The funeral had been a surprisingly quiet affair. With so many after the battle most of those invited just couldn't face another one. Luna and Neville were there of course, along with Dean and Seamus. They all arrived at the Burrow in their sombre dress robes about an hour before the ceremony. Hermionie had a brief flashback of Ron in his dress robes from the Yule ball and a she allowed a smile to ghost her face. She had the distinct feeling she would have very little to smile about today, to make the day easier she had on a certain level decided to take the small things that came that day. It was then that she glanced at the calendar, August 30th. Across the country there would be muggle-borns preparing to go to Hogwarts because of what they had done mere months ago. Ginny and Luna were also preparing for their final year, and had promised the 3 of them that they would make sure the first years knew the cost by which they came, unknowing that yet another name would be added to the list of those said with reverence.
Hermionie's eyes moved to the kitchen door where Harry was greeting Fleur and Bill who had just apparated into the garden and walked through the open door. She nodded politely in their direction, the pain in Bill's eyes spoke mountains.
"It looks like rain" said a dreamy voice behind her "good it will keep the nargles at bay, they only come out in the light".
A statement like that would have annoyed Hermionie not so long ago, now she felt a wave of gratitude towards Luna.
"How are you two?" she directed at Neville and Luna, who was still staring out a window.
"Oh the usual" replied Neville "nan won't stop talking about the battle, I almost preferred it when she was griping at me the whole time. Now I have my own expectations to live up to" Despite his words there was a hint of pride there. Hermionie couldn't help but think that Neville and Harry had more in common than most gave either credit for. Both in their own way living in the shadows of their parents for so long, and both succeeding in surpassing the expectations laid onto them.
"My mum always said it's your expectations that you must live by" Luna said sombrely, "I'm looking forward to school again this year, it will be good to see everyone again" she added with a smile.
"You better keep in contact over the term, let us know how it's going" said Hermionie.
"Oh I will, I imagine it will be easy compared to last year"
At that moment Mrs Weasley bustled past with her cloak on, the time had come. Hermionie picked her own cloak up from where it had been folded on a chair, and left the house with everyone else. Their destination was the churchyard in the village down the road from The Burrow, as everyone else headed towards it Hermionie and Harry hung back with the Weasley's who were hovering around the garden while Mrs Weasley was fumbling with her keys. Her hands were shaking too badly to lock the front door of the house. Mr Weasley moved to her side and gently guided her hand towards the door.
Hermionie looked away, the gesture reminded her too deeply of Ron. As she turned she saw Harry with his arm around Ginny's shoulders, already there were tears streaming down the younger girl's face. Behind them stood George in his black dragon-skin suit, along with Charlie, Bill and Fleur. Hermionie moved towards Harry, who gave her a small smile and moved his arm from around Ginny. He held Ginny's hand and held the other out for Hermionie, which she took.
"Right" said Mr Weasley in a voice that was a little too hearty, "let's say goodbye".
He then walked past them all with Mrs Weasley and slowly the group moved towards the village. Noticing that no-one was speaking the trio hung back slightly and began discussing their plans to keep their minds off what was coming.
"We can easily get the report from St Mungo's" said Ginny, who was going to be keeping close contact with the two of them whilst at Hogwarts.
"well when you say we…" Harry started
"Okay you, I can't 'cos I won't be here"
"we don't even need to do that" Hermionie pointed out "the whole thing was in the Prophet" the other two looked at her nonplussed
"yes I still get it, I know it's a pile of dragon dung, but it's good to keep and eye on them"
"what did it say?" asked Harry
"Later" she hushed with a pointed look forward where they were nearing the church, and the group of people who had got there a head of them. Most wore formal dress robes though there was one woman who had a large black veil covering her face; next to her was a stooped figure in a large cloak with a long walking stick on which they were leaning.
As the Weasleys entered the site everyone else fell in behind them, following them towards a spot near the back of the cemetery. Next to a recently disturbed patch of earth was a headstone and a simple coffin floating above a hole in the ground, obscuring the stone's behind it.
The group slowly assembled around the coffin and a short wizard stepped forward and cleared his throat. He began to speak of the tragic loss of one so young, after the first few words Hermionie had to zone him out. However noble the speaker was trying to make Ron sound it all sounded too rehearsed and too….cheesy. She came back however when she heard Harry next to her also clear his throat, catching the attention of everyone there.
"With the permission of the family I would like to add a few words" he began formally, "Ron was the best friend I could ever ask for, he wasn't perfect, but he stuck by us despite everything. He made everyday enjoyable with his humour, and his faults. If it wasn't for him I…we… wouldn't be here. I…I can…" he took a deep breath "I can't say how much any of us will miss him, what I can say is this"
"Ron never expected anything, and often admitted he felt like he had little. What he did have he gave freely, and that made him richer than anyone"
Harry went quiet, the silence filled by a bawling Mrs Weasley.
The speaker stepped forward and waved his wand and, in fluid motion, the coffin descended and a pile of dirt covered it. Slowly the group of mourners moved away. Ginny pulled Harry away, Hermionie could see his chest was heaving. She brought her attention back to the pile of dirt in front of her, and the stone there. It read simply
"Here Lies Ronald Weasley
1980-1998
Brother, Friend
He Saw The World A Better Place
She stood for several minutes, thinking she was alone, until she heard a sob next to her. There stood George, his eyes slowly moving from the ground to Ron's headstone, then to the one to the left. Hermionie followed his eyes. There engraved in stone was the name 'Fred Weasley'. Silently she moved next to him and hugged his stocky frame. After standing for a few moments George moved his arms around her and hugged her fiercely. She stood there while his whole body began to shake as sobs ran through it. After a while she allowed him to lead her away from the two stones to the road. His arm was still around her shoulders, the comfort she got from the gesture was immense. They walked through the cemetery in silence.
When they got to the road Hermionie noticed it had gotten dark while they had stood at the graveside. George also looked up.
"When'd that happen?" he said flatly "Man I'm such a mess" he admitted stopping in the road, causing Hermionie to stop also.
"Give me a sec k?" he said, and rubbed his face with both hands "Don't tell anyone, wouldn't do for business" he said with a grin.
"Tell anyone what?" Hermionie replied with a grin.
They chatted about nothings until they got to the gate, where Hermionie said goodbye, unable to face those inside. She then apparated back to Grimmauld Place, where she found Harry and Ginny already there. They were sitting in the living room one of two battered sofas they had found over the summer. As she entered they both looked up, seeing the question in their eyes she said
"So. Shall we start?"
A/N: Bit of a longer chapter this time, i just couldn't stop! I finally decided on some aspects for later chapters (woo) which is part of the reason i haven't updated in a while. Anyway let me know what you think :D and thanks for reading this far.