Chapter 14: A tearful goodbye, part two.

Ron awoke to a large crashing sound that came from the kitchen. He shot out of his bed so quickly the he almost forgot to grab his wand as he flung the door to his room open and quietly made his way towards the kitchen. He gripped his wand tight as he opened the door just enough to peer inside. He could barely make out a shape of a man, dusting himself off and stepping aside, the fire roared and out came another person, coughing madly and trying to stand up.

"Shhh!" The man said cautiously. "Everyone's still asleep."

"Dad!" coughed the smaller one. "I can't breath!" They heard Ron behind them mutter.

"Lumos maxima." and a blue light illuminated the room. "Hello Ron." Charlie smiled, shaking soot from his head. "Hello Charlie, couldn't have waited until the morning eh?" Ron grumbled.

"Well, It was Bella's idea to come now." Charlie grinned. "We had finished packing and she was so anxious it was so cute and well, I just couldn't say no."

"Hi Uncle Ron." Bella blushed. "Um, where's Dari?"

"He's asleep, much like the rest of the world." Ron replied irritated.

"And personally I'd like to head that direction myself."

"Oh, right." Bella blushed even more. "Sorry Uncle Ron."

"It's alright. How about we put you in the girl's room with Lissie and the others." Ron raised an eyebrow. "We can sort this out when we are more awake." Bella nodded and followed Ron to the bedroom the girls shared when everyone gathered at this house. Ron and Hermione shared Ron's old room and Harry was in Gin's with her. Bill and Sam were in

Bill's old Room and since Charlie's old room was the one that the girls were using, this left Charlie to wonder.

"So where am I going to sleep?" He looked at Ron.

"Well the only room that is left for single men and boy's is Fred's old room that he shared with, um." Ron blushed. "George."

Charlie nodded. "Alright then." was all he said as he made his way into the room that currently held all of the bachelor's of the ever growing Weasley family. "Good night Ron." Charlie whispered as he closed the door.

R

Bella was the first to awaken the next morning and went in search of Darion and Marcus. She found their room, waking most of the house as she went, and pounced on Darion with a squeal of triumph.

"AAAARRRRGGGGHHH!" Darion bellowed as Bella landed on him, waking him so abruptly. "Geroff!" He yelled as he pushed at her.

"Oh come on Dari, get up!" Bella bounced on the bed, refusing to move.

"Bella get out of here!" Marcus pelted a pillow in her direction, missing her and hitting Darion.

"OI!" Darion grumbled as he flung the pillow back at Marcus.

"OOOOHHHH!" Bella squealed delightedly. "A pillow fight!" She grabbed a pillow from behind Darion's head, making his head hit the head board of his bed with a loud thud. "OW!" Darion screamed. "Alright that's it!" With that Darion got up, grabbed Bella's arm and dragged her to the door. He flung the door open and shoved her from behind, pushing her out of the room. He then slammed the door in her face. "Well!" They heard Bella's indignant shout as she stormed away. Marcus looked at Darion.

"The nerve of her!" He grumbled.

Darion snorted his agreement as he got a set of clothing out of his suit case and got dressed.

R

As Ron awoke the next morning to his door opening. He barely got a glimpse of bright red hair before the door closed again. He had thought he was imagining it, but before he could resolute himself to this he heard a female squeal and soon after he heard the unmistakable shouts of his son's ring through the air followed by a door slamming and a girls shouts and stomping down some stairs. With a sigh Ron got up and dressed himself quickly. He looked at the clock and saw that that he had only fifteen minutes before he had to be in Wood's office. He quickly made his way into the kitchen and grabbed a slice of toast before kissing his wife and aparating into work.

"Morning Mr. Weasley." Lila smiled softly. "Sorry to hear about your

brother."

"Thank you Lila." Ron said curtly. "Is Wood in yet?"

"Oh yes." Lila looked at him, surprised. "He's waiting for you."

"Sorry Lila, got awoken by shouts and slamming doors, which I must say is not my favorite way to wake up." Ron told her, apologetically.

Lila nodded her understanding.

Ron entered Wood's office. "Morning Oliver."

Wood, sitting behind his desk, looked up. "Hello Ron." Oliver looked down hearted. "How are you holding up?"

"Doing alright." Ron told him sincerely.

"So, before I release you for your bereavement Ron, I must ask you. Do you have any idea who may be behind these attacks?" Wood asked. "Who would want to kill your brothers?"

"I." Ron started, but stopped as he remembered the mysterious woman that had visited Fred and had claimed to just find him walking down Knockturn alley.

"Well, I don't know why she would, but there's the woman that found Fred after the explosion. Her name was Luciana De Moonvale."

"You think she'd want to harm your family?" Wood asked.

"Well, no but we don't really know anything about her and well." Ron faltered.

"What is it Ron?"

"Well, she was down Knockturn alley when she found him and then she came to visit him." Ron told wood. "And after her visit she aparated to Malfoy manor."

"How do you know that?" Wood asked.

"She said it out loud before she aparated." Ron stated.

"Well, I don't see where she would have been the one responsible." Wood said distractedly.

"But!" Ron began to protest.

"You know Ron, you really have a bad habit of interrupting people!" Oliver snapped. "Now let me finish."

Ron paled but nodded.

"Now as I was saying, I don't see how she would have been the one but with the lack of clues we have as it is, I will check into anyone and everyone that was in the area and see what we can find."

Ron nodded again.

"Now as for your bereavement papers, all I need is for you to sign here." Wood pointed to the paper on his desk. "After you sign it you and Hermione will have a full two weeks off of work." Wood explained. "And this will start today, Ron."

Ron signed the paper.

"Alright then, let me know when the funeral is won't you?" Oliver asked.

"Of course." Ron agreed.

"Good, then you're dismissed. Go home and take care of your family.

Ron didn't need a second to think about it. He aparated immediately home.

R

The moment the Weasley's had been dreading was upon them. George's funeral, which had been planned by Hermione and Mr. Weasley was held at the church in Oddery st. catchpole. They had gotten vases full of white flowers of all types and a gorgeous black and gold casket. George looked so peaceful lying in the casket that most expected him to jump up and yell "Surprise!" any moment. But he never did and at this moment, more than any other time Fred realized that his brother was truly gone. As Fred approached the casket containing his twin, he lost it. With a wail of grief he slumped over his brother's body and sobbed. Harry had been right behind him and he placed his hand on Fred's shoulder consolingly. "George!" Fred sobbed. "Why did you have to leave me George!" Harry, looking uncomfortable lifted Fred off his brothers body and with a last look at his friend ushered Fred away to a seat. The Weasley's sat on the first row solemnly as the funeral began. Molly was sobbing into her husbands shoulder as the preacher began his sermon. Then he asked if anyone would like to say something about the deceased and numerous people stood.

Among them was professor McGonagall and Dumbledore. Dumbledore was allowed to go first and he approached the podium.

"George Weasley was an exuberant young man full of laughter and mischief." Dumbledore said softly, the twinkle in his eye fading with every word. "He gave to us all the best present one could ever hope for. Laughter. George will always be remembered as the young man that made so many of us laugh along with his twin Fred. My condolences to all of you Weasley's and George, you will be missed." With that Dumbledore, head hung low walked away from the podium and he was replaced by Hagrid's large form.

"He was the best ruddy jokester I ever met!" Hagrid howled with large tears falling down his face. "He and Fred were always playing their pranks on me and the others at Hogwarts! I, I oh I can't go on!" Hagrid sobbed as he left the podium.

He was replaced by Fred and everyone fell silent, watching him intently.

"I." Fred croaked then cleared his throat and continued. "I wrote a poem for George that I would like to share with you all. It's called Dreams of sorrow."

No one spoke. Fred continued, a bit reluctantly.

"Dreams of light

Dreams of sorrow

Dreams take flight Amidst our troubles.

To dreams of light

We wish they'd stay

But dreams are that Of which we fade

A life has gone

We don't know why

We sit alone

And have a cry

They've come to haunt me

These dreams of sorrow

Because now you've gone

To where I cannot follow."

Fred finished and walked off the podium, tears still falling. The pastor then took the podium again and dismissed the congregation asking for the family to stay behind, seeing as most of them were the pallbearers. As soon as everyone was out of the church the pastor turned to the family. "Now as I understand it you wanted the burial part to just be family and a few select and close friends is this correct?"

"Yes." Mr. Weasley croaked. "We have already told those that are to be present where we are holding the burial. Thank you pastor for allowing us to use your church."

"Not a problem Mr. Weasley and I am sorry for your loss."

Arthur nodded and took his place with the other pall bearers. Together they carried the casket out of the church and placed it on the back of a flat bed carriage draped in white and pulled by two white horses. Hagrid was in the driver's seat and as soon as the casket was loaded onto the carriage and the procession was ready Hagrid flicked the reigns and slowly they began to move. As soon as they were out of range of the nearest muggles eyesight the entire group disappeared, as if they never existed.

R

As they arrived at the grave sight, Fred looked about. He wasn't sure why he did, maybe to catch a glimpse of a certain pair of blue eyes he had been longing to see. It had been a long time since he had last seen Luciana and though he couldn't tell why not seeing her at the funeral had seemed to make his pain hurt worse. He had been hoping, that since she had lost a brother and knew better than anyone how he felt. With a sigh of resignation he took his seat beside his family and waited for the grave side services to begin.

A small man with a grim face stood before all of them and began to speak. What he said though, Fred could not be sure for at that moment he had spotted the face he had been longing to see. Luciana had appeared from behind Hagrid's large body and looked around until she had spotted Fred. She moved forward only to be blocked by the grievers moving closer to toss a flower onto George's casket.

Fred laid his flower onto the casket and moved towards her with intent.

"Hello Luciana." Fred smiled weakly as he approached her.

"Hello." Luciana looked at him with sadness. "How are you holding up?"

"Not too badly, considering." He motioned to the casket.

"No I mean how are you holding up Fred." She looked at him concerned. "Not how you're coping with him being gone, I already know that. But Fred I am concerned about what we talked about earlier and I just want to make sure I won't wake up tomorrow and find out you're dead. I don't think I could handle that." This last part she had said so low that he almost didn't hear her.

His heart skipped a beat as he let her words run through his head.

"Really?" He whispered, trying to swallow hard.

Luciana nodded and smiled weakly.

"Listen, I know this is a bad time but." Fred cleared his throat.

"Well, I would like to see you under less stressing circumstances."

"I'd like that." She looked into his eyes and took a deep breath. "Very much."

"Will you meet me at Fortescue's Saturday?" He asked breathlessly.

Luciana nodded and smiled. "I will. But I must get going now."

"Do you have to?" He asked in disappointment.

"Yes, I just came today to make sure you had chosen to live." She said quickly. "Until Saturday then." With that she aparated leaving

Fred to stare at the spot she had just been in with longing.

He knew that he should feel ashamed asking a girl out at his twin brother's funeral and all but he just didn't. After all George had said to live the life that he hadn't gotten to and Fred was going to honor that with all of his being. Besides no one would understand his pain like Ana. She knew all that he was going through and he had no doubt that she would be there when he needed her.