Amulet of Time 2: Two Worlds, Two Wars

Chapter 9: Teaching Minerva

The funeral was a quiet affair. After gaining permission from Dumbledore; Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Eustace and Robert had used floo powder to reach the Burrow, where they were to meet the Weasleys and other people who were attending the funeral. Minh was going to come with them, but she wasn't as close to Percy as the others had been, and felt as if she would be intruding.

For Hermione and Harry the whole affair had been interesting from a cultural point of view. They had never been to a wizarding funeral before, so they weren't quite sure what to expect. Before they had left for the church, Harry had pulled Persephone's parents to one side, telling them he wished to speak to them in private. After they led him into the kitchen, he pulled a small object out of his pocket and enlarged it, using his wand so as not to arouse suspicions. What appeared was a life-size statue of Persephone Weasley. It was magically carved out of white marble and had a small platinum plaque at the bottom awaiting an inscription. The detail of the statue was superb, showing Percy standing in her school uniform, wand in hand and a smile on her face. Harry had even managed, through magic, to recreate the twinkle in her eyes. Upon seeing it, Mrs. Weasley immediately burst into tears and buried her head in her husband's shoulder. Harry started to feel nervous.

" I'm sorry, Mrs. Weasley. If you don't like it I can make it different…"

" It's not that, Mr. Evans," Mr. Weasley told the boy, " It's just that it looks so much like her. Did you make this yourself?"

" Yes, sir."

" It's beautiful work. We can't thank you enough. The platinum plaque must have cost fortune."

" The price is irrelevant, sir. I just felt that Persephone deserved the best, so that is what I have used. I left the plaque blank, though. I thought you might like to add the inscription yourselves."

" That was very thoughtful, thank you. We shall do it as soon as we come back for the wake. Now, I suggest we leave now, the funeral will be starting soon."

The three headed back into the main room, where all of the friends and family started to head out of the door. The walk to the church was a rather solemn affair. Once they reached the building, Mr. Weasley led them down the aisle and through a door at the back. This led into another part of the church, obviously meant for wizarding ceremonies. Taking their seats, they watched as an old wizard in deep purple robes stood up before the assembled mourners and began to speak.

" Ladies, gentlemen, we are gathered here today to mourn the loss of one Persephone Virginia Weasley, who passed away last week. She died a noble and brave death, fighting Dark wizards to save her schoolmates."

Harry growled slightly at the insinuation that the wizards were evil because they were Dark. Ginny, who had started to cry, gently laid her hand on his arm and shook her head at him. He immediately calmed, nodding back to her, before tuning back in to what the wizard was saying.

"…and may we pray to our Lord Merlin for her safe passage into the next life, where she will one day be joined by the friends and family she left behind. May we also ask the Great Father to watch over her soul, now and for eternity."

Tears started to leak from Harry's eyes as Persephone's casket was enchanted to appear transparent. A preservation charm had been placed on her body, so that she would remain unchanged for all time. The Weasley men, including little Arthur, stood and lifted the coffin, carrying it out of the church. The other people stood and followed them outside and to a small crypt in the woods near the Burrow. Inside, Harry and Hermione were surprised to see row upon row of stone sarcophagi. Ron leaned over and whispered an explanation.

" This is the Weasley burial site. Our family has been using it for hundreds of years. When someone dies, we have the ceremony, and their transparent coffin is placed in a sarcophagus. If you lift the lids of the other ones, you will see perfectly preserved bodies of the rest of my family. We all know this place is here, but Mum and Dad forbade us from ever entering unless it was for a funeral. It's the one rule even Fred and George obey."