A/N:

So, I've actually written two epilogues for this story because I couldn't decide on Lavender's fate! :o) I'd decided on this one, but with the current climate of the Coronavirus pandemic, I had some hesitancy about whether I should post it, because of its main theme. However, I've stuck with it because it just feels the 'right' one for this story :o) I will be posting the alternative epilogue as a separate one shot on AO3 and FFN, entitled 'The Visitor', so feel free to check that out too!


Ch. 52 Epilogue: Silver Lining

'"There's the silver lining I'm looking for.'"

- Ginny, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Seamus

The floral scent reached Seamus over the summer breeze as he walked down the path through the churchyard towards the chapel. He instantly recognised it he'd spent nearly every night of his Easter holidays breathing in the scent of the dried flowers, which had emitted from the folded parchment Lavender had given him lying beneath his pillow.

Seamus blinked as he entered the chapel, his eyes adjusting from the bright sunshine to the darker interior. Looking around, he noticed numerous bunches of the lilac flowers standing proudly in small glass vases that were suspended magically around the walls of the chapel. It was a beautiful tribute, and Seamus felt the threatening sting of tears in his eyes.

The pews were full of witches and wizards and Seamus paused at the top of the aisle, unsure where to go, trying not to let the swathes of people overwhelm him. Sadly, funerals had been a common affair in the British magical community over the last month or so, but this seemed to be a particularly well attended one.

"Hi, Seamus," a gentle voice said by his shoulder. He looked around and saw Parvati smiling at him sadly, with Theo Nott standing just behind her. Seamus nodded at them in greeting; he wasn't sure what would happen if he tried to speak. Seeming to notice how lost he was, Parvati continued. "There's a place for you at the front," and she gently took his arm and led him down the aisle.

He caught sight of Harry, with his arm round Ginny's shoulder, standing next to Ron who was holding hands with Hermione. As he exchanged smiles and nods of acknowledgment with them, he felt a stab of irrational envy something he didn't want to feel because the ones they loved had managed to survive. But even as he thought it, he knew it wasn't a true thought, let alone a fair one. They'd lost people too. Everyone had, and Harry more than most.

As he continued down the aisle, he recognised more faces. It seemed that all of Dumbledore's Army were here, as well as the whole teaching faculty of Hogwarts, and Seamus knew that Lavender would have loved that.

Finally, he reached the end of the aisle. The Brown family appeared to have saved him a seat in a pew at the front and, relieved to get away from the pitying glances of the funeral guests, Seamus slid into it.

Parvati introduced him to Lavender's parents a stoic looking woman with an elaborate black hat, and a pained-looking man with a full beard Iris and Frederick. The woman gave him a strained smile.

"She told us about you," she whispered, her voice trembling, no doubt on the brink of tears. "We knew you were special to her."

Seamus opened his mouth, but the words that came out were not enough, he knew that: "She was everything... I'm sorry."

Iris' smile lifted and she reached out a hand and patted Seamus awkwardly on the arm, before withdrawing it and turning to face the front as the vicar started the ceremony.

After the vicar's introduction, and the playing of a Seven Sirens song, Neville approached the pulpit. Seamus had been asked to do a reading, but had known he wouldn't manage it, and Parvati had admitted the same. Hence, their thoughts had been combined into Neville's speech.

Neville paused before beginning, looking down at his parchment, and Seamus saw him take a deep breath. The chapel was silent, as if everyone had taken a breath with Neville, waiting patiently for him to start speaking. Eventually, he looked up, and spoke steadily.

"I know what it's like to have people underestimate you. And I think there was a time when we all underestimated Lavender Brown…"

Seamus had already read Neville's speech more than once and this helped him feel less guilty as his mind drifted...he couldn't recall what he'd been thinking about when he re-focused on the room and Neville was finishing:

"She died fighting, and we'll remember that sentiment as we go forward with our lives. Lavender was one of the bravest of us, the best of us. We'll not let her death go to waste."

The chapel swam behind a curtain of Seamus' tears.

A little later, as the mourners started to quietly depart from Lavender's graveside, Seamus stood by the mound of earth, still, stiff and unmoving, with a fresh sprig of lavender clasped in his hand. Dean appeared by his side.

"The wake's at a pub in the village, just down the lane. You coming, mate?" he asked softly.

Seamus gave his friend a weak smile. "Sure. I'll be there in a minute."

Dean nodded, understanding, and gave Seamus a few gentle slaps on the shoulder before silently walking away.

Seamus looked down the path at the departing guests at Parvati and Theo, and Padma and Daphne and wondered at what it meant that they had survived while others had not.

But whether it was luck, fate, or random chaos, Seamus knew that Lavender would not have dwelled on such questions. She would have grieved her losses, yes, but then she would have picked herself up and carried on. She would have found the light in every situation, and even if she couldn't see it, she would have believed it was there, like the sun behind a grey cloud, creating a shimmering silver lining.

And so would he. He would think of what Lavender would have done, what Colin would have said, what Michael would have thought, and the jokes that Fred would have made. It would be his way of remembering them. Because if he let their deaths beat him, it would be like Tom Riddle had won after all. And Seamus would not stand for that.

As Neville had said, he wouldn't let their deaths go to waste.

Seamus placed the sprig of lilac flowers down onto the fresh mound of earth that marked Lavender's grave, straightened up, looked up at the sun that was breaking through the clouds, and followed his friends down the lane.


A/N:

So that's a wrap! Oh my gosh, this was one of the first HP stories I ever started writing, back in the summer of 2018. It tipped me over the edge of the HP fanfiction rabbit hole and since then I have written over 20 separate stories and become quite immersed in the HP fanfiction fandom! It's been quite a journey and thanks again to everyone that's given this a read, especially if you've shared your thoughts with me along the way! As ever, any more thoughts and reviews are welcome and loved!

As ever, thanks to Rachael and IKEAwhatyoudidthere for your help with this.

So what's next for me? I've started writing an 'eighth year' story, with the main pairing being Hermione/Draco. It won't be a sequel to this as such but some characterisations will remain the same and some events that happened in this story will be part of 'canon' in that one. I won't be posting it for a while yet though, because Covid is keeping me busy…

Keep reading and writing, and stay safe my fellow Hazza P fans! :o)