Updated 2/8/21. Thanks to my Beta Tametiger for reviewing this chapter
Chapter 16 – A Mother's Funeral
It had taken hours for fire to burn itself out. The Burrow always looked like it was held up by magic, and in the aftermath of the fire it was easy to see how well the magic had done its job. Most of the walls had burned down. The support beams, the girders, the load bearing walls; essentially the skeleton of the Weasley home remained intact, although, given the state of it Harry knew it would be easier to knock it down and start again. Arthur and Bill were inside with Charlie and Fleur; assessing the extent of the damage. Dumbledore and Remus were in there with them.
Narcissa had been transported to Hogwarts. Andromeda had also been kept there, under observation under strict order from the Hogwarts Matron. Adelaide was there with her; both being taken care of by Dora and Ted and Sirius.
Lucius couldn't bring himself to look at his dead wife again. Once Narcissa had been taken away and he had been assured that Adelaide would also be taken care of, he had come back to the Burrow. He was staring at the husk that had once been the Burrow. They all were.
Harry was worried about Lucius. He'd retreated into himself. He recognised it at once. It was an Occlumency technique they had all learned. He had brought down the strongest barriers around his mind, locked away the biggest part of himself.
Harry knew that Lucius had already lost his soulmate, Maya, many years ago. It had taken him many years to love again. His love for Narcissa would never be as strong as it had been for Maya, but the witch had been his saviour and now he had lost her too.
There was nothing that Harry could say that would make him feel better. Harry told him that Narcissa was already dead before the fire had started. Madam Pomfrey had confirmed that by stating there had been no smoke damage to her lungs. Mrs Weasley had told them that Narcissa had thrown herself in front of Bellatrix's curse to protect Adelaide. This had been so that Andromeda could get a chance to run with the child. But Andromeda was also felled and so it was left to Mrs Weasley to protect Adelaide. Which she did. She'd managed to land a Sectumsempra on Bellatrix which only clipped her ear. Bellatrix had shrieked in rage and pain and cast the fire spell unleashing it to ravage the Burrow before she fled.
By that point reinforcements had arrived and they had been almost too late to save the survivors.
Bill and the twins had found Andromeda first, unconscious and pinned under a collapsed ceiling. Bill had stunned his father from behind and Harry had banished Ron backwards when he'd been too close to the fire. His friend was still angry with him about that. Harry had immediately put up a repelling ward that only he could dismantle but the twins and Bill had slipped past before the barrier was fully formed. Narcissa had been found upstairs draped across the threshold of Ginny's bedroom. She too had been trapped under debris. It had taken too long to dig her out. Even with the help of magic.
Mrs Weasley had been found in the twins' room, shielding Adelaide, her wand still aloft. Harry knew as soon as he'd landed eyes on Narcissa that she was dead. She'd already been burnt badly. He made the Weasley brothers leave with the others. Andromeda had come to when Bill removed the ceiling from her carefully and made sure that Adelaide was out safely before she let Bill take her out of the house.
Now, more than 12 hours later, long after sunrise, most of them had returned back to the Burrow. This was how they were spending Christmas Eve. Ron was standing slightly away from Harry, with Hermione and Neville between them. Luna held his hand tightly one side of him and her father held her other hand. Luna was angry with him also, but he knew from the grateful look on Xeno's face he had done the right thing. Luna was a strong witch; he'd trust her with everything, but her life meant more to him than his own. He knew, if it had been the other way around, Luna would push him away too to make sure he wasn't hurt. He'd pay for it later though. He could tell from the grip on his hand.
Draco looked angry and uncomfortable at being there. He kept shooting irate looks to Harry. He'd tried to storm the barrier after Harry had disappeared into his house. He'd thrown himself at it so hard the magic had knocked him out. If the circumstances hadn't been so grave Harry might have laughed. Snape stood behind Lucius like a dark statue, arms crossed. He looked so out of place. Ginny stood close to Ron, along with Fred and George.
They had formed a protective wall around their mother, who had (to Madam Pomfrey's consternation) refused to stay behind. The twins had managed to sneak their mother out under the Matron's eagle eye.
Fred had conjured a comfortable looking chair that his mother could sit in, under an umbrella that would protect her from the drizzle. The silence was only broken with her intermittent coughs. No one spoke.
Finally, after an age, Arthur, Charlie, Bill and Fleur walked out of the Burrow with Dumbledore and Remus.
"How bad is the damage?" Fred asked once they got closer.
Mr Weasley reached out one hand to his wife and squeezed it. He gave her a reassuring smile before answering, "The foundation and the structure is intact. The fire took most of, well, everything. Your rooms are the ones that suffered the least damage."
The twins exchanged looks.
"After all the explosions that went on in your bedrooms for so long, did you really think that we weren't going to put up some safety wards?" Molly said, her voice hoarse from the smoke damage.
"That's why everything on that side is the least damaged," Bill confirmed.
"Good thing we took all of our volatile ingredients to the shop," George muttered.
Harry dreaded the thought of how much more damage could have been done if those ingredients were touched by the fire. It was the room that Mrs Weasley had taken refuge in with Adelaide whilst Narcissa had drawn fire from Bellatrix – making her think that she was protecting her child in that room.
"You left some gadgets behind. I put them to good use," Mrs Weasley said darkly.
There was silence after that comment as everyone reflected on it. He knew that Lucius and the others were listening closely.
"So, what happens now?" Ron asked.
"We'll have to rebuild," Mr Weasley said simply, looking his home. "In the meantime, we'll all be at Sirius' place. Bill and Fleur have Shell cottage. Charlie will stay with them. There's a few things we can salvage for now. The family clock survived. Slightly damaged but nothing that can't be fixed."
"I'm sorry you lost your home, Mr Weasley," Harry said, knowing the words were inadequate. The Burrow held so many memories for the Weasley family. It had been home to him as well. The Weasleys had welcomed him with smiles and food and love.
Mr Weasley gave Harry a gentle look. He let go of Mrs Weasley's hand and walked to Harry, clapping a hand on his shoulder.
"A building doesn't make a home, Harry," the elder wizard said kindly. "Family does."
Opening his arms to include them all, "My family are all here."
Dumbledore smiled approvingly. He looked about to say something but they were interrupted by multiple cracks, signalling apparition. Everyone tensed and drew out their wands. They relaxed slightly when they saw Minister Scrimgeour and former Minister Fudge, followed by a handful of Aurors. There were dark mutterings from the Weasley children as they eyed Percy. Dumbledore hastily said his goodbyes and apparated away with a last cautionary look to Harry. A slightly sour look came over the Ministers face but he smoothed it over quickly.
Harry had heard good things about Rufus Scrimgeour from Kingsley and Tonks, and Moody before he passed. He had respected the wizard as a fearsome Auror. But as a Minister Scrimgeour was almost as bad as Fudge. Where Fudge had buried his head in the sand and refused to admit that Voldemort was back, Scrimgeour preferred to pretend all was well.
In one way it couldn't be denied that many Death Eaters had been arrested and imprisoned following attacks. Scrimgeour certainly wasted no time in making sure that Aurors were despatched when they were needed, but hearing from Kingsley and Tonks, he was definitely less proactive than he came across.
Dumbledore had warned him earlier in the year that the Minister of Magic had wanted to meet with Harry for a long time, but Dumbledore had refused to divulge Harry's location during the summer and refused entry to the Minister during term time. Harry appreciated Dumbledore's efforts on his behalf and contemplated disapparating away himself.
With a resigned sigh he thought he may as well get this confrontation over with.
The Weasleys closed ranks around Harry and Mrs Weasley, protective for very different reasons. This did not go unnoticed by Scrimgeour who gave a look of respect before he smoothed his expression once more. Percy didn't look anyone in the eyes; keeping his own gaze straight over everyone's heads.
Scrimgeour first turned towards Mr and Mrs Weasley, "Arthur, Molly, I'm very sorry to hear the news."
He gestured towards the burnt down house. "If there's anything I can do…"
"Thank you for your words, Minister. But between us, we have it all in hand," Mr Weasley said politely.
Scrimgeour nodded and asked a few more questions about the attack which Mr Weasley answered in the same polite tones. They'd uncovered the dead bodies of two Death Eaters who had been with Bellatrix. They had burned beyond recognition. Their bodies already been taken away by Aurors who had come over the night before.
"We've not just come to offer our condolences," Scrimgeour began roughly. Eying Snape and Lucius darkly he continued. "We've come to arrest the Death Eaters."
Harry smiled bitterly. Here it was. Politics at work. Harry noticed Fudge, despite looking particularly satisfied, didn't look anyone in the eye.
Wanting to make the Minister work for it, Harry said, "What Death Eaters? Your Aurors already took away the dead one's last night and Bellatrix got away."
Using that time, Harry exchanged a brief, but telling glance with Luna and Neville. They both nodded and discreetly shifted towards the back of the crowd, hiding behind the Weasleys. Very few noticed their behaviour.
"We are here to arrest Malfoy and Snape," Fudge said importantly, drawing attention back to the group. The Aurors moved towards Snape and Lucius cautiously. Harry eyed Fudge critically. He was still wearing his pin striped robes, though his lime green bowler was missing. The former minister had lost a weight since Harry had last seen him. Judging from the bags under his eyes, it was easy to see that he'd been getting little sleep either. Harry had no sympathy for the other wizard. He was a no-good politician who was too invested in his own comfort rather than doing job he'd been elected for, or rather - according to Lucius- selected for.
"For what charges?" Draco burst out, standing in front of his father, a look of panic about him.
"We told you, boy," Dawlish, one of the accompanying Aurors, said, moving towards Lucius with his wand out. "We're here to arrest the Death Eaters."
"Expelliarmus!" several voices called out from behind Harry.
Dawlish lost his wand instantly, as did the other Aurors.
Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Fred and George had each captured a wand from the Auror guard. Harry held back a snort at how easy it was.
Fudge flushed as the same thought seemed to have occurred to him as well.
Scrimgeour stood taller.
"What's the meaning of this? You are interfering in a Ministry arrest," Scrimgeour growled.
Harry noticed that Percy had side stepped out of the fray.
Lucius was looking disgustedly at Fudge. It had not been so long ago when Fudge had been dependent on Lucius for his contributions and his advice. Harry wondered if it was Fudge's idea, or Scrimgeour's, to come arrest Lucius and Snape.
"What proof do you have that Lucius and Snape are Death Eaters?" Harry asked in a hard voice. A part of him wished that Dumbledore hadn't disappeared when he did, but none of them had anticipated this action. Still, Dumbledore wasn't here. Harry was. He needed to handle this himself. His wand was pointed downwards but ready to fight if he had to. He had good reflexes.
"They both carry the Dark Mark," Scrimgeour spat.
"Malfoy was arrested as well, if you recall. His master broke him out of Azkaban," Fudge carried on.
Harry told many lies in his life time.
Little lies like; yes Hermione, I have done my homework.
No, Professor, I didn't break curfew.
Of course, Mrs Weasley, I'll keep out of trouble.
Normal teenager lies. He'd never told a big lie before. He hated them. He had grown up taking lies, life changing lies from the Dursleys regarding his heritage and his parents and their deaths. He abhorred lies, and even more he hated to lie like the Dursleys. But what he was going to say next wasn't exactly a lie, it was just stretching the truth.
"Lucius was broken out of Azkaban. He had to follow Voldemort, (Fudge flinched at the name but to his credit Scrimgeour didn't) to maintain his cover," Harry told them. "He was a spy for the Light. As was Snape. They both lost their spy positions last year when they rescued us from captivity. They couldn't return after that."
Fudge was turning red.
"What proof do you have that they were spies?" Fudge demanded, clenching his fists.
"What proof do you have that we were not?" Snape sneered, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"I have seen your Dark Marks," Fudge scorned. "You don't get one of those without doing truly atrocious deeds."
"They don't have the Dark Marks," Harry butted in.
"Of course, they do," Fudge yelled. "Snape showed me his Mark that night when – when-"
"The night you refused to believe me when I told you Voldemort was back?" Harry finished in a deceptively mild voice when Fudge faltered.
Fudge flinched at the name again, but quickly rallied.
"It was you who named Lucius as a Death Eater then," Fudge said triumphantly at them all. Looking imploringly at Scrimgeour. "Rufus, they've been tricked. Lucius was always slippery. It was Lucius who kept telling me to deny Lord Thingy's return. It was all his idea."
"Of course he had to say that," it was Arthur Weasley, to everyone's surprise, who defended Lucius. "He had to protect his family by pretending to work for You Know Who. Otherwise, You Know Who would have punished Lucius and his family. But Albus Dumbledore kept telling you as well, and you didn't believe him either."
"Carrying the Dark Mark is still an arrestable offence," Scrimgeour said darkly. "If Snape and Malfoy are innocent, then they will be proven so at their trial."
"I already told you," Harry said evenly. "They don't have the Dark Mark."
"Impossible," Fudge denied. "You can't get rid of the Dark Mark."
"Are you calling me a liar, former Minister Fudge?" Harry said mockingly.
Fudge flushed a nasty red colour, but this time Harry detected shame rather than indignation.
"Show us your arms," Dawlish demanded.
Sliding a look at Harry, Lucius slowly rolled up the sleeve of one arm first, all the way up to his bicep and did the same with the other. Looking at Fudge with a contemptible look, Lucius held out his arms for inspection.
Both arms were spotless, as Harry knew they would be. The Founders had removed Lucius' mark when he'd renewed his vow.
The Minister looked expectantly at Snape.
Lucius laid a comforting hand on the Potions Master's shoulder and said softly, "Show them your arms, Severus."
Looking pale, but trustingly at Lucius, Snape too, did the same time. It was testament to his acting skills that Snape wasn't shaking. But rolling up both sleeves, excruciatingly slowly, so that Harry thought that Scrimgeour would vanish the sleeves, Snape too revealed both his arms to be unblemished. Again, it was a testament to Snape's acting skills that he didn't reveal his surprise at the sight of his pale, markless arms.
Fudge gawked and stuttered.
"There is no – impossible! I saw the Mark myself. I saw it!" Fudge insisted.
Scrimgeour was looking carefully at the unmarked arms and muttered through a number of revealing spells to dispel what he thought might a glamour.
None of his spells worked. Lucius and Snape's arms remained spotless.
Scrimgeour didn't look pleased but didn't belabour the point further. Jaw clenching, he said, "Clearly, we've made a mistake, Cornelius."
Fudge looked defeated, but to Harry's surprise he looked at Harry with genuine regret in his eyes and said, "My apologies, Mr Potter."
His apologies to Lucius and Snape were a bit more stilted.
"If you can kindly return the wands to my Aurors," Scrimgeour said in stiff tones.
With flushed, angry mutters the Aurors retrieved their wands from the teens. Scrimgeour told Fudge to return back to the Ministry with the Aurors. With a last contrite look at Harry, Fudge disapparated away.
Only Percy and Scrimgeour remained.
Finally, being able to turn his full attention to Harry he requested for Harry to join him briefly. Harry accepted and after a final squeeze from Luna and suspicious looks from everyone else they walked a little further away. Percy was instructed to remain behind and spend time with his family. Mrs Weasley looked tearful as she looked away and Mr Weasley deliberately turned his back and walked off back towards the house with Remus and Bill. Fleur remained behind with her mother-in-law.
"Heard you were brave enough to run inside, Potter," Scrimgeour tried again, looking towards the house.
Harry didn't reply. The Minister hadn't asked a question.
"You'd make a good Auror, Potter," Scrimgeour complimented when Harry continued to stay silent. "It's a fine quality to have. It takes courage and fortitude to do what you did. I can help you with that. There's only a handful of months left until you graduate. Have you thought about your future?" His future was tied up with Voldemort's. He was keenly aware that he might not have one.
"Plenty of times," Harry answered briefly.
"You've been at the centre of many attacks, ready with your wand. Moody, Merlin rest his soul, and Kingsley bragged about your training whilst they were teaching you. Said you were a fine student and an excellent fighter. I can help you find your place within the Auror ranks. In fact, I could make a special dispensation just for you and you can come work at the Ministry before you even graduate."
Harry had to admit Scrimgeour threw some good bait. Three years ago, Harry might have jumped at the chance. To prove himself. To fight. But he'd seen the damage Fudge had done. Scrimgeour wasn't doing this for Harry alone. There was some ulterior motive. Dumbledore had already told him what that was.
"That's what you'd do for me," Harry said slowly. "What do you want me to do for you?"
There was that look again. A look of respect before it flitted away.
"Lucius and Snape were just an excuse," Harry scoffed. "You weren't really here for them."
"You're a symbol, Harry," Scrimgeour said, leaning forward. "The Prophet's calling you the Chosen One."
Harry held back a snort. The Prophet was only fit for rags but they were right about this unfortunately.
"The wizarding world believes in you," Scrimgeour continued. "They've seen you fight again and again and they've seen you walk away. I would like you to join the Ministry as a … a Junior Auror; you'd be in training. We could help you become a better fighter. Help you hone your skills. In return I want you stand by my side and show a united front to the wizarding world. We need them to believe that the Ministry is doing everything we can to fight against You Know Who."
"What is the Ministry doing to fight against Voldemort?" Harry asked candidly.
Scrimgeour didn't answer straight away.
"We're trying our best, Potter."
"Are you? The Aurors have good response times, I'll admit that. They arrived quickly at the attack at Hogsmeade a couple of months back and at St Mungos yesterday. But you could have accomplished that without being a Minister. What have you been proactive about? How do you know that there aren't Death Eater spies within the Ministry?"
"I have no doubt there are, Potter," Scrimgeour said stiffly, realising that convincing Harry wouldn't be so easy. "I have taken every precaution to ensure to make that-"
"Did you know that the Death Eaters have a ward that only allows anyone bearing the Dark Mark entry?" Harry interrupted. "What's stopping you placing a ward to do the opposite around the Ministry?"
"Do you know the cost of placing such a ward? Do you think it's that easy to just wave your wand?"
"You want the public to think you have everything to hand, that you're capable of protecting them but you're thinking about the costs and ease? That's not the sort of Ministry that I would align myself with. Fudge refused to admit Voldemort was back again for a whole year, Minister. Do you know how much damage Voldemort was able to do in that time? Without anyone noticing. He was able amass a whole army. He was able to infiltrate more than just the Ministry. A ward to repel anyone with the Dark Mark should be something you want. As a matter of urgency. Just think of the number of Death Eaters you would out just by having something like that. We're in a war, Minister. If you want the public to think you have everything under control then you need to actually do something, not look like you're doing something. Otherwise, you're no better than Fudge."
Harry didn't mention that should such a ward go up, he'd able to conclusively prove those who were marked Death Eaters and couldn't be tricked again like they done so with Snape. Harry was sure it had occurred to Scrimgeour as well.
"What about those who don't bear the Mark but still have Death Eater sympathies? This ward won't keep them out," Scrimgeour rebutted.
"No, it won't," Harry admitted. "This is where you need to be proactive, Minister. All you're doing right now is putting out fires. It's up to you to make sure that there are no wands out there that wants the world to burn. I won't support a Ministry where appearances matter more than the truth. Nobody believed my truth for a year. I'm not going to support a lie."
Deliberately, he raised his hand where the scar was still on his hand. I must not tell lies.
Scrimgeour's eyes widened as he realised how the scar must have been made.
"A Blood Quill?" he gasped. "Who?"
"A gift from Umbridge," Harry said darkly. "Fudge placed her at Hogwarts because he was paranoid that Dumbledore would usurp his position as Minister of Magic and that I was lying about Voldemort's return to facilitate that. Umbridge wanted me to learn a lesson, and believe me Minister, I learned. Choose carefully how you want to be remembered, Minister. Fudge lead us in times of peace and chose ignorance when it came to war. He will always be remembered for his disgrace, but you keep him by your side. Everyone who spoke about you always said you were a mighty soldier, a good Auror. But it will be your time as Minister that will make or break your reputation. Do not go the way Fudge did. You're better than that."
"You'd make a fine leader yourself, Harry Potter," Scrimgeour said dryly. "Don't think I didn't notice the rest of them letting you take the lead when Dumbledore left, adults twice your age. It is hard to be the one everyone looks to for guidance. There's a huge step from Head of Auror to Minister, and the fall is even greater. Whether you realise it or not, whether you want to or not, the wizarding world looks to you, Potter. I made the mistake in coming here today and thinking I was talking to a boy. I thought I would call out to your ambition and your desire to help and bring you on board. I didn't realise that you are a much better warrior than you are credited for. You don't need the Aurors. The Aurors need more like you."
"I'm sure that's not true," Harry said modestly. "I will fight, Minister. Voldemort wants a world where he can rule. He wants the world to be submerged in the same bitterness and the same darkness that he lives in. I want the world to see the light. The world is a beautiful place, and it deserves to have light. I could not walk away from this war. There will be a battle soon. But we need to win the small victories to make sure the big battle is worth it."
"I was told wrong about you, Potter," Scrimgeour admitted. "I thought you were head-strong and arrogant, wearing the scar on your head like a crown. But instead you wear that scar on your hand with pride. I'm aware of Umbridge's loyalties. If anyone could be deemed as a Death Eater sympathiser then it would be her. I can't prove that yet, but at least her use of the Blood Quill is enough to have her on trial."
"I wasn't the only one she used it on. Just the only one who got the permanent scar from it. I can send you a list of names for the others. And if you want another reason to arrest the Toad- then look into who sent those two Dementors after me. Her purpose to send them was to silence me forever, but almost getting me expelled was just as good. She was successful in neither goal."
Scrimgeour looked angry. Harry was aware of the true use of a Blood Quill. It had once been used by witches and wizards to sign binding contracts; signed in blood to seal the deal. But it was considered dark magic and the Quills had been confiscated and should have been destroyed.
"I'll give you something that I never thought I'd give you today, Harry. My respect. Perhaps, one day I'll gain yours."
Harry inclined his head. He was glad that this was a conversation, not a confrontation as he'd originally thought. Given Dumbledore's warnings Harry had expected Scrimgeour to be more unreasonable. That turned out not to be the case. Then again, Dumbledore could be stubborn himself sometimes.
Scrimgeour walked away from Harry back towards the others. He briefly spoke with Percy and waved for him to stay with his family. With a last nod at Harry he apparated away. Ron had already stalked away in anger and Hermione followed with a last pitying look to Percy.
Whilst Harry had been having his conversation with the Minister, Ron steadfastly ignored his prat of a brother Percy. Hermione stood beside him, a soothing presence as she stroked his arm in a calming manner.
Percy looked like he wanted to say something but Fred and George had walked off with Mum. Mum looked back tearfully but allowed herself to be led away. Charlie and Bill left with Dad. Only Ron and Ginny stayed but they were both angry. Ginny deliberately engaged in conversation with Neville and Luna, who stuck around to be supportive.
Percy cleared his throat for the tenth time.
"I – I – I was … Is Mum okay?" Percy stuttered over his words.
"Does she look okay?" Ron shot back aggressively, still not looking at his brother.
"I was – I've been meaning to write," Percy said, soldiering on despite the lack of welcome response.
"If your letter was going to be anything like your last one, then I'm glad you didn't bother," Ron continued belligerently.
"Ron," Hermione warned under her breath.
"Ron," Percy began.
Ron finally turned to his brother.
"What are you doing here anyway? Isn't being here hurting your ambitions? That was important to you wasn't it? You wanted to be away from the stain of your family. We were just believing the lies of an attention seeking scarhead weren't we? We were the thick ones, right? You were the one who was right and believed in the power of the Ministry. Go back to your precious career, Percy. That meant more to you than we did."
"Ron, I just want to apologise," Percy stammered.
"You can stick your apology," Ron bellowed. "Your words mean nothing. You didn't believe Harry and us at first, but he was right. Even then, when you knew he was right you didn't come back. You didn't apologise then. We aren't in any less danger now than we were back then. You chose to be ignorant and you chose to be a coward. You chose your pride rather than coming to us a year ago. Where were you in the spring when we were taken by Death Eaters and tortured? You were still hiding behind the Ministry. You're a coward and you're no brother of mine."
"Please, Ron. I know I was wrong. I thought – Harry was always getting into trouble. And you always got hurt when you were with him."
"You know, in first year, Harry told me and Hermione to stay behind. He told us we didn't have to go with him. But we chose to. It was our choice. And yeah, I got hurt, but I knew that could happen and I still chose to go with him. I knew it was dangerous and everything but believe it or not we did try and get help from a teacher and she didn't believe us. And then after everything was over, Dumbledore awarded us points. You remember that, Percy? You sat next me and you clapped and you cheered when Dumbledore gave me fifty points for playing with the giant chess set. You were proud, in fact. You were proudly showing off your little brother who beat McGonagall's chess set.
"Where was your anger then? Why weren't you worried then? Why didn't you tell me to stay away from Harry at that time? You stayed silent. And then in second year, we rescued Ginny from the Chamber. We knew Lockhart was an idiot but we didn't know he was a fraud. We went to a teacher then as well. We were let down again. You weren't mad then that Harry faced a basilisk by himself. That he almost died. I was the one who was safe. I was trapped with Lockhart on the other side whilst Harry did the hard work. You weren't angry with Harry then, because Ginny was safe then, wasn't she?
"Ginny tried to ask for help that time, but your head was so far up your own arse even then that you thought she was going to tell us about you sneaking around with your girlfriend. Every move Harry makes it's to help us. Every move you made was to help yourself. Harry's more my brother than you are. You are just a hypocrite. I do not want your apology. If you really want to apologise to anyone you need to apologise to Harry. Because you were wrong about him every step of the way."
With that Ron stalked off, not wanting to speak to Percy the Prat anymore. He was aware of Hermione coming after him.
Severus listened closely as Weasley prattled to his brother as his surreptitiously rubbed his Mark through his sleeve. He knew the Mark was probably back on his arm. It had taken a lot of control not to show a reaction. He had been so envious when Lucius had had his Mark removed. He wished he could have had the same thing happen to him. He did wonder why Harry had protected him, but was grateful, nevertheless. Maybe this meant there would be a thaw in his direction, and he would be willing to meet after the Feast when they got back to the school. So far, Harry had not let on that he had read Severus' letter, but Severus was hopeful after the way Harry had defended him.
Looking back towards the quarrelling brothers, he knew there was a lot of anger there. Lucius had gone back to staring at the Weasley home, but Severus knew he was listening.
The Minister came back from speaking to Harry and waved for Percy Weasley to stay and spend more time with his family. Severus sneered at the words.
Harry came walking up and was about to walk towards his friends when Weasley the outcast stopped him.
"Harry, can we talk?"
"Yes, Percy?" Harry said in bland voice.
Severus turned away but stayed within hearing distance so as not to miss a word. Draco did not bother with trying to pretend, he simply watched it all unfold. He was keenly aware that almost everyone was listening. Percy must have realised this too, but bravely pressed on.
"Ron's right. It is you I should be apologising to. I was wrong about so much. I believed Fudge because no one really wanted to believe that You Know Who was back. I was really young when he was defeated last time, so I don't know the terror first-hand, but I'd heard enough horror stories. And I thought, it couldn't be true because then I would have to live through the same terror that Mum and Dad lived through. I just wanted my family to be safe. And I thought the best way to do that was to make them see that you were a liar. Can you forgive me?"
Percy's voice was earnest. Severus reluctantly understood everything the boy was saying. Even as the Dark Mark had burned on his arm that night, he too found that he did not want to believe. Even though he had been preparing for that very event for many years.
Harry was silent. Severus peeked over his shoulder to look. Harry was staring Percy contemplatively.
Eventually, he spoke.
"I can forgive you, Percy," the Boy Who Lived said sadly. "I can forgive you for everything you've said to me, everything you've said about me. I can forgive you for not wanting to believe that Voldemort had returned. I can forgive you for thinking that your family would get hurt if they continued to associate with me, because you were right. They did get hurt. Ron got hurt because he sacrificed himself so that I could continue. Ginny was traumatised because the diary she was writing in was fascinated by me (Severus felt Lucius flinch next to him at the mention of the diary) and used her to lure me to the Chamber. Ron got hurt again when we were chasing after Scabbers and Sirius took him instead. Your dad got hurt when he was protecting something at the Ministry because of me. You are right, Percy. Your family are more in danger because I'm around and if they walked away from me at any time, it would hurt me, but I would understand. I can forgive you all of that, Percy, because in your own way you thought you were protecting them."
Severus' heart sank. Would everyone be forgiven except him?
Harry paused and let his words sink in, and Percy looked a little relieved.
"But there's one thing I can't forgive you for, Percy, and that's for hurting your family."
Severus no longer pretended he was not listening. Looking around, everyone had given up on that pretence. Only Lucius continued to look at the Burrow.
"Harry, I –" Percy tried to say.
"No, Percy. Please let me say this. I need to make sure you understand."
Percy nodded.
"Ron was my first friend, ever. On that first train ride to Hogwarts, he spoke to me and told me all about his big family and how he was proud of all of you. And he was aware of all his brother's combined cast a huge shadow and he knew what was expected of him to get out from under it. I didn't know then, but he'd written home to your mum and told her that I didn't expect any presents from my relatives. And you don't know how much it meant to me that she knitted me a jumper. A handmade gift, that she put in a lot of love and effort into that all of you take for granted and roll your eyes at. I still have every single jumper she knitted for me. She made me feel included, it was the first time I felt like I was a part of a family. She sent you your jumper, last year and the year before that. And you sent it back. Like it meant nothing. Like her love for you meant nothing. She cried because of you. I can't forgive those tears you forced her to shed. I can't forgive you for breaking your mum's heart.
"I was with Ron when he got your letter. You told him to cut ties with me if he wanted to progress. You said you were proud that he was made prefect and encouraged him to follow in your footsteps and that the path the rest of your family had taken was wrong. I remember the disappointment in Ron's eyes that his own brother would say all those things to him. He looked up to you, whether you believe it or not, he did look up to you and he lost all of that, that night. I can't forgive you for doing that to my best friend.
"When your dad was in bitten by a snake within the walls of the Ministry there was no one around to help him. He was there doing a job that the Ministry should have been doing but you were all so busy blaming me and Dumbledore. He almost died that night and he was in hospital for days. For so many days, where all his children, except you visited him. Not even a single letter to ask if he was okay, not a shred of doubt that maybe your parents were right. I can't forgive you for letting your dad think that you didn't even care whether he lived or died.
"It's been more than 2 years since you left them Percy. And your mum almost lost her life again. Last night when your house was on fire I stopped Ron from running inside. And if I could have stopped Bill and Fred and George as well, then I would have done. You know the reason why? I saw her come across a boggart once. Her worst fear was her children dead. Ron's angry at me right now for not letting him run inside. He only wanted to rescue his mum. But I couldn't let him do that. I couldn't. I kept seeing your mum's boggart. Every time she tried to banish it, it turned into the dead bodies of all your brothers, you, Ginny. Even me. It made me happy to see that she considered me family enough to include me in her worst fears. That she would mourn my death like she would her own children. I didn't want Ron in there and see his mum like that. To see a corpse. There were three mums in that fire last night, Percy. Only two made it out alive. And if your mum had been the one to perish in there, then she would have died thinking you weren't there for her. I can't forgive you for that, Percy. I can't forgive you for what you've done to your family."
Severus was stunned at the power behind those words. Percy had tears streaming down his face. Severus could see the shame in the boy's eyes. Harry walked off towards Ron, who reluctantly spoke to him.
"I know you're angry with me, Ron," Harry said, in what he hoped was a humble voice.
"I didn't know that thing. The thing about my mum and the boggart," Ron mumbled.
"Your mum wouldn't stop crying," Harry told his friend. "No matter how injured she was, no matter how hurt she was, she still wouldn't have stopped worrying that you'd hurt yourself trying to get her out. It's what mums do. I couldn't make her worry even more."
"You said the boggart showed her your corpse as well. She would have worried about you the same as she would have worried about me."
Harry was struck dumb. He had no words to dispute the truth of that statement.
"Harry has a saving people thing. It's a real condition," Hermione said primly.
They all laughed reluctantly at that.
"Is there a cure?" Neville quipped.
"Blindfold?" Ginny asked. "If he can't see them he can't save them."
"Harry and I use that for something else," Luna said dreamily.
Harry blushed as everyone else laughed again. There was a dark undertone to the laughter. Understandable, given the circumstances.
When the laughter had died down, Ron said more seriously, "I was angry because you've never physically stopped me like that before. You've always tried to talk us out of following you, but it's always been our choice. Last night, by putting up that barrier you took that choice away from me. I hate you for that."
"I'm sorry," Harry sighed. "I didn't know what we were going to find in there. I didn't know how bad things were. And in my mind I saw your mum's boggarts. I saw the corpses that your mum had seen because she was afraid to lose her family in this war. I just thought I didn't want you to see her dead like that. Can you forgive me or do I have to go join Percy in his shame?"
"Nah. You just gave him that big long lecture about why you can't forgive him. I couldn't make you stand next to him after that," Ron said easily.
"Thanks," Harry said dryly. "You're so thoughtful."
"I do have more emotional range than a teaspoon," Ron deadpanned.
They laughed again. Harry was about to tell Ron that he should make up with Percy but Ron wasn't even paying attention.
"What's Malfoy doing?" Ron asked, looking over their shoulders.
They turned around to see Lucius changing into his Battle gear. He had his shield in one hand and a dagger in the other.
Harry, Neville and Luna looked at each other and changed into their Battle gear as well. They understood what Lucius was about to do.
Lucius was slowly coming out of his numbness. His wife had given her life to protect their child. A child who had come into this world despite all the barriers to prevent pregnancy. A child had suffered in the womb and against all odds had survived that, once by Cruciatus and once by a fall. A child who by all rights should have been dead because the amount of damage the smoke could have done to her tiny little lungs. His miracle child. His and Narcissa's.
He stared at the ruins of the Weasley home. He listened to Harry tell Percy about his love for the Weasley family. He flinched at the mention of three mothers almost dying in that fire. One mother did die. The mother of his children. This was the second time he'd lost a woman he loved. Clearly, in this life his love wasn't meant to last. He had nothing left in his heart to give. He only had his children. But no, he swiftly corrected himself. He did have more than Draco and Adelaide. He had Andromeda and her family. He had Severus. He had Harry, Luna, her father and as unlikely as it would seem he had the Weasleys as well. He wasn't alone, he knew. Losing Narcissa, however, made him feel lonely. And more vulnerable than he had in a long time.
Arthur and Molly walked up to him now. Molly was slow, limping slightly. Her coughing was painful to see. Even through his earlier numbness, he had heard how they had all worked together to defeat Bellatrix. To save Adelaide. It had Molly's idea to take Adelaide into Fred and George's room and guard Ginny's room as a trick. It was Narcissa who insisted on staying outside Ginny's room because Bellatrix would believe Narcissa would never leave her child. She had underestimated a mother's love. Narcissa would rather see her child alive and escape with someone else, than have her die at her side.
The decoy had almost worked. But Bellatrix had not been fooled for long. Narcissa had laid down her life for her child, and Andromeda and Molly had almost lost theirs.
He owed them both a huge debt in saving his daughter.
"Your wards weren't strong enough," Lucius stated. There was no blame in his voice. It was simply a statement. Despite this, both Molly and Arthur flinched.
"How long before you start the repairs?" Lucius asked softly.
"Repairing our home isn't a priority," Arthur told him as he carefully watched Molly limp towards Lucius. "We're just going to salvage what we can. Close down the place and stay with Sirius for now. Once the war is over, we will rebuild. Right now, it doesn't matter where we live. As long as we're together."
"Speaking of together…" Lucius trailed off as he glanced towards Percy who stood alone. He was standing awkwardly apart from everyone else. Harry's words had put the third Weasley son to shame. He was too afraid to approach anyone else and daring enough to stay despite the animosity.
"Forgive the boy. He's finally come back to you. He could have left again after hearing some harsh words, but he's still here. Let him make amends if that is what you require of him. As I have learned last night, we could lose anyone at any time. Make the most of the time you have together. In the meantime, I have some reparations I have to make to you."
Before they could question him further, he tapped his bracelet and changed into his Battle gear. He took shield in one hand and with a flick of his wrist had his dagger in the other. He looked across to Harry, Neville and Luna. They saw him and copied his movements. They understood.
"As a gesture of my gratitude and a token of my restitution towards the damages I have inflicted on you and your family, please accept this gift from me," Lucius said formally.
He threw his shield to the ground and stepped onto it. Rising, he commanded his shield to fly him above the Burrow, at the very centre. The other Champions joined him. Using their daggers, they cut their wand hands and clasped them together to combine their blood as one and flicked it over the structure of the Weasley home. Then they began to fly in circles, counter clockwise, the circle slowly getting bigger and bigger. Eventually, they were flying around to encompass everyone on the ground. A dome appeared around them, including the Weasley's garden, the chicken coup and stretched even further. Magic began to hum around those who gawked from the ground.
Round and round they went. Feeling a pull, Arthur reached into his robes and took out a shrunken broom that he had scavenged from his home. Enlarging it, he mounted the broom and carefully pulled Molly with him. He too joined the Champions and took his place in the circle.
The magic pulled all of them. Any of them who had been able to find brooms mounted them, and those who could not shared with someone. Those who could not share clasped hands with each other still on the ground. Each felt a tug of magic warmed them up from the inside. There was a strong sense of family, of love that pulled on each of them.
Lucius felt their magic powering the dome. Harry poured as much of his magic as he felt necessary. This home meant a lot to him. The dome crackled with energy and magic around them. Blue light crackled. There was a shimmer of pink and red and silver that started at the top and ended at the bottom. Their combined magics reached a crescendo. Lightning struck at the centre and there was a huge cracking noise. Those in the air slowed to a stop but did not land quite yet.
Lucius felt a burden lift from him. Since he had received the Dark Mark his soul had been burdened by the sins of his crimes. The loss of all the people he had not been able to protect. Those he had had to sacrifice. Families he had been ordered to tear apart. His intention to hand the diary to Ginny Weasley had been innocent. He had wanted her to write in it only once and then hand the thing over to her father who would take steps to destroy it. He had not anticipated her need to continue writing in it and he had underestimated the power of a young Tom Riddle who'd managed to ensnare the young witch. He truly regretted the trauma he had caused her.
Narcissa had sacrificed her life for her daughter. Molly and Andromeda had been prepared to do likewise. There was a lot of power in love magic. Love was the most powerful anchor that allowed him to use his magic to create a completely natural ward, a protective barrier that would shield the Weasley family home from allowing entry to those who meant harm. It was a draining piece of magic, but Lucius also felt cleansed.
Most of the Weasleys were in the air. Percy was still on the ground. Draco was down there too. Those in the air stopped and stared at each other.
Ron, who was sharing his broom with Hermione, looked at Severus in bewilderment.
"How are you flying without a broom?"
Severus looked startled, as if that were news to him. He looked down and realised that he was in fact in mid air, supported by nothing. No shield, no broom.
"Argh!" He yelled as he fell. They all began to fly towards him.
Too late. He hit the ground with a squelch. Luckily, it was softened by last night's rain.
Everyone landed around him. Severus looked up at them in a daze.
"Professor Snape was in a Kiss Coma," Hermione gasped.
"What?" Ron asked in confusion.
"Killian kissed Professor Snape before … you know… and Professor Snape fainted. He woke up several days later. She must have transferred the power of flight to him. She said to use it well. This must be what she meant."
Severus did not look amused at being reminded of the incident.
The Weasleys did.
"You know, the muggles have a fairy tale where the beautiful princess was awoken by a prince from a deep sleep," Harry said casually.
"Really?" Ginny asked with interest.
"This Prince was sent into a deep sleep by kiss," Harry said with a smirk.
Lucius sighed at the play on Severus' mother's maiden name.
"Either the Kiss was really boring, or really amazing. Which was it, Professor?" George asked.
They looked at Severus expectantly.
"All right, that's enough," Molly admonished saving Severus from coming up with an answer.
Lucius held out a hand to Severus who got up, his face flushed.
"Kiss Coma? Is that what the kids are calling it?" Lucius murmured.
Severus gave him a glare.
"Not a word, Lucius," Severus warned.
"I think we should all leave now, before we collapse," Neville pointed out.
Lucius agreed. He did feel exhausted. It was worth it. Harry looked like he was close to fainting. Arthur and Molly were both swaying. The high from expanding so much magic was wearing off. They needed to get back to Hogwarts.
Everyone who had been at the Burrow on Christmas Eve had spent the rest of the night and almost all of Christmas Day sleeping off their exhaustion. Sirius, one of the few who had not been there, had taken care of the Christmas meal. By taking care, this meant that he had requested the Christmas meal from the Hogwarts elves. Mrs Weasley was able to take the rare time off from cooking. The twins were waiting on their mother hand and foot. Keeping her distracted. Everyone had retreated back to Hogwarts, including Percy. The Weasleys had reluctantly invited him, still upset with his actions but given the recent death of Narcissa they had not been able to turn him away. Percy did not insinuate himself into any conversations, and uncharacteristically, the twins refrained from pranking their elder brother. In fact, they ignored him altogether.
Given Percy's presence they had refrained from leaving for Headquarters. Percy may have had a change of heart but that didn't mean they trusted him. Given the circumstances, the atmosphere was subdued. Lucius and Draco barely touched their meals and left quickly. Harry knew they were going back to the Hospital Wing. Most of the castle was empty. Only few students remained behind. Given the state of the wizarding world, most parents wanted to spend as much time with their children as possible.
Harry was with Neville and Ron, on their way to the Quidditch pitch, despite the cold weather. Harry needed to take his mind off everything that had happened. Flying was a good outlet for him. Ron never gave up an opportunity to get on a broom either. Harry knew Ginny probably would have joined them, but Ron pulled a big brother act on her, causing her to walk off in a huff.
"I can't believe that Snape gets the cool power of flying without a broom," Ron was moaning.
He did like the idea of not being dependent on a broom or his shield for flight. It would be complete freedom. He loved being in the air. It was his element. Neville had earth, which was why he did so well with Herbology.
"It would be nice," Harry agreed.
"Maybe Snape will let you have it for a kiss?" Neville quipped.
Ron snorted with laughter and Harry wrinkled his nose.
He shoved Neville in the shoulder, causing him to slip in the snow. This began a good-natured shoving match which included pelting each other with snow.
Amid it all, he was shoved violently from behind. He landed face first in the snow and came up spluttering.
He looked up to see both Neville and Ron look over him. Neither of them had pushed him. Turning onto his back he saw the pale, angry face of Draco.
He stood up, brushing snow from his clothes. With a look, he indicated for his friends to stay out of it. He'd seen Draco getting angry. He knew this was coming.
"What do you want, Draco?" Harry said in a bored voice.
"You've taken everything from me, Potter." Draco spat.
"What have I taken from you?" Harry asked, confused.
"My father. He answers to you now. He doesn't care about me. You took my mother from me. My mother defended you. She thought you could do no wrong. Saint Potter!"
"You know none of that's true. Your parents love you. You don't know what it means to be unwanted so I'll thank you to keep your trap shut," Harry threatened coldly.
Draco came closer and pushed Harry backwards.
"They think you're a saviour. But you couldn't save my mother," Draco growled, an ugly expression on his face.
"Neither could you," Harry said quietly.
Draco pushed Harry again, forcing him backwards.
"Take that back, Potter!" Draco snarled.
"What kind of son are you, Draco?" Harry taunted. "I was the one who saved you and your mum in Diagon Alley. You were just writhing on the ground like a pathetic worm. Where was your bluster then? Pansy died for you as well. Where was your anger then? Your mum fell and almost lost her baby because you were throwing a tantrum. You didn't even have the guts to tell your dad. Kept quiet like the snivelling worm that you are. You couldn't save yourself, let alone your mum."
"Shut up, Potter!"
"She was probably happy to get away from you," Harry carried on.
He dodged a punch from Draco and rammed an elbow to his side and then tripped him up. Draco scrambled to his feet and aimed another punch at Harry again.
"Really, Draco? Is that the best you can do?"
Harry let Draco tire himself out but didn't throw a punch back.
"Why won't you fight me, Potter?" Draco panted as Harry threw him to the snow with no effort.
"I have no quarrel with you, Draco," Harry answered solemnly. "But you're angry and grieving and you needed an outlet."
Draco fell back and looked up to the sky, still breathing hard.
"I tried to save her," Draco broke down, tears leaking from his eyes. "I tried, but you stopped me."
"I stopped you for the same reason I stopped Ron. Because you shouldn't have had to see her like that," Harry said, kneeling on the cold ground next to him.
"I would have gone in. I would have saved her," Draco cried.
"Your parents would give your life for you," Harry sighed. "You need to understand, Draco, I've not taken your family from you. I am your family now. You're not alone anymore. You have us. It's not all up to you. It's not all up to Lucius. Bellatrix didn't target Narcissa because of me, she was already after your parents. Family doesn't mean anything to her."
Draco sat up to face Harry.
"I said some really bad things to my mum, Harry. I never apologised. And now I'll never be able to make things right."
"She knows you didn't mean them, Draco. Like I didn't mean anything about you being pathetic. I was just trying to get a rise out of you. I was letting you vent because I know you needed that. And your mum knew you loved her, no matter what you said when you were angry."
"I still need her, Harry," Draco sobbed and threw himself around Harry's shoulders.
Harry was startled and made no move, looking to Neville and Ron for help. He hadn't expected Draco to ever come to him for comfort.
Ron and Neville shrugged. He'd get no help from them.
His knees were going numb. His clothes were soaked from the snow.
"Isn't your arse going numb, Malfoy? Because I've lost all feeling in my legs."
Embarrassed, Draco pulled away and wiped his tears. Harry stood up and offered his hand to Draco. Startled, Draco accepted it.
"You're still a Scarhead to me, Potter," Draco tried to bluster.
"Ferret face," Harry returned easily.
"You're going flying then?" Draco asked, as no one spoke.
Harry looked to Ron and Neville. They shook their head warningly. Despite Draco's breakdown they didn't want him tagging along.
"Yeah," he said shortly.
Draco waited expectantly, but Harry simply looked back at him.
"So, you're off to the Quidditch pitch then?" Draco filling in the silence.
"That is the plan," Harry told him.
Ron and Neville's heads were in danger of flying off as they continued to shake their head. Harry repressed a smirk.
"We'll be off then," Ron hinted.
"Right," Draco nodded. "You're going to use the school brooms?"
Harry dried his clothes and as a courtesy dried Draco's clothes, out of pity when the other boy began to shiver.
"See you around," Harry said brightly and stepped around the blond.
Harry walked with Ron and Neville.
"If you'd have invited him, Harry, I would have yanked out your spleen through your nose," Ron threatened as they were out of hearing distance.
Harry laughed.
"I would have helped by teaching him the spell for it," Neville added.
Harry shook his head. He didn't think they would ever really get on with Draco Malfoy.
"He's still Lucius' son. We don't have to hang out with him, but we don't have to create a more tense atmosphere either."
Ignoring him completely, Ron asked, "Are we using the school brooms? I brought mine with me. Or are you using your shields?"
Ron took out his shrunken broom.
Harry and Neville took out theirs as well.
Reaching the pitch, Harry unshrunk his Firebolt.
"No shields," Harry said. "How about a race?"
Then, without any more warning, he mounted and took off. Hearing indignant yells from his friends behind him.
They continued to laugh and whoop. It was their way of coping. Burning off energy and working their way through grief. All three of them were aware that Draco Malfoy had followed them to the pitch and hidden himself in the bleachers. Harry didn't invite him. It was big pitch. If Malfoy wanted to fly, he simply had to grab himself a broom.
Lucius had never imagined that Narcissa would pass before him. He'd been prepared to die before his family, and that included Luna and the others, before anyone else. Part of it was because of his age, he was older than any of them. The other part of it was due to being a traitor to the Dark Lord. Voldemort could never be mistaken for a forgiving person. And his most loyal Death Eaters were almost as zealous as he was.
After rescuing the teens last year, he had been so aware of his mortality. Helping Killian rescue the hostages, he had been prepared to die. His only regrets would have been not having Draco, Harry, Luna and Neville know the full truth. Narcissa had expressed her surprise that his will had not come into effect and she'd said she should have realised he was not actually dead when she had not been contacted by the Goblins.
They both had wills drawn up during her first pregnancy, in which of course, Draco had been named the benefactor, but he would not receive it until he came of age. Everything had been left to their son, in the event of both their deaths and should he still be in Hogwarts then the Executors would take him in and look after the Estate. They had named Andromeda and Edward Tonks as their Executors. And should one die before the other, then of course they had named each other as the beneficiary. Lucius had always secretly thought it would be him first. Apart from leaving everything to Narcissa and Draco, he had also left letters to Harry, Luna and Neville. These letters had been written before the three had received their memories and in them he hoped to explain everything to them, and the actions he had taken as Lucius Malfoy and hoped he was forgiven and that maybe in the next life they would meet again.
Narcissa's will named Draco as her beneficiary for all her inheritance from the Black side of the family in the event she passed before Lucius, and gave Lucius full control until Draco reached 21 years. The day Narcissa had been attacked he had been at Gringotts Bank before he'd made his way to St Mungos, updating his and Narcissa's will. Given his new-born daughter, and the fact that Harry, Luna and Neville were in possession of the same knowledge that he was, he knew that his will needed to be amended. Parkinson was his Witness. Narcissa had already updated hers to include Adelaide after she found out she was pregnant. The simple amendment had been that her inheritance would be split equally between her children until they both reached 21 years and Lucius would remain in control of their finances until then.
Lucius couldn't face any of that yet. He still had to bring himself to bury his wife. The atmosphere in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place was sombre. Everyone was dressed in their best clothes. Her family had refused Molly to make breakfast whilst she was still on the mend, so Harry and Arthur had taken over. However, no one was eating. No one spoke, though there was the occasional noise from sniffles and coughs, as they all held back their grief. He was waiting for Draco to come down. He knew his son was feeling guilt for all unsaid words between his mother. Lucius knew he needed to speak to Draco about that but the boy was avoiding him. Lucius would catch up with him soon enough. Guilt wasn't Draco's burden to bear.
The clock chimed just as Draco entered. Molly beckoned Draco towards an empty seat, only one seat over from Lucius. Draco nibbled on some toast and took a couple of sips of his tea before pushing everything away. Lucius couldn't blame him. He had no appetite either.
"Everybody ready?" Black asked in a soft voice, looking around the table when it was obvious that no one would be actually eating.
Andromeda and Ted were the first to silently take to their feet. The twins helped up their mother. They had been her human crutches over the last few days. Lucius, too, stood up and Draco, his face paler than ever followed suit. Slowly, they shuffled out of the kitchen, upstairs to the front door and apparated out.
Narcissa's coffin was already at the Cemetery in Wiltshire. Lucius' family had been buried here, as had some of the Blacks. The Wizarding World was quite big in some ways, and in some ways, it was also quite small. Many Pureblood families who kept the same affiliations had been buried in the same Cemetery. The place was vast and away from the general muggle population.
Narcissa's coffin was under Ministry guard, with Dumbledore already at the head, dressed in white robes. Lucius exchanged a solemn look with the Headmaster, but otherwise ignored the older man. Severus was already there with McGonagall and Severus. It was Severus who held Adelaide. Adelaide had been left to the care of Madam Pomfrey to make sure she suffered from no adverse effects after the fire. Lucius had spent most of his time at Hogwarts, and it was only because he trusted Severus to look after his daughter that he let him and McGonagall bring Adelaide via carriage all the way from Scotland. She was too young to apparate with or to use a portkey.
If Severus looked uncomfortable holding a sleeping Adelaide, he didn't let on.
Silently, they all crowded around the burial. Once everyone had gathered, Dumbledore cleared his throat, waved his wand to levitate the coffin and let it hover above the grave.
"I did not know Narcissa Malfoy nee Black as well I could have," Dumbledore began sadly, "and it is I who has lost out. All I know is this; she died protecting her child and there is no greater magic than love."
Lucius knew he was next to speak.
"Narcissa healed my heart when I thought it was impossible. She was my saviour. She gave me two precious gifts that I never imagined receiving. I'll cherish them both forever, for you too, my darling."
Andromeda spoke next.
"I thought my sister never understood me," Andromeda started, clutching Ted's hand. "But it was me who never understood Narcissa. I thought I was being brave, leaving our family. But it was Narcissa who was brave to have stayed. Our reunion was brief, Cissy, but I'm all the more richer for it."
Lucius clapped his hand on his son's shoulder; Draco was too distraught to speak.
No further words were said. Dumbledore slowly lowered the coffin into the ground.
Lucius took out a marigold flower from inside his robe and threw it onto the coffin. Marigolds had been Narcissa's favourite. Everyone else took out a flower as well and threw it over the coffin. With another flick, Dumbledore filled the grave with dirt. Her headstone was already engraved and in place. He couldn't bear to see it.
He wasted no further time to reach for Adelaide. This had been the longest his daughter had been out of his arms. Severus handed her over carefully. The baby didn't wake at all.
Positioning Adelaide so that his wand arm was free, he flicked his wrist to take out his wand. Catching Luna's eye, she knew what he expected. Luna, also, took out her wand.
Harry and Neville did too. Confusedly, everyone else did the same.
Lucius, Harry, Neville and Luna held their wands over Narcissa's grave so that their wand points were touching in the middle. Still confused, they all copied the Champion's movements.
Together the Champions spoke, "Rest peacefully, sleep deeply. Bless this witch!"
When everybody pulled their wands back, the points remained connected by a silver light, not unlike the colour of a patronus. It extended like a spider's web over Narcissa's grave and gravitated downwards until it dissipated. They were left with a feeling of love and light.
Adelaide slept peacefully on, comfortable in her father's arms.
The train ride back to Hogwarts was quietest Harry had ever heard. The Daily Prophet had been full of news of attacks and subsequent deaths due to those attacks.
Amelia Bones had been attacked by Death Eaters. She had barely escaped, just in time as apparently Voldemort himself had appeared at her home. She was still fatally injured and fighting for her life in St Mungos. Susan had only survived because she hadn't been at home at the time, but Harry could understand that she was devastated. Harry knew there had been other deaths. Hermione had read through the Newspapers to tell him the names which he recognised as students or their parents. The Andrews brothers, one of them had been a Hufflepuff and another a Ravenclaw, they were both gone, as were their families. They had a sister, practically a baby, who Harry vaguely recalled from last year during the Dementor attack. Their father had been the one to heal Harry and Neville after their rescue. They were all gone.
Remus had been ambivalent about this. Apparently, the family had been attacked by Fenrir Greyback and his pack. On one hand, Greyback was infamous for biting and turning young children so he had hesitantly voiced that the children were better off dead than to be put through that ordeal. However, the highpoint for Remus was that Greyback had met his match in Healer Andrews, who avenged the death of his family by killing the rabid werewolf before taking his own final breath.
Harry could only imagine the mix of guilt and relief that Remus was feeling. The cost of being free from the man who haunted his nightmares was a high one when it meant the death of the innocent family.
However, Greyback might have been dead, but his protégé Thane Wintersun, who was thought to be just as vicious a Greyback, was there to pick where his mentor left off.
Once they arrived at the Feast, he noticed that all the teachers were sitting gravely at the Head Table. All the individual House flags were gone. Each Table had black banners running along with the Hogwarts crest.
Harry was aware that Dumbledore spoke a few words, but he tuned them out, eating mechanically. It happened in every war, in every life. But it didn't mean Harry had to get used to it. It was never easy, and the day it stopped being easy was when he knew that he was no longer Champion material. After the feast, Harry followed up Ron and the other Gryffindors to their Common Room. He fell into an uneasy sleep.
Severus was alone as he waited for Harry to show up to meet as requested in the letter he left in the boy's trunk. He had been waiting for hours already. It was well after midnight when he finally gave up and admitted that Harry would not be showing up.
Heartbroken, he finally moved his feet back towards his quarters.
He would leave the boy alone now. Harry had made his wishes clear.
Forgiveness was never going to be in his destiny.