For any of you who have checked out my timeline on my profile, you will see that May 12 1998 is the date of Fred's funeral. I hadn't written any mention of this scene in my New Beginnings as that starts a few months after this. However, I haven't actually written the funeral. I was too upset to even think about attempting George's funeral speech. So I am sorry to disappoint. This is just before the funeral with a little Fleur/Ginny! Enjoy xx :)
May 12 1998
An icy chill swept across England, unusually early for spring. It was as though Mother Nature herself was mourning for the death of Fred Weasley, as the rest of his family were doing as they sat around Mrs Weasley's sitting room. Silence echoed throughout the Burrow; even the ghoul was silent up in the attic. All around, solemn heads faced the ground, with little movement among the occupants. Percy stood next to the window and stared vaguely out into the garden, occasionally wiping away a stubborn tear under his horn-rimmed spectacles. A dainty young woman stood beside him, her cropped dark hair just touching her shoulders as she clutched his arm for support. Bill was pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back, unaware of Fleur's blue eyes following his movements with concern. On the couch sat Ron, resting his head on Hermione's bushy hair; Ginny, gazing at her hands intertwined with Harry's while he mumbled sweet nothings to her and George sitting at the base, his bottom lip trembling and his knees drawn up. Sitting next to him with her hand on his knee was Angelina. Over by the fireplace, Mrs Weasley was wrapped around her husband, hiding her sobs in his chest. It was a dismal sight.
Uncertainty mingled with the sorrow that filled the air, as none of the Weasleys knew what to say. Fred's funeral was to be in an hour, with only the immediate family attending and some of Fred's close friends. Lee Jordan was to attend too, but he would meet the Weasley's at the funeral. For a few more minutes, the silence dominated, until Hermione spoke up.
"I think the vicar is here."
Sure enough, a man in a black suit with a high collar was approaching the Burrow. He was from the village: Mrs Weasley had hired a Muggle for the occasion. The family rose from their positions and composed their features. Fleur kept close to Bill as the Weasley's went out to meet the vicar. He was a portly man with greying hair and a prickly moustache. He dipped his hat to Mrs Weasley as he approached, in a manner of respect.
"Mrs Weasley," he said as he held out his hand politely. She took his hand in hers and Fleur could visibly see her hand shaking.
"What a family you have," he marvelled, a ghost of a smile upon his lips as he observed the family. When nobody said anything, the vicar addressed Mr Weasley.
"Where is the ceremony to be held?"
Mr Weasley nodded and led the vicar around to where the funeral had been arranged. Fleur, Hermione and Audrey Singleton; the young woman with Percy; had arranged everything. The three witches had done a beautiful job for such a grim occasion: there were several long benches on either side of an aisle and at the front was an altar of dark mahogany, laden with an ornate wooden cross, a Bible and several candles yet to be lit.
"Marvellous," admired the vicar and the family left him to prepare for the funeral. Some of the family weren't dressed yet. Ginny was still in her pajamas.
"Gin, you need to get dressed," said Harry gently, giving her a weak smile.
She nodded her head slowly, causing her long red hair to fall in front of her face.
"I will 'elp," Fleur offered and took Ginny up to her bedroom. For once, Ginny obliged- something strange considering her previous behaviour to Fleur. Loss seemed to bring people together, no matter how different.
A strapless black dress lay on her bed, the price tag still attached as though Ginny hadn't even bothered to look at it since she had bought it.
"La robe est très belle," Fleur remarked as she held up the dress to Ginny's curvy frame.
Ginny smiled weakly. She stripped out of her pajamas and allowed Fleur to slide the dress over her body and fasten the zip at the back.
"Bootiful!" said Fleur, kissing the side of Ginny's head affectionately.
"I can't do this," Ginny murmured softly, sitting on her bed with her head in her hands. "I just can't Fleur!"
Pity filled Fleur's heart as she sat beside the weeping girl, whose eyes were red and puffy from crying.
"Yes you can, ma cherie," Fleur encouraged, rubbing her sister-in-law's back.
"No, you don't understand," Ginny sounded so uncharacteristically defeated. "I can't go down there. If I go down there, I know I will burst into tears and I can't let my brothers see that. I can't let Harry see me cry!"
Fleur was silent for a moment, content with listening to the sounds of Ginny weeping in embarrassment. She didn't know what to say. Ginny was a brave girl. Fleur had seen how she responded during the war, even when horrible things were happening to her and her friends. She had a courage and strength that reminded Fleur of herself- particularly during the Triwizard Tournament. But Fleur also understood Ginny's embarrassment at looking weak. Fleur had felt the same when she had been unable to continue the Second Task due to an incident with the Grindylows. She had been terribly embarrassed about how she would appear, as she was the only female in the Tournament. Likewise, Ginny was the only girl in her family and that put an immense amount of pressure on her to act a certain way: to act like her older brothers. But in times like this, no-one would blame her for removing her confident mask.
"Ginny," Fleur began after a while, unable to phrase her thoughts properly. "Everyone; your family, your friends; zey admire your bravery. You always look so strong, through everzing you 'ave been through. But, sometimes, it iz okay to show your feelings. It iz okay to wear your 'eart on your sleeve in times like zis. No-one will zink you are weak!"
Ginny looked up through watery eyes and almost scowled.
"You don't have any brothers!" she cried. "You don't know what it's like!"
"Per'aps," Fleur replied calmly. "But I 'ave been in ze Triwizard Tournament and I know what it iz like to 'ide behind a mazk."
When Ginny was silent, Fleur continued.
"In ze Tournament, I was ze only girl. Ze rest were boys and most of zem were older zan me; except 'Arry of course. People thought zat because I was bootiful zat I was weak and silly and pathetic. But Madam Maxime told me zat I 'ad to prove zem wrong! I 'ad to show zem zat even zo I was a girl, zat I was just as brave as ze rest of zem! And so I did. I put up a wall, wore a mazk and showed ze world zat I was Fleur Delacour: Triwizard Champion, not just a pretty French girl. But do you know what I did every night in my room during zat Tournament?"
Ginny shook her head.
"I cried. I cried because I 'ated being somebody zat I'm not. I 'ated 'aving to pretend zat I wasn't scared and I wasn't afraid. I was terribly afraid Ginny! I almost went insane! But I never opened up to anyone, nobody knew. And I 'ad to struggle through my own nightmares... alone."
"Why are you telling me this?" asked Ginny.
"Because, I don't want you to feel zat way. It is ze worst feeling in ze world; as zo ze 'ole world iz on your shoulders and you 'ave to bear it alone. But I don't want zis for you. I am trying to 'elp you, Ginny. Zat is what sisters do."
Without warning, Ginny threw her arms around Fleur's tiny waist and sobbed into her neck.
"It iz okay, ma cherie. It iz okay," Fleur whispered soothingly, patting Ginny's back.
"Thank you," said Ginny when they pulled back, giving Fleur a smile. She wiped her eyes. "I think I can face this now."
Fleur cupped Ginny's cheek softly. "You will not 'ave to face zis alone."
The two women headed downstairs to the funeral, arm in arm, prepared to face what grief was yet to come.
I envisioned this scene as the beginning of Fleur and Ginny's relationship. Previously, JKR had made Ginny fairly hostile to Fleur (particularly in the Half Blood Prince) and even after she was still fairly distant from Fleur. I, however, expected them to mend that bond eventually as they are sister-in-laws and this scene just did it for me. By the way. Fred's funeral. Everyone cried. Including me. The end. Reviews are kindly appreciated! xx