interfere in zese proceedings. We are very capable of bringing Fred 'ere ourselves."
"The Ministry is just wanting to do their part, Fleur," Bill said.
"If zey wanted to do zer part," Fleur said, "Zey would 'ave 'elped us fight een ze Battle of 'Ogwarts!"
"Calm down, Fleur," Bill said, "We're all on edge right now."
"Fleur, could you see if Molly needs any help?" Mr. Weasley asked, "She's very distraught at the moment, as you can understand."
"Oui, Arthur," Fleur said, then disappeared into the Burrow.
"Percy," Mr. Weasley said, "Did you talk to Kingsley?"
"Yes," Percy said, "Unfortunately I cannot discuss too many matters of the our conversation. The Minister wants to speak to Ron, Hermione, Harry and Ginny tomorrow after the funeral at Hogwarts. Also, Auror John Dawlish is set to interrogate Scabior, and Kingsley has also promised to give us some details of the interrogation, by this evening, if they get any information about Hermione."
"How are they going to get information?" Hermione asked, "If they use Veritaserum -"
" – the answers given during the interrogation would not stand in front of the Wizengamot," Percy finished, "Yes, I know. But if you want my opinion, Hermione, the crime for your attempted kidnapping is not what will send Scabior to Azkaban. His participation on the side of You-Know-Who in the Battle of Hogwarts as well as his crimes participating as a Snatcher will be enough."
"The interrogation is only to get information," Hermione said, nodding, "Not to press further charges."
"Precisely," Percy said.
"What about the Taboo?" Ron asked.
"Until we hear any further," Percy said, "the Taboo is still active. Again, Kingsley has theories, but he wishes to speak to you about such theories himself. Speaking of the Minister... Father, I have some good news for you."
"Yes?" Mr. Weasley said.
"You do not need to meet with Kingsley today," Percy said, "He discussed the matters with me. Effective immediately, you are the official Head of the Muggle Liason Office... if you accept of course."
"Congratulations, Dad," Bill said, and Ron and Hermione nodded.
"I – I don't know what to say," Mr. Weasley said, blush forming across his cheeks, "Of course I'll accept the position."
"Kingsley also named me his Junior Undersecretary," Percy said, "I will be working for the new Senior Undersecretary, Albert Runcorn."
"Wonderful news, son," Mr. Weasley said, "Congratulations."
"Thank you, Father," Percy said, "If you excuse me, I must prepare for the – for the funeral."
"I should go find Harry and Ginny," Hermione said, "Er – Ron – weren't you going to wash up?"
"Oh, yes, I forgot," Ron said, looking down at his shirtless, filthy chest, "Sorry."
He blushed and returned inside the Burrow. Hermione headed for the lake on the edge of the plot and fifteen minutes later, she found Harry and Ginny sitting on the end of the dock. Ginny's head was on Harry's shoulder and they were staring out toward the lake. Hermione's footsteps alerted them and Harry swung around, pointing his wand toward her. She rolled her eyes and Harry frowned.
"Sorry," he said, replacing his wand in his robes, "Still on edge."
"You're forgiven," Hermione said.
She sat down next to Harry, and he and Ginny looked at her questioningly.
"Bill, Fleur and Percy are back from the Ministry," Hermione said. "Ministry officials will be bringing Fred here shortly before the funeral is scheduled to start."
"Did Percy find out anything from Kingsley?" Ginny asked, obviously wanting to quickly change the subject.
"Kingsley wants to speak to us and Ron personally after the funeral tomorrow," Hermione said, "But as far as I can tell, the Taboo is still active. An Auror is interrogating Scabior – right now, I guess – and from what Percy said, if Scabior mentions anything about us, we can expect owl post this evening, perhaps from Kingsley himself."
"I thought this was over, damn it!" Harry said, "I thought after You-Know-Who was defeated, we could live our lives."
"It hasn't been been twenty-four hours since his defeat, Harry," Hermione said, "Death Eaters and Snatchers are still on the run obviously. You-Know-Who may be gone, but I don't think the Second War is over until his followers are stopped."
"Exactly what I've been telling him all day," Ginny said, "But he won't listen."
Hermione's eyes traveled between Harry and Ginny. Until now, she thought the reason for Harry and Ginny's distance away from everyone had been the same reason as George: the loss of Fred had been too much for them. Now she knew better. Harry's mind was on the Second War, and Ginny was trying to comfort him – though Hermione suspected Ginny was also trying to keep her mind off Fred.
Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione saw something sticking out of Harry's robes, and Hermione recognized it instantly. She narrowed her eyes and looked up at him.
"Harry!" she growled, "Why is the Elder Wand still in your posession?"
"Relax, Hermione," Harry said, "I am going to put it back where it belongs. I just haven't gotten around to it. My mind has been on everything else: Teddy, your brother – and then the clean-up and the Snatchers -" he looked at Ginny – "and Fred of course."
Ginny sniffled and buried her face in Harry's shoulder.
"Sorry, Gin," Harry said, with a sigh, then looked back at Hermione, "I just haven't gotten around to it, Hermione. Besides, I have to do it in secret. Every time I tried to get a chance today, someone was at the graveyard digging another six-foot hole of dirt. So I'll do it after the funeral, when everyone is away from the graveyard."
"Probably a good idea," Hermione said, "I mean – you did something pretty stupid yesterday, you know."
"What's that?" Harry asked.
"You spoke up about the Elder Wand to all of the witnesses in the Great Hall before your duel with him, Harry," Hermione said, "Someone is going to figure it out. How powerful that wand is, how to acquire it, what it can do and so on. As the owner of the Elder Wand, you have to be careful, Harry."
"Don't worry, Hermione," Harry said, "Between you, me, Ginny and Ron, I'm sure we can put enough protection on Dumbledore's grave to protect the wand."
"Oh, sure, we can protect the wand, Harry," Hermione said, "But the fact that you're the owner of it still puts you in danger."
"Can't we just snap it?" Ginny asked, "Nobody could use it then."
"The wand was made by Death, Ginny," Harry said, "I doubt it will be that easy to get rid of."
"You're still believing the Hallows were made by Death?" Hermione asked.
"The Ressurection Stone exists," Harry said. "I used it, remember? Can something like that be made by the hands of a wizard? Bringing back the dead, if only in spirit? That is much worse than making Horcruxes. It was obviously made by Death. And if it was, the Elder Wand was too."
"And you dropped the Ressurection Stone in the Forbidden Forest?" Hermione asked.
"It is a pebble in a group of pebbles in a humongous forest, Hermione," Harry said, "I don't think anyone will find it. I don't think any of those Questers are going to walk into the Forbidden Forest looking for a stone."
"Why are you curious about the Stone?" Ginny asked, "You're not going to go look for it, are you, Hermione?"
"No!" Hermione scoffed, "I have no wish to speak to my dead parents."
"So you haven't once, since you found out about Matthew this morning," Ginny said, "thought about what you would say to your parents about him?"
"Of course I have!" Hermione exclaimed, "But I have no wish to talk to them using the Stone."
"Harry talked to his parents," Ginny said, "And he didn't decide to go the way of Cadmus Peverell."
"And you are okay, Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Peachy," Harry said, sarcastically.
"I rest my case," Hermione said.
"What did you expect?" Ginny asked, "Nobody is okay at the moment. At least nobody around here."
"You're right," Hermione said, "It was a dumb question."
"I know what you meant," Harry said. "I've had other things on my mind since I used the Stone. I haven't thought much about it. I'm trying not to think about it."
"That isn't healthy," Hermione said, "Just like how everyone is trying to avoid the topic of Fred."
"That isn't fair, Hermione," Ginny said, "How much did you talk about your parents after they died? If I remember correctly, any thought about them sent you away in tears – it took you weeks to get over it -"
"I'm not completely over it, Ginny," Hermione said, "I'm just trying to move on."
"How can you expect us to move on so quickly then?" Ginny demanded, "It hasn't even been a full day!"
"I-I don't, Ginny," Hermione said, a bit frightened at Ginny's tone, "I didn't mean that. But – I just think -"
Ginny put up her hand to stop Hermione, and she stood up. She walked halfway across the dock and turned back to Hermione.
"I don't know about the rest of my family," Ginny said, "But I'm trying to keep an ounce of my sanity before the funeral comes around. That is less than two hours from now."
"I just think you need to talk about this," Hermione said, "About him."
"We're talking about it now, aren't we?" Ginny asked.
"Not exactly calm conversation," Hermione said.
"Well if you don't like the conversation," Ginny said, "don't ask me to bring it up!"
Tears sparkled in her eyes.
"Damn it, Hermione," she said, "He was my brother! You have a brother now. You should understand how I am feeling."
"Of course I understand, Ginny," Hermione said, frowning, "If anything happened to him, I'd – well -"
Hermione inhaled and shook her head, refusing to complete her thought.
Ginny, however, knew what Hermione was thinking. "Exactly! You can't even think about that, can you? You obviously know what I am going through. So please don't expect me to say too much about my brother this soon. It is going to take all I have in me to say a few words at the funeral – which I am going to attempt so I can look brave for my family. Now... if you excuse me, I'm going back to the Burrow to get ready. Are you coming with me, Harry? Want to come with me?"
"I'll meet up with you soon," Harry said.
"Yeah, okay," Ginny said.
She glared at Hermione, then turned and headed off in the direction of the Burrow. Hermione frowned and felt tears in her eyes. She cupped her hands in her face and sniffled.
"This is my fault," Hermione said, "I shouldn't have brought it up with her."
"No, it isn't your fault," Harry said, "More like mine."
Hermione looked at Harry though her fingers.
"I've been trying to avoid the conversation with her all day," Harry said. "You're right. That is really unhealthy. But I was trying to talk about other things. My future with her, what we can look forward to with Teddy and our own lives. The good things, you know. I tried not to bring up Fred or the attempted kidnapping or the Battle of Hogwarts. I shouldn't have done that."
"I feel so distant from everyone, Harry," Hermione said, "Even Ron. I know everyone sees me as a part of this family, even before I get married to Ron. Heck, Ron's mother even allowed me to call her by her first name."
Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"I know!" Hermione said, chuckling, "And then there is times like this. Where I don't feel close at all. I've known Fred for almost seven years. Seven years come September. But that is nothing compared to Fred's own family. I just feel – if I wasn't here to support Ron through all of this, I'd either go to Oxford to get things prepared at my house, or I'd go back to Andromeda's house to visit Matthew. I feel like I'm a stranger today. Does that make sense?"
"Perfect sense," Harry said, "If it wasn't for Ginny, and the fact that I want to avoid too much – er – publicity – I'd go back to Hogwarts and help with clean-up. But we're not due back there until we have to go for the funeral."
"Ugh," Hermione said, "I don't know how I'm going to be able to handle two funerals in two days. Before I said the Taboo, I was working on notes and ideas for my house in order to prepare for Matthew. But now I can't even look at my notes. I haven't even given too much thought about it since then. Yes, I'm still planning on going to my house with Matthew and Ron. But I can hardly think about that right now."
"Then don't," Harry said, "Get through the next couple of days without putting too much focus on Matthew. By then we'll know more about the attempted kidnapping and what is happening. And then you and Ron can focus on moving Matthew into your house. I'll help you – and I'm sure Ginny will too – if you want us too. If only to get things ready for him."
"Sure," Hermione said, "That would really help."
Hermione's eyes traveled to her engagement ring. It had been her mother's at one point. The ring that Richard Granger had proposed to Helen with. Ron had found it in Hermione's house when they were staying there temporarily during the month of February, and had proposed to Hermione with it on his birthday.
"Bloody Taboo," Hermione muttered.
"Come again?" Harry asked.
"First the Snatchers interfere with Ron proposing to me because he accidentally said You-Know-Who's name," Hermione said, "And now they try to kidnap me all because of an innocent conversation with Ron."
"If I didn't know better, Hermione," Harry said, with a grin, "I'd say they were trying to break up your relationship with Ron."
Hermione chuckled. "That's just bloody mental, Harry."
"And if it was true?" Harry asked.
"The Snatchers would have to deal with me first," Hermione said, "Nobody crosses me when it comes to Ron. Nobody."
-
An hour-and-a-half later, Ron and Hermione were standing outside the Burrow. After her conversation by the lake with Harry, Hermione had returned to the Burrow and taken a shower, then changed into the most appropriate outfit she could find in her belongings for the funeral. Ron was in the silver and black robes he had worn to Bill's funeral, a gift from Bill. Hermione considered this an odd choice, before she realized this was probably his best outfit he owned.
In the distance, near the start of the driveway, Mr. Weasley, Bill, and Percy, waiting for the pallbearers to arrive. All three of them were clothed in dress robes. Mrs. Weasley had retreated upstairs almost an hour ago and hadn't come down since. Ginny and Harry were still getting ready as well. Nobody knew where George was, and if Angelina had any clue, she wasn't saying anything. She and Fleur were working on the post-funeral meal.
Then five separate, instantaneous pops of Apparation were heard at the start of the driveway, followed by one more. The noise caused Ron to clutch Hermione's hand and squeeze it tightly.
"It's okay, Ron," Hermione whispered, "It is just the pallbearers."
Five men in Ministry robes, one wizard looking more lavish than the others, were standing near the three Weasleys at the start of the driveway. Then Hermione saw a wooden casket, that seemed to be painted in silver and gold, floating between four of the men. One of the men said something and the other four took hold of the casket. Mr. Weasley motioned to Bill and Percy, and they started off across the field, with the pallbearers in tow, in the direction of the Weasley Family Graveyard.
"Oh, Merlin," a small voice said behind Hermione.
Hermione looked over her shoulder and saw Ginny there, standing with Harry, their hands clutched together. Ginny's eyes followed the casket as the pallbearers carried it. Hermione turned back to Ron, and saw that he was looking in the direction of the driveway, where Mr. Weasley and the lavishly-dressed wizard were walking toward them. Hermione noticed that Mr. Weasley looked upset about something.
"What's going on, Dad?" Ron asked, his eyes on the wizard beside Mr. Weasley.
"Mr. Wyck will be leading the service," Mr. Weasley said.
"But I thought you were doing that," Ginny said.
"Plans have changed," Mr. Weasley said.
Hermione could tell Mr. Weasley was not happy about this at all. Mr. Weasley walked into the Burrow, and Mr. Wyck looked at the four of them for a moment, then started off toward the graveyard. Angelina stepped out of the Burrow and her eyes went directly on the retreating figure of Mr. Wyck.
"Oh, Merlin," Angelina muttered, "No... anyone but him."
"What's wrong?" Ron asked.
"He was the man who led mine and George's wedding," Angelina said, "George is not going to be happy about this."
Angelina scoffed and headed across the field in the direction of the barn.
"I guess we better go to the graveyard," Hermione said.
Ron squeezed Hermione's hand and she looked up at him. He nodded and they set off across the lot toward the graveyard.
"Why is the Ministry so suddenly interested in funeral services?" Harry asked, as he and Ginny followed them.
"Because they're bloody hypocrites, the load of them," Ron said, "Not Kingsley, of course. I hope he sets things right as Minister. They have no right interfering with personal matters like this. This was supposed to be private."
Hermione opened her mouth to speak up, but when the Weasley Family Graveyard came into view, she fell silent. Hermione had been to this graveyard once before. Mad-Eye Moody had considered the Weasleys and the rest of the Order his only family, and after he was killed while escorting Harry out of Surrey, it was considered most appropriate that he would be laid to rest in the Weasley Family Graveyard. Hermione never expected to have to go through another funeral in this Graveyard so soon after the last, but here they were.
Ron gripped Hermione's hand, and she heard him murmur slightly under his breath. Her eyes then traveled over to what he must have seen. Fred's casket was floating above a large hole in the ground, and the four pallbearers were standing off to the side. Fred would be buried near his Great Uncle Billius. Bill was on the other side of the graveyard, pacing along other graves and Percy was talking to Mr. Wyck in quiet conversations.
"Whose idea was it to put the grave there?" Hermione asked.
"Mine – Dad told me to pick a spot," Ron said, "Fred was very much like Uncle Billius. He would be happy to be near him."
"Very appropriate, yes," a voice said behind them.
Hermione turned and found Charlie Weasley standing there. Hermione could see a burn scar on his chin, a recent injury, because it hadn't been there when Charlie was one of the best men at Bill's wedding. Ginny released her grip from Harry's hand and walked over to Charlie and hugged him. Hermione could hear her crying against Charlie's shoulder.
"Shh, Ginny," Charlie said, soothingly, "It's okay. Hi, Ron, Hermione, Harry."
Ron nodded his head once in acknowledgment, but kept close to Hermione. Hermione smiled at Charlie, but she noticed Harry hadn't taken his eyes off the casket.
"It is kind of bad to bring this up during something like this," Charlie said, "But Ron, Hermione, congratulations on your engagement."
"Thank you, Charlie," Ron said, and Hermione smiled.
Ginny backed away from her brother and returned to her spot next to Harry.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there at the battle," Charlie said. "Maybe things would be different if I was."
"He was with family when it happened," Percy said, as he walked over to Charlie and hugged him, "With George and Angelina and myself. Cracking jokes just minutes before."
"Then he was happy," Charlie said, "That is all that matters."
Behind Charlie, Hermione saw Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Fleur approach. George and Angelina were walking toward the graveyard as well; George's gaze was on the ground at the moment.
"Gather round everyone," Wyck said.
Hermione motioned to walk forward, but Ron stopped her. She raised her eyebrows questioningly, and he motioned toward the ground. She realized Ron didn't want to move from that spot. The rest of the Weasleys, and Harry, walked closer to the casket. Mr. Wyck nodded toward the pallbearers, and the four wizards raised their wands. Fred's casket gently descended into the grave. Hermione felt tears in her eyes and she heard Mrs. Weasley, Ginny and Angelina crying quietly already.
Hermione looked around at the outfits the Weasleys were dressed in. All neutral, dark colors mostly. Black and silver and grey. Funeral colors. But this seemed so wrong. Fred lived a cheery life. Everything about his funeral was bland and boring. They were standing on dirt, surrounded by graves and Ministry workers who should not have been there. Hermione may have only known Fred for almost seven years... but she knew this was not what Fred would have wanted.
"We are gathered here to remember Frederick Gideon Weasley," Wyck said, "A loving son, brother and friend to everyone he knew."
Hermione stared at Wyck. His voice was almost a drawling sound, as if he was reciting something he had read many times before, and just adding the appropriate words in to suit Fred.
"Twenty years is too few to spend in this world," Wyck continued. "To spend with family that he loved and loved him. Arthur and Molly Weasley, I grieve with you and hope you understand when I say that no parent should have to bury their children. It should be considered a taboo in itself and -"
"Wait," George said, raising a hand to stop Mr. Wyck, "I'm sorry, Mum, Dad, everyone. But I must interrupt you, Mr. Wyck. You met my brother once... at my wedding. Once in his twenty years and one month of life. Is this correct?"
"That is correct," Mr. Wyck said.
"Then you do not know him," George said, shaking his head. "You do not know who my brother was. You should not speak to me, my family or friends like you do. My brother deserves so much better than that. He will be remembered by everyone here for making them laugh. For making them happy. I don't see a happy face here right now. If he was here with us, I know what he would want. But what my brother would not want... is his funeral to be led by someone whose voice could depress a Dementor."
Hermione thought she heard Ron chuckle lightly beside her, but she wasn't sure. She did however see Charlie and Bill grin nearby, and even Percy had a hard time suppressing a grin.
"Fred was known as a lot of things," George said. "Yes, he was a son, a brother, a friend. But he was also known as George Weasley's better half – even after I fell in love with this lovely woman standing next to me. He was known as one of the best Beaters that Hogwarts had ever seen. The young man who, along with myself, tried to fool the Age Line during the Triwizard Tournament, and even though we failed, we got a fair few laughs from our peers, exactly what he wanted. He was the co-owner of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, our brainchild, which he enjoyed being a part of every day, because it was what he lived for. "
George motioned a hand toward Harry.
"Even though Harry was a target of You-Know-Who," George said, "My brother did everything he could to help him. He was a member of Dumbledore's Army, where he rebelled against the likes of Dolores Umbridge, standing up against her treasonous ways, and against your Ministry. He hosted PotterWatch... it was his creation even though Angelina and I were a part of it. It was his idea because he wanted to help Harry. I even remember telling him once we had no way of knowing if Harry was even listening, and Fred insisted on naming the show PotterWatch, in Harry's name, even if there was a chance Harry would never know about it. He had no hesitation to go to Hogwarts yesterday. He stood up against You-Know-Who and his followers, and even though it led to his death, he did it anyway. He died with a joke on his mind, a laugh on his lips, and a heart big enough to defend two of his brothers, his sister-in-law and the castle he loved. Our hearts go out to him, but I see no jokes or laughs here. That is not what my brother would have wanted."
He looked down toward the casket, then back up to Mr. Wyck.
"I don't want to hear words from a man who knew nothing about him," he continued. "There are others here who knew all about him. He deserves their words more than he deserves yours."
George looked around at his family. Bill cleared his throat and everyone looked at him.
"I don't know how I can top that," he said, "But I will try my best. I will say this for Fred... he is the reason I didn't have a bachelor party before my wedding. Because I knew that Fred would have made me late for my own wedding. I did not make Fred a best man for my wedding, because he would have out-shined the groom, and even though that is one of the worst possible things you can do during a wedding, he would have done it without knowing he did. Because that is who he was. He could cause laughter and joy in anything he did. My wedding was a joyous occasion, but I wouldn't have been able to top that. I only wish I could have seen him get married, because I would have done anything to see what ruckus he would have caused even with his bride there. But, as depressing as it sounds, I'm sure we can be happy thinking about what might have been."
Bill looked at Charlie and he smiled.
"I may have not been around for too many family get-togethers these past few years," Charlie said, "But in recent memory, I have to go as far back as the Quidditch World Cup. I will never ever know, even if you told me George, how you and Fred were able to accurately predict the final of the match, down to how it would end."
"That was all Fred," George said, "I just went along with it."
"But it showed me how even the craziest ideas Fred could have," Charlie said, "Would prove to be of some worth. That is what I'll always remember about him."
Charlie looked at Percy, who adjusted his glasses and stared at the casket.
"It is funny that George would describe the start of this funeral, in not so expressive words, as bland and boring," Percy said. "Because that is what was on the mind of Fred minutes before he died. We were in the biggest battle of the Second War, indescribable horror happening around us, and Fred considered it bland and boring. He was the kind of person who would want to be in the middle of things, and yet we were guarding a part of the castle and nothing was happening. He decided to try to think of a poem that would describe the battle. But everything seemed so off about it. Nothing seemed to echo the battle for what it was. But... if he were to have finished the poem and I read it years from now... I would have believed his words to be the actual recollection of the battle, even if I was there in the middle of it, just because of how wonderful it sounded coming from him. Even in the middle of battle, he was trying to make me laugh. And I am happy that the last thing he heard from me was something that made him laugh – instead of the usual boring drawl that I am known for."
Percy looked at Ron, and Hermione felt Ron's hand squeeze tightly against hers. She squeezed it gently in return and Ron cleared his throat.
"Because I am the youngest brother," Ron said. "Fred always wanted to play jokes on me. He transfigured my teddy bear into a spider and scared the wits out of me. He and George also tried to make me do an Unforgivable Vow once before Mum caught them. But out of all the jokes he played on me, I have to thank him for one. Even though I was angry at him for doing it, the joke he played led me to admit my feelings for Hermione."
Hermione blushed and grinned.
"I don't think I ever thanked him enough for that," Ron said, "So thank you, Fred. You don't know how much that meant to me."
Ron looked at Ginny, who sniffled once and cleared her throat.
"I could talk about many things Fred has done for me over the years," Ginny said. "But I will go with a couple of the most recent memories. First for letting me work at the shop, and giving me that chance to be a part of it all. And then there was Potter Watch. PotterWatch got me through a lot of things when we were in the middle of camping these past few months Even though there were only a few episodes, just hearing Fred's voice and George's voice was so uplifting. And even though he was doing his best to keep it anonymous so nobody would really know who he was talking about, he made sure to let Ron and I know everyone was okay, and you were supporting us. So thank you, Fred... Rapier. I will never forget that."
Hermione listened as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley spoke of their son. Long speeches and memories about him. And even though both of them were emotional and near tears, they were strong enough to get through it. Then Fleur and Angelina and Harry spoke up, and while she listened, Hermione couldn't think of any words to say to Fred. She knew him for almost seven years, but she realized she didn't know enough about him to say anything too special about him. Ron had already said part of what she wanted to say... how Fred and George's tricks when they jokingly tried to kidnap Hermione, while Ron tried to give himself up instead... and how it resulted in the two of them admitting their feelings to each other. That was one of the best things Fred had ever done for her. But even then, she couldn't find many words to make his memory mean something for her. And that is what she told him...
"I can't find anything to say about you, Fred," she said. "Everyone else has said so many wonderful things and it has left me speechless. That is what you've left me, Fred... speechless. Of course... to those who know me... like Ron and Harry and your family. I'm sure they would say that to leave me speechless would be the highest compliment I could ever give you, since usually I have many words to say about things. So I guess I can just say thank you for everything. For making me laugh and enjoy every sad day when you made it happier. Thank you."
As per Weasley family tradition, Harry, Hermione and the extended Weasley family filled in one shovelful of dirt by hand, in honor of the man Fred was. And then the rest was filled in my magic, to honor the wizard he was. Red roses were then summoned and put down over the mound of dirt. A large rock was found and Fred's name and date of birth and death were added. George was the one to add the epitaph, and it made everyone smile and chuckle as they read it. The epitaph read:
I got the last laugh
The funeral was slightly difficult to write, but I hope you enjoyed it.
Next chapter is Scabior's interrogation and possibly the large funeral at Hogwarts. Depends on how much I do with the interrogation.
