Chapter Twenty: The Wedding
It was the day of the wedding, and the entire school was waiting in anticipation. They had the entire day of, as the wedding would take place in the Great Hall, and all students and teachers were invited. Several of the parents were invited as well, such as the Weasleys. Where the Head Table usually was, was now an altar for the wedding. The groom was already waiting nervously in his splendid dark brown robes, with shiny khaki coloured pants underneath. His hair had been groomed by Hermione (who had experience with her own hair). Next to Remus was Harry lying in his bed. He had combed his red hair so it looked rather decent. He wore a dark green shirt, but underneath the blankets he wore his pyjama pants, which he thought was pretty funny. Remus had been teasing him about this earlier, but was now so nervous he jumped every time someone came walking into the Great Hall.
Most students were quite shocked to see Harry lying like that. They hadn't been able to go and see him so much, and only his friends had visited him in the last few days. Everyone had been quite exited to see one of their most popular teachers getting married and with Harry's aunt no less. Now they knew why there was such a rush to get them married. Harry didn't look as if he could last much longer.
Harry was to give away his aunt, but since he couldn't get out of bed anymore, he would wait up at the altar, and hand his aunt over to Remus from there. When everyone was finally ready, the doors to the Hall opened again, and little Tom walked in wearing a dark green robe. He was delighted to spread rose petals on the floor (something he normally wasn't allowed to do). Behind him came Petunia. She wore a robe of dark red, and looked very stunning. Mrs Weasley and McGonagall had helped her with the traditional witches wedding wear, as well as her hair. She wore it piled up on her head, and wore a very nice necklace. Harry had never seen his aunt so beautiful and happy before. She practically screamed her love to Remus. When she was finally at the front, she took Harry's hand in hers, noting how his grip had weakened even more. Little Tom had snuggled up to Harry, and kept playing with the rose petals.
Petunia cried several tears for Harry, but he motioned her to lift his arm, and this way he wiped her tears away. She smiled at him for this, and then looked over at Remus. Dumbledore lead the service and kept it as short as possible, seeing as how Harry had trouble keeping his eyes open. All present knew why the ceremony wasn't as long as was normal. In fact, it consisted of only the basic spells, vows and bonding. This way it lasted only an hour, instead of the normal two.
When Remus took Petunia's hand out of Harry's, he finally had to cry. Remus had noticed how Harry's grip slackened as well. Petunia and Remus kissed for a long time, amongst cat whistles from the students, and the teachers who were clapping. Immediately after they signed the adoption papers for Tom, but also for Harry (who hadn't known about this). Tom was now to be known as Tom Harrison Lupin. But Harry would be known as Harry James Potter-Evans-Lupin. It was a tribute to his mother that they added the Evans to his name. Harry was now officially their son, and Tom's big brother.
The rest of the wedding was a reception and a small dance. Harry was rolled over to a more quiet corner, where he could watch, but could also sleep some more. He had trouble staying awake by now. Overall the feeling most got from the wedding was one of great happiness, as Petunia and Remus finally had someone who cared greatly about them, but there was great sadness too, as it was obvious Harry wouldn't last much longer.
When it was time for the guests to go back home, or to return to their dorms, everyone lined up to wish Petunia and Remus much happiness (as was tradition), but they all walked by Harry's bed too. He let them tell him some stories, which made him laugh, and he told each and everyone something special, like how he appreciated their helping younger students, or how good they were at cheering people up. It was as if he was saying goodbye to them, and most had the idea this would perhaps be the last time they would see him alive. Most left crying silently, as they knew Harry would become upset if he saw them crying. Tom had long since tired out, and lay sleeping next to Harry.
That night, in the privacy of their rooms, Harry basked in the hugs he got from Petunia and Remus. He wished them much happiness, and told them he would look forward to seeing what would happen next in their lives. They went to bed with mixed feelings, they also had the idea he was saying goodbye to them.
The next morning Petunia cheerfully entered his bedroom to wake him up for breakfast. She had the best dreams ever last night, and surprisingly Remus had as well. She felt warm and comfortable, and sat on the bed to wake Harry. After shaking and calling him softly, she got a bit louder, but still he didn't wake up. His breathing had slowed down considerably, and he looked very pale, but peaceful as well.
Petunia pulled back crying and shivering. She knew he wouldn't wake up anymore; he was really slowly dying by now. She quickly walked into the living room to get Remus, who hurried into the bedroom as well. He too tried to wake Harry up, but Harry didn't wake up anymore. He was slowly sliding away. As he had told them the night before, he had been feeling as is he were floating and flying. As if he was finally getting free of his body. Obviously this would become his last flight.
The students immediately knew it was very wrong when they didn't turn up for breakfast, but Harry's closest friends were absent, and most of the teachers sat sombrely at the table. The entire school got another day off and most students grouped together, knowing only bad news could come today.
That evening at dinner, Remus came stumbling into the Great Hall, supported by a crying McGonagall. Remus croaked out that Harry had died just half an hour before. That he had flown away for good, leaving behind his body, and an enormous amount of grief.
The grief encompassing the entire school was great. Order members came in as soon as they were told, and parents and old students that had known Harry came quickly, too.
Dumbledore announced the funeral would be held two days later. He would be buried at the cemetery where his parents were buried as well. Ironically he had never even visited that place while he was still alive. Petunia and Remus were bad off, and little Tom didn't understand why his big brother wouldn't wake up anymore. Hermione hadn't stopped crying either, and Ron had a hard time comforting her. Ginny could find comfort in her mother's arms.
Two days later a ceremony was held in the Great Hall first, were many students told about Harry to the crowd. Harry had ordered that the minister wouldn't be allowed to make any kind of speech and only Luna's father and Rita Skeeter would be allowed to be there. Also he didn't want anyone else than the Order, students, his family and muggles that had known him, to be present. The muggles would only come to the cemetery of course. All the Hogwarts students were told to wear muggle clothes, but to take their wands with them.
At the cemetery many muggles from their flat were present, as well as Doctor Romanov, several nurses, and many children that were 'cured' from their own cancers (as cured as they could be at the moment). Everyone was surprised to hear how good a person Harry had really been. Each and every one of them knew a story of what Harry had done to help them or someone else, and how he had always seemed to know when someone needed comforting. Many young students talked about problems they had had, from homesickness to bullying and how Harry had always helped them. Children that he had met in the hospital told them how Harry had always joked around with them, how he had comforted them when they were sick or in pain, and how he had always known when they had needed him. This caused some exclamations, as many Hogwarts students knew what they were talking about.
Petunia told about what a sweet boy he had been, and even Snape told how he admired the boy for helping his Slytherins when he had expected the boy to be like his father. He hoped that Harry, his mum and Sirius (who had been pardoned when Wormtail had been captured) were together now, as Lily and Sirius (who would have hated James for using that spell, as it had been used on Sirius as well and he saw it as a sign of pureblooded nonsense) would most certainly be proud of him.
All in all the ceremony took a long time, and nobody had dry eyes at the end of it. When the muggles had all left, the students and teachers raised their wands and spoke the incantation that was needed to release Harry's body to the magic and that would dictate what would be inscripted on the white marbled headstone.
When the magic died away, and the coffin had magically entered the tombs were his parents were resting as well, the headstone now depicted:
Harry James Potter-Evans-Lupin.
Beloved child, brother, friend
May your ideas live on,
And your kindness never forgotten.
1981-1997.
Everyone left then, except for Petunia, Remus and little Tom, who kept asking where his big brother was. Remus found it hard to tell the little boy that his big brother would now be watching him grow up from the stars, and that he wouldn't be there anymore to comfort the little one while lying in a bed. When he had told Tom this, he cried long and hard, and when they had all cried, they slowly turned away and went back to Hogwarts were the will was to be read.
Everyone that was needed was present in the Great Hall. The students had gone to their own common rooms, grieving there.
When Dumbledore had read the will Severus was stunned at what he had gotten, and Draco was in tears as he had only told Harry about how he had been disowned by his mother when he got his emancipated status. Personal letters were given out, and many who got one left for a quiet place to read it.
Dumbledore also mentioned to Harry's direct family that he now guessed Harry must have been an Empath of some sort, and perhaps a Seer, who could see short distances in the future. It would explain his pendant for knowing what people were feeling, and if they were going to have nightmares and such. It also explained why he had pressed the wedding forward, as first Remus and Petunia had wanted to wait for a week to better plan it.
All in all the school year at Hogwarts ended in a sad, but also slightly hopeful way. Hopeful for the future, hopeful to stop a new Dark Wizard from rising, and keeping the united school.
Also, there had never been higher scores on the DADA OWLs, NEWTS and normal end of year exams. And it wasn't really Remus' doing, but everyone knew that.
A/N: Well, the next chapter will be posted in several minutes! oh, thanks of course go to my beta: azntgr01. About the years on the headstone, they come from my old beta, as well as the timing most stories I've read seem to use, as Rowling never mentioned a specific year in her books. Besides, who cares about the absolute correct years? It's the plot that counts!
