CHAPTER 54

                                    

                                          
I looked at my reflection in the mirror, smoothening out the crinkles in the black dress that I had worn. Once I ensured that everything was in place, I walked out to the living room to say good bye to my mum. She was going to leave and stay at Malfoy Manor. If she stayed here with me, there was a higher chance that the death eaters might find me.
                          
"Oh Alice" she walked towards me, enveloping me in a hug. She knew how terrible I had been feeling over the fast few days, Dumbledore's death was really getting to me. I had never known Dumbledore personally, but Harry had. And I had taken that away from him.
                          
I had made it possible for Voldemort to conquer the Wizarding World. Granted that my role wasn't very big in Dumbledore's death but to play even a small part in it made me feel ashamed.
                          
"Promise me something Alice" mum said, pulling away.
                          
"Anything"
                          
"Promise me that you won't ever set foot in Malfoy Manor, that you'll stay safe and away from danger" she said.
                          
"I promise you mum"
                          
"Don't come looking for me. I don't care what happens, you will not come looking for me"
                          
"But you're not going anywhere are you mum? You're just going to be at the manor" I said, confused.
                          
"Yea" she said absent-mindedly. Something was amiss but I shrugged it off.
                          
"I don't know when we'll meet next honey but always know that I'll love you" she said, kissing my forehead.
                          
"And I love you" I said to her.
                          
She smiled at me one last time before disapparating along with her luggage. I stared at the place my mum had stood only a few moments earlier before disapparating too.
                          
I arrived at the edge of the forbidden forest. From where I stood, I could see rows of chairs placed next to The Black Lake. The chairs were facing a large marble table on which Dumbledore's body lay, wrapped in a purple cloth with stars on it.
                          
I also watched as all the guests gathered, some in groups, some alone, talking amongst themselves. The Ministry Officials were seated in the front row and behind them were some wizards and witches from Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Even Madame Maxime was present, crying into Hagrid's chest.
                          
My eyes trailed to Harry, Ginny, Hermione and Ron sitting together. Behind them sat many other Hogwarts students, Neville, Luna, Ernie, Padma, Colin and some more who I didn't recognise. Right in the back sat the parents. I also saw Arthur and Molly sitting with two other redheads who I assumed were their oldest sons, Charlie and Bill. Bill was sitting next to Fleur Delacour.
                          
And then I saw Fred and George, and two other girls sitting next to them. One, I recognised as Marianne but I couldn't tell who the other one was.
                          
I couldn't sit next to any one of them. If Harry, Hermione and Ron had told everyone else about the dark mark then they would want nothing to do with me.
                          
I decided to sit alone in an empty seat in the second row on the left side.
                          
I walked out of the edge of The Forbidden Forest and as discreetly as possible, made my way to the second row on the left side of the aisle. Everyone I knew were sitting on the right side, behind me. I only hoped they hadn't noticed me.
                          
I had worn a cardigan over my dress to hide the dark mark. The spell my mum had told me about only worked once every three days and I had already used it yesterday.
                          
The service was beautiful, just how I imagined Dumbledore would have liked it. The shower of arrows by the Centaurs and the song of the merpeople brought tears to my eyes.