Chapter Two

"Ladies and gentleman, this year Hogwarts has faced one of the biggest loses ever. Today we mourn the death of one Albus Dumbledore, Hogwarts' Headmaster, protector, mentor and someone's brother. For years under the leadership of Professor Dumbledore-"

Harry zoomed out as McGonagall gave her speech at which some points she had to stop and wipe a few tears from her eyes and to clear her voice. He stared at her face as she spoke but he could not make out anything she was saying. She looked as though speaking about her former boss was tearing her into shreds. Her face was contorted in pain. Though she was trying to hide it, it ended up screwing her face up more, which made it look as though she was in physical pain. She spoke with such conviction that if you didn't look closely at her, you wouldn't notice how frail and pail she looked.

He could not keep looking at her anymore as her pain was starting to make him very uncomfortable because he was starting to notice there might have had been more than a professional relationship between his two professors. He looked around the bleachers again and his eyes landed on the Slytherin students who were at the funeral. He knew some of their faces but not their names except for one of them. His air supply completely shut itself down as he noted the blond boy who was sitting hidden from view by his two cronies. Red flashed in front of his eyes, a feeling of vibration started from the very nails of his toes to the tips of his unruly hair. A moment later he felt his magic weaving itself in the centre of his chest.

Hermione who was sitting next to him glanced over at Harry to see if he was okay. She had heard his intake of breath and thought it was from what Minerva McGonagall had just said. That wasn't however the case, his eyes were focused straight ahead, and when she noticed who he was looking at she smothered her gasp and moved to touch Harry so he would not do anything rush. Before she touched him she realized he was giving of a vibe of a magic she had had only read in Hogwarts: a History. She touched his shoulder and shook him so he could look at her. When he did his eyes were almost black, any trace of the Harry who was nice and easy to be around was gone. In his place was Harry, whom she believed even Voldemort would be afraid of.

Harry looked long and hard into Hermione's face and noted her tear streaked face. She had red puffy eyes and a very red nose, but she seemed to not care much about that as she looked in concern at him. At that moment she looked more beautiful to him than any other time had seen her. The pain on her face as she looked at him made his insides churn. His anger dissipated as he stared into her eyes, she had the most beautiful brown eyes ever.

"What the hell is he doing here?" he asked in a venom filled whisper.

"I'm not sure, but he's making his way out now. He's leaving," she told him still looking at Harry but also tracking Malfoy's movements from the corner of her eye.

Harry looked at the place Malfoy had just vacated and tracked his Slytherin Robe clad back till the end of the row. His goons weren't following but they had looks of confusion on their faces. Once Malfoy was at the end of his row just about to step off the stairs he turned and his silver gray eyes connected with Harry's. Time as it seemed slowed until it was just the two of them (not in a romantic way of course). Malfoy opened his mouth and mouthed, "I'm sorry." Without any anytime to react on Harry's part he turned and in a swoosh of robes and walked off towards the castle.

Harry was shocked to say the least. The boy who had tried to kill Dumbledore but had had not the nerve to go ahead and kill him had come to the funeral and apologised to Harry. He had looked genuine, at that. What is going on? Harry questioned himself.

He was brought back to the world by Hermione who was looking at him worriedly. He gave her an assuring smile and she gave him a brief hug that left him breathless for a second until he heard McGonagall say, "-Hogwarts will re-open at the same exact date it has always opened this year, September the first. Beat the station at 10:30a.m and be on board by 10:55a.m, the train leaves at exactly 11:00a.m"

He looked around once more and found that most of the upper class students were relieved to hear this news. McGonagall was still speaking-"Though Professor Dumbledore is not here anymore you will find this is the safest place in the whole Wizarding Community. There are wards here that have been set up since the very beginning of this castle being built by the Four Founders and Headmasters before Professor Dumbledore, then his of course. Hogwarts is the safest place you can be at this time, in this horrible war. You'll get your scores and lists of books for your school years in the summer. Be sure to be on time for the train on the first. Thank you all for coming." With that the funeral was over and Harry, Hermione, and Ron left the stadium to go back to the Castle along with everyone else.

Hermione was talking about how the school would open and a whole ton of things about school. She was trying to take everyone's mind off of the funeral that had just taken place. Bless her for thinking school and books would heal everything.

He wasn't sure how he was going to break the news of the Hocruxes to them and tell them that he had not intention of returning to Hogwarts.

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