Goodbye's the Saddest Word

Goodbye's the Saddest Word

Hermione sat by the shore looking out at the sea. She held back tears as painfully wonderful memories came flooding back. She thought of Harry and Ron and all the adventures they had had together. She sighed and looked up at the blue sky...

"Hermione?" Hermione turned to see her smiling mother's teary face. "The ceremony's about to start."

"I'll be there in a minute," Hermione answered, turning back to the open waters. She sighed again and smiled at the clouds before heading into the church for the eulogy of her two best friends.

As she sat down she looked around at all the solemn faces - some crying, some not - and couldn't help but remember her fourth year at Hogwarts during the final moments of the Triwizard tournament. Everyone had been so alarmed and flustered when Harry and Cedric disappeared with the cup. And then even more so when Harry had returned minutes later with Cedric's limp, dead body. Hermione had felt a great deal of sympathy and pain for Cedric's parents and Cho - but that pain could never amount to how she felt when she realized that she'd almost lost Harry.

When he had been taken to Dumbledore's office for interrogation, she had followed under the invisibility cloak and cried, though silently, when Harry had been forced to retell the night's events. She didn't cry because of Cedric, of course, but because of Voldemort's rise. For if he had truly returned to full power, it was definite that he would be after the one who had caused his previous downfall - Harry... and how right she had been.

Fortunately, Voldemort's attack had, in turn, killed him too. Though it hadn't been enough for Hermione. He had also killed the one person she had ever loved - the one person she would ever love - and had gotten off with only death. As glad as she was that Lord Voldemort's reign was finally over for good, she would have liked to see him suffer from a long and painful spell... though it didn't have to be a spell... it could just as easily have been a pencil. Either was satisfying enough for Hermione. As long as he was suffering...

Hermione felt something brush her hand and cling to it, and looked over to see her mom smiling with tears glistening in her eyes.

"Are you alright, dear?" she asked lovingly, between sniffles. Hermione forced a smile and nodded.

"Yeah," she whispered. "I'm fine." Mrs. Granger nodded and pulled Hermione into a hug, weeping, and finally breaking Hermione's emotional barrier - causing her to cry, also.

After a moment, Hermione let go and sat upright in her seat again, when she saw Dumbledore emerge from the back of the church and walk up onto the altar.

He smiled at Hermione with great sorrow in his eyes and began his speech:

"We have gathered here today to honor the memories of Mr. Harry James Potter and Mr. Ronald Arthur Weasley..."

Hermione looked into the pew next to hers to see Mr. Weasley trying his best to soothe the hysterical Mrs. Weasley and Ginny. Fred and George, separated by Bill and Charlie, were next to him - all wearing somber expressions.

Hermione reverted her attention back to Professor Dumbledore, who was just finishing his speech with a poem entitled "Please Don't Cry", which Harry had found in a book of Sirius' some time ago, and had decided to keep in his photo album beside the picture of his parents. Hermione paid attention long enough to hear the end of the poem and Dumbledore's last remark.

"'Please don't cry because I share all you say and do. In every moment of every day my love is with you too.' Well, Harry, Ron... I'm afraid that's a promise, no one will be able to keep."

A single tear rolled down his cheek as Dumbledore stepped down from the altar, paid his respects to the two boys, and went to sit in the back of the church once again. The choir stood up and began to sing "Peace Like a River" while everyone's cried became louder and fiercer. Hermione wondered how these people could get up and sing this song in front of a hundred crying people and still remain emotionless.

Hermione sucked in a small gasp to keep from crying. When the song was over, the priest of the church, in which the service was being held, stepped up onto the altar.

"Would everyone please stand and pay proper respect to our two deceased." Poor choice of words.

Everyone stood and lined up next to the caskets, some crying and rushing away after seeing the boys' faces, some touching their cold, dead hands and smiling at them the best they could while wishing them luck in the "next world", and others saying a short prayer before leaving.

Hermione went up to Ron and Harry's caskets after everyone else had left and held their hands. She lightly squeezed Ron's hand and bent over and kissed Harry's with tears rolling down her face. After a moment, she leaned over again, lightly kissed his temple, and tried to smile at him, though she knew he couldn't see her.

"I will always love you," she whispered to him, and then smiling behind her tear stained face and looking at both of her best friends, quietly sang the song that, over the years, had become their theme.

"Wherever you go, Whatever you do, I will be right here waiting for you. Whatever it takes, Or how my heart breaks, I will be right here waiting for you..." she choked and, squeezing their hands one more time, took a step back and let go.

"Until we meet again... good-bye..."

Please Don't Cry

Please don't cry because I'm gone

For I am just 'away'.

I did not die, and never will,

I'm with you every day.

It's true that I have left this earth

And live in spirit here.

With peace and love I can't explain,

I'm happy, have no fear.

Please don't cry, just speak of me

The way you use to do.

Make our memories happy ones

That hug and comfort you.

Remember me with happiness

Don't grieve because I'm gone.

Please don't cry because I share

All you say and do.

In every moment of every day

My love is with you, too.

~Author Unknown

Author's Notes: Heya! I know... the part where Hermione sang that song (which I'm listening to right now, by the way...) was kind of lame... but when I was editing the story (for the third time) I decided (yet again) that since so many people seemed to love the song (many said that it was the most touching part...) I would leave it there... but I'm just itching to take it out... but I won't... Oh! And I have had people ask what the song is called and whom it's by... "Right Here Waiting" by Richard Marx.

Why did I write such a sad story, you might ask? Well... I really don't know... just the mood I was in I guess... Also note that this funeral was based on my grandfather's funeral... (even some of the dialogue was taken from it...) so NO FLAMES!!! I WILL become angry and possibly flame you back!

And I did have someone say that they thought this was a bit catholic... I don't know where you got that... I'm Methodist (I know that's personal, but I don't see why I have any reason to be ashamed... not because I was born that way... hehe... I actually converted from Baptist...) and this is how we perform our funeral ceremonies... most funerals that I've attended - no matter what the persons religion - have been done this way.

I also had someone ask me how Harry and Ron died... I do believe that it states that Voldemort's attack not only killed him, but Ron and Harry, also. It may not be written that exact way, but that's kind of where I was going with the whole Voldemort thing.

If you have any questions, I would appreciate you sending them to me at [email protected] rather than posting them in your review. I mean, come on! How many of you can honestly say that you're going to come back for the answers to your questions? How many of you would remember (I wouldn't...)?

ANYWAY! So, thanks for your reviews! They're what keep me going!