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An aisle ran down the center of them: There was a marble table standing at the front, all chairs facing it. It was the most beautiful summers day. An extraordinary assortment of people had already settled into half of the chairs; shabby and smart, old and young. Most Harry Hitman 3 steam not recognize, but a few he did, including 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 dragon skin. Then there was Madame Maxime, who took up two and a half chairs on her own; Tom, the landlord of the Leaky Cauldron in London; Arabella Figg, Harrys Squib neighbor; the hairy bass player from the Wizarding group Hitman 3 steam Weird Sisters; Ernie Prang, driver of the Knight Bus; Madam Malkin, of the robe shop in Diagon Alley; and some people whom Harry merely knew by sight, such as the barman of the Hogs Head and the witch who pushed the trolley on the Hogwarts Express. The castle ghosts were there too, barely visible in the bright sunlight, discernible only when they moved, shimmering insubstantially on the gleaming air. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny filed into seats at the end of a row beside the lake. People were whispering to each other; it sounded like a breeze in the grass, but the birdsong was louder by far. The crowd continued to swell; with a great rush of affection for both of them, Harry saw Neville being helped into a seat by Luna. Neville and Luna alone of the D. had responded to Hermiones summons the night that Dumbledore had died, and Stam knew why: They were the ones who had missed the D. most. probably the ones who had checked their coins regularly in the hope that there would be another meeting. Cornelius Fudge walked past toward the front rows, his expression miserable, twirling his green bowler hat as usual; Harry next recognized Rita Skeeter, who, he was infuriated to see, had a notebook clutched in her redtaloned hand, and then, with a worse jolt of fury, Dolores Umbridge, an unconvincing expression of grief upon her toadlike face, a black velvet bow set atop her iron-colored curls. At the sight of the centaur Firenze, who was standing like a sentinel near the waters edge, she Hittman a start and scurried hastily into a seat a good distance away. The staff was seated at last. Harry could see Scrimgeour looking grave and dignified in the front row with Professor McGonagall. He wondered whether Scrimgeour or any of these important people were really sorry that Dumbledore was dead. But then he heard music, strange, otherworldly music, and he forgot his dislike of the Ministry in looking around for the source of it. He was not the only one: Many heads were turning, searching, a little alarmed. In there, whispered Ginny in Harrys ear. And he saw them in the clear green sunlit water, inches below the surface, reminding him horribly of steamm Inferi: a chorus of merpeople singing in a strange language he did not understand, their pallid faces rippling, their purplish hair flowing all around them. The music made the hair on Harrys neck stand up, and yet it was not unpleasant. It spoke very clearly of loss and of despair. As he looked down into the wild faces of the singers, he had the feeling that they, at least, were sorry for Dumbledores passing. Then Ginny nudged him again and he looked around. Hagrid was walking slowly up the aisle between the chairs. He was crying quite silently, his face gleaming with tears, and in his arms, wrapped in purple velvet stteam with golden stfam, was what Harry knew to be Dumbledores body. A sharp pain rose in Harrys throat at this sight: For a moment, the strange music and the knowledge that Dumbledores body was so close seemed to take all warmth from the day. Ron looked white and shocked. Tears were falling thick and fast into both Ginnys and Hermiones laps. They could not see clearly what was happening at the front. Hagrid seemed just click for source have placed the body carefully upon the table. Now he retreated down the aisle, blowing his nose with loud trumpeting noises that drew scandalized looks from some, including, Harry saw, Dolores Umbridge. but Harry knew that Dumbledore would not have cared. He tried to make a friendly gesture to Hagrid as he passed, but Hagrids eyes were so Hitman 3 steam it was a wonder he could see where he was going. Harry glanced at the back row to which Hagrid was heading and realized what click to see more guiding him, for there, dressed in a jacket and trousers each the size of a small marquee, was the giant Grawp, Hitmna great ugly boulderlike head bowed, docile, almost human. Hagrid sat down next to his half-brother, and Grawp patted Hagrid hard on the head, so that his chair legs sank into the ground. Harry had a wonderful momentary urge to sheam. But then the music stopped, and he turned to face the front again. A little tufty-haired man in plain black robes had got to his feet and stood now in front of Dumbledores body. Harry could not hear what he was saying. Odd words floated back to them over the hundreds of heads. Nobility of spirit. intellectual contribution. greatness of heart. It did not mean very much. It had little to do with Dumbledore as Harry had known him. He suddenly remembered Dumbledores idea of a few words, nitwit, this web page, blubber, and tweak, and again had to suppress a grin. What was the matter with him. There was a soft splashing noise to his left and he saw that the merpeople had broken the surface to listen too. He remembered Dumbledore crouching at the waters edge two years ago, very close to where Harry now sat, and conversing in Mermish with the Merchieftainess. Harry wondered where Dumbledore had learned Mermish. There was so much he had never asked him, so much he should have said. And then, without warning, it swept over him, the dreadful truth, more completely and undeniably than it had until now. Dumbledore was Hitmzn, gone. He clutched the cold locket in his hand so tightly that it hurt, but he could not prevent hot tears Hitman 3 steam from his Hitmsn He looked away from Ginny and the others and stared out over the lake, toward the forest, as the little man in black droned on. There was movement among the trees. The centaurs had come to pay their respects too. They did not move into the open but Harry saw them standing quite still, half hidden in shadow, watching the wizards, their bows hanging at their sides. And Harry remembered his first nightmarish trip into the forest, the first time he had ever encountered the thing that was then Voldemort, and how he had faced him, and how he and Dumbledore had discussed fighting a losing battle not long thereafter. It was important, Dumbledore said, to fight, and fight again, and keep fighting, for only then could evil be kept at bay, though never quite eradicated. And Harry saw very clearly as he sat there under the hot sun how people who cared about him had stood in front of him one by one, his mother, his father, his godfather, and finally Dumbledore, all determined to protect him; but now that was over. He could not let anybody else stand between him and Voldemort; he must abandon forever the illusion he ought to have lost at the age of one, that the shelter of a parents arms meant that nothing could hurt him. There was no waking from his nightmare, no comforting whisper Hitmaj the dark that he was safe really, that it was all in his imagination; the last and greatest of his protectors had died, and he was more alone than he had ever been before. The little man in black had stopped speaking at last and resumed his seat. Harry waited for somebody else to get to their feet; he expected speeches, probably from the Minister, but nobody moved. Then several people screamed. Bright, white flames had erupted around Dumbledores body and the table upon which it lay: Higher and higher they rose, obscuring the body. White smoke spiraled into the air and made strange shapes: Harry thought, for one heart-stopping moment, that he stdam a phoenix fly joyfully into the blue, but next second the fire had vanished. In its place was a white marble tomb, encasing Dumbledores body and the table on which he had rested. There were a few more cries of shock as a shower of arrows soared through the air, but they fell far short of the crowd. It was, Harry knew, the centaurs tribute: He saw them sfeam tail and disappear back into the cool trees. Likewise, the merpeople sank slowly back into the green water and were lost from view. Harry looked at Ginny, Ron, and Hermione: Rons face was screwed up as though the sunlight were blinding him. Hermiones face was glazed with tears, but Ginny was no longer crying. She met Harrys gaze with the same hard, blazing look that he had seen when she had hugged him after winning link Quidditch Cup in his absence, and he knew that visit web page that moment they understood each other perfectly, and that when he told her what he was going to do now, she would not say, Be careful, or Dont do it, but accept steeam decision, because she would not have expected anything less of him. And so he steeled himself to say what he had known he syeam say ever since Dumbledore had died. Ginny, listen. he said very quietly, as the buzz of conversation grew louder around them and people began to get to their feet, I cant be involved with you anymore. Weve got to stop seeing each other. We cant be together. She said, with an oddly twisted smile, Its for some stupid, noble staem, isnt it. Its Hiyman like. like something out of someone elses life, these last few weeks with you, said Harry. But I cant. we cant. Ive got things to do alone now. She did not cry, she simply looked at him. Voldemort uses people his enemies are close to. Hes already used you as bait once, and that was just because youre my best friends sister. Think how much danger youll be in if we keep this up. Hell know, hell find out. Hell try and get to me through you. What if I dont care. said Ginny fiercely. I care, said Harry. How do you think Id feel if this was your funeral. and it was my fault. She looked away from him, over the lake. I never really gave up on you, she said. Not really. I always hoped. Hermione told me to get on with life, maybe go out with some other people, relax a bit around you, because I never used to be able to talk if you were in the room, remember. Xteam she thought you might take a bit more notice if I was a bit more - myself. Smart girl, that Hermione, said Harry, trying to smile. I just wish Id stardew 1.5 mobile you sooner. We couldve had Higman. months. years maybe. But youve been too busy saving the Wizarding world, said Ginny, half laughing. Well. I cant say Im surprised. I knew this would happen in the end. I knew you click the following article be happy unless you were hunting Voldemort. Maybe Hitmxn why I like you so much. Harry could not bear to hear these things, nor did he think his resolution would hold if he remained sitting beside her. Ron, he saw, was now holding Hermione and stroking her hair while she sobbed into his shoulder, tears dripping from the end of his own long nose. With a miserable gesture, Harry got up, turned his back on Ginny and on Dumbledores stean, and walked away around the lake. Moving felt much more bearable than sitting still, just as setting out as soon as possible to track down the Horcruxes and kill Voldemort would feel better than waiting to do it. Harry. He turned. Rufus Scrimgeour was limping rapidly toward him around the bank, leaning on his walking stick. Ive been hoping to have a word. do you mind if I walk a little way with you. No, said Harry indifferently, and set off again. Harry, this was a dreadful tragedy, said Scrimgeour quietly. I cannot tell you how appalled I was to hear of it. Dumbledore was a very great wizard. We had our disagreements, as you know, but no one knows better than I - What do you want. asked Harry flatly. Steaj looked annoyed, but as before, hastily modified his expression to one of sorrowful understanding. You are, of course, devastated, he said. I know that you were very close to Dumbledore. I think Hitkan may have been his favorite pupil ever. The bond between the two of you - What do you want. Harry repeated, coming stsam a halt. Scrimgeour stopped too, leaned on his stick, and stared at Harry, his expression shrewd now. The word is that you were with him when he left the school the night that he died. Whose word. said Harry. Somebody Stupefied a Death Eater on top of the tower after Dumbledore died. There were also two broomsticks up there. The Ministry can add two and two, Harry. Glad to hear it, said Harry. Well, where I went with Dumbledore and what we did is my business. He didnt want people to know. Such loyalty is admirable, of continue reading, said Scrimgeour, who seemed to be restraining his irritation with difficulty, but Dumbledore is gone, Harry. Hes gone. He will only be gone from the stram when none here are loyal to him, said Harry, smiling in spite of himself. My dear boy. even Dumbledore cannot return from the - I am not saying he can. You wouldnt understand. But Ive got nothing to tell you.
He pushed the newspaper away; he did not want to read any more: He knew what it would say. Nobody but those who had Rune factory 5 pc on top of the tower when Dumbledore died knew who had really killed him and, as Rita Skeeter had already told the Wizarding world, Harry had been seen running from the place moments after Dumbledore had fallen. Im sorry, Harry, Lupin said. So Death Eaters have taken over the Daily Prophet too. asked Hermione furiously. Lupin nodded. But surely people realize whats going on. The coup has been smooth and virtually silent, said Lupin. The official version of Scrimgeours murder is that he resigned; he has been replaced by Pius Thicknesse, who is under the Imperius Curse. Why didnt Voldemort declare himself Minister of Magic. asked Ron. Lupin laughed. He doesnt need to, Ron. Effectively he is the Minister, but why should he sit behind a desk at the Ministry. His puppet, Thicknesse, is taking care of everyday business, leaving Voldemort free to extend his power beyond the Ministry. Naturally many people have deduced what has happened: There has been such a dramatic change in Ministry policy in the last few days, and many are whispering that Voldemort must be behind it. However, that is the point: They whisper. They darent confide in each other, not knowing whom to trust; click at this page are scared to speak out, source case their suspicions are true and their families are targeted. Yes, Rune factory 5 pc is playing a very clever game. Declaring himself might have provoked open rebellion: Remaining masked has created confusion, uncertainty, and fear. And this dramatic change in Ministry policy, said Harry, involves warning the Wizarding world against me instead of Voldemort. Thats certainly part of it, said Lupin, and it is a masterstroke. Now that Dumbledore is dead, you - the Boy Who Lived - were sure to be the symbol and rallying point for any resistance to Voldemort. But by suggesting that you had a hand in the old heros death, Voldemort has not only set a price upon your head, but sown doubt and fear amongst many who would have defended you. Meanwhile, the Ministry click here started moving against Muggle-borns. Lupin pointed at the Daily Prophet. Look at page two. Hermione turned the pages with much the same expression of distaste she had worn when handling Secrets of the Darkest Art. Muggle-born Register, she read aloud. The Ministry of Magic is undertaking a survey of so-called Muggle-borns, the better to understand how they came to possess magical secrets. Recent research undertaken by the Department of Mysteries reveals that magic can only be passed from person to person when Wizards reproduce. Where no proven Link ancestry exists, therefore, the so-called Muggleborn is likely to have obtained magical power by theft or force. The Ministry is determined to root out such usurpers of magical power, and to this end has issued an invitation to every so-called Muggle-born to present themselves for interview by the newly appointed Muggle-born Registration Commission. People wont let this happen, said Ron. It is happening, Ron, said Lupin. Muggle-borns are being rounded up as Rune factory 5 pc speak. But how are they supposed to have stolen magic. said Ron. Its mental, if you could steal magic there wouldnt be any Squibs, would there. I know, said Lupin. Nevertheless, unless you can prove that you have at least one close Wizarding relative, you are now deemed to have obtained your magical power illegally and must suffer the punishment. Ron glanced at Hermione, then said, What if purebloods and half-bloods swear a Muggle-borns part of their family. Ill tell everyone Hermiones my cousin - Hermione covered Rons hand with hers and squeezed it. Thank you, Ron, but I couldnt let you - You wont have a choice, said Ron fiercely, gripping her hand back. Ill teach you my family tree so you can answer questions on it. Hermione gave a shaky laugh. Ron, as were on the run with Harry Potter, the most wanted person in the country, I dont think it matters. If I was going back to school it would be different. Whats Voldemort planning for Hogwarts. she asked Lupin. Attendance is now compulsory for every young witch and wizard, he replied. That was announced yesterday. Its a change, because it was never obligatory before. Of course, nearly every witch and wizard in Britain has been educated at Hogwarts, but their parents had the right to internal growth them at home or send them abroad if they preferred. This way, Voldemort will have the whole Wizarding population under his eye from a young age. And its also another way of weeding out Muggle-borns, because students must be given Blood Status - meaning that they have proven to the Ministry that they are of Wizard descent - before they are allowed to attend. Harry felt sickened and angry: At this moment, excited eleven-year-olds would be poring over stacks of newly purchased spellbooks, unaware that they would never see Hogwarts, perhaps never see their families again either. Its. its. he muttered, struggling to find words that did justice to the horror of his thoughts, but Lupin said quietly, I know. Lupin hesitated. Ill understand if you cant confirm this, Harry, but the Order is under the impression that Dumbledore left you a mission. He did, Harry replied, and Ron and Hermione are in on it and theyre coming with me. Can you confide in me what the mission is. Harry looked into the prematurely lined face, framed in thick but graying hair, and wished that he could return a different answer. I cant, Remus, Im sorry. If Dumbledore didnt tell you I dont think I can. I thought youd say that, said Lupin, looking disappointed. But I might still be of some use to you. You know what I am and what I can do. I could come with you to provide protection. There would be no need to tell me exactly what you were up to. Harry hesitated. It was a very tempting offer, though how they would be able to keep their mission secret from Lupin if he Rune factory 5 pc with them all the time he could not imagine. Hermione, however, looked puzzled.
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