"Come on Hermione," Cedric said. "Everyone is up in the hospital wing. Ginny's gone to see if she can find Harry."

"I too tired to move." Hermione said.

"I will carry you if I have too." Cedric threatened.

"I can walk on my own." Hermione said.

"I know that but you just said that you were too tired to move so I translate that into being too tired to walk which is a movement."

"Don't be so sarcastic." Hermione said pushing herself up from the floor.

Cedric grabbed her hand and helped pull her up. She had been sitting on the floor since the battle had stopped about ten minutes ago. The made it to the staircase and headed up to the hospital wing. Flitch was already trying to clean up the mess.

"Why does the hospital wing have to feel so far away?" Hermione asked.

"Um… because it's like three o'clock in the morning and you would normally be asleep by now." Cedric said.

"Nobody got killed did they?" Hermione asked.

"No." Cedric said. "They got hurt but will live, don't worry madam Pomfrey is sure to kept the well enough to be moved to St. Mungo's if they need to be."

"Wait who was hurt?" Hermione asked.

"It was Bill Weasley but he'll be fine." Cedric said.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes, I saw him when they moved him to the hospital wing. A bit of a mess but he'll be alright." Cedric said.

"I wonder if Bill will be a werewolf like Professor Lupin," Hermione said. "Greyback wasn't transformed at the time he attacked, so who knows what the aftereffects will be."

"Hey there's Ron." Hermione said as they reached the hospital wing doors. "Ron!"

"Thank Merlin you two are okay. Mum and Dad are on their way. Lupin, Tonks and Bill are in the wing already. Neville is passed out but he's okay. Pomfrey said he need to rest. I think we would have been goners if Harry hadn't given us the Felix potion before he left." Ron said.

"Can we go in?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah I was just waiting for Ginny to show up with Harry. She went looking for him." Ron said.

He pushed the doors open and allowed them to walk in. Neville was lying in a bed next to the door. Luna, Tonks and Lupin were surrounding a bed at the other end of the ward. They walked toward that end of the ward. Tonks jumped up and asked them if they were okay.

"We are fine." Hermione said. "Is Sirius here?"

"No but he's on his way." Tonks said. "Got into a battle of his own on the way here. He should be here soon and you should get those cuts checked out."

"I don't need to I'm fine." Hermione said. "And Bill is the one that needs the attention right now, not me."

"It won't take that long anyway." Madam Pomfrey said. "I'm finished with all I can do for now."

Hermione was led to a privet bed where Madam Pomfrey checked her over and gave her the all clear. She cleaned the cuts and healed them before she allowed Hermione to join the others. Madam Pomfrey then dragged Cedric over to the same bed and ran the same test on him. He was also fine.

"Can't believe you guys had all the fun without me." Sirius said when he walked into the hospital wing ten minutes later.

"It's not like we could freeze everything and wait for you to arrive Sirius." Remus said. "Besides it wasn't all that fun and in case you didn't realize everyone but Bill came out all right."

"Sorry." He mumbled. "But you know me. Where are Molly and Arthur?"

"They are on their way. Tonks contacted them as soon as she found out Bill had been hurt." Remus told him. "Hermione and Cedric just got here before you and they are both okay. Neville got knocked out but Madam Pomfrey says he'll be okay."

"Everyone else checked out fine except for Harry but that's because Ginny just went to find him. They should be here soon." Hermione told him. "At least that's what I have been told."

Sirius walked over to her and hugged her while he scowled at Cedric.

"Sirius." She said in a warning tone.

"Sorry, it's in my blood to do that."

"He protects me just as much as you do." Hermione said. "You have nothing to worry about. Besides I have you as a dad and several other friends that could help me get revenge not that I would need it."

"Yeah I think that we all learned that last year." Ron said. "Cho's friend still bared the scars."

"They were not scars it was like paint that had faded." Hermione said. "Scars imply that she experience pain and she experienced nothing of the short unless it was emotional."

"Was there an anti-jinx for that?"

"Yes I did." Hermione said. "I would have given it to her if she said sorry.

Just then the doors of the hospital wing opened, Harry and Ginny walked in. Harry glanced at Neville as they passed and walked over to the group that had gathered around Bill's bed. Harry looked like he had been to hell and back. Professor Lupin moved toward him but Hermione beat him to it. She ran over to him and hugged him.

"Are you okay, Harry?" Lupin asked him.

"I'm okay, how is Bill?"

No one answered giving Harry the answer anyway. He looked behind Hermione and saw the unrecognizable face that was now Bill Weasley. He was so badly slashed that he would never look the same. Madam Pomfrey was tending to Bill's wounds again.

"Is there anything you can do or use to fix them?" Harry asked her.

"I am sorry to say that no charm will work on these wounds," Madam Pomfrey replied. "And I have tried everything I know, but nothing worked. There is no cure for werewolf bites, I'm afraid."

"Why not he wasn't bitten during the full moon," Ron said. "And Grey back wasn't in his werewolf form, Bill can't be a real werewolf can he?"

Ron had turned to Lupin the look on his face pleading for an answer that could help his brother.

"I don't think Bill will be a true werewolf like me but that does not mean there won't be any aftereffects." Remus said. "His wounds are cursed wounds and are likely never to fully heal. Not to mention he might have some wolfish tendencies later on."

"Dumbledore could know something that might work?" Ron said.

"Where is he anyway, Bill fought on his orders, the man owes him, he can't just leave him—"

"Dumbledore is dead," Ginny snapped.

"No!" Several people shouted together.

Lupin and Sirius were looking between Ginny and Harry. Hermione knew they were hoping that Ginny was wrong but she knew from the look on Harry's face that it wouldn't be happening. Lupin collapsed into a chair near Bills bed from the shock of the news he just heard. Harry looked away from Lupin and caught Ron's eye. Again the silence confirmed the news.

"How did he die?" Tonks asked. "How could that happen?"

"It was Snape that killed him," Harry said. "I was there and I saw it happened. We landed in the Astronomy tower because the mark had been set above it, I think he knew it was a trap because he immobilized me after we hears footsteps on the stairs." He added. "I was under my cloak so I couldn't be seen but after that Malfoy came bursting though the door. He disarmed Dumbledore."

Harry paused to let everyone get their reactions out. Several of the girls had started to cry.

"It didn't take long for more Death Eaters and Snape to arrive."

"Quiet." Hermione said after Madam Pomfrey burst into tears.

"Everybody quiet down and listen." Ginny said.

Taking a deep break Madam Pomfrey calmed her sobs; her eyes went wide when she heard the soft sound. Everyone was awed at the sound they heard, a phoenix singing in a way that none of them heard before. It was a song of sadness and beauty at the same time.

No one knew how long they all stood there and listened to the Phoenix's song, nor did they know why the song seemed to ease the pain of their mourning. Hermione walked over to Sirus and hugged him; it was all she could think of doing. Cedric stood by them but understood why Hermione was hugging her father.

Not long later Professor McGonagall entered the hospital wing. She like everyone else bore marks from the recent battle, her emerald robes were ripped and shredded. Luna stood up from her chair and allowed the professor to sit down.

"Arthur and Molly are coming." She said.

That statement seemed to break the spell the music had over them. Everyone adjusted themselves as if they were pulled from a deep sleep. Nearly everyone turned to look at Bill, or rubbed the tears out of their eyes.

"Harry, what happened? Hagrid's told me you were with Dumbledore when he—well when it happened. He also told me that you said Professor Snape had someth—"

"Snape killed Dumbledore," said Harry.

McGonagall stared at Harry like he had just grown three heads, she stared to sway and Madam Pomfrey moved forward and conjured a chair for McGonagall to sit in.

"Snape, but Dumbledore trusted him." McGonagall said. "Oh my I can't believe it. He's really gone."

"Snape was well accomplished Occlumens," Lupin said. "It's why Dumbledore wanted him to help Harry last year."

"How could he kill Dumbledore like that?" asked Tonks. "Dumbledore always swore that he was on our side."

"Albus always hinted that he had reason for trusting Snape so much." Professor McGonagall said as she wiped the tears away from her eyes. "I knew Severus had history and of course people were bound to wonder but Albus said that Snape was absolutely genuine in what he felt. He would never hear a word against him."

"I think we would all like to know what Snape said to convince him." Tonks replied.

"Snape gave Voldemort the information that ended with my parents dying." Harry said. "After their deaths had been discovered Snape had told Dumbledore that he did not know what he was doing and that he was really sorry he had done it. That he was sorry they were dead."

Hermione wanted to walk over and hug him but didn't as Ginny was already comforting him.

"How could Dumbledore believe that? Snape hated James with a fiery passion." Lupin said. "I have a hard time believing that Snape would be sorry about that."

"And I think thought that my mother wasn't worth anything either." Harry said. "He called her 'Mudblood'."

No one stopped to ask how Harry knew that. It didn't matter right now.

"Oh this my fault, all my fault," Professor McGonagall said. "I told Filius to go and find Snape tonight, I actually thought that he would help us. If Snape hadn't known what was going one, he would have never joined the Death Eaters tonight and Dumbledore could still be alive."

Professor McGonagall started to cry harder into her already wet handkerchief.

"It wasn't your fault, Minerva," Lupin told her. "You did what you thought was right and asked Filius would get Snape so he could help us. We all thought that Snape was on our side."

"So he joined the Death Eaters' right away?" Harry asked the group.

"Well I don't really know what happened," Professor McGonagall said. "Dumbledore told the teachers that he would be leaving the school for a while and that we were to patrol the corridors in case something happened… it was shortly after he left that Remus, Bill, and Nymphadora joined us. All the passageways in and out were covered and they couldn't fly in because of the enchantments. I have no idea how they all got in."

Hermione had been wondering the same thing. Every conceivable place that the Death Eaters could get in at was covered by a teacher or order member. There was no way that they could get into the castle.

"I know how they got in." Harry said. "There was a broken vanishing cabinet in the Room of Requirement and another working one in Borgin and Burkes. Draco Malfoy has spent all year fixing the broken one and once he had the cabinet fixed." Harry paused for a moment. "With the two cabinets now working they created a path way allowing the Death Eaters access into the castle."

There were gasp of shock as everyone listed to what Harry had said. Hermione knew that nobody in the room could believe it but deep down they all knew it was true A student (no matter how ruthless) had a hand in the head masters death.

"I really messed up, Harry." Ron said after a few quiet minutes.

"He came out maybe an hour later," Ginny said. "He was holding a severed hand. I looked gross I thought I was going to be sick."

"It was his hand of Glory." Ron explained. "Only the holder gets the light it provides."

"Anyway, he had to be keeping an eye out for someone watching because the moment we were spotted he through something in the air and we couldn't see anymore."

"Fred and Georges Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder," Cedric said. "I saw it in their shop the last time I was in to see them."

"We tried every spell known to man that created some kind of light and nothing worked." Ginny said. "We had to grope the walls to get out of the corridor. While we were doing that we could hear people running past us we couldn't use any defensive spells in case we would hit someone else."

"The light was gone by the time we got to the end of the corridor." Ron said. "It bloody sucked."

"Anyway, they just about ran into us when they came out of that corridor and told us what happened." Lupin said. "We found the Death Eaters minutes after that going toward the Astronomy Tower."

"Malfoy obviously didn't expect more than a few people to be on watch, he had run out of that Darkness powder and we could all see again." Tonks said. "A fight broke out almost immediately, they scattered like cockroaches and we gave chase. The one called Gibbon broke away and ran for the tower stairs."

"Did he go to set off the mark?" Harry asked.

"He must have," Lupin said. "But I don't think that Gibbon liked waiting up there all alone for Dumbledore because he came back running down the stairs and was hit by a killing curse that was meant for me."

"Where were you Hermione if you weren't with Ron, Ginny and Neville?" Harry asked turning toward her.

"I was with Luna outside Snape's office," Hermione said. "We had been waiting around for ages but nothing happened. We had no idea what was going on up stairs and Ron had the map. It had to be close to midnight when Professor Flitwick came running into the dungeons yelling about Death Eaters attacking the castle. He didn't even realize that Luna and I were there at all, he barged his way into Snape's office. We heard them talking followed a few minutes later by a crash. Snape came running out of the room and then spotted us." Hermione ended in a whisper.

Sirius hugged Hermione again.

"Oh it was so stupid." She added. "He told us that Professor Flitwick had collapsed and that we had to go and watch over him while he went to help but we know he did he went and joined the Death Eaters. We were so stupid to just let him go."

"Hermione it was your fault." Harry said.

"He's right Hermione," Sirius said. "I may hate Snape but he was a teacher and you Hermione respect teachers even if you don't agree with them well not last year but that was different."

"It's a good thing you listened to him Hermione, You and Luna might not be here right now if you hadn't." Remus said. "Who knows what he would have done to you two."

"So he made his way up stairs," Harry said. "And found you all fighting…"

"Oh we were in bad need of help, we were losing the battle." Tonks said. "Gibbon was the only Death Eater that had fallen but the rest of them were all primed and ready to fight even if it was to the death. Neville was already hurt and Bill had been savaged by Greyback... Not to mention it was dark and curses were flying all over the place—"

"What happened next?" Harry asked.

"Malfoy and some of the Death Eaters slipped past us and up the stairs and Neville tried following them but one of them blocked the stairs." Tonks said. "Neville was thrown back when he ran into it and that's when he passed out."

"We couldn't get through it no matter how hard we tried and the big Death Eater kept on sending curses off nearly hitting us." Ron said. "If you hadn't given us that Feilix Harry we would have been goners."

"And Snape was there one second and gone in the next."

"I saw him running toward us," Ginny said. "But I lost track of him after a ducked to avoid getting hit by a curse."

"He ran for that barrier and was about to shoot right through it without any problems." Lupin said. "I got thrown back just like Neville did when I tried to follow him."

"He must have known something about the barrier that we didn't." McGonagall said. "But then again he knew a lot of things we didn't know. I just assumed that he was in a hurry to catch the Death Eaters that had escapes up into the tower."

"He was doing what you thought but it was to help them." Harry said.

"You probably have to have a dark mark to get through it." Cedric said. "What from what all of you have been saying –because I wasn't there to see it all— it was only the Death Eaters that were able to get through the barrier."

"Okay what happened when he came back down?" Harry asked. "I haven't figured that out yet."

"Well the big Death Eater that Ron was talking about just fired a curse that had half of the ceiling falling in but it also broke the curse that was blocking the stairs so it worked out for us." Lupin said. "Those of us that were able to ran forward but stopped when Snape and Malfoy appeared."

"And we just let them go right on pass us like they were doing nothing wrong." Tonks said. "Everything was quiet for a while but then the other Death Eaters and Greyback and shown up again and the fight started up."

"And a few of us thought that Snape said something as he ran away but couldn't tell what it was."

"He said it was over," Harry replied. "and that he had done what he had meant to do."

The group fell silent as Fawkes's lament continued to echo across the dark castle grounds. As the music continued several thoughts entered Hermione's mind. Like where was Dumbledore's body? Did he hand Harry get the Horcrux and if they did where was it now?

Hermione didn't get to voice any of her questions as the hospital wing doors burst open, causing nearly everyone to jump. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were rushing up the ward with Fleur following behind them. They all looked terrified.
"Oh Molly, Arthur I am so sorry." Professor McGonagall said.

"Bill," Mrs. Weasley cried as she saw her oldest son's mangled face. "Oh, Bill."

Lupin, Tonks, Sirius, Hermione and Cedric backed up away from the bed to allow Mr. and Mrs. Weasley access to their son's bed. Fleur followed. Mrs. Weasley walked up the closest and kissed Bill's forehead lightly.

"You said he was attacked by Greyback?" Mr. Weasley asked. "What does that mean for Bill since he wasn't in wolf form at the time?"

"We don't know," McGonagall replied as she looked toward Lupin.

"We won't know until that time comes but there will be some contamination," Lupin replied. "The situation is one that I have never seen before we just have to wait to see what happens."

Mrs. Weasley took that moment to take over for Madam Pomfrey and began treating Bill's wounds.

"Is it true about Dumbledore, Minerva?" Mr. Weasley asked.

Professor McGonagall just cried as she nodded her head. Ginny moved closer to Harry and stared at Fleur who had a frozen look on her face as she stared at the scars on Bill's own face.

Mr. Weasley showed his shock for Dumbledore's death, his wife however was focused on treating their injured son, her tears falling on to his face.

Sirius took that moment to make sure that Hermione was truly okay.

"She has scratches on her." Sirius said to Cedric.

"They happened before I arrived to help." Cedric replied.

"And what do you mean by that?" Fleur snapped causing everyone to look at them.

Hermione felt like she wanted to look away but couldn't. It was like that time her mum passed by a car accident when she was little and she couldn't look away.

"He was going to be married? You think that he wouldn't want to marry me anymore? Did you think that the bites would cause him not to love me anymore?"

"That's not what I said," Mrs. Weasley replied.

"He will," Fleur yelled. "It would take more than a few werewolf bites to stop Bill from loving me."

"Well I know he would love you?" Mrs. Weasley said. "But I thought because of—"

"You thought that I wouldn't wish to marry him? Or maybe you hoped?" Fleur continued. "Why would I care what he looks like? I look good-enough for the both of us and his scars will just show how brave he is." She walked in front of Mrs. Weasley and stopped she snatched the ointment from Mrs. Weasley and started treating Bills wounds herself.

Mrs. Weasley fell backward into Mr. Weasley and watched as Fleur continued to treat Bill's wounds. Nobody dared to move as they waited for Mrs. Weasley to snap because of her dislike of the woman her son chose to marry.

"Our Great-Auntie Muriel," Mrs. Weasley said. "Has a tiara that would look lovely in your hair—if I can persuade her to let you use it for the wedding."

Everyone let their breath they held out.

"I'm sure it'll be lovely." Fleur said.

And then, almost like a movie magic moment Hermione saw the two women hug and start crying all over again. Hermione looked away from them because it was a privet moment. Ron was gaping like a fish while Ginny and Harry both looked equally shocked.

"You see that, she still wants to marry him and he's been bitten." Tonks snapped. "She doesn't care, I don't care."

Hermione grabbed Cedric's arm in shock as Tonks let off steam. Clearly no one knew what Tonks was dealing with.

"It's completely different situation," Lupin said. "Bill won't be a full werewolf, our cases are completely different."

"I told you I don't care!" Tonks snapped as she grabbed the front of Lupin's robes. "I have told you a million times…"

It was that moment that had everyone who had seen Tonks's new Patronus and her mousey colored hair realized what it meant. It was clear to everyone that Tonks had fallen in love with Lupin.

"And I have told you a million times that I am too old for you," Lupin replied. "That I am too poor and too dangerous for…"

"And I have told you that you how ridiculous the line you are taking is." Mrs. Weasley said.

"There is nothing ridiculous about what I said." Lupin replied. "Tonks deserves someone young and whole."

"Yes she does but she wants you," Mr. Weasley replied. "Someone that's young and whole doesn't always remain that way."

He gestured to his son lying on the bed.

"I don't want to discuss it," Lupin replied. "Dumbledore is dead and…"

"Dumbledore would have been happy knowing that was a little more love in the world." Professor McGonagall said. "Especially know that we are in war."

Just then the hospital wing doors opened again to reveal Hagrid. His whole body was shaking with sobs his large handkerchief clutched in his hand.

"I've done it," he said. "He's been moved. Professor Sprout's got all the kids back in bed. Professor Flitwick is awake but lying down right now. He says he doing okay and Professor Slughorn said the Ministry has been informed."

"Thank you, Hagrid," Professor McGonagall said. "I shall have the Ministry see me when they arrive and Hagrid please have the heads of house join me as well, Slughorn can represent Slytherin. I would also like you to join us."

Professor McGonagall departed from the hospital wing shortly after that with Harry in tow. Hermione left the hospital wing about an hour after that with Cedric, Ron and Ginny. Lavender had returned earlier to give the news of Dumbledore's death to the other students. They sat around the common room fire for a while but tired they all climbed up the stairs to bed. Hermione passed up her dorm and joined Ginny in hers.

"I can't believe Dumbledore is gone,"

"I don't think that any of us can believe that he is gone." Hermione replied. "I wonder what the ministry said and who knows what it means for the school."

"They won't close it will they?"

"Who knows?" Hermione said. "Death Eaters were able to get in. They have to protect the students first and if that means closing it they just might."

"I could see why. After tonight I don't see Hogwarts as the safest place anymore and mostly it's because Dumbledore is gone." Ginny said. "Where's Cedric?"

"Sleeping in Ron and Harry's dorm or on the couch I don't know." Hermione said. "He made me come up to bed before I fell asleep."

"He's a worrier."

"Yep," Hermione replied.

"Where did your dad go?"

"He, Lupin and Tonks got rooms down at Three Broomsticks." Hermione said. "He said that he would come see me in the morning and that I better not be sharing a room with Cedric, like I could do that here."

"There are spells against that kind of thing otherwise Lavender would be in Ron's bed." Ginny said. "Not that I would want to think about that."

"Okay I say it is bed time." Hermione said.

Ginny started laughing at her.