Hermione reached over, grabbing a pretzel from the bag Harry was holding.
"Thank God, I'm starving." She said, sticking the salty snack into her mouth.
"No pobem." Harry replied, his mouth full of pretzel. He swallowed, holding up the plastic bag from the Muggle shop. "And- I got Gatorade!"
"Electrolytes." Hermione nodded, smiling, taking the neon yellow bottle from him.
They leaned on the whitewashed wooden fence outside the convenience store.
"How much time do we have left?" Harry asked, fishing for another pretzel.
"About five minutes." She replied, struggling to open the orange plastic cap. "Being that we have to stop at the Burrow to pick up everyone."
Harry grunted, taking a swig of the sports drink.
They had just come from Colin Creevey's funeral at his family's plot outside of Surrey. Harry and Hermione were the only ones from their party able to come, being that the Weasleys were so distraught after this morning's burial.
Luna and Neville came with them though, Hermione reflected, nudging Harry for another pretzel. They were still with the family. Hermione couldn't stay. Not for this one. There was no more excess water in her to even make tears. Plus, Harry had been so hungry she could hear his stomach growling.
"I remember him telling me his father was a milk man." Harry kicked the ground with his dress shoes, sending a cloud of dust unto him and Hermione. "And remember how happy he was when Dennis fell into the lake?"
"Um hmm." Hermione was now looking at the overcast sky. Funny, how the weather could change so drastically when you aperate halfway across the country. "And that damn camera."
Harry laughed, a bit louder then was necessary.
"I wonder what he did with that picture of Lockheart removing all the freaking bones from my arm."
Hermione giggled, using her wand to blow off all the dust that had settled on their robes.
They fell into silence, the only sounds coming from the crunching of pretzels.
"Know what you're going to say?" Hermione asked, looking at her friend. He was starring intently into the bag, as if the German munchies would tell him the secret to life. This had to be so hard for him too. She would have Ron talk to him later- she was sure he would be feeling guilty for all of these senseless, horrible deaths.
Harry looked back at her. "I think I've- er- got a good idea."
He is a terrible liar, Hermione thought.
"No- really," Harry began, reading her expression. "I think I do." Now he was looking at the dreary clouds overhead. "Do you?"
"Yeah. I do."
A couple more moments of stillness.
"Ready?" Harry asked, using the fence to prop himself up.
"As ready as I'm going to be." Hermione responded. We're lucky there is hardly anyone around, she observed as they walked into an alley between the stores. Our robes were attracting enough attention as it is. They had just stopped caring, essentially. Some times you just couldn't keep track of all the details.
"Don't splinch" Hermione playfully advised before she turned quickly on the spot, her world compressing together, choking her, smothering her, her eyes bulging, brain popping…
A loud 'pop' later and Hermione was in front of the Burrow, taking a deep breath of air, letting the hot weather embrace her once more.
A second later and Harry was beside her, still holding onto his plastic bag holding their half empty Gatorade bottles and pretzel package.
"Hey." Ron came out from the hedges on Hermione's left. "How was it?"
"Depressing." Harry sighed, walking towards him.
"How've you been?" Hermione asked gently, following Harry.
"Same." Ron said, looking down at her. His eyes, like hers, were bloodshot; tracks of tears could still be seen on his face.
She hugged him, feeling his arms wrap securely around her.
"Oh, good!" Percy's voice carried out from the house. "Mum, their here!"
Ron and Hermione broke apart, him grabbing her hand before she strayed too far away.
They watched as all the Weasleys filed out of the Burrow to join them. Mrs. Weasley rushing towards them, looking worried.
"Have you eaten, dears?" She asked, looking at Harry's face. "You look famished."
"Yeah, we had some pretzels." Harry said, holding up the bag. "And Gatorade."
"Excuse me?" Mrs. Weasley said, apprehensive.
"Change of plans!" Mr.Weasley called out from the house. "We're going by Floo!"
Ron gave Hermione's hand a squeeze before they were separated by the crowd rushing back to the Burrow. Hermione checked her watch. They were late.
"Address is 39 Foleys Avenue." Mr. Weasley said hurriedly, passing the Floo jar around to everyone he could reach. Ron dashed in front of Hermione, taking a giant scoop of the grainy residue and then turning back to her, splitting his handful and gently tilting it into her hand. She smiled at him, closing her fist around her floo powder.
"39 Foleys Avenue" She heard Ginny, then Bill, then Charlie say consecutively, each jumping into the emerald flames.
Mrs. Weasley took a last fleeting look at the remaining people in her living room before walking into the fireplace.
Harry followed suit, behind him George and Percy, and then Mr. Weasley. All of a sudden, Hermione was all alone with Ron. He was in front of her, she could smell his hair, his freckles were the only thing she saw…
He kissed her briefly, his free hand holding her chin, before whispering in her ear, "Good Luck out there." And turning to the fire himself, he muttered the address and was whisked away.
She closed her eyes, exhaled the breath she had been holding in her shock. Reality crashed upon her as she remembered where she was supposed to be.
"39 Foleys Avenue!" She cried, rushing into the sparkling fire, closing her eyes again as she felt wind whip around her, her body being thrown through space…
She landed with a thump in a fireplace thick with dust from its frequent use. She opened her eyes too soon; they were watering and stinging in mere seconds, the pain causing her to cringe.
She felt someone escorting her out of the fireplace…
"Poor thing…all that ash…"
She was now being pushed by many hands into a seat, wooden, she thought.
"Aquamenti!" She heard, feeling a wet washcloth being put into her hands.
"Thanks" She murmured, pressing the damp fabric to her eyes, blinking out the cinders.
She opened her eyes to find nearly everyone in the homey room watching her. She blushed. "Dust…" she said weakly, as if offering up an explanation.
She glanced around to distract attention from herself. The room was full of people she knew, people she hadn't seen in ages. Others she saw moments ago at the Creeveys. There was Neville and his Grandmother, sitting with Luna on the scarlet couch near the table, against the wall near them was her former defense against the dark arts teacher, Professor Slughorn, who was talking to Professor McGonagall. Mundungus was here too, with others she recognized from the Order, though many a familiar face was missing. She looked to her other side where hugging Mrs. Weasley was- Bellatrix Lestrange? No, this woman was softer looking, and she was crying, shaking as Mrs. Weasley sobbed in her own shoulder.
"That's what I thought too." Harry was sitting down next to her, pulling a wooden chair over from the table laden with pumpkin juice. "Meet Mrs. Tonks, sister of both our friends Bellatrix and Narcissa."
Ron whistled, sitting on the other side of Hermione's chair. She nudged to the other side so he would have more room.
"So, where's Teddy?" Hermione asked, brushing the rest of the ash from her hair.
"Napping." Harry said, placing his hands on his knees. "I already asked."
Ron put his arm around Hermione's back. She jumped a little. She wasn't used to this behavior. It wasn't all that bad though, she thought as she leaned back into him.
"Hullo." Ginny said, coming up behind Harry. Her face was still pale. Like Hermione she had probably just gotten sick of crying. "It's time to go. They want you two-" she gestured to Harry and Hermione. "To be in front." Hermione had expected that. It had been a hard decision to say yes to saying Tonks' eulogy, but she had to free the pressing guilt on her soul.
Harry had gotten up, waiting for Hermione to follow. "Come with us." Hermione said in an undertone to Ron. She hoped she didn't sound feeble. It just would be nice to have him there.
They now were walking out of the Tonks' house, following Mrs. Tonks down the street, the rest of their party behind them. Hermione remembered with a shock that Mr. Tonks was dead. What has this world done to us? She took Ron's hand and starred up into the never-ending sky, the deep blue of the atmosphere broken by a fluffy cloud every now and then, its enormity overwhelming Hermione, she felt so tiny, so alone…
The funeral party walked across few blocks till reaching a small church that, probably, couldn't fit them all. Behind the church was a small graveyard, which Hermione noticed as they grew closer, featured many newly dug graves. Her stomach flopped.
Now they were circling upon two mahogany caskets, each with a bunch of flowers on top. One was of lilies and orchards, while the on the left was adorned with daisies and lilacs. Hermione gave a wry smile.
A witch that Hermione did not recognize was walking to the front of the graves. She was talking. Hermione looked at the two caskets, loss griping her insides. She clutched Ron's hand all the more closer. She looked around. Across from her was Ginny, who had a small infant with identical red hair as hers in her arms, swaddled in a blue teddy-bear print blanket. The witch was still talking.
Tonks. Memories rushed through her head. Tonks, at Grimmald place, amusing Ginny and her all summer while they were cooped up there. Tonks teaching Hermione hair smoothing spells and cover-up charms. Tonks as they came to rescue Harry, not a year before. She was really the only young witch Hermione knew. She was original and fresh and just so happy all the time. Except when she was love struck with Remus. Hermione had an urge to smile again. They had been so happy, so in love. Her mind darted back to the first time she met Remus Lupin on the Hogwarts Express in her third year. How long ago that was.
"'Mione." Ron whispered, shaking her arm.
She gasped, watching everyone else watch her for the second time today, the witch who had been speaking obviously gone.
She walked quickly to the front of the caskets.
She took a deep breath, the air shuddering as it entered her lungs. Taking out a crumbled paper deep in her robes, she began.
"I knew Nymphadora Tonks for a very short time. I first met her when she was new to the Order of the Phoenix, an organization that she believed wholly in, and worked diligently in it t-to free the world of-" she hesitated, hoping this was the right choice to make- "Voldemort." A deep tremble passed through the crowd. "Tonks, as she liked to be called, was a very loyal, spirited and gifted young witch. She always brightened the world with her, however varied, smile." She got a few nods on that one. Sobbing laced her hearing as she continued. "She was one of my only female role models- a fresh face in the sea of men who ran the order. Always open to lend a helping hand, she was loved by all, and loved all too." Her voice shook. Don't cry, she thought. Not yet. She glanced down at the paper to regain her spot. "Tonks was beautiful in mind, body, and spirit. H-Her loss is devastating to us all, and I can only hope that she knows how much we miss, and love her, and that her memory w-will n-never, ever be forgotten." Tears started coming again. Dammit. "I m-must add, though, that s-she left this world happy with her new family, and, a-nnd defending the cause she fought s-so hard to support. T-Tonks, you will b-be in our h-hearts forever." She broke down, looking at the casket, looking at the casket of Tonks, her Tonks, never ever had she felt so vulnerable, so alone…
I never got to say goodbye. She backed away to the sidelines as Harry approached. I never told how much you meant to me- all those times we talked and we laughed- you helped me grow up, you helped me fight, you helped me be strong. Oh, Tonks.
Harry cleared his throat. Hermione looked up, tears blurring her vision.
"Remus Lupin w-was an extraordinary man."
Hermione saw he wasn't reading off of anything. He's braver then me, she mused
"Strong, and gentle and kind- but had to suffer so, so much in his tormented life. Hard w-worker and brave leader, he would do anything for his friends and family. He forgave easily and loved hard, a better comrade w-will never b-be found. Responsible for much o-of the su-su-success of the Order of the Phoenix, he fought valiantly till the end, risking all of the happy life fi-finally granted to him for the possible idea that his beloved son m-might ha-have a better life then he. Thank you, Re-Remus Lupin." Harry mulled to find something else to say, and, after a few moments pause in which only the weeping could be heard, he finished with "And may you rest i-in peace."
Ron pulled Hermione into a hug. They stood there, crying hard, as the gathering thinned. Hermione held him tightly, letting everything spill out, the pain the loss the fear, hoping with every fiber of her being that the new day would be brighter, the sun all the clearer, holding onto that hope, holding so hard and so strong, the hope that the darkness would pass, that the new world, this brave new world, would be worth the meaningless deaths and of almost all she held dear. She would never let go.