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55: Funeral for a Lady


Harry thought the weather was perfect for a funeral, it was a windy and overcast day and threatening to rain which reflected his mood perfectly. In attendance were the Delacour's including Fleur; Bill, Arthur and Molly Weasley. Luna, Ginny, Hermione, Susan, Hannah, and Neville who was there to support his girlfriend as well as Harry.

Madame Maxime had come as soon as she was notified to officiate and brought along some of Gabrielle's friends from school. Also attending were the Remus and Tonks, the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall; Ron was there with Lavender though Harry figured it was because his parents were attending and not due to any attachment to the girl. Everyone was silent as they slowly made a procession down to the lake.

The Headmistress spoke at length about what a wonderful girl she had been and how unfair it was to have her life cut short. Each of them were invited to speak and one of her friends went into detail about everyday life at Beauxbatons and how it would be lacking in color without the girl there to share it with them. Harry suspected from the amount of emotion the girl was showing, that she was one of Gabrielle's former lovers.

Finally it was his turn to speak and he made his way to her side where he simply stared into her veil covered face for a few moments, memorizing every detail. He turned to the crowd.

"This is my first love and my wife..." There was a gasp from the crowd and he waited a few moments for the chatter to die down before he continued. "I rescued her from the lake during the Triwizard Tournament two years ago not knowing how she would change my life forever. She bonded herself to me that day unbeknownst to me, and when she found me again this past summer I was shocked to say the least when she declared her intentions."

He paused for breath before continuing. "Over the next few weeks of the summer we grew closer and before I knew what was happening I had fallen in love with her. We had every intention of her coming to Hogwarts this year but some sort of bureaucratic bull kept us apart. What nobody seemed to realize was that with our Bond she was suffering every moment she was not with me."

His last statement was directed at Dumbledore who was looking more and more ashamed as the truth was revealed to him. "I visited her almost every weekend, and then came the Battle at Beauxbatons. I showed up in the middle of a firefight and immediately sought her out. I did everything I could to help the defenders and when I found her we were besieged by Voldemort himself."

This was news to all but Mione and Gin and the rest of the crowd stood in shock and awe of the young man in their presence. "Yes, I got her away while I fought with him and his two top Death Eater scum. By the time I got away from that fight she had nearly reached the doors of the school. Then she was cut down before my eyes by the same Death Eater who tried to take my Mione from me last June."

Once again there was shock to some of those present as he used the phrase that claimed her as his own, he did not pause this time. "I killed that man with his own curse. Gabrielle Delacour was at that time, under the protection of House Black and I was within my rights to avenge the attack with prejudice. However when I returned to her I could not find a pulse, my memory fails me here but I am sure many of you have heard tales that I cannot verify of the rest of the events that day.

"What I can tell you is that she joined me in a dream four nights ago, a dream that was as real to us as this gathering is to you. For three days we stayed inside that dream and somehow we were joined in Marriage by our magic. This has been verified by Madame Pomfrey shortly before Gabrielle's death."

The Healer nodded as people turned to look at her before turning their attention back to Harry. "My wife came back to the waking world with me, because I asked her to. When I found her she was trapped inside her own mind and the magic and potions we were using on her were keeping her in this world when she should have been gone. She joined me in the waking world to share one more evening before she had to go."

He ignored the tears that were running down his face, even through the blocks and locks he had placed on these memories the pain was leaking through. Everyone else present was affected by his magic and the scene before them and were crying along with him. "She died at the stroke of Midnight this morning. She died happy to be with me, and I am happy to have known her, to have loved her, and to have been with her when she left this plane. The world is a darker place without her, but I know she would not want us to be sad for her passing. She would want us all to live and love the way she did when she was with us."

He turned and cast multiple flame charms at the wooden pyre beneath her body. Normally it took at least seven Witches or Wizards to light but Harry felt it was only right that he be the one to send her remains back to the elements.

Soon the fire was burning high and Fawkes burst in to the sky above them with a song of remembrance, uplifting all of their spirits. Remus came up to him as Tonks waited for him by the path.

"I know how much she meant to you Harry, I'm very sorry for your loss."

Harry smiled weakly, "Thanks Moony... so how are things at the Ministry?"

"Wonderful actually, you have no idea how surprised I was when I received that Firecall. Then again maybe you do." The older man asked with just a hint of a smirk. "Now is not the time Harry but you and I need to have a discussion one of these days about meddling in my life."

Harry couldn't help but smile at the old wolf, "I learned from Dumbledore what can I say."

Harry was pulled into a hug before he realized what was happening even as Remus wept a bit into his shoulder. "Thank you Harry, the real Marauders would be proud of the man you have become."

He quickly let Harry go and made his way back to the path where he took Nym's hand shyly before escorting her back up to the school. Slowly the others began to trickle off until only Harry, Ginny, and Hermione were left in an embrace by the water's edge with the flames burning down to the ground. As the flames died down a white pillar replaced the ashes in a flash of light bearing her name and dates of birth and death.

Gabrielle Apoline Delacour-Potter-Black
December 28, 1981 - October 31, 1996

Loved in this life and the next.

He reached into his shirt and wrapped his hand around the lightning bolt pendant and thought of her as he stared at the monument. For a moment he could feel her wrapping her arms around him and he smiled sadly at his overactive imagination. Suddenly things snapped into place in his head and his eyes went wide. Both Hermione and Ginny noticed the change in his posture immediately.

"What is it Harry?" Hermione asked quietly.

"The Ring." He whispered back.

"Ring?" Ginny couldn't help but ask.

"Gaunt's ring, the ring in Dumbledore's office. The stone with the strange symbol that I couldn't place. I remember where I saw it before."

Hermione looked at him in confusion. "The Gaunt Signet?"

He shook his head. "Godric's Hollow. That same symbol was on a grave there that Remus said I was related to. The Peverall's..."

"So that ring belongs to you? Wait, does that mean you are related to Slytherin after all?"

He shrugged, "Who knows, but that isn't what's important here. The cloak has been handed down in my family from Father to Son. The wand might have been if it weren't stolen. I think the Hallows belonged to the Peverall brothers..."

It only took a moment for Hermione to catch his meaning. "Harry what are the chances that the stone in that ring is the Resurrection Stone?"

He shook his head, "Only one way to find out, that ring belongs to me by Birthright. Dumbledore has been keeping more from me than we thought."

He stood and stared at the alabaster pillar for a moment before turning back toward the school with both girls hurrying to follow him. "Harry wait!" Ginny called out.

He slowed down enough for them to catch up and then picked his pace back up. Hermione had to inject some logic into the situation. "Say that this is the third Hallow, Harry you heard the story, bringing Gabrielle back would make her sad."

He shook his head, "She said she would stay with me, I think she is sad not being here." They said nothing else as they walked back up to the school and toward the Headmasters Office.

*************************SFTP************************

Harry produced his wand and pointed it at the Gargoyle guarding the Headmasters Office. "Move."

It rolled its granite eyes and grunted; Harry produced his second wand and pointed it directly between the Gargoyles eyes. "Move."

Those eyes went wide as he recognized the Elder Wand. "What do you want?" It asked.

"You talk?" Hermione asked totally belying the situation.

"Only to people that matter, until now you didn't matter." It responded cheekily.

"Look, I can stand here naming off every type of sweet both Magical and Muggle for the next five minutes, I can blow you open, or you can announce that I am coming and give the old man a minute to get ready for us. Your choice."

"Whatever..." The gargoyle said before moving and revealing the staircase which began spinning upward as they stepped on.

Once at the top Harry did take the courtesy of knocking. After only a moment the Headmaster was heard through the door asking them in by name.

"Harry, what may I do for you? I do hope you haven't harmed Irving."

He couldn't help but ask the stupid question, "Irving?"

"My guardian downstairs, the Gargoyle?"

Harry nodded, "Ah, no Irving is fine, he just saw reason."

"May I once again offer all of you my condolences for the loss of young Lady Potter?"

"Respectfully sir, you can shove your condolences."

"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed.

"I'm sorry Hermione, but he had to have known this attack was coming. Snape had to have known, if Snape didn't know then he is of no use to us as a Spy and should get the hell out of Dodge."

"Harry, there was nothing we could do in the face of so many..."

"Damn you!" Harry cried as he struck one of the tables that held shiny puffing instruments. It cracked in half as his magic amplified his strength.

"You knew, and you didn't even warn them?"

"Harry if they had forewarning Voldemort would have known Severus was not working for them."

"What good is a spy if you cannot act on information you get from him? What good is the Order of the Phoenix if all you do is show up after the fact to count bodies?"

The old man had nothing to say to that and simply sat quietly. "I'm here for my ring." Harry said in disgust.

"Ring?"

Harry walked over to the case that contained Gaunt's Ring and removed it before placing it on his left index finger. "Harry please, you don't understand."

"Understand what Headmaster? That I am now the Master of Death? That my ancestors were the original owners of the Deathly Hallows? That you need this ring to speak with your dead sister?"

"Now see here!" Dumbledore shouted at him, his magic slipped from his control for a second producing a visible aura around the mage. Ginny and Hermione were shaken by the sight but Harry just smiled.

"Nice trick, I'll see yours." He released his power and produced an aura about the same size but much brighter. "And I will raise you." The room was suddenly filled with color and all but Harry trembled as wave after wave of power washed through them, Dumbledore returned to his chair clutching his chest which caused Harry to reign in his power and rush to the old man's side.

"Headmaster?"

"Harry?"

"Headmaster, I'm sorry..."

The old man sighed, "No Harry, it is I who must apologize. You are right...on all counts. I have kept from you that which was yours by birthright. I have made decisions at every turn which imperiled your wellbeing, and I have mismanaged the Order to the point that we are nothing but body counters and cleanup crew...Harry please..." The man reached out for him with his blackened hand but had to bring it back to his chest as another pain shot through him.

"Fawkes, take him to to the hospital wing, NOW!"

As you say young speaker The phoenix replied before quickly flying over and flashing the man away.

"Harry?" Ginny asked still in shock at the quick turn of events.

"Come on, we need to go make sure Poppy knows he's there."

They made their way out of the office and down to the Hospital wing as quickly as they could; when they arrived they found the Healer standing over Dumbledore with Fawkes singing on the headboard. Harry rushed to his other side and grasped the old man's hand even as tears ran down his face.

"Harry, please. I'm fine." Harry looked up at Pomfrey who shrugged. He didn't know what to make of that.

"I'm so sorry..."

"No Harry, you have nothing to apologize for. I commend you for taking so long to lash out at me...Harry I don't have long left in this world."

Hermione and Ginny gasped but Harry simply nodded, "I figured as much after speaking with Fawkes. It's the curse on your hand isn't it?"

The old man nodded even as he sighed. "I have a few months left, possibly until the middle of next term, not much longer...if it weren't for Poppy and Severus I would not have survived recovering that ring." He said motioning to Harry's hand.

"Despite everything you put me through...for some reason I still love you old man. You can't die on me too..." Harry was reduced to tears as the females looked on.

Dumbledore patted him on the shoulder as he wept openly, a few tears fell down his own wrinkled cheeks as the two bonded too little too late. "You're free to go Albus." Poppy said quietly. "Just don't strain yourself too much. At your age that curse may be the least of your worries."

He sighed and Harry quickly helped him out of the bed and escorted him back up to the Headmasters Office. Dumbledore pressed on a bookshelf and it opened to reveal a spiral staircase that led upward to a loft apartment with a full view of the castle and grounds through its many windows. After helping him into bed the teens sat back and looked around at over a hundred years worth of knick knacks and books spread throughout the tower room.

"Harry, I will be fine but you must get that memory from Horace if we are to proceed."

Harry shook his head. "I will get it but it doesn't do us much good. I have been doing some reading and seven may not be the limit."

"What leads you to think that he has more than seven?" The Headmaster asked. The girls looked a bit confused so he quickly filled them in on his hypothesis.

"The Lord of the Rings." Was his only response.

"I'm sorry Harry, I don't follow..." Dumbledore began.

"Sauron assisted in the creation of all but three of the Rings of Power. Those three were never under his control but he somehow had control of all the others on top of the curses he placed on them. Then there is the One Ring which seems to bear an uncanny likeness to a Horcrux."

The three others simply stared at him for a moment. Ginny had never read the books and Hermione thought they were a Muggle Fiction. Dumbledore however was slowly processing the information. "You think it is possible that the Dark Wizard Sauron may have split his soul seventeen times?"

"Wait! Sauron was real?" Hermione had to ask.

Dumbledore nodded, "The tale is older than Merlin but Tolkien was a squib historian for the Ministry of Magic who took the story to the Muggle World. Much of the story is of course the result of time and legend, and much was possibly embellished for Muggle consumption. But the main facts remain true. The elves did indeed leave this world for their own long ago, but the Dwarves remain as do men; however Hobbits or Halflings have not been seen for many centuries, long before Hogwarts was built."

Harry continued. "At the very least, the One Ring displayed the traits you mentioned of a Horcrux. It sapped energy from the one who carried it. It was eerily sentient and able to affect the world around it to find its way back to its master; and the only way to destroy it was in a Volcano. I hope you didn't plan for me to throw them into a Volcano because I don't have one handy."

The old man shook his head. "What did you use to defeat the Diary Harry?"

He thought for a moment, "A basilisk fang?"

"Correct, more specifically basilisk venom."

"Of course!" Hermione caught on.

"Even if we go back to the chamber I doubt there is anything left of that corpse by now."

Dumbledore nodded, "I have already had Fawkes flash me back and though the skeleton remains, the venom ate through the fangs within a year of its death. However there is another object in the office below which has the properties of the venom imbued within."

"Gryffindors Sword?" Ginny asked quietly. She did not like this conversation but the answer had come to her immediately. "Goblin steel absorbs anything which makes it stronger and makes it a part of itself."

Harry kissed her quickly before pulling back with a smile. "That sword is yours by right of conquest Harry. I think it might be a good idea to keep it on you at all times from here on out." Dumbledore told them.

"Conquest? I pulled it from a hat!"

Dumbledore smiled, "Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled that sword from the sorting hat. It had been lost for many years and only one who showed true courage in the face of impending doom would have been able to retrieve it. It is yours; I have selfishly kept it from you, just as many other things..."

"It's in the past...as long as you stop from now on. This is my fight now; I need you working with me not on my behalf using your own judgment." Harry said quietly.

"Very well then...a word of caution before you go... Remember what I told you about the Mirror of Erised?"

"It does not do well to dwell on dreams and forget to live?"

He nodded, "Exactly Harry...the stone works, you simply turn it three times while thinking of whom you wish to speak...but I warn you. Beware the lesson of the story of the Three Brothers. Do not spend your life wishing to be with the dead."

Harry nodded but did not comment on the advice. "You need to give us everything you have on Horcruxes and let us research another way to stop him in case we cannot destroy them all."

It took the old man a long moment before he nodded, "Very well Harry, this battle now belongs to you... I shall have the materials delivered to your room tomorrow. Please do try to get that memory from Horace so we can be certain."

Harry nodded and after seeing that Dumbledore was well enough to get up and make himself ready for bed on his own they left quietly. Heading back up to his suite in silence. Once inside Harry sat down and stared at the ring. The girls joined him in silence on the couch.

After half an hour Ginny spoke up. "Do we need to go to classes today? It's almost lunchtime."

Hermione spoke softly. "I only have Ancient Runes left today, I think the Professors all understand however..."

"You two can go if you want to; Gabrielle would understand..."

Hermione snuggled into his shoulder, "Would you like us to stay? Are you going to try using the Ring?"

"I don't know... I'm still thinking..."

The girls recognized that he needed time to himself and excused themselves with a kiss on each of his cheeks. "Don't forget to eat Harry... we will stay in the Tower tonight and you can find us if you need us alright?"

He nodded and watched silently as they walked out of the portrait leaving him alone with his thoughts.




A/N:

I know this chapter doesn't fulfil the promise to make it all okay again, but I hope you can see how the unfortunate event is leading him in new directions. Also I have been threatened with losing readers if they don't see harry on a rampage this chapter, well he almost gave the headmaster a heart attack, does that count?

There are reckonings and shagging to take place still ahead. I am still so sorry about what I have done....