Chapter 23
"But…Albus's tomb is supposed to be on the school grounds," protested McGonagall. "The board felt it was what he'd have wanted."
Harry gave her a long level stare. "It's for the greater good, Headmistress."
Minerva blanched, then nodded reluctantly.
"I'll contact Rita Skeeter," Harry said as he left her office.
"A Viking funeral? For Dumbledore?" The reporter could not conceal her astonishment.
"Yes, we've decided a great mausoleum on school grounds isn't the best idea. A longboat across the black lake is more fitting. You know, Rita, the former Headmaster would expect to be buried with his wand."
Harry lowered his voice. "There are those who suspect it is the famous Deathstick. A powerful magical artifact that is the stuff of legends! Imagine if the wrong sort should get their hands on it! No, much better to burn it along with the body…I'm convinced he would agree! And it would give the school the opportunity to honor him, for his years of service."
"It would certainly be dramatic," Rita said slowly.
"And thus well-suited to Professor Dumbledore," mentioned Harry, struggling to keep a straight face.
"Yes indeed! I think it's a brilliant idea, Harry. And now, perhaps we might talk a bit about your sudden marriage?" Rita eyed him like a lion watching a wounded antelope.
Harry had known this would happen and resigned himself to talking about his union with Daphne.
Rita, as expected, probed the reasons for Daphne's disownment.
Harry was careful not to mention Selwyn. "As you know, Rita, my mother was a muggleborn witch. That might constitute an objection, in certain eyes. Although neither Daphne nor I care about blood status, others may."
He smiled sweetly, as if to say, "What can you expect from such bigots?"
"The funeral will be on Monday," Harry told his friends. "A team of trained aurors, dressed as students, will be there. "
"Sounds risky," Neville frowned. "What makes you think Voldemort will even show up? He might leave it to his Death Eaters."
"No," Harry said. "He'll want Dumbledore's wand. He won't trust anyone else to hand it over."
"Do you really believe it's the legendary Elder Wand?" Susan was wide-eyed.
"Don't know," Harry shrugged. "The point is that Voldemort will believe it. He won't risk having it give allegiance to anyone else."
"You're not really going to leave it in Dumbledore's hands?" Terry asked uneasily.
"Of course not! I transfigured a stick to resemble it."
"So," Daphne continued, "when he shows up, the aurors will meet him, and we will be disillusioned to help take him down."
"If all goes as planned," Hannah said fervently, "Monday will see the end of the dark lord forever!"
"We all need a distraction," Susan declared. "Saturday in Hogsmeade?"
Terry grinned at his wife. "Why not?"
Michael Corner offered to stand them lunch "to celebrate my engagement to Lisa."
That gave Neville pause. He'd been waiting and waffling about proposing to Hannah. He didn't believe she'd turn him down, but …it was a matter of finding the right moment. Maybe in Hogsmeade?
Saturday was clear and cool.
"Perfect weather for Hogsmeade," Lavender exulted.
"I want some droobles," Ron endorsed. "Hogsmeade, here we come!"
He caught Lavender's hand and they headed out, closely followed by Seamus with Parvati.
Luna Lovegood skipped merrily down the hall, intending to visit Hagrid, when she came upon a somewhat forlorn figure waiting by the entrance.
"Dean?"
"Hi Luna." Dean Thomas attempted a smile, but it was more of a grimace.
"What's the matter?" the little blonde inquired. "Are the wrackspurts tormenting you?"
"I was supposed to meet Ginny," admitted Dean. "But she never showed up."
Luna gave him a look of commiseration. "You ought to give up on her, Dean. I don't think she truly cares for you."
"Yeah. I'm starting to get that. Uh, Luna…you wouldn't want to come to Hogsmeade with me, would you?"
"I suppose I could. It might help chase the wrackspurts away."
"Look at those two!" Lisa Turpin pointed to a couple walking past.
"Huh, Millicent Bulstrode and Hermione Granger," observed Michael Corner. "Didn't see that coming."
"Looks like Granger finally found her level!" Terry Boot would never forgive the Gryffindor girl, no matter that she had apologized to his wife.
"Don't say that." Susan was troubled. "I'm not exactly fond of either one, but all Slytherins aren't bad. Look at Daphne!"
"The one good apple in the barrel?" cackled Lisa.
"What do you think, Harry?" Fred Weasley asked anxiously.
Harry studied the shop that formerly housed Zonko's jokes. "Could use a bit of sprucing up, but otherwise I'd gladly invest in another branch of Weasleys Wizard Wheezes!"
"Could be a gold mine," Hannah Abbott approved.
Harry and Neville grinned at one another. The two friends had decided to open a potions supply shop in one of the vacant buildings in Diagon Alley that Harry had inherited from the Black estate. It would specialize in rare ingredients that were difficult to obtain, with Harry providing basilisk parts and Neville offering segments of the rare plants he'd been breeding.
Fred heaved a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Harry. The Diagon Alley site is doing well; no reason to think this won't, too."
"I have faith in you, Fred."
Dean found himself enjoying his unexpected date with Luna. He found out that, just like him, she loved to draw and paint. They had the same favorite class: Care of Magical Creatures, and both preferred to eat their pudding first, ahead of the main course.
"I could use some more drawing paper," remarked Dean. "Let's go to Scrivenshaft's."
Who should they encounter just outside the shop but Ginny Weasley?
"Huh! Didn't take you long to latch onto Dean." Ginny glared at the couple.
"Guess I'm lucky that way." Dean retorted. "Come on, Luna."
He pushed past a furious Ginny, who turned to hex them.
Just then, a cutting curse hit her in the back, and she toppled forward.
Dean stood in shock, but Luna grabbed his arm and hauled him inside the shop. Another curse clipped his shoulder and Dean felt his arm go numb.
"What…" the clerk headed to the door.
"Stay back!" Luna ordered. "We're under attack!"