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All lessons were suspended and all examinations were postponed.

Some students were hurried away from Hogwarts by their parents over the next couple of days.
The Patil twins were gone before breakfast on the morning following Dumbledore's death, and Zacharias Smith was escorted from the castle by his father. Seamus Finnigan refused to accompany his mother home. Wizards and witches were pouring into the village, preparing to pay their last respects to Dumbledore.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were spending all of their time together. The beautiful weather seemed to mock them. They visited the hospital wing twice a day. Neville had been discharged, but Bill remained under Madam Pomfrey's care. His scars were as bad as ever. The only thing that changed was that he now liked very rare steaks. Fleur stayed by his side to fluff his pillows and keep him company.

The Hogwarts Express would be leaving an hour after the funeral, so all the students had to be packed up by then. The mood in the Great Hall was suffocating. Everyone was wearing their robes and no one was eating.

Professor McGonagall rose to her feet. "It is nearly time. Please follow your Heads of Houses out into the grounds. Gryffindors, after me."

There was an aisle with chairs on both sides. Hermione sat next to Sally with Jane on her other side, Kimberly next to Ron, and Ginny had an open seat - no doubt for Harry. Jane looked pale and sickly as if she was going to drop dead next.

The fact that her father attacked her because she refused to join the Death Eaters, shook her. She knew her parents were loyal to Voldemort, but she didn't think her own father would attack her.

They sat in silence as the funeral continued with the Merpeople singing and the soft breeze floating idly by.

Kimberly rested her hand on Ron's thigh and would brush her thumb as a way to comfort him. She couldn't do much for him except be there for him.

He had asked her to attend Bill and Fleur's wedding with him, and she wholeheartedly said yes. Bill even asked the Hex Girls to perform a few songs, to which Sally - as the leader - agreed to. She only hoped Jane would feel better by that time.

Kimberly knew more blood was going to be spilt in the future, but she was sure that if she had Ron and the girls by her side, she would be able to fight for their future.

"Thank you for being here for me," she whispered.

Ron glanced at her. "I haven't done anything. It's all Harry who's saved us."

"Not that. Thank you for being you. For...dating me, I suppose. We are dating, right?"

Ron glanced away, but she could see his red cheeks. "Yeah, yeah, we are."