All examinations and lessons had been suspended, as Dumbledore's funeral was to happen today.
A lot of the students had been hurried away by their parents including the Patil Twins and Zacharias Smith, even if the gargoyles were there, several of the parents didn't completely trust the newcomers like Brooklyn and Griff.
Seamus though was able to convince his mother to stay.
McGonagall managed to find places for Brooklyn's Clan to sleep in while at Hogwarts. Broadway, Lexington and Bronx would stay in the Gryffindor Common Room with Brooklyn, While Goliath, Angela and the others found guest rooms at Hogsmeade with Seamus's mother. It was difficult to find a room because of all the guests coming to Dumbledore's funeral, but they managed (with some charisma from Xanatos, of course).
Brooklyn's rookery brothers had gotten to know Sirius quite well, and he liked them, even playing with Bronx in his Animagus form.
The weather seemed to mock them all as everyone filed near the Black Lake for the Funeral service, for it was a beautiful blue sky.
Brooklyn noticed how nervous Lexington was, for his youngest rookery brother had never seen a human funeral before, and comforted him about it.
"It's-it's just weird going to a funeral for somebody I haven't been able to meet," mumbled the olive gargoyle. Brooklyn put an arm around him. "I know, but it will be okay, we'll all be there to help," he said, voice sounding a bit rough, because he still was feeling some grief.
A lot of people appeared, and even Madam Maxime had arrived. Brooklyn had watched with a smile at the sight of the Beauxbaton headmistress throwing herself into Hagrid's arms.
The Minister of Magic was there, too, and even Cornelius Fudge, but Harry and Brooklyn avoided talking to any of them, as they went to find seats as far as possible away from the officials, bringing Brooklyn's Clan and the rest of their friends with them.
Broadway had spotted, to Brooklyn's fury, Umbridge along with Rita Skeeter who was writing down on a clipboard, as he leaned down to his brother.
"Who's the toad human?" He muttered. The red gargoyle scowled darkly, clenching his hand that still had the words I must not spread lies. Broadway stared slightly in shock. "She did that to you?" He nodded. "Yeah. A Blood Quill," he growled. Broadway looked furious, but knew now wasn't the time to make her pay, doing their best to ignore her as they took their seats.
Harry sat with Brooklyn next to Goliath and the others. Grawp was there, and looking more docile and almost human than he ever did. Mermusic started up, for a group of Merpeople appeared above the surface of the Black Lake along with Brody in his human form. Brooklyn suddenly saw Hagrid carrying a bundle wrapped in a white cloth with purple patterns and gold stars, Dumbledore's body. He felt his heart threatening to break again, as his hands trembled. Goliath took his hand, nodding comfortingly to Brooklyn, who began to try steadying himself, despite the hot acid of grief rising in his stomach.
Somber funeral music began to play, as Hagrid laid Dumbledore's body on the table, then walked solemnly down the aisle to his seat, blowing his nose loudly. Umbridge had made a disgusted face at that, making Brooklyn growl silently in anger. Why was she even here at all amazed him. Grawp had patted his brother on the head, and Hagrid's chair legs sank into the floor.
Firenze was at the funeral, too, his face looking quite emotionless, but the gargoyle thought he saw a tear coming down the centaur's cheek. When Umbridge had first laid eyes on him, she scooted far away.
A tufty haired man in black robes came up to speak, saying a speech about how Dumbledore changed people's lives, etc., but Brooklyn could hardly listen, feeling more tears starting to fall, remembering the first time Dumbledore had given him his redwood wand, how he accidentally broke one of his fancy instruments, but all that the man had done was smile, eyes twinkling, admitting he had one too many gadgets that Brooklyn would eventually have to show Lexington sometime.
He is dead now...he will never come back… it's a fact… his voice said to him in a lifeless tone. Brooklyn's eyes shut tightly, body shaking all over, as the man droned on and on with his funeral speech. Fawkes had flown in at that moment, to be near his gargoyle friend, until the speech was at last over. Brooklyn heard somebody scream, and he glanced up sharply.
Bright white flames had surrounded Dumbledore's body. His rookery brothers had all gasped in surprise, as the body rose up into the air, the flames making strange shapes, until at last, the flames died down, and the body was encased in a white tomb where Dumbledore now rested.
Arrows from the centaurs that were watching from the trees had come to pay their own respects, as they disappeared into the trees, along with the Merpeople leaving too. Brody gave Brooklyn a farewell wave as he turned back into a Merman and dove into the water after his kin.
Eventually Harry had gotten up after talking privately with Ginny, and Brooklyn joined him, the two brothers walking together side by side, until Scrimgeour approached them.
Brooklyn gave a small frown, still not happy about the fact of the minister trying to get him and Harry to be poster boys, as he once again nagged them about it, even having the nerve to ask where he and Harry had been with Dumbledore.
"Look, pal, what we've been doing is none of your darned business. Dumbledore didn't want anybody to know, so just leave it!" He had snapped heatedly. Scrimgeour frowned.
"Such loyalty is admirable, you two, but Dumbledore is gone, he's gone."
"He is only gone from this school if none remain loyal to him," Harry abruptly said, grinning. Brooklyn also grinned at this quote that Dumbledore spoke of in Hagrid's hut during the second year.
"My friends, not even Dumbledore can return from the dead—."
"That's because you uptight ministry humans can't understand Dumbledore logic," Brooklyn said, folding his arms. "We're not saying he can come back, because it is a metaphor saying."
Scrimgeour then even offered Auror protection, but Harry turned it down, saying he had Brooklyn, and not even Aurors can stop Voldemort.
"My offer from Christmas, have you—." The minister asked yet again, and the brothers both shook their heads no again.
"Have you released Stan yet?" Brooklyn then questioned hotly, still angry at them for arresting the good natured bus driver. Scrimgeour's face turned purple that reminded Brooklyn of Vernon.
"I can see you two are still—." The brothers fist bumped one another, smirking.
"Yeah, Dumbledore's men through and through that's right," they both said at the same time, roasting Scrimgeour right there. He glowered at them once more before stalking off, walking past Ron, Hermione, and Katie who hurried towards them.
Katie leaned in towards Brooklyn. "What did the Minister want?" She murmured. Brooklyn shook his head in disgust after the man. "He still wanted us to be his poster boys. Asked us during Christmas." He muttered back darkly. Katie looked quite affronted at the Minister for this.
Ron had wanted to hit Percy, but Hermione grabbed him, shaking her head, making Brooklyn chuckle.
"Come on, it will make me feel better!"
"Not the time, Ronald," the gargoyle stated, gazing up at Hogwarts. Katie looked at it with him, an arm around his.
"I don't like the idea of Hogwarts closing because of this, Brooklyn." She said sadly, but Brooklyn shook his head.
"They probably wouldn't. Young ones need their education, and we've got my Clan here now besides Una, Griff, Leo and Arthur," he pointed out. Ron nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, I'd say Hogwarts is even safer now with more gargoyles and wizards defending the place. What you'd reckon, Harry?"
Harry gave a small frown. "I'm not coming back." Brooklyn's eyes widened. "What?"
"I'm going back to the Dursleys once more, because Dumbledore would want me to. But it will be a short visit, then I'll be gone for good."
Ron and Hermione glanced at one another. "But where will you go if you aren't coming back to school?"
Then Harry spoke the craziest thing to Brooklyn. "I thought I'd go to Godric's Hollow, I feel like I need to go there, to see my parent's graves. I'd like that. And Brooklyn? Perhaps, you could go with me? You have yet to see the place where I was born."
Brooklyn felt his heart overflow with many emotions. Harry asking him to accompany him to his birth home, this was something that nobody had ever asked him to do, too, and his eyes began to fill with tears as he nodded.
"Yes. I will come, I wouldn't miss it. Broadway, Lex, Bronx and Griff could take over guardian duties while I'm away. But there's more than just that, is there?"
Harry nodded. "We will hunt the remaining Horcruxes together, Brook. It's something else Dumbledore would want us to and destroy them until all that is left is Voldemort's one remaining soul in his body, and I'm the one to kill him. And if we meet Severus Snape along the way...you can have the honors," he said, as Brooklyn felt more tears coming. Yes he would help destroy the Horcruxes. It will be his revenge to Voldemort for possessing him, and he wouldn't let Dumbledore's death be for nothing. He then gave his little brother a hug, as more of the crowd dispersed.
Ron and Hermione had both volunteered to come along with them, but when Katie begged to come, Brooklyn ended up shaking his head.
"B-but…" Katie whimpered, and Brooklyn put a gentle talon on her lips to quiet her.
"You need to stay with my Clan, Katie. Help them protect this place for me. But in time we will see each other again, and perhaps, pick up where we left off," he said gently, giving a small wink, making her blush, as she nodded, knowing this was Brooklyn's duty as a protector, no matter how far away he was.
The two then shared a small kiss, their friends watching. Harry and Hermione smiled while Ron fake gagged.
Ron then spoke. "Also, there's something else that you two need to do before going Horcrux Hunting," he said. The brothers both raised their brows.
"Why?" They both asked.
"Bill and Fleur's wedding is coming, remember? And Brooklyn, I really want your Clan to be around for it," Ron reminded them. Brooklyn gave a smile, that was definitely something else they couldn't miss, even during these dark times. First a funeral, now a wedding.
He took a small breath, as the foursome gazed out across the lake together, that also had Lex and Broadway join them, for they had overheard Harry's plans. They didn't like it, but knew Brooklyn had to go with his brother on this mission.
Goliath came up to Brooklyn. "I know of your quest with Harry, and I agree you should go, we will do our part in help defend this place, as gargoyles do." He said in his familiar deep voice. Brooklyn smiled thankfully to Goliath for agreeing to let him go, as the two shook hands.
The final battle was on the horizon, Brooklyn knew it, involving his little brother facing Voldemort, and him either helping reform or defeat Demona. But at the moment, this was a perfect final golden day moment to spend among his friends and family, closing his eyes as a fresh wave of warm air calmed his soul, putting one arm around his brother, Harry Potter.