The Astronomy Tower
As April approached, Dudley and Aimee had no choice but to return to Smeltings. Aimee and Dudley would be writing their exams in late April and needed to revise. Both of them were reluctant to go. Truth be told, everybody was reluctant to send the two to Smeltings. But then, their exams were nearly upon them, and they were writing their exams now instead of June for the same reason; to leave Smeltings early.
Dudley accompanied Harry to Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place for the first time, the day before he left for Smeltings.
"This is your house too, Harry?" Dudley said, looking around with wide eyes. Just then, the front door opened, and Draco Malfoy carried a large trunk out. He didn't notice Harry or Dudley as he shut the door behind and shrunk the trunk so it fit into his pocket. Then, he turned around and saw the two cousins at the front of the house.
"Hi, Potter. Hi, Dursley. Well, Potter, the keys to the house." Malfoy handed over the keys to Harry.
"Where are you going, Malfoy?" Harry asked.
"Potter, I need to look for a new place to stay. Sirius permitted me to live here as long as it was his. Now, it's yours. So, I'm leaving, and I'll stay away from Father and the Death Eaters." Malfoy curtly said and disapparated.
Harry stared. Dudley couldn't understand why Malfoy wanted to leave just because Sirius was dead. If the house was now Harry's, surely Malfoy could ask if Harry could allow Malfoy to stay? Harry, now a successful Occlumens, read Dudley's mind and grunted. "Maybe he is too shy to ask, Big D."
In any case, the school year wasn't over, and Harry saw Malfoy at Hogwarts the day he and the others went to Hogwarts. They attended classes as usual, and soon, Harry and the others were also busy studying for their O.W.L.'s, end-of-year tests, and N.E.W.T.'s. As for the DA, by late March, the members were already starting on Patronuses. The Room of Requirement would be filled with chants and shrieks of "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
On the fourth of May, Harry received an owl from Dudley. "Aimee and I have finally finished our exams today, Harry. Tomorrow morning, we leave for Potter Manor. Guess who is coming to pick us up? Charlie Weasley! Oh, I love listening to him speak about all those dragons!"
May passed by with warm weather and study schedules, Draco Malfoy growing impatient and anxious. Pansy Parkinson was being unreasonable and unbearable. Draco had become sullen and withdrawn.
Potter Manor had a different story to tell. The Lupins, Mrs. Tonks, the Grangers, the Weasleys, the Jones, and Dudley all kept themselves busy with training schedules.
Draco Malfoy stood in the Entrance Hall after breakfast on the fifth of June. Remus Lupin and Bill Weasley had come to Hogwarts to pick him up and drop him at Hogwarts. Harry volunteered and went as a witness.
At the Bethrotal Registration and Cancellation Office, Draco Malfoy declared on parchment with his magical signature (every witch and wizard has a unique magical signature) that his betrothal contract with Pansy Parkinson no longer holds because not only was Draco a baby at the time of the contract and hence had neither understanding nor any say in this matter, but Draco Malfoy was also just not interested in Pansy Parkinson.
"Are you sixteen and above?"
"Yes."
"Is it true that you wish to terminate this betrothal without further delay?"
"Absolutely!"
"In order to complete the process, you must have someone else you wish to marry instead of the betrothed." The officer said.
"Yes, and her name is Caitrin Morris."
"Do you live together?"
"No."
"You both need to start living in close proximity. Your permanent address?"
Draco hesitated. But Harry spoke, "Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place." Draco looked up at Harry with surprise, gratitude, and admiration.
"Let's see. Number 12, Grimmauld Place. Property of Mr. Harry Potter. Do you have Lord Potter's consent?"
"I am Lord Potter. I'm also here as a witness." Harry supplied.
"Very well. I'll need your magical signature as well, Lord Potter. Over here." A young lady in parrot green robes turned a few pages and pointed at the end of the document. Harry obliged.
Finally, the formalities were completed, and an exceptionally trained, morose-looking witch dressed in purple robes came ahead and performed a series of complicated wand movements of Draco, time and again muttering, "Love cannot be forced. Love shouldn't be expected to form out of artificial bonds. Mr. Draco Malfoy does not love his betrothed. Mr. Draco Malfoy's betrothal contract shall hence be nullified!"
After twenty minutes of complicated magic, the witch ceased and retreated. Draco looked exhausted but happy. "Caitrin, I'm all yours! You're all mine!" He bellowed at the office.
"Congrats, Draco!" Harry, Remus, and Bill quickly said.
"Thank you so much! Professor Lupin, Mr. Weasley, and Potter! I know I have been horrible in the past, but you chose to help me still. Thanks!"
"No, it's our pleasure!" Remus said pleasantly. "Since you insist on calling me Professor despite me telling you to call me 'Remus,' I daresay as a Professor, it is my duty to help my student. Besides, I'm also doing in honor of Sirius Black, who should've been here with us for this occasion." There was a hint of grief in Remus' voice.
Bill took over, with a slightly rough voice, "Y-Yeah, Draco. If my mother were here or my father, they would surely have not liked to see a child being used like this. I'm glad you got out of that betrothal contract."
"Really, Draco Malfoy. I'm glad I could help. As Remus said, Sirius should've and would've been here. I would do anything for Sirius and Remus, who are two of the many I owe my life to, including the Weasley family, Professor Dumbledore, Hagrid and the Hogwarts professors, and my friends, nay family!" Harry said, making Lupin and Bill go pink. "Where do you intend to stay during the summer, Draco?"
"Oh, I don't know, Harry Potter. I… Umm. Am looking… Maybe Diagon Alley."
"You know what? Come to Potter Manor." Harry said.
Bill and Lupin stared at Harry. "W-What?"
"Harry, are you s-sure?" Draco asked uncertainly, looking at the two men. Harry nodded, "Draco, I'm willing to let everything in the past go. I've done that before as well. You can come and live in Potter Manor if you agree with a few terms and conditions. Whether Pureblood or Halfblood or muggle-born or even muggles and squibs, magical or nonmagical, human or nonhuman, older or younger, you will respect everybody, treat everybody equally and kindly, and will NOT betray any of us. You will not speak of the name or location of Potter Manor and its inhabitants to outsiders." Harry emphasized the word 'Only' loud. "You will not discriminate, spread hate and violence, not indulge in the pureblood nonsense, and will help us fight the war against Voldemort and his Death Eaters."
Draco stared at Harry. "Is that all? But, Harry, you didn't even mention anything remotely close to money or how much work I have to do to pay for my stay or anything like that."
"I don't need all that. Do you or do you not agree to my conditions?"
"I do."
"Very well." Harry said, "Follow me."
Harry had barely entered Potter Manor when Tonks flung herself into Remus' arms while Fleur put her arms around Bill's neck.
"Remus! You're going to be a father!"
"Beel! You're going to be a father!"
"We found out just ten minutes back!" Both the ladies said together excitedly.
Remus punched the air with his fist and kissed his wife, while Bill too punched the air and kissed his wife. The two couples then congratulated each other.
"Oh, Tonks, Remus!" Fleur said happily.
"Oh, Fleur, Bill!" Tonks said happily.
"This is brilliant! Congrats, you guys!" Harry squealed delightedly.
"Yeah, congrats!" said a second voice, making Tonks and Fleur freeze in their tracks and stare. Behind Harry stood none other than Draco My-Father-Will-Hear-About-This Malfoy!
"T-Thanks, Harry." Both of them said in unison and stared.
Fleur remembered the pale-faced Malfoy boy she had seen during the Triwizard Tournament. This was the same boy who had made those 'Potter Stinks' and 'Support Cedric Diggory' badges! Everybody she had spoken to had not just a not-so-good opinion but an outright horrible opinion on this boy. Bill, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny had especially been critical of him, while Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had been highly critical of Malfoy's parents. And yet here stood Draco Malfoy, seemingly brought in by Harry, Bill, and Remus.
Tonks glared at Malfoy. What were Harry, Remus, and Bill up to, bringing her Death Eater cousin, much less a brat and a bully of a cousin, to Potter Manor? Tonks heard her mother come into the area and freeze in shock, "What the…?"
"Hello, Aunt Andromeda. Mother sends her warmest regards to you. You both might not be on speaking terms, but rest assured, Mother, and I send our best wishes to you, our condolences on Uncle Ted's death, our congrats to my cousin, Nymphadora's marriage to my esteemed Professor Lupin, and from me, but if she had known it she would have sent hers, her congratulations on the good news! As for Mrs. Weasley here, I express the same wishes and condolences to the Weasley family too." Draco curtly said.
Dudley bounded into the hall just then. "Draco? What a pleasant surprise!" He went and held out his hand. Harry knew, at that very instant, that several pairs of eyes were staring intently at Draco Malfoy. Andromeda and the Lupins, Bill and Fleur, Percy, and even the Grangers and the Jones who had come out just now were all staring unblinkingly at Dudley's outstretched hand.
Draco, however, shook Dudley's hand and greeted him politely and warmly. Dudley hadn't sensed the tension in the room. He pulled Aimee Jones and introduced her to Draco, "Meet my girlfriend, Aimee Jones! From Smeltings Academy!"
Jones! The younger Jones couple had had a Squib daughter. If not anybody, certainly Pure Blood Obsessed Malfoys would know about this. Once again, the room waited with bated breath. But Draco surprised them by shaking hands with Aimee cheerfully and introducing himself.
"Sister tells me to stay away from those who are obsessed with those blood purity ideals. Are you one?" Aimee, who, just like Dudley, hadn't sensed the tension in the room, asked innocently. "AIMEE!" Audrey shouted reproachfully, "Don't!"
Draco smiled, "No. I am against those ideals as well." Aimee smiled, and so did Dudley.
"Draco wants to tell all of you something," Harry said pointedly. Draco gulped, knowing that Harry meant the terms and conditions.
Draco put his hand over his heart and vowed not to return to his old ways again and become a better, kinder, and helpful person. Not one of the inhabitants believed him at face value. In fact, Harry was sure he heard Percy mutter, "We will see that in your actions, won't we?" furiously under his breath.
Nobody said anything because it was Harry's house, and Harry decided who stayed and who didn't, so if Harry decided that Draco stayed, no one would question him. That, however, did not deter them from giving suspicious and frightened looks at Draco or glaring at Draco when they thought Harry and Draco weren't looking.
Harry returned to Hogwarts with Draco that evening. He promptly wasted no time informing Hermione and the Weasleys at Hogwarts about Draco Malfoy now staying at Potter Manor. They were all glad of the news that Bill and Remus were becoming fathers, angry that Draco was at Potter Manor, but trusting that Harry wouldn't just let Draco blindly into Potter Manor. Only Ron, Hermione, and Ginny knew all the details of that day, from morning to evening.
Over the next week, Harry found everybody finishing their exams and catching up with their friends and girlfriends and boyfriends in the warm, sunny grounds. When Ginny and Luna finished their last exam one day, Harry and Neville were waiting for them outside the Great Hall. The four of them went to the grounds to meet up with Ron and Hermione. It was a beautiful day. Harry even saw Draco Malfoy blushing pink as he waited for Caitrin to finish talking to her friend.
"Sarah, I'm telling you! Question B5 was optional!"
Sarah was crying, "I skipped that question! I'll lose marks!"
"You will not lose marks, Sarah, because that was an optional question!" Caitrin said exasperatedly.
Sarah nodded and went up to the castle, and Caitrin turned to Draco. The two of them laughed aloud. As they passed Harry and his friends, Draco grinned at them good-naturedly. Caitrin was saying, "So, Mrs. Morris will be coming to Hogwarts tomorrow to pick me up for the summer!"
"Is it? Cool! When do we meet, then?" Draco said.
"Probably during the summer. I'll try." Caitrin said. "Mrs. Morris has plans of going to France on a vacation this summer. She might want me to come along."
"So, when will you be returning?" Draco asked. By now, they were so far away that Harry couldn't hear her answer or the rest of the conversation.
"Draco and Caitrin look happy, don't they?" Ginny smiled, bringing Harry back to their group.
"Caitrin, a muggle-born, and Draco, a Pureblood. Wow!" Ron said happily. "At least Draco changed with the times! Unlike his parents who got him betrothed to Pansy as a baby!"
"I know, right!" Hermione piped in.
"I don't know. He is still Draco Malfoy." Neville said.
"Oh, don't you worry, Neville. If Harry trusts him enough to let him stay at Potter Manor, I guess we can all trust him." Luna cheerfully said.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you!" Harry said. "Dudley sent me an owl this afternoon. He and Aimee can actually study magic. History Of Magic, Care of Magical Creatures. and Arithmancy. Maybe Potions as well. They're very enthusiastic about it! Remus reckons it's the hidden magic gene inside of them allowing this. Dudley's aunt was my mother, and Aimee's parents were a witch and a wizard. Aimee and Dudley can't do magic like us, but they do have the smallest traces of magic within! That's what Bill and Percy said the other day. That means Aunt Petunia too had magic, but not enough magic to attend a school of magic such as Hogwarts."
"Oh, wow, Harry!" Ginny said.
"Correct. It also explains the existence of Muggleborns and Squibs. It explains why someone can be born to magical parents but have no magic and vice versa." Hermione noted wisely.
"Cool!" Ron said.
Neville grinned and Luna tilted her head partially to the side to give an expression of curiosity and polite disinterest, although everybody knew she was not disinterested.
The six teenagers went to Hagrid's hut. Hagrid wasn't home. But when they turned, their jaws dropped open. Hagrid was leading a huge giant in the Forbidden Forest.
"Hey, you lot! Meet my half-brother, Grawp, the giant! He is a toddler, and is half the size of the other giants out there who were constantly bullying him so I brought him here last November while returning from that failed mission!"
Harry and the others stared at the giant. The other giants were twice as large as him?
"Grawpy! That one is Harry Potter, those two are the Weasleys, namely Ron Weasley and Ginny Weasley, that's Hermione Granger there, this one is Neville Longbottom, and finally, the girl closest to the Thestral is Luna Lovegood!" Hagrid said, turning his back.
That's when Harry saw for the first time that day, as did Neville, a creature completely fleshless, its black coat clinging to its skeleton, of which every bone was visible. It had a dragonish head, white pupil-less eyes, and black leathery wings.
"What are you both staring at? What's Luna doing?" Ron, Ginny, and Hermione were staring at Harry, Neville, and Luna.
Luna was patting its head. In answer, Neville went and stroked one of its wings, and Harry climbed onto the Thestral from the other side. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny stared at Harry sitting in the open air as though on a horse, Neville stroking something invisible, and Luna patting something invisible.
"C-Can't you see this Thestral?" Harry frowned at their bewildered looks.
"They can't. These can only be seen by people…" Luna began.
"Who have seen death. I saw my grandfather's death…" Neville explained.
"And I saw my mother's death when I was nine." Luna completed.
Harry stared at them, "I have been able to see Thestrals since Cedric Diggory was murdered in Little Hangleton last year! I just didn't know what they were called or why I was among the few who could see them." He then got down. More Thestrals were coming.
Hagrid had taken Grawp back into the forest by then.
Harry looked at Neville, who nodded. He passed on the message to Luna in that couple's language which Ron and Hermione so often communicated, Harry felt.
Harry grabbed Ginny and put her on the nearest Thestral. He arranged her legs. Neville did the same for Ron on a second Thestral, while Luna did the same for Hermione on a third Thestral. Then, Harry, Neville, and Luna sat on three other Thestrals.
Hermione, Ginny, and Ron stared into what they perceived as thin air. But they were sure they could feel the mane they were holding on tightly to.
"I would love to see them." Hermione began.
"You better hope not!" Harry said darkly. Hermione looked shocked, "Oh, no! I'm sorry! Yeah, you're right!"
Harry directed his Thestral to take them on a tour around Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. The six Thestrals took out, five of them following Harry's Thestral.
Hermione, Ron, and Ginny screamed. They were flying in thin air with no visible means of support. Ron cursed, while Ginny and Hermione cried a little but stopped immediately.
The tour was short and quick. An aerial view of the castle, the Black lake, the Black Forest, the Quidditch Pitch, the Grounds, and Hogsmeade. They had just seen the aerial view of the Shrieking Shack and were returning when that happened.
The Dark Mark was shot above Hogwarts! Neville actually slipped but regained hold, and the others gasped audibly. Harry's heart sank. "QUICK!" He bellowed, his heart beating faster than usual. They landed and dismounted quickly. Then, they saw it.
A flash of green light on the Astronomy Tower and a split second later, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore lay sprawled upon the grass, a look of polite surprise on his face.
Harry dropped to his knees. "Parkinson!" Ginny cried out. Surely enough, Pansy's face was shining darkly in the moonlight from above the Tower. She looked happy that students were already assembling around the old fool's body. She had, after all, attacked Dumbledore from behind.
Hot fury surged through Harry, and hot tears slid down his cheeks. He could see angry tears and shocked expressions on the faces of his five friends. All around them shouts and explosions erupted. Suddenly, the six teenagers knew and split ways to fight the Death Eaters.
Harry was furious! He charged through the castle, corridor after corridor. Professor Dumbledore was dead! This was the worst tragedy that had ever happened in recent Hogwarts history! Furiously blinking back tears, Harry turned his volcano of fury towards the Death Eaters.
Harry saw Lupin, Tonks, Mrs. Tonks, Bill, Fleur, Percy, Audrey, Fred, George, Angelina, Alicia, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Luna, Ginny, Dean, Seamus, Lavender, Parvati, Padma, Hannah, Susan, Ernie, Zacharius, Micheal, Cho, Terry, Anthony Goldstein, and even Draco Malfoy fighting various Death Eaters. Draco was shielding Caitrin as he bled furiously but did not give up the fight.
Among the Death Eaters, Harry was sure he saw Bellatrix (how can these criminals escape Azkaban so easily and frequently?), Fenrir Greyback (responsible for making Remus a werewolf, out of his many crimes), the Carrows, Pyrites, Lucius Malfoy, now with one amputated leg (was that gunshot so bad?), and Pansy Parkinson with the Dark Mark clearly branded into her left arm,
Soon enough, Harry was on the second floor standing face to face with Peter Pettigrew.
"You!" He bellowed.
"Yes, me!" Peter laughed.
"After all that you have done, you still have the audacity to face Remus, Sirius, and me!" Harry snarled.
"Well, all I wanted was a little bit of recognition. And the Dark Lord gave me that choice. So I betrayed James and Lily. If the Order had given me that chance, I'd have happily betrayed the Dark Lord!" Peter shrugged.
"How can you? After everything my Mum and Dad did for you. After everything Sirius and Remus did to you?!" Harry bellowed.
In retaliation, Pettigrew shot a curse at Harry and Harry began dueling. Harry saw more people pass through the corridors, both Order members like McGonagall in her tartan dressing gown, Snape in his usual black robes, and Professors Sprout and Flitwick, as well as more Death Eaters Harry didn't know by name or appearance.
Wormtail shot a Killing Curse at Harry, who cleverly opened the nearest broom cupboard which happened to have a mirror. That mirror shot back Wormtail's Avada Kedavra to his chest. As Harry watched, Wormtail fell on his knees and sunk to the floor. A photo slid out of his coat pocket.
Harry cautiously approached and took that photo. It was the photo of the Marauders in their fourth year. Prongs was looking longingly at Lily from near the lake as Lily walked towards the Quidditch pitch. Padfoot was grinning at Prongs, Moony had a content smile and a knowing look on his face, and Wormtail sat on one of the tree's branches. Ahead of Lily was Snape looking at her with a pained expression.
Harry felt a burning feeling in the corner of his eyes. A river of tears flowed down his face covered with slime and blood. He dimly wondered why Pettigrew came to this battle with this photo and then realized that this must be his most, or one of his prized possessions.
"Potter!" Suddenly, it was Snape shielding him from a Death Eater. Harry hadn't realized he had sunk to the floor. Snape was shielding him and shooting curses at the offending Death Eater. He bellowed, "RUN, POTTER!"
Harry's weak knees protested even as he stood and moved into the tapestry behind him. As he looked around to see what was happening in the corridor, he had to bite his forefinger real hard to stop himself from screaming out loud. Blood spurted out of the bite mark on his finger as a fresh wave of tears made their way down his cheeks.
His least favorite professor at Hogwarts, a dedicated member of the Order of The Phoenix, one of the last people he knew to have known his parents, the one who fell in love with his mother, the one who told Voldemort whatever little of the prophecy he heard which made Voldemort go after the Potters, the one who swore to protect Harry Potter out of love for Lily and had regretted his actions, the man who shielded Harry from whichever Death Eater would've otherwise claimed Harry's life as he sat distracted, now lay on the floor, blood spurting out of his mouth. His black eyes stared into Harry's green eyes, as Snape's eyes became distant and lifeless.
The photo in Harry's hand shook. He carefully put it into his pocket and ran down the shortcut to the Charms corridor. Suddenly, the entire castle was silent. He froze when he saw Andromeda Tonks and Narcissa Malfoy lying dead on the foot of the stairs. A crowd gathered around the foot of the Astronomy Tower. Harry had lost all his strength and just collapsed in the Charms corridor, dimly aware of who passed by the corridor.
Harry opened his eyes slowly to the Golden Snitch in front of him. He tried to raise his hand to catch it but in vain. He blinked. Somebody had removed his spectacles, and he lay on something soft rather than the cold, hard stone floor. His left hand found his spectacles on the bedside table, and he wore his glasses. He was in the Hospital Wing.
To his immediate right was Ginny, with a head injury, sleeping. To her right was Ron, both arms bandaged, but he seemed to be getting up just like Harry. To his right was Hermione, still out cold.
To Harry's immediate left was Neville, bandaged across his chest. To his left was Luna, moaning in pain as she clutched her head, looking slightly purple. Harry could see the outline of a man with a grotesque face next to Luna's bed. When he tried to look into who it was, he was shocked! That was Bill Weasley!
Fleur suddenly came into the room with Madame Pomfrey, "Please, is there nothing you can do?"
Madame Pomfrey shook her head sadly, "Those are cursed wounds. They can't be cured."
"Thankfully, Bill won't be a full werewolf." Remus was on a crotch. "Greyback wasn't fully transformed when he mauled Bill's face. Bill will have some werewolf tendencies but won't be a werewolf."
Fleur broke into sobs. "Oh, no! H-How's Tonks?"
"Heartbroken, of course. Her legs are bandaged, but she lost her mother last night." Remus had tears in his eyes.
Harry sank into his bed. But then he saw Draco Malfoy on another bed. Caitrin was sobbing into Draco's chest. Seeing the direction Harry was looking at, Ron quickly explained, "Mrs. Morris was here and got killed by that Pyrites bloke. How are you, Harry? You gave us all a fright there!"
"It looks like you all are the ones giving everybody a fright, Ron." Harry shook his head. "Mrs. Malfoy is also dead." Without any of the boys' knowledge, Remus Lupin, Fleur Weasley, and now Hermione Granger were all listening.
"Ah, yes! I know." Ron shook his head sadly.
"Severus Snape and Peter Pettigrew…" Harry began, but Ron cut in. "Dead, I know. Alecto Carrow claimed you were right there but escaped because Snape defended and protected you."
Harry passed over the photo to Ron and explained how Wormtail died. Ron looked at the photo and then at Harry with a sad look, "Oh, Harry."
He absent-mindedly passed over the photo to Hermione's outstretched hands and then said, "Hermione!"
"Shh! Ron!" Hermione admonished him. Then, she too had that look of sadness as she passed over the photo to Ron, who passed it back to Harry.
"Percy and Audrey are in a muggle hospital. Their shoulders were shot with guns." Ron said sadly.
"What?!" Harry was shocked. "G-Guns? At Hogwarts?"
"We are all as shocked as you are, Harry." Hermione shook her head sadly. A while later, Hermione went to the window. There, she suddenly screamed pointing at the Thestrals. "Oh, no! You can also see them now. Who did you see die?" Harry asked. Hermione broke into sobs and said, "Oh, I don't know. One of those masked Death Eaters! A random Killing Curse shot out from an upstairs corridor and shot her!"
Over the next two days, Harry found out that the others who had fought on the side of the Order and Hogwarts nursed similar injuries and were now recovering at Hogwarts and St Mungos.
The end-of-term feast wasn't as cheerful as Dumbledore's funeral was to be held at the Hogwarts grounds. Harry had Ginny in his arms, Ron had Hermione in his arms, and Neville had Luna his arms; the six of them crying furious tears and blaming themselves for not being there on time to thwart the Death Eaters attack, although they knew they wouldn't have been able to do so even if they were right there when the attack happened.
The rest of the Weasleys, Hogwarts staff and students, Order members, and the larger Wizarding community attended the funeral of Albus Dumbledore.
Bawling, Hagrid made his way up with the body and placed it in a white tomb that covered itself. Then, Hagrid went back to Grawp and sank into the ground. After Dumbledore, it was Snape's funeral at Hogsmeade this time. Not many people attended, except the Hogwarts staff, the six teenagers, and Remus Lupin.
For the first time in his life, Harry heard Remus call Snape 'Snivellus', although he used the name fondly instead of the sneering manner Sirius Black used to call Severus Snape. "Rest in peace, Snivellus! Thank you for your sacrifices! And for protecting Harry Potter! You'll forever be my favorite Snivellus and will be missed!"
