The white tomb

           Alllessonsweresuspended,allexaminationspostponed.SomestudentswerehurriedawayfromHogwartsbytheirparentsoverthenextcoupleofdays—thePatiltwinsweregonebeforebreakfastonthemorningfollowingDumbledore’sdeathandZachariasSmithwasescortedfromthecastlebyhishaughty-lookingfather.SeamusFinnigan,ontheotherhand,refusedpoint-blanktoaccompanyhismotherhome;theyhadashoutingmatchintheEntranceHallwhichwasresolvedwhensheagreedthathecouldremainbehindforthefuneral.ShehaddifficultyinfindingabedinHogsmeade,SeamustoldHarryandRon,forwizardsandwitcheswerepouringintothevillage,preparingtopaytheirlastrespectstoDumbledore.

           Someexcitementwascausedamongtheyoungerstudents,whohadneverseenitbefore,whenapowder-bluecarriagethesizeofahouse,pulledbyadozengiantwingedpalominos,camesoaringoutoftheskyinthelateafternoonbeforethefuneralandlandedontheedgeoftheForest.Harrywatchedfromawindowasagiganticandhandsomeolive-skinned,black-hairedwomandescendedthecarriagestepsandthrewherselfintothewaitingHagrid’sarms.MeanwhileadelegationofMinistryofficials,includingtheMinisterforMagichimself,wasbeingaccommodatedwithinthecastle.Harrywasdiligentlyavoidingcontactwithanyofthem;hewassurethat,soonerorlater,hewouldbeaskedagaintoaccountforDumbledore’slastexcursionfromHogwarts.

           Harry,Ron,HermioneandGinnywerespendingalloftheirtimetogether.