Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter; just the gremlins in my head.
"Chapter 20: The Funeral and Beyond"
The Great Hall never seemed more somber. The tables were gone, and only seats filled the grand room. The teachers' table had been lowered, and prepared with flowers for Devine's casket. From the ceiling, black drapes flowed with a depressing flare of the Ravenclaw blue and eagle; and the candles were dimmed. Harry, Ginny, Draco, Hermione, and Laura were all seated in the honored family row, each with tears in their eyes. Dumbledore sat near a pulpit that had been conjured especially for Devine. His name was golden plated on the edge, and his titles were etched right below his name. On the center-most part of the pulpit, was the symbol of Ravenclaw house.
Dumbledore stood, and all of the students did so without even an uneven cough or breath. From the doors of the Great Hall came Devine's casket, with his bearers; Antione Maurice, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Arthur Weasley. They brought the casket to the front, placed it very respectfully on the table, bowed to it, then took more of the seats on the family row. Mr. Weasley sat in the second family row with his entire family: Arthur and Molly at the head, Ron with Tanya, Fred and George with Alicia and Katie, Bill, Charlie with a girl none of them knew, and Percy with Penelope. If Percy had his way, he would be working at the Ministry with Fudge; they both felt that Devine was highly overrated. But, Mrs. Weasley had threatened to castrate Percy if he didn't come to the funeral. He didn't have to stay for the final part of it, but he had to sit through the eulogy.
Dumbledore motioned to Antione; who rose and walked to the pulpit. After clearing his throat, and taking a drink of water, he looked up from the pulpit. "Professor James Ronin Devine: Order of Merlin, First Class; Official Magic Expert; beloved husband of the since deceased Moriah Jones; and a teacher of more than just Magical Finishing.
"Professor Devine's life is a long tale, but it is a tale that all should hear. At a very early age, he discovered the fact that he may have to live his life in seclusion. He was part vampire, and that shadow haunted him for years. His knowledge excelled him through Hogwarts. He would have become one of the greatest Aurors in history, had his vampiric passions not surfaced. He learned to live with his gifts; and roll with his curses. He even found it in his heart to reach to another soul for love, and return the love that he received. Never once in his life did he complain about his conditions, nor wish he were different.
"Professor Devine was not in the least a humble being. He was talented, and he knew it." The crowd managed a weak laugh at this comment. Antione went on. "He more than once proved this. He passed all but one of his N.E.W.T.'s with a hundred percent; he didn't get a complete hundred in Wizarding History. But, never did he try to put others down because of this. Instead he always tried to teach in some way.
"Professor Devine's legacy was more than just recognition of achievement, and stature. He has left us with the memory of the fact that we can be more than what others deem us to be. He was always lifting someone up; no matter who they were or how hard they had fallen. He will forever be remembered by those who loved him, and that is something that no one can take away."
Antione walked slowly back to his seat, and after he sat down Laura got up and stood behind the pulpit. "I have prepared a song to sing in memory of James Devine. Please have your heart open for me; he was like my brother." Laura closed her eyes for a moment, regained her composure, and snapped her fingers. The lights dimmed lower, and music began playing from an orchestra of instruments to their right, without aid of a player. Soon she began singing, and her voice was full of weeping and mourning. Harry recognized the song as an American pop song titled, "My Heart Will Go On," and he thought about the words. "Every night in my dreams/I see you, I feel you/That is how I know you go on./Far across the distance/and spaces between us/You have come to show you go on./Near, Far, wherever you are,/I believe that the heart does go on./Once more, you opened the door/And you're here in my heart,/and my heart will go on and on./Love can touch us one time/and last for a lifetime/And never let go till we're gone./Love was when I loved you,/one true time to hold on to/In my life we'll always go on./Near, far, wherever you are,/I believe that the heart does go on./Once more, you opened the door/And you're here in my heart,/and my heart will go on and on./You're here, there's nothing I fear/And I know that my heart will go on./We'll stay, forever this way/You are safe in my heart/and my heart will go on and on." Harry could't but feel that Laura truly believed that; and everyone else felt that in their heart of hearts as well; even though Percy will deny he felt anything but bored. After she was done, a pin drop silence filled the room, and tears filled the eyes of everyone there. Laura wiped the tears from her face that she had fought to continue singing, and slowly walked back to her seat next to Antione. When she sat down he put his arm around her, and gave her a very loving hug.
Dumbledore gave Laura a moment to compose herself. He rose and walked to the pulpit. "We have one last musical number that will go on after I myself speak." Dumbledore cleared his throat. "I had the pleasure of teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts when James was a student here at Hogwarts. I had also the pleasure of teaching his beloved wife Moriah Jones, and these other two wonderful people, Antione and Laura Maurice. The four of them were inseparable; just like four students this year." Dumbledore smirked at Harry, Ginny, Draco, and Hermione; and they knew he meant them. "He was an outstanding student. I recall one time when he actually took charge of the class when I was away. He taught the class what they needed to know, and even got them going on homework. When I asked him why he did it, his only response was 'Your sub was too boring, and I actually wanted to learn something besides the back of my eyelids.'" Dumbledore paused to allow Devine's humor to lighten the crowd. "Ever since then I have watched with great pride as he has become, what Destiny herself would be proud to call a servant of hers. He has never been afraid of what has been coming, nor has he let it interfere with his duties as husband or teacher." Dumbledore paused; as though looking for the words that his heart felt. "The only wish that I ever have wished for myself, is that he could have been my son." Dumbledore was crying the largest amount of tears even Professor McGonagall had seen, and he was unashamed at all.
He motioned to Hermione and Ginny, and then walked to sit down, as they approached the pulpit. "We would also like to dedicate a song to Professor Devine," Hermione said. At this she signaled to Sirius, who started playing. Everyone instantly recognized the song as "The Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler. The words that followed in the second most beautiful duet in history were, "It must have been cold there in my shadow,/to never have sunlight on your face./You were content to let me shine, that's your way./You always walked a step behind./So I was the one with all the glory,/while you were the one with all the strength,/A beautiful face without a name for so long./A beautiful smile to hide the pain./Did you ever know that you're my hero,/and everything I would like to be?/I can fly higher than an eagle,/for you are the wind beneath my wings./It might have appeared to go unnoticed,/but I've got it all here in my heart./I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it./I would be nothing without you./
Did you ever know that you're my hero?/You're everything I wish I could be./I could fly higher than an eagle,/for you are the wind beneath my wings./Did I ever tell you you're my hero?/You're everything, everything I wish I could be./Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle,/for you are the wind beneath my wings,/'cause you are the wind beneath my wings./Oh, the wind beneath my wings./" When they stopped singing, even Sirius found it hard to stay in any kind of composed state. Everyone was crying; but Percy was bawling. He had buried his face into his girlfriend's shoulder, and was crying as though he were in agony. The other Weasley brothers made it a mental note to torture him later with this, but for now held their peace. Laura was also in tears, and her hand over her heart. Antione opened his eyes; for all to see the wells of tears they had become. Arthur and Molly were so proud of "their" girls, that were the smiles any bigger, the Grinch would have been jealous. Dumbledore came up behind them. "We will now proceed outside for the pyre burning." Snape's head turned so fast to look at Dumbledore that some people wondered if he was going to say something. And for a moment it looked like he would; for the words were right there at the edge of his tongue; but he held his peace.
Arthur, Sirius, Antione, and Lupin picked up the casket and carried it outside, as the crowd sat up in a tidal wave as his casket passed by them. Once on the grounds, Hagrid led them to a large tribunal. The wood was piled into an elongated shape, and at the head of the tribunal a tall stake had his name engraved in it. The bearers placed the casket on the tribunal onto the pyre, and stepped back. Dumbledore turned to Harry and Draco. "I think it would mean more to him if you two light the pyre." They looked at him in shock. Giving a funeral pyre for anyone was a great enough honor, but Dumbledore was denying himself that self same honor by letting them light the pyre. They nodded to each other and walked to the edge of the pyre. Harry reached out with his mind; Harry, Draco, Hermione, and Ginny were wearing their rings; and touched Draco's thoughts.
Let's salute him.
Which salute?
The Salute of Remembrance.
Perfect. Let's go.
They took out their wands, and touched the middle of them together, making an "X" from their view points. Next, they pulled them apart, and bowed to one another. Facing the pyre, they counted to each other in their heads, and muttered, "Incendio." Purple flames leaped from their wands to start the pyre, and to symbolize the final, everlasting, departure of James Devine, Professor of Hogwarts.
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Later that day . . . Hermione, Draco, Ginny, and Harry were all sitting in the Great Hall. Butterbeer bottles littered the table, and everyone was feeling as though they had just been beaten by a Whomping Willow. The Weasleys had gone to the Burrow to hold a Funeral Dinner for Devine; and Mrs. Weasley had invited Tanya and forgiven Harry. Sirius Black had gone to his house to prepare for Harry's arrival; to live with him instead of the Dursleys. Lupin had to grade the term papers, and Antione and Laura had to report back to London. Laura had been so impressed with Ginny and Hermione that she wanted to give them a spot on her next album, and she wanted them to come with her on her next tour. Dumbledore had hugged both Draco and Harry for performing the Salute of Remembrance for Devine. "It was the best I've ever seen it done. He would be so proud of you." Dumbledore had also pulled Harry aside, and was not looking particularly anxious to tell him what was troubling his heart.
"Harry, there is no way to bring Devine back. He sealed the spells too well, that even I cannot figure out how he could be brought back. He was far more learned in ancient magic than I anyway. I'm sorry." Harry had a new stream of tears. "I see. It was only a fleeting hope, but it was still hope." Dumbledore hugged Harry. "My boy, hope is something that no one can take away. You may not see him in this life, but there is the hope that in the realms beyond our own, we will see him again."
They were all still reviewing Lavender's trial and punishment. She had been charged with murder, accessory to murder, conspiracy against the Ministry, and over half a dozen more charges that nobody could remember. But, the most dreadful part, is when the Dementor entered. What little hope Lavender had of living through her punishment quickly faded as she screamed when the hood went down, and her soul left her body.
Draco finally broke the silence. "I don't want to come to Hogwarts next year. It just won't feel the same without him." Everyone nodded their heads in agreement.
Ginny looked at Harry. "Harry? Are you okay? Out of all of us here, he definitely bonded closest with you."
Harry looked up from staring at the table in a mindless state. "I know. That's what makes saying good-bye so hard."
"At least we only have one more week left," Hermione tried. She was the least drunk of the group, as she detested heavy drinking.
"Amen to that," Draco said, right before finishing the last bit of Butterbeer in his bottle.
"Well we best get some sleep before classes tomorrow. Sprout, and Snape won't be light on the final just because it's the end of the year, and today is a funeral," Harry said. And he was right.
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It was the end of the year. Everyone had passed their finals, even Potions, and they were all seated in the back of the Hogwarts Express. Sirius had sent Harry an Owl saying that he'd pick him up at the station. Draco was also going to move in with him, as both his house and parents had gone up in flames, and Draco wasn't quite sure Hermione's or Ginny's parents would approve of him staying at their houses.
None of them said a word on the way back, they all just occupied themselves with silence. But, knowing that the station was coming up soon, they dressed quickly, and prepared to leave each other for the summer. Ginny was weeping silently, and Hermione was feeling partially sick. Draco's eyes were bloodshot, and his usually well kept hair was a tangle resembling Harry's. Harry was in the worst state of all. His eyes had almost no color left, and his voice always failed him now whenever he spoke. But, the station came up; and the conductor yelled that not too foreign phrase, "Everybody off!"
Sirius was waiting by Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. The four of them looked at each other before going over to them. Sirius and the Weasley parents were surprised by this, but soon guessed why they had stopped. Harry looked at his friends, but couldn't say what his heart and soul were feeling. But his friends knew what he felt; even though they don't know how. But, the magic rings of Professor Devine had bonded them just as much together, as his own love and effort had. And never, would they forsake those gifts of his.
N/A: This is the final chapter in this story. I figured twenty chapters was sufficient to end on. I will still read any reviews, but I will not add anything more than what is here. I believe I have left enough loose ends to go on to seventh year with them; following this story; but I will not continue any more with this particular year or time period. And, I am sorry again, if you didn't like the fact that Devine died. I have however, started writing another story on the children that existed through chapters 8-12 of this story, and it's called the "Lost Ones." If you liked Devine very much, then read it. He's back for a little while.