And Death Shall Have No Dominion . . .

And Death Shall Have No Dominion . . .

Chapter One - Colin Creevey

It was warm outside. The days had been borderline sultry ever since the war had ended. Ginny Weasley brushed her long red fringe back from her face and sighed in exasperation when it clung to her freckled forehead as though glued there with a thick paste; the heat was sapping her energy as effectively as knowing why they were all here.

Ginny glanced around and saw many familiar faces, most of whom were squinting against the overly bright sun. She saw her old boyfriend Dean Thomas chatting with Seamus Finnegan and did not bat an eye when Parvati Patil sauntered over and affectionately pecked Dean on the cheek. She watched various members of her family as they conferred off to the side with Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick, likely about some phase of the upcoming and ongoing reconstruction effort. The towers and turrets of Hogwarts castle gleamed like an ancient beacon; even in its current damaged state, it still embodied the spirit of endurance and forbearance.

Ginny gazed up at her old school. It had been the scene of many misdeeds - including a few of her own - but mainly it was a place of instruction and education; a place where young witches and wizards learned how to cast their magic, and hopefully gained a bit of wisdom in the process. Ginny felt she had definitely grown wiser during her stay, but her wisdom had been hard-won and more difficult than she could've ever imagined, especially during the past year. If anyone had told her at eleven that her sixth year at Hogwarts would involve Death Eaters, subversive activities, torturous detentions, and a corrupt government, Ginny would have laughed in that person's face. She had difficulty accepting the reality of it even now. Everything from the last twelve months had seemed surreal, impossible even, but it had happened - just as Colin's death had happened.

Colin had been more than an acquaintance and a member of her House, he had been a hero, dying for a cause bigger than himself. Ginny wondered if those sitting here in these neat rows realized that. She caught sight of Dennis Creevey gazing white-faced at the stone that now encased his dead sibling and furrowed her brow. She could hear Harry's rather irregular breathing beside her and see Ron rubbing his nose out of the corner of her eye. It was going to be an exhausting afternoon.

*

When the funeral was over, Ron watched dismally as Colin's younger brother Dennis dissolved into tears. He had been so stalwart and strong throughout the entirety of the service, but when the pearly flames lit to leave behind a solid mass of marble, Dennis apparently could not take anymore. Hagrid was the one to walk little Dennis away toward what was left of his hut, but Professor McGonagall too was moved enough to follow in their wake. Ron felt that Dennis would eventually be all right; he was a Gryffindor after all, but then, being a Gryffindor didn't make these bloody things hurt any less. That was one thing Ron knew for sure.

Hermione was by Ron's side as always, and when she slipped her hand into his, Ron held on forcefully. He did not look directly at his girlfriend; he didn't have to. He already knew that her face would be covered in her own sorrow, but that wasn't the real reason why he kept his gaze averted. Seeing Hermione in a state was bad, but being here reminded him of how lucky each of them was to be alive. The mere thought was enough to make him feel guilty, and that on top of the general desolation of the day was too much to bear. Therefore, Ron stared off into the distance toward the forest, trying to ignore the remnants of smoke in the air and the tightness in his throat. It was going to be an exhausting afternoon.

*

Hermione was surreptitiously watching both Ron and Harry through her veil of tears. She knew better than to do it overtly - Ron wouldn't look at her as it was. Harry was sitting like a statue on the other side of Ron; she could not see his face, but he was so stiff that he almost didn't seem human. Finding out about Colin's death had been horrible, but then this week only seemed to highlight just how much they had all lost recently. Hermione sniffed and leaned forward to glimpse Ginny's anxious face on the opposite side of Harry. She looked as worried as Hermione felt. It was going to be an exhausting afternoon.

*

Harry understood that Ron and Hermione were quietly comforting each other, but he decided not to glance in their direction. Harry hated the fact that Colin Creevey was gone. With everything in him, he wished that he could bring him back, especially considering that agony that Dennis was going through, but he had learned years ago that there is no bringing the dead back to life - not even for wizards.

Colin's death was particularly remarkable due not only to his extreme youth, but also because he had been specifically forbidden to take part in the battle in the first place. Colin, like Ginny, had refused to let his age stand in the way, and he had paid the ultimate price for his courage and bravery. Harry could still see in his mind's eye the eleven-year-old Colin snapping his Muggle camera at him everywhere he went. It had annoyed Harry at the time, but now he knew he would be overjoyed to see that flash and puff of smoke, followed by Colin's beaming smile. Harry would never see that smile again, and the acknowledgement of this made him want to either scream or vomit at the injustice. Harry screwed his eyes shut as he noticed Ginny's eyes flitting to him every few seconds. In the depths of his heart, he realized that he truly needed to speak with her, but while she was suffering so stoically, he found that he couldn't face her. He peered down at his hands which were lying clasped tightly in his lap. It was going to be an exhausting afternoon.