As Strong As We Are United
Chapter 5 – Burying Our Own
Buffy, Xander, Robin, and Spike landed hard on the floor of the basement kitchen of Order Headquarters. Narcissa, Giles, and Remus Lupin ran into the room to meet them. "Is Professor Dumbledore taking care of the children?" Narcissa asked hurriedly.
Buffy nodded. "He went to Harry's house to retrieve everyone. He's bringing them here."
"Thank Merlin," said Narcissa. "I'm so glad everyone is safe."
Giles was the first to notice the solemn looks on the faces of those who had just arrived. "What happened?" he asked. "What's wrong?"
"We weren't their only planned attack," replied Buffy, sinking onto one of the benches at the table. "They attacked the Hog's Head. Killed Mundungus, Hagrid, and Dumbledore's brother. They also attacked the families of the students that helped fight against Voldemort."
"My God," said Giles, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "All of them?"
"Lovegood, Longbottom, Granger, and Weasley," replied Robin, who had also sunk down onto one of the benches.
Buffy jumped to her feet. "I have to get Charlie. Kingsley and Minerva are contacting the Order members, but he's out of the country. They won't think of him." She bounded toward the fireplace, and before anyone could say a word she had already thrown in a handful of floo powder and shouted, "Weasley cottage, Romania."
"I should probably go and get Fred and George," said Xander. "If I go now, I can catch them before they finish locking up the shop for the night." Xander departed through the fireplace as well.
"And, I need to get back to LA. Make sure everyone knows what's happening," said Spike. "Let Genevieve know I went back, will you?" Giles and Narcissa nodded. Spike departed through the fireplace only minutes after Xander.
"I don't envy Dumbledore having to tell those kids about their parents," said Robin softly.
The group sat in silence for a while, before Order members began appearing. They had apparently been briefed about what had happened. The mood was solemn, as each witch and wizard took a place at the table, many with tears in their eyes.
Percy was the first Weasley to arrive. Since his return to his family, he too had become an Order member. He noticed the sadness on everyone's faces immediately. "What happened?" he asked apprehensively.
Lupin approached him. "Percy, would you please mind waiting upstairs in the drawing room. Professor Dumbledore will be here shortly."
Percy looked terrified. "No, tell me what happened?" Lupin shook his head. "Tell me, Remus, please?" Percy practically begged.
"Percy, please go upstairs," said Remus. Percy's shoulder's slumped in defeat, and Lupin walked him out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
Shortly after Percy had left the kitchen, Xander tumbled back out of the fireplace. "They're coming," he mumbled. "Told them it was important, but didn't say what."
Fred, George, Angelina, and Oliver Apparated into the kitchen. "What's going on?" asked George. Before anyone could answer, Buffy and Charlie came through the fireplace.
"Buffy, would you mind taking the Weasley's and their friends up to the drawing room?" asked Giles. Buffy nodded, but did not say a word. The Weasleys, Angelina, and Oliver, all looking worried, followed Buffy out of the kitchen. They did not notice the sad looks that many of the Order members were giving them.
Remus Lupin returned to the kitchen. "Buffy is sitting up there with the family," he informed Giles, who merely nodded in reply.
"I wonder what's taking Dumbledore so long?" mused Xander, who had taken a seat beside Robin. No sooner had Xander posed the question, than Dumbledore, the students, Andrew, Faith, Anya, and Genevieve appeared in the room, clutching a potted plant.
Dumbledore raised his hand to silence the assembled group. After quickly conferring with Remus Lupin as to the whereabouts of the rest of the Weasley family, Dumbledore looked to his students. "I would ask that the Weasleys, Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, Mr. Longbottom, and Miss Lovegood follow me." The group trouped out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
"What's going on?" Dawn asked Giles. "And, where's Buffy?"
"She's upstairs with Charlie," replied Giles. "There were several Death Eater attacks tonight. Those who left, with the exception of Harry, lost family. Mundungus, Hagrid, and Dumbledore's brother were also killed."
"No," whimpered Dawn, as Draco helped her into a seat.
"Someone should go get Willow," suggested Anya.
"I'll go," replied Giles. "I know where the retreat is located." He raised his wand and Disapparated.
"Luna's going to need me," whispered Andrew.
"They're all going to need their friends," added Narcissa.
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Percy stood when his brothers and their significant others entered the drawing room. "Would someone please tell me what the bloody hell is happening?" he asked. "Remus just keeps telling me that I have to wait."
"Oh stuff it, Percy," replied Fred, who had still not fully forgiven his brother for disowning their family two years earlier.
"Would you two please stop?" asked Charlie. He turned to his girlfriend. "Buffy, I know that you know something. Please tell me." But Buffy merely shook her head, afraid that if she tried to talk the tears would begin and she would not be able to stop them. She remembered clearly what it was like to find her mother dead, and more than anything she wished that Charlie would not have to experience the same.
After a few minutes had passed, they heard the footsteps of several people approaching the room. Dumbledore entered, followed by Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and Luna. "Please take a seat," Dumbledore instructed everyone. The group sat.
"It is with a heavy heart that I come to you. We have each lost loved ones tonight." Low murmuring could be heard among the group. Dumbledore raised his hand and silence once again descended on the room. "There is no easy way to say this. There were several Death Eater attacks tonight. The victims were specifically targeted because of our fight against Voldemort."
"Who?" croaked Charlie. "Who was killed?" But he already knew. His parents and his older brother Bill were not with them now, and if they were alive, they would have been there. Charlie suddenly remembered that Bill and Fleur were planning on telling his parents that they were expecting their first child. Bill had written Charlie the previous day to tell him, making him swear that he wouldn't say anything until after they told his parents at dinner the following night. That letter seemed so long ago.
Charlie took a deep breath, as he felt Buffy place her hand gently on his shoulder. He reached up and covered her hand with his, preparing himself for the blow that was sure to come.
Dumbledore spoke. "Molly and Arthur Weasley, and Bill and Fleur Weasley." Charlie squeezed Buffy's hand tighter for support. Percy wrapped his arms around himself and began slowly rocking back and forth. "No," gasped Fred and George together. Angelina and Oliver each put an arm around their significant other. Ron sat stone still, his face white, oblivious to the hand that Hermione had placed on his shoulder. Neville wrapped his arms around Ginny, and she began to cry. Harry sat still, feeling his heart plummet at the loss of those he considered to be his adoptive family.
"John and Susan Granger." Hermione's hand fell away from Ron's shoulder. She, like Ron, went completely pale, but instead of sitting stone still, she ran from the room. They heard a door slam and then the sounds of her retching. Ron snapped out of his daze and went running after her.
The group began to move. Dumbledore cleared his throat. "I am sorry to say that there are more." The group looked at the aged headmaster. "Agatha Longbottom." "Gran," whimpered Neville. He pulled Ginny even tighter to him and allowed his own tears to fall.
"Laslo Lovegood." Luna rocked in her seat, but even as the tears began to cascade down her cheeks, she smiled slightly. "He's with Mum now," she whispered to herself.
"Mundungus Fletcher also lost his life tonight, as did my own brother Aberforth," continued Dumbledore. "And Hagrid." A tear slid down into the headmaster's long beard. Though he had not thought it possible, Harry's heart sunk even deeper. He could not help remembering Hagrid breaking down the door, threatening the Dursleys, and being the first to tell Harry that he was a wizard. It had taken Harry months to cry about Sirius, but this time he let the tears spill forth when he received the news.
Dumbledore continued speaking, though no one was paying much attention. "I must go address the Order. Take whatever time you need. You are all welcome to stay at headquarters if you choose." The old wizard turned and left the room.
After several minutes, Luna stood. "I'm going to go find Andrew," she muttered, before turning to the door.
Harry stood as well. "I'll go with you. I need to talk to Shannon."
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Ron found Hermione sitting on the floor of the small bathroom on the first floor, her forehead resting against the cold porcelain of the toilet seat. He did not say a word to her, too choked up by his own emotions to speak. Instead he sat on the floor beside her and pulled her into his arms. They sat there for quite a long time silently holding each other, neither ready to voice their losses.
Hermione finally pulled away from Ron. He looked down at her pale face. "Can I do anything for you?" he asked, his voice quivering slightly.
Hermione shook her head. "I just," she began, but stopped to breath deeply, willing tears not to fall. "I just want to go to sleep."
Ron nodded and helped her off the floor. He wrapped an arm around her, and they walked silently up the stairs to the room she had shared with Ginny during the past two summers. Ron helped her remove her shoes and slide into bed. He kissed her softly on the forehead and turned to leave. "Ron." Hermione's voice was barely above a whisper. He turned back to her. "Don't go." Ron nodded, took off his shoes, and slid into bed beside her. Hermione settled herself in his arms, and they laid in silence.
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Giles Apparated back into the kitchen, along with a half-dressed Willow. "I was already in bed for the night," she explained, as she sat down to put on the shoes that she had been carrying in her hand.
Before anyone could comment, Dumbledore swept into the room. When she saw him, Narcissa insisted that Draco, Dawn, Shannon, and Andrew should go find their friends. "Doesn't seem to matter how much we fight, they always treat us like kids," grumbled Shannon as the four teens left the kitchen.
In the first floor hallway, they ran into Harry and Luna. Both teens had obviously been crying. "Did you hear?" Harry asked Shannon. She nodded. "Hagrid was the one who told me I was a wizard." Shannon placed her arms around Harry, but he spun away from her to glare at Draco. "And don't you dare say anything bad about him."
"I wasn't going too. Whether or not I liked him as a teacher, no one deserves what happened to him. Well some do – like my father." Dawn slipped her hand into Draco's and gave a reassuring squeeze. She noticed that Andrew had done the same to Luna.
"Let's go upstairs," suggested Dawn quietly. "The last thing we need is to wake up Mrs. Black."
"Huh?" questioned Draco.
"We'll tell you upstairs," promised Dawn.
The six teens quietly ascended the stairs and entered the room that had been Harry and Ron's during the past two summers. "I wonder where Ron is," commented Harry.
"Probably with Hermione," replied Dawn. "I'd be surprised if we see either of them until tomorrow morning."
"How are you two holding up?" Andrew asked Luna and Harry.
"It hurts, but we'll be okay," said Luna, speaking for herself and Harry. "We both understand that the dead aren't really gone. They're just out of our sight." She and Harry shared a meaningful look, both thinking about the veil that hung in the Death Chamber in the Department of Mysteries.
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After the teens had left the kitchen, Dumbledore addressed the Order members in attendance. He explained to them everything that had happened, including the one attack that had failed because of the interference by a seer.
"I am most concerned," said Dumbledore, "for the safety of those who escaped certain death tonight, the students and those who were dining at the Malfoy cottage in Hogsmeade. I recommend that the students stay here at headquarters until it is time for them to return to school. As for the rest of you," he eyed the Scoobies, "it is your choice."
"Well, I'm staying here. Since Giles dragged me away from my retreat, there isn't really anywhere else for me to go. Besides, if Dawn and Shannon are staying here then Buffy will too," explained Willow.
"We will be returning home," declared Robin. Faith agreed. "The Death Eaters are not going to scare me away from my life. If we let them, then they win."
"Same with us," added Xander. "Anya and I are not giving up our home."
"Neither am I," stated Narcissa. "Though my son will be staying here for the remainder of the summer."
"If you insist on going home, then I am going with you," Giles informed Narcissa. "Fine," she replied in a tone of annoyance, though her smile betrayed her. Giles returned his attention to Dumbledore. "We will also take Andrew with us. We have a lot of Council business to attend to, and though I never thought I would say this, Andrew had become indispensable to keeping everything organized.
"Well, if that's all," said Genevieve, rising from her seat, "I need to get back to Los Angeles and inform my colleagues of what is happening. Some of us may return earlier than originally planned. We need to discuss it." The Scoobies waved to Genevieve as she departed through the fireplace.
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The Weasley children and their significant others sat in silence for several minutes after Harry and Luna had left. "I wonder if Ron's going to come back," mused Fred.
"Yeah, we all need each other right now," added George.
"I think looking after Hermione's all he can handle right now," said Ginny between sobs.
"Yeah but he has to deal with this too," replied George.
"I wouldn't worry too much about him for now," interrupted Charlie. "From what I've seen, those two will take care of each other." Buffy smiled at her boyfriend and continued rubbing her hand across his back.
They were in silence once again. Percy finally stood. "I'm supposed to see Penny tonight. I should go. I'll be back first thing tomorrow, we can all discuss arrangements then." With a crack, Percy Disapparated.
"Doesn't he even care," spat Fred.
"It's not like it's the first time he turned his back on us," added George.
Charlie shook his head. He was trying desperately to come to grips with what had happened that night and was in no mood to break up family squabbles. "Did you two ever stop to think that Percy's hurting too? The poor guy is the only one of us who was sitting here alone. Maybe he needs Penny like you two need Angelina and Oliver, or like Ron needs Hermione, or like I need Buffy. Just give the poor guy a break. He also lost his parents and brother." Fred and George grumbled but conceded that maybe Charlie had a point.
Ginny was the next to break the silence. "I'm going to bed," she stated. "Neville, why don't you walk up with me?" The two teens walked out of the room.
"Maybe we should head home too," suggested Fred. "Alright," agreed George. "We'll be here tomorrow," the twins told Charlie before Disapparating along with Angelina and Oliver.
Alone in the room, Charlie turned his attention to Buffy. "How did you do it with Dawn?" he asked wearily.
"Do what?"
"Take your mother's place. I always knew that with their involvement in the Order that there was a chance. . . But I figured that, as the oldest, Bill would be the one to step in. I'm lost here. I don't know what to do." For the first time that evening, tears had appeared in Charlie's eyes.
Buffy put her arms around him. "You can't replace your parents. Dawn once told me that she liked me much better as her sister than as her mother. All you can do is be their older brother and take everything a day at a time. I'm not saying it'll be easy. It won't. But each day it will get easier."
Charlie nodded then allowed the tears to overtake him as he sobbed loudly against Buffy's shoulder.
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Ginny and Neville entered Ginny's old room to find Ron and Hermione curled up in her bed. Hermione was snoring softly, but Ron was lying awake, staring at the ceiling. He turned to his sister and Neville.
"I'm going to sleep, and Neville is staying with me tonight," stated Ginny matter-of-factly.
She was waiting to hear Ron blow up and was thoroughly surprised by his response. "Fine. Just make sure your clothes stay on and that you two don't wake up Hermione. She needs her sleep."
Neville blushed, but did not say anything. "We all do," whispered Ginny in reply. She and Neville kicked off their shoes and slid into the bed on the opposite side of the room. In a matter of minutes they were a perfect imitation of the other couple in the room. Ginny had fallen into a fitful sleep, and Neville lay awake staring at the ceiling.
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The next few days seemed to fly by in a haze of activity. Willow, Tonks, and Faith took Hermione, Neville, and Luna back to their homes to collect their school things and any cherished possessions. Buffy and Charlie accompanied Ron and Ginny to the Burrow to do the same. Buffy also stopped at Giles' flat to retrieve all of Dawn's, Shannon's, and her own things. Narcissa packed up Draco's things and brought them to headquarter herself.
Cat arrived the day after the attacks. Wesley, Spike, and Genevieve remained behind to finish some work at Wolfram and Hart, but promised to be at Order headquarters sometime during the next week or so.
While the Weasley children planned the funeral for their parents, brother, and sister-in-law, Cat and Buffy began helping Hermione and Luna to plan their parents' funerals. Ron wanted to help, but Charlie had explained to him in no uncertain terms that his first responsibility was to his own family. Fred and George explained that they were good sons who left their thriving business to attend to family matters and that Ron should do the same. The twins did not mention that Anya had volunteered to run the shop for them for as long as they needed her.
Hermione and Luna were grateful for the help from Cat and Buffy. Neither girl had extended family to help. Their grandparents had all passed away, and their parents were only children. Also, neither girl was entirely sure what went into planning a funeral. Cat and Buffy both had experience with these things. Cat had planned the wizarding funeral for her mother, and Buffy had planned the muggle funeral for her mother.
Neville's grandmother's funeral was being planned by his great aunts and uncles, who all agreed that it was safest for him to remain at Order headquarters. Neville, however, did have one thing that he needed to do. While the others were planning funerals, Willow accompanies Neville to St. Mungos. Though his parents would not understand, Neville felt that he had to tell them about his grandmother's death. Willow waited outside the closed ward, while Neville spent nearly an hour speaking with his parents.
Buffy, Cat, and Willow spent an afternoon together in downtown London. They needed to purchase appropriate funeral attire for themselves and the teens. They first went to a muggle department store and purchased dark suits for the boys and simple black sheaths for the girls and themselves. The three women then journeyed to Diagon Alley to purchase funeral robes, which were traditionally simple black with hoods, for everyone.
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The first funeral was for Neville's grandmother. The group from Order headquarters traveled via portkey, heavily guarded by Order members. For many, it was the first wizarding funeral they had ever attended. It was surprisingly similar to a muggle funeral. For the first hour, everyone milled around paying respects to the family. Neville shook everyone's hands and accepted their condolences, though he whispered to Ginny at one point that he had no clue who most of the people were. When the actual service began, several family members and close friends eulogized about Agatha Longbottom. Throughout the service, Neville sat quietly holding Ginny's hand.
Later that same night, everyone took another portkey to the Hogwarts grounds. Hagrid's funeral was taking place on the edge of the Forbidden Forrest. Many of the creatures that Hagrid had cared for throughout the years, stood at the edge of the forest. Prominent among them was Grawp, who was sobbing hard. As each tear hit the ground, it was like someone had dumped a large bucket. Professor Dumbledore delivered a eulogy. Harry then stepped forward and shared several stories about Hagrid's love of monstrous creatures, including Norbert and the Blast Ended Skrewts. Madame Maxim then talked to the group about Hagrid's gentle nature and pride in himself.
When they arrived back at headquarters later that night, Harry was exhausted. "I can't believe how draining it is eulogizing a friend," he commented to Shannon.
She smiled at him and placed her hand in his. "You did really good. I'm sure Hagrid was watching from wherever he is and smiling at you." Harry squeezed her hand.
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The next day was the funeral for the Grangers. Hermione was a nervous wreck, as she got ready. She could not seem to get Ron to leave her alone long enough to dress. She finally ordered him out into the hallway, but was completely exasperated by the fact that he would not leave the other side of the door. Charlie finally dragged Ron away to get himself dressed in his new muggle suit.
For as aggravated as she was with Ron that morning, Hermione was grateful that he was with her at the actual service. He rarely strayed from her side and seemed to know exactly when she needed him to hold her hand, when she needed a hug, and when she needed him to just take a step back. The only time the two teens were apart was when they approached the caskets to pay their respects. Ron knew that Hermione needed privacy for a last goodbye to her parents.
Hermione stood before the caskets. "Mum, Dad, I know that wherever you are you can hear me," she said quietly. "These past few days have been hard. I know that if I weren't a witch, you would still be alive. But, I also remember how proud you were of me, when I got my Hogwarts letter." She stood silently for a moment. "I know that you want me to be safe, but I have to do what's right, and that means that I may not always be safe. You raised me to do the right thing. I want you to know that I always will. I love you, Mum and Dad. I love you, and I will never forget you." A tear escaped Hermione's eye, but she quickly wiped it away, willing herself not to break down in public.
After Hermione finished, Ron walked forward and stood by the caskets. He spoke softly. "I won't ever forget that I promised to take care of your daughter. I intend to always keep that promise. I will protect Hermione with my life." Ron stood for a moment in silence and then returned to Hermione's side.
The next several hours were a blur for Hermione. People kept walking up to her to express their condolences. She did not know who most of them were, but figured that they may have been her parents' patients. She shook their hands politely. When her parents' closer friends approached, she hugged them and introduced them to Ron, who politely shook their hands. Every so often some of the other teens or the Scoobies would approach Hermione to ask if she was okay. She assured everyone that she was fine, though they all knew she was not.
Eventually, the minister called everyone's attention. He led them in some prayers. Susan Granger's best friend from childhood then performed the eulogy, recounting tales of when they were children and teens and when Susan and John met, were married, and became parents.
When the service concluded, Ron pulled Hermione aside. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked.
Hermione nodded. "I'm fine. I'm just ready to get out of here." Ron knew she was not fine. She had yet to cry, though he had not cried for his parents yet either. He took her hand and led her out of the funeral home and around to the back, where everyone was waiting to take a portkey back to Order headquarters.
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The funeral for Luna's father was the next day. It was by far the strangest funeral that any of them had ever attended. However, Buffy and Cat had insisted that Luna should do whatever she felt was best. The hall, where the funeral was taking place, was filled with clippings from The Quibbler. Some of the strangest witches and wizards were wandering around discussing the many articles that hung on the walls.
Luna addressed the crowd. "There will be no crying here today," she told everyone. "We are here to celebrate my father's life. I know that he is with my mother now, and that they are both watching us from wherever they are. They would be disappointed to see anything less than a party." The strange witches and wizards all seemed to agree, many of them nodding their heads at Luna's words.
Luna continued. "I would like to ask that anyone who has an amusing story about my father to come up here and share it with us all. I will begin by telling you about our adventure two summers ago to find the crumple-horned Snorkacks." Luna proceeded to tell the crowd about her adventure with her father.
As she rejoined her friends, Andrew pulled her into a hug. "That was so cool," he whispered to her. She smiled in return, and then turned her attention to the line that was forming by the podium. Many witches and wizards, who had written for The Quibbler spoke about good times with Laslo Lovegood.
"Elmira Pennyfoot is going to take over the magazine for me until I graduate," Luna told her friends. "After I finish Hogwarts, I'm going to run it." The group smiled at her.
Later that night, the group traveled by portkey to the Hog's Head pub. Aberforth had been the proprietor, and his brother thought it appropriate to hold his funeral there. None of the teens or Scoobies had ever met Aberforth, though the trio realized that Aberforth had been the old bartender they had met during their first DA gathering in fifth year. However, the teens and the Scoobies believed that it was right to show their support for the headmaster of Hogwarts, as he prepared to bury his only brother. And so, they gathered at the rear of the bar to hear Dumbledore eulogize his brother.
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The last funeral was for the Weasleys. (Mad-Eye insisted that none of them attend Mundungus' funeral because of the risk posed by the criminal element.) The remaining Weasley children had decided that the funeral should be held in the backyard of the Burrow, where so many happy family gatherings had been held over the years. Fleur's family had agreed, citing her happiness at being part of the Weasley family.
Charlie and Percy gave the eulogy for Bill. Fleur's mother spoke about her daughter. Fred and George eulogized their father. Ron and Ginny spoke about their mother. It was difficult for them all to get through their words without breaking into sobs. More than a hundred witches and wizards were in attendance, including all the Order members, many ministry workers, and all the Weasley children's friends.
When the eulogies concluded, the Weasley children returned to their significant others. Fred and George, however, stood before the mourners again. "A friend of ours recently said at her own father's funeral that we are here not to mourn our families' deaths but to celebrate their lives."
Ron spun around to look at Luna, before catching Charlie's eye. "What are those two idiots planning?" Ron asked his older brother. Charlie shrugged but looked worried.
"And so, in celebration of the lives of a father, a mother, a brother, and a sister, we would like to take a moment to remind you all of the spark for life they all had," explained George.
"Oh, no," muttered Percy.
Fred set off several crates of Weasley Wildfire Wizbangs. The fireworks sprayed across the sky, vivid reds, blues, greens, and golds filling the sky. The mourners clapped at the sight. "I can imagine mum sitting up in her coffin and yelling at the twins for not knowing how to respect a solemn occasion," Ginny commented to her brothers.
"Yeah, but then dad would calm her down by explaining that the twins just have a zest for life," replied Ron.
"And Bill would ask where he could buy a few crates," stated Charlie.
"Then mum would say something like, 'Isn't it bad enough that you look reckless with that long hair and earring, now you want to act reckless too,'" added Ginny.
The three siblings began laughing at the thought. "What is wrong with you three," hissed Percy. "I expect this kind of behavior from the twins but not you." Percy's reprimand only made Ginny, Ron, and Charlie laugh harder.
Fred and George, who had joined their siblings, looked confused. "Do you feel like we're missing something?" Fred asked his twin. George nodded.
The laughter did not last long, as several mourners paid their respects to the Weasley children before leaving. Each of the children stood beside their significant other, shaking hands with those who were departing. When the final mourners had gone, Mad-Eye insisted that the teens get back to Order headquarters. Charlie accompanied them. He was still not ready to spend a night in the Burrow with his parents gone. Percy, Fred, George, and their significant others returned to their own homes as well.