A/N Second to last chapter! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed - see if we can make it to 100 before the last chapter? ;)) Anyways, enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The Funeral

Amara was up early next morning, even though they hadn't gone to bed until the early hours. Running on two hours sleep maximum did not help Amara's emotions.

When she had finished trying to wake herself up in the bathroom she decided to go to Madam Pomfrey for a check-up. She doubted anyone had slept that night, so she wasn't worried that the matron was sleeping.

The school was silent when she exited the Gryffindor Common room. No one was about, no one was patrolling and it was silent. It was a horrible silence, as if the silence knew something terrible had happened and Amara felt rather trapped in it as she walked through the corridors. Twenty-four hours ago, Amara would not have guessed this would have happened.

The Hospital Wing was unlocked when she arrived. She pushed open the doors and found Madam Pomfrey tending to a still-sleeping Bill. The matron looked tired and withdrawn, but determined as always.

She looked up when Amara entered and placed the ointment back down on Bill's night-stand.

"How is he?" Amara said quietly. It was odd breaking the silence.

"Better," answered Madam Pomfrey. "Have your scratches hurt at all?"

"No," said Amara. Madam Pomfrey pointed at a bed for her to sit on. As it was summer, she was only wearing a vest top for her pyjamas anyway, so it was easy to see the bandages and scratches. Madam Pomfrey unwound them and inspected the scratches beadily.

"They're fine, I think," she said. "Keep them wrapped up for another day-or-two, then take them off."

"Thanks," said Amara. "You should sleep, you know."

"I don't think I could," replied Madam Pomfrey. "You should go back to bed, though, Miss Matthews. It's only been about three hours."

Amara nodded and exited the Hospital Wing once more. Though it had only been half an hour, there was a bit more movement in the castle. When she walked back into her dormitory she was surprised to find everyone else up.

Lavender and Parvati were crying and hugging whilst Sophie looked angry and Hermione was sat on her bed looking blearily at the drama unfolding at seven in the morning.

"I don't want to go!" Parvati was wailing.

"I don't want you to go!" Lavender sniffed at her best friend.

"What's going on?" Amara asked.

"My dad's here to pick me and Padma up," Parvati said, tears in her eyes. "he's talking us away."

"And Sophie's parents have arrived as well," Lavender said. "They have to pack their things."

"You're not ... You're not staying?" Amara said unsurely.

Parvati went into a fresh wave of tears and Amara looked towards Sophie.

"I'm not even allowed to stay for the funeral," she said hollowly.

"Oh," Amara's voice cracked slightly. "Do you - do you need help packing?"

Sophie shrugged and Amara moved forwards to help her.

Lavender helped a still-crying Parvati pack her suitcase and then suddenly they were leaving. Amara gave them both a hug, because in all honesty, she didn't know when she would see them again.

Amara and Hermione went down to breakfast feeling dreadful and looking it. But nobody noticed because they looked the same. They met Harry and Ron down at the Gryffindor table. The Great Hall was dull and dreary, everyone still stunned about what had happened. Many houses had mingled on the tables, for Amara saw Piper and Flick sitting with Ethan and Eddie. She'd never seen her sister look so solemn, sitting with a group of second-years.

"Parvati and Padma have gone," Amara informed Harry and Ron.

Harry nodded.

"I guessed so," he said. "They might close Hogwarts."

Amara nodded.

"Figures," she said.

Professor McGonagall informed them that all lessons were suspended and the exams were being postponed because of Dumbledore's death.

Because of this, Amara, Harry, Ron and Hermione found themselves holed up in an empty classroom on the Transfiguration corridor. They had not wanted to go back to the common room, go outside or stay in the morose Great Hall any longer so they were now sat on the teachers desk and a few of the remaining desks set out.

"So, did you get it?" Amara asked, swinging her legs under the desk and back. Her feet didn't touch the floor. "The Horcrux?"

Harry looked sullen, and even Ron looked glum.

"What's the matter? Didn't you get it?" asked Hermione.

"Not exactly," said Harry. He took out a piece of parchment. "The locket we found was a fake – it had this note in it." He handed it to them, and Hermione and Amara leaned over to read it.

To the Dark Lord

I know I will be dead long before you read this but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match you will be mortal once more.

R.A.B.

"You mean … after all that … it was a fake?" Amara said rather hollowly. Harry nodded and took the note back. "But … maybe this R.A.B guy did destroy the Horcrux. Maybe it is one down?"

"I dunno," said Harry. "We can't be optimistic."

"Supposedly the R.A.B person didn't know how to destroy the Horcrux?" said Hermione. "Then he'd have hidden it away so that when he found out how to he could …"

"But he's dead," said Ron. "How are we supposed to know where it is now?"

"It'll be alright, Harry," said Amara, who had seen Harry staring miserably out the window. "But have you any idea who R.A.B is?"

"No clue," said Harry. "Hermione?"

"Not off the top of my head," said Hermione. "And I doubt they'll be the right person anyway."

It wasn't just the Patil twins and Sophie Roper who had left early the morning after Dumbledore's demise. Zacharias Smith was escorted away down the drive by his equally haughty-looking father, and Amara swore she saw Chloe Fawley, a girl she'd met in her fourth year and was distantly related to, being taken away by her mother and father. She had not spoken to the girl for two years, and she had a feeling she hadn't been a Harry supporter the year before. Many other students were taken away throughout the days that followed, but Seamus Finnigan had a yelling match with his mother in the entrance hall, refusing to leave the castle because he wanted to attend Dumbledore's funeral. His mother had left to find a room in Hogsmeade, and had apparently had trouble finding a spare bed, Dean had told Amara, because of everyone flooding in readying for the funeral. The Daily Prophet printed little else except from the Greatest Wizard's death, and it was getting tiring to read.

Amara, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Harry spent all their time together. They sat in the common room together, went to meals and talked quietly together in the emptier common room. Many students had been taken away from Hogwarts. It was weird, as Amara's dormitory had only three remaining people and Ginny told them that there were only herself and another girl in hers.

They visited the Hospital Wing a lot, to visit Bill. Neville had been discharged and Fleur had stayed to be with her fiancée.

Bill's injuries had turned out to have no lasting effects, except he preferred rarer meat. Fleur was more than happy to comply as she thought the British overlooked their meet anyway. She was being very good - she was waiting on Bill with a lot of love and care and was constantly plumping his pillows and straightening his sheets.

Ministry officials arrived in the afternoon, ready for the funeral. They were being accommodated inside the castle and whenever Amara saw them walking around, all of them looked grim, pale and serious.

Tessie and the rest of the second years and first years got excited when they saw the powder-blue carriage of Beauxbatons flew down onto the lawns. Madame Maxime, huge, tanned and wearing many opals left the carriage and fell into Hagrid's awaiting arms. Behind her was a small, silvery blonde haired girl who took in Hogwarts as though it was the best thing ever. She was dressed in her Beauxbatons uniform.

"That's Tally," Ginny said, surprised, as they watched from an upstairs window. She turned to Amara and Ron.

"I didn't know," said Ron.

"She must be here for the funeral - lets go down," said Amara.

They met with Tally as she was entering the castle. She immediately hugged Ron, who still looked slightly bemused.

"I convinced Madame Maxime to let me come," she said in explanation. "I'm here for the summer now."

It wasn't until that evening when the six of them were sat in the common room (Professor McGonagall had allowed Tally to enter, and the Fat Lady didn't really check anymore because of her grief) that Amara decided it was time to write to her parents about the ordeal.

Dear Mum & Dad,

I'd have loved to write a nice letter about our year. But nothing's ever simple, is it?

There was a battle at Hogwarts after the Death Eaters infiltrated (same people as last year) and they murdered our Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. You never met him but he was one of the greatest wizards of all time.

I didn't think it possible, but it happened and now the whole Wizarding community is in a state of shock. The leader of the Death Eaters is getting stronger.

I was part of the battle, but I'm fine, and I managed to get Tessie and Ethan to stay out of it. I've been putting off this letter for a few days, and Tally arrived this afternoon (by carriage - they have flying palomino horses) and she's staying for the rest of the summer. I'd like to say that I'll be with you all summer, but it's probably not the case, and for that, I'm sorry.

We're staying for the funeral. I've spoken to Tessie and Ethan and they're adamant that they are staying too. I know you'd want to come get us but it's something we have to do. We shall get the Hogwarts Express as usual, but Jesse and Adrien are meeting us at the Station and taking us and Tally home.

I hope you understand.

Love Amara

Amara folded the parchment up, knowing she'd post it the next day.

"I suppose I'm just going to have to accept that he really is going to marry her," sighed Ginny, talking about Fleur.

They were all now squished next to the open window, looking at the twilit grounds. Tally, though stating Beauxbatons was beautiful, thought Hogwarts was a delight and she was gazing down at the grounds from her position on Ron's raised legs.

"She's not that bad," said Harry. "Ugly, though," he added hastily, as Ginny raised her eyebrows, and she let out a reluctant giggle. Amara rolled her eyes.

"Well, I suppose if Mum can stand it, I can."

"Anyone else we know died?" Ron asked Hermione, who was perusing the Evening Prophet.

Tally frowned at the brutal voice, for she had been told everything that had happened, but obviously did not like the way it was said.

Hermione winced too at the forced toughness in his voice.

"No," she said reprovingly, folding up the newspaper. "They're still looking for Snape but no sign . . ."

"Of course there isn't," said Harry, who became angry every time this subject cropped up, which meant Amara, Hermione, Ron and Ginny never mentioned him if they could help it. "They won't find Snape till they find Voldemort, and seeing as they've never managed to do that in all this time . . ."

"I'm going to go to bed," yawned Ginny. "I haven't been sleeping that well since . . . well . . . I could do with some sleep."

She kissed Harry (Ron looked away pointedly), waved at Amara and Amara and asked Tally if she was going too. She was sleeping in the spare bed in Ginny's dormitory.

"Yeah," said Tally and she kissed Ron (Amara caught eye contact with Harry and grinned) before following the red haired girl up the girls' staircase.

Immediately after they left, Hermione turned to Harry. Amara knew it wasn't going to be good.

"Harry, I found something out this morning, in the library."

"R.A.B.?" said Harry, sitting up straight.

After Harry had told them about R.A.B, the day after Dumbledore's death, Hermione had repeatedly run off to the library to check up on names. Amara never joined her, because she didn't like to think about R.A.B nor did she want to go to the library when they had no homework to do. Not that Hermione had had any luck; whenever she returned to the dormitory after searching she was always very frustrated, though she was always wary of Lavender's presence, and never said anything. Lavender had become quiet after Parvati had left. So had loads of other students as well, for many parents had rushed them away as fast as possible once the news had spread.

"No," Hermione said sadly, "I've been trying, Harry, but I haven't found anything. . . . There are a couple of reasonably well-known wizards with those initials — Rosalind Antigone Bungs . . . Rupert 'Axebanger' Brookstanton . . . but they don't seem to fit at all. Judging by that note, the person who stole the Horcrux knew Voldemort, and I can't find a shred of evidence that Bungs or Axebanger ever had anything to do with him. . . . No, actually, it's about . . . well, Snape."

She looked nervous even saying the name again and Amara couldn't blame her.

"What about him?" asked Harry heavily, slumping back in his chair.

"Well, it's just that I was sort of right about the Half-Blood Prince business," she said tentatively.

"D'you have to rub it in, Hermione? How d'you think I feel about that now?"

"No — no — Harry, I didn't mean that!" Hermione said hastily, looking around to check that they were not being overheard (which was unlikely as there weren't many people in the common room and those who were all looked rather preoccupied). "It's just that I was right about Eileen Prince once owning the book. You see . . . she was Snape's mother!"

"I thought she wasn't much of a looker," said Ron. Hermione ignored him as Amara snorted.

"I was going through the rest of the old Prophets and there was a tiny announcement about Eileen Prince marrying a man called Tobias Snape, and then later an announcement saying that she'd given birth to a —"

"— murderer," spat Harry.

"Well . . . yes," said Hermione. "So . . . I was sort of right. Snape must have been proud of being 'half a Prince,' you see? Tobias Snape was a Muggle from what it said in the Prophet."

"Yeah, that fits," said Harry. "He'd play up the pure-blood side so he could get in with Lucius Malfoy and the rest of them. . . . He's just like Voldemort. Pure-blood mother, Muggle father . . . ashamed of his parentage, trying to make himself feared using the Dark Arts, gave himself an impressive new name — Lord Voldemort — the Half-Blood Prince — how could Dumbledore have missed — ?"

He broke off, looking out the window. Amara knew he was thinking about how much he relied on the book - how much he had relied on Snape. But Amara knew it had been Snape's child form who had written the book, not the adult, and Harry shouldn't blame himself for anything. She did wonder why Dumbledore insisted in trusting such a vile man in the first place, and she wanted to know what possessed him to think that Snape had stopped being a Death Eater. Nobody stopped being a Death Eater.

But Amara knew Harry was annoyed at how Snape had actually helped him – how he'd practically saved Ron's life in the process (Amara knew he wouldn't be that pleased by that).

"I still don't get why he didn't turn you in for using that book," said Ron. "He must've known where you were getting it all from."

"He knew," said Harry bitterly. "He knew when I used Sectumsempra. He didn't really need Legilimency. . . . He might even have known before then, with Slughorn talking about how brilliant I was at Potions. . . . Shouldn't have left his old book in the bottom of that cupboard, should he?"

"But why didn't he turn you in?"

"I don't think he wanted to associate himself with that book," said Hermione. "I don't think Dumbledore would have liked it very much if he'd known. And even if Snape pretended it hadn't been his, Slughorn would have recognized his writing at once. Anyway, the book was left in Snape's old classroom, and I'll bet Dumbledore knew his mother was called 'Prince.' "

"I should've shown the book to Dumbledore," said Harry. "All that time he was showing me how Voldemort was evil even when he was at school, and I had proof Snape was too —"

" 'Evil' is a strong word," said Hermione quietly.

"You were the one who kept telling me the book was dangerous!"

"I'm trying to say, Harry, that you're putting too much blame on yourself. I thought the Prince seemed to have a nasty sense of humour, but I would never have guessed he was a potential killer. . . ."

"None of us could've guessed Snape would . . . you know," said Ron.

"Hermione's right," said Amara after an awkward pause. "You shouldn't put the blame on yourself. How would you know a person who wrote scribbles in a book would kill anyone? It was a teenager's textbook …"

Silence fell slowly between them, each of them thinking about the following morning, where Dumbledore's body would be placed in his grave forever. Amara had been to a funeral before. It wasn't a nice affair and she did not wish to replay one. Hermione had told her she'd never been to one before, and didn't know what to expect.

Harry wanted to do what Dumbledore had left him, Amara knew that. She also recognised the fact that he would try and get all the Horcruxes alone. Amara was going to go with him, and Hermione and Ron had also agreed. It was going to be a shame, leaving Hogwarts the next day, probably for the last time, because she had a feeling they needed to get Horcruxes immediately, and not wait until their schooling had ended. Voldemort did not care about that. He would kill whoever he wanted before taking over the country. Amara felt a pang of horror at the thought of her family, her mother and father especially. Defenceless from wizards and witches. Tessie and Ethan were not old enough to be able to fight, eventhough they were powerful. Amara wondered if they would have to go into hiding and miss Hogwarts as well … it would be Ethan's O.W.L year, and Tessie's third. She would have been able to visit Hogsmeade …

-OOOOO-

The atmosphere was subdued the day after. Amara, Hermione and Lavender rose earlier than usual to pack their things into the trunks ready for loading onto the Hogwarts Express, which would leave an hour after the funeral had ended. It was surprising just how far their things had stretched, and it took a while for them to collect their belongings and pack them away. Tally, who had not unpacked her suitcase at all, came in to help them for a bit before disappearing to go get ready before breakfast.

Breakfast was strange as well. Dumbledore's thronelike chair was empty, out of respect to Dumbledore. Hagrid's chair was also empty, and filled with none other than the Minister for Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour. He looked even more like a lion than ever, and Amara couldn't help but glare at him slightly as he stared around the hall whilst stabbing bits of his food. There were a lot of other Ministry workers along with him, and Amara spotted Percy with them. Tally tried hard to not let this get to Ron, who completely ignored the fact his brother was in the same room as him for the first time in nearly two years, and instead stabbed bits of kipper so violently they went everywhere but his plate. Professor McGonagall looked pale and withdrawn, Flitwick looked like he was going to burst into tears any second and Professor Sprout had not touched her food. Neither had many of the students, who had been told to put their dress robes on. Amara felt it weird to see everyone in multicolours, but supposed Dumbledore would have preferred it. She herself was wearing a red dress that Fred had brought her and Tally was wearing a pretty silk dress in dark blue.

Nobody was talking much. Instead of the usual chatter there was a small drone of student's voices, none of whom wanted to break through the quiet. Now that Malfoy had gone with the Death Eaters, Crabbe and Goyle looked strange sitting together by themselves. They had probably never had so much freedom; Malfoy had always been bossing them around.

Amara wondered what would have happened if Malfoy had actually killed Dumbledore. Would Snape have shown his true colours? Or would he have just bided his time some more?

"It is nearly time," Professor McGonagall said, rising to her feet. Everyone stopped talking immediately. "Please follow your Heads of Houses out into the grounds. Gryffindors, after me."

Amara and the rest of the Gryffindors filed out from the benches and went out in a line to the door. It was close to silence in the hall as the Heads of Houses went to the front of the lines. Professor Slughorn wore emerald green and silver robes and Professor Sprout had changed into a patch-free hat.

Even Argus Filch had dressed for the occasion – he was wearing an ancient black suit and matching tie. He was next to Madam Pince, who looked like she was dressed as a widower, and Amara would have laughed at them being together if it hadn't been a funeral they were going to.

The funeral was obviously being held at the lake, as Professor McGonagall was leading them towards it. The sun seemed to mock them as they walked across the achingly sunny grounds, the sky a cornflower blue – the grass sleek and green with no traces of wind. There was a huge number of people already settled in many of the chairs waiting for them. Amara did not know many of them, who were all wearing shabby clothes or smart ones, was ancient or still a child. She saw Max Fawley siting with Rita Skeeter, both of whom carried notepads. Amara felt a flash of annoyance and looked away, only to see Dolores Umbridge with a fake sorrow expression on her face. Amara scowled at her, but she was looking nervously at Firenze, who couldn't sit on a chair as he was half horse. Kingsley Shacklebolt was there, looking meaningful in robes of deep purple; Mad-Eye Moody was next to him, his eye whizzing around the place; Nymphadora Tonks and Remus Lupin held hands together on their seats, both looking forlorn. There was Madam Maxime, taking up loads of chairs by herself, Tom from the Leaky Cauldron, one of the Weird Sisters, looking weird in normal robes and a hairy beard. Amara also saw the driver from the Knight Bus, but she couldn't remember his name, Madam Malkin and other employers in Diagon Alley, the grumpy barman from the Hog's Head and the old lady who pushed the trolley. The ghosts were by the lake, glittering, but hard to see. Mr and Mrs Weasley were looking their best and with them were Bill and Fleur and – Amara's breath hitched as he was looking right at her – Fred, along with George.

Without thinking, Amara hurried over to him and was in his arms in a heartbeat. Fred hugged her tightly and Amara squeezed her eyes shut. It was the first time she felt like bawling her eyes out completely. Hermione had come over with her, as Jesse, along with Adrien, were standing with them. Harry, Ron, Ginny and Tally came over too, but nobody seemed to mind all that much. They filed into seats at the end of the row, beside the lake. There were even more people swarming down to the funeral, and Amara noted, whilst leaning against Fred, who had his arms around her, Neville was being helped into a seat by Luna. She smiled sadly, and thought about how brave they had both been, even though they hadn't known what was going on.

Cornelius Fudge, looking morose, was sitting at the front with Rufus Scrimgeour and the rest of the staff. Once everyone was seated, there suddenly came a strange music emitting from somewhere unknown – many people looked around in confusion to find the source.

"In there," Amara heard Ginny whisper to Harry, who was next to her. She looked over to the lake and into the water. Under the surface of the green water were what Amara supposed were merpeople: pallid faces with purplish hair, and not at all like mermaids in Amara's childhood stories. It was a weird music, and it made Amara's hairs stick up, but she was fairly comforted with it, in a strange way, and she managed to face the front again, listening to the music as she watched what was going on.

Hagrid had begun his walk up the aisle, slowly and crying, carrying a purple velvet spangled cloth covered in gold stars, underneath which was the body of Albus Dumbledore. Amara could help but let the tears roll out of her eyes, thick and fast, making her vision blurry. The sun seemed to lose its heat as Fred tightened his arms around her. Ron was looking blank with shock, Harry miserable and Ginny, Hermione and Tally crying, their tears falling into their laps.

Hagrid, after placing Dumbledore's body carefully upon the table at the front, retreated back down the aisle again, crying even harder and blowing his nose noisily into his handkerchief, so loud it made many people – including, and Amara felt a stab of anger, Dolores Umbridge. Grawp had also joined in the funeral crowd, and he was sitting with his head bowed in respect, though when Hagrid sat down next to him, he patted Hagrid on the head and made the chair legs sink deep into mud.

The music soon stopped and everyone faced the front, looking solemn once more. There was now a little man standing at the front, dressed in black robes and had weird tufty hair and looking sad himself.

"We are deeply saddened by the death of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, born eighteen eighty one, who was one of the greatest wizards of our time …" it was hard to hear what the little man was saying, and Amara only caught snippets of the speech, but it only made her cry even harder. Dumbledore was dead.

What were they going to do?

The merpeople in the lake had surfaced with a splash to listen to the speech, though Amara didn't know if they could understand it, because their music was in a completely different language.

At last, the little man stopped speaking and sat down again. Everyone waited for someone else to stand up and talk, maybe someone who was close to Dumbledore, for the man obviously hadn't as his speech was rather pointless and non-personal.

Amara jumped violently as several people screamed. Bright white flames and sprung up around Dumbledore's body on the table, still wrapped in the purple cloth. They rose high in the air, completely blocking their view of his body, white smoke billowing out the top. Amara watched, horrified, as the fire vanished and Dumbledore's body was hidden by a large white marble tomb. He had been buried. Amara sniffed and managed to control her tears, but she still seemed to shiver from sadness.

A shower of arrows fell a few feet short of the crowd, and Amara saw the centaurs, who had obviously come out to pay respects, leaving and going back into the forest once more. The merpeople sank below surface and disappeared completely.

There was a sudden buzz of conversation which suddenly grew louder as people got up from their chairs. Amara heard Harry say "Ginny, listen …" and knew she should move and give them privacy. Fred seemed a little reluctant, but Amara pulled him away. Ron was comforting Tally, who was pressed into his shoulder as he screwed his face up to stop himself from crying.

Hermione was now sobbing into Jesse's shoulder and Adrien was staring miserably at the ground, poking it with his shoe. Amara saw the Ministry officials, and Percy, who Amara saw was looking anywhere but where they were standing, looking at Hagrid and Grawp rather worriedly. Amara managed to face Fred away from Percy, but she knew George had seen him when she walked over to her boyfriend's twin, as he had a hard look on his face.

Looking round Amara saw Ginny had gone over to Neville and Luna and Harry had walked over to the lake, whilst Scrimgeour was limping towards him. Amara watched in interest, and poked Ron, who was crying now, and Hermione, and nodded over to Harry's direction. They watched as Harry and Scrimgeour seemed to have a conversation that Harry didn't like. Amara left Fred's arms and started walking over with Ron and Hermione, just as Scrimgeour began to limp angrily off. He did not acknowledge them as they passed. Harry walked over to the beech tree that they had sat under before.

"What did Scrimgeour want?" Hermione whispered.

"Same as he wanted at Christmas," shrugged Harry. "Wanted me to give him inside information on Dumbledore and be the Ministry's new poster boy."

Ron seemed to struggle with himself for a moment, then he said loudly to Hermione and Amara, "Look, let me go back and hit Percy!"

"No," Hermione said firmly, and Amara grabbed his arm.

"It'll make me feel better!"

Harry and Amara laughed – she couldn't help it – and even Hermione managed a fleeting grin. It faded when her gaze fell on the castle near them.

"I can't bear the idea that we might never come back," she said softly. "How can Hogwarts close?"

"Maybe it won't," said Ron. "We're not in any more danger here than we are at home, are we? Every where's the same now. I'd even say Hogwarts is safer, there are more wizards inside to defend the place. What d'you reckon, Harry?"

"I'm not coming back even if it does reopen," said Harry.

Ron gaped at him, but Hermione said sadly, "I knew you were going to say that. But then what will you do?"

"I'm going back to the Dursleys' once more, because Dumbledore wanted me to," said Harry. "But it'll be a short visit, and then I'll be gone for good."

"Where will you go after that?" asked Amara.

"I thought I might go back to Godric's Hollow," Harry muttered. "For me, it started there, all of it. I've just got a feeling I need to go there. And I can visit my parents' graves, I'd like that."

"And then what?" said Ron.

"Then I've got to track down the rest of the Horcruxes, haven't I?" said Harry, his eyes upon Dumbledore's white tomb, reflected in the water on the other side of the lake. "That's what he wanted me to do, that's why he told me all about them. If Dumbledore was right — and I'm sure he was — there are still four of them out there. I've got to find them and destroy them, and then I've got to go after the seventh bit of Voldemort's soul, the bit that's still in his body, and I'm the one who's going to kill him. And if I meet Severus Snape along the way," he added, "so much the better for me, so much the worse for him."

The silence stretched for a long time. Most of the crowd had gone, and the stragglers, including Fred and George, Jesse, Adrien, Tally, Ginny, Luna and Neville, seemed to be waiting for them. Grawp was still cuddling Hagrid, who was sobbing so loudly they could hear him from their position by the lake.

"We'll be there, Harry," said Ron.

"What?" Amara didn't get why Harry looked so shocked.

"At your aunt and uncle's house," said Ron. "And then we'll go with you wherever you're going."

"No —" said Harry quickly.

"You said to us once before," said Hermione quietly, "that there was time to turn back if we wanted to. We've had time, haven't we?"

"Six years, in fact," interjected Amara. "And six years of adventures that almost got us killed. You really think we'd turn away now?"

"We're with you whatever happens," nodded Ron. "But mate, you're going to have to come round my mum and dad's house before we do anything else, even Godric's Hollow."

"Why?"

"Bill and Fleur's wedding, remember?"

Harry looked at him, seemingly startled. Amara herself was still shocked that such a pleasant thing was still happening in the midst of a war, but she was excited all the same.

"Yeah, we shouldn't miss that," Harry said finally.

Amara smiled at him, and then hugged him tightly. Ron and Hermione soon joined in and Amara couldn't help but giggle at what they were doing. Soon they were all giggling to themselves, but when they split apart, their smiles faded and they turned and walked back over to their friends and family who were next to the White Tomb, where Dumbledore, the person Amara had always thought would be there, lay quite still and silent forever.