Rising

By Dimgwrthien

Disclaimer: I do not own anything pertaining to the Harry Potter series or affiliates. Please do not sue me for borrowing them for a while.

Author's Notes: You think I would leave this story? Of course not! I have ten chapters planned out! I love writing novel-length fan fictions, and this is number three. On another funny note, I believe I have exactly fifty fan fictions done. Wow. Time flies when you're having fun. I felt generous, too, and churned out another chapter in one day. Oh, yeah! Hope you enjoy this.

Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events.

- Sir Winston Churchill

Minerva, as it turned out, remained in the Hospital Wing with most of the others. Remus had to take a while to find her as she rounded the room, looking as though she ought to be in those beds rather than some of the others. One of her arms remained in a cast, though she assured Remus that her arm was healed and it only needed to cast to settle correctly. Remus easily read the pained expression on her marked face.

"Where is Severus?" she asked, following Remus from the room. Her hair managed to escape the usual bun and fell, curled and matted around her shoulders. She kept brushing it away angrily as though angry at letting herself leave it down.

"He's in the dungeons, like usual," Remus answered, smiling only slightly. "Even with a broken spine, he prefers to be down there."

"That's obvious," Minerva answered, keeping her face straight. "He thinks they're home now. He's been there too long."

Remus knocked on the door, not bothering to wait for Severus' answer before opening the door. Severus sat on the bed once more, raising his wand, mouthing something no one could hear before the noise in the room rushed back to their ears.

"Etiquette," Severus muttered to Remus. Remus shook his head and motioned towards Minerva, who stared at Severus without speaking. "Minerva. I had been wondering whether anyone has discovered the spell that hit me during the battle." His voice sounded rather clipped. Remus glanced at Minerva.

Her look seemed uncertain as she answered, "That would be the problem we ran into. No one knows the spell. It may or may not have been a type of Severing Charm that split your spinal chord."

He nodded and stared at his hands, limp in his lap with his wand twirling between the thin fingers. Remus felt a shock of sympathy for him at the moment.

"Alright," Severus answered, placing his wand on the bed beside his leg. "Might I ask -?"

"You're going to come with me," Remus cut in quickly. He guessed Severus would ask that question.

This earned him a long look. "You, Lupin?" Severus snorted. "I would not trust you to -"

"Take care of a drunken flobberworm, right?" Remus asked, quirking a small smile. "Severus, you're going to have to admit that you can't get around easily like that. You'll need someone around most of the time. It would be easier to just come with me than to stay alone."

"It's a good idea," Minerva said before Severus could answer. "If no one had any objections, I believe it is perfectly in order. And before you argue," she told Severus, who glanced away, looking annoyed, "I want you to know that right now, everyone is on their own in the world.

"Then why not nurture dear Potter," Severus hissed at Remus. "I hear he was supposed to go to St. Mungos but they couldn't because the burns would -"

"I'm only trying to help you," Remus answered. When Severus gave him another dirty look, Remus turned and walked out the door. He heard the door slam, open, and slam again before finding Minerva next to him, tying her black hair in a bun with a length of string.

"His pride has always taken place over consideration, you know that, Remus," she said to him, walking quickly to catch up. Remus did not answer. "I'd like to imagine his face when he hears what they did to his house because he betrayed them. Just try to help Harry and I can talk him into something."

"I'm still not withdrawing my offer," Remus reminded her gently, turning a corner and letting Minerva fall behind with Severus' dungeon hallway.

Remus raced up the staircases, jumping the trick steps and ignoring the ghosts that drifted around, asking him of everyone's fairing. The Hospital Wing soon came into view and Remus slowed to a walk before entering, hit by the aroma of healing salves and potions.

Harry was on the same bed as before. Remus supposed he would have a hard time moving around, but was proved wrong when Harry managed to stand up next to the bed, grabbing the top of the bed for support. Remus took his uninjured arm and helped Harry walk around the room without being asked.

"This all feels weird," Harry muttered, motioning towards the burnt half of his body. "Voldemort just - just went down. Plenty of fire in his death. I wasn't even near him, though. How did I get burned?"

"I think you two had a stronger link that we thought," Remus whispered, wedging open a door. Harry's legs seemed rather stiff, his movements jerky.

"I never had a link to him," Harry answered sourly.

Remus shook his head. "Not like that, Harry. I just meant... physically, he could injure you without being near you."

Harry let out a sigh as the cold air hit Remus once more. "It's crowded in there. That's not even everyone, you know. Most are in St. Mungos. I'd hate to think how badly they got it."

Remembering what Severus said to him earlier, Remus muttered, "It wouldn't be wise to send you there. You would be coddled over more than we know you enjoy." His smile turned grim. "Too many journalists, all trying to get at you. They're already having a hard time keeping them away when you're closed in here. Otherwise, you would have been first to go there." Remus looked at the burns once more, seeing the abrasions over the pale skin, charred flesh hanging loosely on muscle. He could not help but wince.

"It doesn't hurt anymore, you know," Harry muttered, glancing away from Remus. "Just a bit..." He trailed off, shrugging. "I'll be fine."

Remus resisted the urge to cry right there. "You will be," he whispered, not daring to raise his voice in the case that it broke from sadness.

"There has to be a spell to fix it up at some point."

"I hope so," Remus muttered, glancing at the floor as he led Harry on. Snowflakes lined the windows and froze the corridor, even from the inside. "I really hope so. You'll be fine soon, Harry. Don't worry."

In all truth, he only said the words to reassure himself.

Once Harry started complaining about the cold, Remus led him back inside. They wandered around the school corridors, passing the ghosts and other they knew. Harry even led Remus away when they spotted a girl with long, black hair and slanted eyes. Remus could only guess why.

At the moment when the teenager pulled away to round a corner before she spot them, Remus felt Harry's grip on his arm loosen and a quick hiss of pain.

"Harry?" Remus asked quickly, waiting for an answer.

Harry winced in pain, still leaned up against the wall. When Remus pulled him from the corner, he saw wet blood on the wall, staining them and Harry's loose clothing he wore to prevent touching the burns. Half of his face bled onto his neck and Remus could see a blossoming patch of red on the same side under the clothes.

"Oh, God, Harry -" Remus pulled him to his feet, taking the boy's arm over his shoulders and carrying him from the hallway, trying to avoid touching the sore side. Harry's eyes fluttered closed and he let out a small, animal-like moan of pain.

By the time they reached the Hospital Wing, blood started to stain Remus' hands and sleeves. He all but threw the boy onto the bed, ripping the wet shirt off, yelling for Madam Pomfrey. Only several people still remained in the room, none of whom appeared awake. The matron's eyes widened as she grabbed a large trolley with random potion bottles scattered on top.

"This is happening too soon!" she hissed, dumping the contents of a bottle onto linen and covering Harry's side with it. Harry hissed in pain, the visible muscles contorting in agony. "What happened?"

"He hit the wall - I think they cut open -" Remus took another linen and rubbed Harry's face as gently as possible, trying to clear the blood and find the actual cuts. Several ran down his face where the weak muscles split.

"Hold this on him," Madam Pomfrey commanded, motioning to another linen that Remus held tight to Harry's stomach. Blood stained the white again and Remus closed his eyes, trying to wash away the image.

Madam Pomfrey had her wand out, muttering spells s she brought the wand down his skin. Nothing happened. She muttered an indistinguishable word under her breath and threw her wand on the table. "They're not healing."

Remus' eyelids tightened shut, forcing himself not to look. Harry's breath sounded ragged and he muttered for Remus to let go.

"Hold tight, Harry," he whispered. "You'll be fine, I promise." In desperation not to look, he continued whispering hurried phrases. "I promise. You'll be healed and marry Ginny soon and you can live without Voldemort."

A rattling breath from near his hands told him Harry was struggling to not move or speak. When Remus did open his eyes, he saw the suffering boy, looking the same as Remus' best friend, dying under his hands.

"Isn't there anything else?" he asked Madam Pomfrey, using one hand to caress the side of Harry's face. The only response he got was the sound of the curtains closing around the bed.

"Nothing. Remus, he's going to go soon. We both know it. Make sure Miss Weasley and Miss Granger do not find out. There's still a small chance."

Shaking his head, Remus continued murmuring. "Harry, you're going to come with me soon when this is all over. Nothing is going to happen. Please, let nothing happen."

A choked sound, high pitched and inhuman, was the only answer. Remus cursed under his breath, running one hand through Harry's hair.

"Remus -" Harry choked out, some blood seeping from his mouth. "Bury me with -" The voice cut off, coughing up a red mist. Remus grabbed Harry's hand instead, stroking the top with his thumb. He glanced at Madam Pomfrey as though for permission to move, and her wide eyes gave the only answer they could. Remus slid onto the bed, taking Harry's thin shoulders into is arms, stroking the jet black hair until it tousled between his fingers more than before.

The rattling breath came and ended it all.

Remus drew back from Harry, very slowly, staring at the still body. His eyes remained open, glassy and scared looking. The skin did not start to cool yet, but Remus knew that it would be unwise to wait until that time. Madam Pomfrey met his eyes and he saw the look in them.

"He's ...?" he asked, not wanting to dare finish the question. She placed a soft hand on his throat and drew away slowly, nodding. Before Remus could say another thing, she walked backwards out of the tent the curtains made, still staring at the body. Remus knew she had seen enough death already during the day and Harry's did not improve it.

Remus left the protection of the curtains around the bed, staring at the floor. He did not want to meet Ginny or Hermione's eyes. Once Ginny saw his face, however, she burst into loud tears, grabbing Hermione's shoulder.

"I'm sorry," Remus murmured, feeling his eyes burn as he held back tears. The boy died in his arms. The moment replayed in his head over and over again and he felt glad Ginny could not have seen.

Hermione pushed Ginny off her, very gently, and walked to the bed. Her hand fell on the curtain, but she did not open it. Remus saw the faintest hint of tears running down her face, but she turned away before he could read her expression.

"I'm - I'm going to go home," she whispered and ran from the room, throwing the doors open at the end and letting them slam behind her. The echoing sound filled the near empty room for a moment. Remus reached out his arms, allowing Ginny to curl near him, still crying.

"We - we were going to get married -" she sobbed, shoulders wracking with her cries. "And - and now -"

Remus pat her back. "You said you were close enough to marrying." Ginny's sobs only worsened. "Ginny - Ginny, look at me." She did not, but she fell more silent than before. "He lived to finish what he had wanted to do. He was suffering and now he's better -"

"That's not better!" she yelped, letting the tears consume her once more. "That's dead!"

Remus did not answer, but glanced at the white curtain once more. Blood still stained his hands, discoloring them to a scarlet - a Gryffindor color. Ginny's shirt, too, seeped with the same red and Remus realized he caused it.

After a moment, Ginny pushed Remus away, sniffing slightly and wiping her face with the back of her hands. She walked towards the curtains, opening them gently as though afraid of what she would see. Remus turned away from the body before he saw it and could only hear Ginny's low whispers of, "No, no, no, no..." She stopped crying and Remus heard the sound of moving sheets as she crawled into the bed, ignoring the blood and taking Harry into her arms as Remus had done.

Remus stood up slowly, casting a last look at the two. Harry looked peaceful on the bed, cradled like a child. Ginny held him tightly as though trying to bring him back to life. Excusing himself, Remus left the room.

The corridors, silent and empty, seemed welcoming. Remus felt as though he walked into his own mind. Severus' liking for the dungeons seemed to come to life; they were always silent and cold. His feet led him to the stairs and he walked down them slowly, not paying attention to the sounds of his own footsteps or the cold stone under his fingers on the handrail. The hall to the dungeons looked the same as before, torches giving the only light in the place. Remus found himself staring at them, the light making dark spots on his eyes when he looked away.

Knocking the door to Severus' room, he found himself entering without an answer again. Severus glanced up angrily, throwing the book he had before down again and raising his wand to take the spell off the room again. Remus' ears felt empty without the buzzing.

"What now?" he asked rudely.

"Harry just died," Remus whispered. Severus did not say a thing, but continued to stare at Remus. "I came to see whether you accept my offer."

"Tell me, Lupin," Severus snapped. "Can you please explain why you want me, of all people, in your home now when I can't walk?"

"I offered the same to Harry." Remus' voice sounded choked even to his own ears. He sat down on a chair at the desk next to the bed, keeping his hands in his lap and he remained straight up. "He never had the chance to accept, and now... Well, now I have no one with me." When Severus continued to state, Remus whispered, "It's going to be lonely there. No one else is willing -"

"I wonder why no one wants to stay with lonely old Lupin," Severus muttered darkly.

Remus bit his tongue and counted to five before answering. "Let me rephrase that. Everyone else already has somewhere to go after the battle. Harry would have had to buy his own house because he never had the time during the year."

"I have a house," Severus replied stiffly.

Remus shook his head. "I hear the Death Eaters ruined it for betraying them."

Severus cursed loudly. Remus remained silent as Severus growled low in his throat, staring at the opposite wall. "Damn! How could they have done that? They had no time after Voldemort fell! They're al in Azkaban!"

Snorting, Remus answered, "Remember how many of them - you" - he added it with an emphasis to annoy Severus - "escaped Azkaban? Well, it's not as though the Ministry is much tougher this time around. It wasn't very hard for them to get out. Now someone, namely the Minister, is regretting it. They seem to have made a new sort of group. Not quite the Death Eaters, as they need Voldemort for that, but something with less order."

Severus stared at him for a moment as though confused as shook his head. "I can't believe they're carrying on."

"Well, it wasn't only Voldemort forcing them to continue, was it? They believed Muggles should die," Remus answered, sighing. He looked Severus in the eye. "Do you accept my offer, then?"

His look was sour, but Severus seemed to be considering it. "My house is completely destroyed?"

"Yes."

"Death Eaters are still on the loose?"

"Yes."

"Harry Potter is dead?"

"Yes," Remus answered stiffly.

"I cannot walk?"

"Correct."

Severus pursed his lips. "I suppose I accept. It's not as though the day could be any stranger."

Remus smiled humorlessly. "I suggest taking a long look at the newspaper before we leave, however."

"Is it bad?" Severus asked, frowning. He picked up each leg separately and moved them to the side of the bed so that he could sit up fully, staring at Remus. His clothes, the same as the ones he wore during the battle, looked rather bloodstained. He seemed to have escaped the wrath of Madam Pomfrey and her hospital gowns. The black cloak did not seem to be there, however.

"I have no clue," Remus answered truthfully. "However, by what I've heard, things are not... going perfectly in the other places. I believe the Death Eaters are making life harder than before, with or without the amount of casualties we had."

"When am I leaving with you, then?" Severus asked. "I'm not exactly anticipating the occasion."

"I think we could be gone by tonight," Remus told him, trying to make his voice as rude as possible. "If you don't appreciate it, you don't need to accept. There is always a chance of Hogwarts remaining open."

Severus gave Remus a small smile, teeth bared. "You must be quite the optimist, Lupin. Hogwarts staying open if things are as bad as you make them out to be is an impossibility. The school would be closed in a matter of seconds."

"You were never the optimist, were you, Severus? Not even a normal thinker, I believe."

"I am merely truthful in my thoughts, Lupin," Severus answered sarcastically. "I refuse to be neither optimistic nor pessimistic."

Remus quirked a small smile and stood up. "I'll be asking Poppy whether I can take you yet -"

"I don't need her permission to go," Severus answered. "I'm a free man. Allow me to pack a few things and I'll be ready."

"Could I ask how you're going to pack?" Remus asked, motioning towards Severus' legs. Severus glanced down at them, frowning slightly.

"I'm going to assume I'll be needing assistance with everything, then." Placing a hand on one leg, he tried to stand, but only managed to straighten his spine a bit.

"You are going to need plenty of help." The truth would not hurt Severus any more than he already was. "That's part of the reason why you should come with me."

"Not all of this is your inane fantasy that I'm Potter?" Severus sneered. "I thought you were lonely Lupin -"

Biting his lip, Remus turned towards the desk. "What do you need packed? I think we can bring everything in one load if we shrink it all."

Severus gave him a dirty look. "I can do it myself, werewolf."

Remus froze, straightening up and not daring to turn around to face Severus. He knew the words would hurt Remus more than the use of his last name over first. Age old grudges did not easily, it seemed. "Alright, Severus," he answered, voice nearing a growl. "Pack yourself."

Even without looking, Remus knew Severus had a hard time. The sound of struggling and slipping filled his ears and Remus had to bite the inside of his mouth to keep from smiling.

"Not too good at it, are you?" Remus asked. "Do you need help or do you want to keep trying until you can stand by yourself?"

"Fine," Severus snarled. "Fine! Pack my clothes and those books there." Remus took the requested items and placed them on top of the desk as Severus continued to name items. After the desk groaned under the combined weight of the books and other assorted items, Remus cast a quick charm on them until they shrunk to the size of his pocket, and then lightened them with another charm before picking them all up in two handfuls.

When they landed safely in his pocket, Remus stretched out a hand to a sweaty looking Severus who had spent the entire time Remus packed for him attempting to stand up. He seemed to have taken the injury to heart and tried to deny it. It was only after another attempt at standing that he took the hand proffered to him and leaned entirely on Remus for support.

"You're not able to walk that way, either, are you?" Remus asked after taking a step forward and feeling Severus lean sideways to keep his feet on the floor and still hold Remus.

"No," he answered flatly. "I refuse to let you carry me."

"I believe," Remus said lightly, "that you'll need to try a Muggle wheel chair."

Severus pursed his lips again, looking rather sour. "I refuse to resort to such things."

"Fine," Remus snapped, making to move Severus' hand from his shoulder, but Severus' grip tightened with the movement.

"Alright," he answered. "I'll try it."

Letting Severus sit back down, legs not even allowing him to get that far without collapsing, Remus walked back to the Hospital Wing. The sounds of talking came from inside the doors as he pulled them open. It appeared Rufus Scrimgeour, the Minister for Magic, was having a loud argument with Minerva and Madam Pomfrey.

"We will not allow his body to be set up like some - some museum!" Minerva shouted, face going red.

Scrimgeour shook his head, yelling back in equally loud tones, "That is not what I asked for! We are merely going to take his picture and write the article! It will show how Voldemort is affecting us all -"

"He's dead!" Minerva shouted, Madam Pomfrey starting to pale as her mouth opened too. "If you had taken such care when he was alive, he would have fallen faster!"

Remus tried to move along the side of the room to Madam Pomfrey, but Scrimgeour seemed to have noticed him from the corner of his eye.

"Remus Lupin!" he said happily, forcing a smile and extending a hand. "I see we have a war hero here! Could the Ministry -"

"No," Remus answered flatly, catching Minerva's eye. She smiled behind Scrimgeour's back. "I refuse to do anything for the Ministry. Minerva is right."

Scrimgeour frowned, but quickly changed his expression. "You will not be doing something for the Ministry. The Ministry will be doing something for you."

"I refuse," Remus repeated coldly. "If you'll excuse me, I need to have a word with Poppy." When he walked past Scrimgeour, he heard a faint voice hiss in his ear so that only he could hear.

"Lupin. I assure you that no better deals will come before you in your lifetime. You may be one of the heroes now, but do not forget that you are a werewolf, too. That has not changed. None of them were on our side."

"I was," Remus whispered, voice just as low.