Chapter 08 Remembering the Hero
The news about the attack and the death of Harry Potter and Voldemort spread in the Wizarding World very quickly.
In only 2 months the Wizarding World had been shocked to the foundations. The worst dark wizard had returned and spread the terror like nothing, many people had died and lost family.
Now the biggest hope of the light side had died, taking with him to the tomb to his greatest enemy, the biggest spot of the dark. Both wizards had fulfilled their destiny dying together.
Meanwhile in every place around the world the people was patying about Voldemort's death, other people was grieving about the death of the teen that was a hero like any other that had lived in this world.
****
Oliver Wood was waiting for his coach and Captain in the office of the first one. The reason? He had broken 2 teeth to his teammate, the Chaser Alex Kimbell.
When the Keeper returned from the Alley, he was told about the Battle that had happened in the place. He had left the Alley before it happened so he didn't know anything about it.
At the beggining he cheered and was happy about Voldemort's death. But everything changed when he was told about the death of the teen that he had considered a little brother for 3 years. Tears began to appear slowly in his eyes.
The Chaser took his reaction and his tears wrongly and acussed him of being a supporter of the Dark Lord. When he heard that, Oliver turned around and hit the other player in the jaw and launched himself to attack him more. It was needed 4 players, the coach and the Captain to save the Chaser from a sure death at hands of the Keeper.
"What in the name of the hell happened, Wood?!" Asked the Coach, Mike Frent, completely bewildered to the young man sat in front of him when he entered in his office with the Captain.
"I snapped." Said Oliver simply.
"Why?" Asked confused Kim Litter, the Seeker and Captain of the Puddlemore United.
"Kimbell accused me of being a supporter of You-Know-Who." Said Wood angry with the other player.
"If you are a Death Eater or support You-Know-Who, I'm Merlin!" Snorted Kim with laughter. Oliver sent her a smile.
"Why did he think that?" Asked Mike confused.
"Did you hear the news, right?" Asked Oliver to the other persons.
"About Yoy-Know-Who's death? Yes, of course we did!" Answered the Coach with a big smile.
"Not that one, the other." Said Oliver closing his eyes.
"Oh, shit. Now I understand it." Said Kim realizing everything.
"Care to explain?" Asked Frent to both players completely confused.
"Harry Potter died in the battle, Mike." Said the Seeker with a sad tone of voice.
The Coach didn't say anything. He had heard the Keeper speaking about that boy and his talent for the Quidditch millons of times. It was obvious that Oliver felt respect for him and wanted him a lot. He didn't need other words to understand and realize what had happened before.
"You are suspended for fighting. Take a week to yourself. Go to the funeral." Said the man with a little smile to the young boy sat in front of him.
"Thanks. I'll see you then." Said Oliver before he left the Office and went to pack a few things.
"Control to Kimbell from now on, Mike. Oliver worths his position in this team more than him. Finding a Chaser better than Alex, is easy. Finding someone better than Oliver, it isn't." Said Kim with a serious tone of voice to her Coach before she left the Office. The old man just nodded, knowing well enough that she was right in that matter.
When Kim left the Coach's Office, she went to Oliver's room. She was sure that he would be packing a few things and that he needed to talk with someone. Both of them had become friends and she was impressed with his abilities. She had also heard many stories of his years at the School playing for the Gryffindor Team and had heard many things about Harry Potter, The Seeker.
"Do you need help?" Asked the Seeker when she opened the door and watched her teammate packing clothes.
"I'm ok, Kim." Said Oliver going on with his packing without turning to see her.
"You are a terrible liar, Oliver. You need to talk with someone and it is obvious." Said Kim making him turn around to make him watch her. She was a little startled she she saw tears in his face. Oliver had neved cried before, or at least, not in front of her or the rest of the players. She hugged tightly allowing him to cry on her shoulder.
"I spoke with him a while before I left the Alley." Said Oliver whipping off his tears.
"Where?" Asked the woman with a smile.
"The Quidditch shop. He had to buy a new broom. He told me that his old Firebolt had been distroyed by his family this summer or something like that. He bought a Ghost Rider." Said Oliver with a smile remembering his chat with Harry.
"Are you kidding me?" Asked Kim shocked by his words.
"No, I'm not. Any broom was good for him." Said Oliver before he told her about Harry's adventures with his brooms.
"How did you meet him? I mean, in Hogwarts you can't play till Second Year. And you've told me that he started in his First." Asked Kim curious.
"It was in my Fifth Year. It was my second one as Captain. In the second week, I was in Charms when McGonagall called me saying that she needed to speak with me. When I left the class, she was with him. We went to a empty classroom and she presented him to me as the new Seeker. The first thing that I had to do, was explain to him the rules of Quiddicth. He didn't know anything about the game!" Chuckled softly Oliver remembering that day.
"Go on packing, I'll see you in a week." Said Kim leaving the office.
"Kim?" Called Oliver before she had left.
"Yes, Oliver?" Asked the woman turning to see her teammate
"Thanks." Said Wood before he went on with his mission.
"You are welcome, Oliver." Said the Seeker with a smile before she left the room.
****
Katie Bell, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, Fred and George Weasley, the other players of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team were in the Burrow discussing about the Team for this year, when Mr. And Mrs. Weasley came with Ron and Hermione. Both teens had the eyes red of crying and were distraught.
"Go to sleep, kids." Said Molly who had cried too. Both of them just nodded and went upstairs.
"What happened, mom?" Asked Fred confused about everyhting.
"There was an attack on Diagon Alley. You-Know-Who went there with Death Eaters. Ron, Hermione, Harry and the other students of their year tried to defend the place." Began Molly, but she couldn't finish because she started to cry again.
"What happened?" Asked the players fearing the answer.
"Harry and You-Know-Who dueled. Harry killed him, but..." Trailed off Arthur unable to continue by the tears.
"Harry's dead?" Asked Katie starting to cry.
"Yes." Said Mr. Weasley trying to confort his wife taking her to their dorm.
The 5 seventh year students were completely shocked, and the girls started to cry. The twins, who usually hid their emotions to everyone, couldn't hold the tears a long time and followed them.
They had lost not only a housemate and a teammate, Harry had became a friendly face to them. They had shared the same House and the same team for 4 years. They knew that it would be a great loss to everyone, but specially for Ron and Hermione, his 2 best friends.
"I can't believe it!" Said Alicia crying in Fred's shoulder.
"Damn it, Why Harry?" Cried Katie hitting the wall with her fist.
"Why him and not someone else?" Asked Angelina with her eyes full of tears, that her or the other didn't try to fight.
"He was only 15! He wasn't even an adult!" Shouted Katie crying more and looking for a little confort in George.
None of them had answers to those questions. They just sat there crying and conforting each other for another while, before the 3 Chasers went to their own houses with the promise to be in Harry's funeral no matter what happened.
****
When Minerva McGonagall and Albus Dumbledore returned to the Castle many hours after the Battle, they had, like many people that had known Harry, signals of tears in their eyes.
"Is it true, Master Professor Dumbledore?" Asked Dobby with tears in his eyes when both teachers called the House Elves to get some dinner.
"I'm afraid so, Dobby. Harry died today." Said Dumbledore sadly with a look that revealed how old he truly was.
The little elf began to cry more and more disconsolated. Both Professors knew the reason: Harry and Dobby were friends and the teen had been responsible of his freedom 3 years ago. Dobby dissaparated without saying any word with his eyes completely full of tears.
"At least he knew everything about us." Said Minerva with tears in her eyes after a long silence.
"It was too late, Minerva. We should have told him before." Said Albus with guilt in his voice.
"When and where shall we bury him?" Asked Minerva making the question that she didn't want to ask.
"He'll be buried with his parents. He has that right." Said Dumbledore petting Fawkes looking for confort in his pet.
Before any of them could say something else, the Office's door burst open and the rest of the Hogwarts' staff came in wanting to know if the news were right about Voldemort's and Harry Potter's death. A look on the Headmaster and the Deputy Headmistress' face comfirmed it
"I'll go to my quarters." Said Minerva standing from her chair and leaving the office without another word.
"What's wrong with her?" Asked worried Angela Sprout, Herbology's Professor and Head of Hufflepuff.
"Harry was her Godson." Said Dumbledore simply to the staff.
The rest of the teachers, except Severus Snape who knew it, looked shocked about this revelation. None of them knew it and understood in that moment her mood.
"What happened at the Alley, Albus?" Asked Xiomara Hooch, the flight instructor.
Dumbledore proceeded to explain and tell the Professors all about the attack and the duel between Harry and Voldemort, the spells and the result of them. When the Headmaster finished, many had tears in their eyes.
"When will be the funeral?" Asked Severus after a few minutes of ackward silence in the Office.
"His birthday. He'll be buried next to Lily and James." Explained Albus with a tone that said that he would not talk anymore now.
All the teachers caught the message and left the Office in silence, leaving the old Wizard alone lost in thoughts.
****
Cho Chang's summer had been a nightmare in many ways. First she had lost her boyfriend, Cedric Diggory, at the end of the last term in hands of Voldemort. A part of her, blamed Harry Potter in some way for not doing anything for it, but other part would be always thankful with him for bringing back Cedric's body.
Besides that she had fallen in depression. Her family was desesperated with this and tried to help her. Cho didn't want it and refused it. She wanted to be alone without anyone near her.
When she was told about Harry Potter's trial, she went. She wanted to know what had happened that night. What she saw, shocked her beyond any word. Since that moment she stopped blaming in any way to Harry and decided to talk with him someday.
Now she had lost that chance. Harry Potter had died in Voldemort's attack on Diagon Alley, but not without killing the Dark Lord at the same time.
She felt terrible with this. She couldn't have any chance to talk with him, play Quidditch against him, saw him in the corridors never again. Harry Potter had died saving the Wizarding World.
She made a promise to herself that she had to be in his funeral no matter what happened. She owed him that.
****
Many people who had known Harry at the School, Gryffindors or not, shared many of these feelings.
Many Hufflepuffs after hearing what had been shown at his trial about the Tournament, began to reconsider their position to him. The feelings of hate, rivalry, and others that they had had against him for the last year, had dissapeared and were replaced with ones of respect. Many decided to go to the Funeral to show it for a last time.
The Slytherins thought something similar to the Hufflepuffs. Many of the young students had hated him just because the eldests ones did it. Now, they changed their mind and saw him as a hero. Others, whose parents were among the Death Eaters caught in the trial or the Alley's attack, hated him much more than before.
Of all, the one who changed his mind most after this, was Draco Malfoy. He and Harry had been arch rivals since the day that they met at the train in their first year. Now the young Slytherin, saw Harry like the hero that he truly was and not like the stupid-famous-boy that he always pictured of him. He decided to change his actions and position towards Ron and Hermione. If he couldn't show Harry his change of mind, at least he could do it to his 2 best friends.
Many Ravenclaws thought like the other houses' students. They had seen the real Hero, the one who always fought to keep the peace and never asked anything at change. Many decided to go to the funeral too. They wanted to show their respect like the others.
The most hurted with his death, was without any shadow of doubt, the Gryffindors. Many of them had been with him the 4 years, others had began after him or finished before. They had lost, not only a housemate, they had also lost the Seeker, a great friend, a great person, someone who was always that he was needed. They had lost someone that couldn't be replaced by anyone easily and all of them knew it.
Hogwarts had lost a great student and all of them knew it. It didn't matter what House they were in, all of them knew that this year at the School wouldn't be the same without Harry Potter there.
****
The morning after the attack and Harry's death, the Burrow, the second home for the teen, was silent. All of the members of the Wasley clan had signals of tears in the eyes. None of them could stop the tears and they never tried to stop them.
"How are Ron and Hermione, Mum?" Asked Charlie worried about his little brother and his best friend.
"They cried all night. I casted some spells to let them rest." Said Molly worried before she turned her atention to the twins and said very seriously: "I don't want to hear any noise from you room. Is that clear?" Her tone of voice didn't leave place to any kind of arguments.
"Yes, mom." Said the twins at the same time. They weren't even cosidering any experiment that day. They weren't in mood to do it.
"When will be the burial?" Asked Bill to his parents.
"His birthday. Albus told me a while ago that he'll be buried next to his parents." Said with a sad smile Arthur.
"Do you know where is it?" Asked Oliver Wood from the door.
"Hi, Oliver, come in." Said Molly letting pass the young man. Oliver had been in the house many times visiting Percy on the summers.
"Hi all of you." Said the Keeper sitting down and putting a little bag next to him.
He received a few "hi" and "good mornings" from the others.
"Why the bag?" Asked Fred confused watching it.
"I was suspended a week from the team for fighting with a Chaser. And my coach gave me free those days." Said Wood with a sigh.
"What happened? You aren't the kind of people who fight, except in the matches against Slytherin." Said George confused.
"Don't want to talk about it." Said Oliver seriously to his former teammates.
"Ok." Said the twins, not wanting to raise his anger.
"So where is the burial? I want to be there." Asked Oliver to Mr. Weasley.
"At the cementery near Hogsmeade." Said Arthur before he stood and got read to go to work along Percy.
"Where are you staying, Oliver?" Asked Fred to the Keeper.
"I'll go to the Cauldron. I came to see if you knew something about the funeral." Answered Oliver.
"It's closed. The Cauldron and the Alley will be closed for a few days. They were really damaged." Said Percy greeting his old friend and yearmate at Hogwarts.
"Damn it!" Exclaimed Oliver angry.
"Stay here this week. We won't have problems with that." Suggested Molly with a smile.
"Are you sure of that?" Asked Wood surprised.
"Any friend of my son, is welcome in this house." Said Molly with a smile. Oliver smiled and thanked her before all of them returned to eat.
****
When Hermione wake up, her eyes were completely red of the tears that she had cried that night. Checking her watch, she saw that is was almost the 5.00 in the afternoon.
After changing her clothes, she went to Ron's dorm. He was laying awake in his bed and his eyes were so red as hers.
"Ron." Said Hermione sitting next to her best friend near the tears.
The redhead didn't say nothing, he just hugged her and both of them began to cry again. They had lost one of their most dearest persons. There weren't words to describe their feelings of loss.
"I can't believe it." Said Ron with more tears.
"We have to continue, Ron. That what he would like from us." Said Hermione trying to stop her tears.
"I know, but it isn't easy. You can't expect to me recover so soon, Hermione. I felt like if I lost another brother." Said Ron not looking the girl.
"I know it, Ron, I feel exactly the same." Said Hermione beggining to cry again and hugging her friend tightly.
"Can I come in?" Asked Ginny from the door. She had cried that night too, and it was obvious.
"Come here, Ginny." Said Hermione hugging her too. Ginny joined the hug and began to cry again.
The 3 teens went on crying for a long while, never separating themselves. Molly Weasley watched them in silence and left the room to leave them alone, without disturbance. She knew that there was nothing that she culd do to help them, except let them cry alone.
****
Albus apparated that afternoon at Privet Drive. He had 2 things to do. The first was tell the news to Arabella Figg, the witch that had the mission of watch Harry Potter during his childhood.
"Albus, what are you doing here?" Asked the witch, when the old wizard knocked the door.
"Your mission is complete here, Arabella." Said Dumbledore entering the House and going with her to the living room.
"What happened with Harry, Albus?" Asked Arabella worriedly.
"Were you told about Voldemort's reborn?" Asked Albus seriously. When she nodded, he went on: "He did an attack in the Alley yesterday with Death Eaters. Harry was there with his friends. They dueled and Harry killed Voldemort." Albus said this with his eyes near the tears.
"Is Harry...?" Began to ask Mrs. Figg dreading the answer that the Old Wizard could give her. Albus only nodded.
Arabella puit her head in her hands and began to cry in silence. She couldn't avoid it, Albus hugged her and she returned it. Both of them were like that for a while, crying.
"When and where?" Asked Mrs. Figg when she could calm down her tears.
"In 2 days, he'll be buried next to his parents." Said Albus in a solemn tone of voice.
"I'll be there, Albus." Said the witch in the same tone of voice.
"See you then, Arabella. I have another mission to do here today." Sighed the Headmaster going to the door.
"Did he know it, Albus?" Asked Arabella going with him.
"I told him a few days ago. I should have done it before." Said Albus leaving the house and going to Privet Drive 4.
Harry had told him that he wanted the Dursleys out of the House and he was going to respect his wish. He hadn't decided what he would do with the house yet, but it didn't matter now.
"Who are you?" Asked Vernon watching Dumbledore with a face of hate.
"I'm here to speak with you and your wife." Said the old wizard seriously.
"About what?" Asked Vernon suspitious.
"Your residence in this house and your nephew." Said Dumbledore with his eyes full of anger towards the man.
"What's wrong with that damn boy?" Asked Petunia listening his words. Her words had a dispectful tone of voice.
"He's dead." Said Dumbledore sending a look of anger to the woman.
"What?" Asked Petunia completely shocked with his words.
"He died yesterday." Said simply Albus.
"How?" Asked Petunia trying to recover from the shock.
"May I come in and explain it inside?" Asked Dumbledore.
"Come in." Said the women before her husband could say a word against it.
"Who are you?" Asked Vernon with hate.
"Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts." Answered politely the wizard sitting down in the living room.
"Her father." Said Petunia listening his words.
"Yes, Lily was my daughter and Harry my grandson." Said Dumbledore with a sad smile.
"WHAT?? YOU ARE THE GRANDFATHER OF THAT FREAKNESS AND YOU SENT HIM TO LIVE WITH US??" Shouted Vernon bewildered. Before he could add aomething else, he found his face against the wizard's wand.
"Say something else against Harry, Mr. Dursley, and you'll regret it all your life!" Threatened Dumbledore very seriously.
Vernon paled completely and shut his mouth and sat down in an armchair with his face full of fear and hate towards the old man.
"How?" Asked Petunia ignoring the whole incident between her husband and the wizard.
"In a battle." Said Dumbledore and explained evrything that had happened at the Alley.
Petunia closed her eyes and a tear rolled by her eyes. Although she hated her nephew, she didn't want him dead. Now she didn't have more family besides her husband and her son. The things with Vernon were in a downfall and she was considering the divorce. She stayed there silently for a few while.
"What did you mean with our residence at my house?" Asked Vernon angrily remembering Dumbledore's previous words.
"It was Harry's House, not ours." Said Petunia suddenly. She knew about the deal between her parents and Dumbledore and about the condition that the Wizard had put on it too.
"WHAT?? WHAT DO YOU MEAN WITH THAT??" Shouted bewildered Vernon not believing her words.
"My parents asked him help to buy this house," Began Petunia pointing Dumbledore before she continued, "He bought the house, but with the condition that the House would be for Lily or her children." Said the woman, before she asked the Headmaster: "Am I right?"
"Yes, you are. Before the battle, he told me that he wants the 3 of you out of this house. Although he's dead now, I'll make his with reality. You have a week to leave the House." Said Dumbledore before he stood and went to the door to leave.
"What? He wants us out of here, after everything that we did for him??" Asked furious Vernon.
"Yes. If you aren't out of this house in a week, you'll be imprisoned by the Ministry of Magic under the charges of child abuse against an underaged wizard and many other ones. Goodnight." Said the Headmaster with fury before he dissaparated.
****
"Honey, what's wrong?" Asked Miriam Granger to her daughter the next morning when the young witch appeared in her house. She was worried about the red eyes of her daughter showing the signals of crying.
Hermione had gone to her house to collect a few things and to speak with her parents. She decided to spend the rest of the summer at the Burrow and his parents had to know it.
"I'll stay at the Burrow the rest of the summer." Said Hermione slowly going to her room to start packing her things.
"Did something happened? I thought that you would come with us to Australia." Said George Granger, her father, to his daughter confused with this news.
"Harry died 2 days ago." Said Hermione bursting out in tears again.
Miriam went and hugged her daughter tightly letting her cry on her shoulder. Hermione returned the embrace and went on crying desconsolated.
Dr. Granger didn't say a word. He and his wife had heard many things about Harry and Ron by their daughter. It was more than obvious to them that she considered them more than mere friends. She considered them her brothers. The man could see clearly why his daughter was crying and left the dorm not wanting to disturb any of the women there.
After a while, Miriam left the dorm silently, watching Hermione going on packing her things. She hadn't seen her cry like that since when she was 6 years old, and that time was nothing compaired with this one.
She and her husband knew that she needed to be with her friends and those persons that she considered like a family. Not allowing her to spend her summer at the Burrow would mean a fight between them and their daughter. And in that moment, it was the last thing that Hermione needed and they knew it.
****
The morning of Harry's funeral the sky was like the mood of everyone, clouded and threatened to rain in any moment. Even the angels and the sky seemed ready to cry for Harry Potter.
In the Burrow, the Weasleys, Hermione, Oliver, the 3 Chasers and Lee Jordan were getting ready to go to the place of the burial. The 3 girls and the twins' friend asked Arthur, who had been chosen as Minister of Magic, if they could go with them. If they went on their own, they feared that they couldn't go near the place that he would buried.
Mr. Weasley agreed with it, not seeing any problem with that. They had the same right that his family to be there near their friend at his last home.
"Hey, Katie, what is it?" Asked Bill pointing to a scarlet robe that the Chaser had in her hands.
"My gift to him." Said Katie showing it to the others.
It was a robe with the colors of Gryffindor. In the front, it read "Gryffindor House Team." In the back, it was "Harry Potter, Seeker."
"I got one of mines, and my mother sew the letters on it." Explained Katie to the others with a sad look.
"Why don't we sign it? We could leave a message for him." Suggested Hermione looking the robe with a smile.
"I'll get a quill." Said Molly after everyone agreed with it.
When everyone had finished writing, it read:
"To my best friend and the guy that I loved like a brother." Ron Weasley.
"To the friend that showed me the real meaning of bravery and passed all the tests that were in his way." Hermione Granger.
"To my eight kid." Molly Weasley.
"Thanks for saving my life in my first year." Ginny Weasley.
"Thanks for giving us the freedom forever." Arthur Weasley.
"To our beloved friend and Inversor, thanks for all." Fred and George Weasley.
"To the best seeker that I've ever seen play, thanks." Lee Jordan.
"To the boy who taught us to pass the dificulties without any doubt and fighting always against them." Katie Bell, Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet.
"To the boy that taught me a new way of playing Quiddicth, no matter the problems, the weather or nothing that happened in the matches." Oliver Wood.
"Thanks for being who you were." Charlie, Percy and Bill Weasley.
After a few moments, the cars provided by the Ministry arrived and all of them went in them. None of them spoke very much in the way, no one wanted to do it.
The cementery was full of people: curious, reporters who wanted the news, Hogwarts students of the 4 Houses, teachers and many others that nobody knew.
In the moment that the reporters spotted Ron and Hermione, all of them went to them and began to shot questions. Both teens tired as they were, and still trying to pass their friend's death, took their wands and began to shoot hexes and curses to everyone in sight. All of the reporters began to duck out the spells with a look of fear towards the teens, who had a look of hate towards them.
"That will teach you to not bother them today." Said Arthur with a angry look towards the reporters, while his family went to where the teachers were.
"Ron, Hermione, was it necessary?" Asked Percy angry with their actions. He shut his mouth when both teens turned to him with their wands ready to go on with the curses this time against him.
"Leave them, Percy." Said Molly seriously to her son putting a hand on his shoulder. Although she didn't aprove their actions, she knew that it was their way to relax all the tension in themselves.
"I see that both of you have learnt many nasty spells these 4 years." Chuckled Albus going to the group with Minerva, who had a soft smile after seeing the show of the teens.
"A lot." Said Ron with a grin.
"Do you want to sign it, Professors? All of us have left a message for him." Said Katie to her Headmaster and her Head of House giving them the robe and a quill. Both nodded and wrote a message too:
"Thanks for everything, and I'm sorry for the secrets." Albus Dumbledore.
"I'll miss you a lot. Thanks for being like you were no matter the problems." Minerva McGonagall.
"Hi guys." Said Roger Davies going to the group of Gryffindors with Cho next to him. Both of them had a sad look in them.
"Hi Cho, hi Roger." Said a few of them greeting the 2 Ravenclaws.
"Can I sign it too?" Asked Cho pointing the robe, watching the messages written there.
"Sure. You can do it too if you want. Roger." Said Katie giving the quill to them. Both nodded and Cho began to write:
"Thanks for bring Cedric back. Sorry if I ever doubted of you." Cho Chang.
"The Quidditch at the School will never be the same again without you in the sky." Roger Davies.
"It's really crowded here today." Said Charlie watching around the place.
"Yes, there are students of the 4 Houses and many other that I don't know." Said Minerva with a soft smile.
"Many people respected Harry and many other owe their life to him." Said Dumbledore with the eyes full of twinckle.
They went on chatting, while Katie went around with the robe and the quill asking if someone, that was known with Harry, wanted to sign it. Many of them agreed and left their messages:
"Thanks for being with us these 4 wonderful years." Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, Neville Longbottom, Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown.
"I'll miss you always." Rubeus Hagrid.
"The School and my Classes won't be the same without you." Severus Snape.
"Sorry for doubting of you and thanks for everything that you did to help Cedric." The students of the Hufflepuff House.
"You are a light that not even the death will never turn off." The students of Fifth Year of the Ravenclaw House.
"Thanks for making me free and for giving me your friendship." Dobby.
"Sorry by our fights and hate. I realized my mistake too late." Draco Malfoy.
"Too late, Malfoy." Said Katie to the blonde with a sad look towards him after reading the message.
"I know, Bell, I know." Said Draco leaving his place and going to speak with other Skytherins that were there.
It was decided that a few persons would speak before he was buried: they were Oliver Wood, in name of his teammates, Ron and Hermione, in name of his friends and Minerva McGonagall in name of his teachers. The last one would be Albus Dumbledore.
"I met Harry in my fifth year. He had been selected to Gryffindor and looked like another boy, not the famous boy that everyone had talked about in my chilhood.
"The second week of Classes, Professor McGonagall presented him to me as the new Seeker for the team. The first thing that I had to do, was explain him the rule of the game. He was the best player that I've ever seen in my whole life. He had talent to do it, was natural. I saw him go through many things at the pitch during the 3 years that we shared a team, but anything could beat him except Dementors.
"That is the Harry that I will always remember, not the Hero, not the Boy- Who-Lived. I'll see him always like the Quiditch player that was like a fish in water when he was flying in a broom looking for the Snitch.
"It was a pleasure and an honor for me to play with you, Harry." Finished Oliver his speech putting the robe over the coffin. When he had done it, he returned to his seat next to the other players.
"I met Harry in the train on my first trip to Hogwats," Began to speak Ron, "we became friends very quickly and before any of us could realize it, we were the best friends that someone could ask in the world.
"With him, I knew the joy, the sadness, the quietness and hard moments. He was there when I needed him like I was there for him. When he died, I felt like if I had lost a brother and not a friend. Harry was that for me, a brother.
"Harry, I hope that you'll get the hapiness that you always wanted now with you parents, Sirius and Remus. You'll be always a part of my heart that will not be forgotten." When Ron finished had tears in his eyes and returned to his seat where his mother hugged him letting him cry.
"Harry and I became friends in Halloween of our first year. He had risked his own life against a Troll to save my life. It was a silly thing, I'll admit it, but I was, am and will be thankful to him for that act the rest of my life." Began Hermione her speech.
"He was a natural hero with his defects and virtues. He just wanted to be normal, but no one wanted to see it. There will not be any person that will be able to replace him ever in the hearts of those ones that loved him and knew him.
"Like Ron said, with him I met the danger, the death and many other good and bad things. When he died, I lost a part of my soul. With him, died a friend, a brother, someone that you would always like to have as friend.
"I'll miss you Harry and thanks for your friendship. You were a better man than many adults and you were just a teen. Good ridance in this new adventure, my dear friend." Hermione, like Ron, had tears in her eyes when she went to her seat. In her case, it was Bill who gave the shoulder to let her cry.
Many of the people present there had also tears after those speechs. They were the 2 persons that knew Harry better than anyone and could easily understand their tears.
The reporters were writing at full speed about everything and many ones looked like they were goig to write bad things and change the teens' words to make gossip again. The twins and the other players of the Team, pointed their wands to the papers and burnt them. They weren't going to allow them to write nothing against their friends today.
"Good work." Said Dumbledore to the teens, while the reporters tried to turn off the fire. They just nodded with a little smile while Minerva McGonagall began to speak.
"Harry Potter was the kind of student that caused problems always, but he had the ability to solve them as easily as he created them.
"For 4 years I saw him grow up, not only phisically, mentally and magically too. He fought every problem or crisis not caring about nothing else but the peace of the School and the students, although they would hate him by any reason.
"I have the pride of have been his Head of House, and the person that put him in the Quidditch Team. He never dissapointed me with that decision and never did with nothing else.
"Gryffindor and the School has lost a student that will be remembered forever in our hearts. I hope that you can find the peace now, Harry." Finished Minerva returning to her seat next to the other teachers. Many people saw tears in her eyes.
"Like Miss Granger said, Harry was just a teen, but he acted like an adult. He was a man with all the letters, and fought, lived and grew as one.
"He fough against all the problems alone or with help. He was a great boy, and the only thing that could stop him was the death. He faced it so many times that he didn't fear it at all.
"Get the rest that you deserve with the persons that loved you. Goodbye, Harry." Was Dumbledore's speech, before he put a flower on the coffin.
Before it was buried, all of the persons that had known him during those 4 years, followed Dumbledore's example and put one too. When it was finished, the coffin was covered with many kind of flowers.
Slowly, the coffin began to be covered with earth and was buried. All of his friends, teachers, students of the School and many of the persons there were crying when the earth covered it completely.
After a few minutes, everyone began to separate their ways, leaving the cementery. The Weasleys were suporting Ron and Hermione who looked completely paled and hadn't stopped crying since their speeches.
When the last person had left, the sky decided to follow them in the tears to Harry and a big storm began to fall. It seemed that also the angels were sorry with his death.
In the gravestone, there were flowers, a drawing of a lightning and a Snitch. Things that reminded everyone of Harry's life. In it, there was an inscription that read:
"Harry James Potter.
July 31st 1980 - July 28th 1995
Beloved friend, teammate, housemate, schoolmate, Godson and Grandson.
The boy who lived and died to save our world. Get the peace that you have deserved all your life with your parents."
The news about the attack and the death of Harry Potter and Voldemort spread in the Wizarding World very quickly.
In only 2 months the Wizarding World had been shocked to the foundations. The worst dark wizard had returned and spread the terror like nothing, many people had died and lost family.
Now the biggest hope of the light side had died, taking with him to the tomb to his greatest enemy, the biggest spot of the dark. Both wizards had fulfilled their destiny dying together.
Meanwhile in every place around the world the people was patying about Voldemort's death, other people was grieving about the death of the teen that was a hero like any other that had lived in this world.
****
Oliver Wood was waiting for his coach and Captain in the office of the first one. The reason? He had broken 2 teeth to his teammate, the Chaser Alex Kimbell.
When the Keeper returned from the Alley, he was told about the Battle that had happened in the place. He had left the Alley before it happened so he didn't know anything about it.
At the beggining he cheered and was happy about Voldemort's death. But everything changed when he was told about the death of the teen that he had considered a little brother for 3 years. Tears began to appear slowly in his eyes.
The Chaser took his reaction and his tears wrongly and acussed him of being a supporter of the Dark Lord. When he heard that, Oliver turned around and hit the other player in the jaw and launched himself to attack him more. It was needed 4 players, the coach and the Captain to save the Chaser from a sure death at hands of the Keeper.
"What in the name of the hell happened, Wood?!" Asked the Coach, Mike Frent, completely bewildered to the young man sat in front of him when he entered in his office with the Captain.
"I snapped." Said Oliver simply.
"Why?" Asked confused Kim Litter, the Seeker and Captain of the Puddlemore United.
"Kimbell accused me of being a supporter of You-Know-Who." Said Wood angry with the other player.
"If you are a Death Eater or support You-Know-Who, I'm Merlin!" Snorted Kim with laughter. Oliver sent her a smile.
"Why did he think that?" Asked Mike confused.
"Did you hear the news, right?" Asked Oliver to the other persons.
"About Yoy-Know-Who's death? Yes, of course we did!" Answered the Coach with a big smile.
"Not that one, the other." Said Oliver closing his eyes.
"Oh, shit. Now I understand it." Said Kim realizing everything.
"Care to explain?" Asked Frent to both players completely confused.
"Harry Potter died in the battle, Mike." Said the Seeker with a sad tone of voice.
The Coach didn't say anything. He had heard the Keeper speaking about that boy and his talent for the Quidditch millons of times. It was obvious that Oliver felt respect for him and wanted him a lot. He didn't need other words to understand and realize what had happened before.
"You are suspended for fighting. Take a week to yourself. Go to the funeral." Said the man with a little smile to the young boy sat in front of him.
"Thanks. I'll see you then." Said Oliver before he left the Office and went to pack a few things.
"Control to Kimbell from now on, Mike. Oliver worths his position in this team more than him. Finding a Chaser better than Alex, is easy. Finding someone better than Oliver, it isn't." Said Kim with a serious tone of voice to her Coach before she left the Office. The old man just nodded, knowing well enough that she was right in that matter.
When Kim left the Coach's Office, she went to Oliver's room. She was sure that he would be packing a few things and that he needed to talk with someone. Both of them had become friends and she was impressed with his abilities. She had also heard many stories of his years at the School playing for the Gryffindor Team and had heard many things about Harry Potter, The Seeker.
"Do you need help?" Asked the Seeker when she opened the door and watched her teammate packing clothes.
"I'm ok, Kim." Said Oliver going on with his packing without turning to see her.
"You are a terrible liar, Oliver. You need to talk with someone and it is obvious." Said Kim making him turn around to make him watch her. She was a little startled she she saw tears in his face. Oliver had neved cried before, or at least, not in front of her or the rest of the players. She hugged tightly allowing him to cry on her shoulder.
"I spoke with him a while before I left the Alley." Said Oliver whipping off his tears.
"Where?" Asked the woman with a smile.
"The Quidditch shop. He had to buy a new broom. He told me that his old Firebolt had been distroyed by his family this summer or something like that. He bought a Ghost Rider." Said Oliver with a smile remembering his chat with Harry.
"Are you kidding me?" Asked Kim shocked by his words.
"No, I'm not. Any broom was good for him." Said Oliver before he told her about Harry's adventures with his brooms.
"How did you meet him? I mean, in Hogwarts you can't play till Second Year. And you've told me that he started in his First." Asked Kim curious.
"It was in my Fifth Year. It was my second one as Captain. In the second week, I was in Charms when McGonagall called me saying that she needed to speak with me. When I left the class, she was with him. We went to a empty classroom and she presented him to me as the new Seeker. The first thing that I had to do, was explain to him the rules of Quiddicth. He didn't know anything about the game!" Chuckled softly Oliver remembering that day.
"Go on packing, I'll see you in a week." Said Kim leaving the office.
"Kim?" Called Oliver before she had left.
"Yes, Oliver?" Asked the woman turning to see her teammate
"Thanks." Said Wood before he went on with his mission.
"You are welcome, Oliver." Said the Seeker with a smile before she left the room.
****
Katie Bell, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, Fred and George Weasley, the other players of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team were in the Burrow discussing about the Team for this year, when Mr. And Mrs. Weasley came with Ron and Hermione. Both teens had the eyes red of crying and were distraught.
"Go to sleep, kids." Said Molly who had cried too. Both of them just nodded and went upstairs.
"What happened, mom?" Asked Fred confused about everyhting.
"There was an attack on Diagon Alley. You-Know-Who went there with Death Eaters. Ron, Hermione, Harry and the other students of their year tried to defend the place." Began Molly, but she couldn't finish because she started to cry again.
"What happened?" Asked the players fearing the answer.
"Harry and You-Know-Who dueled. Harry killed him, but..." Trailed off Arthur unable to continue by the tears.
"Harry's dead?" Asked Katie starting to cry.
"Yes." Said Mr. Weasley trying to confort his wife taking her to their dorm.
The 5 seventh year students were completely shocked, and the girls started to cry. The twins, who usually hid their emotions to everyone, couldn't hold the tears a long time and followed them.
They had lost not only a housemate and a teammate, Harry had became a friendly face to them. They had shared the same House and the same team for 4 years. They knew that it would be a great loss to everyone, but specially for Ron and Hermione, his 2 best friends.
"I can't believe it!" Said Alicia crying in Fred's shoulder.
"Damn it, Why Harry?" Cried Katie hitting the wall with her fist.
"Why him and not someone else?" Asked Angelina with her eyes full of tears, that her or the other didn't try to fight.
"He was only 15! He wasn't even an adult!" Shouted Katie crying more and looking for a little confort in George.
None of them had answers to those questions. They just sat there crying and conforting each other for another while, before the 3 Chasers went to their own houses with the promise to be in Harry's funeral no matter what happened.
****
When Minerva McGonagall and Albus Dumbledore returned to the Castle many hours after the Battle, they had, like many people that had known Harry, signals of tears in their eyes.
"Is it true, Master Professor Dumbledore?" Asked Dobby with tears in his eyes when both teachers called the House Elves to get some dinner.
"I'm afraid so, Dobby. Harry died today." Said Dumbledore sadly with a look that revealed how old he truly was.
The little elf began to cry more and more disconsolated. Both Professors knew the reason: Harry and Dobby were friends and the teen had been responsible of his freedom 3 years ago. Dobby dissaparated without saying any word with his eyes completely full of tears.
"At least he knew everything about us." Said Minerva with tears in her eyes after a long silence.
"It was too late, Minerva. We should have told him before." Said Albus with guilt in his voice.
"When and where shall we bury him?" Asked Minerva making the question that she didn't want to ask.
"He'll be buried with his parents. He has that right." Said Dumbledore petting Fawkes looking for confort in his pet.
Before any of them could say something else, the Office's door burst open and the rest of the Hogwarts' staff came in wanting to know if the news were right about Voldemort's and Harry Potter's death. A look on the Headmaster and the Deputy Headmistress' face comfirmed it
"I'll go to my quarters." Said Minerva standing from her chair and leaving the office without another word.
"What's wrong with her?" Asked worried Angela Sprout, Herbology's Professor and Head of Hufflepuff.
"Harry was her Godson." Said Dumbledore simply to the staff.
The rest of the teachers, except Severus Snape who knew it, looked shocked about this revelation. None of them knew it and understood in that moment her mood.
"What happened at the Alley, Albus?" Asked Xiomara Hooch, the flight instructor.
Dumbledore proceeded to explain and tell the Professors all about the attack and the duel between Harry and Voldemort, the spells and the result of them. When the Headmaster finished, many had tears in their eyes.
"When will be the funeral?" Asked Severus after a few minutes of ackward silence in the Office.
"His birthday. He'll be buried next to Lily and James." Explained Albus with a tone that said that he would not talk anymore now.
All the teachers caught the message and left the Office in silence, leaving the old Wizard alone lost in thoughts.
****
Cho Chang's summer had been a nightmare in many ways. First she had lost her boyfriend, Cedric Diggory, at the end of the last term in hands of Voldemort. A part of her, blamed Harry Potter in some way for not doing anything for it, but other part would be always thankful with him for bringing back Cedric's body.
Besides that she had fallen in depression. Her family was desesperated with this and tried to help her. Cho didn't want it and refused it. She wanted to be alone without anyone near her.
When she was told about Harry Potter's trial, she went. She wanted to know what had happened that night. What she saw, shocked her beyond any word. Since that moment she stopped blaming in any way to Harry and decided to talk with him someday.
Now she had lost that chance. Harry Potter had died in Voldemort's attack on Diagon Alley, but not without killing the Dark Lord at the same time.
She felt terrible with this. She couldn't have any chance to talk with him, play Quidditch against him, saw him in the corridors never again. Harry Potter had died saving the Wizarding World.
She made a promise to herself that she had to be in his funeral no matter what happened. She owed him that.
****
Many people who had known Harry at the School, Gryffindors or not, shared many of these feelings.
Many Hufflepuffs after hearing what had been shown at his trial about the Tournament, began to reconsider their position to him. The feelings of hate, rivalry, and others that they had had against him for the last year, had dissapeared and were replaced with ones of respect. Many decided to go to the Funeral to show it for a last time.
The Slytherins thought something similar to the Hufflepuffs. Many of the young students had hated him just because the eldests ones did it. Now, they changed their mind and saw him as a hero. Others, whose parents were among the Death Eaters caught in the trial or the Alley's attack, hated him much more than before.
Of all, the one who changed his mind most after this, was Draco Malfoy. He and Harry had been arch rivals since the day that they met at the train in their first year. Now the young Slytherin, saw Harry like the hero that he truly was and not like the stupid-famous-boy that he always pictured of him. He decided to change his actions and position towards Ron and Hermione. If he couldn't show Harry his change of mind, at least he could do it to his 2 best friends.
Many Ravenclaws thought like the other houses' students. They had seen the real Hero, the one who always fought to keep the peace and never asked anything at change. Many decided to go to the funeral too. They wanted to show their respect like the others.
The most hurted with his death, was without any shadow of doubt, the Gryffindors. Many of them had been with him the 4 years, others had began after him or finished before. They had lost, not only a housemate, they had also lost the Seeker, a great friend, a great person, someone who was always that he was needed. They had lost someone that couldn't be replaced by anyone easily and all of them knew it.
Hogwarts had lost a great student and all of them knew it. It didn't matter what House they were in, all of them knew that this year at the School wouldn't be the same without Harry Potter there.
****
The morning after the attack and Harry's death, the Burrow, the second home for the teen, was silent. All of the members of the Wasley clan had signals of tears in the eyes. None of them could stop the tears and they never tried to stop them.
"How are Ron and Hermione, Mum?" Asked Charlie worried about his little brother and his best friend.
"They cried all night. I casted some spells to let them rest." Said Molly worried before she turned her atention to the twins and said very seriously: "I don't want to hear any noise from you room. Is that clear?" Her tone of voice didn't leave place to any kind of arguments.
"Yes, mom." Said the twins at the same time. They weren't even cosidering any experiment that day. They weren't in mood to do it.
"When will be the burial?" Asked Bill to his parents.
"His birthday. Albus told me a while ago that he'll be buried next to his parents." Said with a sad smile Arthur.
"Do you know where is it?" Asked Oliver Wood from the door.
"Hi, Oliver, come in." Said Molly letting pass the young man. Oliver had been in the house many times visiting Percy on the summers.
"Hi all of you." Said the Keeper sitting down and putting a little bag next to him.
He received a few "hi" and "good mornings" from the others.
"Why the bag?" Asked Fred confused watching it.
"I was suspended a week from the team for fighting with a Chaser. And my coach gave me free those days." Said Wood with a sigh.
"What happened? You aren't the kind of people who fight, except in the matches against Slytherin." Said George confused.
"Don't want to talk about it." Said Oliver seriously to his former teammates.
"Ok." Said the twins, not wanting to raise his anger.
"So where is the burial? I want to be there." Asked Oliver to Mr. Weasley.
"At the cementery near Hogsmeade." Said Arthur before he stood and got read to go to work along Percy.
"Where are you staying, Oliver?" Asked Fred to the Keeper.
"I'll go to the Cauldron. I came to see if you knew something about the funeral." Answered Oliver.
"It's closed. The Cauldron and the Alley will be closed for a few days. They were really damaged." Said Percy greeting his old friend and yearmate at Hogwarts.
"Damn it!" Exclaimed Oliver angry.
"Stay here this week. We won't have problems with that." Suggested Molly with a smile.
"Are you sure of that?" Asked Wood surprised.
"Any friend of my son, is welcome in this house." Said Molly with a smile. Oliver smiled and thanked her before all of them returned to eat.
****
When Hermione wake up, her eyes were completely red of the tears that she had cried that night. Checking her watch, she saw that is was almost the 5.00 in the afternoon.
After changing her clothes, she went to Ron's dorm. He was laying awake in his bed and his eyes were so red as hers.
"Ron." Said Hermione sitting next to her best friend near the tears.
The redhead didn't say nothing, he just hugged her and both of them began to cry again. They had lost one of their most dearest persons. There weren't words to describe their feelings of loss.
"I can't believe it." Said Ron with more tears.
"We have to continue, Ron. That what he would like from us." Said Hermione trying to stop her tears.
"I know, but it isn't easy. You can't expect to me recover so soon, Hermione. I felt like if I lost another brother." Said Ron not looking the girl.
"I know it, Ron, I feel exactly the same." Said Hermione beggining to cry again and hugging her friend tightly.
"Can I come in?" Asked Ginny from the door. She had cried that night too, and it was obvious.
"Come here, Ginny." Said Hermione hugging her too. Ginny joined the hug and began to cry again.
The 3 teens went on crying for a long while, never separating themselves. Molly Weasley watched them in silence and left the room to leave them alone, without disturbance. She knew that there was nothing that she culd do to help them, except let them cry alone.
****
Albus apparated that afternoon at Privet Drive. He had 2 things to do. The first was tell the news to Arabella Figg, the witch that had the mission of watch Harry Potter during his childhood.
"Albus, what are you doing here?" Asked the witch, when the old wizard knocked the door.
"Your mission is complete here, Arabella." Said Dumbledore entering the House and going with her to the living room.
"What happened with Harry, Albus?" Asked Arabella worriedly.
"Were you told about Voldemort's reborn?" Asked Albus seriously. When she nodded, he went on: "He did an attack in the Alley yesterday with Death Eaters. Harry was there with his friends. They dueled and Harry killed Voldemort." Albus said this with his eyes near the tears.
"Is Harry...?" Began to ask Mrs. Figg dreading the answer that the Old Wizard could give her. Albus only nodded.
Arabella puit her head in her hands and began to cry in silence. She couldn't avoid it, Albus hugged her and she returned it. Both of them were like that for a while, crying.
"When and where?" Asked Mrs. Figg when she could calm down her tears.
"In 2 days, he'll be buried next to his parents." Said Albus in a solemn tone of voice.
"I'll be there, Albus." Said the witch in the same tone of voice.
"See you then, Arabella. I have another mission to do here today." Sighed the Headmaster going to the door.
"Did he know it, Albus?" Asked Arabella going with him.
"I told him a few days ago. I should have done it before." Said Albus leaving the house and going to Privet Drive 4.
Harry had told him that he wanted the Dursleys out of the House and he was going to respect his wish. He hadn't decided what he would do with the house yet, but it didn't matter now.
"Who are you?" Asked Vernon watching Dumbledore with a face of hate.
"I'm here to speak with you and your wife." Said the old wizard seriously.
"About what?" Asked Vernon suspitious.
"Your residence in this house and your nephew." Said Dumbledore with his eyes full of anger towards the man.
"What's wrong with that damn boy?" Asked Petunia listening his words. Her words had a dispectful tone of voice.
"He's dead." Said Dumbledore sending a look of anger to the woman.
"What?" Asked Petunia completely shocked with his words.
"He died yesterday." Said simply Albus.
"How?" Asked Petunia trying to recover from the shock.
"May I come in and explain it inside?" Asked Dumbledore.
"Come in." Said the women before her husband could say a word against it.
"Who are you?" Asked Vernon with hate.
"Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts." Answered politely the wizard sitting down in the living room.
"Her father." Said Petunia listening his words.
"Yes, Lily was my daughter and Harry my grandson." Said Dumbledore with a sad smile.
"WHAT?? YOU ARE THE GRANDFATHER OF THAT FREAKNESS AND YOU SENT HIM TO LIVE WITH US??" Shouted Vernon bewildered. Before he could add aomething else, he found his face against the wizard's wand.
"Say something else against Harry, Mr. Dursley, and you'll regret it all your life!" Threatened Dumbledore very seriously.
Vernon paled completely and shut his mouth and sat down in an armchair with his face full of fear and hate towards the old man.
"How?" Asked Petunia ignoring the whole incident between her husband and the wizard.
"In a battle." Said Dumbledore and explained evrything that had happened at the Alley.
Petunia closed her eyes and a tear rolled by her eyes. Although she hated her nephew, she didn't want him dead. Now she didn't have more family besides her husband and her son. The things with Vernon were in a downfall and she was considering the divorce. She stayed there silently for a few while.
"What did you mean with our residence at my house?" Asked Vernon angrily remembering Dumbledore's previous words.
"It was Harry's House, not ours." Said Petunia suddenly. She knew about the deal between her parents and Dumbledore and about the condition that the Wizard had put on it too.
"WHAT?? WHAT DO YOU MEAN WITH THAT??" Shouted bewildered Vernon not believing her words.
"My parents asked him help to buy this house," Began Petunia pointing Dumbledore before she continued, "He bought the house, but with the condition that the House would be for Lily or her children." Said the woman, before she asked the Headmaster: "Am I right?"
"Yes, you are. Before the battle, he told me that he wants the 3 of you out of this house. Although he's dead now, I'll make his with reality. You have a week to leave the House." Said Dumbledore before he stood and went to the door to leave.
"What? He wants us out of here, after everything that we did for him??" Asked furious Vernon.
"Yes. If you aren't out of this house in a week, you'll be imprisoned by the Ministry of Magic under the charges of child abuse against an underaged wizard and many other ones. Goodnight." Said the Headmaster with fury before he dissaparated.
****
"Honey, what's wrong?" Asked Miriam Granger to her daughter the next morning when the young witch appeared in her house. She was worried about the red eyes of her daughter showing the signals of crying.
Hermione had gone to her house to collect a few things and to speak with her parents. She decided to spend the rest of the summer at the Burrow and his parents had to know it.
"I'll stay at the Burrow the rest of the summer." Said Hermione slowly going to her room to start packing her things.
"Did something happened? I thought that you would come with us to Australia." Said George Granger, her father, to his daughter confused with this news.
"Harry died 2 days ago." Said Hermione bursting out in tears again.
Miriam went and hugged her daughter tightly letting her cry on her shoulder. Hermione returned the embrace and went on crying desconsolated.
Dr. Granger didn't say a word. He and his wife had heard many things about Harry and Ron by their daughter. It was more than obvious to them that she considered them more than mere friends. She considered them her brothers. The man could see clearly why his daughter was crying and left the dorm not wanting to disturb any of the women there.
After a while, Miriam left the dorm silently, watching Hermione going on packing her things. She hadn't seen her cry like that since when she was 6 years old, and that time was nothing compaired with this one.
She and her husband knew that she needed to be with her friends and those persons that she considered like a family. Not allowing her to spend her summer at the Burrow would mean a fight between them and their daughter. And in that moment, it was the last thing that Hermione needed and they knew it.
****
The morning of Harry's funeral the sky was like the mood of everyone, clouded and threatened to rain in any moment. Even the angels and the sky seemed ready to cry for Harry Potter.
In the Burrow, the Weasleys, Hermione, Oliver, the 3 Chasers and Lee Jordan were getting ready to go to the place of the burial. The 3 girls and the twins' friend asked Arthur, who had been chosen as Minister of Magic, if they could go with them. If they went on their own, they feared that they couldn't go near the place that he would buried.
Mr. Weasley agreed with it, not seeing any problem with that. They had the same right that his family to be there near their friend at his last home.
"Hey, Katie, what is it?" Asked Bill pointing to a scarlet robe that the Chaser had in her hands.
"My gift to him." Said Katie showing it to the others.
It was a robe with the colors of Gryffindor. In the front, it read "Gryffindor House Team." In the back, it was "Harry Potter, Seeker."
"I got one of mines, and my mother sew the letters on it." Explained Katie to the others with a sad look.
"Why don't we sign it? We could leave a message for him." Suggested Hermione looking the robe with a smile.
"I'll get a quill." Said Molly after everyone agreed with it.
When everyone had finished writing, it read:
"To my best friend and the guy that I loved like a brother." Ron Weasley.
"To the friend that showed me the real meaning of bravery and passed all the tests that were in his way." Hermione Granger.
"To my eight kid." Molly Weasley.
"Thanks for saving my life in my first year." Ginny Weasley.
"Thanks for giving us the freedom forever." Arthur Weasley.
"To our beloved friend and Inversor, thanks for all." Fred and George Weasley.
"To the best seeker that I've ever seen play, thanks." Lee Jordan.
"To the boy who taught us to pass the dificulties without any doubt and fighting always against them." Katie Bell, Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet.
"To the boy that taught me a new way of playing Quiddicth, no matter the problems, the weather or nothing that happened in the matches." Oliver Wood.
"Thanks for being who you were." Charlie, Percy and Bill Weasley.
After a few moments, the cars provided by the Ministry arrived and all of them went in them. None of them spoke very much in the way, no one wanted to do it.
The cementery was full of people: curious, reporters who wanted the news, Hogwarts students of the 4 Houses, teachers and many others that nobody knew.
In the moment that the reporters spotted Ron and Hermione, all of them went to them and began to shot questions. Both teens tired as they were, and still trying to pass their friend's death, took their wands and began to shoot hexes and curses to everyone in sight. All of the reporters began to duck out the spells with a look of fear towards the teens, who had a look of hate towards them.
"That will teach you to not bother them today." Said Arthur with a angry look towards the reporters, while his family went to where the teachers were.
"Ron, Hermione, was it necessary?" Asked Percy angry with their actions. He shut his mouth when both teens turned to him with their wands ready to go on with the curses this time against him.
"Leave them, Percy." Said Molly seriously to her son putting a hand on his shoulder. Although she didn't aprove their actions, she knew that it was their way to relax all the tension in themselves.
"I see that both of you have learnt many nasty spells these 4 years." Chuckled Albus going to the group with Minerva, who had a soft smile after seeing the show of the teens.
"A lot." Said Ron with a grin.
"Do you want to sign it, Professors? All of us have left a message for him." Said Katie to her Headmaster and her Head of House giving them the robe and a quill. Both nodded and wrote a message too:
"Thanks for everything, and I'm sorry for the secrets." Albus Dumbledore.
"I'll miss you a lot. Thanks for being like you were no matter the problems." Minerva McGonagall.
"Hi guys." Said Roger Davies going to the group of Gryffindors with Cho next to him. Both of them had a sad look in them.
"Hi Cho, hi Roger." Said a few of them greeting the 2 Ravenclaws.
"Can I sign it too?" Asked Cho pointing the robe, watching the messages written there.
"Sure. You can do it too if you want. Roger." Said Katie giving the quill to them. Both nodded and Cho began to write:
"Thanks for bring Cedric back. Sorry if I ever doubted of you." Cho Chang.
"The Quidditch at the School will never be the same again without you in the sky." Roger Davies.
"It's really crowded here today." Said Charlie watching around the place.
"Yes, there are students of the 4 Houses and many other that I don't know." Said Minerva with a soft smile.
"Many people respected Harry and many other owe their life to him." Said Dumbledore with the eyes full of twinckle.
They went on chatting, while Katie went around with the robe and the quill asking if someone, that was known with Harry, wanted to sign it. Many of them agreed and left their messages:
"Thanks for being with us these 4 wonderful years." Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, Neville Longbottom, Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown.
"I'll miss you always." Rubeus Hagrid.
"The School and my Classes won't be the same without you." Severus Snape.
"Sorry for doubting of you and thanks for everything that you did to help Cedric." The students of the Hufflepuff House.
"You are a light that not even the death will never turn off." The students of Fifth Year of the Ravenclaw House.
"Thanks for making me free and for giving me your friendship." Dobby.
"Sorry by our fights and hate. I realized my mistake too late." Draco Malfoy.
"Too late, Malfoy." Said Katie to the blonde with a sad look towards him after reading the message.
"I know, Bell, I know." Said Draco leaving his place and going to speak with other Skytherins that were there.
It was decided that a few persons would speak before he was buried: they were Oliver Wood, in name of his teammates, Ron and Hermione, in name of his friends and Minerva McGonagall in name of his teachers. The last one would be Albus Dumbledore.
"I met Harry in my fifth year. He had been selected to Gryffindor and looked like another boy, not the famous boy that everyone had talked about in my chilhood.
"The second week of Classes, Professor McGonagall presented him to me as the new Seeker for the team. The first thing that I had to do, was explain him the rule of the game. He was the best player that I've ever seen in my whole life. He had talent to do it, was natural. I saw him go through many things at the pitch during the 3 years that we shared a team, but anything could beat him except Dementors.
"That is the Harry that I will always remember, not the Hero, not the Boy- Who-Lived. I'll see him always like the Quiditch player that was like a fish in water when he was flying in a broom looking for the Snitch.
"It was a pleasure and an honor for me to play with you, Harry." Finished Oliver his speech putting the robe over the coffin. When he had done it, he returned to his seat next to the other players.
"I met Harry in the train on my first trip to Hogwats," Began to speak Ron, "we became friends very quickly and before any of us could realize it, we were the best friends that someone could ask in the world.
"With him, I knew the joy, the sadness, the quietness and hard moments. He was there when I needed him like I was there for him. When he died, I felt like if I had lost a brother and not a friend. Harry was that for me, a brother.
"Harry, I hope that you'll get the hapiness that you always wanted now with you parents, Sirius and Remus. You'll be always a part of my heart that will not be forgotten." When Ron finished had tears in his eyes and returned to his seat where his mother hugged him letting him cry.
"Harry and I became friends in Halloween of our first year. He had risked his own life against a Troll to save my life. It was a silly thing, I'll admit it, but I was, am and will be thankful to him for that act the rest of my life." Began Hermione her speech.
"He was a natural hero with his defects and virtues. He just wanted to be normal, but no one wanted to see it. There will not be any person that will be able to replace him ever in the hearts of those ones that loved him and knew him.
"Like Ron said, with him I met the danger, the death and many other good and bad things. When he died, I lost a part of my soul. With him, died a friend, a brother, someone that you would always like to have as friend.
"I'll miss you Harry and thanks for your friendship. You were a better man than many adults and you were just a teen. Good ridance in this new adventure, my dear friend." Hermione, like Ron, had tears in her eyes when she went to her seat. In her case, it was Bill who gave the shoulder to let her cry.
Many of the people present there had also tears after those speechs. They were the 2 persons that knew Harry better than anyone and could easily understand their tears.
The reporters were writing at full speed about everything and many ones looked like they were goig to write bad things and change the teens' words to make gossip again. The twins and the other players of the Team, pointed their wands to the papers and burnt them. They weren't going to allow them to write nothing against their friends today.
"Good work." Said Dumbledore to the teens, while the reporters tried to turn off the fire. They just nodded with a little smile while Minerva McGonagall began to speak.
"Harry Potter was the kind of student that caused problems always, but he had the ability to solve them as easily as he created them.
"For 4 years I saw him grow up, not only phisically, mentally and magically too. He fought every problem or crisis not caring about nothing else but the peace of the School and the students, although they would hate him by any reason.
"I have the pride of have been his Head of House, and the person that put him in the Quidditch Team. He never dissapointed me with that decision and never did with nothing else.
"Gryffindor and the School has lost a student that will be remembered forever in our hearts. I hope that you can find the peace now, Harry." Finished Minerva returning to her seat next to the other teachers. Many people saw tears in her eyes.
"Like Miss Granger said, Harry was just a teen, but he acted like an adult. He was a man with all the letters, and fought, lived and grew as one.
"He fough against all the problems alone or with help. He was a great boy, and the only thing that could stop him was the death. He faced it so many times that he didn't fear it at all.
"Get the rest that you deserve with the persons that loved you. Goodbye, Harry." Was Dumbledore's speech, before he put a flower on the coffin.
Before it was buried, all of the persons that had known him during those 4 years, followed Dumbledore's example and put one too. When it was finished, the coffin was covered with many kind of flowers.
Slowly, the coffin began to be covered with earth and was buried. All of his friends, teachers, students of the School and many of the persons there were crying when the earth covered it completely.
After a few minutes, everyone began to separate their ways, leaving the cementery. The Weasleys were suporting Ron and Hermione who looked completely paled and hadn't stopped crying since their speeches.
When the last person had left, the sky decided to follow them in the tears to Harry and a big storm began to fall. It seemed that also the angels were sorry with his death.
In the gravestone, there were flowers, a drawing of a lightning and a Snitch. Things that reminded everyone of Harry's life. In it, there was an inscription that read:
"Harry James Potter.
July 31st 1980 - July 28th 1995
Beloved friend, teammate, housemate, schoolmate, Godson and Grandson.
The boy who lived and died to save our world. Get the peace that you have deserved all your life with your parents."