The Tear Collector (a Harry Potter fanfic)

Chapter Three: The Flowers of Hogwarts

Dumbledore stood by the lake, his hands folded behind his back, his face calm but unsmiling. He looked upon the students of Hogwarts, every single face clouded in fear as they regarded the magically suspended coffin. Dumbledore spoke:

'We gather here today, in sorrowful celebration. Each and every one of us has suffered a great loss, the loss of a friend. Orsay Westwall.' As he said her name, Dumbledore turned to look over the waters which resembled liquid silver under the setting sunlight. He raised his wand and the hovering coffin moved through the silent air. As it began to drift downwards towards the water, a small wooden boat was conjured and began to sway gently in the ripples. The coffin sank until it rested in the boat.

There was not a sound as Dumbledore waved his wand. Out of nowhere appeared a bouquet of irises. They spun through the air until they rested upon the coffin. Dumbledore stepped aside, his eyes drifting to the girl standing behind him.

Lacey Finn stepped forward, raising her wand. 'Orchideous,' she incanted. This time, a bouquet of purple Hyacinths was invoked. 'I'm sorry,' she muttered. Pomona Sprout stepped forward and put a hand on Lacey's shoulder. 'Should you need anyone to talk to, I'll be here.' Lacey nodded, not fully aware of what Professor Sprout had said.

An hour passed and the silence was yet to be broken. The little wooden boat containing the coffin was draped in hundreds of flowers. Every single student had participated in making sure that Orsay Westwall would rest in peace.

'In light of what has happened,' Dumbledore spoke smoothly, 'new rules have been set into account.' He directed towards Professor McGonagall, who stepped forwards. Her eyes were sunken, it was clear that she hadn't slept in days, or smiled. With a wave of her wand, a scroll of parchment melted into view in front of her. As it floated, she read: 'All pupils are to return to their dormitories by six o'clock every evening. Pupils will be escorted to their next class by the teacher present. Quidditch games and training will take place on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Dinner in the Great Hall will be served an hour earlier, arrive on time and leave as soon as you have been dismissed. Ministry officials will arrive first thing tomorrow morning, and they, along with teachers, will guard the castle at night. They have been given permission to arrest, do not give them any reason to do so.' As she said her last few words her eyes flickered across the two red-haired twins standing near the back of the crowd. They weren't smiling. They weren't laughing.

McGonagall continued to speak. 'If anyone fails to follow these rules, there will be severe punishment for your foolishness. And if anyone needs someone to talk to, your head of house will be more than willing. Thank-you. '

Jeremiah Spade stood between his fellow first-years, feeling the same sickness, the same fear. He listened to the words being spoken with only half of his attention. The rest was focused on the coffin that sailed slowly into the distance. His head was full of questions, full of silly theories. What had happened last night? How had Orsay Westwall been m-u-r-d-e-r-e-d? He had thought it impossible for anything like this to happen inside Hogwarts. It was safest place he knew, or at least it had been.

As McGonagall finished speaking, Dumbledore continued.

'In times like these, we must focus on what he have, not what we have lost. Keep your friends close. And remember that it is the unknown we fear when looking upon death and darkness, nothing more. Pip pip.' It took a while for anyone to notice that they had been dismissed. For a few minutes, everyone stood swaying in the wind, paralysed from head to toe, watching the little boat that was now only a speck. It was only when the boat vanished from view that the students stirred from their hypnosis and turned to head back up to the castle.