14th June (cont'd…)

It was taking an awfully long time for me to hit the ground. I was soaring, free as a bird along the corridors, my fingers glided through the cool air. The voices around me were muffled, like my ears had popped after driving up a steep hill at speed. Opening my eyes, I watched the changing décor though the black spots in my vision as I moved.

"Kathryn?" Madam Pomfrey's face was in view, as my body made contact with the soft linens of a hospital bed, "Kathryn can you hear me?"

"Yeah," I answered, reaching out to touch Madam Pomfrey's warm hands, giving her a tight squeeze, swallowing hard, my ears un-popped, "I need something sugary and I'll be alright."

"Remus, can you grab her a glucogel from the store, they're in pouches, on the right hand side, eye level?"

Remus shakily ripped open the sachet and placed it in my shaky hands, as I squeezed the orange flavoured jelly substance into my mouth, savouring every morsel as I let my body recover, "Are you okay?" he asked as he helped me sit up.

I nodded, "I think I overdid it. Just a little." I rubbed my eyes with my hands, hoping that the black spots in my vision would disappear, "How's Bill? Neville? Everyone?"

Remus looked at me gravely, "You went against me."

"I know." I said, squeezing the remainder of the gel into my mouth, feeling rejuvenated.

"You risked your life, even though I told you not to."

"When have I ever done what I was told?"

Remus stood there, arms folded, scowling, "This is no time to gloat, Kathryn, you could have died! You need to learn to take more responsibility for your own life. You can't just battle other more experienced witches and wizards -"

I furrowed my eyebrows, "Are you being for real right now? What did you expect me to do? Stand back and watch Bellatrix treat you like a plaything? Do you want me to go hide like a coward and not face up to the facts? What do you take me for, Remus? I'm not a child any more, nor am I your student. If that woman is going to threaten the lives of those I care about, I'm going to give her hell for it. I'm only disappointed I wasn't able to do more damage before she ran away with her tail between her legs."

He tried to hide a smile, "You're even more powerful than I thought. But -"

"Is she okay?" Tonks stormed into the Hospital Wing, swinging the doors as though to take them off the hinges, that's when I noticed Ron, Hermione and Luna, crowded around a sleeping Bill in the bed next to mine, with Madam Pomfrey tending to him, "Kat? Are you hurt?" she rushed to my bedside and took a handkerchief out of her pocket to dab my brow.

"I'm fine." I told her, "Look." I swung my legs out of the bed.

"Wotcher!" she placed both hands on my shoulders, and prevented me from moving further. I caught eyes with Hermione and nodded in confirmation that I was alright, as I tried to see what had happened to Bill, but Remus and Madam P were determinedly obstructing my view, "Where were you during the battle?" Tonks grabbed my attention back.

Remus cleared his throat, "She was fighting Bellatrix."

"Kathryn." Tonks' eyes were filled with fear as she spoke my name, "Did she -?"

"I couldn't just let her get away!" I looked over at Remus, "Not after all she's done! I -"

"Fought her off using an Unforgivable Curse after knocking her off her feet and… played mind tricks with her?" he smirked.

I fought myself to find the right words to say, leaving my mouth agape, "You saw that?"

He nodded, his lips pursed together, "We just didn't see you."

I grimaced, scratching my head, preparing myself for another right good telling off, "We?"

Remus said nothing. He was conflicted.

Tonks blinked, "Kat – you – you used an unforgivable curse? The Cruciatus Curse? Successfully? After being in hospital?"

"That was two months ago!" I said in my defence, "Besides, she more than deserved it."

"What?" Remus interrupted, "What happened two months ago?"

I glared at him, "Never you mind." I turned back to Tonks again, who's eyes were firmly on Remus, when a very pale and shaky looking Harry entered the Hospital Wing, accompanied by Ginny.

"Harry I'm so sorry…" I squeezed between a distracted Tonks and Remus before either of them could restrain me, "I did everything I could -"

"I know you did." He said.

I reached his side, "Are you okay?" I put a comforting arm around him and he wrapped an arm around me, he didn't appear to have any life-threatening physical injuries.

"I'm fine… how's Bill?"

That was a question I didn't know the answer to, and no one else appeared to want to answer. The two of us peered over Hermione's shoulder and saw an unrecognisable face lying on Bill's pillow. Slashed and ripped, no doubt by the claws of Greyback, I repressed all of my negative emotions and approached the side of the bed, "Want me to dab ointment on this side of his face?" I held out my hand to Madam Pomfrey and she obliged.

"Can't you fix them with a charm or something?" Harry asked Madam Pomfrey.

"No charm will work on these," she answered as I took over the application of the antiseptic, "I've tried everything I know, but there's no cure for werewolf bites."

"But he wasn't bitten at the full moon," Ron said, staring down at his brother's face, etched with the determination to heal by sight, "Greyback hadn't transformed, so surely Bill won't be a – a real –?" He looked uncertainly to Remus.

Remus shifted his weight to gaze down at Bill around Madam Pomfrey, "No, I don't think that Bill will be a true werewolf, but that does not mean that there won't be some contamination. Those are cursed wounds. They are unlikely to ever heal properly, and – Bill might have some wolfish characteristics from now on."

"Dumbledore might know something that'd work, though," Ron said, and I felt myself hold my breath, my neck snapping towards Harry behind me, watching his face fall further still as Ron continued asking, "Where is he? Bill fought those maniacs on Dumbledore's orders, Dumbledore owes him, he can't leave him in this state."

"Ron – Dumbledore's dead." Ginny spoke.

"No!" Remus looked wildly from Ginny, to Harry and then to me, as though one of us would contradict her, but when no one did, Remus collapsed into a chair beside Bill's bed, his hands over his face. I watched as he lost control, and quickly busied myself with Bill's wounds as I fought the lump at the back of my throat. But it was impossible: there were too many emotions that were ready to be unleashed now that Dumbledore's death had been confirmed. My chin wobbled and a tear or two escaped.

"How did he die?" whispered Tonks in a high-pitched voice, "How did it happen?"

I wiped my eyes with my arm and answered, "Draco."

Harry interrupted, "No, Kathryn, it was Snape. Snape killed Dumbledore."

"What?" I froze on the spot, "Draco didn't?"

Harry shook his head, "I was there, I saw him." Harry then saw the rest of the confused faces around us and explained, "We arrived back on the Astronomy Tower because that's where the Mark was… Dumbledore was ill, he was weak, but I think he realised it was a trap when we heard footsteps running up the stairs. He immobilised me, I couldn't do anything, I was under the Invisibility Cloak – and then Malfoy came through the door and Disarmed him -"

Hermione clapped her hands to her mouth, and Ron groaned. Luna's mouth trembled. I, was intently focused on Harry's every word. I had tried to convince Draco to make the right decision, yet what Harry retold seemed pretty incriminating to me thus far.

"- more Death Eaters arrived – and then Snape – and Snape did it. The Avada Kedavra." Harry couldn't go on. Ginny took his hand.

Madam Pomfrey burst into tears. No one paid her any attention except Ginny who said, "Shhh! Listen!"

Gulping, Madam Pomfrey pressed her fingers to her lips, her eyes wide. Somewhere in the darkness, I could hear singing. Moonlight cast itself upon the flying figure, we could hear the lamenting tones of Fawkes the Phoenix. We all stood and listened as the bird flew throughout the school grounds, crying out for all to hear. The mournful melody entranced us, represented the loss that was felt and time became very still. That was until Professor McGonagall entered the Hospital Wing, her face covered in grazes, her robes ripped and dusty.

"Molly and Arthur are on their way." She announced, making a few of us jump at her unexpected arrival, "Harry, what happened? According to Hagrid, you were with Professor Dumbledore when he – when it happened. He says Professor Snape was involved in some -"

"Snape killed Dumbledore." Harry said.

McGonagall stared at Harry for a long while, and swayed alarmingly as though to collapse. Madam Pomfrey was closest and hurried forwards, conjuring her a chair to rest on.

"Snape." McGonagall said faintly, falling into the chair, "We all wondered … but he trusted … always … Snape … I can't believe it."

Neither could I.

"Snape was a highly accomplished Occlumens," Lupin said uncharacteristically harshly, "We always knew that."

"But Dumbledore always swore he was on our side!" Tonks whispered, "I always thought that Dumbledore must know something about Snape that we didn't…"

"He always hinted that he had an iron-clad reason for trusting Snape," McGonagall muttered, now dabbing at the corners of her eyes with a tartan-edged handkerchief, "I mean… with Snape's history… of course people are bound to wonder… but Dumbledore told me explicitly that Snape's repentance was absolutely genuine… wouldn't hear a word against him!"

Tonks' voice sounded from behind me, "I'd love to know what Snape told him to convince him."

"I do," Harry said, and all the conscious eyes of the room fell on him, "Snape passed Voldemort the information that made Voldemort hunt down my mum and dad. Then Snape told Dumbledore he hadn't realised what he was doing, he was really sorry he'd done it, sorry that they were dead."

"And Dumbledore believed that?" Lupin said incredulously, "Dumbledore believed Snape was sorry James was dead? Snape hated James…"

"And he didn't think my mother was worth a damn, either," Harry added, "because she was Muggle-born… 'Mudblood' he called her…"

Harry was lost in his shock. Trying to piece the jigsaw together, just as much as I was. Though it felt as though a lot of the pieces were missing. Nothing was making sense. Why would Snape kill Dumbledore? Not unless Voldemort asked him to do it, to prove his loyalty or something?

"This is all my fault," McGonagall spoke suddenly. Interrupting my line of thought. She, too, was trying to make sense of all of this, her handkerchief had been wrung in every shape. Our judgement is foggy, our thought processes clouded and consciences unclear, "My fault, I sent Filius to fetch Snape tonight, I actually sent for him to come and help us! If I hadn't alerted Snape to what was going on, he might never have joined forces with the Death Eaters. I don't think he knew they were coming."

I let out an involuntary, "Huh." My hand reaching my scratched cheek, my pinkie finger grazing my lip.

No, Draco seemed convinced that it had to be him to kill Dumbledore. Voldemort tasked Draco with killing Dumbledore when I was at Malfoy Manor. We all suspected that Snape was trying to get information out of Draco, but if what he said was true, then Draco would have paid with his life if he told a soul. Maybe he lied to me. Wouldn't be the first time. No. He had to have been telling the truth. He wouldn't have been so emotional, he wouldn't have lost all that weight, have avoided me all year. He wouldn't have kissed me, have tried to protect me if he didn't think he could die, that he was putting both our lives in very real danger. Snape had his own reasons…

"Kathryn?"

I blinked, "Sorry?" I came out of my own little world.

"You're being very quiet…" Tonks said, putting a hand on my back, "What do you know?"

"Er -" I put a large dollop of the ointment on Bill's face and began to work it into his damaged skin, "I don't know exactly. I know it wasn't your fault, Professor." I told her sincerely, "Voldemort threatened Draco and his family, and by extension, me, that he had to kill Dumbledore, or he'd kill us all. Something about Lucius' failure in the Department of Mysteries last year…" I felt a pang of guilt, "I don't think Snape knew. He knew something was up, for sure, we all had our suspicions, but I don't think Snape knew what Draco was doing, just like I didn't know."

Tonks questioned, "How'd you find out?"

Harry questioned, unaware that he was interrupting, "So when he arrived at the fight, he joined in on the Death Eaters' side?"

"He managed to get through the battle unscathed, because no one on either side would fight him… He got through the barrier and I tried to follow with Remus, but we were too late… I'm sorry, Harry, I thought I was doing the right thing, bringing back-up." I was kicking myself, "I should have gotten there faster, if only -" my head swam.

"What happened with you and Malfoy?" Ron asked across the bed, and upon my silence, he pursued his line of questioning, "You were away for a long time. What did you two do?"

"Kit-Kat?" Ginny prompted.

I stood over Bill's unconscious body, staring at the open wounds on his face, desperately trying not to cry, "We were in a disused classroom, he locked me in there, to protect me from Bellatrix. He took my wand and I was so – bleugh -" I shook my hand in the air above my hair in frustration, "That I couldn't get my f*cking head together long enough to get myself out of there."

"Wotcher, Kat!" Tonks comforted me, "He was protecting you."

"And I was the person who had the ability to stop him!"

"But Kathryn, you did stop him! He lowered his wand! He was never going to do it!" Harry assured me, "What else did Malfoy tell you?"

I swallowed hard, my emotions were all over the place. My head was spinning, I was an idiot, "Draco was the one who inadvertently cursed Katie Bell, he was the one who poisoned the mead that almost killed Ron – he was using Madam Rosmerta."

Harry nodded, "He had her under the Imperius Curse."

There were a few gasps.

"'Mione, did you use the parchment to get Bill, Remus and Tonks here?" my mind jumped to the thought, "Where's George?"

Hermione shook her head, "I didn't -"

"I still don't know how exactly it happened," McGonagall spoke distractedly, "It's all so confusing… Dumbledore had told us that he would be leaving the school for a few hours and that we were to patrol the corridors just in case… Remus, Bill and Nymphadora were to join us … and so we patrolled. All seemed quiet. Every secret passageway out of the school was covered. We knew nobody could fly in. There were still powerful enchantments on every entrance into the castle. I still don't know how the Death Eaters can possibly have entered…"

"The Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement." Harry and I spoke simultaneously, and Harry explained briefly about the pair in Borgin and Burkes, before looking to Ron and Hermione.

"I messed up, Harry," Ron said bleakly, "We did like you told us: we checked the Marauder's Map, Kathryn was with Malfoy, but he came from the Room of Requirement, so Ginny, Neville and I went there to check things out but – the Death Eaters managed to get past us."

I perked up at this, "How? Draco was with me when they -"

"They were using Malfoy's Hand of Glory," Ron explained, "the awful shrivelled arm that gives light only to the holder, remember?"

"We tried everything… Lumos, Incendio, nothing would work, yet we could hear them passing us, but we wouldn't dare trying to curse them in case we got each other…" Ginny went on, "Anyway, when Malfoy arrived, he used Fred and George's Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder so that we couldn't see where he went and then …"

Remus interjected, "Luckily, Ron, Ginny and Neville ran into us almost immediately and told us what had happened. We found the Death Eaters minutes later, heading in the direction of the Astronomy Tower. Malfoy obviously hadn't expected more people to be on the watch; he seemed to have exhausted his supply of Instant Darkness Powder, at any rate. A fight broke out, they scattered and we gave chase. One of them, Gibbon, broke away and headed up the Tower stairs -"

"To set off the mark?"

Remus nodded, "He must have done, yes, they must have arranged that before leaving the Room of Requirement. But I don't think Gibbon liked the idea of waiting up there alone for Dumbledore, because he came running back downstairs to re-join the fight and was hit by a Killing Curse that just missed me."

"So if Ron was watching the Room of Requirement with Ginny and Neville," Harry turned to Hermione, "were you -?"

"Outside Snape's office? Yes," Hermione's eyes were sparkling with tears, "with Luna. We hung around for ages outside and nothing happened… we didn't know what was going on upstairs, Ron had taken the Marauder's Map… And we had no idea if Kathryn had been successful… it was nearly midnight when Professor Flitwick came sprinting down into the dungeons. He was shouting about Death Eaters in the castle, I don't think he really registered that Luna and I were there at all, he just burst his way into Snape's office and we heard a loud thump and Snape came hurtling out of his room and he saw us and – and -"

"What?" Harry urged her.

Hermione covered her face in shame, "I was so stupid, Harry! He said Professor Flitwick had collapsed and that we should go and take care of him while he – while he went to help fight the Death Eaters – it was so obvious that Flitwick was stupefied and we let Snape go!"

"It's not your fault," Harry said firmly, "Hermione had you not obeyed Snape, and got out of the way, he would probably have killed you both." He paused and looked to Tonks, "So then he came upstairs and found the place you were all fighting…"

"We were in trouble, we were losing," Tonks said in a low voice, "Gibbon was down but the rest of the Death Eaters seemed ready to fight to the death. Neville had been hurt, Bill had been savaged by Greyback … it was all dark … curses flying everywhere … the Malfoy boy had vanished, he must have slipped past, up the stairs to the Tower … then more of them ran up after him, but one of them blocked the stairs behind them with some kind of curse … Neville ran at it and got thrown up into the air -"

I instinctively found myself looking at Neville, who was now sound asleep, recovering in a bed closer to the doors. It must have been his scream I heard as I approached the battle.

"None of us could break through," Ron said, "That massive Death Eater was still firing jinxes all over the place, they were bouncing off the walls and barely missing us…"

Tonks added, "And then Snape was there, and then he wasn't."

"He walked right through me." I said in a whisper, "When I was helping Neville and trying to find Bill under the rubble."

"I tried to follow Snape through the cursed barrier," Remus said, "But I got thrown back like Neville…"

"He must have known a spell we didn't," McGonagall whispered, "After all – he was the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher … I just assumed that he was in a hurry to chase after the Death Eaters who'd escaped up to the Tower…"

Harry wore an expression of savage aggravation, "He was, but to help them, not to stop them… and I'll bet you had to have a Dark Mark to get through the barrier -"

"Kathryn could." Remus interrupted, directing his attention to me whilst I was just trying to mind my own business, "You brought me through with you, didn't you?"

I nodded.

"How?" he questioned, "We know you're an -" he stopped himself, looking around the present company, not knowing who knows my secret as I clutched my left arm instinctively. He gasped, "You don't have a -?"

Everyone was staring at me as Remus attempted to corner me. I could hear Harry try to fight for me, to plea my innocence.

"F*ck you, Remus." I tugged at the cuff of my blouse and un-did the buttons and rolled up my sleeve, shaking as I did, feeling my mouth go extremely dry as I revealed the long red scar on my forearm, "Happy now?"

"You used the Cruciatus Curse tonight," he said, "you could go through the barrier that only Death Eaters could, for the majority of the battle, you were nowhere to be seen, you have to understand -"

I scoffed, "I saved your life tonight and you repay me with this? After all we've been through? The things I've told you, trusted you with and you think that me being able to perform the Cruciatus Curse on the woman who has ruined hundreds of lives is something completely out of my remit of capabilities?" I snapped, "And for your information, I've always been able to cross through those barriers. They may all have Dark Marks, but as you can see," I held my arm out, making it blatantly clear, "I do not."

I could see him take a deep breath, "Where were you during all this? Before you revealed yourself to me?"

I made eye contact with Harry. I wondered how much I should divulge, what information was important and what I should keep to myself. I certainly wasn't ready for the repercussions of Harry and Ron finding out about Draco kissing me again, and this time it would be a hell of a lot worse because I kissed him back.

I'm going to hell.

Thankfully, I was saved from embarrassment by Molly and Arthur who burst through the doors of the Hospital Wing. They were closely followed by Fleur who wore a terrified expression on her face.

"Molly – Arthur –" McGonagall jumped up from her seat and hurried to greet them, "I am so sorry –"

"Bill," whispered Molly who promptly darted past McGonagall upon sight of her son's mangled face, "Oh, Bill!"

Remus and Tonks promptly stood back, retreating from Bill's bedside to give Molly and Arthur their space. I, too, took my leave, setting down the ointment covered gauze on the bedside table. Molly leaned over Bill and pressed her lips against his bloody forehead, stroking his hair lovingly as she examined his face.

"You say Greyback attacked him?" Arthur asked McGonagall distractedly, "But he hadn't transformed? So what does that mean? What will happen to Bill?"

"We don't know yet," McGonagall looked helplessly to Remus.

"There will probably be some contamination, Arthur," Remus informed him, "It is an odd case, possibly unique … we don't know what his behaviour might be like when he wakes up…"

Molly took the gauze I had left sitting and started dabbing at Bill's wounds. Fleur was standing at the end of the bed beside me, frozen on the spot.

"And Dumbledore …" Arthur spoke quietly, "Minerva, is it true … is he really …?"

McGonagall nodded solemnly.

"Dumbledore gone," Arthur whispered.

Molly, who only had eyes for Bill, began to sob, her tears falling onto Bill's face "Of course, it doesn't matter how he looks … it's not r – really important … but he was a very handsome little b – boy … always very handsome … and he was g – going to be married!"

"And what do you mean by zat?" Fleur said suddenly and loudly, causing me to take a step closer to Tonks, "What do you mean, 'e was going to be married?"

Molly looked startled as she raised her eyes from Bill, "Well – only that -"

"You theenk Bill and will not weesh to marry me any more?" Fleur demanded, "You theenk, because of these bites, he will not love me?"

"No, that's not what – what I -"

"Because 'e will!" Fleur rather impressively drew herself up to her full height, throwing back her long mane of silver hair, "It would take more zan a werewolf to stop Bill loving me!"

Molly was taken aback, "Well, yes, I'm sure, but I thought perhaps – given how – how he -" she was lost for words, seeing the look of frustration of Fleur's face.

"You thought I would not weesh to marry him? Or per'aps 'oped?" Fleur's nostrils were flaring in rage, "What do I care how 'e looks? I am good-looking enough for both of us, I theenk! All these scars show zat my husband is brave! And I shall do zat!" Fleur fiercely shoved Molly aside and snatched the ointment and gauze off her.

Molly fell back against her husband and watched Fleur mopping up Bill's wounds with a most curious expression upon her face. Nobody said a thing. Nobody dared move. Tensions were always running between the two, but given the state of things, boiling over is not to be discounted.

"Our Great Aunt Muriel," Molly said after a very long pause, "has a beautiful tiara – goblin-made – which I am sure I could persuade her to lend you for the wedding. She is very fond of Bill, you know, and it would go lovely with your hair."

"Thank you," Fleur said stiffly, "I am sure zat will be lovely."

In that moment, the unexpected happened; both women were crying and hugging each other. I dared take my eyes off them to look at Tonks, who was glaring at Remus.

"You see!" she said in a strained before, "She still wants to marry him, even though he's been bitten! She doesn't care!"

Well she certainly chose her moment.

"It's different," Remus barely moved his lips as he spoke, his body was tense and he looked like he'd very much have like to have jumped out of the window, "Bill will not be a full werewolf. The cases are completely -"

"But I don't care either, I don't care!" Tonks seized the front of his robes, shaking them. The two of them shared a loving look that Remus tried to hide, "I've told you a million times!"

"And I've told you a million times," Remus now refused to meet her eyes, staring at the floor, "that I am too old for you, too poor … too dangerous …"

Molly spoke from over Fleur's shoulder as she patted her on the back, "I've said all along you're taking a ridiculous stance on this, Remus."

"I am not being ridiculous," Remus said steadily, "Tonks deserves someone young and whole."

"But she wants you," Arthur said with a small smile, "And after all, Remus, young and whole men do not necessarily remain so." He gestured towards his son, lying between them.

"This is not the moment to discuss it," Remus continued to avoid everyone's eyes as he looked around the room distractedly, "Dumbledore is dead."

McGonagall added, "Dumbledore would have been happier than anybody to think that there was a little more love in the world."

"Remus," I said gently, "T really does love you and I know you love her, too. Allowing yourself to love someone is completely terrifying – I get that – but this is your shot at happiness. The two of you can bring each other happiness beyond measure and you both deserve it. Life is too short for you to not give this a try."

His eyes momentarily met mine when Hagrid entered the Hospital Wing. The little of his face that could be seen was swollen and soaking with tears, which he was wiping with a vast spotted handkerchief in his hand.

"I've … I've done it Professor," he choked, "M – moved him. Professor Sprout's got the kids back in bed. Professor Flitwick's lyin' down but he says he'll be alright in a jiffy, an' Professor Slughorn says the Ministry's bin informed."

"Thank you, Hagrid." McGonagall said, standing at once, looking at every member of the group crowded around Bill's bed, "I shall have to see the Ministry when they get here. Hagrid, please tell the Heads of House – Slughorn can represent Slytherin – that I want to see them in my office forthwith. I would like you to join us, too." Hagrid turned and shuffled out of the room again and McGonagall looked to Harry, "Before I meet them, I would like a quick word with you, Harry. If you'll come up with me…"

Harry stood up, murmured, "See you in a bit." To Ginny, Ron, Hermione and me when he followed McGonagall out the door.

Upon Harry's exit, there was a silence in the Hospital Wing. A very private non-verbal conversation was going on between Remus and Tonks that I was very much trying to escape. Arthur and Molly finally settled themselves on chairs beside Bill's bed as Fleur tended to Bill's wounds with Madam P. Ginny, Hermione and Ron were all staring at me as I backed off from Bill's bed and turned to leave.

"Excuse me?" Madam P started, "Where do you think you're going, Missy? You need an examination following your ordeal this evening."

"I'm fine." I told her, "Worst she did was this scratch on my face. I've got cream in my dorm. Bella needs your attention a hell of a lot more than I do."

A look of disbelief was displayed on Madam P's face, "You're not injured?"

"I'm not going to lie to you now, am I?" I said, "I'll be straight down the stairs if I need anything, promise. Right now, I need to have a conversation with George and then I'll be off to bed. If any of you need me, I'll have the parchment on me. Good night."

K: George, are you awake?
G: I am now, what's up? Have you slept?
K: No. Have you heard the news?
G: What news?
K: George, Dumbledore's dead.
G: You're kidding me?
K: No, Snape killed him. Death Eaters got into Hogwarts, Dumbledore was murdered by Snape, there was a fight – Tonks, Remus and Bill were here. Bill's badly injured by Greyback, thankfully Greyback wasn't transformed at the time, but we don't know what it means for Bill. I've just left your parents and Fleur with him in the Hospital Wing.
G: Are you okay?
K: Yeah. I just wanted to let you know now I've debriefed with the guys. It all happened so fast and I'm sorry for what I did. I did some pretty unforgivable things, George…
G: You don't need to apologise for anything you did to survive.
K: But you don't even know what I did?
G: As long as you are alive and well, I don't care. You can talk to me about it, but there is nothing at all to forgive, okay? I love you!
K: I love you, too. Talk later x

"Are you okay Kit-Kat?" the dormitory door opened a smidgen and an exhausted looking Ginny, nightdress donned, rubbed her eyes and approached my bed.

"Um … yeah."

"You sure?" she twisted her fingers amongst themselves as she glanced at Hermione who was seemingly fast asleep.

I nodded, "A lot has happened, but I'm okay, I promise. Want to climb in?" I lifted my duvet to invite Ginny to sleep in my bed, "We can talk about it all in the morning." I wrapped my arm around her and held her close, kissing her forehead, "We'll figure this out, we always do."