Chapter 21

"Jude, I'm going to sing you a song, okay? It's one your aunt taught me. Do you wanna hear it?"

Babbling was the reply he got.

An amused chuckle, "Of course that would be your answer. Come on, let me sing it for you." A throat was cleared.

"Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song, and make it better. Remember to let her into your heart, then you can start to make it better. Hey Jude, don't be afraid. You were made to go out and get her. The minute you let her under your skin, then you begin to make it better."

The soft singing stopped. "Did you like it?"

Cooing then ensued.

A laugh came again, "Why thank you. I take pride in my singing voice. Only your mom has heard me singing, so you're the second. You should feel honored."

More cooing.

"Oh okay, I'll go again."

"…and anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain; don't carry the world up on your shoulder," Jude whispered in his sleep.

Emma stood from her seat quickly, moving towards her friend's bed, "Jude, are you awake? Can you hear me?"

She bent her head down to listen when she saw him lips moving. She furrowed her brow when she heard, "For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool by making his world a little colder. Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah."

The red head smiled when she recognized the lyrics, "Hey Jude by the Beatles." She grabbed his warm hand and rubbed it lightly, "Jude, are you awake?"

She watched as Jude's eyes slowly fluttered open. His blue eyes darted around the room before his body relaxed on the bed when he realized he was in the infirmary; the ceiling was very familiar nowadays.

Jude swallowed dryly, squeezing Emma's hand as he turned to her, "Where-" He croaked, bringing a hand to rub his throat. "Where's Lily? And James?"

Emma gave him a soft smile, "James is sleeping in the bed next to yours." She turned her head, her smile widening at the slumbering boy whose sister was cuddled up to him. She turned back to him, "Lily is here as well. She's okay, thanks to you."

"That's good," Jude whispered, wincing when he shifted too much on the bed. He brought his free hand up to his abdomen as he spoke, "What about the professors?"

At that, Emma's smile faded as her eyes watered at the news she had gotten that morning before Jude awoke, "Jude, Professor…" She paused, exhaling shakily as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Professor Harmon is okay despite that she now has to live her life as a werewolf every full moon, but Professor Beckett…"

Jude sighed heavily, his eyes watering as well, "He didn't make it, did he?" He clenched his jaw at the shake of her head.

He had figured the man wasn't going to make it, but he hoped and prayed that they would make it in time. It was all for nothing, but at least Professor Harmon was still alive despite the new lycanthropy she now had to deal with.

He squeezed Emma's hand, "Help me get up?" He winced with a grunt as he sat up. The wound wasn't there anymore, but the soreness of his abdomen was a bit too much for him to handle.

"Should we get going?" He asked, rubbing his abdomen in hopes to soothe the ache.

Emma nodded with a small smile, "Of course. Let me just wake James up and we can go to the Great Hall. I know you must be starving."

Jude smiled back, "You know me so well."

They had woken James and Lily up a moment later. The Potter children thanked Jude profusely for helping bring Lily back. When asked about where Professor Harmon was, Madam Pomfrey explained that the young professor was at St. Mungo's being treated for her bite.

There was only a few days left until the last day of school which gave the trio and Lily more time to recover from the whole chamber incident.

On the last day of school, Jude sat with his friends, ignoring Carlos who was very insistent that he take his treacle tart to make him feel better, and listened to Headmaster Flitwick speak on how much he had loved this year and everything he helped kids learn.

"And now," Flitwick cleared his throat with a smile. "Before I go on to what house has won the cup this year, I will inform you that Professor Harmon has been admitted to St. Mungo's for reasons we cannot discuss."

Murmurs began spreading across the room as people questioned why the professor was in the hospital; it must've been serious but how serious? It's not like professors were doing the Triwizard Tournament.

Flitwick sighed, "We have also lost Professor Beckett in a horrible accident. He will be missed."

"That's another one," Louis muttered with a roll of his eyes. "I guess the curse is back. That's just great."

Jude glanced at his blankly before moving his gaze back to the headmaster when he started speaking again, "With much consideration, I have made an adjustment on who has won the house cup this year. While Hufflepuff was originally first, with Jude Porter's brave act on saving Lily Potter, something no one else did or knew where she was, I will give Gryffindor 500 points making them the winners of the house cup."

The students and teachers cheered happily at the news. Jared shook Jude's shoulder excitedly with a wide grin while others told Lily they were glad she was back. Jude simply sighed, going back to his meal.

Yes, he was happy they had one, but he wished it didn't have to come at the cost of Beckett's death and Meghan's lycanthropy. He wouldn't wish that on anyone, but he knew it wasn't his entire fault; he didn't ask for their help, they had volunteered.

It wasn't his fault, he repeated to himself. It wasn't his fault.

At least, he didn't want to think it was his fault.