Afterwards (Lavender/Open)
Lavender had done her best to make the rounds, trying to attend to people quietly and as well as she could, particularly to Mandy and the twins. In no way was she perky but she tried to at least be serene. Now that things were through she was feeling herself come apart at the seams. She stepped away from the crowd for a moment, watching the water and trying to let go. It wasn't as easy as she thought it may have been, having lost so many before.
Each death was different, each had meant their own things. Most of those who had died at Hogwarts Lavender hadn't been present at the funerals, she was still in the hospital. This death was so senseless, so unwarranted that she couldn't quite grasp it and until now, she hadn't given herself the time to. It had been easy to distract herself with her search for Michael, her whatever with Isaac, and then the planning with Padma. Now that was gone and she was left with her emotions. Emotions used to be where Lavender lived but any more she was shying away from them, beginning to dread them, wanting to avoid them in general- the more real they were growing.