He had insisted that he was fine, but his protests fell on deaf ears. Finally, he gave in and limped upstairs to the hospital wing to see Madam Pomfrey. His first examination of the gash had been minimal, he realized. It didn't look too bad a couple hours ago. Now, however, it was swollen and purple with red blood smears around it.

When he arrived at the hospital wing, the sight before him was astonishing.

The wing itself must have been completely occupied. The corridor leading to it was lined with people lying on squishy sleeping bags or camp beds. Some had broken bones, while others had gashed faces or gnawed limbs. He assumed that the more important people and the severely injured were actually in the Wing, itself.

Percy was amazed at all the activity. People, some dressed in Healer costume, others were fighters that were uninjured, were roaming the corridor and assisting the wounded. Some had Pepper-Up and Skele-Gro cradled in their arms. Others had pitchers of water and were hydrating them. A good few of them were walking around with wands drawn, healing various injuries. Some of the fighters hopped up immediately and left, someone always taking their place once they moved. Others were put into an enchanted sleep to heal or told to stay put.

He supposed he stood there like an idiot for a few moments, but then the pain in his leg nearly doubled. He knew the adrenaline must be wearing off; his entire body was beginning to ache.

Percy walked up to an elderly woman with a kind face.

"Is there a place?..." Percy awkwardly left his sentence hanging, not particularly sure what else to say.

She smiled at him and tucked a greying strand of auburn hair behind her ear.

"Of course, dear," she told him in a way that reminded him of his mother. "Right over here."

She led him to a sleeping bag which laid right next to a window. Sun streamed in and refracted through his horn rimmed glasses for a second as he ungainly laid down on it. The bag was extremely comfortable. Percy, for a second of insanity, imagined it a cloud that enveloped him. He snapped out of that thought almost immediately, deeming it stupid and childish.

The elderly Healer was looking at the gash in his leg, examining every square centimeter of it. She nodded to herself and muttered under her breath before standing up to face him.

"All right dear, you'll be just fine." She smiled again at him. "Nothing major. I'll send one of the trainees over with some dittany and you'll be all set."

He nodded at her and smiled faintly back.

She took off at a rather quick pace down the corridor. He watched her until she was obscured by the elevated camp beds.

He focused on the make-shift ward. It was quiet, but not silent. Moaning and groaning issued from all around. Percy could hear the low hum of the Healers, Matrons, and volunteers speaking. He wondered who they were speaking to. Each other, perhaps? Or maybe to the injured? The sounds of several different footsteps bounced off the walls also. They grew louder and softer as they all moved towards and away from him. He focused on a soft pair of footsteps. They were light and dainty and were growing constantly louder with each step.

A young woman appeared. She was dressed in Muggle clothes, to his surprise. Her legs were sheathed in jeans with grubby-looking trainers sticking out. She was skinny, even with a large red jumper hanging around her torso. Her dark brown hair was pinned in a bun and her hazel eyes peered at him curiously.

"Hello," she told him softly. "My name is Audrey Phillips. Do you need water?"

He shook his head at her, denying the question. She nodded and produced a large orange bottle with a stopper on top from behind her.

"This is dittany," she assured him. "It will heal this."

She gestured towards the wound.

"Thank you," he told her pompously.

She smiled. "You're welcome."

Audrey removed the stopper from the dittany and tilted the bottle. Two drops of clear liquid oozed out of the mouth and landed on his wound. Percy winced ever so slightly and watched as the coloring changed from red and green to blue and purple. Skin also seemed to grow on top of it, making its appearance look weeks old.

"Thank you," he told her again as she placed the stopper back into the bottle.

"You're welcome," she replied again and stood.

He watched her look around the ward. Her face seemed sad and lonely.

"Are you all right?" Percy asked her. He mentally began berating himself. Of course she wasn't all right! Look where she was!

"I...I think so," Audrey told him before sitting back down. He raised an eyebrow at her. "I need a break."

It was Percy's turn to nod at her.

"Of course."

They sat there in silence for a minute or two, staring at each other. Finally, she spoke up.

"Where are you from?"

"Devon," Percy replied. "Ottery St. Catchpole."

Audrey nodded. "I suppose you went to school here? You look like people that I saw earlier today."

"My family. We're all here. And yes, I went to school here. I was a Gryffindor. How about you?"

"I didn't go to school here," she paused and considered her answer. "My mam taught me and my younger sister everything we needed to know. She was our teacher."

"I see. My mother taught us the elementary things before we went to school. She became quite good at it, seeing as there were seven of us."

Were. His insides ached as he thought of Fred. Audrey seemed to pick up on this too.

"Were?" She inclined her head towards him more, paying closer attention.

"My younger brother..."Percy faltered suddenly, not able to continue.

"He died?" Her voice was gentle, soft, and feathery. It was no more than a whisper that seemed to emanate from the dust in the air.

Percy nodded. "Last night."

"I'm sorry," she whispered again.

He nodded in acknowledgement.

She placed her hand softly on his and caught his eye. He released breath quickly as her gentle hazel eyes met his blue ones. They exchanged saddened expressions and Percy felt the urge to comfort the melancholy woman in front of him. She suddenly broke eye contact and looked down.

"My sister was severely injured when the war started," she said.

Nodding to her, he decided to hold his tongue. If she wanted to continue, she could. It was not his place to make her volunteer information.

"Her name is Ella." She smiled to herself. "Bright girl, she is."

She grinned at Percy suddenly and he smiled back.

"What are the names of your siblings?" Audrey asked. She said it suddenly and quickly; it caused Percy to jump slightly.

"My older brothers are named Bill and Charlie. Then my younger siblings are Ginny, Ron, George, and..." He stopped.

She nodded at him understandingly. "When you're able to talk about it, you're able to talk about it."

Percy didn't know what to say. Would he ever be able to talk about it? What would she say if he did? How do you explain to someone that the first time you saw your dead brother for three years was an hour before his death? How do you make someone understand...

"There will be a time," Audrey said. "Trust me. Maybe not right away...but soon. Your brother wouldn't want you to waste your life grieving. I may never have known him, but that's what most people want. For their families to move on."

She smiled a genuine smile at him and stood up. Audrey waved before taking a step to walk away.

"Audrey?" Percy suddenly said.

Audrey turned. "Yes?"

"Thank you...again."

"You're welcome again. I'll come back to check on you later. Just lie still for a while. Try to go to sleep."

Audrey turned once again and walked away. Percy didn't know exactly what he was feeling, but it was more than gratitude towards the young Healer.

She had begun to Heal him.