CHAPTER 43: The Funeral

"Harry I don't think-"

"Miss Granger, I believe Harry may be on to something with this. Unfortunately we will be unable to question Mr. Weasley on the matter. He would have no idea he was even under the curse until he came out of it." Dumbledore said quietly.

"I'm not under any bloody curse!" Ron said as if on cue. He made to get up but Harry stunned him nonchalantly before resuming thte conversation.

"But can't we ask him and find out whether or not he met with Percy?" Dumbledore thought for a minute.

"I don't think so. If the curse has a strong enough hold on him to make him try to murder his best friends, despite any arguments that may have occurred, then I don't believe Veritaserum will have much effect on him. He will still be able to lie because it won't necessarily be him lying."

"So we need Percy?" Dumbledore thought carefully before responding.

"We must be careful that we do not attack an innocent person, no matter how despicable he may be. I agree that he is a likely suspect, but I would feel more comfortable if we had something more concrete before we acted."

"And if I decide to go capture him now and use the interrogation to prove him guilty?" Dumbledore looked at him over his half moon spectacles.

"Then that is your decision to make. Just understand the consequences if Percy does, in fact, prove to be innocent. He does not pose as much of a threat to us, he is not a powerful wizard and he is no longer in a powerful position without Fudge. I believe we can afford to take our time. Then again, we will not be able to tell the ministry about our plans, we will have to use your trunk for this specific activity. The choice is yours." Dumbledore turned and walked back into the boy's dormitory with a swish of his cloak.

"So what do we do now?" Hermione asked. Harry looked at the first years, who were staring intently back at him.

"Why don't you guys get to sleep." Harry said as he summoned sleeping bags for them. After they all slipped into their scarlet bags Harry signaled for Hermione and the other older students to follow him. He led them to a quiet corner in the back and sat down. "I guess what I need to do now is find something linkin Percy and Ron. I'll talk to some of the Weasleys to see if they know anything. I doubt Ron came out and told any of them he was going to visit Percy considering I know for a fact Fred and George would have killed him on the spot. Maybe he let something slip though. If worse comes to worse and we can't get anything concrete we'll have to track him down and interrogate him on our own."

"Why don't we just do that now?" Parvati asked, she was still clearly upset.

"Because Dumbledore's right this time. If he is innocent then imagine what it will look like if the good guys are attacking each other. We'll look just as bad as Voldemort. Right now that's the worst thing that can happen. I'm trying to build some alliances and those will break if we lose face."

"Who have you been talking to?" Lavender asked.

"Some creatures in the dark forest and some Wizards from all over the world. I'll go into more detail tmorrow night when I call the DA meeting." They agreed. Most went off to bed while a few of the girls made their way over to the first years to watch over them. Hermione and Harry were left alone in the corner.

"Are you ok?" Harry asked her quietly.

"I…it's just that…I don't know anything anymore. I loved Ron, or I thought I did, but then this all happened and I started spending more time with you alone. Now…I just don't know. It's so much more confusing now that I know Ron was under the imperius curse."

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. It's just confusing. All I know is that…I love you." Harry wasn't sure what to say so he said nothing. He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.

"It's been a long day, you should get back to sleep." Harry stood up but she grabbed his hand.

"Can I go back with you? I don't want to be alone right now."

"Yea, come on, Mione." Harry led her back to the dormitory where she fell asleep with her head on his chest.

When Harry awoke later that morning he was confused as to why there was a girl next to him, then the previous night's events flooded his memory. H looked at the bedside clock and realized that he had only gotten an hours worth of sleep, it was five in the morning. He carefully got up, replacing his chest with a real pillow so he wouldn't wake Hermione. He made his way into the common room where the first years and the girls who remained to watch over them were still asleep. Harry noticed that someone, most likely Dumbledore, had taken Ron's stunned body. After making sure nobody was awake he made his way over to the bed where he had found the body. He approached it slowly, almost as if he were expecting something bad to happen. He looked at the empty bed and realized that his body had been taken as well. He stared at the empty bed for a few minutes before he realized something.

Harry ran through the halls almost knocking over tiny Professor Flitwick who seemed to be the only other person awake at that hour. With a muttered apology he was off again towards Dumbledore's office. When he reached the door the gargoyles sprang aside and he went up the spiral staircase two stairs at a time. He reached the double doors leading into Dumbledore's office and knocked with the Griffin shaped door knocker.

"Yes, Harry?" Dumbledore's voice was very quiet.

"I thought I had beaten your little potion." Harry said coldly as he walked inside. Dumbledore smiled.

"You did, but who else could get into my office without the password?" He motioned for Harry to take a seat. "Lemon Drop?" Harry politely refused. "So what is it that brings you to my office at this hour?"

"I wanted to ask you about the boy-"

"Leon Collins. He was a pureblood. The only reason I mention it is because it is odd that Voldemort killed such a person. I believe he wants to keep pureblood children alive so he can teach them himself."

"It wasn't really Voldemort though."

"No, it was not. But we digress, what was your question?"

"I assume you took the…body to be cleaned and prepared for burial." Harry waited for Dumbledore to nod before continuing. "When are his parents coming?"

"This afternoon., why dou you ask?"

"I want to meet with them."

"Harry, I don't think-"

"You are right about that, you don't think, Dumbledore." Harry purposely used the headmaster's last name. He knew how persistant the man had been about Harry calling Snape 'professor'. When Dumbledore blinked Harry knew that he had achieved the desired affect. "I honestly don't care if you think it's a good idea or not. I'm going to meet them and by now you must realize you can't stop me."

"Yes, I do realize that, Harry. I just hope you aren't planning anything."

"I'm planning to apologize for their loss. I didn't think that would cause such a commotion." Harry spat. He got up and walked from the room before Dumbledore could respond.

Harry walked back to the common room but knew he wasn't going to be able to get any more sleep. He sat by the fire thinking about how he could link Ron and Percy. If he had some kind of evidence before capturing Percy than it wouldn't seem nearly as bad. He decided that the first course of action would be to talk with the rest of the Weasley family, the only question was how much he should let on. If he told them everything they'd be likely to kill Ron, Percy, or both. Then a thought hit Harry, where was Percy? He had pretty much disappeared after Fudge was killed and didn't even return when Ginny…Harry wondered if he would even come to the funeral. Then Harry remembered, with a surge of panic, that the funeral was today. He would have to finally face the fact that his girlfriend was gone. He couldn't hide himself in his work any longer.

"Knut for your thoughts?"

"Huh?" Harry responded dumbly as he snapped out of his trance.

"It means I want to know what you were thinking about." Hermione said as she sat down next to him.

"I was thinking about…Ginny…and Leon…The funerals are today." Hermione nodded, she was well aware of the day as well.

"They cancelled classes for the service." Harry nodded, not knwing what else to say.

The two sat in silence for a while longer just staring into the fire. When Harry finally managed to break from his thoughts the common room was almost filled. Everyone seemed much like Harry, depressed. Without classes or homework to take their minds off everything the Gryffindors were left with either sitting in the common room or taking a walk around the grounds. Harry almost felt jealous of Ron for being stunned and not having to live through this. Harry quickly shook the thought from his head, Ron was going to miss his own sister's funeral because someone he should have been able to trust betrayed him.

"Harry, aren't you going to meet with Leon's parents?" Harry looked up and saw that it was already after noon.

"Yea, could you come with me, though? I just don't want to face them alone." Hermione nodded and made her way with Harry down to the entrance to the castle where Dumbledore stood waiting. They didn't have to wait long.

"I believe they are approaching." Dumbledore stated quietly. Neither Harry nor Hermione could see them but Harry's stomach was in a knot anyway. After a few seconds, which seemed like an eternity, Harry could make out the thestral drawn carriage. As it came closer he could clearly see the two occupants.

The woman, Leon's mother, had long blonde hair and blue eyes that were swollen from crying. She was tall and relatively thin, she moved gracefully on her long legs. Harry knew that she was by no means old, she must have been one of the youngest mothers he knew.

Leon's father was also tall and had very sharp features. His high cheekbones were pronounced and even though his eyes showed no joy the smile he flashed the three Hogwarts representatives rivaled Lockhart's. Harry realized that they may have well been the poster couple for the wizarding world.

"Mr. and Mrs. Collins, allow me to introduce myself. I am Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts. I'd like to extend to you my deepest sympathies for your loss." The parents shook the old man's hand but their attention was fixed on Harry. Realizing that he could no longer stay hidden he too stepped forward.

"I'm terribly sorry for your loss, Mr. and Mrs. Collins. I didn't know Leon particularly well but I know neither he nor you deserved this." Mrs. Collin's just nodded somberly but Mr. Collins spoke up.

"I appreciate you meeting us, Harry. Please call me Harrison and my wife Alison. If you don't mind we would like to ask you a few questions as you were the only person present." Harry nodded picking up on the fact that Harrison couldn't bring himself to say that his son was dead. Dumbledore led them up to his office where they sat in a small circle of comfortable chintz armchairs.

"Professor Dumbledore, would you mind stepping outside for a minute?"

"Not at all, my good sir." He said without the usual twinkle in his eye. He got up and left the room but Harry had a funny feeling that the old headmaster knew exactly what was going on anyway.

"Harry, what really happened?" Harry was slightly taken aback by the question, surely Dumbledore had informed them of the events…

"There was a lethifold attack. While everyone was asleep they began assaulting the students. I –er-realized what was going on and started running around trying to destroy them. The first year dorm was the farthest away. Maybe if I hadn't stopped to check on the girl's dormitory I could have saved him…I'm sorry." Alison looked torn between what must have been a motherly feeling towards Harry, who had tried his best and seemingly failed, and the fact that she was looking at the person who had let her son die.

"It wasn't you fault, Harry. We both know that. Unfortunately you may never believe that. To be honest I'm not sure I could trust a man who doesn't have that type of feeling. I do have one more question, though. How is it the Lethifolds got in the dormitory?"

Harry launched into an account of how Ron had cast a flame freezing charm on the fireplaces so they would need an extra blanket and then replaced the extra blankets with Lethifolds. Harry stopped and thought for a second. "As to how he got them inside the school I've no idea."

"Can we meet this Weasley?" Harry thought for a while but shook his head.

"It would be better if you didn't. Right now I believe he is under the imperius curse and I'm trying to follow a few leads. There is no telling what he'd do if he saw you."

"You aren't afraid of what I mat do to him?" Harry wasn't surprised that Alison's first comment was something like this. She had just lost her son and anybody in that position would want revenge. Harry was saved from having to answer by Harrison who had just walked over and put his arm around his wife to console her.

Just then Dumbledore walked back in and announced that it was time for the ceremonies. He led them out of the office and towards the Quidditch pitch where a large tent was set up. When Harry stepped inside he realized that the whole school could probably fit inside comfortably. The tent was also magically heated so the winter air didn't bother them.

Dumbledore excused himself and made his way up the the large dais behind the three open coffins. Harry and Hermione left the Collins' and made their way over to greet the Weasleys. Under normal circumstances he would have introduced the two families, but seeing as Ron was responsible for Leon's death it probably wasn't a great idea.

"I would like to start off by saying a few words about the people before you today. After that anyone who would like to speak may come up." Dumbledore looked once around the large tent before continuing. "Leon Collins was a brave little boy, a true Gryffindor. He had the makings to become a great wizard and a great person. Many of you know the house rivalry that had gone on between Gryffindor house and Slytherin House, the story I am about to tell you is based on that. One day in the very beginning of the year I saw a group of first year Gryffindors arguing with a group of first year Slytherins. There was quite a bit of name calling but nothing out of the ordinary for a group of competitive eleven year olds. However, one Gryffindor happened to let slip a rather rude remark about a Slytherin's parent. Young Leon whirled on that Gryffindor and told him off for saying it. If that is not the mark of true moral fiber than I do not believe I have ever seen it." Alison Collins' sobs were audible over the silent room. Dumbledore walked over to the casket on the right and bowed his head in a moment of silence before returning to the dais.

"Ginevra Weasley was another true Gryffindor. She was perhaps the most loyal person in attendance. She was brave, nice, smart, and a beautiful young woman. She had a passion and a flare for everything that she did. She fell to Lord Voldemort's hand as so many others have done before her. I do not have one single story that sticks out in my mind about Miss Weasley, more a compilation of events. Countless times Miss Weasley put herself in danger to help friends. She was an integral part of the battle at the Department of Mysteries and she refused, at all times, to allow her friends to do something dangerous or stupid without her." There were a few subdued laughs from the crowd as Dumbledore repeated the ritual on the middle casket. When he returned he looked even sadder.

"Minerva McGonagall was quite possibly my best friend in this world. She was an incredible teacher, a great witch, and an even better friend. She was always levelheaded and logical even when the situation was grim. She had been through more than most people will ever know yet she was still a just, honest, and loyal person. I believe she would have gladly laid down her life to keep any one of her students safe." He looked around for a minute, seeming very old, before he went down and repeated the ritualt a third time on the left casket. Instead of walking back up to the dais, however, he took a seat in the front row. A short time later Harrison Collins stood up and walked towards the dais, pausing briefly to pray over his son's body.

"I'm Leon's father. I'm beginning to realize that my life was one big mistake after another. I work as something of a freelance consultant specializing in objects naturally imbued with magical power. The work brought me everywhere except to my own home. I was so caught up in my work that I barely saw my son growing up, and now he's dead and I lost my chance. I just want you all to remember what is important; cherish your family and friends while you have them."

Harrison stepped off the dais and made his way back to his wife who was now sobbing uncontrollably. Harry wanted to get up and say something meaningful but he just couldn't think of the words. To his surprise the next movement came from Hermione. She gave him a weak smile before walking up to the dais, her eyes on her feet so she wouldn't have to see the coffins.

"One of the first friends I made at Hogwarts was Ginny Weasley. In my first year I wasn't a very social person, it took a mountain troll to find me my only two real friends. The next year Ginny came along and we started spending time together. Mostly it was girltalk or school work, but she was an incredible outlet for me." Hermione fought back tears as she continued in a strained voice. "I know we're in the middle of a war, but I had never seriously considered someone that close to me dying." At this point she broke down and began to cry, she had to speak through the sobs to finish. "We miss you and we love you Ginny." She ran off the stage and towards the back of the tent. Harry got up to follow her but he was cut off by Neville.

"You should probably say something." He said quietly before patting Harry's shoulder and jogging off to comfort Hermione.

Harry felt the eyes of everyone in attendance on him. He knew he couldn't just sit back down and more importantly he knew Neville was right. He walked up towards thte dais. He stopped when he reached the caskets. He went to Professor McGonagall's first and knelt before it.

"I'll never forget everything you did for me, Professor. I hope you find peace, you deserve it." He whispered under his breath. He got up and walked over to Ginny's casket. Once again he knelt down in front of it. His voice caught at first but he fought to get the words out.

"I never did get to tell you that I love you, Ginny. I always will. I never thought I was good enough for you and I was right, I couldn't even protect you. I hope you can forgive me. I'm sure I will see you again, but not yet. I have something to make up for first." Harry stood up and gave Ginny a kiss on the forehead before moving on to Leon's casket. He knelt down before it.

"I'm sorry I couldn't have been there for you. I know I'll second guess my decision to check on the girls for the rest of my life, but it's my fault you'll never be able to finish school and grow up to become a great wizard. I'm done trying to defend people, I'm no good at it. It's about time for Voldemort to die." Harry stood up and walked to the dais. He looked at the crowd gathered before him and spoke in a commanding tone.

"I failed to protect these three people and for that they are dead. As much as I'd like to I can't defend everyone. You may hate me for saying this but I hope you will listen. Voldemort." Harry paused as a commotion filled the tent. Harry looked around and realized that the entire DA waas there and none of them so much as flinched. "He is the reason we live in constant fear that something like this will happen again. I cannot promise that nobody else will die, but I can promise that he will." Harry walked off the stage and marched from the tent leaving a very confused crowd in his wake. Harry was vaguely aware of DA members getting out of their seats and following him from the tent in two columns.