The memorial service was on a Sunday, as these things often were. Harry knew one brilliant fact about Sundays - that there was no post delivered on Sundays - but now was neither the time nor the place. Wizards had owls, after all, and nobody should be receiving Howlers during a solemn service.

"We are gathered here today to honour and mourn the dead before us," Dumbledore intoned, many bodies placed before him. "We mourn them whether they are Death Eaters or not. We mourn them as what they either are or once were - students of Hogwarts, each a pupil of my own. I wish to remember them all as students, for we all keep learning until the end. Some learnt, perhaps too late, that Tom Riddle was not the one they should be following. But, alas, bad things happen to all of us. They might all be good people that bad things happened to. They might have been many things but, today, they are dead, and we shall mourn them."

"Cunningly ambiguous," Severus commented, standing a few metres behind Dumbledore.

Minerva sighed.

"Certainly as ambiguous as ever. I hate these things."

"Been to many, Professor?" Remus asked, on her other side.

"I am quite old, Mr Lupin. I have seen many friends be swallowed up by the darkness."

"Now that would be a better line that what Albus came up with," Severus muttered. "Very poetic."

Minerva elbowed him.

"Hush, young one."

They were silent for a moment. Then Severus spoke again.

"I wish Umbridge were one of these," he sighed.

Minerva snorted indelicately, imagining Umbridge's cold dead body.

"I would reprimand you for cruelty but, in this situation, I agree with you. If only the centaurs had snapped her up."

"I don't think the centaurs have teeth like crocodiles, Minerva," Remus pointed out, amused in spite of himself.

"One can only dream," Minerva commented. "I certainly hope Fudge has fired the demon by now. If not, I shall pay her a visit."

"I didn't know you were so well-versed in blackmail, Minerva," Severus commented, amused.

"I am well-versed in many things."

"Oh, that I know."

"How did I do?" Dumbledore asked, coming to join them.

"Albus, you're meant to still be standing at the front!" Minerva hissed. "You're the one setting an example."

"You three are gossiping!"

"... True," admitted Remus. "We should probably stop..."

"... But are we going to?" Severus asked. "N-O."

"You two are such children," Minerva huffed. 

"We are thirty years younger than you after all," Severus pointed out, smiling nicely.

She smacked him.

"Owww."

"You deserved it."

"Go and show everyone what example they should be following, Professor," Remus told her kindly.

Huffing, she walked away.

"So, do you think she'll actually blackmail Umbridge?" Remus continued, turning back to Severus.

"Well, I think it might depend on a number of factors..."

*****

A.N. AND I'M BACK! About time, too.

This is 1 of 6 chapters I am publishing today because, guess what, I've finished the book at long last! I decided you lovely people deserve an update and so I've given you a finished book.

I hope you enjoyed this absolute madness. :)

Thank you for reading and, as always, please comment!!!