Afterwards

Chapter One

I sat with my mother at one of the tables in the Great Hall. She was sobbing uncontrollably and talking about her memories of Fred, all the things she regretted, all of the things she loved about him. It was unbearable to hear. I sat numbly beside her as she clutched me tightly.

Dad and George had already gone to bed, while the rest of my family went out to get drinks. More than anything I wanted to be out of my mother's grasp. I wanted away from her, from everyone. I didn't want to be around all of this sobbing and nonsense. I shook my head wanting to get up and leave. But I knew my mother needed me and so I stayed. It was like this for hours. Eventually I think my mother fell asleep. Her sobbing subsided and I felt her grow heavy, her head laying uncomfortably on my shoulder. All around us the crying of the others had stopped, or slowed down. Most people had left, but some were still cluttered around the dead, unwilling to part with them quite yet. Mum let out a loud snore, and I jumped at the sudden sound, causing her to wake up.

"Wh- Ginny...?" She asked groggily, rubbing her eyes.

"Hi mum." I said gently. Her eyes welled up as she realized where she was and all that she had lost. I braced myself for the inevitable onset of tears, but they didn't come. She just stared at me with tears brimming. Then she gave me a tight hug. "You are never leaving me Ginerva. I can not bear the loss of another child. All of my other children have grown up but not you. You need to stay with me." I tried not to be too shocked by these words. It was natural for her to feel this way. But all the same I was so close to being independant...if she was serious, this might end badly.