This was preceded by a host of speakers outlining the many and varied achievements of the centenary wizard who lay in the beechwood ornate coffin behind the pulpit. There was frequent mention of his bravery and defeat of Voldemort while he was still a teenager. He barely matured from boyhood when he decided to sacrifice himself, if that is what it would take, to end the tyranny of a maniacal wizard bent on dominating and controlling the wizarding world. Also mentioned was his reign as Hogwarts head teacher, which had only ended when he expired from old age; in fact, he was found in the headmaster's office slumped on his desk, finally dead from old age, even his red phoenix Fawkes, unable to bring him back to life, despite the fact that it's frantic and hurried to squawk. His brief spell as head of the Ministry of Magic was less often mentioned, usually only because his son Albus had succeeded him and continued to do an excellent job in his stead. Albus was a notable omission from the various speakers. He was not one for public speaking and felt there was little to say that would not already have been said. All he may have added were details of their upbringing, but he felt these were private and wanted to protect them somehow.