Chapter XIII: The Funeral and the Fury
Midnight black veils draped across the archway. Rolls of velvet tickertape extended down the center of the Great Hall. All the tables were removed and replaced by small black stools. At least a thousand of them spread across the room, only separated by the tape.
Thick, dark royal blue bows tied around the top of the walls and were connected by shiny, black silk ribbon. The walls and ceiling itself had changed like a chameleon from brown wood to a solid black. Actually, the only things white in the room were Fly's parents.
They sat next to the casket that was closed due to the brutal force of the ground completely destroying Fly's face. Their faces were pale as bone and eyes gushy red. It was obvious they had been weeping all night and were only holding it in to suppress the thoughts of their son dead.
The father had short, blonde hair that was balding in the back and extremely light blue eyes. His body was very stout, and the suit he wore barely covered him.
Next to the man was a very thin, sickly woman. She had thin, gray hair that was pulled away in a bun. A black hat brimmed across her forehead, so it was very hard to see her face. She wore a classical black dress and gray stockings that ruffled at the end. For some reason, she wore gray, mitten gloves that made her fingers look like hooves.
And next to her was a white bearded wizard none other than Dumbledore himself. He stood, waiting for the Houses to arrive (those that wished to attend). All classes were canceled that day, so everyone could attend if they wanted to.
Cho was up and most of her bones mended. She wore a strange bracket made of clear twine around her wrist. Madame Pomfrey helped her to the Hall, and she was the first to arrive. After taking a seat, a herd of Gryffindors walked with their heads down.
Among the crowd of black robed students was Harry who immediately saw Cho. He hurried to grab a seat next to her. At first he smiled, but the teary eyed look on her face took that smile away.
"How could this happen?" She whispered.
Harry knew what she was referring to. "It was an accident."
"I know that," she said. "But, how? How did he just fall? It doesn't make sense."
"I'd rather not talk about how it happened exactly."
"I'm so sorry! I didn't realize what that must have sounded like… This must be terrible for you."
"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Harry snapped at her.
"Sorry," Cho whispered and then moved in slightly so others could take seats in that row.
"Everyone, please find your seats. We shall begin shortly." Dumbledore's voice boomed across the Great Hall.
Suddenly, a huge woman appeared at the archway into the Hall. It was Madam Olympe Maxime. Behind her were several students from the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. Fly had attended that school before Hogwarts.
As she took her seat in the back with her students, one of them walked off in search of someone. As Harry peered closer, he recognized him to be Vicktor Krum! He seemed lost until he nodded his head and walked two rows in front of Harry.
He tapped a girl on the shoulder. When she turned around, Harry knew it was Hermione. Her face literally dropped an inch, and she grinned tremendously. Realizing there were no seats in her row, Hermione got up and walked to the back with Vicktor.
"Ah, I see the last visitors have arrived. Now, on this very solemn occasion I first must address my deepest sympathies to the Schafly family. Secondly, I know Carillon's, or as many of you called him, Fly's parents would like to speak first about him."
Dumbledore stepped down from the front of the stage and took his normal seat. The father stood up first and gulped before he spoke. His voice was very shaky, but he was trying desperately to control it.
"Hello all... Uh-hum… My name is also Carillon Schafly, but everyone calls me Carillo… Uh-hum… My son was our second born… But as you see, there are no siblings up here…" He took a deep breath. "Our first born child was named Cassandra. She passed on seven years ago." The Hall filled with 'awes' and 'ohs'. "And yesterday, Carillon joined her up in heaven. We have no doubt that this was meant to be. Perhaps his passing will serve a greater purpose…"
The father couldn't speak any more. His eyes started to drip, and he quickly sat back down. It was the mother's turn. She seemed very hesitate about getting up. When she walked forward, her hat completed hid her face.
"Good morning, everyone, although, under the circumstances, things are not very good. I'll introduce myself since I have not met any of Carillon's friends while he did frequently spoke to me about one in particular. Well, my name is Jacqueline Grugru-Schafly. I am, or was, Carillon's mother. I am not a witch." Several students began to whisper, unsure if she was actually a Muggle. "I am not completely, what do you call, a Muggle…" More curiosity spread. Jacqueline lifted her hat slowly to reveal a skeleton long face that was green tinged. After removing the hat completely and taking down her hair, it went down to the floor. Then, she took off her mittens to reveal gnarled fingers. "I am part Banshee. Half to be precise."
A few people looked at her in disgust and others raised their brows, unsure of what a Banshee was. However, the woman continued anyway, despite the ruffling voices.
"I am telling you this so that you know everything about Carillon. He was one fourth Banshee and one fourth Muggle. Those that knew him long would not have known this, because he never mentioned me. He was ashamed of me, and I knew it. But now, I hope Carillon can forgive me. He hated me in life; yet, in death, I hope he forgives."
Everyone placed his or her heads down and wept. Silence controlled the room for a good twenty minutes. Students started to leave, and some visited the casket. They said their last words. A few girls placed flowers on top of it with notes of kindness.
Harry was busy comforting Cho. He didn't know what to think. This was a chance to be with her, but he should have been upset about Fly's death. However, he wasn't really at all.
"Cho, do you want to go sit by the fire in the Gryffindor common room?" Harry asked, trying to think of anything that could get her alone with him.
"Sure. Don't you want to go to the casket first?" It was hard for her to say the word 'casket' actually. She stuttered quiet a bit.
"No, not really. It just brings back, unwanted thoughts. Not now anyway. Please, let's go."
Cho nodded and followed Harry out through the dark archway. As they passed by the foreign students, Harry noticed Hermione in Vicktor's arms. She was crying into his shoulder, and he was squeezing her back. If only Ron could see this, Harry thought and continued walking.
When they entered the common room, several Gryffindor students were already there. Actually, there was no place at all to sit. Harry sighed and grabbed Cho's hands.
"Perhaps you want to go to my room?"
She raised her eyebrow. "Well…"
"It'll be quiet there, and we could talk."
"In that case… Yes."
Yes!
Harry dragged Cho behind him and raced up the staircase. When Harry entered the room, he locked the door behind him. He then tossed Cho onto his bed and jumped down next to her.
"Whoa there," she said, trying to understand what he was doing.
"It's okay, really. Now, let's talk a little."
"Good," she said, "Because I think you're holding in your emotions. This can't be easy for you but hiding won't help, Harry."
"That's not what I wanted to talk about!"
"But I do! Harry, listen to me!"
"No, you listen to me!" Harry shouted and grabbed Cho's hands. "Listen to me now, you hear me?"
"Harry, you're hurting me," Cho said in a faint yet scared voice as she was being tossed around.
"Shut up!"
"Your eyes, Harry…"
"Listen! I want you, and you want me! We are almost of age, Cho! We can do whatever we want! Now, come here!" Harry pulled Cho near him, trying to kiss her.
Cho yanked her body back causing Harry to tumble forward and hit his head on the bedpost. He rubbed his head and looked over at Cho with his deep cobalt eyes.
"Bad, very bad," Harry said in a much deeper voice than before.
"Harry, you're scaring me…"
"Oh, you should be scared. If you won't love me, then I must make you love me." Harry reached down into his robe and pulled out his wand.
"Harry, stop it! Stop it, Harry," Cho demanded and jumped off the bed. She ran toward the door but couldn't open it.
Harry steadied his wand and pointed it at Cho. "Amorism!"
Her body fell to the ground, but her legs still moved about. After a few seconds, she rolled over and crawled to her knees. She stared at Harry, and both her eyebrows lifted high above her now pink eyes.
"Oh, Harry!" she said and hugged him.
"Now, this is better."
KNOCK.
"We're busy," Harry muttered.
KNOCK.
"Go away!"
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK
"Who the… Hold on, Cho," Harry said. He unlocked the door and opened it to surprisingly see Neville.
"Harry! Ron's awake! You better come now!"
Harry rolled his eyes and turned to Cho. "Come with me."
"I'd go anywhere with you," she replied in a sickly sweet voice.
As Harry left the room, Neville asked, "What's with her?"
"Nothing. Don't ask so many questions," Harry snapped back and hurried to the hospital wing with Cho by his side.
Perfect. Cho is in love with me, and all it took was a little extra magic. Thanks to Fly, I'll be Seeker, and I'm sure Cho can get on the team. Look at her. So perfect, so gorgeous, so mine.
"Mister Potter! Look who's awake!" Madame Pomfrey exclaimed as she pointed to Ron.
"Harry?" Ron asked.
"Yes, Ron, it's me. You, uh, remember me?"
The Memory Charm should have wiped out ALL his memory… Don't panic, Harry, we can fix this… Another voice entered his thoughts. Just do it again when no one is looking…
"Yes…" He seemed frightened.
"Ron, do you remember the fight we had?"
IDIOT, don't remind him, the voice said.
Ron looked over at Cho and then Pomfrey. "Could you two leave us?"
"Oh, Harry, I don't want to leave your side!" Cho said and leeched onto him.
"Go outside, Cho."
"Anything you say."
Pomfrey walked to the other side of the room and pretended not to listen. Harry approached Ron carefully, clutching his wand behind his back just in case.
"Harry… I don't really remember much about what happened…"
LIAR, he's lying, Harry. Finish him off…"Really?" Harry asked and shook his wand behind him. This was it, he thought. He had to do this…
"Yes, well… Madame Pomfrey!" Ron screamed loudly.
Pomfrey ran over as fast as she could with her little legs. She practically fell on top of Harry and struggled to get his wand away from him.
"Weasley told me all about how you tried to use a Memory Charm on him! I won't let you harm him!"
Harry snickered a deep laugh. He pressed against her and pulled his wand away, pointing it straight at her face.
"But I can harm you… Obliv—"
"Finite Incantatum!" Another voice boomed.
It belonged to Neville Longbottom who stood at the doorway. He was able to stop Harry's curse from working at all this time. Pomfrey quickly grabbed Harry's wand and attempted to use it.
"Petrificus Totalus!" She yelled.
However, Harry rolled to the ground just in time to miss it. He ran toward the door, shoving Neville out of the way. As he passed by Cho in the hallway, he didn't kiss or hug her. Instead, he completely ignored her. He didn't have much time before others knew of him.
Harry ran back to the Gryffindor Tower to get Malicia. He found her still in his bedroom unharmed. After he mounted her, Harry looked at his window.
"Malicia, fly me straight through that window!"
Obviously, she heard him, because they went dashing forward right through the glass. Harry barely had enough time to close his eyes. As they broke through it, Harry knew there was only one place he could go.
As they descended toward Hagrid's hut, Harry thought about a story he could create to explain why he was there. Before he could think about anything good, Hagrid opened up the door.
"I s'pose ya're here te mourn 'bout Fly. I've gotten t'ree people today. Come on in, Harry," Hagrid said glumly.
Perfect.
"Yes, that's it."
"Well, come in and sit down by de fire."
Harry hurried in and placed Malicia down on a table. He took a deep breath and took everything in. It would only be a matter of time before someone came looking for him in the cabin.
"Hagrid, I can't stay too long."
"Oh? Why's that?"
"Um, well, I have to," Harry thought carefully, "I have to see Ron. I heard he's awake."
"Is that so? I betta visit him wit' ya!"
"NO!"
Hagrid stepped back and looked at Harry with curious eyes. "And why not? Why have ya been acting so strange lately?"
"I HAVEN'T! That's it! I'm leaving now!"
"I didn't mean te offend ya, I—"
Harry stormed out of Hagrid's hut with Malicia in hand. Where was he to go now?
Don't stop now, Harry… He knows too much… Harry listened to the deep voice. Who?… The half giant… Hagrid?… Yes… But, I can't hurt him… Of course you can. You can do anything you want…