Even the sound of Hagrid blowing his nose in between sobs, like the sound of a ship horn, failed to pierce the veil covering Harry's senses. It was only 3 days ago that he had woken up in his Gryffindor four-poster bed to a world gone grey. It seemed like he used up every ounce of emotion stored in his body while thrashing Dumbledore's office. He'd been absolutely livid with the headmaster. Now, however, he didn't seem to feel much of anything at all.
To his right sat Ron: face pale, eyes red, dark circles surrounding them, even his hair looked brown rather than Weasley red, like the fire that gave it colour had burned out. To Harry's left, an empty chair. It took no effort whatsoever to picture her sitting there, flanking him like Ron and she had always done for the past five years. It took no effort because he still saw her everywhere. Even the voice in his head, telling him that this was a common part of the grief process sounded like her.
Harry continued sitting. Here and there, parts of McGonagall's speech made it through to him. "She was an extraordinary witch," McGonagall had said, "the brightest witch of her age." While a nice sentiment, Harry thought, and certainly true, it didn't quite capture who she was. He had asked her once, after Terry had stated that she ought to be in Ravenclaw, why she was sorted in Gryffindor. Not that he had any doubt about her bravery and courage, of course, he had added. She had answered that while knowledge, education, and intelligence were, of course, important, it's what you use it for that really mattered for her. What's the point of understanding the world if you do not try to improve it?
Ron moved, snapping Harry out of reminiscence. The memorial ceremony was over, Harry realized belatedly. It had started half an hour ago, right after Harry and Ron had met her parents for the first time. He'd seen them around in Diagon Alley a few times but they had never really talked. Ron had remarked that she hadn't really talked about them that much either. Sure, they knew their names and that they owned a dental practice but that was about it. Mr Weasley had sprung into action the day after the battle in order to organize the mess of a part-wizard, part-muggle funeral. Due to the Statue of Secrecy, they had been forced to decide on a memorial ceremony at Hogwarts combined with a muggle funeral. Only Harry, Ron, Mr Weasley, and Mr and Mrs Granger were allowed to attend both. Mr Weasley had remarked that the only reason her parents had been allowed to attend the memorial at Hogwarts was because Minister Fudge was desperate to improve relations with Dumbledore and Harry, as a last-ditch effort to maintain his position.
They slowly walked up to the castle, bumping into each other slightly. Either to ensure they were there or because they simply were not aware of what they were doing. They made their way up to their dormitory. Officially, they still had a couple of free days left before the students in the other years got their exam results and the school year would end. Mrs Weasley, however, had nearly ordered Dumbledore to let Harry, Ron, and Ginny come to The Burrow a few days early. The Headmaster had agreed, with the stipulation that Harry would at least spend one full week at the Dursleys this Summer.
Harry didn't think it mattered where he'd end up this summer. He didn't want to think about what was yet to come anyway. He also specifically did not want to think about how, in the span of a couple of hours, he had lost his best friend, his godfather and his other friends had been seriously injured. And it was all his fault.
AN
Hi! Welcome to "In Her Memory", the first story of what I hope to be at least as Duology! This story is an AU starting after the battle at the Department of Mysteries, where both Sirius and Hermione die. This story will try to explore how Harry and Ron deal with this loss, how it will bring them and their other friends closer together, and how they will deal with Voldemort without Hermione. Harry will not be romantically involved until after the war. I'm currently writing chapter 13, and I hope to post a chapter every 10 days or so (when I run out of pre-written chapters that is).
Hope you enjoy!
