Chapter Twelve

The grass was as green as it always was: the intense vegetation stretched out for miles, over hills and hitting the ends of the Black Forest and the Black Lake. The trees rose up high, the flowers scented yards away from where they grew, bushes sculpted the gardens with its interesting shapes. All of it, including with the morning sun rising up and sending warm rays through the young sky, was a regular morning at Hogwarts—except for the large group huddled together in a garden yards away from the castle.

All of them dressed in the blackest of robes, a few chairs aligned in perfect rows, large arrangement of flowers, and gravestones surrounding the people as their attention was focused on a ruby casket in the center of their seats.

"Ruddy intruders, mate. You know they're watching in," Angelo Zabini muttered, turning around on his seat so he could take a look towards the direction of the castle. "I can see them now. With their telescopes and extendable ears from the Weasley Wizard Wheezes Platinum Edition. Those sneaky bastards, absolutely no respect."

Smack.

"Oi!" Angelo hissed, turning back around as his head was almost slapped off of his neck; looking at the eyes glaring back at him. "What the ruddy hell was that for?"

"…Mum said to pass it down," Savanna frowned at her brother, whispering harshly as she threw another smack at the yell he sent at her.

Leaning out towards his chair, Angelo gulped as he caught the intense frown his mother was sending him from a row in front; an arm wrapped tight around his father's shoulders. "…Sorry, mummy." Angelo waved shyly at Cho Zabini, chuckling in nervous puffs as he settled himself back against the chair politely.

"Bet they wanted an exclusive invitation," Savanna huffed to herself, arms folding tightly across her chest. "Bloody idiots. Like this has anything to do with them. Filch is going to suffer the consequences once this is over. McGonagall told him no student was allowed out the castle until she came back."

Her brother frowned at her as a few people around them began to nod in agreement with her statement. "Why are you allowed to talk?"

"Because mum actually loves me, Angie," Savanna spat, her foot tapping impatiently against the grassy floor as she kept her gaze concentrated towards the front.

"Don't call me Angie!"

"—Oh, shut up." Hissing with irritation, Dominique Weasley smacked the only male Zabini heir on the chest from the back row, managing to sit perfectly still on her chair and attack him at the same time. "Don't you see there is a funeral going on, you pathetic troll? Shut up before I curse you and we have to get you a casket."

Putting his head down in what was considered somewhat of a shame, Zabini couldn't help but to tug on a little smirk. "...I like my women feisty."

"—And in Seamus' great honor and memory, is why we are all here today." Looking solemn and whole, Kingsley Shacklebolt stared at his people with the expression of a leader, of a man who has seen it all in his title as Minister and in the experience of why he got it. "To honor him for the extraordinary life he has lived. For all of the accomplishments and great successes he has reached."

Silence.

The Minister nodded to himself. Continuing on. "Will all the family and intimate friends gather around, please."

"…Poor Dash," Ariana Malfoy murmured, letting her two close friends, Roxanne and Savanna, lead her towards the casket. Each of them holding on to one of her arms as she lost a lot of her rosy color throughout the funeral service and couldn't truly stand on her own. (The Malfoy girl never thought she'd attend two funerals in the same year, let alone in the same month.) "Look at him, he can't bare it."

Flicking her eyes towards the sandy-haired boy, just to get a tiny glimpse of him, Roxy felt a fresh wave of tears race down her cheeks. "…Can't imagine how he feels," She admitted through a tightening knot in her throat, inhaling the morning air as she saw a tall redheaded man approach his way to the casket, holding the hand of a dark-skinned woman following closely.

"To think that I was getting him in trouble when Teddy came looking for him," James Potter cut in, hearing the conversation from the three girls in front of him as he walked in unison with the other group of boys; all of the coexisting for a few hours due to the pain and mourning in the air. "I won't be able to use a Devil's Snare tentacle for my victims and pranks without feeling guilty about Finnegan."

Rolling his eyes at his brother, Al snorted as he walked next to his two house-mates. "With the countless pranks you have yet tried on students with Devil Snare, I doubt you won't stop using it."

"Alright, I'll gladly take the detention, yeah? How about that?" James added, acknowledging the fact that he had a few good pranks involving Devil Snare still, all of which was written in the Weasley/Potter book of secrets. (A novel that the original Weasley Prankster has created for his young grasshoppers.) "Sounds like a plan, right, mates?"

"I think we should give him an entire year free of pranks. And two passes to join one of ours," Louis said casually, earning a nod from his cousin Fred on his left as the three walked with the Slytherins. "And a month of using the best chair by the fireplace in the Gryffindor Common Room."

Barely interested in the conversation the three Gryffindor-prats were having, Scorpius Malfoy rolled his eyes in annoyance as they continued talking.('And a month of using the best chair by the fireplace in the Gryffindor Common Room'? Who the hell did they think they were? Godric Gryffindor, Merlin, and the Minister?)

"It all sounds good, mate, but I'm not quite keen on those two passes to join our pranks," James commented, looking undecided as Rose Weasley passed their group with her little brother and his little sister; holding both their hands as they looked hesitant to approach the casket. "Finnegan is great mates with the loony-twins. And I'm not sure if I want the Thomas-duo joining my missions."

Fred sighed, picking up the pace as the group in front was practically completely assembled together. "Dash is best mates with Lorcan Thomas, not Lysander. Remember Lysander is after Alice Longbottom and they're both competing for her affection? We could let him slide on this."

But before James could answer in denial, "—Gather around, gather around. Dean would like to say a few words before the burial takes place." Kingsley's deep voice broke through the irritating conversation among the Gryffindors, allowing the group to get their separate ways.

"Quickly, now," McGonagall added, frowning as Louis and Dominique made their way to Bill and Fleur Weasley.

"Scorpius." Receiving a small frown from a teary brunette, Scorpius muttered a fake apology at his sister as his mother and father both scowled at him for shoving her a few inches to her right; trying to find space to stand next to his family as the others were gathered with theirs.

"...Whys isn't Auntie Lav speaking?" Little Lily mumbled to her parents, tugging on their hands.

Not wanting to add to a pain Lily didn't know or could possibly understand, Harry and Ginny Potter exchanged looks. "Lavender wants Dean to speak, darling. She's too tired." Was what the Boy-Who-Lived settled for.

Watching as Dean Thomas took a deep exhale and looked towards the small crowd of familiar faces, Scorpius turned his blank expression to the speaker; giving the respect that was due to the loss expressing on his face. "…Years back, most of us would've known how to handle this," he began, a hand clutched tightly with Luna's as his eyes moved towards the ruby-red casket. "We knew what death was, how to handle it, and how to expect it. We grew up in a dangerous place. Hogwarts itself wasn't safe. And the daunting idea of death was casual...none of us wanted it, but we all knew it would come..."

"…Sooner or later," Draco Malfoy whispered to himself, not noticing that his son was the only one that saw him touch the arm that held the dark mark on his skin.

"We all helped create a safe place for ourselves, for our family and friends. And in the future, our kids...A safe place for them…Seamus helped fight for that," Dean looked up towards Dash Finnegan, his godson. Watching the sandy-haired boy shed silent tears as he held on to his mother, both of them leaning on each other for support. "That is why he is buried here today. Among other war heroes that gave up their lives for the greater good. Among Lupin, Tonks, Fred, Dumbledore...and others. Because he was an amazing man..."

George Weasley nodded along with Dean, bright eyes sparkling with tears as he moved his gaze towards a white tomb feet away; where his twin brother laid in death and peace.

"We've grown older, developed families...but he was always my best friend," Dean continued, receiving a few smiles from his old classmates. "Even until his last moment was he my best friend...We would have given anything up for one another—our lives even...I can't describe what I lost or explain what he robbed us from when he left, but cursing the world doesn't help, he's still gone. And that's the hardest thing to explain...But I have my memories. And that, we should cherish like gold galleons...And remembering that all I've always known about my mate is...that Seamus was always for the party."

"Hear! Hear!" Neville Longbottom's voice rung throughout the people and his wife, Hannah. All of them laughing along with the rest of the classmates that knew Seamus well.

Dean grinned along with the Professor of Herbology; Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Cho, and George. He smiled, breathed in again, and placed his free hand on the casket, pausing for a moment. "And we honor him for that. We will remember him for that. For a light that never burned out...One that never will."

X

"So…" Sighing lightly at the group huddled together on the floor of the empty classroom, Rose Weasley pulled her knees up to her chest as the others remained looking blank and barely there. Everyone was either staring at the marbled floor, at a spot on the walls, or out the window. "We just left a funeral three hours ago. The funeral of a man we have all known our entire lives, and Luna takes our parents out to celebrate? And they accepted?"

The beautiful redhead furrowed her eyebrows as no one even looked as skeptical as she was, only receiving a cough from Peyton as he and Lily laid next to each other; the only ones looking at the ceiling.

"Don't you lot realize the mental thing that just happened? Our parents went out to celebrate Mister Finnegan's death and they left us here!"

"Aunt Pansy left a Firewhiskey bottle," Louis commented casually, stretching it out towards the group as Dominique reached out for it.

Rose frowned, not amused at all by her cousin's remark.

"Well," Louis cleared his throat, "your mum left it for Dom and I. Seeing as we are the oldest, but at least we have Firewhiskey."

Rose remained scowling. "You don't get it. Can't you see that—"

"I think the real question here is," cutting across his cousin, really not feeling like hearing the redhead shout at them after the silence that has been taken on upon the group since they awoke, Al spoke for the first time since he took a seat on the floor. "When did the Headmistress start being so emotionally supportive with her students?"

"A man just died, Al," Roxanne huffed, head leaning on Savanna's shoulder. "I think she has a bit of a heart herself. Mister Finnegan was one of her students, after all."

"Exactly!" Rose cut in, managing to get herself heard before the group could sound her out again. "McGonagall is in mourning, locked in her office with the Minister to discuss ways to help us get over this, and our parents went out for drinks!"

"They went to the Burrow," James rolled his eyes, taking the chance to throw an arm around Ariana Malfoy's shoulder, sending a secretive smirk at Al who caught sight of his action right on time. "And stop being so bloody outraged with this. Didn't you hear Dean? Seamus would have preferred a good Gryffindor celebration than crying all over his tomb. Mum, Aunt Pansy, Hermione and Cho are trying to get Lavender to embrace life once again." Flickering his eyes to the caramel-haired girl next to him, James saw her silvery eyes glisten. "...Death is hard, mates, but just because they are gone, doesn't mean their memory doesn't live on."

The eldest Potter tightened his arm around the Malfoy girl, smiling comfortingly at her as Scorpius Malfoy frowned. (Wasn't this about Finnegan, not about Lucius Malfoy's death?) The blonde Slytherin scoffed to himself; of course his sister would make this about her.

"...Lavender is pulling Dash out of Hogwarts," Lily muttered, sniffling as her and Peyton remained looking up at the ceiling. "Dawn told me," she added, hearing the puffs of unbelieving air her relatives and friends blew out. "Apparently, Lavender thinks that getting away from here is the best thing for Dash. He is the only child and this is going to be more difficult for him."

"Shouldn't he be with friends then? So this could be easier for him, instead of shipping him off to Merlin-knows-where?" Dominique hiccupped, furrowing her brows as a couple of redheads turned to look at her quizzically. (Was she thinking of others?) "I didn't mean me, you know. I mean you lot."

"The Thomas twins and Dawn are like his family, Dom, that's what he needs now. Not our pathetic lot trying to cheer him up. We are rubbish at that." Rose pointed a finger around.

"Tell me about it," Peyton snorted at his sister's words. "When my pet died all of you didn't even bother to cheer me up. I was a broken six year-old with lost dreams. Then mummy had to go out and buy me a new pet."

"A gnome is not a pet, Peyton," Angelo said, remembering the summer he was at Ron and Pansy's home and the little body passed out in the garden; flies circling it as it stunk of Firewhiskey and mince pies. "And, besides, the owl you have now was ruddy expensive."

"But it doesn't talk to me at night, does it?" Peyton hissed, crossing his arms as he kept his back pressed onto the marbled ground of the classroom. "That bloody owl doesn't tell me it cares!"

Looking awkwardly at her little brother, Rose sat silently this time as her own worries began bubbling in her mind. (What if Peyton ended up like the demented part of her mother's family? The Parkinsons are known for their restrained mentality. Mind you, her grandfather Parkinson insists she should allow him to find her a husband—at fifteen.)

"Alright, all this damn silence is making me hungry," Fred jumped up onto his feet, stretching both of his hands out to the two nearest girls: his twin and Savanna Zabini. "It's getting rather late, and I'm sure Winky is waiting for me with my snack as usual."

Glaring as Savanna and Fred remained with their hands together—even after he helped her off the floor two seconds ago—James stood and smacked their hands away from each other as he laughed too casually. "Brilliant idea, mate. We shall show the girls the kitchens. It'll be the adventure of a lifetime for them."

"We've seen the kitchen, Potter," Savanna frowned, crossing her arms over her chest as Fred stared confusedly at his cousin.

James leered, keeping his hazel eyes connected with her colored ones. "Come, Ana?" He spoke sweetly, bowing at the Third Year Gryffindor while still smiling wickedly at Savanna. "Please," he added as the girl stared at his hand unmoved.

"Maybe we should go too, eh, mate?" Clapping Angelo's back roughly, Al stood from the floor as well; glaring at Ariana as she gave her hand so easily to his brother. "All of us. Lils, Peyton, off the floor, lads. We are getting fed."

"A hand, my lady?" Zabini smiled grandly at the curvy redhead as Al pulled his little sister up as she muttered an 'I suppose I should see Winky. It's been a while.'

"Erm, no," Dominique stood on her own, cheeks flushed with color as she downed the last bit of liquor in the bottle and she pushed Angelo's hand away from her. (She never knew what his pesky fingers were going to do. One moment he was trying to be polite, and the next he was trying to pull strings of her inflamed hair out as a souvenir.) "I'm going to find Krum—that will be my dinner."

Angelo gasped, following the curvy redhead as she stumbled her way out. "Oi! I do not share my women, Dominique!" Pushing past the blonde Weasley of the lot, the Slytherin frowned at the part-veela as he was being helped with his wobbling by Roxy and Peyton. "Aren't you going to do anything, mate?"

"I should, shouldn't I?" Louis slurred, patting Peyton's dark red-hair. "Take me to the Slytherin Common Room, cousin. I bet Lana is wearing a skirt today."

"McLaggen wears a skirt every day, Louis," Roxy rolled her eyes. "It's part of the uniform."

Watching silently as everyone made their way out of the classroom, Rose suddenly felt her blood rush thicker in her veins as she noticed that there was still one person left in the room; a boy with the gaze she loathed with every fiber of her being.

"…Not hungry, Malfoy?" She asked in a small voice, a bit of attitude spat in the mix just to be prepared for his response.

"Nope."

Raising an eyebrow at the flat tone, Rose huffed a little. "You were quiet throughout the entire funeral," she pointed out, remembering those irritating grey eyes never moving from the casket.

Scorpius remained silent, finding that the spot on the wall, caused by a potion exploding everywhere a year ago, was more interesting than staring at the redhead.

"…He was a distant man, Scorpius, but he loved you so much."

Turning around at that, Malfoy rose an eyebrow of his own. "What are you going on about?"

"Your grandfather," Rose grunted, almost like it should have been obvious from the beginning. (Mind you, Seamus got along with all the lot of children sprouted into his friends' lives, but Scorpius was not his favorite. Malfoy was always attempting to lose Dash in their outings. ) "It's who you're thinking about, isn't it?"

"And you know that because...?" The blonde scowled.

"I just know you," Rose shrugged simply.

A snort filled the classroom. "Enlighten me. You really think you know me enough to assume such a daft thing?"

"There's no possible way that a person can act so frozen and unmoved by the death of a relative, Malfoy," the redhead challenged, crossing her arms over her kneecaps as she looked into those gut-wrenching eyes. "You loved your grandfather, and everyone has known that for years. You always preferred being at Malfoy Manor than at Godrics Hallow with your best mate for the summers. You always went on for ages about the places Lucius took you, or the wicked things he taught you...You loved him. And now you lost him. Tell me that you don't feel his absence, Scorpius. Tell me that you don't ever stare at those photographs at the bottom of you trunk and curse those idiots that killed him."

"Been sneaking into my trunk, Weasley, or do you automatically assume I do keep heart-touching belongings tucked underneath my socks?" Scorpius glared, a wave of anger and his own hate for the redhead appearing into his bloodstream as she blinked her brown eyes innocently. Almost as if she believed her theory of him was accurate. "I don't feel anything. I accept the fact that my grandfather is dead, and don't go exhausting his loss like Ariana does every given moment. And as for his murderer, my grandmother Narcissa took care of that perfectly well, and my dad won't hesitate to make sure the other one gets locked in Azkaban for the rest of his bloody life."

"You're not as strong as you think, Malfoy!" Rose managed to hiss before the blonde could exit the classroom, her heart racing as his infuriated stare paralyzed her when he was standing up from the ground seconds ago.

Standing inches away from the door, Scorpius turned back to the redhead; allowing her another second of his time. Another second of having to endure her cursed presence, an odd electrical current piercing his insides every time he saw her. Almost as if his body couldn't stand the annoyance she brought into him.

"You act so mighty and invincible...but one day you will crumble down like the rest of us humans..."

"Are you sure about that, Weasley?" He sneered, his heart thumping loudly with rage at her comment. (Like he would ever bring down his barriers made of steel to expose his heart. He was good at being a jerk, and that would never change.)

"It's what I know about you, Scorpius," Rose replied smoothly, a blank expression on her beautiful, pale face. "What's certain."

Malfoy pulled on his signature smirk, carelessness appearing on his face. "Good luck proving your theory, Rose, darling. You're the last person in the universe that would ever get the pleasure of witnessing that."

Sitting alone on the middle of the classroom, Rose's eyes began glistening as she watched the blonde boy shut the door ruthlessly behind him. His footsteps sounding loud against the marbled floor and distancing themselves from her quickly.

If there was another thing that she was certain of, it was that Scorpius Malfoy would always walk away from her. But one day, she knows, he'll realize his mistakes, and she'd be the one distancing herself from him.

He was human, and he was going to fall down sooner or later.