"Ms. Trevelyan," McGonagall said, attempting to look stern. Her attempt failed, and her eyes softened. They were red from crying.

She sniffed and stood upright. "It would not be wise for you and your friends to come back. You are not expelled...but staying here would be disastrous."

Aly sighed. "Understood, Professor."

They were standing in front of the Tower the next morning. The fat lady fled her painting again.

"The Daily Prophet will be delivered this morning, but we will not let any student read one for yours...and Professor Dumbledore's well-being."

"Of course," Aly said, smiling sadly. "What time will the funeral be?"

"Today at noon," McGonagall said, her voice trembling. "Until then, Ms. Trevelyan."

She walked away briskly, rubbing her eyes.

Aly sighed sadly and walked back into the common room, where the others were.

"What's the consensus?"

Amanda looked up at her sadly.

"She says that we're not expelled," Aly said, feigning happiness. "But she doesn't think it's wise for us to come back." She frowned and sat down next to Char, leaning her head on his shoulder.

Hayden groaned and leaned back in the couch. "There goes my education."

"I'm sorry," Aly apologized. "It's my fault."

"No, it's not," Kylie said firmly.

"Why do you care, Kylie?" Char asked, looking at her. "You weren't involved in any of this."

"So? Where Hayden goes, I go," Kylie said firmly, holding Hayden's hand.

"Are you all packed?" Aly asked.

"Yeah," Damien responded absently. "Where are we going to be this summer?"

They all fell silent.

"I dunno," Amanda said, realizing that they won't see each other. "I doubt we'll be able to see each other this summer."

Aly thought about how painful it would be to be separated from her friends for a whole summer and possibly a whole year.

"That's bollocks," Damien said, laughing it off. "There's no way I can be separated from you lot for a day at most. We should find somewhere to stay!"

"Oh yeah? Like where?" Char demanded, sitting up. "We haven't seen Mum since summer. If we stay there, who knows what'll happen. Aly's mum is already under house arrest. We're practically expelled from school! Where do you suppose we go?"

"What if...we stay with Adam," Aly said quietly, causing everyone to look at her. She looked up, nervous. "I know that he's the reason for all of this to happen...but we can't go to my mum, we can't go to your mum..."

Amanda raised her eyebrows.

"I'm sorry. That was a stupid suggestion," Aly said, flushing.

"That...doesn't sound like a bad idea," Damien said cautiously, looking at the others.

"You must be off your rocker," Hayden said immediately. "He hates us, and he's the reason why we're out of an education."

"I knew it!" Aly said triumphantly. "I knew you were mad! You said you weren't, but you are!"

"I'm not mad at you," Hayden pointed out. "I'm mad at him. He shouldn't have visited you."

"Yes, but I shouldn't have visited him in turn," Aly replied. "So it is my fault."

Hayden scowled and fell silent.

"Listen, let's not bother with any of this," Char said hastily. "We can figure out arrangements....after the funeral."

***

Aly wiped the tears off her face and watched as the centaurs made their salute.

Char rubbed her shoulder comfortingly. Aly put her jacket one as a breeze swept through the air. She had changed into a midnight blue dress, not black, to make it less gloomy.

Nearly six hundred people were in attendance; teachers, students, presidents, ministers, friends, and students.

The mothers of our little group of friends were sitting next to each other, wiping away tears with a tissue.

The arrows disappeared from the sky, and Aly watched as Albus Dumbledore's body was laid to rest in the white tomb overlooking the lake.

The slab of marble was sealed by Hagrid, and then everyone who was in attendance heard a magical song echo across the lake.

Aly listened to the song, tears rolling down her face. It was a song of lamentations, a song of joy, and a song of loss.

Aly looked to her left at Harry, who looked more heartbroken than anyone.

A few minutes later, the song ended and no one moved. They were all in quiet reflection.

Rufus Scrimgeour stood up. "Remember Albus Dumbledore."

"Albus Dumbledore," the congregation echoed. Everyone stood up, and began to converse quietly with each other.

Aly stood up, feeling her muscles ache. She turned to Char, who was busy wiping away a tear that escaped from his eye.

"Well...that was...moving," he said, laughing shakily.

"Yeah," Aly agreed, just as shaky. She looked over Char's shoulder and watched as Mrs. Boyle and Joy approached them.

Joy stood in front of Aly. "Aly..." she said, drawing her into her arms.

"Hi, Mum," Aly whispered, hugging her. "How've you been?"

"Depends. I've been fine up till now," she said, smiling, even though her eyes were red. "This is one great loss."

"It is," Mrs. Boyle agreed, after hugging Char. "He will be sorely missed."

"Mum," Char asked, looking at Aly quickly. "Where are we going to go?"

"I honestly do not know, Char," Mrs. Boyle said quietly. "What about your education?"

Char winced and looked at Aly. She nodded. "We no longer have an education."

Mrs. Boyle stared blankly at Char. Char put her arms on Mrs. Boyle's shoulders. "McGonagall recommends that we don't come back."

"W-what?" Mrs. Boyle stuttered, not daring to believe her ears.

"We'll be in the Daily Prophet, Mum," Char said, trying to smile, but failing miserably. "There are death eaters everywhere. McGonagall told us that the Carrows are joining the Hogwarts staff."

Joy covered her mouth in horror.

"A lot of people won't be coming back, Mum," Aly said, turning to Joy. "Not just us. The Carrows are death eaters, and they're known for being so violent."

Joy nodded.

"That's why," Char explained. Mrs. Boyle looked away sadly and then sighed.

"I guess that's it, then."

Aly nodded sadly.

"Aly...there's something you must know," Joy said suddenly. Aly looked at her mother, waiting.

Joy sighed sadly, her expression pained. "Your father lives here, in Scotland."

Aly felt as if she were punched in the gut. Literally. "Here?" she choked. "Up here?"

"Yes," Joy responded. She put her arms on Aly's shoulders. "I want you to visit him."

"What?!" she gasped. "Leave? My friends...my family...my...everything?" Aly felt heartbroken.

"I'm sorry," Joy said, about to cry. "But I want what's best for you. And you staying down here isn't safe!"

Aly looked away, tears rolling down her cheeks. "For...a year?"

"Aly..." Joy said, her eyes shiny by unshed tears. Aly watched the ground blur by her tears, and then looked up at the sky, sniffing.

"I understand," Aly said, tears rolling faster down her cheeks. "Can...you...excuse me?"

She walked past Joy, her shoulders shaking.

Char looked at his mother, and then Joy. "She can take care of herself, Joy."

Joy looked away. "I know! It's just..."

"Excuse me..." she muttered. She walked past Char. Char looked at Mrs. Boyle. She nodded and he went off in Aly's direction.

He found her standing by the lake, sniffing. He approached her slowly, not caring if she heard the crunching of the twigs.

He stood next to her, staring at the blue lake. He waited silently for her to talk.

"I just don't understand..." Aly whispered, sniffing. She stood upright. "Why does she have to separate me? From my friends...my family...everything I've come to know?"

Char turned to her. Aly still looked pretty even when her eyes were red. "Aly...your mum said that when she was nearly your age, your grandparents were killed by death eaters."

Aly turned to him in surprise, her eyelashes wet. "What?"

"She doesn't want them to find you. Your grandparents strongly opposed You-Know-Who. It is for your protection."

"But that means I have to be away from you," she said, her voice trembling. "And Hayden, and Kylie, and Damien and Amanda and Mrs. Boyle and Mr. Boyle and...everyone I've come to know and love!"

"Aly," Char said, taking her face in his hands, "I love you. And your Mum has the best interests at heart for you. She wants to protect you. And I want you to stay safe."

He kissed her eyelid. "Please stay. For me. I want you to be safe." She wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Where will you go?"

"Mum'll find somewhere for us to go," Char said absently, resting his head on her hair. He stared at the lake. "We'll be fine."

"What will I do without you?" she said, smiling slightly. "I won't last a day without you." She watched the lake shimmer in the sun.

"Try...replacing me."

"What?!" Aly exclaimed, pulling back from him to study him.

"But...we'll be separated for a year, Aly. Please." He stared down at her, his brown eyes melting. "I don't want you to be alone. Try building a robot of me," he suggested lightly.

"Ha ha." Aly wiped a tear. "I'm going to miss you even more."

"I love you," Char whispered.

"I love you more," Aly whispered, wrapping her arms around his waist.

Aly heard crunching behind them and pulled away. She watched the others approach her, looking extremely sad. She reached over silently and hugged them all.

"You lot," Joy's voice said quietly behind them. "Your parents want to see you."

They all grabbed hands and started walking back to the rest of the crowd. They approached their parents.

Joy looked over at Aly. "I'll meet you at King's Cross."

"What? Y-you're not taking me now?"

Joy smiled. "No. I'm letting you spend time with your friends. I feel like the worse parent in the world."

"Mum," Aly said, walking over to her, "You're the best parent I could ever have!"

"Thank you," Joy whispered, hugging her tightly. "I couldn't have asked for a better daughter."

Aly grinned and watched her mother disappear.