After Death there is Love

Chapter 5: The Fundraiser

It was a day before the fundraiser and the planners gathered in diagon alley in the outdoor seating of the leaky cauldron to go over funding and plans for the event. Of course all proceeds would go to the Stockwell Orphanage. It had become almost run down and was in urgent need of a face lift. In any case Harry wanted it to be turned into a sort of museum. After it all, it was where Tom Riddle grew up, but the number of children left orphaned after the war had increased and so that option was almost ruled out. Until however George proposed building a new one. The Albus Dumbledore Orphanage, which he and Harry both sponsored.

One by one they gathered at the Leaky Cauldron; George Katie,Lee, Alicia,Mrs.Weasley (who was also representing for her husband)Angelina,Harry,Ron,Hermione and Neville. After a few rounds of butterbeer and light conversation it was down to business. They had a little under 24 hours to have the whole thing planned out perfectly. The setting out be at Hogwarts down by the lake. George would be selling Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes at half price and Harry was to auction off some of his old Hogwarts belongings ( Ron scoffed on why anyone would wan to buy Harry's cheesy socks). Their would be an Autograph signing booth for the quidditch stars Oliver Wood (who kindly donated his services and time) Angelina Johnson and of course Harry Potter the famous boy who lived, died and lived again. Neville was also selling odd wizarding plants that he bred and some exotic ones that he got from far off. He would also be selling special fertilizer (that smelled like dragon dung) that he was positive students serious about Herbology would "gobble up". Fred had thrown him a disgusted look and commented on a "distasteful" use of the word much to the amusement of everyone else. There was also to be an All Star quiditch team consisting of Angelina,Katie and Alicia as chasers, Oliver as Keeper, Harry as Seeker and Charlie and Ginny as beaters. The house teams would have to pay to enter the competition and the winner (house team) would play against the All Stars in a final. Win or lose they would still receive a gift prize. They also planned rides and such activities for a day of fun. Dean Thomas even volunteered to jerk chicken and every kind of meat one could think of (and vegetables for the vegetarians) the muggle way(much to the delight of Mr.Weasley when he found out).

After the meeting the group dispersed and Angelina walked down the streets of Diagon Alley in a pensive mood. She wasn't quite sure about going back to Hogwarts. It was far too soon and the grief too near but she had already volunteered. It was too late to turn back now and it was for a noble cause. She exhaled deeply, her hands buried in the pocket of a muggle coat that she wore.

"Oi Angie!"

She spun around when she heard her name, though she didn't need to. Only Fred and George and sometimes Lee, called her "Angie". To everyone else, it was Lina or just Angelina. Fred called her Angel... She shook her head slightly. Thoughts of him would no very little a day before going back to the place where she lost him forever. She stopped and sighed again allowing George to catch up with her.

"Do you mind if I walk you home?" he asked falling into stride with her.

"I'm not going home, I do have training to get to."

"Well I'll walk you to training then." Angelina shrugged and they walked in comfortable silence for a while.

"Tomorrow will be the first time going back there since it happened. I know it's going to be hard. I've never wandered those grounds without him ever and I wasn't sure I would be able to do this but I know he would want me to. That's what has been keeping me these past months. I know he would want me to live for both of us and that's what I'm trying to do." He looked at her. She was close to tears again. The Angelina he remembered from back at Hogwarts never used to cry, even if she broke a limb from a game or training though she always came close to it if she lost a match. The only time he remembered her crying was a brief breakup with Fred when she thought he had cheated with a RavenClaw in their sixth year. The breakup lasted a week. It took the whole week for Fred to finally get her to listen to what really happened.