Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

A/N: This is the funeral chapter. This is just a warning because I was not okay writing this chapter.

For the life of her, Hermione could not figure out why whoever was in charge had made all of the funerals as close together as possible. It was to be three days of endless sorrow, and she was nowhere near prepared.

She took a deep breath and smoothed a hand down her black dress, pressing her hand hard into her thigh. She needed to get a grip. Fred's was first, and she knew it would be the worst. A knock sounded on the bathroom door.

"Coming!" She called, assuming it was Ron. She opened the door and came face-to-face with George. She gaped at him for a moment, wholly unprepared to be met with him and unsure what to do.

"Did you see my cuff links in there?" He asked softly, not meeting her eyes.

"No, sorry. But I wasn't looking." She said and he nodded, ducking into the bathroom. She rubbed her arm awkwardly. Should she stay? Should she go?

"Help me?" He asked with half a smile. "I've always been rubbish with fancy clothes."

She busied herself with putting the cuff links on the wrists of his shirt, avoiding his gaze. "I saw you dress pretty fancy when the shop became an instant success."

"Yeah, but that was comfortable fancy, and there were never any cuff links involved." He glared at them as if they were the root of all of his problems and she chuckled softly.

"I'm sorry," She said after a few moments of silence.

"Don't." He said roughly. "I'll hear enough of that today."

She nodded. "Of course. If you ever need anything…" but he had already begun to walk away.

She sighed, and went to find Ron. She turned a corner and ran smack dab into Harry. They looked at each other for a moment and then she was hugging him tightly. They pulled apart and he squeezed her hand. That was their moment of weakness before they helped Ron and Ginny through the day. Hermione could only imagine how the rest of the family would hold up.

The door to Ron's room was half open and she knocked softly on the wall. There was no response so she eased it open and found Ron staring at his tie as if it he didn't know what it was. Her eyes met his in the mirror and the depth of his grief took her breath away. She didn't have long legs by any standards, but she crossed the room in less than a second, folding him into her arms. He bent and rested his chin on her shoulder, his arms around her waist holding on a little tighter than necessary.

She said nothing as she held him tightly. There was nothing she could say. Eventually he cleared his throat and pulled away. "Your hair looks nice." He said hoarsely, and she smiled.

"Thanks. Want help with your tie?" He nodded and she silently thanked Ginny for teaching her a couple years ago. She looped it through and then brushed the shoulders of his dress robes. "You look handsome." He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. She grabbed his hand and together they walked into the kitchen. The mood was even more somber down there. She swore she could see a fog surrounding the room.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were nowhere to be seen. Their children and significant others all sat in silence at the table. They didn't look up as Ron and Hermione joined their silent vigil. Merlin. It took everything in her not to cry, and they hadn't even made it to the funeral yet. Finally, a red eyed Mr. and Mrs. Weasley walked into the room holding hands.

"It's time." Mr. Weasley said softly, and one by one they all disappeared into the floo. Ron went in before Hermione, with only Harry, Ginny, and George left to follow. Hermione appeared in McGonagall's office and her favourite Professor smiled sadly at her.

"Good morning, Hermione." She had never heard the grief-stricken sound from McGonagall before. It occurred to her that she had probably used it far too much in the past thirty-or-so-odd years. Hermione vowed to make a world where her favourite Professor would never have to use that voice ever again.

"Good morning Professor." She responded softly. Ron came whizzing through the fireplace and she stepped to the side to avoid colliding with him. He stood up and dusted some floo powder off of himself, taking her offered hand.

"Professor." He nodded.

"Ron." She greeted and he was so stunned that for a moment he forgot to be sad. "Both of you, call me Minerva." They nodded and Hermione dragged him out of the room.

The funerals were to happen in the same space where Dumbledore's had occurred. Chairs were packed for Fred. Hermione ignored them all and pulled Ron into the front row with the rest of the Weasleys. She noticed there were enough chairs for the entire Weasley clan and those close to them to sit in the front row. Her head swiveled to the back as Ron had a murmured conversation with a stricken Percy. She almost smiled at the sight of Hagrid and Grawp taking up ten chairs all by themselves.

Hermione saw George suddenly appear. He approached Lee Jordan, who pulled him into a hug. They muttered something to each other and Lee nodded before turning back to Alicia Spinnet, whom his arm was now around. She was about to turn away when she noticed Angelina Johnson approaching George. Harry and Ginny had joined her and Ron and the four of them were now watching the exchange.

She said something softly and threw herself at him. He seemed to wilt in her arms and Hermione turned away. That was an interesting development. Ron put his arm around Hermione and she wrapped hers around his waist in kind, lending any comfort she could give. Ginny was extremely quiet, acknowledging no one except Harry. Hermione exchanged a devastated look with Harry and tried not to let her own tears fall. She blacked out for most of the funeral. All of those officials praising how great Fred's life had been, she couldn't stand it. Ron had gone rigid beside her, tears falling down his face. She grasped his hand tightly. She only zoned back in as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and then every one of Fred's siblings said a eulogy. Hermione had barely been able to stand Molly and Arthur's grief.

Every Weasley was crying. George's eyes never left his brother's casket. Suddenly Ron's hand was releasing hers as he walked up to the podium.

He cleared his throat. "Like all big brothers, Fred was a bit of a nuisance." He smiled at the rest of his brothers. "But he was my nuisance, and he really cared about everyone, even when it seemed like he didn't. I was there when he was…killed. But that's not how I remember him. I remember him as the one always ready for a joke when you were feeling down, who laughed so infectiously and got Peeves to solute him. I remember him pushing me at Quidditch because he knew I could do better. The world is worse off without him in it, and I will miss him every single day of the rest of my life. I hope you've been inducted up there as the new fourth Marauder. I love you Freddie."

Hermione was crying in earnest and her hand reached for his as he took his seat back beside her. "You were incredible. You did so well." She whispered, holding him to her. He smiled at her through tears and they went silent as Ginny said her piece.

"Fred. I can't believe I'm never going to see you again. I'll turn a corner at home and expect to see you there with a finger to your lips and a devious glint in your eyes as you rope me into some prank. No one knows this, but Fred taught me how to fly. He caught me sneaking Charlie's broom out late one night when I had fallen and cut up my arm. He fixed it and ever since then flying was our thing. He was so funny, and kind, and wonderful. I hate to live in a world without him, but at least I have the rest of my family to remember him with and by. I see him in the troublemaking streak in Charlie, in Bill's curiosity," she chuckled wetly, "in Percy's attention to detail, in Ron's overprotectiveness, in Mum's smile, Dad's walk, and in George's face. Gone but not forgotten. I will never forget you, Freddie. And I will always love you."

Hermione was sobbing by this point. The rest of the front row wasn't doing much better. Harry pulled Ginny into his lap, glasses fogging up as tears fell freely down his face. George's speech was next and it was nothing less than absolutely heartbreaking. Not a soul in the crowd had dry eyes. Hermione hardly heard any of it, the grief in her head was so loud.

"All that being said, he told me that if he died, I needed to put some fun in his funeral." George finished, nodding at Lee. "This is for you, Gred." He broke down then, but everyone was distracted by honourary fireworks lighting up the overcast sky. Hermione stood, arm wrapped around Ron, and allowed herself a smile. No Weasley twin funeral was complete without some WWW fireworks. The words 'Weasley and Weasley' lit up the sky, and Hermione took in a shuddering breath.

Luckily there was only one more funeral today, and while she was going, she didn't feel as desperately said as she had for Fred. She didn't quite know how to feel, to be honest.

The crowd thinned considerably. Professors McGonagall, Sprout, Flitwick, Trelawney and Slughorn stayed behind along with Filch, Pince, Pomfrey, Hagrid, and Grawp. All of the Weasleys except for Arthur, Molly, Ron, and Ginny left. Draco and Narcissa Malfoy appeared in the crowd (Lucius was in Azkaban), as did Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott, Daphne and Astoria Greengrass, Gregory Goyle, Graham Montague, Cassius Warrington, Marcus Flint, and Pansy Parkinson. Andromeda Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Luna, and Hermione and Harry stayed. Neville left, Hermione couldn't say she blamed him. She knew her, Ron, and Ginny were almost entirely there for Harry only.

"We gather today in honour of Severus Snape." Kingsley began. Hermione was numb for almost the entire funeral, until Harry got up to say a few words.

"Professor Snape and I loathed each other for pretty much the entire time we knew one another." He began to chuckles. "But he protected me his entire life. He put himself in the greatest danger as one of Voldemort's most trusted Death Eaters. He was a spy for Albus Dumbledore. I am not denying that he did some terrible things in his life. But people are not only good people or Death Eaters. The world isn't nearly as black and white as that. I owe it to him to be here, and I can only hope he has found peace in death, as he never had in life. I am forever grateful for everything he did for me, and I would like to overstep and say that my mother would have been proud of who he finally turned back into." Harry gave a nod and sat back down.

"That was beautiful Mr. Potter." A voice said, and Hermione regarded Narcissa Malfoy thoughtfully.

"Severus Snape was one of my greatest friends. As Mr. Potter said, he was not always a good person, but he was always good to me. He was kind, and sarcastic, and funny in a way very few people understood. He was there for me through some of the darkest times, when nobody else was. You will forever be in our hearts, Severus." It was short and sweet and she nodded to Harry afterwards, who returned it.

Snape's funeral ended shortly after that, and Hermione, exhausted, guided Ron back to Prof…Minerva's office. They said nothing on the way there. Minerva wasn't in her office, she was back making some arrangements for tomorrow with Kingsley. Hermione went through after Ron and they waited for Harry and Ginny. The rest of the Weasleys were nowhere in sight. Today had been a hard day for all of them.

Hermione hugged Ginny tightly, and then Harry, before disappearing up into Ron's room. She scrubbed the makeup off of her face and changed into her pajamas. She took a seat on the bed, combing through her less wild than normal curls. She had them half-tamed for today so she could actually brush her hair. Ron opened the door, looking ten kinds of exhausted. He threw his robes on the floor and began searching through his drawer for pajamas. Hermione waved her wand and settled his dress robes neatly on his chair for morning.

Neither of them said a word as Ron doused the lights and slid into bed next to her, pulling her close. Neither of them cried. They laid there for a long while before Hermione let sleep claim her.

HGRW

Both Remus and Tonks' funerals were today, and Hermione felt pre-exhausted. All of the funerals in three days had definitely been a bad idea. She dressed in black and joined the Weasleys in the second row; only officials, Harry, Andromeda, and Teddy sat in the front row. Harry was holding his Godson, bouncing him absentmindedly on his knee. Hermione noted Narcissa and Draco sitting silently at the back of the funeral. She wondered if Draco had ever met his cousin before she'd been brutally murdered by their Aunt.

Tonks' funeral was first and it was a blur. She remembered zoning out during Andromeda's speech in order to not completely fall apart. She and Ginny got up and spoke together. They talked about how fun and kind and brilliant and clumsy she had been and how colourful she had made the world. Harry said some lovely words. Hermione knew she wasn't doing the funeral justice but she couldn't bear to tune in completely, it all hurt so much. Minister Shacklebolt said some words for his fallen friend, the amazingly powerful Auror who had been taken from the world too soon.

Everyone stayed seated for Remus, and Hermione paid attention again because she was quite concerned about the toll all of these funerals were taking on Harry who had once again taken the podium, tears falling freely down his face. "Today we are remembering Remus Lupin. The world is cruel. He should have been my Uncle but the first time I met him I didn't even know who he was. He was endlessly kind and smart and brave. He taught me how to stand up for myself, and how to produce a Patronus. He loved my parents, and he loved Tonks. He loved Teddy so much, and it is so cruel that they barely had a week together. Remus, I promise I will keep you alive for him. He never thought very highly of himself, but everyone else knew what a wonderful, funny, sarcastic, and loving person he was. Mischief Managed."

No one said a word as Ginny stood to meet him and then took a seat next to him in the front row. A lot more people said a few words. Her and Ron did not, as too many people had asked to speak about Remus. Hermione knew it was none of her business but she found herself watching as Narcissa approached Andromeda. Neither of them said a word as Narcissa simply put her arms around her older sister. Draco stood awkwardly behind them before Andromeda pulled him into a hug and then plucked Teddy from Kingsley's arms and shoved him into Draco's. Hermione couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of a completely flummoxed Draco Malfoy holding his baby cousin, whose hair had turned the same shade of magnificent white-blond as his.

Hermione wandered off and found Harry sitting at the edge of the lake against a large Beech tree. "Hey." She said, smoothing her skirt so it wouldn't wrinkle and sitting down beside him.

"Hi." He said quietly. She knew he had been attending funerals of faceless people who had fought beside them by himself. "Didn't I tell you there would be no wallowing in self-pity?" She tried.

He snorted. "Clearly you don't know me very well." He tilted his head against the tree in exhaustion.

She grabbed his hand. "This is Voldemort's fault, not yours." He nodded. They sat there for a long time before Ron found them, Hermione's head on Harry's shoulder. His lips pursed slightly in fatigued understanding.

"It's time to go home." He told them. Harry nodded and took Ron's offered hand to get up. He drifted away from them without a word. Both Ron and Hermione's eyes followed him in concern. Ron offered her a soft smile as he helped her up and she took his hand with an answering one. His hand pulled her to him and he looped his arm around her waist. "One more day." He murmured.

"One more day." She echoed.

RWHG

Harry was once again making a speech. This was the last funeral that was to be held, the first one Hermione and Ron were attending that day. She suspected Harry had already been to a handful of services this morning. Today's funeral was Colin Creevey's. Hermione couldn't adequately put into words, even in her mind, the tragedy of his death. She knew Harry blamed himself the most for this one.

Colin's mother and father spoke. His father was a milkman, Hermione remembered. They had given their son a magical funeral instead of a muggle one. She wondered if they hadn't any relatives, or if they were going to have a separate funeral for the muggle side of his family as well. She cried through the whole thing. Colin's younger brother Dennis had spoken just before Harry, Ginny just after him. Colin and Ginny had been good friends.

Harry disappeared after the funeral and Ron gave her a significant look and a quick kiss on the forehead before stalking off to find him. Hermione found Ginny in the throng and detached her from a blubbering Dennis. She linked her arm through her best girlfriend's and led her around the grounds.

"I'm sorry for your pain, Ginny." She said, words feeling woefully inadequate.

"I'm sorry for yours. And I'm sorry I haven't talked to you much at all since it all ended." She smiled. "You're finally dating Ron." She stated simply.

"Yes. I love him." Hermione confessed with an involuntary smile.

"I know." Ginny winked. "So. Exactly how far have you guys gone?" She waggled her eyebrows in an attempt to lighten the mood. Hermione blushed a vivid shade of red.

"Ginny!" Hermione spluttered. "I…he…that is private…he is your brother!"

Ginny chuckled and soon it turned into full-blown hysterics. Hermione followed her and they were soon crying tears of mirth. "We can call him Rob to make it feel less icky. But I am your best girl friend and I am owed details." Hermione raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "C'mon Hermione." Ginny pleaded softly. "I need to gossip about something meaningless."

Hermione nodded in understanding. She needed it herself to be honest. "I wouldn't call it meaningless." She grinned and her heart lurched at the brilliant smile that statement rewarded her from Ginny. "Rob," She began, chuckling at the name, "and I have…gone all the way." It was much too hot out here.

"I knew it!" Ginny crowed. "I told Harry when Ron caught you the morning after everything ended that something was different. Hermione Jean, you naughty girl."

Hermione was mortified. "Ginnyyyy." She moaned.

"Come on I'm just taking the mick. Besides I'm no one to talk." Hermione's eyes widened in curiosity.

"Oh yeah? You and Harvey have…?" She asked with a grin.

"Harvey." Ginny snorted. "I love it. But yes, we have. It was…amazing. We haven't said I love you though. I don't want to scare him." Her eyes turned vacant as they scanned the grounds for him.

"You won't." Hermione responded lowly and significantly.

Ginny's mouth dropped open but luckily before she could try and pry information out of Hermione, Ron and Harry appeared. Harry looked slightly less depressed, and Ron looked worried but he pasted on a smile as they approached. He reached out his arm for Hermione and she gladly melted into his side. Harry put his arms around Ginny and hugged her right there. In a surprising display of tact, Ron steered Hermione away to give them privacy.

"He's barely holding it together." Ron muttered quietly to her. "I think I helped a little, but I don't know. I'm worried about him."

"And you?" She asked him softly, and for a moment his mask slipped. The sight of his grief felt like a punch to the gut.

"Not great." He said roughly.

"Me neither." She whispered and he pulled her close.

"That's okay. We can be not great together."

She nodded against his shoulder. "I like the sound of that."