Chapter Text
I gasped awake as water doused my face. I coughed as a large hand gently helped me into a sitting position.
“Take it easy, Amycus hit you in the head with a rock,” Harry gently soothed me as I gasped for air.
“Are they -?” I look around, my vision swimming with the pounding in my head.
“Gone,” Hagird gruffed, supporting me as we walked toward the castle. “They managed to disapparate as soon as they lef’ the gates.”
“Almost took you with them,” Harry put my arm around his shoulders. “Buckbeak came to save you.”
“What’s he doin’ here? He should be on the Scamander’s farm,” I mutter, my head hanging so I could watch my feet.
“I might’ve asked for him ter come visit,” Hagrid gruffed. The air was heavy with tension. Hagrid was in disbelief as Harry grieved. I missed something while I was unconscious. Light began illuminating the ground and I lifted my head to see uncertain students creeping down the stairs.
“What’re they all lookin’ at?” Hagrid asked as we got closer. “What’s tha’, lyin’ on the grass?”
I looked at where the students were gathering. A black lump lay at the base of the Astronomy tower, right below the Dark Mark in the sky. They practically carry me forward as I focus on the warmth of my necklace. It was getting warmer. My mates will be here soon.
<<The old man is dead>> Circe had moved closer to the body. Harry transferred my full weight to Hagrid before he approached Dumbledore. He knelt beside the body, gently fixing the glasses. Circe informed me that he found Slytherin’s locket next to the body. The disappointment that radiated from the boy had my breath catching.
“Rionnag bheag,” Mamaidh stopped beside me, cradling my face. “You need to come to the Hospital Wing.”
“Harry,” I whisper. Hermione squeezed my hand as she slipped by us. She knelt beside the boy and shared a few whispered words before guiding him to his feet. Fleur slotted herself under my arm to bear my weight as Mamaidh led the way through the crowd to the castle.
“Did anyone else die?” I ask, my head struggling to keep up.
“No,” Fleur denied. “Bill took the worst of it, but he’s alive.”
“What happened to Bill?” Harry spoke up from behind us.
“Greyback attacked him. Madam Pomfrey says he won’t - won’t look the same anymore. . . .” Hermione’s breath shuddered. “We don’t know what the aftereffects will be - I mean, Greyback being a werewolf, but not transformed at the time.”
“It would’ve been much worse if we hadn’t used your Felix Felicis,” Fleur said. “Most of the injuries are easily healed. The only other casualty was a Death Eater.”
Mamaidh opened the doors to the hospital wing for us. All the beds were filled with D.A. members who were either asleep or quietly talking with those not in beds. Dora, Sirius, Remus, Cedric, Luna, Ginny, and Cassius stood around another bed near the room's far end. They turned at the sound of the doors. Sirius and Remus rushed to pull Harry into a hug.
“Are you all right, Pup?” Sirius pulled back to examine the boy for injuries. He ushered his godson to the group.
“I’m fine, Eva’s the one who needs medical attention,” Harry waved to me. “They hit her with a rock to knock her out. They were trying to take her with them.”
“You-Know-Who wants his heir,” Mamaidh muttered darkly. “Mo rionnag warned me when we ran into each other.”
Fleur growled lowly, her hold pulling me securely to her side as Hermione took my hand.
“How’s Bill?” I asked, looking at my cousin. She stood at the foot of Bill's bed, her eyes not leaving her soulmate.
“I’ve tried everything I know, but nothing will work on these,” Madam Pomfrey said as she dabbed a green substance on the wounds covering his face.
“But he wasn’t bitten at the full moon,” Ginny hugged Dora, her head resting on the older woman’s. “Greyback hadn’t transformed, so surely Bill won’t be a - a real -?”
They looked at Remus in uncertainty.
“No, I don’t think that Bill will be a true werewolf,” Remus said, rubbing the back of his neck. “But that does not mean that there won’t be some contamination. Those are cursed wounds. They are unlikely to heal fully, and Bill might have some wolfish characteristics from now on.”
“Dumbledore might know something that would work, though,” Ginny frowned. “Where is he? Bill fought those maniacs on Dumbledore’s orders, Dumbledore owes him, he can’t leave him in this state -”
“Ginny,” Mamaidh placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder to stop her from getting too worked up. “Dumbledore’s dead.”
“What?” Dora pulled away from her future sister-in-law to stare at Mamaidh in shock. “No, he can’t be dead!”
“He was the one wizard who You-Know-Who was afraid of,” Sirius gripped Remus’s hand tighter.
“How did he die?” Luna whispered. “How did it happen?”
“Snape killed him,” Harry spat, trembling with rage. My heart stopped. Snape, the man who has worked hard to turn a new leaf this year, has quietly supported me since I was eight, my uncle. I didn’t want to believe it. I wouldn’t have believed it if not for Harry’s unshakable certainty. The sting of betrayal zipped up my spine with a burst of pain. As a soft giggle slipped past my lips, I pulled my hand from Hermione’s to wrap it around my ribs.
“He manipulated me,” I feel tears slip down my face even as I giggle. “It makes more sense now. He thought if we got close I would easily go with him.”
“Madam Pomfrey, can I start healing Eva until you can take over? Her pain is worse than we thought,” Fleur asked as Pansy’s magic joined the thrall protectively wrapped around me.
“He never cared about me; he only wanted to use me to boost his standing with Father . . . never cared. . . .” My mind was becoming fuzzy as my head pulsed with my heartbeat.
“Shit! Poppy!” Mamaidh cried when my vision blacked out.
I woke up to the familiar ceiling of the hospital wing. Shaka and Yukina murmured off to the side as dusk's fading light filtered through the windows. A soft purring was the next thing to register, a warmth pressed against my side. My head felt like it was filled with cotton. I flex my fingers before lifting my hand to feel around my ribs. There were no breaks even if the area was sore. The next object of intrigue was the purring. It wasn’t deep enough to be Pansy or soft enough to be Fleur.
Crookshanks and Mamaidh were curled together on the edge of the bed. They were as close as they could get and remained out of Aunt Poppy’s way if she needed to examine me. My necklace indicated that my soulmates were still in the castle, though not near the hospital wing.
“Pip? You awake?” Bill’s voice carried from across the room.
“Bill?” I shakily push myself to lean against the headboard. Mamaidh and Crookshanks lifted their heads at the movement. Mamaidh hopped from the bed and shifted back into a human.
“Don’t scare me like that,” Mamaidh sighed, brushing my hair away from my forehead. “You need to tell us when you’re injured. Fleur and Hermione thought some of the pain was Pansy’s but she hadn’t been hit by anything.”
“How’s everyone?” I lean into my mother’s touch.
“Your training and the use of the Felix Felicis prevented any major injuries from occurring. Most students had been released earlier today,” Mamaidh ran a hand over Crookshanks’s back as he rubbed against my chest. I pat the feline before he jumped off the bed and ran out of the room.
“What time is it?” I was tired. It must be the next day since everyone had been released. I would fight sleep again until I could see that my soulmates were in top condition. The absence of pain over our bond was comforting.
“Dora went to get our dinner,” Bill offered as he sat up. I took in the wounds across his face. The five gashes went from the top left of his forehead to the right of his chin.
“Don’t they bring dinner up here?” I furrowed my brow in confusion. My mind protested working, a dull throb pulsing behind my temples.
“Pomfrey says I can only have liquids until my cheek heals more. Dora went to convince the elves to give me mashed potatoes,” Bill smiled.
“Hmm, and the others? Did they go down for dinner?” my stomach rumbled at all the talk about food.
“We finally convinced your girls to leave your side to spend time with their friends,” Mamaidh said, sitting beside my bed and taking my hand. “You would think they’ve grown used to you passing out.”
“It’s not my fault I don’t realize how bad it is,” I grumbled as my familiars draped themselves over my lap.
“ We’re sorry we didn’t come with you, ” Shaka put his head in my hand.
“ We could’ve protected you, ” Yukina added.
“ You protected the others. I can take care of myself while they need help, ” I reassure them. They don’t argue with me, but I can feel their conviction to protect me.
“Turns out the House Elves are terrified of Pomfrey so you’re stuck with broth tonight, babe,” Dora strolled in. She glanced toward my bed before doing a double-take. “Oh, thank God!”
I take my hand back from Mamaidh to return my cousin’s hug. Her relief was staggering. I wasn’t that bad off, was I?
“What were you and Harry thinking? Running after them by yourselves? Without telling anyone? Blimey Pip, you’re lucky it wasn’t worse,” Dora pulled back to shove my shoulder.
“I wasn’t going to let Harry go by himself,” I defend my actions.
“But what if they had taken you? We don’t know why You-Know-Who wants you, but it can’t be for father-daughter bonding time,” Dora scolded.
“I would’ve fought my way out,” I shrug.
“Let’s not put that to the test.”
I instantly zeroed in on the three people who had entered the ward. Crookshanks proudly led my soulmates over to my bed where he hopped up by my feet. Fleur rested her forehead on mine, her relief palpable as a soft purr escaped her.
“Does anything hurt?” Pansy weaseled her way into my bed to wrap around my torso.
“I’m just sore,” I murmur as Hermione kisses my cheek.
“Good,” the Gryffindor stated as she sat beside her familiar. “Then what the bloody hell were you thinking!?”
“Hey!” I fend off her slaps. “Can we please skip this part? I’m sorry for running off after Harry without telling anyone. I’m sorry I worried you. I love you?”
“We love you, too,” Pansy laughed. “But that’s not what we’re mad about.”
“We can understand not noticing a small cut or a bruised elbow, but not paying attention to your body while fighting is unacceptable,” Fleur fixed my hair before she continued playing with it. “You need to know when the best course of action is to retreat. You could have lost your life last night.”
“I’m sorry,” I lean against Pansy. “I’ll work on it.”
“You better,” Hermione huffed. “We don’t want to lose you so soon.”
“Is the school shutting down because of Dumbledore’s death?” I looked at Mamaidh. She looked tired and worn. With Dumbledore gone, she will be taking the role of headmaster.
“Students have started going home though more are staying for Dumbledore’s funeral,” Mamaidh sighed. “After the funeral, Hogwarts will be closed.”
“When is the funeral?” I asked.
“Tomorrow morning,” Cassius answered. I blink in surprise, not having the energy for a bigger reaction. I had overlooked the rest of our friends coming in behind my girlfriends. Draco’s absence was like a knife to the heart.
“How has the Order been treating you?” I cover a yawn, sagging more of my weight against Pansy.
“All right, nothing I can complain about. Besides the fact there is a war to begin with,” Cass grinned.
“We’ve got to stop meeting like this, Pip,” George teased.
“While I think the bandages make your eyes pop, it is not a popular opinion,” Fred tacked on.
“They only make her eyes pop because they're the only color visible,” Daphne sniffed, her nose stuck in the air. Hannah elbowed her in the side, causing her to giggle.
“Do you know when Pomfrey will release you from your confinement?” Percy had taken a seat beside Bill's bed.
“Eva will be released for the funeral,” Mamaidh said as she stood. “Now that you've woken up I need to take care of some things.”
“Tha gaol agam ort,” I smiled as she kissed my head.
“Tha gaol agam ort,” Mamaidh replied.
My friends fill each other in on what they have been doing since we last saw each other. I tried to stay awake but couldn't resist sleeping with Fleur softly purring beside me.
I wake from my nap with Harry and my girlfriends, the only ones remaining around my bed. Bill and Dora were asleep across the room.
“The locket,” I rasp. Harry jumped up to get me a glass of water while Hermione helped me sit. Fleur slipped behind me so I was resting against her.
“It's fake,” Pansy softly spoke to avoid waking the sleeping soulmates.
“Fake? Who would replace it with a fake? Who would even know about it in the first place?” my hand trembled as I took the cup from Harry.
“They signed with their initials,” Harry sighed as he pulled the locket from his pocket. The locket opened to reveal the folded note.
To the Dark Lord
I know I will be dead long before you read this but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can.
I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more.
R.A.B.
“Do you have any lead on who it could be?” I asked. There was something familiar about the initials.
“No, we haven't got a clue,” Hermione rubbed her face as Pansy wrapped her arm around her shoulders.
“It had to be a Death Eater, they are the only ones who call him the Dark Lord,” Pansy offered. We fell into silence as my mind ran through everyone's handwriting that I knew.
“I'm not coming back next year,” Harry quietly admitted as I had an epiphany and started combing through everything I had learned about my family.
“What do you mean?” Hermione’s voice broke.
“I need to find the Horcruxes. The war needs to end before anyone else dies,” Harry said in conviction.
“ Harrius, go get Aunt Poppy, ” I instructed. Harry got wide-eyed and sprang from his seat. “ Shaka, can you go to the Chamber and get the stairs up? ”
“What’s going on? You're not in pain,” Fleur held me closer to her when I tried to get up. Shaka turned invisible as he slipped off the bed.
“What is it, child? Are you in pain?” Poppy hurried over, Harry trailing behind her.
“No, I was just wondering if I can be discharged. I would like to spend tonight in my bed,” I gave her an apologetic smile for the unnecessary worry.
“I thought you were in pain!” Harry scolded as Poppy began a final examination.
“You seem good to go as long as you take it easy for a few days,” Poppy finally permitted.
“Thank you,” I smile as I slip from Fleur’s arms and the bed. I gathered Yukina into my arms and hurried through the corridors as my mind whirled. If someone knew of the Horcrux, they would need to be one of his followers, especially when calling him the Dark Lord. Sirius had a brother who died at the end of the war. Regulus Arcturus Black. R.A.B. It's far-fetched, but it's the only lead we have.
“Eva! Slow down, where are we going?” Pansy grabbed my hand. I laced our fingers together and slowed my steps without thinking.
“We need privacy, somewhere we can't be overheard,” I muttered an answer as I turned into a shortcut. I only pause long enough to pick Shaka up before descending the stairs to the Chamber.
“Kreacher!” I call as soon as I step foot off the stairs. I felt Harry’s disbelief as the others trailed behind me.
“Misses called?” Kreacher popped in with a low bow. “Disgraceful company the Heir keeps, mudblood and half-breeds -”
“You are never allowed to call them that! I forbid it!” I hissed, stalking closer to the elf. “What do you know of this?” Kreacher trembled at my fury as his eyes locked onto the locket dangling from my hand.
“Master Regulus's locket,” Kreacher reverently breathed.
“But there was a second one, wasn't there?”
“Yes.”
“Where is it?”
“In Kreacher's cupboard, Misses,” Kreacher's face scrunched in displeasure.
“What did Regulus have to do with the locket?” Harry asked.
Kreacher glared at the boy. I stepped forward, reclaiming the elf's attention as Circe flared her wings with a roaring caw. The atmosphere grew greener as I crouched down.
“Kreacher, can you tell us what this has to do with Regulus? With full honesty, no lies,” I gently ordered.
Kreacher fought to remain silent before slumping to the ground in defeat. Cushions were summoned for us to sit on as we gathered around the elf.
“Master Sirius ran away, good riddance, for he was a bad boy and broke my Mistress's heart with his lawless ways. However, Master Regulus had proper pride; he knew what was due to the name Black and the dignity of his pure blood. For years he talked of the Dark Lord, who was going to bring the wizards out of hiding to rule the muggles and muggle-borns . . . and when he was sixteen years old, Master Regulus joined the Dark Lord. So proud, so proud, so happy to serve . . .
“And one day, a year after he had joined, Master Regulus came down to the kitchen to see Kreacher. Master Regulus always liked Kreacher. And Master Regulus said . . . he said. . . .”
The old elf began rocking as he got lost in his memories. I had to keep my mind from getting sucked into his.
“. . . he said that the Dark Lord requires an elf.”
“He needed an elf ?” Pansy repeated, her face scrunching in bafflement.
“Oh, yes,” Kreacher moaned. “And Master Regulus volunteered Kreacher. It was an honor, said Master Regulus, an honor for him and for Kreacher, who must be sure to do whatever the Dark Lord ordered him to do . . . and then to c-come home.”
“Did he take you to a cave beside the sea?” Harry asked when Kreacher took a shuddering breath.
“Little Master has been there,” Kreacher seemed to pale. “Did you drink the potion in the basin?”
“No, Dumbledore drank the potion,” Harry shook his head.
“The D-Dark Lord made Kreacher drink it . . . Kreacher drank, and as he drank, he saw terrible things . . . Kreacher’s insides burned . . . Kreacher cried for Master Regulus to save him, he cried for his Mistress Black, but the Dark Lord only laughed . . . He made Kreacher drink all the potion . . . He dropped a locket into the empty basin. . . . He filled it with more potion. And then the Dark Lord sailed away leaving Kreacher on the island. . . .”
“That’s horrible,” Hermione whispered.
“Did the Inferi get you?” Harry questioned, leaning forward as worry festered in him. “How did you get away?”
“Master Regulus told Kreacher to come back,” Kreacher simply said.
“But how did you get away?” Harry insisted.
“Master Regulus told Kreacher to come back.”
“I know, but -”
“Elf magic doesn’t work like wizard’s magic,” Fleur gently cut Harry off. “Their master’s will become theirs. If Regulus told Kreacher to come home, then Kreacher’s magic will make that happen.”
“What happened when you got back?” I gently directed the conversation back on topic.
“Master Regulus was very worried, very worried,” Kreacher croaked. “Master Regulus told Kreacher to stay hidden and not to leave the house. And then . . .it was a little while later . . . Master Regulus came to find Kreacher in his cupboard one night, and Master Regulus was strange, not as he usually was, disturbed in his mind, Kreacher could tell . . . and he asked Kreacher to take him to the cave, the cave where Kreacher had gone with the Dark Lord. . . .”
“Regulus swapped the lockets,” Hermione’s hands flew to her mouth in horror. “Did he make you drink the potion?”
Kreacher frantically shook his head and I looked away as the gravity of the situation fell on my shoulders.
“Kreacher was instructed to destroy the first locket . . . but he has not been able to,” the elf finished his tale as my restraint broke and I watched as Regulus was dragged under the water by the Inferi. I wrenched myself from the memory and swiftly rose as my stomach rolled.
“Does Sirius know?” Harry brokenly whispered.
“Kreacher was forbidden from telling the other family members,” Kreacher hung his head as his shoulders started to shake.
“Kreacher, can you bring the locket here? Please?” I asked as I ran my hands through my hair.
“It is a dark artifact, Misses. Kreacher does not want to expose the heir to the corruption,” Kreacher said, shaking his head as he trembled.
“Alright,” I relent. Harry went to protest, but Pansy silenced him with a hand on his shoulder. A shiver visibly traveled down her spine. “Then I want you to go somewhere in the middle of nowhere and destroy the locket.”
“Nothing Kreacher tried left a mark on the locket,” Kreacher wrung his hands. I nod in understanding and approach the Basilisk skeleton. I rip a fang from the jawbone and carefully give it to the elf.
“Stab the locket with this, it’ll work. Please report back once you finish,” I watched as a happy glimmer shone in the elf’s eyes as he resolutely nodded and left with a pop.
“Why did you give him a fang?” Hermione grabbed my hand as I got lost in the image of Regulus being dragged down into the water, calling for Kreacher to leave him. Her touch grounded me in the present and I replayed her question a few times before processing her words.
“The only way to destroy a Horcrux is with FiendFire or Basilisk venom,” I lean into her.
“Do you think the Dark Lord knows when a Horcrux is destroyed?” Pansy quietly asked.
“Let’s hope not,” Harry muttered darkly.
“There are only three Horcruxes left,” Hermione said. “We don’t have any leads on where to find them.”
“What are you talking about? We? I’m going alone, Mione,” Harry denied with a frown.
“Harry James Potter, if you think you will survive a week without me, you are out of your mind,” Hermione scolded.
“I’m going with you as well,” I crossed my arms as he puffed up ready to deny us. “Harry, I can’t come back here now that Voldemort is determined to capture me. Going with you is better than sitting in the Manor doing nothing . . . Lord knows Molly and the Order won’t let me do anything useful until I turn seventeen.”
“Fine, but what about Fleur and Pansy?” Harry accepted our help more easily than I expected, but Mataline's advocacy of our point was helpful.
“I don’t know if I will be forced to stay by Draco’s side or sent back to school,” Pansy slumped.
“I will be returning to Hogwarts. The Order will need as much help as possible with keeping Death Eaters out of the school,” Fleur grabbed the Irish witch’s hand. “And this way, Pansy will not be alone if she returns.”
“We’re stronger together,” I smile gently.
“When do we leave?” Hermione asked as her mind whirled with lists of what we needed.
“After my birthday, that way the trace is broken,” Harry said as a pop revealed a disheveled Kreacher.
“It is done,” Kreacher held the destroyed locket for us to see. Pansy recoiled with a strangled gasp. Hermione rushed to our soulmate as I examined Kreacher for any injuries.
“Thank you, Kreacher,” I gently grip his shoulder. I trade the destroyed locket for the fake. Kreacher’s big eyes looked at me with unfiltered joy.
“Misses is sure?” Kreacher lowly asked.
“Positive. I want you to have it,” I smile. Kreacher reverently held the locket to his chest before giving me a thankful nod and apparating back to Grimmauld Place. I quickly turn to find Fleur’s wings cocooning Pansy and Hermione to block Pansy’s senses from the Horcrux. I give the locket to Shaka and have him take it out of the Chamber.
“How bad does it feel?” I asked through the feathered barrier.
“It’s not as encompassing, but the traces are still strong,” Pansy’s voice wavered.
“Okay, I’ll get rid of it,” I promise. “Why don’t we meet in the Mastery Chambers?”
Once they confirmed they would be there, I left to have Shaka follow me to the school’s entrance. I instructed him to take it as far from here as possible and return tomorrow afternoon. I returned to my chambers to find Harry, Hermione, and Pansy’s packed trunks stacked to the side of the room. The four were crammed on the couch. Hermione was snuggled into Pansy, and Fleur held Harry against her side with an arm over his shoulders.
“I’m devastated I can’t go to Dora and Bill’s wedding,” Pansy murmured reaching for me. Her magic blanketed the room and Harry had a lethargic look about him. Fleur’s thrall seemed to draw me closer to my girlfriends.
“You could wear your ring and show up,” I suggest as I figure out where to sit.
“How would I get there without the dark side finding out?” Pansy grew impatient and tugged me onto her and Hermione’s laps. I huff and scoot down to rest my head on the shorter girl’s shoulder. My feet get tucked under Harry’s leg and we sit in silence.
“I wish Voldemort had stayed dead,” I whispered.
“I wish my parents would be happy with my soulmates no matter their blood status,” Pansy kissed my head, hugging me tighter.
“We can wish for a better life but that won't change our circumstances,” Fleur sighed.
“We should get some sleep,” Harry suggested. It took us a few minutes before Harry squeezed my ankle and got up to prepare for bed.
“They’ll go after my parents,” Hermione whispered. Fear and uncertainty rose as her breathing sped up. “They can’t defend themselves against wizards!”
“We won’t let that happen,” Pansy stated, but her emotions spiked with terror.
“We won’t be there to defend them! What if the Death Eaters go after them to get to me? I can’t let that happen. I could erase myself from their memories and send them away, they would be useless to Voldemort without knowledge of me,” Hermione was growing desperate.
“Chaton, stop!” Fleur grabbed Hermione’s face, getting her to make eye contact. “Breathe with me, oui?”
Hermione wrapped her arms around my legs as she clutched Fleur’s shirt in one hand. Pansy pressed a hand against our Gryffindor’s chest to help calm her breathing. Even though her breaths started to even out, her fear and distress remained at high levels.
“Memory magic is very complicated and delicate,” Fleur began quietly, “Erasing yourself from their life might break their minds. If you succeed then there is no guarantee that you will be able to reverse the spell.”
“They can stay with Mamaidh,” I offered. I rub her shoulders to get some tension to leave. “The manor is heavily warded. No one can enter the grounds without permission, not even Voldemort.”
“If they do not wish to remain on this island, they can stay with my family in France,” Fleur leaned closer, leaning her forehead against Hermione’s. “We won’t leave your parents to fend for themselves.”
“I’ll have to ask,” Hermione lost her tension at our reassurance. “But I know they’ve wanted to spend more time in France.”
“Okay,” Fleur murmured.
“ Yukina, do you want to keep Harry company? I don’t want him to be alone tonight, ” I gently stroke her scales. She nodded and brushed against my soulmates as she moved across the couch to join the boy.
“Let’s move to our bed,” Fleur finally slipped from under my legs to stand. She pulled me from the couch and I closed the distance to draw her into a kiss. Fleur ushered me toward the bathroom and turned to help the other two off the couch. I wearily move through my nightly routine before collapsing onto the bed. I settle on my stomach with my arms hugging my pillow.
I grunt as someone lands on my back. Their arms snake around my torso and their head finds my neck. Curls tickle my face. Freeing an arm, I reach behind me to pull the curls away from my face. Hermione kissed my neck a few times before settling in. I shifted to accommodate the other two when they joined us. Pansy tucked herself under my arm as Fleur pressed close to us.
The next morning, we put on our dress robes for the funeral. The minister was present at the Head Table. Harry hid behind my taller frame to avoid his eyes. The hall was subdued, and Percy sat beside Ginny, having come as part of Scrimgeour’s entourage. His sister held his hand as she leaned her head on Neville’s shoulder.
“I visited Bill before coming here,” Percy mentioned, getting everyone’s attention. “His wounds are starting to close, but they will leave nasty scars.”
“Don’t you dare,” Hermione glared at me when I opened my mouth. “No joking about your scars.”
“I was just going to welcome him to the Scars from Magical Creatures Club!” I gesture to my eyebrow.
“I think Bill has you beat, Pip,” Cedric faintly smirked.
“Good, I don’t think I could pull off those scars and still look unfairly attractive,” I stuck my tongue out at Daphne when she smacked the back of my head.
“Stop it,” I sober at her upset expression. I hadn’t been paying attention to anyone other than the redheads sitting with us.
“Sorry,” I lean into Harry as he rubbed my back.
“Pay attention,” Percy brought our attention to Mamaidh who had risen to her feet.
“It’s nearly time,” she said. “Please follow your Heads of Houses out into the grounds. Gryffindors, after me.”
Our group split into our respective houses, and I followed Pomona as Laura held my hand. Slughorn had taken the lead in the Slytherin house in place of Snape. Madam Pince and Filch stood side-by-side at the entrance hall, dressed in black. Stepping out of the castle behind the Ravenclaws showed the line of students moving toward the lake. Hundreds of chairs had been set out in rows. A marble table stood at the front, all the chairs facing it.
An extraordinary assortment of people had already settled into half of the chairs; shabby and smart, old and young. I didn’t recognize most of them, but I was surprised to see Bill being supported by Dora. He was sitting with the rest of the Order of the Phoenix. Madame Maxime, who took up two and a half chairs on her own, sat beside the spot reserved for Hagrid. Grawp sat on the other side of the empty spot dressed in a jacket and trousers with his head bowed in respect. The Hogwarts ghosts lined the chairs, only visible in the sunlight from a shimmer when they moved.
I helped direct the students to the reserved seating, focusing on them instead of misery and crippling grief in the air. It felt heavy on my shoulders. Mamaidh wrapped her arm through mine, taking some of my weight as we sat in the front row. When the merpeople began their traditional funeral song, I let my head rest on Mamaidh’s shoulder. My eyes closed as I brought my occlumency shields up to filter out the worst of the emotions.
Hagrid’s heartwrenching grief slammed into me, my breath leaving me in a rush. Mamaidh gripped my hand, drawing my attention to her. I could feel the happy memories she was drawing to the forefront of her mind, but it wasn’t enough to block everything else out. Hagrid carefully placed Dumbledore’s body, wrapped in purple velvet spangled with golden stars, on the marble table before sitting beside Madame Maxime. I take steady deep breaths as Yukina warmed her scales to comfort me.
“ Eva, ” Shaka’s low tone caught my attention as a little wizard in black robes stood before the table. I shift my feet and the horned serpent wrapped around my ankles.
“ Where did you leave it? ” I asked, welcoming the distraction.
“ Far inside the woods. I found an abandoned rabbit burrow and took it to the deepest part, ” Shaka informed me.
“ Good, thank you. And you had no issues? ”
“ None, ” he confirmed.
“ I’m glad, ” I sigh.
Screams had my heart stopping for a moment before I noticed the towering white flames that encased Dumbledore’s body. White smoke made strange shapes before the flames disappeared. In its place was a white marble tomb, encasing Dumbledore’s body and the table on which he rested. A volley of arrows, a tribute from the centaurs, landed a foot from the first row of chairs. I stared at them as the despair started crushing me.
“Let’s go find the others,” Fleur appeared before me. “You don’t mind, do you, Minnie?”
“Take her, please,” Mamaidh kissed my head before letting me go. Fleur had a hand on my back, guiding me toward the Weasley family.
“Fred, George,” Fleur quietly called, getting their attention while leaving Molly oblivious. They took one look at me and slipped away from their family with a murmured word to Bill and Dora. Sirius and Remus followed them and my Uncle hugged me tightly. His conflicting emotions for the deceased headmaster felt like a balm against my mind. I would take anything that wasn’t grief and sadness.
“How are you feeling, Pup?” Remus asked as we walked toward the student section.
“Like there is no happiness left,” I drone. Circe walked beside Fleur, her tail wrapped around the veela’s waist.
“Is this the biggest group you’ve been in?” Remus asked.
“Absolutely,” I scoff. “I’ve tried to stay away from people for most of my life.”
“How has it been around the castle?” Sirius pulled me closer as he thought of happy memories. I could tell when he was thinking of James. Melancholy tinted those memories.
“Sirius,” I nudge his side to get his attention. I nod to the side where the minister had pulled Harry aside.
“I bloody well think not!” Sirius growled as he split from us to get his godson.
“Hermione and the others are over there,” Fleur took Sirius’s spot and held my hand.
“I’m going to stop Sirius from saying something stupid. We’ll meet up with you before we leave,” Remus said, tilting his head toward his husband. I nodded, leaning into Fleur as the grief got that much heavier. The veela began to purr softly as her thrall tried to act as a shield for me.
“Our shop has been thriving lately, and I think we’re going to purchase the Zonko’s shop in Hogsmeade when the war is over,” Fred threw his arm across my shoulders.
“Do you two infuse yourselves with cheer?” I ask as I latch onto their light.
“Nope, this is all natural!” George teased as the group finally noticed us. Hermione’s forehead crinkled in concern. Luna’s emotions were blessedly neutral.
“Luni,” I sigh in relief. The Ravenclaw stepped back, letting me wrap my arms around her shoulders.
“What’s wrong?” Pansy questioned.
“It’s too overwhelming,” I tighten my grip on Luna. “The grief is suffocating and my occlumency shields aren’t blocking it out.”
“I’m sorry, sweets,” Daphne rubbed my arm.
“I guess the next time we will see each other is at Bill and Dora’s wedding,” Susan acknowledged her aunt standing further away.
“I guess,” Ginny hugged the Hufflepuff. “We’re going to be busy with the wedding plans and everything that comes with the favorite child getting married.”
“If you ever want to spend time at the manor, you’re more than welcome. I don’t suspect I’ll be allowed off the property,” I hug Susan tightly.
“With good reason,” Hannah scoffed. “Knowing you, you’ll be attacked the moment you step off the property.”
“I’m sorry, I think you’re talking about Harry,” I winked at the boy as he came over with an amused look.
“No, no. I’m sure whatever was said was correct,” Harry took his turn to hug Susan.
“You’re both trouble magnets,” Hermione chuckled, smoothing Harry’s hair. “We need to get to the train station.”
“I’ll see you soon,” I bid the rest of our friends goodbye as Harry, the Dogfathers, and I waited for Mamaidh to finish her duties. Harry and I leaned against each other as we waited, quietly talking about what I had come up with for my proposal.
“ I was thinking of taking them for a flight to the spring on our property, ” I murmured, not wanting to draw attention to us.
“ At sunset with a candlelight picnic. That would be gorgeous, Eva. ” Harry smiled.
“ Is it enough? I don’t want to propose until after I turn seventeen, and I know they will have plans for my birthday if the war is over by then. Pansy and Fleur would enjoy an over-the-top gesture, but Hermione is more comfortable with something smaller, ” I worried. The hard thing about proposing to three different people is finding something that suits all their preferences.
“ Why do you want to wait until you’re seventeen? Why not do it now? ” Harry gently asked.
“ Because I don’t think I could wait to marry them. I know we could get married with parental permission, but I don’t like the thought of needing my parent’s permission to get married, ” I shrug.
“ Well, we better be invited to the wedding whenever it happens. I’m too invested in this, ” Harry grinned. I chuckle, nudging him in the side.
“ Our mission to find the Horcruxes isn’t going to be easy, ” I sigh, gazing up at the castle.
“ No, I don’t know where to start to find the last two. We can take care of his snake when we confront him for the last time, ” Harry grew pensive. “ I still don’t like the thought of you and Hermione coming with me. ”
“ Get used to it, because we’re not letting you do this alone, ” I rest my head against his. Mamaidh finally managed to separate herself from her conversation and joined us.
“Let’s go home,” Mamaidh sighed as Remus rubbed her back.
“Say, Harry? Do you reckon you want to visit the family vaults? Maybe you can find a ring for your soulmate,” I tease.
“Evangeline!” Harry flushed as Sirius and Remus brightened. Harry goes to shove me but I dodge his hands. I laughed as Harry chased me down the hill toward the gate. In times like this, we need to hold onto all the laughter we can, and if that means poking at Harry then I will with great joy.