Chapter 40

A Funeral

AN:

I do not own Harry Potter.

The rest of the ANs are at the bottom.

....."Dearly Magical, we are gathered here today to pay our last respects to Harry James Potter," The Fat Friar said in the front of the Great Hall to several thousand people who managed to cram into the room for the event. A plain coffin was behind the pious ghost, floating so that everyone may see it. Harry was observing the entire scene from the back of the hall above a couple of Hufflepuff first years that somehow had managed to cram themselves into the crowded hall "Does someone wish to give a Eulogy?"

.....Ron silently walked up to the podium where the Fat Friar floated. The friar moved aside and allowed Ron to be the center of attention. He cleared his throat and started speaking loudly; "I met Harry on the train ride here in our first year. We were friends ever since… a misfortune for me. Since becoming friends with that bastard my life has been in danger more times than Fred and George's when they're experimenting with explosives.

....."And if causing my life to be in danger wasn't enough he constantly over-shadowed me! He couldn't stand letting me have a bit of the spotlight once and a while! Everything always had to be about him. In our first year he dragged Hermione and me after bloody You-Know-Who to keep him from getting a rock! Saying that HE wouldn't go over to the dark side and if You-Know-Who. Then second year he was finally shunned but stupid me, I stood by him! But then he let that bloody diary be stolen by my sister again and she almost died!

....."Third year everyone was looking after him because a mass murderer was after him! But who was attacked in the middle of the night? ME! The bloody murderer wasn't even after the great Harry Potter. He was after my rat! MY rat. I should have been the one protected not him!

....."Forth year… bloody forth year. He was a bleeding Hogwarts champion! He wasn't even supposed to be IN the Triwizard Tournament! He was too young. But no… special Potter got out of exams and a load of Galleons, even after he killed Cedric Diggory. The TRUE Hogwarts champion.

....."Lets not forget fifth year! He started an illegal club, nearly got the entire club expelled! Just because he brought the Dark Lord back and we needed to learn how to cast curses! He nearly got five students killed and killed his godfather! Then do you know what he did? He cast an Unforgivable! He cast it on a witch!

....."He deserved to die after all he's done. And I for one am glad he's finally dead."

.....Oh God Ron, Harry thought sorrowfully. Its true. All of it. I'm so sorry. I never meant to put you in danger. You should have never become friends with me. I only caused trouble. At least I can't hurt anyone anymore.

.....The Fat Friar floated back in front of the podium after Ron went off in a huff and cleared his throat awkwardly, "Erm… Thank you Mr. Weasley for that enlightening speech about Mr. Potter, but perhaps we should speak a bit more politely about the deceased."

.....Harry shook his head bitterly not believing he deserved the Friar's kindness.

....."Friar, if I may?" Snape said appearing at the ghost's side seemingly out of nowhere.

....."Oh, of course Professor," The Fat Friar said bowing out gracefully.

....."Merlin knows I thought I would never say this," Snape said snidely. "But Mr. Weasley was correct. We were fortunate indeed that Potter died. Everyone expected him to save us from the Dark Lord. Everyone was a bloody idiot. Potter was a lazy untalented piece of shit. How the hell was he supposed to save the bloody Wizarding world if he couldn't' stand up to a Muggle? His Uncle abused him."

.....Gasps were heard throughout the Great Hall and angry shouts were heard.

....."Why was he allowed to beat up Potter? I wanted to do that forever!"

....."Bloody Muggles getting all of the fun."

....."He's even more of a freak than I thought!"

....."Worthless absolutely worthless."

....."Yes, yes… You all believed a little boy who couldn't even stand up to his uncle would save us from the most evil wizard in several centuries. Well… everyone is entitled to their mistakes, however a few of us were intelligent enough not to let Potter pull the wool over our eyes. He was an attention-seeking brat who endangered all around him. I will give a hundred Galleons to whoever dances on his grave first. I would have used his blood in a potion or two but I decided that it would just ruin the potions; he was awful at them… it must be in his blood…" Snape sneered and left the front of the room.

.....I hate Snape, I hate Snape, I hate Snape, Harry chanted silently. But he's right. I did hurt everyone around me and I couldn't save anyone else if I couldn't stand up to Uncle Vernon. Neville has to be the one from the Prophecy. He's been doing so much better in class. He'll be able to finish Voldemort.

....."Now, now," the Fat Friar said disconcerted. "This is a funeral, a time to reflect on the good in a person. A time to celebrate their life not their death."

.....What's there to celebrate about my life? Harry thought bitterly.

....."I've got something good to say," Draco Malfoy said smirking and coming into the front of the room. Everyone stared at the Slytherin as if he had grown another head. "I say that we give Harry Potter's relatives the Order of Merlin First Class for punishing him for endangering lives!"

.....WHAT THE HELL?

.....Cheers were heard throughout the Great Hall. The Hufflepuffs that were below Harry all nodded their heads in agreement.

....."Its only fair," one whispered to her friend. "Harry Potter deserved it and no one else did it. They should be awarded for punishing that freak."

....."All who agree say 'I!'" Malfoy shouted into the room.

....."I!" everyone in the room except for the Fat Friar shouted.

....."Good, good," Fudge said coming up to the front of the room dragging the Dursleys with him. "Vernon Dursley, Petunia Dursley, Dudley Dursley, I award you the Order of Merlin First Class for favors to the Wizarding World."

.....Oh god… I deserved it. I deserved everything that they did to me. Harry thought as he pulled his knees to his chest and hugged himself. He closed his eyes and tried to will the tears forming in his eyes to disappear.

....."Harry? Harry!" he heard a voice calling him. He didn't want to answer it. He kept his eyes shut thinking of what a worthless threat he was. At least he wasn't alive anymore to hurt anyone else.

....."Harry!" the voice called him again and he unwillingly opened his eyes and a tear slid down his face, as he saw not the Great Hall in front of him but the white walls of the Hospital Wing and Hermione's worried face.

AN:

Heehee...

Sorry... But I had to do it.

One note you might want to read... I will not promise to update next sunday. I'm moving into my dorm on Friday and I don't know when I will have computer/internet access and I'm going to be insanely busy this week so I doubt a chapter will come out. HOWEVER if I do write a chapter.... IF... I will try hard to update it. But since I still need to buy socks for school... I doubt I'll have any time between shopping and packing to write anything.

But please review! I'll defintely have enough time to check out my reviews and I need them to survive this week!