In Memoriam
Beth woke up as Mrs Diggory pulled open the curtains on her window.
Beth had had the best night’s sleep she had had in days, the relief of talking to Remus last night had lifted a huge weight off her shoulders.
“You need to get up dear.”
Mrs Diggory hung a black velvet dress on the wardrobe door.
“It used to be mine, you have to wear black for the funeral, it might be a bit big on you, but it should fit.”
“Thank you,” said Beth yawning slightly as she got out of bed.
Beth stretched slightly and pulled on the black dress with a pair of tights and her school shoes.
Beth rushed downstairs where everyone else was having a quick breakfast.
Cedric was struggling to do up his bowtie in the mirror, his black dress robes hanging over his chair.
“Why can’t I just wear a regular tie?” grumbled Cedric.
“Because dear,” said Mrs Diggory shaking her head as she did up her son’s bowtie, “you have to wear a bowtie with formal dress robes.”
“Do you want anything to eat Beth dear?”
“I’m not really hungry,” Beth shrugged.
“We’re not going to be eating again until dinner,” Remus pointed out.
“I’m fine,” shrugged Beth.
“Well alright dear,” said Mrs Diggory, “go and get your cloak then.”
Beth ran to go and get her cloak whilst everyone else finished their breakfast, and then they all apparated to the cottage.
There was nearly a hundred chairs laid out in the garden behind the house. There was a flower garden at the back of the house with a small oak tree that was planted between two gravestones. The tree had been planted when Hope had died eleven years ago.
Today wasn’t a funeral as such because Lyall had already been buried next to his wife, but more of a memorial service.
A few people were already there, but not many, the service didn’t start for over an hour.
Beth took a firm grasp on Remus’ hand as they walked towards the guests.
Sitting in the back row were three people, one was a witch who had long dark curly hair and was sitting next to her husband who was a middle-aged wizard, slightly balding, and a younger witch who had a shade of shocking pink hair with her black dress robes.
“Remus!” exclaimed the elder witch giving him a hug as he walked towards them.
“Hi Dromeda, hi Ted,” said Remus.
“How you doing Remus?” asked the wizard.
“I’ve been better,” said Remus laughing slightly.
“Beth this is Andromeda and Ted Tonks,” explained Remus, “they were in the Order.”
Beth nodded slightly and stared down at her shoes.
“That can’t be little Elizabeth!” exclaimed Ted looking her up and down.
“You remember Nymphadora don’t you Remus?” asked Andromeda as the pink haired witch walked towards them.
“I’ve told you,” glared the young witch, “don’t call me Nymphadora!”
“And I’ve told you Nymphadora,” said Andromeda looking fiercely at her daughter, “that bright pink is not a suitable colour for a funeral.”
“It’s not a funeral it’s a memorial!” she pointed out.
“It’s fine,” said Remus chuckling slightly.
Andromeda returned her daughter’s glare with her arms folded against her chest.
“Fine,” muttered Tonks.
Tonks closed her eyes and grimaced slightly as her hair changed to a navy blue.
“Woah!” exclaimed Beth.
“Better Mum?”
“Much thank you Dora,” said Andromeda.
Beth’s mouth was still dropped open.
“Oh Dora here is a metamorphmagus,” Andromeda explained at the confused look on Beth’s face, “she can change her appearance at will.”
“Most people call me Tonks,” explained Tonks.
Beth nodded slightly.
“Want to go get a seat?” asked Cedric as Remus went to go talk to some ministry colleagues who had worked with Lyall.
“Hmm,” muttered Beth as she and Cedric sat down in the front row.
“There’s going to be a lot of people here,” sighed Cedric, “how do you think you’re going to cope?”
“Staring down at my shoes if anyone tries to talk to me,” she muttered.
“That’s a good plan,” said Cedric.
“You ever been to one of these before Ced?”
“My Grandfather passed away last year, mainly what happens is people talk about memories of the deceased.”
“So, this is kind of like a celebration of his life?”
“Yeah,” nodded Cedric.
“If it’s a celebration then why does everyone have to wear black?”
“I don’t know, I think its part tradition, part respect.”
“Hey look who’s over there,” said Cedric after a while.
“Hi Beth,” said Susan taking Cedric’s seat.
“Hi Sus,” muttered Beth as Susan put an arm around her.
“I can’t believe I wasn’t there when you needed me,” said Susan sobbing slightly, “forgive me?”
“Sus,” sighed Beth as she settled into Susan’s arms, “you’re not just my girlfriend, you’re my best friend, I will always forgive you. But I’ve got nothing to forgive you for.”
Susan’s parents and Aunt Amelia sat down next to Susan, and Remus came to sit next to Beth just before the service started.
Several people went up to the front to share their memories and personal stories about Lyall, including Alistair Moody, his partner from the Order, Mr Diggory Lyall’s best friend and work partner, even Professor Dumbledore who talked about Lyall’s school days.
Then everyone gathered around the grave, Remus and Beth laid wreaths on both Hope and Lyall’s graves.
This was followed by what felt like the longest hours of Beth’s life. She spent the next three hours clutching onto Remus like a limpet as he thanked everyone for coming.
Beth stared down at her shoes as people she had never met before tried telling her how much she looked like her parents, and how proud they would be of her.
Sometimes complete strangers would try to pat her on the back or give her a hug and Beth would clam up and have to try not to hyperventilate.
Occasionally, she would know the people, the entire Weasley family were there apart from Bill and Charlie who were abroad for work.
Sometimes it would be one of her Professors, Dumbledore, Flitwick, Sprout and even McGonagall had come.
After what felt like the longest day of her life, Beth finally went back to the Diggory’s.
“I’m starving,” groaned Cedric as he flopped down at the kitchen table and pulled off his bowtie.
“I’ll warm up some soup,” said Mrs Diggory chuckling at her son.
Beth took off her cloak and sat down next to Remus as Mrs Diggory warmed through some soup.
“Uncle Remus,” muttered Beth.
“Yes darling?”
“Where’s Dobby?”
“Dobby misses Dad and has been given a week off, he’s spending time at the house of one of his house elf friends.”
“He’s going to look after the house for us whilst we’re back at school, ok?”
Beth nodded and Mrs Diggory brought over five steaming bowls of tomato soup.
Beth ravenously dunked a piece of bread into her bowl of soup, she had never been so hungry.
Beth ate her dinner as the others talked about their plans for the rest of the holiday, school didn’t restart for another week and a half.
Beth finished the last spoonful of her soup Beth started to feel very drowsy.
She found herself leaning into and falling asleep onto Remus.
“Did I ever used to do that?” asked Cedric.
“What fall asleep during dinner because you were so tired?” asked Mr Diggory.
“Every other day at one point, you’d tire yourself playing quidditch with the Weasley twins and then fall asleep the second you finished your dinner.”
“I should get her upstairs,” said Remus trying to get up without waking her up.
“It’s alright Remus,” chuckled Mrs Diggory, “I’ll get her, you rest you’ve a long day.”
“Thanks Celia,” sighed Remus.
Mrs Diggory gently picked Beth up, not waking her up. Beth was so small that even though she was thirteen and a half she didn’t weigh more than an average ten or eleven-year-old.
She carefully carried her upstairs and tucked her into bed.
When Mr Diggory came upstairs he found his wife standing in the doorway with tears running down her cheeks.
“What is it Cels?”
“Oh it’s nothing Amos,” muttered Mrs Diggory, “it’s just she’s so young, and she’s lost so much, and we all expect so much from her. But people forget sometimes, she’s only a child, a child who’s been through more than most adults.”
“I know dear,” said Mr Diggory putting an arm around her.
“She’s so shy, and she seems to act so frightened half the time like a deer in headlights. Maybe our world has put too much pressure on her?”
“There’s nothing we can do about it if they have Cels, but to help when we can, such as helping Remus and Beth get through this.”
“I know,” she sighed, “I know.”