And on to chapter 36 now. Just plowing through…hoping to plow through….things won't be so bad once I can get passed the funeral stuff. Sorry guys. I had to literally take breaks every 500 words or so towards the end. It took a long time to push through. Also probably why this chapter sucks. Once things are better on my end hopefully I'll have the resolve to come back and rewrite this into a nice chapter.

It was brought up I need to add more details to this story, I'm aware. I bought a few books recently on better descripting things. Hopefully once I get a chance to sit down and read them I will go back and give a flourish to previous chapters on some things.

Warnings. It's shonen ai, slash, yaoi, whatever you call it, it is it. It's chapter 36 of a sequel guys.

Notes: (X) pov change and or time jump

Chapter, 36: The Day After

The five teens waited in the living room, each one silently looking at one thing or another. Harry couldn't find the amusement in this game at all. It was no more than a changed up version of truth or dare, which again he did not find fun. Sometimes watching Fred and George do a dare in the Gryffindor common room had been amusing, their pranks, not something like this. And, he knew he should be having some sort of fun, but he just couldn't. What was considered a normal game, what other teens would be dying to play, especially with his boyfriend no doubt, just wasn't. He turned to Tom, his boyfriend looking back at him with his usual questioning look.

"You're bored." Tom was looking at him, his lips turned ever so slightly up, just a hint of knowing and amusement.

"A bit," Harry admitted. When someone said game, his mind automatically went to the duels Kearne had set up near the Forbidden Forest. Those were fun, took skill to win, and had your body and mind moving fast if you wanted to survive. This was just…

"Not everything has to be about surviving," Tom said. Even with the bond shielded, he was able to read Harry's mind so easily. Harry couldn't help smiling at that.

"I know." He also knew that it wasn't healthy, he needed to try and live a somewhat normal life, or did he? He made a face taking the room in. What exactly in his life was normal? Surely not, number twelve, or his godfather, definitely not Tom. His technical home was the headquarters of a group standing against a rising dark lord. His life was a one-way path to a fight to the death against said dark lord. "I don't have to enjoy things like this either," he said, Tom smirking at him.

Fred came running into the room holding a roasting pan above his head. He did a victory lap with it around the couch before he threw it onto the coffee table, a triumphant grin on his face.

"There you are my king!"

Ron came trudging in seconds later, his face red.

"Were you caught," Draco asked.

"No," Ron said. "I was the distraction," He growled collapsing next to Draco.

"There was no rule against using a distraction," Fred said. "Give me your straws."

Everyone handed Fred their straws. The roasting pan shot up from the table without warning and zoomed out of the room. Seconds later a loud crash told them it had hit the kitchen door. There were shouts of surprise from the kitchen.

Tom glanced at Harry who sighed. The last thing he wanted to do was cause trouble for Sirius or Lupin. They waited a minute to see if anyone was going to come into the living room to say anything exchanging looks as they did. When nothing happened, Fred held out his hand.

"Let's choose."

They each took a straw.

Oh… Harry saw the large K on his straw. He hadn't given any thought as to what to do if he happened to be King. What was he supposed to suggest? A great deal of people would want this opportunity and yet… He didn't want to cause trouble. Ron had already been dealt with, he didn't want to bother Draco. He wouldn't mind seeing Hermione do something embarrassing, but that would only anger Tom and…

He looked up when he felt someone taking the straw out of his hand, his eyes meeting Tom's. He smiled at Harry and slid his own straw into Harry's hand.

"But…"

"Shhh." He gave Harry a mischievous smirk.

"Okay, who's our king," Fred asked cheerfully.

"I am," Tom said holding the straw up. "I have a very simple order."

"Aderes is our king! This one should be good," George grinned.

"When isn't he," Draco muttered.

"What's your order Aderes," Fred asked.

"I want number five to kiss me and then we're ending this game."

Harry looked down at his straw. Of course, the number five was on it. The grins on Fred and George's face dropped.

"But we're just getting started," Fred said.

"You can't just end it," George added.

"I'm the king and my orders are absolute," Tom said. He grabbed Harry's collar and pulled him forward. "Now give me my kiss so we can end this foolish game." Harry didn't need to be told again. Their lips met, Tom's hand stroking his hair. It took some self-control, but Harry didn't push Tom down. He moved back when they finished.

"Alright, go have your fun," Harry said.

"I am having fun," Tom said. He took Harry's hand and kissed it the Gryffindor shivering in response. "We agreed on nine."

"We did," Harry agreed. "You're the one who needs reminding, not me." He climbed off the couch, Tom's hand wrapping around his wrist. Curious, Harry looked back raising an eyebrow. Tom jerked him back into his lap, both of his arms going around Harry. "T, Tom."

"You don't have to leave." He took a large inhale of Harry's hair, the shield dissolving. 'In fact I'd advise you to remain where you are.'

'The game's over,' Harry responded closing his eyes. He hadn't planned on leaving anyway, he was just going to move so Tom could talk to Hermione more easily. If Tom wanted him to stay in his lap though, he was more than happy to listen.

"Did you like your gifts Hermione?"

The female Gryffindor moved closer to Tom than, her head bobbing.

With his own eyes closed, it was somewhat strange to see Hermione through Aderes' mind.

"Yes, that book you got for me was perfect. I'm already two chapters in. The ancient magic that started with Celtic fairies is just amazing."

The two were off immediately into a lengthy discussion about numerous ancient magic topics and Harry was forced to endure. Unlike the game, his boyfriend seemed intent on making him stay put. Eventually the bond showed that Tom was completely focused on the conversation, Harry long forgotten. Gently he moved Tom's hand, than his arm. The heir didn't even notice what he was doing until he stood up. He had a look of shock on his face when he saw that Harry was standing instead of in his lap.

"Where are you going?"

"To offer Lupin my help," he said.

"I thought you wanted to spend time together."

"I do, but this is my holiday. I don't want to spend it listening to lectures." He left the room wondering when all the others had managed to sneak out. He didn't blame them. Theory just wasn't his thing. If he had to learn something, he wanted to practice it.

He stepped into the kitchen, an egg flying passed his head and hitting the wall beside the door. The kitchen was in complete chaos, Sirius, Lupin, Mr. Weasley, Fleur, and Bill all working on dinner projects. The air was filled with moving pots, pans, food, and cooking utensils. Harry didn't know how they hadn't managed to burn number twelve down already. He backed out of the kitchen deciding his help was not needed.

(X)

Tom watched Harry leave the room, his good mood faltering. Or, if he was being honest with himself, running. He'd wanted to keep Harry with him all day, but Harry had been thoroughly bored with his and Hermione's conversation. It was really a shame, because there were some good things that he could learn from ancient magic. Harry hadn't been attending the meetings though or reading Tom's notes so his understanding had been small at best. Perhaps if he explained a few things to Harry later he would be more inclined to listen.

"Aderes?"

The Slytherin looked up somewhat startled, his left hand on the earring. "Yeah?"

"Is something wrong?"

"No…" The earring was smooth and cool to the touch, somehow comforting to run his fingers over. The transfiguring of the engagement ring into an earring had been a brilliant solution on Harry's part. Tom wasn't fond of jewelry, but this he could handle. In fact, the design was so simple and yet elegant that it would easily match any outfit he put on and it wouldn't cause him any annoyance either.

"I still can't believe he gave you an earring instead of a ring." She was shaking her head, her eyes rolling.

"It's a transfigured ring," Tom said glaring at his friend. "And it proves how well he knows me." Something you lack at the moment, he thought his eyes narrowing. He did not understand why Hermione was lashing out at his relationship lately, first cornering Harry before she left and now with the transfigured ring. She understood him, yes, but only to a certain extent. Why now was she butting in and causing unnecessary problems?

"It's not right," Hermione dared. "Everyone can see the ring on Harry's finger and know he's taken, yours is hidden—"

"Everyone already knows we're a couple," Tom argued. "Besides, I don't have to worry about anyone flirting with me."

"No, Harry does," Hermione said.

"Harry has nothing to worry about, I'm devoted to him and him alone or I wouldn't have bothered to ask him to marry me."

"Aderes that's not the point." She let out a frustrated sigh.

"Harry knows I won't cheat on him," he said confidently. The only one Harry worried about was Hermione and Tom had no intentions of trying to date his supposed friend. She was smart, she was loyal, but when it came to relationships, she infuriated him. She couldn't seem to accept the fact that Harry and his relationship would never be completely normal. It just wasn't a possibility. He knew Harry wanted normal that's why he'd gotten him a normal wedding band. Until he had the earring on, he hadn't even known what he was going to do about his own ring. He'd been dreading wearing one for the last month. "Harry and I have an understanding—"

"Is that why the two of you fight so much?"

"What is with you," he demanded. "Why are you trying to start a fight? Harry and I are happy. We may have some issues here and there, but we are happy."

"I don't see how you two are happy with the way—"

"Because you will never understand me the way Harry does," Tom spat, his anger rising. "Never. It's why we'd never make it as a couple, it's why you fear me, it's why you don't stand a chance against me and why you won't reach my understanding of things in general. My mind doesn't work the same way yours does."

"I just don't want you two to hurt each other." She looked like she wanted to cry, and for once, Tom didn't care. Usually he felt some protection for Hermione. If anyone tried harming her, he was on the defensive, but perhaps, because he was the one doing the harming, he didn't care.

No…it's because she's threatening my relationship with Harry. He knew it the second the thought came into his mind. Hermione was treading in places he didn't want, because he also worried that Harry would be anger. They did fight, they could hurt each other horribly, but they wouldn't.

His eyes flickered up, Harry standing in the doorway frowning. He'd sensed the fight going on. He walked over to the couch, Tom's heart jumping. Harry's mind showed signs of confusion and disappointment, but not anger. He hadn't come to fight.

"Hermione," Harry said hesitantly. She looked at Harry. "As long as I have Tom, I don't care how normal or right or anything our relationship is. It is whatever it is and that's all there is to it." He glanced at Tom who felt like throwing Harry to the floor and taking him. Harry's face turned bright red and he looked back to their friend. "So stop trying to make our relationship something it isn't and just be his friend. He can't afford to lose any, he only has two." Harry mentally smirk and Tom had to stop himself from hitting his fiancé.

Harry had done it for his own good. He'd wanted to stop any fights from erupting before they happened, but even so…

"So if he starts flirting with others you're not going to get angry," Hermione asked looking back and forth between them.

"Of course I will. I might even send both of them to the hospital wing if I have to." He gave Tom a large promising smile, his thoughts telling Tom that he and any person caught flirting with him would be lucky if the hospital wing could help them. "But I trust Tom enough not to flirt seriously with someone. So please, stop fighting about it."

'I love your jealousy,' Tom said through the bond. It was so refreshing to see Harry willing to fight for him.

'I'm glad you do. I hate it, but…' He gave a small shrug.

'You're adorable.' He grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him back onto the couch laughing. Harry protested, but his mind wasn't saying no. He leaned over him and kissed him. The Gryffindor's arms went around his neck. He deepened the kiss. They were together, finally in a state of understanding of one another. Harry was actually, completely his. Their emotions mingled, mixed. He forced himself to break the kiss, his hand on Harry's waist. If he didn't stop Hermione would have to leave. 'Sorry.'

'Yeah right.'

They grinned at each other, Tom removing himself from Harry. The Gryffindor sat up trying to fix his glasses.

"You two are hopeless," Hermione sighed.

"Maybe, we're in love," Tom said without a doubt. Harry grinned at him and to his surprise, jumped onto Tom. His back hit the armrest, Harry sitting down in his lap and kissing him again.

"Still feel like flirting with someone else," Harry asked.

"Maybe…."

"Shame…I guess I'll just lock the bedroom door tonight than…." Tom feigned fear; he knew Harry would do no such thing, no more than he'd actually find someone else to flirt with. Harry gave him another kiss before he climbed off of him slowly. "As you can see, our relationship is fine Hermione. Now if you'll excuse me…I need to leave or you won't be getting him back any time soon." He left the room, Tom once again watching him.

"Hermione…."

"Go," she said shaking her head.

He barely heard her. He was already up and following Harry. He just couldn't see him leave again. Watching him leave his sight twice within ten minutes, he just couldn't. He caught Harry on the stairs, the Gryffindor looking at him, eyebrow raised.

"To—"

"Hermione can wait," he breathed grabbing Harry's hand.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"O, okay."

Harry's thoughts of confusion and excitement just made him more sure. They made it back to the bedroom, Tom locking the door with his wand the second they were inside.

Afterwards Harry spent the rest of his day talking to Ron and Draco while Tom was with Hermione. He was not nearly as jealous as he had thought he'd be. Tom had finally chosen him over Hermione, regardless of the reason why.

Christmas dinner arrived; they sat next to each other. The food was delicious, the room still decorated, but the festive atmosphere seemed to be slowly drained from number twelve as the hours passed. By the time Sirius was handing out pieces of pie, people were barely talking, and when they did, it was in hushed whispers. It was almost as if Christmas had not happened.

When they finished their desserts Lupin ordered everyone to bed.

Harry lied in bed staring up at his ceiling, as always. Tom was already holding him close.

He didn't remember drifting off, but when he became aware of his surroundings again, it was morning. And everything felt somehow wrong, empty. Harry knew they needed to get out of bed, eat breakfast and leave. Lupin was expected to be at the funeral home since he was one of Ace's best friends.

Harry turned over in bed. Tom was still beside him. He buried his face in his neck and closed his eyes tight. He didn't want to go. While he owed it to Ace to pay his respects, he was also the reason Ace was no longer alive. Just seeing him may be a slap in the face to his wife and children. The order didn't blame him; neither did Tom, but what of Ace's family? He let out a long sigh and sat up. He'd just have to get through it one way or another. Just like everyone else was going too.

He climbed out of bed not sure, if he should wake his fiancé up just yet. Tom looked peaceful enough. On the other hand, he'd gotten annoyed when Harry hadn't woken him up the day before.

"Tom." He gave Tom's arm a gentle nudge. The heir's eyes slid open taking in Harry. "It's morning, I'm going down to have breakfast. I didn't want you to wonder where I was."

"I'm coming," he grumbled. Harry watched, half amused that Tom showed no signs of "coming". Instead, he burrowed further into the blankets. He stayed within his cocoon while Harry watched for a good four minutes.

"You don't have to come," Harry finally said snickering.

"I'm coming," came his muffled reply.

"Sure you are."

His head poked out from the mess of blankets and glared at Harry.

"I don't want this day to start any more than you do."

"That doesn't mean it won't start."

Tom sighed, his gaze lowering. Harry gave him a quick kiss on the cheek since the rest of his body was hidden and started for the door. Scowling the heir climbed out from beneath his fortress and followed after Harry. Harry could tell it was going to be a long day. They'd just walked into the kitchen when Sirius stood up.

"Good, you're awake. Listen. I need both of you to cooperate with me today." Harry looked at Tom who shrugged. "I know both of you want to pay your respects to Ace, so I need you guys to understand that you have to stay by an order member the entire time we're there."

"What—" Harry started.

"Ace was a famous mind healer. His funeral is open to the public, there's going to be people from the daily prophet there—"

"And possible death eaters using it cause chaos," Tom said grimly, his eyes narrowed.

"Exactly," Sirius said. "I'm not going to say they will, but there's always a chance." He gave them both hard looks. "Promise me you will stay within sight and by an order member, any order member, at all time."

"Yeah, sure," Harry said giving a small shrug. Staying by Sirius and Lupin wouldn't be hard, he'd planned to do that anyway. If they were caught up in doing something, there was always Dumbledore and Mr. Weasley. Harry had no intention of going off alone anyway and with so many members, he wasn't even sure if it was possible to avoid an order member. "We'll stay close to you or Dumbledore," he added.

"Yeah, that works…I'll probably be focused on Remus and just trying to…."

"We'll stay with Dumbledore," Tom said surprising Harry. "So you and Remus can grieve properly."

"Thanks, but if you two need anything, you let me know."

"We will," Tom said.

"Go ahead and eat then." He gave Tom and Harry's shoulder a squeeze and then left the room.

Draco, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny joined them shortly after. They ate cereal, none of them really talking. To think that just the day before they'd been laughing and exchanging presents and today…

He looked at Tom. His boyfriend's birthday was soon. They would have a chance to regain some of their cheerfulness before returning to Hogwarts. It almost felt wrong to do though. How could they be so happy or even think of trying to be happy? Ace had done so much for them and now he was dead. His family would be in mourning for months, perhaps years to come. Harry needed someone to grasp at though. If there was nothing to be happy about what was the point?

Tom's arm went around his waist.

'It's okay to want to be happy,' he told him gently. 'Just like it's okay to be sad.'

When breakfast was over, they dispersed in order to get dressed. Sirius gave them all a look over to make sure they were presentable. Once he confirmed that they were they were out the door in small groups Apparating to the funeral home.

Harry wasn't sure what to expect. The only funeral he'd attended was Mrs. Weasley. That had been a very simple and modest gathering of the Weasley family and order members only. The funeral home turned out to be a large wooden building with a huge arched roof. It held an imposing atmosphere, almost like a small castle as they approached. Windows lined the side and Harry was sure the other side had them as well.

"Stay close," Sirius told them quietly.

Tom's hand tightened around Harry's. Something about Sirius' tone. It felt like they were being led into a trap. Large groups had formed in front of the building, most of them talking quietly or crying. Harry noted people holding cameras and looked away. As they approached, the groups turned towards them, especially the reporters.

"Harry Potter is here!" One of the reporters yelled.

"Was he seeing Asclepius," another one asked.

"After everything he's been through, perhaps Asclepius was trying to him help with him his paranoia. He claims the Dark Lord is coming back."

Harry bit back a growl, his attention focused forward.

'I could burn them,' Tom offered.

A smile slipped onto Harry's face.

'Not in front of Sirius.'

"Sirius black," another reporter said. "He probably saw Asclepius after being wrongfully locked up in Azkaban all those years."

"Albus Dumbledore, they all say he's going mad," yet another reporter added.

'So we're all mad,' Harry mentally growled.

'They seemed to have mixed up the meaning of being mad with being smart. We're the only ones who really understand what's going on.'

'Ignorance must be so nice,' Harry said glaring at all the reporters. If only they could get away with burning them. Not killing them, just enough to make them go away. Doing so would only cause more problems though.

They made it through the groups and to the door. Sirius said something to a wizard standing guard at the entrance. He looked at Lupin, nodded, and opened it. They entered, the doors closing behind them. Just inside were numerous couches and overstuffed chairs. For now, they were empty. A long hall was in front of them, a set of double doors at the end, closed.

"I need to let Mary know I'm here," Lupin said quietly.

"I'll come with you." Sirius and Lupin started down the hall leaving the rest of them alone.

'This is weird,' Harry said.

Tom only nodded his thoughts restless and hard to read. He took a seat in one of the chairs, his eyes focused on the windows. Their group followed, everyone taking seats, again silence. Harry wasn't sure what they were supposed to be doing. Somehow, none of it even felt real.

And, there they waited. They sat and said nothing, sometimes looking at one another, sometimes out the window. Harry found himself wishing he could climb out one of those windows and not look back. Just return to number twelve and do something, hell even study at this point, but not this. This was uncomfortable and suffocating. Despite the large interior, the walls seemed to threaten falling down on top of them. The front doors opened, the crowd outside filed in, but the double doors remained firmly shut. Harry moved closer to Tom.

The heir looked at him when he moved, seemed surprised to even see him.

Ace's friends and family were easy to pick out at this point. Those who had knew the mind healer had to be the ones crying, laughing through some of the tears. They were hugging each other and talking, just trying to keep each other going. Harry wished he'd probably his invisibility cloak. The reporters were taking pictures of the hall and the group.

"No pictures."

Harry looked up at Dumbledore's voice. A photographer had been ready to take a picture of him and Tom sitting on the couch.

"The public—"

"This is about Asclepius, not Harry," Dumbledore said simply, but sternly.

"But—"

"There will be no photographs," Dumbledore repeated. He stood up motioning for Tom and Harry to follow him. "If I see a single one of my family in the paper I will have you fired." He ushered the teens down the long hall standing behind them so the wizard could not try for a retreating shot.

'What was that about,' Harry asked.

'I'm a secret to the wizarding world, sort of.' He made a face, his thoughts jumping so fast from one thing to another Harry could not keep up. 'The students know who I am and the professors. I may be mentioned outside of school, but no one knows who I really am. Only some of the order does. The fact that I'm Dumbledore's adopted son isn't supposed to be public knowledge.'

'Oh.' That made sense. If people actually knew Tom's bloodline, they'd be outraged. If they knew Dumbledore was his adopted father, it'd paint an even bigger target on him. Inside the double doors was worse. The huge room was filled with wooden benches, the room stretching feet beyond them. Dumbledore sat down at the very first bench near the double doors. Harry could just make out Lupin, Sirius, and the little group who must have been Ace's family standing at the very end.

His insides turned and wanted to rip themselves apart. It got so bad he almost threw up. He should not be there with Ace's family. If they asked him to apologize he would, but he'd probably break down while doing it. They should have just left him at number twelve. Him being there had to be a slap in the face to the family.

"Harry?" Dumbledore asked giving the Gryffindor his look of concern.

What was he supposed to say? Tom would get annoyed if he brought up the guilt he felt. He was pretty sure by this point that everyone's life would have been better if he'd simply been forced to live in isolation until he died.

'Not Sirius' life and Remus',' Tom broke in. 'And not mine.' He locked eyes with Harry, a grim look on his face. 'I would still be in that necklace if not for you. I may never have gotten out.'

Harry looked down at his hands. He couldn't very well argue with that. He was the one who'd indirectly gotten Sirius' name cleared. He'd given Remus the freedom to go with Sirius wherever they wanted, even if that same action had resulted in Tom and Sirius being tortured. There was at least some good brought about thanks to Harry being a part of society. It was hard to remember that with all the hell that had occurred and that could be directed at him thanks to Voldemort.

"I was just thinking," Harry said when he noticed the headmaster was still looking at him.

"You still blame yourself," Dumbledore reasoned and Harry gave a slight nod.

"It's hard not to," he admitted. It wasn't like the others hadn't tried to change his mind.

"Harry, would it help if I told you that Asclepius life was under threat long before he even considered helping you?" Harry stared at the headmaster. He smiled in return. "Asclepius was a wonderful mind healer, but he was also an Order member, as is the rest of his family. He helped Remus work with werewolves who didn't want to slaughter. He helped vampires and many other creatures that are still considered by some, beneath wizards, including a great deal of mixed blood witches and wizards. Voldemort has been after him for some time."

That didn't make Asclepius' death right, but it did make Harry feel slightly better about it. Knowing that he was just a small factor, not the actual cause of the death was somewhat comforting.

Sirius came towards them than, paler than Harry had seen him in a long time.

"They're going to let everyone start coming in."

"…Let me say goodbye first," Tom said getting to his feet. Dumbledore was up before the heir had taken a step. The two walked together towards the end of the long room.

"Did you want to go up too," Sirius asked. "Before the reporters come in?" He did not hide his disgust when he uttered the word reporter.

"His family…Do they blame me?" Harry got to his feet watching Tom walk with the headmaster. It felt so odd to let his fiancé go off without him.

"No," Sirius said following Harry's gaze. Tom was staring at the casket, his mind blank. Dumbledore was talking to the witch and Lupin. "Mary's sorry Ace didn't get a chance to help you."

"What?" Harry turned his gaze on his godfather. "Why?"

"Mary works at St. Mungo's as a mind healer herself. Ace told her what he suspected about you after all his sessions with Aderes. He wanted to help you."

"She shouldn't be worried about me, her husband is dead," he snapped. He wished he could take the words back, or at least the tone he'd said them in, but Sirius just smiled at him.

"That's just the kind of witch she is." He gave Harry a gentle push towards the walkway and they started towards the casket. The witch, or Mary, was hugging Tom. Harry still couldn't get any sort of reading from the bond, it was beginning to make him feel uneasy. The bond was not blocked, he just couldn't read anything and he didn't understand why

Halfway there. Harry could feel his breaths getting shorter, his pulse speeding up. Asclepius had been an Order member, a gifted mind healer, a father and husband. He'd had so many reasons to live and yet his life had been ended far sooner than it should have been.

His feet stopped.

What if next time it was Sirius? Or Lupin? What if it was Tom?

He closed his eyes, his head shaking slightly side to side as he tried to stop the thoughts, the pain from when he'd thought Tom was dead. How could he possibly survive if any of those people were taken from him? If Tom was taken? He started to back up, Sirius now beside him and giving him a worried look.

"I can't," he blurted out as he turned. He couldn't do it. What if it was Tom in the casket? What if they'd made a mistake? Or if they hadn't, how long until it was one of them?

He went through the double doors at a run almost bulldozing some unlucky crowd members that had been waiting nearby. Real friends, because they were crying and pacing anxiously, not like the reporters who were waiting at the entrance.

Once he was back in the first half of the funeral home, he spotted Draco, Ron, and Hermione. They were sitting next to Mr. Weasley and Ginny on one of the large grey couches. Harry made his way through the crowd and sat down next to Draco. He took in a few gulps of air, his lungs protesting resulting in a cough.

"What's wrong with you," Draco asked quietly.

"…I just can't…." He leaned back into the couch. It was more comfortable than he'd thought it'd be. He looked down at his hand. The simple silver wedding band was still on his left ring finger. He touched it. It was real and cold and wonderfully reassuring that Tom had not died over the summer or at Slughorn's party. What had even made him think that? It seemed so stupid now that he was safe among his friends who were all looking at him worriedly. "Sorry."

(TBC)

Alright, there's the chapter…I tried to finish a lot of the funeral so I wouldn't have more to finish next time…this chapter will definitely get a rewrite, but for now my mind can't deal with that, so this is what is for now. Sorry.