Disclaimer: See "Stories of the Hogwarts Sisterhood"
Disclaimer 2: Wellard and the other Aurors (except Achilles) come from "Hornblower".
To flamers: I don't take kindly to flames so get out of here, if you know what's good for you.
Note 1: This is a sequel to "Stories of the Hogwarts Sisterhood"; taken place several months later during Easter holidays, so read that first.
NOTE 2: This chapter and the next one will be dark
Note 3: I don't care if JKR kills Sirius off, I want him to be alive and here he is.
NOTE 4: IF ANY OF YOU WONDER WHAT DOES WELLARD LOOKS LIKE BUT YOU HAVE NEVER WATCHED "HORNBLOWER" BEFORE, GO TO MY PROFILE AND CLICK THE LINKS UNDER FAVOURITE PICTURES. HE'S A CUTIE!
Rated Pg-13 for language, content and characters' death.
Thank you for your reviews!
Jestana and Liz O'Brien- Achilles will make up with Minerva in the next chapter.
Lemondropaddict- Unfortunately, Athena is dead and I can't bring her back.
Kate: Thank you
Princesswitch: Err, this chapter is not a happy one, but I am sure the next one is better.
Chapter 25: Achilles Feels the Pain..Twice
HOGWARTS UNDER ATTACK! OVER 200 STUDENTS KILLED!
That was the headline of the Daily Prophet.
Oliver Wood read on urgently and carefully on the four-page article, featuring the school's attack. Jonathan was looking over his shoulder, too impatient to wait for him to finish. Katie was carrying her son Jonny and asked anxiously, "Anything on Grandma?"
"The only thing they said about the school staff was that all of them are safe..." said Oliver slowly.
Katie still looked worried. "What about our younger friends? Like Harry, Ron and Hermione?"
"Nothing. They only said that the students who survived the tragedy were sent home this early morning." said Oliver.
CRACK
Jonathan turned around and saw Mandy, looking very tired and untidy with her bloody robes.
"Grandma!" cried Oliver and Katie happily.
"Mandy, Mandy, you are back!" said Jonathan in delight as he rushed over to hug her. "Oh I was so worried..."
Mandy just returned the hug slightly.
"Grandma, we are so glad that you are home, are you hungry? Need I to get anything?" asked Katie, smiling.
Mandy just walked slowly to the kitchen table and sat down. She had an expression on her face that reminded Jonathan of Poppy in her unstable condition years ago after William died.
"Grandma?" asked Katie, her smile faded. "A-are you okay?"
"I-I am fine," said Mandy, her voice was thick with emotion.
Suddenly, she placed her face in her hand and started to cry.
"Grandma? What's wrong?" asked Oliver in alarm.
"Mandy?"
"Oh M-Merlin! I s-still can't b-believe it!" said Mandy loudly, her voice trembled as she cried.
"What?" asked Jonathan.
"S-she's dead, she's dead!"
"Who?" asked Jonathan in horror.
Mandy didn't answer, instead she lowered her head, buried her face in her arms and continued crying.
***
Sirius knocked on Harry's room in his house (not Grimmauld Place, Sirius and Harry were now living in the house where Sirius used to live before he was arrested).
"Harry?"
No response.
"Harry, are you okay?"
"Yeah." replied a lifeless voice.
"All right then." said Sirius and left, thinking that Harry might want to be alone after what had happened yesterday.
Harry was sitting on the floor and leaning on his bed as he held a photo. He sighed and stared sorrowfully at a photo of all the 7th year Gryffindors, especially the girl with auburn hair and blue eyes.
***
At the Grangers', Hermione was staring at a photo too, but this one was not a class photo but a photo of Athena and herself in Diagon Alley, eating ice cream cones.
"I am going to miss you." she muttered as she ran her fingers across the photo.
***
"Oh My Goodness...." said Fred as he read the article over and over again at the Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes.
He was so obsessed with the newspaper that he accidentally put a whole of Ton-Tongue Toffees into the box of Canary Creams with his other hand.
"Fred, be careful." said George flatly at the counter, not quite in a cheery mood after he read the article.
"AH! Darn!" cursed Fred as he threw down the newspaper to the floor. "This is the fifth time that I made a mistake! I can't concentrate on my work after reading this!"
"I suggest we go home and see Ron and Ginny if they are okay." said George with the same tone.
"Fine."
***
"Mom, Ginny doesn't want to come down, she is too upset to eat her lunch." said Ron quietly at the Burrow.
Mrs Weasley sighed and looked at the ceiling, as if she could see Ginny's bedroom through that. "Do you think she will be okay by tomorrow?"
Ron shook his head grimly. "I don't think so, it's not easy to forget your friend's death."
"True," said Mrs Weasley. "Well, what about you, Ron? Do you want to have your lunch?"
Ron looked at his favourite dish on the table for a long time before he said, "I, I think I have lost my appetite too. I'm going to my room."
And he went to his room and shut himself in.
***
Lupin was taking a shower at home. He watched silently as the water washed away the blood, his students' blood, from his skin. Thinking the tragedy, he sat down on the cold floor and leaned against the white wall. He lifted his head, closed his eyes and sighed deeply.
***
Poppy and Georgia were sitting in the Three Broomsticks, with 2 tall bottles of Vodka and Gin on their table. But none of them seem to have the mood to drink them.
***
No matter how shock and upset the whole wizarding world was, the feelings were nothing compared to Minerva's.
Once she (Dumbledore still needed to settle a few things in the school and Ministry) got home, she went upstairs and to Athena's bedroom.
She stared at the bedroom door for a moment before she opened it. The door swung open easily and she walked in slowly, looking at the surroundings as she did.
The room was painted in light blue-green. The curtains were light blue, closed tightly together since their owner was not at home. Minerva went to the window and pushed them apart as slow as possible. Bright sunlight filled the room immediately. Minerva looked down at Athena's well-kept desk and saw a framed photo of Achilles (the one that Athena found in the attic), Athena herself, her and Dumbledore, the Hogwarts Sisters, and a few of her friends.
Right in the middle of the desk, there was another stack of photos and an empty photo frame. Curiously, Minerva picked the photos up and looked through it. It was the photos of Athena and Wellard during the holidays.
There were photos of Athena and Wellard flying a kite, Wellard sleeping under a tree, Athena sitting on the grass, looking as if she was very bored, the couple making funny faces, Wellard standing on a sailboat's bow, with his arms around Athena as they enjoyed the wind blowing at their faces...and lots more.
Then there was a photo of them with their arms around each other. There was a paper clipped on it saying, "Put this in frame". Looks like Athena wanted to put the photo into the frame. But she would never get a chance to do it now.
Minerva sighed and sat down at the desk. She removed the paper and slipped the photo neatly into the frame. If Athena couldn't do it, she would do it for her. Smiling slightly when she was done, Minerva put the frame with the rest of the collection. She then opened the drawer under the desk to put the rest in.
After that, Minerva's depressed mood was back as she stared at her daughter's photos. She got up and walked to the closet, where Athena kept her clothes. She opened it and saw robes, T-shirts, jumpers, jeans, shorts, dresses, hats and....
Minerva gasped when she saw what was sitting on the pile of shirts. She bended down and picked up a small, cuddly teddy bear. The bear was light brown, with a small blue bow around its neck and a very realistic smile. Its nose was black and its eyes were big and chocolate brown.
"I remember this! I gave it to Athena when she was..when she was four.."
Minerva sat down on Athena's bed with the bear in her hands. She remembered what happened when she gave the bear...
***
"Oh Mommy, I love it!" said the four-year-old Athena when Minerva gave the bear to her during her birthday.
"Glad that you are." said Minerva, smiling.
"Any names for it?" asked Dumbledore.
"I think I will name it...." Athena thought for a while as she held the bear's hands. "Um.... I think I will just call it Teddy."
"Whatever you like."
"Mommy, can I sleep with Teddy at night, please?"
Minerva frowned a little. "No."
Athena pouted. "Oh pretty please, Mommy, please..." she pleaded, still hugging the bear.
"Come on, Minerva." said Dumbledore, grinning.
"Okay, all right." said Minerva unwillingly but she smiled when Athena danced around with the bear happily.
At night, Athena snuggled comfortably in her bed as Minerva covered her with the blanket.
After she read the story of the Goddess Athena herself and the maiden Arachne (Athena enjoyed listening the stories of the Goddess who shared the same name as her), Athena said sweetly, "Mommy, thank you for giving me Teddy."
Minerva smiled lovingly.
"I think I will keep it forever." said Athena seriously.
"We'll see about that when you grow up." said Minerva and kissed her daughter goodnight.
***
Tears rolled down Minerva's cheeks as she reminisced the past. She brought the bear close to her heart and buried her face on top of its head as she sobbed.
***
Achilles was staring absentmindedly at the statue of Minerva in his apartment (Pellew excused him, since he thought Achilles needed some time- off to get over Athena's death). If he had not mistaken, that statue was beginning to look more and more like Athena.......
"Achilles? Achilles!" yelled Edrington urgently at the fireplace.
Achilles snapped out of his trance and went to the fireplace. "What?"
"You better come quick to St Mungo's." said Edrington seriously.
"Why?"
"It's Archie, he's dying."
***
Achilles ran to the witch in St Mungo's reception area a few minutes later and demanded, "I am looking for Archie Kennedy!"
"Oh, looking for Mr Kennedy, are you? He is at fourth floor, second door on the right. Poor boy, he is going to die.."
Achilles rushed to the stairs and ran up, ignoring his legs' protests. He arrived at the fourth floor and dashed straight to the second door on the right. He went in and saw Hornblower, Edrington and Bush (who looked rather pale because he had not completely recovered from his own injury) surrounding a bed. Hornblower was sitting on a chair beside the bed, staring at Kennedy.
Achilles walked slowly over and saw Kennedy on his bed, whose looks now was a big contrast to his usual appearance. Usually he looked very healthy, with a bit of baby fat in his handsome face. His baby blue eyes used to look alert and attractive. His blond hair was neat and well-groomed. Now his face was as white as chalk and a little thin. His hair was slightly tousled. Even his eyes looked rather lifeless. Badges were wrapped over his stomach but there were still blood on them.
When Kennedy saw Achilles, he smiled weakly and said, "Hey there, Achilles, it's nice of you to come and see me."
"Are you okay, Archie?" asked Achilles anxiously.
Kennedy laughed feebly. "Didn't you know? I am dying."
"You are not going to die, Archie." said Hornblower firmly.
Kennedy closed his eyes and shook his head slightly. "Yes I am. Didn't you hear the Healer, Horatio? He says that he had done his best."
Hornblower didn't respond.
Kennedy looked fondly at everyone. "It's really good to have all of you here to see me off. Well, except Terence of course, but I am going to see him and his girlfriend soon anyway."
"Archie...." started Hornblower helplessly.
Kennedy held up his hand weakly to stop Hornblower from talking. Hornblower shut up immediately.
"I don't mind dying, really.."
"You are not going to die, Archie. Look, why don't I send you to some better place for treatment?" suggested Edrington.
"Don't waste your money on me, Philip. If it is the time for me to die, I will die. No point trying to avoid it." said Kennedy and he smiled.
"But..."
Kennedy looked at Edrington determinedly and he shut up as well.
The rest looked very gloomy.
Kennedy grinned a little as grinning too much was getting tiring. "It's a good thing that the Healer let visitors in."
Suddenly his grin faded and said softly but seriously, "At least I get to see all of you one last time..."
He smiled again and his friends made an effort to smile back. He sighed a little and closed his eyes.
"Archie?" asked Hornblower anxiously, his smile disappeared immediately.
Kennedy didn't respond. Instead, his head dropped slightly to the left.
Edrington looked away.
Bush was blinking furiously.
Achilles sighed deeply.
Hornblower shed a few tears silently and patted Kennedy's hand. "Goodbye, Archie."
***
"Take him away." said the Healer grimly a few minutes later.
His colleagues lifted Kennedy up steadily and putted him on a stretcher. Then they covered him with the white cloth. They lifted the stretcher and quietly, they brought his body out of the ward.
"I'm really sorry." said the Healer before he left.
A minute later after the Healers left, the Aurors proceeded to leave the place as well.
At the corridor, Edrington leaned forward and whispered, "William (This is William Bush, not William Potter)?"
"Yes?" asked Bush as he walked slowly.
"Just look after him, will you?" said Edrington quietly, indicating the grief-stricken Hornblower, who was walking with his head slightly down.
Bush nodded.
***
At night, Achilles was sitting on his armchair at the balcony at his flat. He had a cigarette in his mouth and a glass of Firewhiskey in his hand. After a few puffs of smoke, he removed his cigarette and held it with his fingers.
He sighed sorrowfully and thought about the last two weeks. Yesterday, he lost Athena and Wellard, now Kennedy was gone as well.
Kennedy was his good friend, the popular one, the bright spot of the whole Auror Headquarters. He was a happy-go-lucky kind of man and had a very good sense of humour. He also loved a good party so whenever there was a good event, he would grab a couple of Butterbeer bottles and started celebrating. He was so nice and adorable that he was won first in Witch Weekly's Most Charming Auror award.
But now that he was dead, the Auror Headquarters were going to be awfully quiet and dull. Achilles was sure that he would miss him.
Wellard was quite a nice young lad. Well, he could be cowardly sometimes, but when it came to friends, he would stand up for them no matter what. He was very loyal and knew where his loyalties suppose to be. He was likeable and serious in his work. Achilles could see that he could become a good Auror if it wasn't for his misfortune.
But the person he was going to miss the most was Athena. He didn't get to know her better; he didn't even spend an entire year with her. The happiest time he had spent with her was when he was 17. He would miss her smile, her behaviour and even her frown.
His heart hurt as he remembered her smile. Mandy and Georgia told him that his mother didn't want him to be an Auror because she didn't want to lose him like how they lost William Potter.
Now he knew how painful it was to lose the one you loved.
Disclaimer 2: Wellard and the other Aurors (except Achilles) come from "Hornblower".
To flamers: I don't take kindly to flames so get out of here, if you know what's good for you.
Note 1: This is a sequel to "Stories of the Hogwarts Sisterhood"; taken place several months later during Easter holidays, so read that first.
NOTE 2: This chapter and the next one will be dark
Note 3: I don't care if JKR kills Sirius off, I want him to be alive and here he is.
NOTE 4: IF ANY OF YOU WONDER WHAT DOES WELLARD LOOKS LIKE BUT YOU HAVE NEVER WATCHED "HORNBLOWER" BEFORE, GO TO MY PROFILE AND CLICK THE LINKS UNDER FAVOURITE PICTURES. HE'S A CUTIE!
Rated Pg-13 for language, content and characters' death.
Thank you for your reviews!
Jestana and Liz O'Brien- Achilles will make up with Minerva in the next chapter.
Lemondropaddict- Unfortunately, Athena is dead and I can't bring her back.
Kate: Thank you
Princesswitch: Err, this chapter is not a happy one, but I am sure the next one is better.
Chapter 25: Achilles Feels the Pain..Twice
HOGWARTS UNDER ATTACK! OVER 200 STUDENTS KILLED!
That was the headline of the Daily Prophet.
Oliver Wood read on urgently and carefully on the four-page article, featuring the school's attack. Jonathan was looking over his shoulder, too impatient to wait for him to finish. Katie was carrying her son Jonny and asked anxiously, "Anything on Grandma?"
"The only thing they said about the school staff was that all of them are safe..." said Oliver slowly.
Katie still looked worried. "What about our younger friends? Like Harry, Ron and Hermione?"
"Nothing. They only said that the students who survived the tragedy were sent home this early morning." said Oliver.
CRACK
Jonathan turned around and saw Mandy, looking very tired and untidy with her bloody robes.
"Grandma!" cried Oliver and Katie happily.
"Mandy, Mandy, you are back!" said Jonathan in delight as he rushed over to hug her. "Oh I was so worried..."
Mandy just returned the hug slightly.
"Grandma, we are so glad that you are home, are you hungry? Need I to get anything?" asked Katie, smiling.
Mandy just walked slowly to the kitchen table and sat down. She had an expression on her face that reminded Jonathan of Poppy in her unstable condition years ago after William died.
"Grandma?" asked Katie, her smile faded. "A-are you okay?"
"I-I am fine," said Mandy, her voice was thick with emotion.
Suddenly, she placed her face in her hand and started to cry.
"Grandma? What's wrong?" asked Oliver in alarm.
"Mandy?"
"Oh M-Merlin! I s-still can't b-believe it!" said Mandy loudly, her voice trembled as she cried.
"What?" asked Jonathan.
"S-she's dead, she's dead!"
"Who?" asked Jonathan in horror.
Mandy didn't answer, instead she lowered her head, buried her face in her arms and continued crying.
***
Sirius knocked on Harry's room in his house (not Grimmauld Place, Sirius and Harry were now living in the house where Sirius used to live before he was arrested).
"Harry?"
No response.
"Harry, are you okay?"
"Yeah." replied a lifeless voice.
"All right then." said Sirius and left, thinking that Harry might want to be alone after what had happened yesterday.
Harry was sitting on the floor and leaning on his bed as he held a photo. He sighed and stared sorrowfully at a photo of all the 7th year Gryffindors, especially the girl with auburn hair and blue eyes.
***
At the Grangers', Hermione was staring at a photo too, but this one was not a class photo but a photo of Athena and herself in Diagon Alley, eating ice cream cones.
"I am going to miss you." she muttered as she ran her fingers across the photo.
***
"Oh My Goodness...." said Fred as he read the article over and over again at the Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes.
He was so obsessed with the newspaper that he accidentally put a whole of Ton-Tongue Toffees into the box of Canary Creams with his other hand.
"Fred, be careful." said George flatly at the counter, not quite in a cheery mood after he read the article.
"AH! Darn!" cursed Fred as he threw down the newspaper to the floor. "This is the fifth time that I made a mistake! I can't concentrate on my work after reading this!"
"I suggest we go home and see Ron and Ginny if they are okay." said George with the same tone.
"Fine."
***
"Mom, Ginny doesn't want to come down, she is too upset to eat her lunch." said Ron quietly at the Burrow.
Mrs Weasley sighed and looked at the ceiling, as if she could see Ginny's bedroom through that. "Do you think she will be okay by tomorrow?"
Ron shook his head grimly. "I don't think so, it's not easy to forget your friend's death."
"True," said Mrs Weasley. "Well, what about you, Ron? Do you want to have your lunch?"
Ron looked at his favourite dish on the table for a long time before he said, "I, I think I have lost my appetite too. I'm going to my room."
And he went to his room and shut himself in.
***
Lupin was taking a shower at home. He watched silently as the water washed away the blood, his students' blood, from his skin. Thinking the tragedy, he sat down on the cold floor and leaned against the white wall. He lifted his head, closed his eyes and sighed deeply.
***
Poppy and Georgia were sitting in the Three Broomsticks, with 2 tall bottles of Vodka and Gin on their table. But none of them seem to have the mood to drink them.
***
No matter how shock and upset the whole wizarding world was, the feelings were nothing compared to Minerva's.
Once she (Dumbledore still needed to settle a few things in the school and Ministry) got home, she went upstairs and to Athena's bedroom.
She stared at the bedroom door for a moment before she opened it. The door swung open easily and she walked in slowly, looking at the surroundings as she did.
The room was painted in light blue-green. The curtains were light blue, closed tightly together since their owner was not at home. Minerva went to the window and pushed them apart as slow as possible. Bright sunlight filled the room immediately. Minerva looked down at Athena's well-kept desk and saw a framed photo of Achilles (the one that Athena found in the attic), Athena herself, her and Dumbledore, the Hogwarts Sisters, and a few of her friends.
Right in the middle of the desk, there was another stack of photos and an empty photo frame. Curiously, Minerva picked the photos up and looked through it. It was the photos of Athena and Wellard during the holidays.
There were photos of Athena and Wellard flying a kite, Wellard sleeping under a tree, Athena sitting on the grass, looking as if she was very bored, the couple making funny faces, Wellard standing on a sailboat's bow, with his arms around Athena as they enjoyed the wind blowing at their faces...and lots more.
Then there was a photo of them with their arms around each other. There was a paper clipped on it saying, "Put this in frame". Looks like Athena wanted to put the photo into the frame. But she would never get a chance to do it now.
Minerva sighed and sat down at the desk. She removed the paper and slipped the photo neatly into the frame. If Athena couldn't do it, she would do it for her. Smiling slightly when she was done, Minerva put the frame with the rest of the collection. She then opened the drawer under the desk to put the rest in.
After that, Minerva's depressed mood was back as she stared at her daughter's photos. She got up and walked to the closet, where Athena kept her clothes. She opened it and saw robes, T-shirts, jumpers, jeans, shorts, dresses, hats and....
Minerva gasped when she saw what was sitting on the pile of shirts. She bended down and picked up a small, cuddly teddy bear. The bear was light brown, with a small blue bow around its neck and a very realistic smile. Its nose was black and its eyes were big and chocolate brown.
"I remember this! I gave it to Athena when she was..when she was four.."
Minerva sat down on Athena's bed with the bear in her hands. She remembered what happened when she gave the bear...
***
"Oh Mommy, I love it!" said the four-year-old Athena when Minerva gave the bear to her during her birthday.
"Glad that you are." said Minerva, smiling.
"Any names for it?" asked Dumbledore.
"I think I will name it...." Athena thought for a while as she held the bear's hands. "Um.... I think I will just call it Teddy."
"Whatever you like."
"Mommy, can I sleep with Teddy at night, please?"
Minerva frowned a little. "No."
Athena pouted. "Oh pretty please, Mommy, please..." she pleaded, still hugging the bear.
"Come on, Minerva." said Dumbledore, grinning.
"Okay, all right." said Minerva unwillingly but she smiled when Athena danced around with the bear happily.
At night, Athena snuggled comfortably in her bed as Minerva covered her with the blanket.
After she read the story of the Goddess Athena herself and the maiden Arachne (Athena enjoyed listening the stories of the Goddess who shared the same name as her), Athena said sweetly, "Mommy, thank you for giving me Teddy."
Minerva smiled lovingly.
"I think I will keep it forever." said Athena seriously.
"We'll see about that when you grow up." said Minerva and kissed her daughter goodnight.
***
Tears rolled down Minerva's cheeks as she reminisced the past. She brought the bear close to her heart and buried her face on top of its head as she sobbed.
***
Achilles was staring absentmindedly at the statue of Minerva in his apartment (Pellew excused him, since he thought Achilles needed some time- off to get over Athena's death). If he had not mistaken, that statue was beginning to look more and more like Athena.......
"Achilles? Achilles!" yelled Edrington urgently at the fireplace.
Achilles snapped out of his trance and went to the fireplace. "What?"
"You better come quick to St Mungo's." said Edrington seriously.
"Why?"
"It's Archie, he's dying."
***
Achilles ran to the witch in St Mungo's reception area a few minutes later and demanded, "I am looking for Archie Kennedy!"
"Oh, looking for Mr Kennedy, are you? He is at fourth floor, second door on the right. Poor boy, he is going to die.."
Achilles rushed to the stairs and ran up, ignoring his legs' protests. He arrived at the fourth floor and dashed straight to the second door on the right. He went in and saw Hornblower, Edrington and Bush (who looked rather pale because he had not completely recovered from his own injury) surrounding a bed. Hornblower was sitting on a chair beside the bed, staring at Kennedy.
Achilles walked slowly over and saw Kennedy on his bed, whose looks now was a big contrast to his usual appearance. Usually he looked very healthy, with a bit of baby fat in his handsome face. His baby blue eyes used to look alert and attractive. His blond hair was neat and well-groomed. Now his face was as white as chalk and a little thin. His hair was slightly tousled. Even his eyes looked rather lifeless. Badges were wrapped over his stomach but there were still blood on them.
When Kennedy saw Achilles, he smiled weakly and said, "Hey there, Achilles, it's nice of you to come and see me."
"Are you okay, Archie?" asked Achilles anxiously.
Kennedy laughed feebly. "Didn't you know? I am dying."
"You are not going to die, Archie." said Hornblower firmly.
Kennedy closed his eyes and shook his head slightly. "Yes I am. Didn't you hear the Healer, Horatio? He says that he had done his best."
Hornblower didn't respond.
Kennedy looked fondly at everyone. "It's really good to have all of you here to see me off. Well, except Terence of course, but I am going to see him and his girlfriend soon anyway."
"Archie...." started Hornblower helplessly.
Kennedy held up his hand weakly to stop Hornblower from talking. Hornblower shut up immediately.
"I don't mind dying, really.."
"You are not going to die, Archie. Look, why don't I send you to some better place for treatment?" suggested Edrington.
"Don't waste your money on me, Philip. If it is the time for me to die, I will die. No point trying to avoid it." said Kennedy and he smiled.
"But..."
Kennedy looked at Edrington determinedly and he shut up as well.
The rest looked very gloomy.
Kennedy grinned a little as grinning too much was getting tiring. "It's a good thing that the Healer let visitors in."
Suddenly his grin faded and said softly but seriously, "At least I get to see all of you one last time..."
He smiled again and his friends made an effort to smile back. He sighed a little and closed his eyes.
"Archie?" asked Hornblower anxiously, his smile disappeared immediately.
Kennedy didn't respond. Instead, his head dropped slightly to the left.
Edrington looked away.
Bush was blinking furiously.
Achilles sighed deeply.
Hornblower shed a few tears silently and patted Kennedy's hand. "Goodbye, Archie."
***
"Take him away." said the Healer grimly a few minutes later.
His colleagues lifted Kennedy up steadily and putted him on a stretcher. Then they covered him with the white cloth. They lifted the stretcher and quietly, they brought his body out of the ward.
"I'm really sorry." said the Healer before he left.
A minute later after the Healers left, the Aurors proceeded to leave the place as well.
At the corridor, Edrington leaned forward and whispered, "William (This is William Bush, not William Potter)?"
"Yes?" asked Bush as he walked slowly.
"Just look after him, will you?" said Edrington quietly, indicating the grief-stricken Hornblower, who was walking with his head slightly down.
Bush nodded.
***
At night, Achilles was sitting on his armchair at the balcony at his flat. He had a cigarette in his mouth and a glass of Firewhiskey in his hand. After a few puffs of smoke, he removed his cigarette and held it with his fingers.
He sighed sorrowfully and thought about the last two weeks. Yesterday, he lost Athena and Wellard, now Kennedy was gone as well.
Kennedy was his good friend, the popular one, the bright spot of the whole Auror Headquarters. He was a happy-go-lucky kind of man and had a very good sense of humour. He also loved a good party so whenever there was a good event, he would grab a couple of Butterbeer bottles and started celebrating. He was so nice and adorable that he was won first in Witch Weekly's Most Charming Auror award.
But now that he was dead, the Auror Headquarters were going to be awfully quiet and dull. Achilles was sure that he would miss him.
Wellard was quite a nice young lad. Well, he could be cowardly sometimes, but when it came to friends, he would stand up for them no matter what. He was very loyal and knew where his loyalties suppose to be. He was likeable and serious in his work. Achilles could see that he could become a good Auror if it wasn't for his misfortune.
But the person he was going to miss the most was Athena. He didn't get to know her better; he didn't even spend an entire year with her. The happiest time he had spent with her was when he was 17. He would miss her smile, her behaviour and even her frown.
His heart hurt as he remembered her smile. Mandy and Georgia told him that his mother didn't want him to be an Auror because she didn't want to lose him like how they lost William Potter.
Now he knew how painful it was to lose the one you loved.
