"Ron," Padma cried, running into his dormitory, "oh, Ron-- wake up, please--" She held a crumpled tissue in her hand and her face was red and puffy.

Ron stirred from sleep. "Padma? How did--"

"Oh, Ron," she sniffled, and flung her arms around him. "I was w-walking with Ginny this morning when your m-mother came... and she saw Ginny and burst into tears... and... oh, Ron, your father, he's--"

"What about my father?" Fear lit Ron's eyes.

"He's dead!" wailed Padma. "M-murdered by the sound of it-- at the Ministry--"

Ron's face, thought Harry, was hard to read. He was in shock, that much was obvious. "It can't be," whispered Ron, "I just-- he owled me just a day ago--"

"I'm s-so sorry," Padma said.

"I need to go see my mum," Ron said, sliding out of bed.

"She's in McGonagall's office," Padma told him. "They told me to come get you. And Ginny wanted you, Harry."

Ron automatically began to move toward the door.

"You're still in your pajamas," Harry gently reminded him, but Ron just shrugged. The pressure of Padma's hand on his palm kept him moving as he made his way down to McGonagall's office, followed closely by Harry, who had thrown his robes on over his T-shirt and flannel pants.

Harry was nearly knocked over by Ginny, who had tears flooding down her face. "Harry," she whispered, "Harry..."

"I know, Gin." He wrapped her in a tight hug. "We'll get through it."

Mrs. Weasley set eyes on her son and began sobbing all over again. She gathered him and Ginny into her arms. "My babies..."

"What happened?" Harry said to Professor McGonagall, as the Weasleys shared their grief.

"You'll never believe it," she said quietly. "I didn't believe it."

"Who was it, Professor?"

She put a hand over her heart. "Dolores Umbridge."

Natalya crept into Percy's room at dawn's first light and sat on the edge of his bed. "Wake up," she whispered, and poked him.

He swatted at her finger, and apologized immediately. "Sorry," he said. "I was having a dream."

"One's about to come true," Natalya said with a smug smile.

"Natalya..." He didn't know how to say it.

"Your father's dead," she said joyfully.

Percy was stunned. That wasn't what he had been expecting at all.

"The first one of the blood traitors," she said, ticking off Percy's family members on her fingers. "Next, I suppose, your mum--"

Her voice faded as Percy stared down at the Dark Mark on his wrist.

"I cannot believe," said Ron to Harry, "that git Percy doesn't even show up now... poor Mum..."

Harry looked over at Mrs. Weasley, who was sandwiched between Charlie and Bill, weeping into a handkerchief. He let Ginny rest her head against his shoulder, and gently ran his fingers through her hair, trying his best to calm her hiccuping sobs.

"Mum," said a voice from behind Harry, and everyone turned to see a humbled Percy. "Mum, I'm so sorry."

Mrs. Weasley jumped up and wrapped Percy in a hug. "Oh, Perce. It's okay."

Percy shook his head. "No, it isn't."

"What do you mean?" She looked concerned.

With a sigh, Percy pushed his sleeve up, revealing the Dark Mark.

"Percy!"

"It was a mistake, mum," Percy hastily said, "but it was Umbridge who killed Dad, she was upset about not getting the job-- and I resigned in protest, oh, I-- she tricked me."

Mrs. Weasley nodded. "We've all been taken in at one time or another," she said kindly. "The most important thing is that you're here with us." She took a deep breath, straightened her robes, and headed to the front, where she was to give the eulogy.

"Family and friends." She cleared her throat. "We're here today to pay our last respects to a wonderful man-- a husband, a father-- so many things." A pause. "Arthur was so many things to so many people. He was a dedicated Ministry official, loyal to his co-workers--" Perkins, sitting near the back row, smiled-- "a wonderful father to our children, even if he did spoil them a bit; and he was my best f-friend." Her voice wavered and she had to pause to dab at her eyes with a handkerchief.

"My husband's dearest ambition," she said with a rueful smile, "was to find out how Muggle airplanes stay in the air. He never managed it. But he did manage to enchant a Ford Anglia once." She smiled fondly. "He had a deep love for Muggle things," she went on, "which extended to the rights that he knew Muggle-borns deserved, which led to his promotion." She took a shaky breath. "And his promotion led to his murder by a spiteful Ministry witch-- Dolores Umbridge-- whom we now know is working for You-Know-Who." She paused. "Family was so important to Arthur--" she was crying now-- "and he would be so glad to know that we are all together, remaining strong. We all loved Arthur so much-- we all watched over him in our own ways, and now he is watching over all of us." Barely able to squeak out the last syllable, Mrs. Weasley offered a shaky smile and returned to her seat, pausing briefly to run her fingers over the side of the casket where her husband lay.

After the funeral, they returned to the Burrow, where Hermione, Fleur and Padma, along with Charlie, George, and Fred's girlfriends-- Mona, Nickie, and Karyn-- made dinner for everyone.

"What I wouldn't give," Mrs. Weasley was saying, "to get my hands on Dolores Umbridge..." She sighed. "I've never been one for vengeance, but this time--"

"And Voldemort," Ron spat. Harry looked up in surprise at this use of the name.

"Well," Harry said slowly, "we have to get our hands on Voldemort."

Ron nodded. "There's only one left."

Mrs. Weasley stared at Harry. "What do you mean? You've destroyed them all?"

"All but one," Harry said, "which is his snake. And--" he paused. "The link has been restored," he said. "I can see into his mind again. I know he guards Nagini jealously. She's always by him. And he's getting angrier. He knows that parts of his soul are vanishing."

"Lure her away," Mrs. Weasley suggested.

"I can't," Harry said. "The rest of the murders Voldemort has committed have been with his wand."

She was confused; Harry explained about the destruction process, and a look of understanding crossed her face. "Ohh," she said softly.

"Can you see where he is?" asked Bill suddenly.

Harry nodded. "I can see the house," he said, "but I don't know where it is."

"He's hiding in France," Percy spoke up. "That's why it took me so long to get here this morning. When Natalya told me what had happened to Dad, I left immediately-- but I had to get across the border before I could Apparate, and of course I Apparated straight to the Burrow but no one was here--" Tears filled his eyes.

Mrs. Weasley gave him a hug.

"Percy," Harry said seriously, "do you think you could bring me there?"

"I don't know France that well," Percy admitted.

Fleur appeared in the doorway. "I do."