BREAKING APART STONE

Hi again everyone! Here's another chapter. I hope you like it, and don't forget to Review at the end, please!

The remainder of Fred's ceremony was beautiful. Several of his friends including Lee Jordan, Oliver Wood, and Angelina Johnson, all of whom I hadn't seen since my seventh year at Hogwarts, approached the podium and spoke about Fred as a student and friend. Bill spoke about many of the photographs that were on display, providing small anecdotes into lesser known aspects of Fred's life.

It certainly was a day that every guest would remember, and I felt that Fred's memory would stick with me as I headed into preparations for Remus' funeral.

Remus' funeral was scheduled for three days after Fred's, leaving me little time to finalize plans. Professor McGonagall, Harry, and Neville had all assured me that their speeches were written and that they were prepared to give them at the ceremony. The only piece missing was my speech.

"I just can't think of what to say," I groaned as I threw a crumpled piece of parchment on the ground. It was the night before the funeral, and I still had yet to write my contribution to the ceremony.

"You'll think of something," Mum assured, rounding the corner and passing me a cup of tea. Teddy and I were staying with her that night so that we could head over to the church early the next day to ensure that everything would run smoothly.

"I feel awful, Mum," I admitted. "How is it that two former students and a coworker can write a commemorative speech for Remus, but his wife can't?"

Mum sighed and sat down next to me at the kitchen table. "Sometimes it's hardest to talk about the people we know and love best," she advised, putting a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "You're so overcome by emotions when you think about them, it's hard to focus it all."

I said nothing. Instead, I gazed down at the blank piece of paper in front of me. She was right. Remus was kind, loving, brilliant, caring, noble, and so many more things that I didn't even know how to describe them. How was I going to fit it all into one simple speech? One speech didn't seem sufficient to encapsulate the man that I had come to know, love, and experience life with, even if it was only for a short time.

It suddenly felt like a large cotton ball had lodged itself in my throat. Remus deserved so much more than one simple speech. I had more to say about him than that, but I had no idea how to say it. I wanted so badly to do his memory proud, to give everyone a glimpse of who Remus was, but there was so much to say about him that I didn't know how to say it in a way that would do him justice. The thought brought tears to my eyes.

Mum noticed the tears starting to well in my eyes, and she pulled me to her chest, stroking my hair like she would when I was a child.

"I miss him, Mum," I muffled into her chest.

She patted my back comfortingly. "I know, sweetie," she consoled, allowing me to sob into her shirt.

She gave me one consoling squeeze before I pulled away, my eyes wet and red.

"Dora," Mum began sympathetically, "if it's too much for you to give the speech, you don't have to," she told me with an understanding look in her eyes. "I'm sure everyone will understand if you're not feeling up to it yet," she added. "You're not made of stone. You're allowed to feel upset."

I shook my head, "No, I want to do it," I assured, trying to dry my eyes with the sleeve of my shirt. "I want everyone there to know exactly who Remus was," I continued wetly. "I don't know how I'm going to do that, yet, but…." I broke off, glancing back down at the empty page.

Mum kissed my forehead. "Just know that he'll be proud of you no matter what," she said in barely a whisper.

I smiled. Suddenly, the task of writing a speech for Remus didn't seem as daunting.

Sorry that this chapter was mostly filler, but I liked the Andromeda/Tonks mother/daughter moment :) Let me know what you thought in a Review!