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Chapter 11:
Rose squeezed Albus' hand, wishing desperately that he would respond. But he just lay there on the stark white sheets, looking absurdly peaceful. She studied his face carefully; it was completely unmarked and even the residual cuts from previous missions had been healed completely. In fact he looked to be in better shape than she'd ever seen him- except for the miniscule fact that he was currently lying in a bed in St. Mungo's with about eight healers buzzing around him at all times. Oh, and he still hadn't woken up-even once.
It could be worse of course. He could be dead. All the rest were except for Macmillan who had already been discharged and was currently on his way to take a vacation in Barbados with his family. He wouldn't be coming back to work for a while, that was for sure…
Rose's stomach lurched unpleasantly as she thought of the wizard who had attacked her. Garrick Thompson. That had been his name. He was thirty-eight years old, had a wife and two children. He'd been an auror for eighteen years. And he'd been killed by that bastard- the bloody 'mystery killer'. Okay, so it had been Scorpius, unbelievably enough who'd technically killed him but as the others had explained to her, he'd apparently done Garrick Thompson a service by killing him when he had. Rose blinked back tears of grief and frustration as she remembered what he'd been trying to say, even as he'd dragged her backwards. Help. Kill me. Please.
It weighed on her conscience heavily even though she doubted that she would have had the strength to raise her wand and cast the killing curse on him, even if she had understood him. She'd never cast an unforgivable before and really had no intention of starting. It was all fine and dandy for aurors to use them in life threatening situations but she would earn herself a one-way ticket to Azkaban regardless of the situation.
The hand clasped in hers jerked slightly and Rose's head shot up to see Albus' green eyes staring at her.
"Al!"
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Albus' eyes opened of their own accord, so that for a few moments he was unsure of whether he was still dreaming or awake. His body felt numb aside from a small pressure on his hand and tilting his head slightly, he could see Rose hunched over the bed, looking a complete mess. Her eyes were rimmed with red and looking around, he could see that it was the same for the rest of the haggard and surprisingly large group gathered around his bed. There was Rose, James, Lily, his parents, Rose's parents, Hugo lurking in the corner, and his grandmother.
What the hell was the hospital staff thinking letting in half of England? Before he could shut his eyes and pretend to be asleep again, Rose's head jerked up suddenly, her eyes widening comically.
"Al!"
He stifled a groan as the others shot to their feet, immediately pressing in on him.
"Albus, mate!" James went to clap him on the shoulder then withdrew his hand hastily, thinking better of it.
If he'd had the strength, Albus would have rolled his eyes.
"How are you feeling?" Lily asked anxiously.
"Just marvellous," he rasped dryly. "Never been better."
"Albus." His dad stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder. Albus struggled to focus on his face, eyelids feeling heavy. Harry opened his mouth, and shut it again. "I'm sorry," he said simply.
"'Snot your fault dad," he mumbled, the room beginning to spin ever so slightly. "You didn't…know."
His heart wrenched as he saw his father's eyes literally swimming in tears.
"Who let you lot in anyway?" he said sleepily, trying to draw attention away from his father who, it seemed, was going to start bawling any second.
"Family's allowed to visit," Hugo said brightly from his corner.
"And so they let in half of wizarding Britain? Good lord. Is this the way to treat someone on their deathbed?" he joked lightly.
He was met by blank stares and awkward fidgeting.
Albus' face fell. "Too soon?"
Rose nodded mutely.
"Screw this, I'm going back to sleep."
And he pulled the blanket over his head and did just that.
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A light drizzle pattered gently against the ground as the black-clad mourners stood assembled around the memorial. The ground was soft, the air misty.
It was the perfect day for a funeral.
"- to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in the sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life."
The heavily confunded muggle priest stepped aside as Harry took his place, facing the gathering. Faces were hidden in handkerchiefs, others were masked carefully. But most were tear-stained, wizards and witches alike crying openly, letting the world see their pain.
He was expected to say the final rites, to send off those who died in service to the rest of wizardkind.
His throat constricted painfully as it always did. He tugged at his tie, thinking it seemed too much like a noose for his liking. And then he began speaking.
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"….those who died in honourable service. To them we bid farewell. And on our honour swear to seek justice…"
Rose felt herself tuning out, the impersonal words falling heavily on her ears. It was a scripted speech, the same one repeated at the funeral of any auror. It had been used too many times. But here, in front of all those who chose to attend the ceremony, there were things which simply could not be said.
Albus' hand rested lightly on her shoulder. He'd insisted on attending and no one had tried to stop him. He had, however, collapsed every ten minutes if he didn't have some sort of support. She couldn't see him but she knew that Scorpius was standing on her right, a little behind her.
She was acutely aware of his every movement and seemed to know exactly when he entered or exited a room and who he was talking to. It was disturbing and something she needed to have a serious think about but now wasn't the time to be thinking of how she had jumped him two days ago, almost having sex on the bloody table.
Would they have…? If she hadn't knocked that teacup down…Rose shook her head hastily, to clear her thoughts, earning a weird glance from Albus. Not now.
She watched as the coffins were lowered magically into the ground. There were only three as the others had been buried in family plots. And then there was the memorial, with the names of the eight aurors. An imperious stone wizard rested majestically atop the plinth, brandishing a wand of pure gold, identical to the ones clasped between each dead auror's hands.
Rose looked around at all the people who had gathered for the event. There were about thirty which was a surprisingly small turnout considering most of the 'important' people in the ministry insisted on attending such things so as to display a sympathetic side to the public. It was publicity and it was sick. But maybe Uncle Harry had stepped in or something…
Standing closest to the graves was a dumpy old woman in traditional black robes. She was sobbing loudly into a scrap of lace. Her friend patted her on the back, muttering quietly to her. A little apart from them were two men in black coats. The one further back had graying hair and an unfamiliar face but the other one she recognized as Proudfoot.
She recalled the events under which she had last seen him uneasily. Almost involuntarily, she turned her head around to see if Scorpius had noticed him. He returned her look inquisitively, raising an eyebrow at her red eyes.
Rose shook her head slightly, turning back to the front, watching the mounds of dirt rise and fall over the graves in neat mounds. Fingertips brushed hers lightly and she jerked her hand away, unable to control the reflex. Looking sharply to her right, she saw that Scorpius had taken one step forward so he was level with her, his gaze fixed straight ahead.
Hesitantly, heart pounding and her own eyes fixed on the proceedings, she extended her hand till their fingers were just touching. It was feather light, barely tangible. But it was enough and for some reason, it made her feel better.
It was with considerable surprise that she noticed the service had ended as people started filing past her.
Albus tugged at her arm. "Let's go find the others, Rosie. We have to leave now." Rose felt sad just looking at her cousin; he was positively radiating misery and guilt. Survivor's guilt, she realized with a jolt.
They turned away, her hand brushing Scorpius' a last time and headed towards the apparition point. It was rude to disapparate near fresh graves. It was even considered a bad omen by the more superstitious of their lot; those who disapparated from a graveyard would soon leave the world themselves or something equally ridiculous.
As they trudged away, their path was intercepted continuously by a flurry of sympathetic or even enraged wizards who wanted to talk to Albus or simply offer their condolences. The man she'd seen next to Proudfoot nodded at her as he passed them.
"We're here," Albus said, diverting her attention. "Okay, side-along to Godric's hollow and remember, I'm an invalid."
Rose rolled her eyes and grasped her cousin's arm, already twisting on the spot. "Fine, you big baby."
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The man pulled his hood up to ward off the chill, heading towards the fresh mounds of dirt. He was glad everyone had left. He had been waiting for far too long to pay his own respects.
Coming to a stop in front of the memorial, he chuckled lightly as he brushed his fingers over the neatly carved words. Live on. Indeed. As if one could live on after death. He knew only too well that once a person was dead, they remained so.
He looked down distastefully at the layer of mud coating his dragon-hide boots. It really was a bother. But it couldn't be helped. He had to say farewell too didn't he? This was, after all, his party.
He chuckled again, breath whisping in the cool air. He couldn't stay too long. No, that wouldn't do. Tarrying too long tended to get one in trouble.
The man reached into his overcoat pocket and pulled out a single memento. This was his gift to the dead. Almost reverently, he placed the red rose atop the memorial, stepping back to admire the effect of the blood-red bloom against the stark marble.
Then bestowing one last paternal smile on the graves, he pulled out his wand and apparated away.
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"Oi, pass me the butterbeer will you?"
"You're such a bloody lightweight. Butterbeer, honestly. I'm getting me some of Ogden's finest."
"Can you guys turn it down a little bit? I'm trying to watch the game."
"Honestly, we just came from a funeral. Could you pretend to be a little sadder?"
"Lay off, mum. Don't be such a crotchety old lady."
"I beg your pardon, Hugo Gideon Weasley?"
Rose watched, completely unperturbed, as her family congregated in the Potter's residence. It was complete chaos, but having grown up in said chaos, she found it soothing and just plain old amusing. She and James laughed as Rose's mum grabbed Hugo by the ear and dragged him away.
"Stupid git," James said comfortably, throwing an arm over Rose's shoulders. "Thought he'd know better by now."
Rose rolled her eyes and tossed James' arm back in his lap. "How many drinks have you had? Isn't that your second bottle of firewhisky?"
"So what? We're supposed to get smashed after depressing events. It helps us forget!"
He grinned at her brightly and Rose narrowed her eyes at him wryly. It did, at that. He'd been all out crying two hours ago and now he was nestled comfortably in a couch, watching muggle football and getting piss-drunk.
She considered prying the bottle from his grasp but before she could, he fell sideways on the couch, clutching the bottle to himself as it were a security blanket. Rose rolled her eyes at his sleeping form and went off to try and find more engaging company.
She was headed for her dad before her mum plopped herself down on his lap and started- oh Merlin. Rose veered away hurriedly, shielding her eyes. She bumped into someone and looked up hurriedly.
"Aah, Sorry Uncle Harry!"
"S'okay. Nauseating isn't it?" He gestured towards her parents. Rose made the mistake of turning to look and for a few seconds, the two of them just stood there grimacing, with twin looks of disgust.
Rose stuck her tongue out, feeling sick. "You're just as bad with Aunt Ginny, so don't talk."
Harry shrugged, taking a sip of his butterbeer. "Guilty as charged."
"Er, Uncle Harry? Where's Scorp-Malfoy?"
Harry continued to stare off into mid-air as he answered. "It's a day off for all the aurors today. He'll be back tomorrow."
"Aah." Rose nodded. She had almost had a mini panic attack when she'd reached Godric's Hollow and Scorpius hadn't popped up a minute later. Then she'd reminded herself that she didn't need Scorpius' protection and that she should be mad at him for kissing her and then she'd remembered that she had kissed him and then she'd just gotten confused and gone inside the house with Albus.
Maybe getting drunk with James and passing out on the couch was actually a good idea. She turned away from her distracted godfather/uncle and picked up a photo frame at random from the mantelpiece.
A group of cheery wizards waved at her, all of them looking happy and some even a bit tipsy.
"Aah Mad-eye gave that to me." Harry grasped the edge of the frame, peering down at the sepia picture. "Yeah…the original order of the phoenix."
"Really?" Rose said, interest piqued.
"Yep. That one is Benjy Fenwick. They only ever found bits of him." He pointed to a stately looking wizard in the middle. "Peter Pettigrew-rotten scumbag, you'll have heard all about him. Marlene Mckinnon, killed by death eaters. Edgar Bones- killed along with his wife, children and sister." He jabbed a wizard near the edge of the group who let out an indignant exclamation at being treated so roughly.
"Sorry…" Harry muttered.
Rose studied the man closely. He looked familiar.
"He looks familiar," she said out loud.
Harry frowned at the picture. "He's been dead since the First War. But he's related to Susan Bones. Maybe you see a family resemblance?"
Rose nodded slowly. "Yeah, that must be it." The wizard glared balefully up at her, patting down his robes. "Who's this then?"
"Oh, that's Caradoc Dearborn, vanished six months after the picture was taken…and this one here is-"
Harry continued to point out everyone in the snapshot, studiously avoiding the area where Lily and James Potter continued to wave at the camera, the picture of absolute happiness.
AAAAAAAND Pal the Bad Ass is BACK! Not that you guys missed/noticed me. Nobody even asked about me in the reviews. I was so dissappointed, like. Im a special feature, you know. I had to drown my sorrows with Coca Cola. On the rocks. Yeah, I went there. Dont worry, Annevader and Palak held an intervention. Except they called my exes. Which made me all sad cause im single.
Whatever. This chapter is important for Annevader. She is all vacationing with her grandma in the Himalyas and harrassed our friend Palak to put it up. But alas, Palak's wifi betrayed her in the moment of need. So she called me. And since being magnanimous is a big part of being a bad ass, I offered to put it up.
So, we'll all really appreciate it if y'all review. It'll make Annevader's day. Trust me, Himalyas with grandmothers isnt all that fun as its made out to be. SO PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!
No seriously. Review.