And We Go On

A tall woman stood before the White Tomb of Albus Dumbledore, tracing the hundreds of names that lined the stone. The Tomb had not only been a monument of remembrance for Albus Dumbledore, but a monument of remembrance for every person who died in the struggle against the Dark Lord Voldemort. The rain had stopped only moments before and small streams of water still ran through the grooves in the stone. She turned away from the Tomb and looked toward the crowd of a dozen or so that stood there, waiting for her to speak. She looked around the group, her eyes meeting all of theirs, but she knew that nothing she could say would change the fact. Her eyes focused on Molly Weasley, then to Neville Longbottom, and then to Luna Lovegood. She smiled vaguely, though she had no right to. No one had a right to smile anymore.

Tearful, she turned her back on them and continued to trace the names on the Tomb. Each time a person had fallen in battle, his or her name was magically carved into the marble. The woman remembered many of the names, but the Great War of the Wands had included Muggle warriors from around the world that she had never met. Her fingers lightly traced over 'Ronald Weasley' and 'Hermione Weasley' and several tears climbed down her face. They had been married before the War had started and had died defending each other. Several other Weasleys were there, too. Charlie, Bill, Percy, George, and Arthur all had places on the Tomb. Sirius Black was there, the first name in the corner. Minerva McGonagall, Rubeus Hagrid, and several other professors graced the pale stone. Draco Malfoy, who had changed his stripes just before the first battle began, died just as the final battle was ending. Angelina Johnson had married Fred Weasley. She was there with the rest. Luna Lovegood, who was listed as "Luna Longbottom', had put up a good fight, but had not been expecting the surprise attack that finished her off. So many had gone just like she had.

There were only three names that the woman recognized as that of Muggles. Terrian McDougal had fought bravely with her strange, Muggle weapons, but she couldn't last long against a quick wand and a vicious Killing Curse. Alabastar Kinsey had discovered how his weapons could break through magic and could also make armor that repelled curses, but the giants made easy work of him. Jaxyn Micha had been a very good friend of hers. He was a great fighter and good with planning attacks.

The woman's fingers finally reached the name in the lower corner of the Tomb and she could barely trace the words without bursting into tears. She fell to her knees and continued to run her fingers through the grooves no matter how much it hurt her. 'Harry Potter.' A soft hand tugged at hers and her mother's voice said, "Come along, Ginny, dear. We've got to be moving now, darling."