There You'll Be: A Story of Loss

The characters belong to JK Rowling. "There You'll Be" is by Faith Hill. I don't know about records or anything, but I'm not either of these people.

HBP SPOILER! (I warned you!)

When I think back
On these times
And the dreams
We left behind
I'll be glad 'cause
I was blessed to get
To have you in my life
When I look back
On these days
I'll look and see your face
You were right there for me

Minerva McGonagall sat in her new office, tearfully contemplating the situation. She had never felt so alone in all her life. Dumbledore was really gone. She just couldn't believe it. Even as the thought threatened to overwhelm her, she remembered something he had told her just after the destruction of the Sorcerer's Stone and consequent dying of Nicolas Flamel. "To the well-organized mind, death is just the next great adventure." She got herself together and put on her black cloak.


In my dreams
I'll always see you soar
Above the sky
In my heart
There always be a place
For you for all my life
I'll keep a part
Of you with me
And everywhere I am
There you'll be

As she stood by his undecorated white tomb, she felt like she was saying good bye to a part of herself. She knew on some level that this was a moment that she would always be able to come back to, She wouldn't even need a pensieve.


Well you showed me
How it feels
To feel the sky
Within my reach
And I always
Will remember all
The strength you
Gave to me
Your love made me
Make it through
Oh, I owe so much to you
You were right there for me

Whenever there had been difficult times in the school, Dumbledore had had an answer. His leadership had inspired others, and always made the students and staff feel better and safe. Why, he was the only one You-Know-Who-Voldemort, she must be brave like him and say it-had ever been afraid of. There was nothing to fear when Dumbledore was your ally and protector.


In my dreams
I'll always see you soar
Above the sky
In my heart
There always be a place
For you for all my life
I'll keep a part
Of you with me
And everywhere I am
There you'll be

Cause I always saw in you
My light, my strength
And I want to thank you
Now for all the ways
You were right there for me
You were right there for me
For always

He had saved her life on more than one occasion. There had been so many times that his actions had made the school safer, more improved. He had made so many sacrifices for the school, he had allowed Hagrid to teach, Remus to come to be taught, and letting muggle-borns in. They weren't popular choices but they had been the right thing to do. Unbidden, more of his words came into her head. A choice between what is right and what is easy..

In my dreams
I'll always see you soar
Above the sky
In my heart
There always be a place
For you for all my life
I'll keep a part
Of you with me
And everywhere I am
There you'll be

It was growing dark. She went back up to the castle, knowing that she would always carry Dumbledore's words and keep her memories of him. For the first time that night, since his death, she was not haunted by memories of the final battle or guilt.