A/N: Mwuahahaha! I passed! I passed! I'm off to my second last year of school! Mwuahaha. (Sorry this took so long, please don't hurt me.)

Chapter 48: False Tribute

On Saturday morning, even before the sun had come out, Nora sat up in her bed frowning. She didn't exactly know what to do after having such a peculiar dream. Well it wasn't really that odd, it would've been quite normal, actually, if not for that one little thing. She lay back down and stared at the ceiling, still frowning. She was anxious now. Anxious and confused... all because of one silly dream.

Nora wondered what Draco would say if she told him. Would he laugh or would he be hurt? After all, he wasn't in it. She was having the most wonderful dream of her having a perfect family, wonderful kids, great husband, lots of money... and he wasn't in it. Instead there was this dark- haired man with a lovely smile. She knew it wasn't Draco, given that he had white hair and, well, his smile could do with improvement, since he hadn't smiled that much in his life. She wondered how he would react if she told him. ----If---- she told him. With a sigh she closed her eyes and tried to suppress the dream, but a part of her wanted to see that delightful life again and it won, so when she dozed off again, the dream continued.

Harry awoke to find the room full of people again, but instead of just the parents, all the brothers and sisters and friends were there too, and in one case, the daughter of the favorite cousin of the one person Harry wished was there. But before he was given the chance to think about Sirius, Tonks bounded over, nearly knocking over Neville who had come to visit too, and gave him a quick hug. Her hair was a lavender color and Harry had to get used to it, having not seen her in some time.

Next Mrs. Weasley walked over, a comb in one hand and a pot of Mr. Sleeky's Super Strong Gel in the other. Harry looked at it in disbelief. How could she be worrying about his hair now!?

"Hello, dear," she said sweetly. Putting the pot of gel on his side table, before combing his hair rather roughly. "Let's get this straightened out once and for all, shall we? What with these visitors around. And there's the Feast this evening, of course, so you'll have to look absolutely handsome." Harry blushed as Mrs. Weasley slapped a handful of gel in his hair before tackling it with the comb again.

After five minutes she stood back and eyed the result critically. "Well, it's a bit better," she said. Harry knew it would never last, but he said nothing, since his hair had put Ron's mother in a bad mood already. When she left, though, he carefully put a hand on his head and tried to feel the result. By the way his hair felt, he thought it looked glued down wherever possible with a greasy shine on it. He grimaced, not wanting anyone to see him like this, but he left his hair alone all the same, doing Mrs. Weasley a favor.

Harry got out of bed and walked quietly to Ron, trying to get around unnoticed, since he was still wearing the ridiculous hospital pajamas.

"What is it?" asked Ron when Harry had tapped him on the shoulder.

"Where are my clothes?" Ron shrugged.

"Dunno. I think the Healers have them somewhere."

"Well, then, help me look for them. I'm not going to walk around in this all day." And Harry dragged Ron out of the room with him and over to the first Healer they found.

Five minutes later he was wearing his own comfortable clothes, which the Hospital had dry-cleaned and ironed, making it look so neat, he almost didn't want to unfold them. When Harry and Ron walked back into the room everyone was standing in a circle around Hermione, who was beaming, and the two pushed their way through to see what so interesting.

"Hermione!" yelled Ron, pointing at her. "You're standing!" Hermione beamed even more, nodding. Harry thought it was so brilliant seeing her stand there so proudly, that he decided to overlook the fact that she had to lean on Nora for some support. Hermione's father, unlike all the others who were laughing, clapping and praising her, seemed to have the slightest hint of sadness in his look. Harry wondered why, only to realize idiotically that her mother wasn't here to see it. He then wondered what that was like, only to remember in frustration at his own stupidity, that both his parents were dead, as well as his godfather.

"What's wrong, mate?" asked Ron, seeing Harry's frustrated frown. Immediately Harry's face relaxed a little.

"Nothing," he replied, distracted. "I was just... being a bit stupid." Ron had no idea what he meant, but nodded all the same and decided to let it go. Unfortunately, Hermione couldn't last very long standing, and she had to lie back in bed with everyone reassuring her that she would be able to stand longer than a couple of minutes at the Feast that evening.

The big party stayed for a bit longer, but when the Healers insisted that Hermione got her rest, they were forced to leave and left a small heap of presents on one of the side tables. Five minutes later the five were already bored out of their skulls and couldn't think of anything to do but wonder what the Feast would be like, later that night.

"I wonder if we get a reward for destroying Voldie... you know, like money," said Ron, lying on his stomach on his bed, a hopeful glint in his eye.

"I doubt it," said Draco sullenly. "Fudge'll probably just shake our hands, say we did a good job saving millions of innocent lives and tell us that's reward enough, the cheapskate."

"I guess," agreed Ron. "I mean, you never really know with Fudge. Up until last summer he wouldn't even believe Voldemort was back." They all stayed quiet, feeling at last that the large weight that had been sitting on their shoulders was lifted. For the first time they could all relax and stay calm. But it was a tense silence during which Ron noticed Hermione sighing 5 times, Harry sniffing twice, Nora studying Draco, as if comparing him, and Draco staring aimlessly around him, looking detached. Therefore he asked:

"What's wrong you guys?" It was funny to see all four heads look up at him at the same time, but their looks took his amusement away and he worried why they were so sad and he was not. He could tell Nora was having the hardest time of them all, and that Hermione wasn't going to answer either, so he kept looking at either Harry or Draco.

"Don't worry, Ron," said Harry. "It's not your fault."

"But then why are you all looking so sad?" he asked desperately. Life was beginning to look like an extremely bad prank. Harry hesitated. How to explain so that Ron could understand? Not that his best friend was dumb, he just wasn't as perceptive as others. But Draco had already found a way, and said:

"Call it... survivors guilt, if you will. We're alive... others are not." Ron's expression changed to one of understanding, but it didn't take long before he too become rather depressed.

When a Healer came in to check up on them, she did a double take, looking at the disheartened children. Fortunately she only gave Hermione her medicine before leaving again, not saying a single thing.

"Look, you guys," said Ron a bit later, rolling off his bed and positioning himself in the middle of the room. "I know you're all sad about those who were killed, but you can't spend the whole day like this. It's not your fault they died. I say we go outside among the people for the first time since... erm, February, and have a good time before the feast." But his friends weren't as excited about the idea as Ron was and frowned in frustration. "Come on!" he said.

"Well, I wouldn't mind," said Draco shrugging, not noticing Nora was still studying him.

"Good. Harry?"

"Well, I guess it'd be nice to walk through Diagon Alley again, but Hermione still has some trouble, remember?" Ron thought this over, before saying:

"But she has the Amulet. That should give her enough strength and besides, we'll support her."

"Do you think you're up to it?" Harry asked her, and Hermione nodded eagerly. "All right then. Nora?" But Nora was now the only one left who wasn't enthused by the idea of visiting Diagon Alley or any other alley in London. Only Hermione really knew why, Nora was probably emotionally the weakest of them all at this point, but she said nothing about that and instead begged her to come.

"I mean, I can't go if you don't. You're the one who has to keep me standing upright, since those three will probably be goggling at the Quidditch supplies. Please come. Please?" Nora sighed and nodded.

"All right," she said. "All right, I'll go too." Hermione beamed at her best friend.

Fifteen minutes later they were standing in front of the Healer on duty and begging her to let them outside. She called Dumbledore who, after having been pleaded as well, allowed them to visit Diagon Alley.

"But only Diagon Alley. Don't you five go anywhere else in London. I'll have one of the Aurors in an invisibility cloak so he can keep an eye on everything."

"Great. Voldemort's dead and I'm still being watched over," muttered Harry as they walked down the steps.

"Well, there might still be Death Eaters lurking around," said Hermione, who was being supported by Nora and Ron.

"Even so, I can take care of myself by now," he argued as they stepped into the warm summer air.

"It's better to be safe than sorry," Hermione told him, leading the way through London.

A/N: All right, I've got plenty of time now to write, but writer's block is keeping me in a death grip so sorry if this chapter is a bit lame. Oh, and I really hate fanfictions Quick Edit.

When all five had stepped through the opening in the brick wall, they gazed at Diagon Alley with glints in their eyes, looking at the shops and desiring to go inside, but after a small argument, they headed for the pearly white building towering over the smaller stores.

A Goblin let them inside and another took them to Harry's vault, after he had shown yet another one his vault key. After a sickeningly quick ride, which Draco did not enjoy, they were let inside Harry's vault and Ron's mouth fell open in awe as he saw all the Galleons, Sickles and Knuts in a large heap on the floor.

"That's all yours!?" He asked jealously. Harry shrugged and filled his pockets up with some of his money before standing up again and noticing the others, except Draco, watching him with envy.

"You can take some too, if you want," he told them.

"Sorry, but I don't accept charity," said Ron, folding his arms.

"Don't be so stupid, Ron," snapped Harry back. "This is way too much money for me, and Sirius' vault is still full of it too, so just take some. You can too," he told the other three. Hermione shrugged and scooped some money up, followed by Nora. Ron eyed them and then slowly bent down to pick up some of the money as well. Harry turned to Draco who sighed and filled his pocket too.

"Thanks," he mumbled. Harry smiled before they all clambered back into the cart, Hermione being helped in by Ron and Draco being dragged in by Nora.

Once outside again in the fresh air, Draco stood bent over with his hands on his knees, panting, looking paler than normally, and Nora rubbed his back consolingly as Hermione and Ron argued about where to go next.

"Quidditch supplies."

"No, Flourish and Blotts."

"Quidditch!"

"Flourish and Blotts!"

"How about we get some ice-cream first?" suggested Harry. Ron shrugged; food was just a good as Quidditch, but Hermione huffed, mad that Harry never took her side.

"Fine," she grumbled. So they made their way to Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlor and sat down at a table in the sun. After ordering, they just watched the people walking by, observing them, while waiting for their ice cream.

When Hermione and Nora had finally finished their sundaes, Harry, Ron and Draco had finished theirs long ago, they got up and walked back down the street. Of course as soon as they reached the Quidditch store the boys were glued to the front window, admiring the newest Quidditch broom, like many others, and Nora was left looking back and forth from the store to Hermione, who'd rather visit Flourish and Blotts. Not being able to decide, Nora took the more intelligent approach, and decided to go to the bookstore with Hermione, since she needed someone to look after her.

"And I don't understand them," Hermione rattled as they entered the dusty and unventilated bookstore. "I mean, can't they, for once, act like intellectual human beings? Or is that too much to ask for?"

"It is," replied Nora, nodding with fake sadness. Hermione slapped her arm and dragged her to the deserted area, which contained thick books, covered in equally thick layers of dust.

"I've been dying to go here again, ever since I saw this great book lying around last summer," said Hermione in awe, her eyes searching the shelves. Nora, however, was not as enthused and whispered:

"I don't think anyone's been here for ages. Maybe we'll find someone's skeleton down the next isle." Hermione sniggered, but almost immediately put and finger to her lips and said "shhh!" Nora raised and eyebrow at Hermione's action, but then decided to ignore it and let her search for the book. Hermione kept doing better the longer they were out of the stuffy Hospital and soon she needed no support at all.

One hour later they were standing outside in the fresh summer air again, Hermione proudly holding one of the thickest books Nora had ever seen. When they reached the other three at the Quidditch store, Ron's jaw dropped to the floor as he goggled at the book.

"A History Through Time, Written by Merlin," read Harry from the cover. "How much did that thing cost?"

"9 Galleons, 14 Sickles and 21 Knuts. It was a bargain!" replied Hermione enthusiastically.

"And that's not all!" added Nora with fake eagerness. "Tell 'em what it does, 'Mione!" Hermione, on the other hand, seemed to have missed the sarcasm and told Harry, Ron and Draco how the book written by Merlin covers the entire history of the Wizard world in detail and that it contained pictures of some of the most gruesome events. ("Cool!" shouted Ron.) And, apparently, the book updated itself.

"So it'll have the whole war with Voldemort described, too," she finished.

"Can I have a look at the pictures?" asked Ron, casually making for the book, but Hermione would have nothing of it and held the book behind her back. When they had begun walking again, they had no idea where to go, since they hadn't received a list of school supplies yet, and decided to just wander around Diagon Alley. Not five minutes later Ron spotted Lavender and Parvati on the other side of the road and he hurried over to them, while Harry deliberately looked the other way. After a couple of minutes of... er... talking Ron came back with a flush on his face and said:

"Right, let's keep going, shall we?" and he hurried off, his friends sniggering as they followed.

The longer they wandered around Diagon Alley, the more clear it became that all the money they had taken out of Harry's vault was unnecessary, for the only things they bought, apart from Hermione's big book, was more ice-cream and a new quill for Ginny, since Ron had stolen hers.

At 3 o'clock they slumped down onto a bench, completely exhausted, and looked aimlessly around them.

"So what now?" asked Harry, turning his head to look at the others. They all shrugged as he thought they would.

"Well, what time does this Feast start?" asked Hermione. "I mean, we'll need to get back in time to take a shower and change and stuff."

"Dumbledore didn't say," answered Draco, playing with Nora's hair. "But I'm guessing no sooner than six."

"Well, I say we head back. There's nothing to do here anyway," said Nora.

"I agree," said Ron, who was leaning against her, unable to keep upright. "So how do we get back? I'm way too tired to walk."

"Well, we can't use the form of Apparation," said Hermione.

"Why not?" demanded Ron.

"Because, first of all, it's illegal, and second of all, being as tired as we are, we might leave an arm here, or worse."

"I'll risk it," replied Ron.

"No, you will not," said Hermione. Ron moaned but stood anyway.

By the time they got back to St. Mungo's it was already 4 o'clock and even with the slow tempo at which they had been walking, all five were now completely worn out and wished nothing than to fall asleep right there on that shiny white floor of the reception. Of course the member of the Order that had been watching them had already told Dumbledore that they had arrived and their Headmaster Apparated into the hall, forcing them to stay awake.

"So, you five had a wonderful day in Diagon Alley, I presume?" He smiled at them, but they only glared in return, which he didn't mind, since he was a Headmaster, and therefore used to adolescent responses. "Right," he continued. "Well, I thought I should inform you that the Feast begins promptly at six o'clock and that you will be taken to the Burrow to freshen up and from there arrive at the Ministry by Portkey. I have informed Molly already, and she said she'd be happy to take you all in-"

"What, even me?" interrupted Draco. Dumbledore smiled and nodded.

"Yes, Draco, you too."

"And you're sure about that?"

"I am absolutely positive. I believe her exact words were: 'And Draco too, of course. The poor thing. He's been through so much even before this whole incident with You-Know-Who.' Convinced? Good. Now, there's a Ministry car outside which will take you to the Burrow. If there's anything still in your room on the fifth floor, get it quickly and you five will be off."

Ten minutes later scenery was passing swiftly as the enlarged car rolled towards Ron's home. When they pulled up to the front of the house, Mrs. Weasley was standing outside in an apron, rubbing her hands clean on it and peering anxiously into the car. Of course, as soon as he got out of the car she pulled Ron into a tight hug and kissed him everywhere on his face as he struggled to break free. Next was Harry, who for once didn't mind, since he did not have a mother of his own to smother him with affection after a horrible ordeal, and after that came Hermione and Nora. When Draco was the only one standing by the car, Mrs. Weasley took a good look at him and for a second it seemed she was going to shake his hand, but then she pulled him too into a tight hug before shunting them all into the house, which Draco observed with awe.

"I've cooked a small meal for you five to eat before freshening up, so I hope you're hungry," Mrs. Weasley told them with a smile. They all nodded and took a seat at the table and were soon joined by Ginny, Fred, George and Mr. Weasley, who seemed a bit surprised to see Draco sitting there as well.

When the wonderful dinner was over, Mrs. Weasley told them that Nora and Hermione would be sharing the bathroom on Ginny's floor with Ginny to freshen up and that the bathroom on Ron's floor would be for Ron, Harry and Draco to use.

"Don't mind the ghoul in the attic," mumbled Ron when the three of them entered his room with loud banging coming from above. Draco noticed that Ron's room was a very violent shade of orange; even the ceiling was covered with it. Ron watched Draco as he looked around in interest.

"I bet it's nothing like your room, which has to be huge, but-"

"I like your room much better. I was never allowed to hang posters up in my room, let alone have a fish tank full of frogspawn in my window sill," interrupted Draco, smiling as he looked out of the window, which had a view of the untidy backyard. Harry grinned as Ron's ears turned red.

"Thanks," was all he could say.

"So who gets the bathroom first?" asked Draco, turning around to face the other two.

"You can use it first, then Harry will, and I'll go last. Unless you want a different order." But Harry and Draco agreed to Ron's first suggestion and Draco was shown the bathroom, which consisted of a small turquoise room, containing a rather large shower, a pink towel rack that seemed to be able to walk and a blue counter with the sink.

"Brilliant!" said Draco when he entered. Ron's ears turned red again.

Draco finished quickly enough, leaving more time for Harry, but he too finished sooner than expected and because Ron didn't feel like taking too long either, the three of them were already groomed and dressed by quarter to five.

"I bet the girls are nowhere near getting dressed," said Ron as he sat down on his bed, which groaned slightly under his weight.

"Yeah," sighed Draco. "They always take too long."

"We can always go wait downstairs. Maybe we'll find something to do there," suggested Harry. Ron and Draco nodded.

"I just hope it isn't chores," muttered Ron as they walked down the stairs.

"Hello dears," said Mrs. Weasley when they entered the living where she was cleaning. "Oh, don't you three look ever so handsome." Ron's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he looked at his mother in disbelief and utter embarrassment, but Harry and Draco grinned; their mothers had never had the chance to say such things to them.

"Hello there," said Mr. Weasley brightly as he entered the living room as well and took a seat on the sofa. "The girls aren't done yet, I see. Well, what can you expect?" Mrs. Weasley shot him a sharp look but he just smiled in return.

Not much later Fred and George bounded down the stairs and entered looking surprisingly, and suspiciously, neat wearing their dress robes. Mrs. Weasley had noticed as well and she walked up to them, demanding they empty their pockets.

"Mother, we are deeply ashamed of you," said Fred innocently.

"How are we supposed to go through life, knowing our own mother doesn't even trust us?" added George, shaking his head sadly.

"Isn't it possible that we-"

"For once,"

"Leave our pranks aside to attend this Feast with sympathy?"

"You've hurt us deeply, mother-"

"If that is even who you really are." Draco followed this with great interest and he would've been fooled by this brilliant act but of course Mrs. Weasley was used to this and she said:

"Accio!" while pointing her wand at the twins' dress robes. Instantly all sorts of items came flying out and when everything was on the floor in front Mrs. Weasley's feet, Fred and George grinned at Harry.

"Always worth trying, isn't it?" said George before they headed back upstairs, no doubt planning to try again. Mrs. Weasley shook her head sadly when they were gone.

"Whatever will become of those two?"

"Well, you've got to admit, mum, they do make loads of money with triple W," argued Ron.

"Triple W?" asked Draco confused.

"Weasley's Wizard Wheezes," explained Ron. "It's this joke shop they've got, selling all sorts of stuff they've invented."

"Oh, right. I've been to their shop once. It was pretty ingenious. They had masses of cool things." Mrs. Weasley pursed her lips, not too happy that her two sons were so successful in doing something she despised.

Half past five Hermione, Nora and Ginny finally came downstairs, but as usual waiting paid off, seeing as they look fabulous. Fred and George, who once again looked suspiciously innocent, though Mrs. Weasley could find nothing hidden in their pockets or anywhere else, followed the three girls.

"All right," said Mr. Weasley, getting up from the sofa. "Now this portkey," he waved the grimy sock in his hand around a bit, "is set to leave at twenty to six, giving you –" he looked at his watch, "seven minutes to perfect your clothing and go the bathroom and so on. I want you back here at thirty-eight past five sharp, got it?" They all nodded and Ginny went to the bathroom, while the others tried to perfect their hair and clothing.

They were all waiting nervously in the living room again a minute later, but hardly anyone said a word. Two minutes before the portkey would take them to the Ministry, Mr. Weasley told them all to stand in a circle and put one finger each on the portkey. They were rather reluctant to touch the dirty thing, which had a foul smell, but each put a finger on it and sooner than expected came the familiar uncomfortable tug at their bellybutton.

Hermione, Nora and Ginny immediately toppled over when they slammed into the marble floor in the Atrium, due to their high-heels. Harry, Ron and Draco had some trouble keeping upright, but Fred, George and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley kept their balance and helped the three girls up. Apparating would've been the easier way to go, since they all knew how, but Mr. Weasley had thought it safer, and more legal, to use a portkey instead.

"Where to now?" asked Fred, looking excited.

"Upstairs, top floor, Ballroom," replied Mr. Weasley, heading towards the elevators. They heard a pop behind them and when they turned around, Percy was hurrying down the hall towards them.

"Hello Mother, Father," he said, walking over to Mrs. Weasley to give her a kiss and managing to avoid the foot George had stuck out to trip him. While they were waiting for the elevator, Ron looked suspiciously at Fred and George.

"What are you two up to?" he asked them. They both grinned.

"We've invented something new," said Fred.

"Yeah, it completely disorientates the consumer,"

"And they become dazed for about ten minutes as if they've just been whacked on the head with a sledge hammer."

"We call them: 'Bamboozles'." Ron raised an eyebrow.

"What kind of a name is that?"

"Well, actually, Ron, it's a word," stated Hermione. "Bamboozle means either to deceive or confuse."

"Very good Hermione," said George, slapping her on the shoulder. At that point, a rattle told them that the elevator had arrived and they all got in, being forced to squish against each other when Neville and his grandmother, who was wearing a particularly ugly hat, stepped in as well.

"Hello Mrs. Longbottom, Neville," said Mr. Weasley. Neville's grandmother gave him a curt nod, while Neville said:

"Hi." The others greeted him as well. Seconds later the elevator came to a halt and they all stepped out into a hall as splendid as the Atrium. It was filled with more early arrivers who were all making their ways towards the end of the hall, so they decided to do the same. The colossal room was already half full when they entered, and unlike the Feast before the Second War which had been only for Hogwarts students, the ballroom was now filled with numerous unfamiliar people, some from the Ministry, others complete families who had lived in fear of Voldemort for years.

"We're sitting over here," said Mrs. Weasley, ripping Harry from his thoughts. Their whole party took a seat at one of the largest tables near the middle and Harry continued from his seat to look around the room, watching all the people.

"So whose seats are those?" asked Percy, indicating towards all the gaps between them.

"They're for the reporters, of course," replied Fred at once.

"Yeah, everyone will be wanting an interview with the five little heroes," added George. He and Fred grinned. Percy however scowled at them.

"Don't be silly you two," said Mrs. Weasley. "Two seats are for Bill and Charlie and the others are for Mr. Granger, the Glassyds and Mrs. Malfoy. They'll be here soon I expect."

"I think mum would prefer it if you called her Ms. Black," said Draco politely. Mrs. Weasley nodded in understanding while Ron, on the other side of the table, choked in his water and nearly sprayed it all over the table. Everyone in the vicinity looked at him as he spluttered:

"Black!? As in Sirius Black? As in Harry's Godfather?"

"Well, not anymore, really," said Harry, but Ron impatiently waved his hand so he could hear Draco's reply.

"Well, yeah. I mean, all pureblood wizards are pretty much related, aren't they?" Percy nodded fervently.

"Yes. Our," he indicated to himself, his brothers and Ginny, "parents, are both somehow related to Sirius.

"Wow, so you'll be marrying the son of the sister of Sirius' favorite cousin," whispered Harry to Nora. "That's even more difficult than describing Tonks."

"What, she's related to him too?" asked Hermione interestedly, having heard what Harry had said. He nodded.

"She's his favorite cousin's daughter." Nora looked perplex.

"Wow, and I wouldn't even be able to recognize my cousins if my life depended on it. I've only seen them like, what, two, three times?" Bill and Charlie had arrived a minute before and they were already busy discussing the joke shop with the Twins. Not a second later arrived the others who hurriedly took a seat.

When everyone had arrived and taken their seats Dumbledore, standing on a platform at the front of the room, cleared his throat and said:

"Thank you all very much for coming to this banquet. I have one last announcement before Cornelius Fudge will begin with the opening. As you all know, many have perished at the hands of Voldemort. Therefore a Funeral will be held tomorrow, beginning at twelve o'clock. You will receive the position later. I dearly hope you will all be present to honor them. But tonight will not be one of remorse, for tonight's feast is to mark Voldemort's demise and our victory." There was a loud applause, which seemed to stop as fast as possible when Fudge got on the podium.

"Lousy speech, don't you think?" Ron whispered to Harry a minute later.

"Can hardly keep my eyes open," came his reply, for Fudge's speech consisted mostly of how Voldemort affected the economy and politics of Britain, which was nowhere near as 'interesting' as it sounded. There was a dull applause when he finally finished and people got up to mingle, most of the crowd heading straight towards Dumbledore, after having been ordered to leave the Five alone.

"Now's our chance to talk to him," Hermione told Nora and the two of them pushed their way through the crowd towards their Headmaster. Harry, Ron and Draco were vaguely wondering what the two girls were up to, but at that point Mrs. Weasley made Ron keep an eye on Ginny, and Mrs. Glassyd asked Harry if he was so kind to watch over Lily while they socialized with some of the other mothers. Harry didn't mind of course but Ron grumbled and told Ginny to stay at least 10 meters away so no one would know he was stuck babysitting his little sister. Ginny of course folded her arms and glared at him with a look of make-me-you-moron, but when Ron made for his wand, there was nothing for her to do but leave, since he was of age.

After a while it became visible that the crowd had split into two types: those who were doing as Dumbledore had said and celebrating their victory and those who weren't and instead standing sadly off to the side. The Five were torn between mourning and trying to have fun, but the more people congratulated them without mentioning the help of those who sacrificed their lives, the more they edged towards mourning, feelings of fury bubbling up inside them. Why wasn't anyone honoring those who had died trying to help them, or those who had just been murdered for no reason!? Their parents offered no comfort at all, acting just like the others: tactless. And treating them like little children, when it was obvious that they were anything but, having been forced to face so much horror at such a young age. Hermione almost blew up in front of a group of Ministry workers if Terry, who had come to the Feast as well, hadn't rushed her away and calmed her down.

But the longer the Feast continued, the more of a success it turned out to be. People got to share their horror stories of what Voldemort did to them and other victims listened intently before sharing their account. The Hogwarts students were all searching around for their friends and Fudge was blushing a deep, deep red when being congratulated by numerous people for his strong actions during the Second war and the time before it.

"That rotten freeloading dung beetle," muttered Hermione under her breath upon seeing this. "We go through all this and he gets rewarded!?"

"We're being rewarded, too, Hermione," said Ron.

"Yes, but that's because we were active during the Second War. Fudge didn't do a single thing! For all we know he was hiding under his bed with a security blanket," she growled. Ron smiled at the thought of it.

Everyone else, though, even the mourners from the beginning, were having a pretty good time by now and the Five were separated by their parents, who wanted to show their children off, not noticing, because the Five hid it, that their children were sad, disappointed and, worst of all, feeling very much alone.

After the Feast the Five went back to the Burrow and were ordered straight to bed by Mrs. Weasley, since it was already somewhere in the middle of the night. Nora and Hermione slept in Ginny's room as usual and Harry's bed had to be moved over so Draco's could fit in Ron's room as well.

When all of them were finally lying under the covers and the light had been turned off, it remained silent. Though they usually would've talked about everything that had happened that day in the comfort of their beds, it remained silent that night, even if they were all still awake, dreading the Funeral tomorrow and whatever else the future would bring them.

A/N: Not long, definitely not brilliant and still it took one hell of a long time to write. Terribly sorry and I hope you all have some patience left to wait for the next chapter. At least I've already thought of its main point. And the next chapter will also be the last, sadly enough. Sniff Sniff. After that will come an authors note in which I thank you all and stuff, it's not really of interest. But I'm really sad that this story is almost over... and it took me less than a year! =D (I'm still sad though.) Oh, and if you see any words like this: ----bla---- they're supposed to be in cursive, which i have to do in Quick Edit (hmpf) and the little lines make 'em easier to spot, so i don't have to read everything again.

Dumbeldave – The tests went GREAT! Well... not exactly great, but I passed! Yay for me =D Sorry I made you wait so long. Thanks for reading and reviewing! (I say that every time, I know, but I'm very thankful!)

Peachy-stalcup – Thanks. A few people have already told me as well, but I keep forgetting to change it, hehe. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

Funness – I can't believe you liked the first chapter! Most people think it's a bit too much, with Hermione's dad, which you guessed right by the way, I'm a bit predictable, hehe, but I hope you'll continue liking my story! Especially since there are some impossible things in there. =D Thanks for reading and reviewing!