Stop apologizing, Russ. The lion's share of us are still with you. It's only a couple who have stomped off in a tantrum. While we're sad to have lost Gabrielle, it's not the end of the world.
So now...HOW DID I MISS THIS CHAPTER? It makes the review I left for the next one look kind of stupid. Okay, I'm calm now...
The funeral was beautiful and Harry's eulogy made me cry. My heart broke right along with his. He doesn't realize yet that she's really with him--a part of him. Knowing what I know about the next chapter now, that stone is going to be useless.
Harry is angry. He's just discovered more stuff had been kept from him. I loved the thing about Dumbledore keeping the ring for himself so he could commune with Ariana. He never got a straight answer to that accusation, did he? If the old man's dying, he'll have all eternity to beg her forgiveness.
The really sad part is that Harry may not trust Dumbledore anymore, but a part of him still loves the old goat. He panicked when he nearly killed him. But the show of power was necessary. Harry will no longer be intimidated. He is the most powerful wizard on the planet, bar none.
Gabrielle left her husband with a charge to make sure his name strikes fear into the hearts of men. Not her exact words, but it's the gist anyway.
She also left him with a promise that she'd always be with him. In what capacity, we dont' know for sure, but the necklace is a clue. When he held it in his hand after the funeral, he could feel her embrace. She's attached her essence--her soul--to Harry through the jewelry.
Nice integration of LOTR, Russ! Nice parallels, too. I never thought that the One Ring could be a Horcrux or sorts, but you're right. It is! If that had been reunited with Lord Sauron, he would have been essentially reborn. The Fellowship is almost like a combination of the Order and a faction of the DA. The difference is that The Fellowship of the Ring actually did something!
I'm glad you addressed something about the Order that has bothered a lot of us critical students of HP. They didn't really do anything until it was too late! They almost always showed up after the fact, doing almost nothing proactive. While they were guarding Harry, they just stood around waiting for Death Eaters to show up. The house was warded! They'd never be able to find it! Meanwhile, Harry's abused and neglected while they stand there with their thumbs in their bums waiting for Dumbledore to spit or get off the pot! BRAVO!
So anyway, having discovered this chapter, the next one makes sense, but my review is tosh. Oh well. Nobody's perfect.