"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust," Mr. Allen said. We all grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it on Percy's coffin. Mum started to cry. We watched the dirt fall on the coffin and rise up slightly, covering our black robes with a fine layer of dust.
My parents had a large backyard, so his grave was going to be under a tree near the edge of the property. There are very few wizarding cemeteries around Britain, and although we could have put Percy in one of those, I think my parents wanted him to be home.
Two days ago Percy died. After I came home from Harry's house my brothers told me. I went with George and Fred to Percy's apartment. We found him lying on his couch, eyes wide open, a needle still sticking out of his left arm and a needle gripped tightly in his right hand. His apartment, if possible, was in worse shape than it was in when I was last over there. The floor was covered in trash, and there were ants everywhere. We tried to move his body to make it easier for Fred and George to carry him but rigimortis had already set in. Fortunately Percy had a fireplace in his bedroom, so we were able to Floo back to the Burrow using the little bit of Floo powder George found in a pot under Percy's bed. It was a very awkward trip home. Mum was surprised to see me appear in the fireplace because we had all stopped flooing now that we could all apparate. She screamed when she saw Fred and George supporting Percy's body between them.
Bill and Charlie picked up shovels and started to bury Percy. Mr. Allen (who officiated over wizarding ceremonies in our community) and Dad stood at the head of the grave, talking in hushed tones. Mum started crying harder, so Hermione and I took her back to the house. Bill's wife, Charile's wife, and the children followed us to the house.
"My poor baby!" Mum wailed. "What kind of monster would hurt him like that?" Mum had seen all of the scaring on his arms. She thought that someone had come into his house to steal his belongings and murder him.
"It's just awful, Mrs. Weasley. Would you like me to make you some tea?" Hermione offered.
"Yes, dear. I'm going to go up to bed now," Mum said vaguely as she wandered upstairs. The others followed her upstairs.
"What is your mum talking about?" Hermione asked as she started to make tea. I sat down at the table.
"She thinks Percy was murdered."
"Oh. So what really happened?"
"Overdose. He was clutching a needle in his hand when we found him."
Hermione gasped. "I had no idea."
"Yeah," I said grimly. "I still can't figure out how Fred and George found out though."
The door opened and closed, and Harry, Ron, Fred, and George all walked in, eyes slightly red.
"How did you find out, George?" Hermione asked.
"How did you know he was dead?" I asked at the same time.
The boys all sat down at the table. "Well, one of his friends came to see us."
"Percy had friends?" Ron asked. Hermione kicked him underneath the table. "Sorry, sorry, you know, it's Percy."
"Ha ha, funny. Anyway, his friend came to see us because he hadn't seen Percy at work in a few days," George continued. "So, we decided to go to Percy's apartment to see what was going on."
"Then we found him on the couch. Cho Chang was huddled in a corner, crying," Fred finished. That's great, that stupid whore was the last person Percy ever saw. We all sat in silence for a while until Bill, Charlie, Mr. Diggory, and Dad came in.
"How's mum?" Charlie asked as he washed his hands at the sink.
"Oh my gosh, the tea!" Hermione exclaimed.
I was sitting in the living room, looking at a magazine when Harry came in. I couldn't bear to be in the kitchen any longer. I wanted this day, this week, this month to end. One of my brothers was dead.
"Ginny, I'm sorry about Percy," he said softly. I kept my head down, pretending to read an article about make-up charms.
"Ginny, come on," Harry pleaded.
"Harry, I really don't want to talk to you right now," I said quietly. He sat down next to me, but I scooted farther away from him.
"Ginny," he said, grabbing my hand. I pulled it away.
"Don't talk to me Harry. I don't want to speak to you right now," I said loudly.
"Why?"
I started to cry. "Come off it, Harry. You really don't know?"
"Why you're mad at me? Not really."
"Because you led me on!" I spat. "I really believed you were interested in me."
"You're still mad about Lavender? You know I don't like her in that way."
"That's not what it seemed like!" I shouted. I stood up and the magazine fell to the floor. "You kissed her, Harry! You kissed her!"
He stood up too. "I didn't kiss her! She kissed me!"
"Oh, right, whatever," I said. "Go away, Harry."
"Fine. I'm going. Tell your family goodbye for me." He apparated out of the room.
I sunk to the floor, hands covering my face and tears dripping from my eyes. I heard the sound of two people apparating (probably Ron and Hermione) and felt someone sit on the floor next to me and put their arms around me.
"Go away," I muttered.
"Ginny, why don't you go to bed?" Charlie said. I moved my hands so that I could see him through my fingers.
"I don't want to go to bed. It's five in the afternoon," I said.
"Well, go upstairs and change then."
I sighed. "Fine, fine." I stood up and went over to the stairs. "Why do boys suck?" I asked.
Charlie laughed. "Why are women so confusing?" he countered.
I smiled. "Good point."
I sat down at the desk in my room. In my grief, I had almost forgotten about Parvati. No need for someone else's life to be ruined if I can save them.
I wrote a letter to her, telling her that her parents were coming. I found Ron's owl and sent him on his way to Australia. Hopefully she could think of a plan to make her parents happy with her marriage to Ernie.
Charlie knocked on my door. "Are you okay?" he asked.
"Yeah," I said. "I mean, no, but I'm going to be."
He walked away and I collapsed onto my bed, exhausted from anger and grief.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who has been reading my story! There are only two reviews, but my stats are showing that you guys are reading. How come 20 more people read chapter 4 than chapter 3? Is it not showing up anymore? Please review if you've got a minute!