Chapter 31 - Closure
A week had passed since the fight at the mansion, and it felt like the longest week of Harry's life. A shadow had fallen over the Wizarding community, Dumbledore had been close to so many and had been regarded in high esteem by so many. The Hogwarts halls were particularly subdued; Dumbledore had been more than just Headmaster, he had given his life and his soul to Hogwarts.
But time did pass. Voldemort was gone; Harry knew he was truly gone this time.
The death eaters, or what was left of them, were being rounded up. With
Kingsley Shacklebolt and Alastor Moody presiding over the trials, the criminals
were getting what they deserved for once.
As for Harry, he was alone most of the time. He couldn't untangle his feelings
at that time, there was so much going through him, sorrow, pain, anger, hate,
disappointment, guilt. But at the end of it all there was hope. Hope that it
was finally all over and that there was light at the end of the tunnel.
What Harry needed was Dumbledore, he needed his wisdom which was the one thing
he couldn't have and would never have again. Losses had been minor otherwise,
many injuries but no deaths. But the one fatality was the worst of all.
After
another day of wandering aimlessly through the Hogwarts halls, Harry found
himself at the gargoyle leading to where Dumbledore had lived. It had sealed
itself since that night, not even permitting Professor McGonagall, who was
acting as head temporarily, to enter. To his surprise, the gargoyle opened when
he approached it, and Harry stepped on the familiar staircase to travel up to
the heavy door.
The door opened itself when he got there and Harry shakily walked into the
room.
Everything was identical to how he remembered, all the little silver
instruments, the machines. But everything had stopped. Whereas before when you
entered the office there was a whirring noise as countless instruments worked
and a warm feeling, now it was cold and silent. It was as if Dumbledore's death
had cut off power and life to this room. Which, Harry reflected, it probably
had. Harry saw Fawkes sitting on his perch. When the phoenix saw Harry, it
alighted and landed on Harry's shoulder. The heavy weight was reassuring.
Harry paused, he waited to feel Dumbledore in this room, his soul or something but he felt nothing. It was just cold. He jumped slightly as he heard a voice, but relaxed when he realised one of the portraits was addressing him.
"He's dead isn't he?" a witch Harry knew as Dilys said mournfully. "We felt it." Harry nodded, not trusting himself to speak. He saw all the other portraits watching him, whispering among themselves.
"You are Harry Potter?" Dilys continued, wiping away a tear that rolled down her cheek. "He told us that it was meant for you. And he said to tell you well done." She pointed to a folded piece of parchment on Dumbledore's desk which Harry picked up cautiously.
He opened it and began to read:
Dear Harry,
If you are reading this then I am dead. I hope you aren't grieving, remember I told you once that death was just the next big adventure, and it truly is. I am writing this letter on the day that we are to go into battle. I have not got great hopes for myself, death is immanent for me, but I know that you will do us all proud. You will face Voldemort and you will win, I know this.
I told you that I have watched you since you were brought to me by Hagrid and I have. I have watched you face all your troubles, facing them as a man every time. And so now you are a man, and you have become who you were destined to be. With your help and the help of those in the Order I have great hopes for the future. And wherever I am, I'll be keeping an eye out for you. For the rest of your lives I will be watching my friends, my family. I know you will all make me proud.
Someday we may meet again; no one can truly say
what waits for us at the end. Tell Moody to have constant vigilance. Tell Buffy
that the end came when I wanted it, when I asked for it. She will understand
what I mean. Tell Sirius, James, and Lily; tell them all to look to the future.
Tell Severus he has found his peace. Give Arthur my best wishes; tell him he
has all my faith. And my children, you, Ron, Hermione, Dawn, Neville, Ginny,
all of the Hogwarts students, you are the future. As for Hogwarts, Minerva McGonagall
will make a fine Headmistress, but I know she will not want it. Your mother,
Lily, she would be my next choice.
And as for you Harry, hold onto everything you have been taught. You will make
a fine Auror. Just remember that you are what you choose to be. Finally always
remember, Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus.
Best wishes,
Albus Dumbledore.
P.S. Take care of Fawkes, he always liked you
Harry placed the letter down in front of him carefully and wiped his face which was wet with tears. The portraits watched him closely but Harry did not look at them. He took one last look around the office, stroked Fawkes who still stood of him shoulder, then picked up the letter and left.
"You went
into the office?" Professor McGonagall said in alarm. "How?"
"It just opened," Harry said honestly.
"And there was a letter he wrote a letter to me, to all of us."
"What did it say?" Professor McGonagall
said urgently, glancing quickly at the phoenix on Harry's shoulder.
"He wants you to be Headmistress," Harry
said, locking eyes with her.
"Headmistress?" she replied, eyes
opaque. "But I don't want.I mean I'm too old, not right for it. I'm happy as I
am, I'd rather not."
"He said you'd say that," Harry said,
with a small rueful smile. "Here." He handed her the letter and she read it.
When she looked up at him, her eyes were shiny with tears.
"Then Lily shall be Headmistress," she
said fixedly. "She will be the right choice, I know it." Harry nodded.
It was another week before the funeral, held out in the grounds of Hogwarts. This week had passed quickly; Harry felt he had achieved a certain degree of closure from the letter. His mother had taken the position of Head; somewhat reluctantly as she felt she had an insurmountable predecessor to live up to.
So it was the week later that Harry stood in the grounds, sun beating down on all their heads with Fawkes perched on his shoulder. Many people had read the letter, and many different reactions had occurred. Snape's face had closed over, and he had walked out abruptly. Harry was sure that he would always be a mystery to him. As for Buffy, she had read it and smiled a sad smile. Harry asked her what the message meant.
"Something I told Dumbledore a long time again," she said, wiping her eyes. "An old friend of mine, Spike, told me that a slayer died when she wanted death. The second she wanted it, it came to her. And I guess it was his time."
The coffin was carried to the grave, supported on the shoulders of Sirius, James, Snape and Buffy. The rest of the guests stood around the graveside. The large group consisted of a varied group of wizards; the invitation had been open to anyone who wanted to say their goodbyes to Albus Dumbledore. Looking round the group Harry saw every member of the Order present, each recognisable by the fire-coloured armband they wore. Harry adjusted his own, and then watched, feeling hollow, as the coffin was lowered into the ground. He stood next to his mother and was holding her hand tightly. Once the coffin was in place, he was joined by his father, Buffy and Sirius. Arthur Weasley stepped forward, he had been asked to speak at the funeral.
"I'm not sure I'm the best person to be speaking on this day," he said gravely. "I didn't know Albus for the longest, or know him the best but I will do my best to honour him. Albus Dumbledore touched the lives of so many people. His courage, kindness and dignity were never failing. In whatever he did he was a true inspiration to us all. We come to the end of a war but it is for certain that it will not be the last. Let the example he set guide us all and let us become what Albus always had faith we would."
Silence
fell over the group as each person present paid their own personal tribute to
Albus Dumbledore.
More weeks passed and the end of term at Hogwarts came. Harry, Hermione, Dawn
and Ron were all melancholy; it was their last year at Hogwarts. The day before
they were due to leave for the final time, Ron and harry both received letters
from the Ministry, regarding their applications to become trainee Aurors.
"You open yours first," Harry urged Ron,
clutching his own letter nervously.
"Me? You're the one with the Order of
Merlin First Class," Ron retorted.
"We'll you've got third class," Harry
said in reply. All the members of the Order had received Order of Merlin Third
Class, and Harry had got his First Class. He wasn't sure he was entirely
comfortable about it. Still, he tore open his envelope and scanned the letter nervously.
"Well what does it say?" Hermione asked
shrilly, twisting her hands.
"I got in!" Harry said triumphantly. "I
start in September. Well, go on open yours mate!" Ron tore his open too and
read the contents. The grin that spread across his face was enough to inform
the others of the results.
"Well done you guys!" Dawn said,
grabbing them both in a hug. Ron grinned happily.
"How about you Herm?" Ron asked, now
relaxed. "I mean me and Harry are going to Auror training, Dawn's getting her
slayer in September. What are you doing?" Hermione smiled knowingly.
"Well I've had a word with Lily," she
said, still smiling. "And I'm going to stay at Hogwarts. Professor Vector wants
to retire after one more year of teaching so I'm going top be her teaching
assistant next year and then take over as teacher after that."
"That's really great," Harry said honestly. "You'll be really good at it." Hermione grinned happily.
Their last day came and they had packed up all their trunks as usual.
"Finally a summer without the Dursleys,"
Harry said to Ron who grinned. "I'm moving into the new house. It's gonna be
great, I must be the only nearly eighteen year old who actually wants to live
with his parents!" He and Ron followed Hermione and dawn onto the train where
they found an empty carriage.
The train filled up and finally the doors began to shut.
"This is it then," Ron said sadly. "Bye
bye Hogwarts." They all gazed out of the window as Hogwarts disappeared from
view.
"Roll on the future," Harry said and they all settled down for a game of Wizarding snap.
THE END
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Hope you all enjoyed it! This is it for this story but read and review and let me know what you think! If you like my writing, then check out one of my other fics, 'Changes' or 'Redemption'! Thanks to everyone that reviewed!!!
