Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, they are the brilliant works of the marvelous J.K.Rowling. I also do not own Coldplay or To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee.

CHAPTER 27

Hermione died on a Tuesday morning and her funeral was held on the following Friday. The memorial took place in the Great Hall at Hogwarts, and so many people came they had to magic the room to make it significantly larger. The only Muggles present were her parents, who sat stunned in the first row. The rest of the Hall was filled with not only students and teachers from the school, but other witches and wizards Hermione had come across in her time in the wizarding world. Also, as a sign of respect, several headmasters from the other wizarding schools attended, such as Beauxbatons and Durmtrang. All the resident ghosts at the castle were there, and a lot of the portraits had spells granted upon them for the day to also attend. At the front of the room stood Hermione's coffin. Draped over it was her Gryffindor scarf and a bunch of white lilies; Hermione's favourite flower. Dumbledore was the celebrant for the ceremony, and when he was sure everyone was seated he began the service.

"Ladies and gentlemen, students of Hogwarts, ghosts and paintings. We are gathered here today in loving memory of the young Hermione Granger." He motioned to a picture of Hermione sitting beside him. It was a moving picture, and depicted Hermione unwrapping one of her presents on Christmas morning, her favourite pyjamas on, and laughing at the person taking the picture. Harry looked at the picture and remembered taking it.

"But rather than to mourn, ladies and gentlemen, we should be celebrating for the extraordinary life that was given to us. Her life was truly a gift, and we should take this time to be grateful. Now, a song for Hermione and some footage kindly donated by her parents." Dumbledore stepped away form the lectern and bowed his head. The lights dimmed and there was a flash of light on the projector screen up ahead. Pieces of movie from when Hermione was a little child up until only a few months before her death, were being played in the screen now and music was starting to play. Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione's parents all recognised it to be her favourite song; Fix You, by Coldplay. (A/N If you don't have it or haven't heard it, download it.) There was not a dry eye in the place. This song was so typical of Hermione

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones

And I will try to Fix You.

The song ended and Dumbledore waited until the crying died down a bit before he resumed.

"Hermione Jane Granger was a truly amazing person. She was kind, and loving, and touched us all in her own way. She was an excellent role-model, not just as Head Girl but in all her years at Hogwarts. She was a diligent and conscientious student; helping her peers wherever and whenever she could. She had two loving parents, who are here with us today, and they would like to say that they appreciate all the support they have received these past few days and to thankyou all for coming along." He paused.

"It is only natural that we should all feel a great loss at this time. Everybody mourns in different ways, and takes a different amount of time to heal, but what we must remember is this. We must think of what Hermione would ask of you all to do. She would not want you to mope around for too long, but to continue your lives and live it to the full, for her. She would not want you to spend hours mourning, but rather to take your grief and use it constructively. That is what Hermione would have wanted."

Now he recited one of Hermione's favourite poems, called The Silver House. It went like this:

"There's a Silver house in the lovely sky,

As round as a silver crown.

It takes two weeks to build it up,

And two to pull it down.

There's a man who lives in the silver house,

In a lonely kind of way.

But what his name is no-one knows,

Or no-one likes to say.

So when you go to bed at night,

Just draw the window blind.

And look out at the sky above,

This lonely man to find.

But if the house is taken down,

And all the sky is bare.

Then go to bed, because of course,

The poor man won't be there."

"This next song is also by Coldplay", said Dumbledore, still a little choked up from the poem he had just read.

"It was chosen by Mr. Ron and Miss Ginny Weasley, and they dedicate it to their friend. It is called Swallowed in the Sea." The song began to play.

♪You cut me down a tree
And brought it back to me
And that's what made me see
Where I was going wrong

You put me on a shelf
And kept me for yourself
I can only blame myself
You can only blame me

And I could write a song
A hundred miles long
Well that's where I belong
And you belong with me

And I could write it down
And spread it all around
Get lost and then get found
or swallowed in the sea

You put me on a line
And hung me out to dry
And darling, that's when I
decided to go see

You cut me down to size
And opened up my eyes
Made me realize
What I could not see

And I could write a book
The one they'll say that shook
The world and then it took
It took it back from me

And I could write it down
And spread it all around
Get lost and then get found
And you'll come back to me
Not swallowed in the sea

And I could write a song
A hundred miles long
Well that's where I belong
And you belong with me

The streets you're walking on
A thousand houses long
Well, that's where I belong
And you belong with me

Oh, what good is it to live
With nothing left to give
Forget, but not forgive
Not loving all you see

All the streets you're walking on
A thousand houses long
Well, that's where I belong
And you belong with me
Not swallowed in the sea

You belong with me
Not swallowed in the sea
Yeah, you belong with me
Not swallowed in the sea♪

"A secret wish of Hermione's," Dumbledore chimed solemnly,

"Was to get to know the names and a little about each and every new First Year. This is a true reflection of Hermione's character. While she did not achieve this in her days here on Earth, we will honour this as best we can after her passing." He stepped away from the lectern and motioned to the line of First years getting up from their seats and walking towards the stage. The girl at the front of the line walked up to the lectern and adjusted the microphone. She was holding a small piece of paper and a large jar. She placed the jar on the floor beside her and turned to the audience.

"My name is Molly Drummond-Clark. My favourite subject is Herbology and I love anything that's blue." She folded the piece of paper she had been reading from and dropped it in the jar. She left the stage and the next student stepped up.

"My name is Carla Ireland. I am half Muggle and I'm proud of it. When I leave school I want to be a mediwitch." She did the same as the girl before her; folding her piece of paper and dropping it in the jar.

One by one, all the first years stood up and told the crowd their name and something about themselves. They all contributed a piece of paper to the jar which was to be buried with Hermione. Dumbledore returned to the stand.

"This last song was dedicated to Hermione by Mr. Harry Potter. It is called The Scientist, and in true Hermione fashion, it is also by Coldplay.

♪Come up to meet you, tell you I'm sorry
You don't know how lovely you are

I had to find you
Tell you I need you
Tell you I set you apart

Tell me your secrets
And, Ask me your questions
Oh, let's go back to the start

Running in circles
Calling tails
Heads on a science apart

Nobody said it was easy
Oh, It's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be this hard

Oh, take me back to the start

I was just guessing
At numbers and figures
Pulling the puzzles apart

Questions of science
Science and progress
Do not speak as loud as my heart

So Tell me you love me
Come back and haunt me
Oh, and I rush to the start

Running in circles
Chasing our tails
Coming back as we are

Nobody said it was easy
Oh, it's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be so hard

I'm going back to the start...♪

As the song ended there were no other sounds than that of the crying mourners. The words in that song meant so much to Harry and it had really struck a chord with everyone in the room. The lights came back up and a still picture of Hermione on a swing was on the stage. Her parent's had taken it in the summer just past. She was smiling cheekily at the camera and no one could take their eyes off it.