Chapter 12-The funeral of Albus Dumbledore
Professor McGonagall got up from where she was sitting with Harry, and she said, "Looks like I have something to announce at dinner tonight." She sighed glumly.
Just then, Snape and the others ran up to McGonagall and Harry.
Snape noticed Dumbledore's body, and said, "Minerva, is the Headmaster dead?"
Professor McGonagall gave him a sad look and said, "Yes, I'm afraid so."
Mrs. Weasley said, "Oh, no, poor Hogwarts! What will we do?"
Madam Pomfrey said, "Oh, dear. If I had been here, I could have saved the headmaster's life."
McGonagall said, "I don't know, Molly. Poppy, don't blame yourself. You needed to be there for the others just in case they were hurt."
Just then, Madam Bones came out of the castle. She walked up to Professor McGonagall, not noticing Dumbledore's body.
Madam Bones said, "Why, Minerva, what are you doing out here? I was just in the castle, looking for Professor Dumbledore. The castle's empty. What's going on?"
Snape said, "Why don't you look over there?"
Madam Bones then noticed Harry kneeling over Dumbledore.
"Is he d-d-dead?" said Madam Bones.
Professor McGonagall nodded silently, and Madam Bones said, "Oh, no, Minerva, we have a lot to discuss. So, we need to do it right now." She led McGonagall away.
Professor McGonagall turned to look at Harry, but Snape said, "I'll take care of Potter. Go on."
Professor McGonagall left, following Madam Bones back up to the castle.
Mrs. Weasley said, "Don't even think about taking Harry back to the castle. I will do it, Severus." Harry had never heard Mrs. Weasley refer to Snape by his first name before.
Snape said, "Molly, Potter doesn't need you to worry about him all the time."
Mrs. Weasley glared at Snape loathingly, and stormed away. Madam Pomfrey followed her back to the castle.
Snape walked over to Harry, and said, "Potter, it's better we get back to the castle."
Harry looked up at Snape, and said, "What about Professor Dumbledore?"
Snape said, "The Ministry will take care of it."
Harry followed Snape, sobbing all the way back to the castle.
At the door, Snape stopped Harry, and said, "Potter, I know you were close to the headmaster. I was, too, because he had faith in me a couple of times." He gripped Harry's shoulder with his hand. Harry was surprised to hear Snape saying this to him, and he saw Snape's beetle-like eyes starting to fill with tears.
Snape left, his ropes billowing behind him.
Harry had told Ron and Hermione what had happened that afternoon. Hermione said, "Poor Professor McGonagall. I know how she feels. I sure will miss Dumbledore."
Ron said, "Me, too."
That evening, Professor McGonagall announced, "Attention, everyone. I have some announcements. As you know, Hogwarts was evacuated this afternoon due to Voldemort's attack on the school. In the process, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was killed in battle." Many students gasped. Malfoy was smirking, but the other Slytherins were upset, too. Even Professor Snape had tears rolling down his cheeks.
Professor McGonagall continued, "Professor Dumbledore would have wanted us to continue focusing on our school work, and on Hogwarts. That's what we will do." Harry noticed Professor McGonagall had a tear rolling down her cheek.
Professor McGonagall said, "Let's propose a toast to the greatest wizard ever, Albus Dumbledore." Everyone raised their goblets, except Malfoy. McGonagall raised her goblet, and drank from it, and she said with tears, "I'm sorry, but I can't continue my announcement like this!" She turned to Flitwick and said, "Can you take over for me?"
Flitwick nodded, and Professor McGonagall stormed out of the back door.
Flitwick started, "As Professor McGonagall was trying to say is that she will have to take over as Headmistress, and probably will have to give up teaching Transfiguration. She hates to do that, but she can't do both things at the same time." Hermione gasped when she heard Flitwick mention that McGonagall was giving up teaching Transfiguration.
Flitwick continued, "Professor McGonagall has appointed me Deputy Headmaster. But we'll continue to remember Professor Dumbledore, as he is always here in our hearts."
He took his hand and put it on his heart.
The next day it was a Saturday, and the school was pretty quiet without Dumbledore around. Even Peeves didn't do any pranks on the students. Harry and his friends were sitting in the Gryffindor common room, warming themselves by a fire, when Professor McGonagall came in. Professor McGonagall motioned for Harry to come with her.
Harry followed McGonagall out of the portrait hole.
Professor McGonagall turned to Harry, and said, "The Ministry is having a ceremony tomorrow, burying Professor Dumbledore, and to honor his life. It will be here at Hogwarts. I know how close you were to Professor Dumbledore, and I was wondering if you would like to give an eulogy?"
Harry was surprised that Professor McGonagall had asked him to do a honorable thing for Professor Dumbledore.
Harry said, "Sure, Professor. I just have a question, which is not related to tomorrow though. Who will the new Head of House be?"
Professor McGonagall gave a sad smile, and said, "I don't know yet, Potter, what we'll do about that. Now, I have requested Dobby the House Elf to get you black robes for the ceremony tomorrow. Thank you for doing this. Professor Dumbledore would be so proud of you, as am I, and so will your parents."
Harry nodded, and he watched McGonagall walking away, and felt sorry for Professor McGonagall, because she had a lot of things to deal with right now.
Professor McGonagall turned back to Harry, and said, "Oh, before I forget, Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley are welcome to attend the ceremony, too." She stormed away, before Harry could say another word.
He went back to the common room, and Ron asked him what Professor McGonagall had wanted.
Harry explained to Ron and Hermione what McGonagall had asked him to do.
Hermione said, "Wow, Professor McGonagall sure trusts you to do this for Dumbledore?"
Harry nodded, and suddenly, a voice said, "Dobby has Harry Potter's dress robes ready."
Harry looked up to see Dobby, his green eyes brimming with tears.
Dobby said, "Dobby misses Professor Dumbledore. Professor McGonagall invited Dobby to come to ceremony tomorrow."
Harry said, "Dobby, you're going to be there at the ceremony?"
Dobby nodded.
The next day, Harry, Hermione, and Ron went down to the Great Hall for breakfast. They were chattering about how they missed Dumbledore, when Hedwig swooped down on Harry, and dropped a letter in front of Harry. Harry looked hesitantly at Ron and Hermione, then opened the letter. It read:
Potter,
Can you, Miss Granger, and Mr. Weasley meet me outside of the Great Hall after breakfast? I'll take you and the others to the graveyard here at Hogwarts where the ceremony is taking place. See you then.
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Harry was surprised that Hogwarts had a graveyard. He asked Hermione about it.
Hermione said, "I didn't know of any graveyard at Hogwarts. It wasn't in Hogwarts, A History."
Harry looked up at the staff table, and saw that McGonagall had already put on black robes, and she also had her hair down, which surprised Harry.
Harry said, "Look at McGonagall."
Ron and Hermione turned to look at McGonagall.
Ron said, "That's the first time I reckon I ever have seen McGonagall with her hair down."
After breakfast, they went to the entrance hall, and there they met McGonagall.
Professor McGonagall led the trio out of the castle, and down to the lake.
Professor McGonagall said, "The graveyard is on the other side of the lake. We'll have to take one of the boats."
Harry thought McGonagall had gone crazy, but decided not to say anything.
Professor McGonagall crawled over in one of the boats, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione got in behind her. Professor McGonagall got out her wand, and pointed it at the bow of the boat, then the boat lurched forward, and sped away on the lake, causing McGonagall to jerk backwards into the trio.
Finally, they landed on the shore, and Professor McGonagall got out, followed by the trio.
Professor McGonagall led the trio into a forest, and then down the path was a dark cemetery. Harry saw tents set all over the cemetery grounds.
Professor McGonagall led them into one of the tent, and Harry was surprised to see Madam Pomfrey, Snape, Flitwick, Sprout, all the Weasleys, Lupin, Tonks, Moody, Madam Bones, and Kingsley Shacklebolt there. He also saw Hagrid and Dobby lurking in the back of the crowd. Dobby was wearing a little black tuxedo with an orange bow tie. There were rows of chairs set up on a mat, and Professor McGonagall gestured for the trio to sit in one of the rows. McGonagall went up to the front, along with Madam Bones.
There was an old man along in the front, too. Harry presumed it to be Aberforth Dumbledore, Dumbledore's brother.
Dobby and the other Weasleys came to sit with Harry, Hermione, and Ron.
Harry said, "You look cute in that tuxedo, Dobby."
Dobby grinned and said, "Dobby thanks Harry Potter for the compliment."
Harry could see wizards and witches everywhere, and was surprised to know that all of them had come to honor Dumbledore.
Madam Bones walked up to the podium, and she took out her wand and pointed it to her throat then she said, "Sonorus. Can everyone hear me?" Everyone nodded.
Madam Bones continued, "Ok, good. Thank you for coming today, though today is a sad time, but also a joyous time, because Professor Dumbledore's in a better place now. Also some of you know, I'm Amelia Bones, the New Minister of Magic. We're here to honor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore," she turned to Aberforth Dumbledore, "but first I want to express my condolences to Aberforth Dumbledore in the death of his brother. The same goes to Minerva McGonagall. Now, I would like for Minerva McGonagall to come up and say something." She went back to her seat, and Professor McGonagall rose from her seat, and walked to the podium.
Professor McGonagall hesitated, then started, "Thank you, Amelia. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was a great and wise man. I sure enjoyed working with him, and respect him for what he did for Hogwarts and all the professors and students. I will miss him, but I assure that Lord Voldemort will be destroyed before the end of this war!"
Her eyes had turned into angry slits when she had said this.
McGonagall continued, "Albus was considered a prince among half bloods, purebloods, and other magical people. He was always trying to help out other people, especially one boy who has suffered so much." She looked at Harry when she said this, and tears formed out of her eyes.
McGonagall said, "Ok, I'm not going to keep you all day by lecturing to you about how great Albus was. You know what I'm talking about. Now, I would like for Harry Potter to come share an eulogy for Professor Dumbledore." She clapped, so did all the other people in the room.
McGonagall sat back down, and Harry walked up to the podium.
To Be Continued…
