Chapter 5

"Welcome everybody," Arthur Weasley stood at the front of the crowd his wand pressed to his throat. Hundreds of people had shown up and the Weasley's front yard was packed to the brim with witches and wizards. "Today we are here to honor the life of my son, Fred Weasley."

The Weasley clan was situated in the front row and they listened carefully, a morbid intensity in their eyes.

"Today is a sad day for my family, a sad day for our friends, but a celebration of a bright young wizard's life…" Mr. Weasley continued on with determination reminiscing about childhood memories and humorous encounters. Surprisingly Harry was holding up seemingly well. He felt secure with Hermione to his left and it helped that Arthur was doing exactly what he said he would. It was indeed a celebration much unlike a funeral.

Arthur began to tear up towards the end of his eulogy and he finished admirably, "My son died in a battle, he died in a war, a war which was won. So even though I will be grieving his loss for the rest of my life, he did not die in vain." He paused, tears glistening in his eyes and he chortled out a dry cough. "I love you Fred, my boy… may you forever rest in peace. I look forward to the day I get to see your smiling face again." With his final parting words Arthur reached down and ushered Molly onto the platform.

Mrs. Weasley was a different story. Obviously not as stable as Arthur had been she started sobbing uncontrollably before she could get a word out. It took Ginny and Ron, but somehow they managed to get her back to her seat in one piece. The sight of Mrs. Weasley created a quiet unease in Harry's stomach and sweat began to stain the back of his neck.

Circumstances didn't change much when George took the podium next. His heart began to beat irregularly and he gritted his teeth anxiety thick in his bloodstream.

"Hello everybody," George began. It was as if Fred had taken the boyishness of the two of them with him when he passed. "Thank you everybody for coming. I know there have been many losses and my family greatly appreciates the support you have shown to us. It truly shows how loved Fred was. Fred was brilliant, absolutely brilliant. One of the fastest learners I have ever encountered, possibly the best beater Gryffindor had ever seen, and the funniest bloke at Hogwarts. Fred was a fierce friend, a loving and devoted son, and the best brother I have ever had…" George turned his head glancing at a picture of Fred on the table next to the coffin. "Damn you Fred," he muttered under his breath as thick tears began to stream down his face. "As you can see I'm not going to be able to keep it together for long so I'm going to make this rather brief. My youngest sister Ginny said something once a few years back and I'd like to share it with all of you."

Harry's eyes shifted to Ginny who vigorously nodded in the front row.

George cleared his throat, "The thing about growing up with Fred and George, is that you sort of start thinking anything is possible if you've got enough nerve."

As George recited Ginny's words a sob erupted from the front row as Ron fiercely gripped his sisters shaking form.

"It was Fred who had that nerve," George blinked back the tears, "anything is possible. So live your life to the fullest. It is what my brother would have wanted. I love you and miss you more and more each day Freddy. Do me a favor and raise hell wherever you are. I'll be seeing you." George finished and applause broke out among the guests a standing ovation beginning one by one. George stood proudly with tear stained cheeks. It was a beautiful ending to a beautiful life.

Harry wasn't standing. Around him his friends were clapping and chanting, but Harry sat paralyzed with grief. His hands were clammy and that feeling of serenity that only Hermione could provide had diminished long ago. He needed to leave and wished so badly he could apparate without a sound. As he helplessly looked around at everybody in the crowd something very peculiar caught his eye.

Draco Malfoy stood at the far back of the group dressed in all black his silver eyes dull beneath his pale blonde hair. He had a sickly expression plastered on his face and Harry watched him in stunned silence.

It was pure rage, the feeling that rose up in Harry. His focus switched in a split second from self-loathing to having a perfect target not twenty some feet away. It was as if he was moving in slow motion. Harry could feel everything from the drop of sweat clinging to his temple to the nickel of his belt buckle resting on his stomach. He could taste the dryness in his mouth and feel the heat like fire in his cheeks. He was fully aware of each step he took, fully aware of his fingers grasping his wand tightly and fully aware of his intention. It happened in a split second, but Harry had leapt out of his seat and has his wand pressed to Draco's throat just like he had with Dudley not three years ago.

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING HERE?" Harry snarled wildly.

Malfoy shook frozen in place with fear as he tried to scramble away from Harry's grasp. "Potter, I was j-just…"

"HOW DARE YOU SHOW YOU'RE FACE HERE? YOU RIGHT FOWL GIT!"

By now the attendance had stopped clapping and had turned their attention to the confrontation taking place behind them. Ron and Hermione pushed roughly at the crowd trying to make their way to their screaming friend to see what on earth was going on.

"P-Potter, Potter please… I was j-just leaving."

Harry reamed his wand harder into Draco's throat, "YOU DISGUSTING PIECE OF FILTH, YOU DON'T DESERVE TO SET FOOT ANYWHERE NEAR THIS PLACE. WHAT IN THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

"I just wanted to pay my respects!" Draco pleaded even paler than usual.

"IT SHOULD BE YOU IN THAT BOX-"

"Harry!" Hermione pushed past a shocked Lee Jordan and Harry's eyes flickered quickly to her then back to Malfoy all sane thoughts clouded by red. "Harry he's not worth it, just let him leave!"

"NO!" Harry yelled back at her his eyes never leaving Draco's, "He deserves to be punished!"

"It is not your place to make that decision!" Hermione challenged him taking a step forward. "The Harry Potter I know would let him go." Her voice softened and Harry ripped his gaze from Draco's as his heart softened when he saw Hermione's pleading gaze boring into his soul.

Harry gritted his teeth as he turned back to Malfoy and let out a primal growl. "Don't ever come back." He warned quietly and stepped back lowering his wand. Not two seconds later the familiar crack of apparition filled the air and Draco Malfoy had disappeared.

Harry hunched blood coursing through him his breathing shallow. He slouched his shoulders and chucked his wand at where Draco had been standing a few seconds before. He turned quickly his head down and nudged his way past his friends, anger and fear and hatred clouding his rational thinking. He ignored the distant pleas from Ron and Hermione. He passed the Weasley's without acknowledgement and set out for the field ahead. He yanked his tie from his neck and ripped his sweater from his body discarding it nearby. He muttered jinxes under his breath as he broke into a sprint towards the willow tree thirty yards out. When he reached the tree he slammed his fists repeatedly into the hard bark images surging through his mind. Sirius, Snape, Remus… everybody who had died, everybody he had hurt. It was spilling over the edges now consuming him and an unbridled cry broke out of his throat as he collapsed screaming at the base of the tree. His hands shook a flow of red blood coating the grass beneath him and his sobbing began even more erratic than it had the night before. This time there was nobody there to hear him scream, no chest for him to cry into and no arms to comfort him. That silver lining of hope that he had felt merely hours ago had suddenly vanished quicker than an apparating Malfoy.