Eulogy for Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks
Harry was supposed to speak for Lupin, but he was suddenly terrified that if he did, he would break down in front of everyone.
Hermione looked over at him, and the look in her eyes showed that she understood how he felt. She stood up to take his place behind the podium.
Harry did not want to share his own personal grief over Lupin's death, which had suddenly become very precious, and very private. But he was certain that Hermione knew exactly what should be said. What needed to be said.
He was right.
She spoke clearly and with the same sense of justice and passion that had driven her to protect the rights of house elves. "Many of you remember Professor Remus Lupin. He was kind, and intelligent, and perceptive. He was the best Defense against the Dark Arts professor we ever had." Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd.
"Yet for much of his life, he had a secret. Bitten as a child by a werewolf, in fact one of the werewolves who was defeated here today, he suffered in silence and feared exposure."
"Werewolves, as you all know, were feared. Are feared. Because he was afraid of causing trouble, Professor Lupin left Hogwarts after his secret was exposed."
"Remus Lupin fought bravely against Voldemort. But in all else, he was too gentle to challenge public opinion. If he had survived, he probably would not have fought to try and change everyone's opinions of werewolves."
"So I'm going to do that for him. If there is one thing that we can do for Lupin, after his death, it is this. That we don't recoil in disgust at the mention of a werewolf. That we don't tell tales of werewolves that make little children scream in horror. That we show compassion, understanding and respect for those who are not exactly like us. Because even if once a month, they don't look like us…deep down, they are exactly like us."
Hermione glanced over at Harry, and he nodded, not yet ready to go up.
"Few of you knew Tonks. She went to Hogwarts and was a student in Hufflepuff."
"She was brilliant and became an even more brilliant auror. She was one of the key members of the Order of the Phoenix, which has never stopped fighting Voldemort over the years, not for a single second."
"Her talent as an auror was only exceeded by the size of her heart. Though she never stopped battling, she still found time to fall in love. With Remus Lupin." Hermione started to tear up, as did many in the audience. "And he with her."
"There are so many people to grieve for and so many things to cry about, that we also should not forget in all of this, that love is the most important thing. Love is what keeps us going. Love is what helps us survive, even in times of war."
Hermione glanced over and stepped back as Harry, composed again, re-took his place behind the podium.
"Teddy Lupin was born out of that love. Like me, Teddy Lupin will grow up without his parents in his life. Unlike me, there will not be a day in his life where he feels as alone as I did, before I came to Hogwarts. He'll know that his parents were heroes…not just saving his life, but saving my life. And yours."
"I grew up in the shadow of a tragedy. So too, will Teddy. But, Teddy will never fear another coming of another evil. Thanks to his parents, all of us, and our children, and our children's children, will be able to live without that fear."