J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and the Harry Potter universe. The plot is
mine, so please ask before posting to any other website. Thanks, enjoy,
and please review.
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Paying Tribute
Chapter 1: The Beginning of the End
It was a solemn crowd that packed the dining room at Hogwarts on that cold, gray day in June. The long tables had been removed, replaced by hundreds of folding chairs. Atop the dais, where the teachers and headmasters customarily dined, sat a podium and a single casket.
Anyone observing the mourners who passed through the double doors at the entrance of the hall noted the stunned shock on the face of each entrant as they saw the casket for the first time.
On that day, the jubilation everyone felt following the greatest victory the wizarding world had known in centuries was forgotten.
On that day, Harry Potter was laid to rest.
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"Harry, Harry! I can't tell you how proud of you I am!" Ginny Weasley rose up on her tiptoes and kissed Harry on the cheek. Right on cue, Harry's face turned bright red.
Hermione let out another of her typical, long-suffering sighs. "Harry, you and Ginny have been dating for almost two years. One would think you'd be past the 'embarrassed stage' by now."
Wrapping an arm around Ginny's shoulder, he leaned in toward Hermione in an attempt to keep the conversation private. "You're right, as always, Hermione, but her whole family is here. Even Bill and Charlie! It's all a bit daunting."
It was Ginny's turn to sigh. "They're all here to see you graduate. Like I said last night, don't worry about it. Ah, here they all come now." Holding Harry's arm around her shoulders, she turned them both around to face the onslaught of Weasleys.
"Hey there, Harry, what's going on here?" It was either Fred or George, Harry couldn't tell. The other twin chimed in, smiling. "I'm not sure I like this. Ron, haven't you been keeping an eye on Ginny for us?"
"Boys, that'll be enough." Arthur Weasley was proud of Harry, pleased that Harry and Ginny had taken an interest in each other. "We're here to celebrate with Ron and Hermione and Harry. They've been through a lot these past seven years - let them enjoy today."
"All right, all right, Dad! George and I were only joking. Way to go, all three of you."
This kicked off a few minutes of congratulations, as Ron, Harry and Hermione were passed around the Weasley family for handshakes and hugs. Harry had just started to talk with some of the other Hogwarts graduates from his class, when a disheveled and bloodied Sirius Black ran into the room.
Sirius ran right past Harry, making a beeline straight to Albus Dumbledore. Harry didn't know whether to be upset, or worried. He loved his godfather, and was grateful that Sirius had taken the time over the past few years to guide and encourage him. The last time Harry had seen him this frantic, however, was near the end of last year's final term. During the final game of the school's Quidditch Cup versus Slytherin, Harry had to fly away from the match to rescue a wandless Sirius from Azkaban's dementors. Putting up with Malfoy's incessant gloating over Slytherin's ensuing victory was a small price to pay for finally clearing Sirius's name.
The memory of that day was quickly lost as Sirius begun to whisper into Dumbledore's ear. After a few moments, Sirius stepped away, and Dumbledore pulled out his wand and pointed it at his own throat. His voice amplified, Dumbledore spoke. "Ladies and gentlemen, there is no time to spare. Voldemort and his followers are but a few kilometers away from the school and approaching swiftly."
***
Paying Tribute
Chapter 1: The Beginning of the End
It was a solemn crowd that packed the dining room at Hogwarts on that cold, gray day in June. The long tables had been removed, replaced by hundreds of folding chairs. Atop the dais, where the teachers and headmasters customarily dined, sat a podium and a single casket.
Anyone observing the mourners who passed through the double doors at the entrance of the hall noted the stunned shock on the face of each entrant as they saw the casket for the first time.
On that day, the jubilation everyone felt following the greatest victory the wizarding world had known in centuries was forgotten.
On that day, Harry Potter was laid to rest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
"Harry, Harry! I can't tell you how proud of you I am!" Ginny Weasley rose up on her tiptoes and kissed Harry on the cheek. Right on cue, Harry's face turned bright red.
Hermione let out another of her typical, long-suffering sighs. "Harry, you and Ginny have been dating for almost two years. One would think you'd be past the 'embarrassed stage' by now."
Wrapping an arm around Ginny's shoulder, he leaned in toward Hermione in an attempt to keep the conversation private. "You're right, as always, Hermione, but her whole family is here. Even Bill and Charlie! It's all a bit daunting."
It was Ginny's turn to sigh. "They're all here to see you graduate. Like I said last night, don't worry about it. Ah, here they all come now." Holding Harry's arm around her shoulders, she turned them both around to face the onslaught of Weasleys.
"Hey there, Harry, what's going on here?" It was either Fred or George, Harry couldn't tell. The other twin chimed in, smiling. "I'm not sure I like this. Ron, haven't you been keeping an eye on Ginny for us?"
"Boys, that'll be enough." Arthur Weasley was proud of Harry, pleased that Harry and Ginny had taken an interest in each other. "We're here to celebrate with Ron and Hermione and Harry. They've been through a lot these past seven years - let them enjoy today."
"All right, all right, Dad! George and I were only joking. Way to go, all three of you."
This kicked off a few minutes of congratulations, as Ron, Harry and Hermione were passed around the Weasley family for handshakes and hugs. Harry had just started to talk with some of the other Hogwarts graduates from his class, when a disheveled and bloodied Sirius Black ran into the room.
Sirius ran right past Harry, making a beeline straight to Albus Dumbledore. Harry didn't know whether to be upset, or worried. He loved his godfather, and was grateful that Sirius had taken the time over the past few years to guide and encourage him. The last time Harry had seen him this frantic, however, was near the end of last year's final term. During the final game of the school's Quidditch Cup versus Slytherin, Harry had to fly away from the match to rescue a wandless Sirius from Azkaban's dementors. Putting up with Malfoy's incessant gloating over Slytherin's ensuing victory was a small price to pay for finally clearing Sirius's name.
The memory of that day was quickly lost as Sirius begun to whisper into Dumbledore's ear. After a few moments, Sirius stepped away, and Dumbledore pulled out his wand and pointed it at his own throat. His voice amplified, Dumbledore spoke. "Ladies and gentlemen, there is no time to spare. Voldemort and his followers are but a few kilometers away from the school and approaching swiftly."