A/N: Well this is the last chapter for this story.I have finally completed my first sequel! I feel good. I hope you all enjoy the ending. I am also working on another story at the moment but I am not sure what to call it yet so look out for it anyway.
DISCLAIMER: I only own the plot to this story.
Chapter Thirteen: Laid to rest.
Over the next few days, Hermione busied herself organizing Dumbledore's funeral. A lot of people were going to be turning up and Hermione had organized a caterer for the wake. The funeral was going to be held at Hogwarts, as that was undoubtedly Dumbledore's favorite place. No other Headmaster had been laid to rest here but Hermione wanted to honor her Grandfathers memory by allowing all those he had helped over the years he had been the Headmaster of Hogwarts, say goodbye. It also gave the students a chance to say goodbye to their headmaster, as he was by far the most favorite.
The day before the funeral, Hermione and Draco were getting ready to go to Hogwarts. Witches and Wizards from all over England were all taking the Hogwarts express, which was making a special trip to Hogwarts for the funeral. Harry, Ginny and the rest of the Weasley's had stayed at the Malfoy Manor so that they could all go to Kings Cross Station together. The train was departing platform 9 and ¾ at 11am. The trip to Kings Cross Station was a silent affair. Platform 9 and ¾ was packed as though a new school year was beginning. The only difference was that most of the people were adults and everyone was dressed in black to show they were morning. The Hogwarts Express' windows had black drapes on them and the lamps had been lit inside, as it was dark due to the drapes.
When the Hogwarts express pulled up at Hogsmeade station, Hermione was hoping that Hagrid would be there but she was disappointed to see that he wasn't. The carriages that usually took the students up to the castle were waiting for them and soon everyone was settling into to Hogwarts. There were a fair few people staying at the pubs in Hogsmeade but the majority was residing at Hogwarts.
The day of the funeral dawned and it was as if the weather knew what was going on. The clouds had rolled in through the night and there was a cold drizzle outside. The Great Hall was packed with mourners and there was black drapes hanging just as they had for Cedric Diggory when Voldemort had murdered him.
The funeral was to be held at 10am so after everyone had eaten and the golden plates had cleared, people started making their way to the covered area by the lake. Someone had erected a large marquee to keep everyone sheltered from the rain, which had become heavier. Hermione and Draco went and sat in the front row along with Narcissa, Harry, Ginny, Molly and Arthur Weasley. Fawkes was flying around above the lake singing a beautiful song. The marquee soon filled up with people. Once everyone was seated, Fawkes' song changed and Hermione turned around to see Hagrid and Madam Maxime carrying a beautiful mahogany coffin. They laid the coffin at the top of the stairs that had been erected for the funeral and went to sit next to Molly and Arthur. Hagrid buried his face in his hands and Madam Maxime comforted him. The funeral was soon under way but Hermione didn't take anything in. Her whole body was numb and tears were falling freely down her cheeks. Draco had an arm around her shoulders to comfort her but Hermione had her own arms wrapped around her chest as though she was cold.
The funeral ended with those closest to Dumbledore placing flowers and various objects onto his coffin. Hermione stayed behind while everyone else went up to the castle for refreshments. Draco decided to leave Hermione for a little while and Harry and Ginny had to get back to the castle as quick as possible because they had no one to mind their son so he was asleep at the castle in the Gryffindor Tower. The Fat Lady was under strict instruction not to let anyone else in unless they had the password, which had been changed while the funeral took place and it wouldn't be changed back until after the wake when Hermione, Draco, Harry and Ginny, along with Mitchel, went down to the hut that Hermione and Draco had lived in when they were in their seventh year. They were staying at Hogwarts over night because they were unsure as to when the wake would finish.
It was now midday and it had been just under an hour since the funeral itself had taken place. Hermione was still down at the lake and Draco was becoming a little worried about her. She hadn't talked for two days and in the four or five days before the funeral she had barley said anything. Draco had voiced his concerns to his mother but she had told him to stop worrying and let Hermione be. After all, apart from Thomas and Nikita, Dumbledore had been Hermione's only remaining blood relative. Deciding that Hermione needed to come and eat, Draco slipped outside unnoticed and made his way down to where Dumbledore's coffin was still sitting on the stairs. Hermione was seated where she had sat for the funeral looking out at the lake with a lank expression on her face.
"Hermione. Why don't you come and have something to eat?" Draco asked quietly as he sat down next to his wife.
"I'm not hungry." Hermione replied.
"You have to eat. Even if you don't just come inside to get out of the cold."
"I'm fine. I just want to be alone."
"Baby come on. If you want to be alone at least go somewhere that is warm. You'll get sick if you stay out here much longer."
"Look Draco. I said I was fine now could you please just go away and leave me alone?"
"Hermione you're not thinking rationally. You have two children to think of and if you get sick you wont be able to take care of them."
"I SAID I WAS FINE," Hermione turned and yelled at her husband before she broke down in tears, "Why did he have to die?" she cried as Draco wrapped his arms around her.
"Shhh…everything will be ok Mione. I am here for you. Your Grandfather will always be in your heart."
"What if I forget him? What if Thomas forgets him? Nikita doesn't even know who he is."
"You wont forget him and we can both make sure that Thomas and Nikita know who he is. He left us his house Hermione and I am sure that there will be things that remind you of him there. Now why don't I take you down to the hut and you can lie down for a little while?" Hermione nodded and let Draco lead her to the hut. McGonagall had made it so that instead of needing a Head Boy or Girl badge to get in, all you needed was a password. She had only told Hermione, Draco, Harry and Ginny this password and the other students had been told that while they were here, the hut was out of bounds. Once inside the hut, Draco helped Hermione into the bed they had shared and as he was leaving, he heard the faint snores of a sleeping Hermione.
The wake lasted for another couple of hours. The Witches and Wizards that had attended the funeral were reminiscing about all the good things that Dumbledore had accomplished in his long-lived life. The majority of conversation was about Dumbledore's greatest achievement. The downfall of Lord Voldemort and how Dumbledore had helped Harry defeat the most feared wizard of all time.
It was almost time for dinner when everyone had departed and Draco, Harry and Ginny who had collected Mitchel from the Gryffindor tower, all headed down to the hut to check on Hermione. They had gone to the kitchen and collected some food to eat, as they knew that Hermione wouldn't want to face the students of Hogwarts. They also knew that it would take the three of them to convince Hermione to eat something. Hermione was still in bed when they arrived at the hut but she was awake. Harry conjured a cot for Mitchel in the other room and Ginny went in to feed and put her son down for a nap. Draco sat the food down on the coffee table and went in to see how Hermione was.
"How are you feeling?" Draco asked sitting next to Hermione.
"A little better. I'm hungry now though." She answered with a weak smile.
"Good. Harry and Ginny are settling Mitchel and then we are all going to have some dinner. We bought some food from the kitchens so that you didn't have to go up to the school."
"Thanks. Let me just go to the toilet and I'll join you all."
"Ok. We will wait for you." Draco left the room and Hermione got up out of the bed and went to the toilet. A few minutes later, she joined the other three and they ate a nice roast dinner and talked about their life in general. Draco, Harry and Ginny knew that Hermione was putting on a brave face for them and they were deeply worried about how she was coping.
The next few months passed in a blur for Hermione. Her and Draco, along with their two children, moved their stuff into the house that Dumbledore had left them. Hermione thought about her Grandfather constantly and was on the brink of tears everyday. Draco was extremely concerned but as Hermione could still handle caring for Thomas and Nikita, he kept his concerns to himself.
One day, as she was going through a box in the attic, Hermione came across an old looking photo album. It was dusty and falling apart so Hermione carefully lifted it up and placed it on the table. She carefully opened it and looked at the photos. They were pictures of a younger looking Dumbledore. Although he still had his long white hair and beard, his face was much younger. There were also pictures of her real mother and father. In each photo there was a little girl aged about 12 months. After about five pages of seeing this little girl, Hermione realized who it was.
"Oh my god. Its me!" she whispered to herself. Happiness was brewing inside of her at the sight of these photos. Her parents, Alec and Annette were smiling and Dumbledore was tickling Hermione. Hermione took the photo album down stairs to show Draco. As she was closing the door a piece of paper fell out of the back of the album. Hermione bent down and picked it up. Before she opened it, Hermione made her way down to the sitting room to sit on the sofa. She placed the photo album carefully on the side table and stared at the letter. After a few minutes, Hermione opened it and began reading.
To Our Dearest Harmony,
How can we possibly put everything we want to say into a letter? I guess we will just have to write what needs to be said and if more comes along, well we will write it too.
Harmony. A name you will never use. It was your father's mother's name. We chose it because she didn't get to meet you. You-Know-Who murdered her just three weeks before you were born. I guess we should tell you who we are.
I am your mother, Annette Stone nee Dumbledore. Your father's name is Alec Stone. Of course my father would have already told you this but now you can keep this with you forever and know whom we were. If only we could meet you and see what kind of person you have become. I know in my heart that you will never become the person that You-Know-Who intends you to be, and if you had become that person you would be reading this letter so if your reading this letter know that your father and I are proud of you.
Harmony, we will always love you. Remember that and know that we will always watch over you. I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive us for giving you away. We felt that it was the right thing to do to keep you safe from harm.
Also, your father and I are truly sorry for your loss. Obviously if your reading this letter my father has passed away. I hid this letter in a photo album and put the album in a box in the attic. I knew my father would not touch it and I knew that he would pass this house onto you when he died. You are my daughter so I knew that you would go through the boxes in the attack and eventually find this letter.
I hope that you can find peace now that we are all gone. You will always have Lisa and Jackson to care for you. Lisa is my best friend and I trust her to look after you. Please thank her for me will you?
I must go now. Remember Harmony that no matter what has happened, you will always have people who love you. Your father, Grandfather and I may be gone but we will always be looking over you and hopefully when you have children we will watch over them also. Be happy in life Harmony. Be all you can be and know that one-day we will be together again.
We Love You, Harmony Stone.
Love Always, Your parents,
Alec and Annette Stone.
Hermione instantly felt better after she had read that letter. It is true that she cried while reading it but reading the only letter she had ever received from her parents, helped Hermione feel better about the death of her Grandfather.
Hermione and Draco watched over the years as their two children grew up and went to Hogwarts. Hermione's life wasn't perfect, no ones life is perfect, but she felt complete and knew that one day she would see her true family again.
A/N:A huge thanks to those who read my story and an even bigger thanks to those who reviewed. I think I only got one bad review…if that. Please read my other story, Life Comes From Death. Thanks again.