Harry Potter. Hermione X Male Reader Story

Staying On Track and No Turning Back

(Y/N)'s POV

I always laugh at funerals, at least a little bit, I don't know why, it started when I was eight or nine, as we were at my brother's funeral. My Dad said something about smiling through the pain and I just took it to heart, so now I had the very inappropriate habit of giggling during silences.

I think it was my body's way of coping with the stress of losing someone. I hadn't been to that many funerals, some estranged family, some of Mum's mates and then of course hers and (B/N)'s and even then I giggled through tears, I'm sure it was a sight to behold.

But I have to say, I had never been to a funeral quite like Dumbledores, even before it started it seemed different. I changed into my black dress robes, which still held the colour they did during Aragog's funeral.

With that, I looked to Harry and Ron, "Ready?" they both nodded and we made our way to the common room from our dorms. We found Hermione, Ginny and Lavender waiting for us, we didn't speak, just shared a glance and a nod. Hermione was already on the verge of tears.

I pulled her into a silent embrace and kissed her forehead. Taking her hand made me feel a lot better, I don't know if it was lack of sleep or the fact the Hogwarts express left after the funeral, but I felt kind of numb, my movements were sluggish and I was dead tired, it was a struggle to even stay on my feet.

Downstairs we found the mood in the Great Hall subdued. Everybody was wearing their dress robes, and no one seemed very hungry. Professor McGonagall had left the thronelike chair in the middle of the staff table empty.

Hagrid's chair was deserted too, Snape's place had been unceremoniously filled by Rufus Scrimgeour, his yellowish eyes scanned the Hall, falling on Harry. I really didn't like that look.

Among Scrimgeour's entourage was the unmistakable the red hair and horn-rimmed glasses of Percy Weasley. Ron gave no sign that he was aware of Percy, but I thought it was at least a sign of respect that he deemed in necessary to show up.

We sat in the hall picking at our food for a minute or two before Professor McGonagall had risen to her feet and the mournful hum in the Hall died away at once. "It is nearly time," she said. "Please follow your Heads of House out into the grounds. Gryffindors, after me."

We filed out from behind their benches in near silence. Slughorn was at the head of the Slytherin column, wearing magnificent long emerald-green robes embroidered with silver.

Looking over at the others, I made note of Professor Sprout, Head of the Hufflepuffs, looking clean of once; there was not a single patch on her hat, and when we reached the Entrance Hall, we found Madam Pince standing beside Filch, she was in a thick black veil that fell to her knees, he was in an ancient black suit and tie reeking of mothballs.

We all stepped out on to the stone steps from the front doors, towards the lake. The warmth of the sun caressed our faces as we followed Professor McGonagall in silence to the place where hundreds of chairs had been set out in rows.

An aisle ran down the centre of them: there was a marble table standing at the front, all chairs facing it. It was the most beautiful summer's day. An extraordinary assortment of people had already settled into half of the chairs: shabby and smart, old and young.

I didn't know the majority of them, but there were a few that I did, members of the Order of the Phoenix: Kingsley Shacklebolt, Mad-Eye Moody, Tonks, her hair miraculously returned to vividest pink, Remus Lupin, with whom she seemed to be holding hands, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill supported by Fleur and followed by Fred and George, who were wearing jackets of black dragonskin.

Then there was Madame Maxime, who took up two-and-a-half chairs on her own, Tom, the landlord of the Leaky Cauldron, Arabella Figg, Harry's Squib neighbour, the hairy bass player from the Weird Sisters, Ernie Prang, driver of the Knight Bus, Madam Malkin, the barman of the Hog's Head and the witch who pushed the trolley on the Hogwarts Express.