On Tuesday, October 5th, 2021, Hogwarts would receive some very sad news.
When Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, Aaron, Gordon, Penny, Roxanne, Rose, Pamela, Courtney, Stephanie, Samantha, and Lily entered Friendship Hall for breakfast, they noticed that Headmistress Kirke was standing up at the table with a few tears flowing down her cheeks and there were black drapes throughout the hall. The tables were thus far empty.
Struggling to compose herself, Headmistress Kirke grabbed the familiar purple megaphone and informed the student body of a terrible tragedy.
"It is my painful duty to inform you all that Hogwarts has lost someone near and dear to our school. This morning, our former Charms Professor, Filius Flitwick passed away, " said Headmistress Kirke with a slump in her posture. Flitwick had been her head of house when she'd been a Ravenclaw student the previous seven years and the news of his passing had hit her hard.
Everyone had a look of either sadness or shock or some combination of both on hos or her face following this announcement.
Headmistress Kirke continued, "Professor Flitwick had been ill for some time. I know he really hasn't been feeling well lately."
Lily suddenly remembered how weary Flitwick had looked and sounded the last time she'd seen him, the day he'd transferred the position of Charms teacher to Parvati Patil. She also suddenly remembered that he'd said he had felt thin and stretched and wasn't the same wizard he once was.
"When Professor Flitwick retired from teaching, " explained Headmistress Kirke doggedly, "He told his classes that he wasn't feeling up to teaching anymore at an older age and that he wanted to peacefully relax in the later years of his life. The truth is that he knew at the time that he didn't have long to live. He confided this is me and requested that I not tell anyone until after his death that he knew his end was near. He did not wish to have a string of visitors, cards, etc at the end of his life. Knowing his time was short, he just wanted to enjoy some peace and quiet in his final days and he was able to do so."
"F-Flitwick, " said Lily, sobbing hysterically, "Was o-one of t-the b-best teachers Hogwarts ever had."
"He served this school faithfully and generations of witches and wizards have benefited from his prodigious knowledge and teaching of Charms, " said Headmistress Kirke proudly.
Next nanosecond, Headmistress Kirke waved her wand and everyone in Friendship Hall suddenly had an empty glass in front of him or her.
Friendship Hall fell entirely silent and the heartbreak of the morning's news was palpable.
"I would like us to have an empty glass toast in acknowledgement of our missing man, Filius Flitwick, " requested Headmistress Kirke.
Everyone in the hall raised his or her empty glass and whispered "Filius Flitwick, " solemnly.
"Flitwick deserved to enjoy m- more y-years of life after retirement, " said Lily chokily, "I w-wish things c-could h-have turned out b-better for him."
"Miss Potter, " said Headmistress Kirke seriously, "This is why Professor Flitwick didn't tell anyone he knew he was dying and his time was short. He didn't want people pitying him. He was actually quite at peace with death and the concept thereof. Being the subject of constant pity in the last few weeks of his life would have torture for him. By keeping quiet, he got his peace and quiet."
Seeing the tear stricken faces around her, Samantha burst out, "This is why people should never become emotionally attached to other people. If none of you would been emotionally attached to Flitwick in the first place, none of you would be feeling these feelings of grief and sadness right now. I feel sorry for Flitwick that he died, but the rest of you, your grief is your own fault for allowing yourself to become emotionally attached to other people in the first place."
Headmistress Kirke, however, was still looking at Lily.
"Miss Potter?" asked Headmistress Kirke, "I know that you made and gave Professor Flitwick a bouquet of lilies as a parting gift. Professor Flitwick requested that those lilies be buried with him as he was very touched by your gift. "
"It will be an honor for me to know that my gift is still with Flitwick," said Lily quietly.
"Now," instructed Headmistress Kirke, "Let's now please observe a minute of silence in the loving memory of Filius Flitwick."
"Thank you," said Headmistress Kirke after the minute of silence was over, "Filius Flitwick was one of the greatest teachers in Hogwarts history and his legacy will live on forever. "
To finish out the ceremony, Headmistress raised her wand, performed a nonverbal spell, and made the words, "Goodbye and thank you," float across the ceiling in blue and bronze lettering.