Hermione was flagging but refused to stop. It was difficult to tell that she had adopted St. Mungo's pale blue robes; she seemed to be constantly caked in blood. She moved her potions trolley into another private room. Most had 2 patients in them but this one was newly reduced to one. She made room for the mediwitch levitating the fresh corpse out through the door and checked the parchment roll by the other bed – anti-pain potions. This patient – Serenity Rubor – had been hit repeatedly by the Cruciatus and a variety of other curses that it was proving impossible to work out as she slipped in and out of consciousness. They had eventually managed to get a name out of her, but they couldn't find out anymore. At least she could help stop her feeling the pain, she thought as she helped the currently conscious woman to drink the potion. This woman would be in here for a while, her recovery was slow. Hermione smoothed the poor woman's thick black hair back from her face and gently ran a cloth over her forehead. The woman slipped back into unconsciousness and after a couple of spells to check she was otherwise okay, Hermione slipped out and rattled the trolley on to the next private room and the next near death experience.

As she soaked the man's burns she felt a hand over her own and another voluntary nurse relieved her of her burden for the day and pushed her stumbling towards her bed.

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Remus Lupin curled up in a ball in a bed at Grimmauld Place and howled. Having assured himself of who was alive and well - after welcoming Albus back from the dead, after giving testimony about the events of the battle and the preceding preparations, after twelve funerals and a visit to check on Harry – he chose his moment, let his composure slide and collapsed in on himself.

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"Ronald Weasley – outstanding recovery so far" stated the parchment scroll at the end of his bed.

"Hey, I got an O in recovery then," he squeaked looking over at his Mum. He was the only one of the family left in bed now, even his Dad had beaten him to it and he'd climbed out of a coma. Oh well, all the more chocolate he thought as he bit into another chocolate frog. He and Harry were the only ones still left in the ward. Neville had recovered enough for his Grandmother to collect him; Oliver had died in the night after a sudden spate of fitting. Other patients died or recovered as Ron and Harry watched on, waiting till they too would be allowed to leave.

"Well, Ron can go home but I am afraid that Harry will be transferred to St. Mungo's tomorrow." Poppy stated simply. "They have more room now and will be able to give you better care."

Harry weakly raised a smile but couldn't move much else. "Ah but I've had you all to myself Poppy, no comparison."

The mediwitch blushed and smiled.

"Hey, what am I? Chopped asphodel?" Ron demanded, mock indignantly. He was pleased to see Harry moved to laugh. Harry would be fine, he was gradually recouping his magical powers and his strength had returned enough for him to sit up. It was going to take a long time though, possibly over a year.

Molly fussed about gathering Ron's things together and hustling him out of pyjamas and into clothes.

"MUM. I can dress myself you know."

"I know dear, it's just...well..." Ron wrapped his Mother in a hug before she could start crying again. He knew that she was desperate to look after him herself, and he loved that, but really! He pulled a "what's she like?" face at Harry, who smiled genuinely in response, and then he disappeared behind a floating curtain to change. He hated to leave Harry but he couldn't move to St. Mungo's with him.

"I'll visit you all the time mate." he shouted over the partition. "Hermione will be there too, she's got a job there now. You never know, she might be your own personal mediwitch." He stuck his head out to waggle his eyebrows and found himself nose to tip with Ginny's wand.

"You want to try that one again?"

Ron stammered, trying not to think about bat bogeys, "I ...er...only meant that ... well...she would be there to look after him."

Ginny didn't look appeased, but she lowered the wand.

"Right then mate, time for me to go home. I'll come and visit you in St. Mungo's tomorrow. Anything you want me to bring?"

"Books" Harry whispered

"Books? I only said she might be looking after you, I didn't say she was going to be checking your homework. What do you want books for anyway, you quit school?"

Harry smiled weakly, "Need the exams, besides I am bored senseless and need something to do. Reading is about as physically and magically inactive as possible, so – Books!"

"Alright mate, I think it's weird though. I'll bring some Quidditch magazines as well, can't have you going too Hermione on us."

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Care of Magical Buildings moved their teams into positions. Wand enhancements had been required for this. There was no way for them to tell exactly how the building was before it was damaged. They knew that the Great Hall had been almost completely demolished and the Main building was massively damaged but the Headmaster had chuckled at their meticulousness and suggested that they allow the building to help them.

After a little research Retenia Attentus, Head of Restoration Facilities had discovered the incantations herself. She was bemused to discover them in a book that had been a gift to her predecessor by Albus Dumbledore himself, but didn't think on it too much. If the magical resonance of the building was to guide them then they had a lot of work to do in preparation. Retenia signalled her teams and gave them their instructions. Within minutes, the repair of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was under way.

The school was temporarily evacuated whilst repairs were ongoing. The house elves refused to leave and retreated to unexplored depths to escape the shifting fabric of the building above them. There were many creatures hiding down in the bowels of the school, but for this moment of uncertainty they all respected one another's right to be there. They were huddled close despite the great expanse of tunnels and chambers around them, listening to the groans and wails of their castle as it battled for its own life.