Neville

"Neville," said Seamus, "is that someone at the door?"

I went to check. There was no window of course, but Gran had given me a telescope for my birthday that could see through walls. I put it to my eye and peeked though. "It's Lavender!" I said in surprise. Seamus pushed past me. "Let me see." I handed him the telescope and he looked for himself. "So it is," he said. "Let her in." I did so.

Lavender looked at us with a frightened face. "You're all right!" she said. "We've all been so worried. Listen," she beckoned us closer and spoke in a whisper, as though she was afraid of being overheard, "Amycus and Alecto are furious that you've managed to elude them. They're worse than ever and people need a place to hide. Can they come here?" she asked. "You'd better not tell me that I've come all this way for nothing," she warned. "I broke a nail coming up here!" I rolled my eyes.

"Of course they can come here," said Seamus. "Really Lavender, did you think we'd turn you away?"

She shrugged. "You never know." With that she turned and left, but not before giving Seamus a dazzlingly sweet smile. I nudged him. "I think she likes you."

"Eeeewww," said Seamus. He made a face and hastily turned away from me but I thought I saw a smile on his face, too.

Luna

"Dobby!" Harry said miserably. I knelt beside him and tried to comfort him. "Harry…" He looked up. Dean, Fleur, and Bill had joined us. Harry looked back at Dobby's corpse, and then at the small group of people gathered around him. "Where's Hermione?" he asked suddenly, looking alarmed.

"She's inside," said Bill. "She'll be all right."

Harry turned back to Dobby once more, and yanked the knife out of his chest. We could see that he was going to need time, so we left him alone for the time being. I went back inside the house to talk to Hermione.

When I entered Bill and Fleur's room, I was relieved to see that Hermione was sitting up in the bed.

"Hi." She said. She still seemed groggy.

"Hi." I replied. I sat on the edge of the bed. "Hermione, are you all right?"

She winced and put a hand to her throat. She pulled it away and showed it to me by way of answering. There was blood on her fingers from the cut that Bellatrix had given her. It was still bleeding.

I looked away. "Oh." I hated the sight of blood.

"Luna?" asked Hermione. "Is there any particular reason you came in here?"

"Yeah," I said. "Hermione….Dobby's dead."

She put a hand to her mouth. "Oh!" She pushed back the covers. "I have to go see Harry. He isn't doing too well, is he?"

I shook my head. "He's just sort of sitting there in some sort of trance." I helped her out of bed. "Come on, Hermione, let's go," I said gently. She nodded and we made our way outside. She was leaning on me most of the way, but when we got out the front door, she insisted on walking by herself.

Bill and Fleur joined us and we found Harry, exactly how we left him. Everything was the same except there was a small, roughly dug grave beside him. I could see that Dobby's glassy yes were still looking upward towards the heavens. "We should close his eyes," I said. I crouched down and closed Dobby's eyes gently. Harry lowered him into the grave.

As we all stood looking at the tiny house-elf, I felt that this little funeral was missing something. "I think we ought to say something," I said. Everyone looked at me and I blushed, but I went on to say:

"Thank you so much, Dobby, for rescuing me from that cellar. It is unfair that you had to die when you were so good and brave. I'll always remember you. I hope you're happy now." My voice shook. I looked over at Ron, who mumbled his thanks. Dean did the same.

"Goodbye, Dobby," whispered Harry.