A/N: Jumping ahead now: there are probably 2-3 chapters left and I'm going to try to focus on the highlights and missing moments without retelling canon. This next chapter takes place at the end of HBP.

She had never been so terrified in her entire life. Even her fear when Bill had been cursed couldn't touch how Fleur felt now. Then, adrenaline and purpose had blocked her emotions. Then, she hadn't been aware how much she loved him.

When the Patronus came, speaking with Arthur Weasley's frantic voice, her blood had turned to ice . She barely remembered Apparating to Hogsmede, didn't know how she had found Bill's parents, paid no attention as they ran through the grounds and halls of the school that had been her home for nearly a year. She only knew she had to be with him him, to know that he hadn't, he wasn't . . . but she wouldn't, she couldn't, let her mind go there. Instead, she ran numbly, trying not to think at all.

He was alive. For long seconds, the only thing she could focus on was that one thought as she stared down at him. His face was bloody and nearly unrecognizable, but those facts barely registered. He was wearing the dragon skin boots she had gotten him for Christmas and that same concert t-shirt he'd worn the first time she'd seen him in something other than robes. Their familiarity calmed her. He was Bill, he was alive, and that was all that mattered.

Dimly, she heard Molly lament about what a handsome boy he had been and Fleur impatiently shook her head to herself. He was still as handsome was ever, as far as she was concerned. But Molly's next words pierced deeper.

"And he was going to be married!"

Only then did Fleur understand what Bill's family really thought of her; that the tension had not been one-sided; that her own missteps had only fueled their opinions. Her words in response were immediate, harsh, and honest. She already knew Bill was brave, that others could now see it too mattered little to her belief in their future.

And the dam between Fleur and Molly broke, replaced by their mutual love for the man lying between them. It was just the beginning of their understanding of each other, but for now it was enough.

HPHPHPHPHPHP

An hour later, they were back on the familiar fourth floor of St. Mungo's. The fourth floor and not the first because yes, Bill had been bitten, but the bites were cursed, and no one objected when Fleur insisted he be moved to the higher floor with Healers who had already saved his life once.

This time, Bill's family hovered and fretted and worried as they all waited for him to wake up. Fleur stood back and let Arthur and Molly parent; a move that earned her a brief but real smile from Ginny. She stood with Ron, both of them looking shell-shocked and battle scarred, and Fleur was almost relieved that Bill wasn't awake to see his youngest siblings this time. Ginny leaned into Ron and her put his arm around her. Her words were spoken in a whisper, but Fleur heard them nonetheless.

"I need to get back to Harry."

And Fleur remembered the conversation she and Bill had had just weeks ago, after he had come back from lunch with Fred and George.

He had returned to their flat – it was their flat now, not just Bill's. Fleur had been painting the rather dingy trim around the windows when he walked through the door and dropped onto the sofa with an aggrieved sigh, hand over his eyes.

"What did those boys do this time?" she asked with a smile. "You don't seem to be growing a tail or anything."

"It's not what they did, it's what they told me," said Bill. "Something I think I would have been better off not knowing for quite a while."

Fleur curled up next to him on the sofa. Bill put his arm around her and absently kissed her hair. After a moment, he spoke.

"Ginny apparently has a boyfriend."

Fleur snorted. "This is news? I thought she's 'ad a boyfriend for a while. Dean something, I think."

Bill smirked. "Dean is old news. As is the boy she dated before him." His face grew more serious. "She's with Harry Potter now."

"Ahh," said Fleur. She tried to guess what Bill was thinking. "Are you worried?" Her own interactions with Ginny so far had been less than positive, but she knew Bill both doted on her and considered her smart and tough. Ginny had already been almost killed twice because of her interactions with Harry; Fleur suspected Bill might be moving into "older-protective older brother" mode when it came to his sister.

Bill shrugged. "Worried, of course. Danger follows Harry around at the best of times, and we know it's only going to get worse. That puts Ginny in danger. But . . ." he broke off and ran his fingers through his hair.

"But what?"

"But even more, I think he is more than just another of her boyfriends. I think they are really right for each other, for the long term. But Harry may not have a 'long term.' And that scares the shit out of me."

Fleur understood. "It's hard to love someone who has so many other demands on his life."

Bill nodded. "I don't know what the prophecy said, but I have a good idea. Ginny may well get her heart broken. And there is nothing to do about it."

Fleur looked more carefully at Ginny; it was obvious the fear and concern on her face were not really directed at her brother anymore. She tugged on Ron's hand. "Can we go?" she asked.

Fleur spoke up. "If you ask 'Ealer Griffen, 'e can take you to the private Floo in their office. It will be the fastest way back to 'Ogwarts."

Ginny gave Fleur a watery smile. "Thank you," she said quietly before following Ron out the door.

Bill's parents and other brothers left soon afterwards, with promises to return in the morning. Molly gave Fleur another hug. "Take care of him, please," she said.

"Always," replied Fleur.

And then they were gone and Fleur waved her wand to expand Bill's bed so she could crawl up next to him, ignoring the raised eyebrows of several of the Healers who traipsed in and out.

He was conscious by now, but confused by the pain and the potions and the bandages on his face. Fleur took his hand in hers and kissed across Bill's knuckles and he immediately calmed, a smile quirking across his lips below the bandage on his cheek.

"I love you," he said. The eye not covered by a bandage found hers.

"And I love you," she responded. "But I would rather love you somewhere other than in the 'ospital."

"How . . . how bad is it?" Bill asked, gesturing weakly to his face. It was the first time he had mentioned his injuries.

"He bit you badly," Fleur admitted. "But the Healers and Remus do not think you will have permanent effects because Greyback was not transformed."

"And what about how it looks?" said Bill quietly.

Fleur squeezed his hand. "As I told your mum, I am beautiful enough for both of us. What do I care 'ow you look?" She kissed his fingers again and let her voice take on a suggestive tone. "Besides, all of your important parts aren't injured, ne'cest pas?" She gently let her hand trail across the blanket that covered Bill's lap.

He groaned in response. "They work just fine," he said heavily. "How long did the Healer say it would be until I could use them again?"

Fleur reached forward and found Bill's lips. "Hopefully not too long," she said.

Within two days, Bill's face was no longer bandaged; the magical potions and creams the Healers had applied were doing their job to close his wounds. The scars were prominent and permanent, but his eyes were still bright and piercing and his mouth as expressive as ever. Fleur had barely left his side, but now she stood in her traveling cloak, waiting for the Healer to arrive with a Portkey.

"I wish I could go with you," Bill said.

"I know," said Fleur. "But you need to heal. I will give your love to everyone."

Bill nodded. "My parents will meet you there," he said. He yawned. "That last potion made me sleepy."

Fleur leaned over and kissed him. "Sleep well, my love. I will be back after the funeral."

HPHPHPHPHPHP

Fleur had not known Professor Dumbledore well, but she understood the nearly legendary place the man had held in the wizarding world. The shock and horror was palpable; it foreclosed the grief, and was only eased with the beautiful Phoenix Song that echoed through the grounds.

She felt frozen, listening to a small wizard speak about the man; her thoughts were swirling and kept drifting back to the man she had left at the hospital. That Bill was alive and okay was close to a miracle; the more Fleur heard about what had happened the night Dumbledore had been killed the more she could not believe that everyone but the Headmaster had survived. She hadn't let herself think about it too carefully yet, hadn't considered what his death meant, what was going to happen for the Order. There were paths she wasn't ready to let her mind take, although she knew that soon she would have to.

From where she sat, Fleur could see Ginny Weasley, sitting quietly next to Harry. They were holding hands, their faces nearly identical masks of solemnity. Fleur could almost see the weight of the prophecy sitting on Harry's shoulders and yet, he had a quiet determination about him quite at odds with his youth. Even as Fleur watched, Harry turned towards Ginny and spoke quietly to her. Fleur saw a fleeting, desperate smile cross her face and then a nod of acceptance. Harry got up and walked away and Ginny stayed quietly in her seat, looking at her hands.

The service was over now; people were walking around and speaking quietly. Fleur saw a couple of curious glances in her direction and glimpsed Madame Maxine towering above the other mourners, but she made her way instead to sit next to Ginny, taking the seat Harry had just left.

Ginny gave her a small smile. "How's Bill?" she asked softly.

"'E will be okay, thank Merlin. 'E was lucky."

Ginny gave a small snort. "Actually, he wasn't." She grimaced. "The rest of us . . . the ones not in the Order, I mean. We had . . . Harry had given us . . . Felix Felicis. We all had a sip before the Death Eaters arrived."

"Liquid Luck," said Fleur. "I hadn't heard."

"Bill didn't get any. None of the Order did," said Ginny. "But we think it kept us from getting hit too bad with the hexes." She seemed to want to talk, and Fleur let her.

"And then . . . and then Harry was there. He had been with . . . he saw . . . and now . . . "Ginny shook her head and stopped talking.

"And now he cannot rest while those he loves are in danger," said Fleur quietly. "It is as natural to him as breathing."

Ginny nodded. "Damn noble git," she said with a watery chuckle.

"He is in love with you. I hope you realize that. It is obvious to anyone who takes the time to see."

Ginny nodded again. "I think I know that," she said. "He hasn't told me though."

"''E probably doesn't think it would be fair to tell you now."

Ginny looked up, surprise on her face. "You know Harry well," she said.

Fleur shrugged. "We spent a lot of time together, the year of the Tri-Wizard Tournament. He is a unique. . .man. I guess he is not a boy anymore, non?"

"No, he's not," Ginny agreed. "But I think he wishes he could be, for just a little longer."

"I hope he gets the chance again, to be a boy." Fleur touched Ginny lightly on the shoulder. "If you need anything . . . I . . . Bill and I . . . we would do anything for you. "

Ginny nodded. "I know," she said quietly. "Thank you."

Fleur left soon after that, to go back to St. Mungo's. She arrived to find Bill awake and waiting for her. "How are you?" he asked quietly as she sat down on the bed.

Fleur shrugged. "I don't know," she said honestly. "I can feel everything changing. It was in the air, at the funeral." She shuddered. "No one is safe."

Bill nodded. "It will be a miracle if my family survives this intact." He swallowed. "I don't know how my mum stands it."

"She stands it because she doesn't have a choice," said Fleur. "And neither do we. And so we will fight, if that time comes."

"I'm glad she has the wedding to think about. I think we all need something happy to distract us, even for a little while." He moved restlessly. "I was waiting for you to get back. The Healers said I could take a shower." There was not even a hint of suggestion in his voice. "Will you help me?"

Fleur stood up. "Of course," she said.

This time, Fleur helped Bill undress before taking off her own robes as well. And she stood with him under the warm water and he held her as she cried, finally. She cried for the loss of innocence she had seen on so many faces that day, for their fear of the days to come, and for the relief that she will still able to be held by the man she loved. There would be many dark days ahead, she knew, but for now, it was too much to think about. Instead, she rose up on her toes and pressed herself into him the way he loved, feeling his wet skin against hers. She kissed him deeply and sighed against his mouth, feeling him tremble. It wasn't weakness this time, but need, and Bill lifted her up so that she could wrap her legs around him before he lowered them both to the bench in a single, fluid motion.

Their lovemaking was quiet, punctuated only by his soft groans of pleasure and her panting breath against his neck, the falling water surrounding them like a curtain and muffling the outside world.

Afterwards, she climbed into his bed and kissed down the scars on his face and tried to block out the world for one more night.