Broken || h.s. AU (Special Edition)

Chapter 37 - Funeral

*content warning: family issues, violence/blood, depression, mention of death*
If you come across a trigger that wasn't listed, let me know. Stay safe.
Chapter 37 - Funeral

Julia's P.O.V.

I wait silently along the tree line, Harry's hand wrapped tightly around mine.

We stand at a distance from the small shroud of people dressed in black, hidden amongst the trees towards the edge of the graveyard as we look on to my mother's funeral.

It kills me that I can't be standing closer to the grave, receiving condolences from all my old friends, but needless to say, her supposedly dead daughter can't be seen amongst the crowd.

So with some coaxing from Harry, we both stand at a distance, waiting for the crowd to disperse.

It seems like an eternity as we wait, Harry stoic-faced as he stares straight ahead at the crowd, while I'm the complete opposite.

I've been staring at the short, stringy grass at my feet, my whole body shaking with the tears that just won't seem to come.

Harry has offered multiple times to take me back home but each time I refuse, determined to wait out the crowd.

No matter how many times I have "the realization" that she's gone, I can't make myself believe that it's her in the glossy coffin that seems just barely out of reach.

"I'm so sorry, pips..." Harry whispers to my side, his hand loosening from mine as his arms envelop me, pulling me into his embrace.

I just stand there, feeling myself crumble as he holds me silently to his chest.

I don't know how long we stay like that, I just know it's too long in my taste.

It still feels surreal that everyone that I've grown up with is less than a hundred yards away, living something that I didn't think I'd have to face for another forty or so years.

And it feels so wrong that I stay at a distance.

I should be there with them.

I clench my fists tightly into Harry's shirt and he holds me closer, his voice pained and almost pleading.

"Sweetheart, if this is too hard, we can just go home and come back when you're ready..."

His lips press into my hair as I hide my face in his chest, shaking my head a little.

"I can do this..." I say stubbornly, and I can hear how weak and exhausted I sound.

He sighs quietly, his voice gentle. "Alright... But tell me if you change your mind..."

I nod a little, sucking in a deep breath as I turn my head to rest my cheek on his dark shirt.

But finally after another lifetime, Harry's lips press to my head, murmuring softly into my hair. "We can go over now..."

I barely nod into his chest, reluctantly stepping out of his warm embrace, sliding my hand into his as I start to shakily make my way across the uneven ground.

"Wait." Harry says quietly, quickly stepping to block my path.

I stop in confusion, my brows furrowing impatiently.

He quickly steps closer to me to block my view of the grave, something tense in his eyes as he keeps his eyes locked on mine.

"Someone else is there, they'll recognize you." He says lowly as he continues blocking my view from whoever is apparently approaching the grave.