Verina prepared the bodies of her family members for the burial which was today. She was gentle and loving as she prepared them. She hadn't slept the two nights before, and she wasn't sure if she had eaten. For some reason everyone had decided to move quickly with the funeral and it was set for July 3rd just two days after their deaths. Lev was to be laid to rest on the 4th. She was not sure she could handle either service, but she knew she had to. Verina knew she had to be strong for her family, her country, and for the other people watching her. She had not yet released any statements, but she was sure she was going to at some point before or after the funeral.

After the night of the 1st- the night they were killed. Verina did not cry again in front of anyone, not even Briony. She would not let them see her break because she knew they were on the brink of breaking themselves. So she cried alone in the confines of her room or in a random closet. She knew her duty and she did it well.

Someone knocked on the door and she told them to enter.

"Verina, I know you're busy, but they're about to take Lev home."

Verina looked up and into the eyes of her god father. She had yet to go in and see Lev yet to face that he too was gone for some reason his death was more unreal than that of her family. She put down the comb she had in her hand and she sighed.

"Verina you need to come and say goodbye."

Verina sat down in a chair and folded her hands. "I have never lost anyone because they fought against the dark lord until this summer. First my Uncle Sirius, now this, you know you expect to bury your grandparents and even your parents at some point in your life. You even expect to bury your spouse, but no one expects to bury their 18 year old fiancé. He didn't tell anyone this, but he was quitting Quidditch in a year and he was studying for a university entrance exam, he was going to be a muggle doctor not just a healer. He wanted to know how to save people really save them. Not just heal them with magic, and hope for the best. He was going to be amazing and now he is dead. He's gone before he could ever accomplish anything besides a few wins on a Quidditch pitch and getting engaged to a snotty little girl."

Her godfather sighed a deep and heavy sigh "Then don't you owe him just this one last good bye?"

Verina stood up and walked down the hall. She stopped just short of the door and Briony was there- waiting. "I can hold your hand, Verina. I can hold you."

Verina reached out her hand and took Briony's and together they walked in.

Nothing could have prepared her for what she saw. Lev was lying peacefully in bed his arms folded up over his chest. His eyes were closed as if he were sleeping. She let go of Briony's hand and she walked to him. She smoothed his chocolate brown hair around his forehead. There was so much she didn't get to say to him. So much she had to say. It was funny saying it all now. Hilarious talking to a dead body that could not hear her, but she knew she had to or she would never really heal. She had to speak to the shell that used to hold Lev and tell him what she was too scared to say to him when he was alive.

" You never did comb your hair." She said laughing. " As a matter of fact you never did anything really expected of you. I loved that about you. I didn't believe you when you said someone, somewhere made me for you, but I see it now. Because you enabled me to be me- me Verina, not me Princess Verina of all things pure blood propriety. I was myself around you. You listened to my hopes and my dreams never once judging me, but supporting me instead. I never valued you enough. I never loved you enough and now here I am completely and totally irrevocably in love with you and you're gone. We were supposed to be forever you and I. Healing the world one poor dragon wounded sod at a time. I hate you for going back in that house, but if you had not you wouldn't be the man I chose to marry. I will never love another human being like I love you. I have always loved you, but I am afraid I fell in love with you much too late. I will forever cherish the night I met you, the first time you held my hand, the times we walked together along the mountain side, the late night broom rides so I could see the stars, the look you would give me from across the room, the way you could read my mind, the way you smiled at me, the way you kissed me. No, I will never forget those times." Verina just stared at him remembering his handsome peaceful face in her mind. She leaned over and kissed his lips one last time and walked away from the love of her life for the very last time.