Chapter 82

Saying Goodbye

Note from J.M. Jackson: Okay, so tissues may be needed (If I've written this well enough, and I hope I have).

Days had passed since the battle, and the wizarding world had been busy. Since Elpenor White had been revealed to be a Death Eater, Rufus Scrimgeour had officially been sworn in as Minister for Magic, and from what Lily had been told, he had met with the muggle Prime Minister, and explained everything as best he could.

Many of the ministers who had willingly worked with White and doing what they had done to hurt others had been arrested and were to be given trials to determine whether they had acted willingly or not, and whether they had known the truth about White.

The Daily Prophet was now singing Lily's praises, reprinting the interview she had given Rita, claiming it as an exclusive, although they had paid Luna's father for it, allowing the Lovegood's to be able to go on holiday.

The students who had fought at the Ministry were all now heroes at the school, although they were all starting to understand why Lily hated the attention. Fleur had been allowed to stay at the school for the last two weeks of term, as had Sirius and Remus.

Minerva had recovered, and returned to the school, praising Lily, and gently chiding her for her recklessness, but thankful for her loyalty and love. Lily, who had remained in the Hospital Wing, recovering both physically and emotionally from the battle, had spent as much time with her aunt Minnie as she could.

Molly Weasley was now in the school, with the funeral for Arthur taking place in the grounds of the school, something Molly requested, and she was sitting in the hospital wing with Lily, keeping her and Ginny company.

"Arthur loved you as if you were our own daughter, Lily. Sacrificing himself… he would have done that for any of us," Molly said kindly, holding Lily's hand. "I love you like you're a daughter, and I have no doubt that you will be through marriage one day."

"I feel like… I don't deserve what everyone has done for me. What they've given… and who they've given," Lily admitted.

"Which is why we all do it," Molly explained kindly. Her eyes were red from where she had been crying, a lot, and that was something Lily had been doing as well.

"Because I don't want you to die for me, you're willing to? I… I don't understand," Lily confessed. It was then that Sirius spoke up, although Lily wasn't sure how long he had been there for.

"I can get why it's confusing. Look at You-Know-Who. His followers will run away at the first sign of trouble. They will start telling everything. Look at White; now he's been caught, he's telling the Ministry everything in the hopes of not going to Azkaban or being killed. Bellatrix… that lunatic killed Lucius and Narcissa, to protect herself. You… you throw yourself into harm's way to protect others. You wouldn't ever ask anyone to do something you wouldn't do," Sirius explained.

"Like Captain Kirk, or Captain Picard?" Lily asked.

"Exactly," Sirius agreed, with a chuckle. "The thing about war, Lily, is that it's always going to be full of difficult choices. You chose to go to the ministry to stop Voldemort. Your friends chose to go with you. We chose to go with you, because we trusted you, and we always will."

"I don't want anyone to die for me though," Lily exclaimed.

"No one wants to die, Lily, but if we die for what we believe in, then it's a good death," Sirius said softly.

"How can there be a good death? I don't understand," Lily looked confused as she looked at Sirius and Molly.

"That's something a lot of us wonder about. This is something no child should ever have to think about, and definitely not what I wanted for you, Lily," Sirius said, his voice almost breaking. "You should be outside having fun with your friends, and not worrying about this kind of thing. But in war, people will die. You are going to be looked to as a leader by so many. With the whole prophecy thing, people will talk about it, and many will look to you. Now, this path is up to you. Do you still want to fight?"

"Yes," Lily replied. "And not because I have to. I mean, in a sense, I have to, because I know it's the right thing to do. I've seen two people die to protect me, four if you include my parents… I can't, and won't, let their sacrifices be in vain."

"Just remember, whatever happens Lily, you are worthy of being loved and cared for," Ginny said.

"I doubt you'll ever let me forget it," Lily said softly. Ginny wrapped her arms around Lily.

"You're right, I won't," she said softly. "I'm never leaving your side, Lily, no matter what happens. From now on, when you fight, we fight. When you study, I study. If this year has taught me anything, it's that we're stronger together."

"Well, you won't be in the same classes as me, but other than that, I don't have a problem with that," Lily smiled.

"Good. Now, we need to get ready," Ginny told her. Lily nodded as she slowly got out of the bed.

"I'm honestly glad to be getting out of here," Lily said, still wearing her gown. "I just… I can't wait to go home."

"I'm going with you, if you don't mind," Ginny said.

"I won't even try arguing with you, Ginny. Just… talk to me every day?" Molly asked.

"Molly, do you want to come and stay at ours? We have a big enough house for you and the kids to come and stay, and maybe it'll help a little?" Sirius asked. "I could use your help in planning… well…"

"Planning what?" Lily asked. Sirius smiled.

"Well, my wedding to your Uncle Remus," Sirius said. Molly, Lily, and Ginny all grinned and hugged Sirius.

"Oh Sirius, a wedding! I think this is going to be the event we all need," Molly said, smiling sadly at him.

"Remus and I were thinking about how we're going to do the wedding, and we're both having best men, but we're also both being given away. I don't know who Remus is asking, but I'd like you to be the one to give me away Molly," Sirius said. Lily could see that Molly was struggling to hold back the tears.

"Ever since we met, Molly, you were always so sweet and kind, and you helped me when I first left Hogwarts, making sure I had a place to go when I was homeless thanks to my parents. You've always been a part of my life, and having you do this would mean the world to me."

"Oh Sirius, yes, of course I will," Molly pulled Sirius into a warm hug, weeping with joy. "

"I'm really happy for you, Uncle Sirius," Lily said, looking at him and Molly.

"One day, it'll be your wedding I'll be planning," Molly said. "Oh, are you sure you want my help planning?"

"I would be absolutely useless with planning, Molly. I can't even do a decent domestic spell. Hell, Lily is better at domestic spells than I am, and she's only fifteen!" Sirius exclaimed, prompting everyone to laugh.

"Well then, I can't say no to you after that confession," Molly said, smiling. "Thank you, Sirius."

"No, thank you Molly," Sirius said.

"Come on Lily, let's go and get dressed before we get roped into the planning," Ginny giggled, leading Lily from the hospital wing and towards the Gryffindor dorm.


As Lily and Ginny reached the common room, they saw Ron, Hermione, Parvati, Lavender, and Neville waiting for them. Hermione went to Lily, and embraced her in a hug, which the others copied, one after the other. Lily smiled softly as she hugged her friends, thankful for all of them being there. "How are you all feeling?" Lily asked.

"Never mind us, how are you doing?" Ron asked.

"I'll be okay, in time," Lily replied, deciding not to argue anymore. "Now how are all of you doing?"

"I'm feeling better, thanks Lily. I got a letter from Gran, she said that she's proud of me," Neville said, with an awkward smile. "And everyone wants to talk to me about what happened."

"Yeah, it's been a little… weird," Lavender agreed. "But I'm glad we were able to help you, Lily."

"I'm glad none of you were hurt too badly," Lily replied. "I'm sorry that you were injured at all."

"We chose to go with you, Lily, so don't start that," Hermione said. "We knew there was going to be a risk."

"Still, we're kids, we shouldn't have to do anything dangerous," Lily commented.

"Okay, so I owe you five Knuts, Ron," Lavender rolled her eyes. Lily frowned, looking at Ron.

"I bet Lavender five Knuts that as soon as you got here, you'd try to take blame for everything and not want us to be hurt again," Ron said, smirking.

"I lost," Lavender added.

"Thanks," Lily replied, rolling her eyes. She sighed. "I just don't want you thinking that I want you hurt."

"We know you don't, Lily, but we've chosen to fight with you. Deal with it," Hermione said, as Fleur emerged from the bathrooms.

"Fleur, you're staying in Gryffindor?" Lily asked, pleasantly surprised.

"No, but Professor Dumbledore said I could visit Hermione whenever I want," Fleur said, sitting next to Hermione.

"Especially today," Hermione added, sniffing softly. Lily could see that she, along with everyone else, had been crying.

"Then we should probably get ready," Lily suggested. Everyone agreed as they got up, heading to the dorms to prepare for the funeral.


Lily emerged from the castle with Ginny next to her, both women wearing plain, black dresses. Sirius had brought the dresses for the two of them, and both were thankful. Lily was also grateful that the weather was beautiful.

In front of the school, near the lake, were hundreds of chairs, with many of the students there. Lily noticed that the Slytherin's were all at the back, but Draco Malfoy was nowhere to be seen. Lily understood why; she even pitied Draco. She knew what it was like to have parents killed because of betrayal.

There were also a lot of people from the Ministry of Magic, including the new Minister, as well as Kingsley, Moody, Tonks, and others from the Order of the Phoenix.

Lily sat a few rows from the front, next to Sirius, and Minerva, who was looking better, thankfully. Lily held Minerva's hand as she sat next to her aunt, smiling sadly at her. Minerva gently pulled Lily into a hug, kissing her forehead.

"Are you okay, Lily?" Minerva asked softly.

"I will be," Lily replied, just as softly. "I just wish…"

"I know," Minerva said, hugging Lily again. "I know."

As everyone took their places, Professor Dumbledore stepped up to a podium that had been set up.

"Today is a day for sorrow, and for grieving, for we have lost one of the greatest friends that Hogwarts has ever had. Arthur Weasley was a man who loved this school, and what it represented; a future of equality for everyone," Dumbledore began.

Lily could see pain within Dumbledore's eyes, something she hadn't seen before, not like this.

"When I first met Arthur Weasley, he was eleven years old and walked through the doors of the castle with a look of amazement. He had grown up in a magical home, but everything seemed to excite him. He loved learning about everyone, and everything. What impressed me most was the fact that he wanted to make friends with everyone, including those who would dislike him," Dumbledore said.

Lily allowed herself a small smile; she could practically see Arthur Weasley as an eleven year old, excited to meet new people and learn about magic, whilst also wanting to help people.

"When Arthur graduated from Hogwarts, he took some time to explore the muggle world. He was absolutely determined to find a way for the muggle world and the wizarding world to live together in peace. There was a war going on in the muggle world, and there were rumours in our world of what would be to come. Arthur wanted to find peace, and so for one year, he helped a few muggles who were fighting, not to fight with them, but to keep them safe, and alive," Dumbledore said.

"Arthur hated to fight. He once said to me 'the day you are drawn into battle is the day you've already lost' and he was right. I was so amazed at those words, and I live by them as best I can every day," Dumbledore said.

Lily was amazed; she had never heard of this before, and yet, it sounded just like Arthur Weasley. He had always told her that fighting was never good, and this was why. He believed in peace. Lily felt a fresh wave of pain race through her; all Arthur had wanted was to see a world united in peace, and it was a dream he had not lived to see. Tears were streaming down her eyes, and Ginny's, as Dumbledore continued.

"When the first wizarding war began, Arthur was hesitant to fight. Not because he believed in Voldemort, but because he believed in peace. He wanted there to be a way we could all live together, yet when that was clearly impossible, he joined the fight against Voldemort, protecting those who couldn't protect themselves. To watch him work… it was genuinely a privilege to see. We have lost…" Dumbledore began but paused for a moment. Lily saw the tears in his eyes. She could see how hard it was for him.

This was a side to Dumbledore she had never seen before. She had never seen him grieve like this, but this was the first funeral she had been to. She hadn't been able to go to Cornelius Fudge's funeral as the Ministry had held a simple, quiet ceremony, or rather, that's what she had been told. Knowing now that Elpenor White had been a Death Eater… no, she couldn't even imagine that.

Dumbledore took a breath before continuing. "The fight for peace, and justice, has lost one of its greatest fighters… but worse than that, I have lost one of my dearest friends," Dumbledore said.

Lily sobbed softly at the words; looking around, everyone was broken into tears. The words were perfect; they described Arthur Weasley to a tea, and who he was… he had been like another father to Lily. He had been there for Lily when she began her transition, when she felt alone and lost… and now he was gone.

She heard a soft cry from the sky, and looked up, seeing Fawkes flying above, blazing a trail of fire behind her, and allowed a soft smile. The sun beamed down upon the whole ceremony, and as she looked at the grave, for one moment, she could see Arthur Weasley standing there.

He was smiling as he did. No one was reacting, so she presumed it was just her mind showing her what she wanted to see. The apparition of Arthur looked at her, waved, and vanished. She held onto Ginny as she cried softly, one word echoing in the wind.

"Goodbye…"