The entirety of the Great Hall was silent. Every member of both student body and staff of Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang sat in reverent silence for their fallen friend.
Viktor Krum had been lost to them, lost in the worst way he could have been. The way that destroys families. The way of Lord Voldemort.
Rising from his seat, Dumbledore spoke quietly, but far louder than any of the grieving minds expected,
"Today, we are here to acknowledge a really terrible loss."
Harry could hear a few cries of sadness erupt from the Ravenclaw table, where Fleur Delacour burst into uncontrollable tears. It would seem, as Harry pointed out to Hermione, that not all love is unrequited.
"Viktor Krum was, as you all know, exceptionally hard-working, infinitely caring, and most importantly, a true, loyal friend. Therefore, I feel you have the right to know exactly how he died."
Dumbledore paused as the audience took in his words. The silence broken only by the occasional sniffs and sobs of many people before the headmaster, each paying their respects in the only way they could.
"You see, Viktor Krum was murdered, by Lord Voldemort." The words and name of the Dark Lord hushed the crying at once. Fleur rose her bloodshot eyes to stare at the man that had uttered them, with them prying into his soul.
Dumbledore paused again as he waited for the moment to relax. Hermione shifted in her seat and made a loud smacking noise as she slammed something in her hand against the ground, then looked apologetically at those surrounding her.
"The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this." he admitted, fighting a little of his own tears as he did so, "But not to do so, I feel, would be an insult to his memory."
He paused again to allow himself to regain composure. Viktor Krum's mom, in the first row, wept her heart and soul out. As a mother, she was gravely grieved by the loss of her only son, her only offspring. And the loss of her husband the year before made the loss all the more painful.
"Now, the pain we all feel at this dreadful loss reminds me, and, reminds us, that though we may come from different countries and speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one."
Harry heard Pansy, for the first time in what seemed like an entire year, sob beside him. His heart ached for her, hearing her in sadness was the last thing he could ever endure. He would sooner take a Cruciatus Curse from the whole of the Death Eaters than endure her crying, it tore him apart.
Harry wrapped his free arm around Pansy and pulled her into a tight hug, rocking her gently as he did so. Her broken sobbing whispered through his ears as he gently stroked her hair.
"In light of the recent events, the bonds of friendship made this year will be more important than ever. Remember that, hold to that truth,"
The audience's already solemn, reverent tone rested to complete silence.
"and Viktor Krum will not have died in vain."
Hermione breathed a "ha!" and raised a closed jaw into the air. Inside, an ugly red beetle spun around as Hermione shook it vigorously.
Harry nearly laughed at the sight. At any other time, he would have snatched the jar, dropped the beetle from inside onto the ground, and smashed it with every ounce of hate he had.
But this, he reminded himself, was not like any other time. It was a time of realization. A time that whispered into the minds of every man, woman, and child in that audience that times were changing, that peace was failing, and that, against all their best efforts, Lord Voldemort was once again in power.
"You remember that... and we will celebrate a boy who was kind, honest, brave, and true, right... to the very end."