it all ends with us: ruins

040

Chapter Forty:

"No matter what we are now, I will never forget who we were before."

The day of the funeral had arrived quicker than expected and the whole school had prepared for the event. The great hall had been reorganised and the tables had disappeared so that it was set up in an almost church like manner. The school had been decorated with flowers and had pictures placed of Apollo around the school to honour him. Overall, there was a collaborative effort to make the day as best as it could be.

Adonis and Ace had arrived in the morning both dressed in all black suits with a solemn look on their faces. They joined their mother Gaia who had looked a lot better today than she had in the past week. Ares had come out of his shell whereas Ajax was still as closed off to the world as Atlas was.

However, there was a difference between the two. While Ajax's main emotion stayed as sadness, Atlas' had morphed into anger. She was angry at the world for taking away her twin, angry at Dumbledore for not protecting the school and angry most at Bellatrix for casting the killing spell. Atlas wanted revenge and right now she was out for blood.

Ren walked Atlas through the halls which were slightly deserted. The two teens stood teary eyed at the memorial that Hagrid had put up next to the trophy cabinets. They reminisce about the times they spent with Apollo. Ren stands with her arms crossed. She was dressed in a black dress that went all the way down to her ankles whereas Atlas' dress stopped just below the knee. It was only when they heard footsteps that both girls turned their attention away from the memorial.

"Miss Lennon, why don't you quickly join me in my office." Dumbledore's voice echoed in the hallway.

He had dressed in his usual robes yet the shade of grey was darker than usual. He had stood in front of two people that were introduced as aurors. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Nymphadora Tonks. They stood with their heads bent down slightly as a way of showing respect to the young teen. Atlas grabbed onto Ren's hand tightly while they both followed the adults to the office.

"Hey where are you going?" Theo's hushed whispers were heard as he jogged up to the girls.

"Dumbledore wants to talk." Ren muttered after realising Atlas wasn't going to answer.

"About what?" Theo questions now walking in line with both Ren and Atlas.

"Not sure." Ren replies.

Once they had made it in Dumbledore had sat at his desk with either auror on each side of him. He gestures for the teens to take a seat but once Atlas shakes her head 'no' both Theo and Ren follow suit shortly after. The moments of silence create an awkward tension around the room and almost everyone feels it.

"I just want to start by offering my condolences." Dumbledore starts and Atlas holds the urge to scoff.

"I'm very sorry for your loss, Miss Lennon. If there's anything that I could do." He continues before Atlas interrupts him.

"You're asking me that now?" She shouts in disbelief.

"Miss Lennon." Dumbledore says softly, trying to calm her down.

"You're the headmaster of this school and one of the most powerful wizards of all time yet you still couldn't protect your school from a weird Satan worshipping cult?" Atlas scoffs.

"I tried my best." Dumbledore's raspy voice at this point was just hitting every one of Atlas' nerves.

"Your best?" Atlas yells. "A student died. My brother is dead and here you are telling me you tried your best."