Chapter 2
The combined Potter-Diggory funeral was a huge event. Everyone from Percy Weasley to the muggle Prime Minister to Minister of Magic from Bulgaria who Harry had met briefly during the quidditch world cup was in attendance. Almost every Wizarding magazine and newspaper had attempted to get coverage, yet Hogwarts, who had taken control of proceedings, refused entry to anyone attempting to use the funeral to gain a report for their respective newspaper. Wards were strewn over the grounds of Godrics cemetery, the wizarding cemetery noted for being the final resting place of it's namesake Lord Gryffindor.
Godrics Cemetery was located very near Godric's Hollow, the town that Gryffindor was brought up in, and most recently the town that James and Lily Potter lived and died in. After hearing the heritage of the place, and seeing the beautiful wizarding hamlet, the Diggorys agreed to have their son buried there. A place so wizarding was a place Cedric would be proud to have as a final rest place.
The funeral itself was a beautiful ceremony, no single member of houses Hufflepuff or Gryffindor forwent it, for both had lost a leader and figurehead for their house. Cedric was the only person to truly shine from Hufflepuff house in the last few years, as Hufflepuff house idealises loyalty above all else. All in Hufflepuff except Cedric were followers and all would be again, since Cedrics death. He had the qualities of Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor houses, as Albus duly said, and therefore was truly a great loss to the world. Harry was simply popular, and of course a celebrity. While he was a good leader, he never enjoyed the role and this was one of the points albus brought up in his speech:
"Harry Potter was a young man who had to suffer a lot during his short life, who always stood firm despite adversity, and someone who could bear the weight upon his shoulders with a strength that always astounded me. At the age of eleven, he defeated someone under the possesion of voldemort, at twelve he used a skill that automatically dubbed him evil and used it to save the life of a friend, killing a basilisk in the process. At the age of thirteen he saved someone he believed innocent, who the wizarding world had denied a trial and who had been imprisoned for many years.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement to make. That man is Sirius Black. Last night, by a unanimous vote, Cornelius Fudge was removed from government and Amelia Bones was given the position temporarily, until Amos Diggory is ready to commence work. Minister Bones' first act in office was an immediate retrial of Sirius Black, which proved beyond any doubt that Peter Pettigrew lives on.
"Pettigrew has been declared a wanted criminal, carries the dark mark. He betrayed the Potters and killed the muggles the next day. Pettigrew is a short balding man who we have reason to believe now has a silver hand. Any sightings of him must be reported immediately to an auror or a member of the ministry.
"People, we have a war to fight. If only to avenge Harry Potter, Cedric Diggory, and all those who died in the first war, let us band together and fight the coming evil. To do any less than our share is an insult to the memory of the two fine people who died during the rebirth of the Dark Lord. Two people who did more than their share, and carried much on their shoulders."
Harry was buried next to his parents, making it a full family in the same cemetery, and at least in death he can be with his parents, Dumbledore believed. After the beautiful and tragic ceremony finished, Albus sat by the grave, looking upon the grave of his bravest student, for several hours.
'I am sorry Harry, I have failed you.' he murmured as he left the graveyard.
In another cemetery, in Little Hangleton.
In the middle of the cemetery where Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory died, two people woke up.
"Cedric!"
"Harry!"
"Weren't you hit with the AK?"
"Why are you all pale and seethrough?"
"Why are you?"
The two teens looked at each other.
"Oh bugger." they declared, in perfect sync.
AN – I don't like this chapter much, the speech is too long, the funeral is too undetailed, and I'm not a very good writer. Dang!
JVS