p a i n (open)

[dudelsack]

The service hadn't even started yet, and already Harry was pining to leave. He couldn't stay there, his knees were already trembling, his hands shaking so badly that he couldn't possibly be expected to hold onto anything. He felt like a horrible husband, the last thing Ginny had ever heard from him was him denying that he knew her. He hadn't fought Isabelle, he had just stood paralyzed by fear. Harry's eyes stung, but he blinked forcefully before any tears would come. The last thing he needed was for someone to witness him weeping. So far, Harry was alone in the room with his wife's casket up at the front of the room. It was a highly polished pine wood. He walked straight up to it.

Quietly peering down upon the face of his now dead wife, Harry felt overcome with emotion. She looked so peaceful in death, nothing like the terror he had seen before Isabelle had killed her. With his wand, Harry conjured a single pink orchid. They had always been her favourite flowers. Lovingly, he tucked it into her folded hands, and lightly stroked her cold cheek. Harry placed a kiss on her forehead before tearing himself away to seat himself in one of the chairs. He was shaking, he wanted nothing more than to leave, but he had to weather the service, be strong for his kids, but all he wanted to do was break down. Harry failed to hear the sound of footsteps, and it wasn't until a hand was placed on his shoulder that he looked up at...

[broadway]

Raychel stood there, eyes blackened with anger and sorrow. She had learned of Ginny's death, and had immediately gone home from work that day. She felt like she had failed Harry. She had managed to save Evangeline, and even Harry himself. But when it came to Ginevra, she was incapable. The thought that another death had rolled in, of someone that she knew, was hard. First was her parents. Then Emily. Then Wolfgang. And now the mother of one of her dearest friends. It was just too painful. Raychel looked down at him. "I'm so sorry," she whispered in a strained voice. "I'm so very sorry."

[dudelsack]

Harry swallowed hard and nodded, but a permanent lump in the back of his throat that had been there since his wife's death prevented him from speaking. He felt almost as if he were going on auto-pilot, someone externally controlling him while his mind was completely separate from his body- as if he had become some sort of human marionette. Harry had to look away, the knees of his robes was a good spot. He wasn't sure if he would be able to handle all the hugs and handshakes that would come his way that afternoon, all he wanted to do was hide.

[skyeisthelimit]

Alexandria smoothed the skirt of her black dress, feeling suddenly very tired. She entered the area where her father was, and found a friend of Angel's standing there next to her father. Alex gave Raychel a short nod, she didn't feel like talking to the other girl at the moment. Alex had a sudden desire to climb into her father's lap and cry, but one look at Harry's face told her that he wasn't up for comforting anyone else. Alex sat next to him, tears welling up in her eyes, not for the first time. She took her father's hand, willing him to be strong.

[dudelsack]

Harry looked over at Alexandria- she looked just like her mother, her petite features, bright red hair... He gave her hand a squeeze, already feeling like a failure. How in the world was he supposed to lead a family when he himself felt so lost? Gently, he took his hand away from his daughter's, so he could instead wrap his arm around her shoulders, bringing her close. It just wasn't fair, Harry didn't know how he was going to handle it.

[skyeisthelimit]

Alex leaned into her father, glad for his comfort. Harry had been very quietly recently, and Alex would never forget the moment he told her that her mother had been murdered. Tears formed in Alex's eyes as she looked up at her mother's casket. Things seemed so different now, Alex didn't quite know what to do with herself anymore.

[dudelsack]

Harry closed his eyes momentarily, he had looked death in the face several times before, but somehow this time seemed so much more real to him. They were all going to die one day, nothing would stop it. When Harry's eyes finally opened he fixed his gaze on his shoes, it was too painful to look up at the casket holding the corpse of his wife. As far as Harry was concerned, that was not Ginny, not the woman he had fell in love with, not the woman that had carried his children. No, she was gone.

[skyeisthelimit]

Alex didn't know how much time had passed, but when she saw little droplets of water on her father's shirt, she decided to sit up. She took a tissue from the box conveniently located on a nearby table and wiped off her cheeks. Alex held the crumpled tissue in her fist, willing herself to look around. At last she did so. There were a few more people now, though not anyone she knew, mostly people that were Harry's age, probably colleagues or old friends. Alex couldn't help but crinkle her nose slightly, but relaxed when she saw a new face come through the doors.