I'm a terrible author!!O-O I know I said before the New Year but I've just been doing my drivers test and my exams came early...I'm sorry for the delay!!

SO I DON'T OWN A THING...BLA...BLA...BLA...

Author's note: When reading this listen to Now we are free by Enya. When I was writing this chappie I was listening to it.

It started with...

Chapter 25

The Wrong One.

"Come on 'Arry. Come on." Hagrid said trying to sooth the sobbing boy. Hagrid too was crying but his main concern was to get Harry away from the small crowd that had arrived. McGonagall hurried down the steps and let out a scream when she saw Dumbledore's cold corpse. "Professor McGonagall!" Harry didn't even budge.

"Oh Albus!" She whimpered softly. She stared at Albus carefully. She had to smile. His body may be at an odd angle but his face would make people believe that he had fallen into a deep slumber a smile was etched on his old face.

"HARRY!" Came a choked scream from the crowd. Harry barely lifted his head but he knew it was Ginny. He felt her arms encircle his waist as his cries became silent. "Harry..." He felt his body respond but his mind couldn't.

"Please can everyone back away please?" McGonagall said ushering students back.

"The Mark!"

"The Death Eater's Mark!"

Students whispered to each other looking at the Mark and their dead Headmaster. "What's gonna happen now?"

"We're in danger now aren't we?"

Harry felt their eyes burn into him. They were looking towards him for help, for answers. Why did they believe he had the answers when he couldn't even save the one person who he needed the most? What made him so special to everyone else? Just because he had a scar from a man who wasn't even human or even dead? He stood up.

Ginny backed away a few steps. They watched as he raised his wand high in the air. Ginny quickly followed, Minerva and Hagrid soon raised their own. Soon one by one, students were raising their wands high in the air. Jets of light shot out of their wands and hit the Death Eater's mark. It became enveloped in a bright white light before vanishing into the midnight's sky.

--

Ron stumbled around the castle; the wound from his arm was causing him great pain. He could feel himself bleed from the back of his head but it soon became a dull pain that throbbed in time with each step he took. Seamus was behind him bearing similar injuries.

"Wha' shall we do?" Seamus asked spitting out some blood. Ron didn't reply after the recent events he didn't dare. "Ron...he will be ok...right?"

"I don't know." Ron replied as they turned towards the Great Hall.

"Sweet Jesus!" Ron heard Seamus gasp behind him. It looked a mess. No worse than that, sculptures were everywhere broken and smashed, there were fallen portraits, unconscious or stunned students were sprawled over the place.

"Padma!" Ron cried out as he saw the Ravenclaw student lying against the staircase. He hurried over to her. "She's alive! Check for others!" He ordered to Seamus.

He checked the students. "They're ok! They're just stunned!" Ron let out a hard sigh. He held Padma's hand and let out another sigh. He needed his friends. He lifted his head and saw Seamus stand above a limp body. "Ron...I'm so sorry." Ron dropped Padma's hand and walked towards Seamus.

Lying on the floor was Ron's ex-girlfriend: Lavender Brown. Ron bent down and touched her cheek. It was ice cold. The life was gone from her soft brown eyes. At times whenever she called him sweet sometimes annoying names he found it cute. Now he'd never hear her call him her 'Ron-Ron' or see her give him a harsh glare whenever he hung around Hermione. She was dead. And from the ugly harsh bloody scars around her arms and neck, it looked like a curse gone wrong.

He pushed her slightly on her side. It seemed to break the barrier that showed how badly it was. The blood seemed to flow out like a river only gently. Her curly dark blond hair was tainted by the blood. "She wanted to work for the Daily Prophet...do the problems page...she wanted to have four children...two of each sex." He said in a choked voice. Seamus squeezed Ron's shoulder.

"I'm sorry."

"No it's ok..." Ron got up leaving Lavender's cold corpse on the ground. "We should find the others." He said moving away. They were walking up the stairs when Ron heard the sound of a door opening.

--

Hermione opened one eye, then the other. Something wasn't right. She glanced round the room. There was a fire still burning and someone had draped a cloak over her. She looked towards the window and saw that it was still dark. "What am I doing here?" She asked out loud. No reply came back to her. She vaguely remembered fighting Pansy...then everything went blank.

She felt something dig into the hand. Opening her palm she was amazed to see a ring bearing the Malfoy Crest. "What the hell happened?" She asked herself. A small memory flashed in her mind and she remembered slowly that Draco had given her the ring...and she had placed it on her left hand...her ring finger.

Pushing back the small cloak she caught the scent of green grass mixed with firewhiskey...it was Draco's cloak...but then why didn't he wake her up? Didn't he know she'd be in big trouble if she was caught?

She sat up straight and remembered something else. Draco's pale distraught face. He was upset about something but she couldn't remember what. Pushing herself off the couch she found herself growing accustomed to the dim light. She found her way to the door and opened it.

She wanted to scream. She wanted to cry. The bodies of students were lying everywhere. She didn't know if they were alive or dead. "Hermione?" A voice called out. She turned her attention to the voice and nearly wept with relief as she saw Ron standing on the stairs.

She hurried to his side. "Ron!" He pulled her into a big bear hug. "You're bleeding!" She said staring at his bloodied appearance.

"I'm ok...when we couldn't see you we thought...that..." Ron broke off, his voice overcome by emotion. "What were you doing in there?" He asked after a moment.

Hermione blushed slightly. "I can't remember properly but I do remember that I was in there with...Draco."

"And...?"

"That's all I can remember." Ron nodded and led her up the stairs. "Seamus! What on earth happened to you? Are you ok?"

"We're ok. We were fighting Death Eaters..." He replied trailing off...

Flashback...

"What about you?" Dean demanded glancing towards an incoming Fenrir.

"Trust me on this." Ron replied firmly. The two boys hurried off. Ron gripped his wand. This was going to be one long night. Fenrir let out a small howl sending shivers down Ron's spine. "Come on Ron...you can do this..." Ron said to himself.

"Hurry up you great oaf!" Yaxley hissed behind the wild werewolf. Ron heard a sharp roar and guessed that Fenrir was fighting the urge to attack Yaxley.

"Listen here. There are two scents." Ron turned round and saw Dean crouched down beside him.

"Couldn't let you take all the credit." Dean joked. Ron had to smile. "Ready?"

"More than I'll ever be."Ron replied. Dean gripped his wand. Then like they were in slow motion they pushed themselves off the damp grass and stood up. "Stupefy!" Ron shouted aiming it at Fenrir. He flew backwards hitting a tree. "Stupefy!" He shouted aiming it t Yaxley.

"Crucio!" Amycus screeched aiming it at Dean. He fell to the ground. His entire body felt like thousands of knives where slowly stabbing him. In his head he felt like there was a woman screaming. "Look at the Mudblood!" He jeered.

"Expelliarmus!" Ron shouted quickly. But as Amycus's fell into the darkness, Ron felt someone stab something into his arm. "ARGH!" He shouted dropping his own wand. It hit the ground with a thud. Fenrir picked up the semi conscious Dean.

"He'll make a nice snack." He growled sniffing him.

"NO!" Ron shouted. "NO!" Then out of nowhere the recovered Yaxley was tackled to the ground by Seamus.

"You let my friends go you Cac ar oineach!!(1)" He shouted loudly. "You pig!" Seamus's whole body was jerked to and fro by Yaxley. Ron picked up his wand.

"Carpe Retractum!" He yelled. He wasn't thinking it was the only spell that came into his mind. He'd seen Hermione use it once and it looked pretty cool. Next thing he knew Yaxley was by his feet, his face filled with unknown fury. "RUN!"

Seamus looked around him. He picked up a medium sized rock that was lying near him. He threw it at the death eater rendering him unconscious. Together the two boys dashed off for Fenrir. Seamus aimed his wand at the man. "Stupefy!" The spell made him drop Dean, he stirred slightly but Fenrir kicked him back unconscious again. "Duro!" Fenrir felt himself grow stiff. A large growl escaped his lips. Ron rushed to try and get Dean but was caught off guard by Fenrir's fist, he raised his arm up to block it but found himself being thrown to the ground.

Ron clutched his arm in pain. Seamus ran up to him. "Go! Get Dean!" He said biting his lip to stop him from yelling out in pain. Seamus leapt up but was too upset to do anything else. Fenrir had left.

End of flashback...

"We came back here and it turned out this had happened." Seamus finished. Hermione felt fresh tears well up in her face. Something was trying to unlock out of her brain. A memory.

"Are you ok?" Hermione blinked to see Ron's brown eyes staring at her concerned.

"I'm fine...well I think I am." She replied shakily. Ron stared at her still concerned, but she ignored his stare. "They're probably at the Hospital Wing."

--

Harry stared at the piece of jewellery in his hands. He banged his head against the wooden wall behind him. He found himself wanting to hurl the piece against something but found he couldn't. He wanted to yell and shout but he found he couldn't. He let a dark thought pass him. Why did the people he cared about seem to die? Mum...Dad...Cedric...Sirius...now Dumbledore. Who else was next? Ginny? Hermione? Ron?

"Harry?" He tried to smile as Ginny approached him. "No one blames you." He stared at her blankly.

"No one...is meaning your mum." Ginny frowned at him.

"I'm letting that one slide. Harry...stop beating yourself up over things that happened by accident."

Harry let out a low chuckle. "Accident? That's a nice word. It was an accident that my mum died to save me. It was an accident that Cedric died trying to become a champion...it was an accident that Sirius died?" He trailed off. Ginny bit her bottom lip.

"What else do you want me to say?" She said softly. Harry turned to her and reached for her hand, she took it without question.

"It's a fake." Ginny stared at the object in Harry's other hand. "All of that. For nothing." Harry's words were bitter and cold.

"Harry!" They turned their heads to see a frantic Hermione and an injured Seamus and Ron coming up to them. Harry let go of Ginny's hand and got up. He let Hermione hug him tightly. "I was so worried!" She let go of Harry when she noticed he wasn't hugging her back. "Harry?"

"I have defended you. I have saved your life so many times. And you repay me by seeing that traitor! That piece of filth! You are like him! A traitor!" Hermione gasped. "Don't deny it; you said that it was over between you. And then he says that you were his reason for living? His reason why he had to kill Dumbledore!"

"Harry we had broken up...till earlier this afternoon. I swear I had no idea what he was thinking or planning. I didn't tell him anything about you and Dumbledore, Harry you are my best friend." Hermione said choking on her tears; Harry stared at her he didn't know what to do. He couldn't be bothered by it all.

"It was a fake." Harry said after a while. "He died and it was for nothing." Hermione stared at the locket.

"There's a clasp on it." She said gingerly reached out for it. Harry let her take it. The clasp seemed to be stuck but after a moment of forcing it open it came undone. They crowded round Hermione and Harry, to listen to Hermione read out the small piece of parchment that looked like it was centauries old. "'To the Dark Lord...I know I will be dead long before you read this...but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret...I've stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can...I face death in the hope that when you meet your match...you will be mortal once more...R.A.B.'"

"So this R.A.B person has the real Horcrux?" Ron asked Hermione nodded staring at the note.

"Looks like it." Harry muttered. "'I face death'...whoever this person is must be dead already. Some help he could've been."

"R.A.B...Found out Voldemort's secret...he too was searching for the other Horcruxes..." Ron said slowly.

"Yea'."

"Harry...when are we leaving to find the rest of them?" The small group were alarmed to see Neville standing near them, Luna using him as a support.

"No. You can't come with me. Not this time." Harry said shaking his head and walked towards the wards.

"Harry you need us." Hermione said. "You don't think you're going to go out looking for Horcruxes alone? We're ready for another mission." Harry rolled his eyes. "You gave us the chance to leave you. Well now we're staying with you, like it or not."

"She's right. Dumbledore's Army." Ron said patting Harry's back.

"It's dangerous. You might die! You could get killed!" Harry protested. "What about your families?"

"I'd think they'd be proud of us." Ginny replied. "You're stuck with us."

"So...when are we leaving?" Neville repeated.

"As soon as possible." Harry replied sourly. He wanted them to understand that he couldn't bear it if one of them got hurt because of him. Then again. He stared at Ginny. The company wouldn't be so bad.

"We can't go until after the wedding. Remember, Fleur and Bill's? Mum would slaughter us if we missed it." Ron said smiling. Harry smiled back at him weakly.

"Potter." The group of teenagers leapt up and faced Professor McGonagall. Her face a white as snow, her eyes were bloodshot from crying. "A word." Ron gave him a reassuring pat and they watched as Harry went to Minerva. "What were you and...professor Dumbledore doing this evening?"

"I-I'm not supposed to say. He made me promise." Harry replied, wondering why his throat had gone dry.

"But in certain circumstances..."

"I'm sorry professor. I can't." McGonagall nodded recognizing defeat. Harry watched as she carried on towards the Hospital Wing. "Professor." She turned round. "Madame Rosmerta's under the imperious curse. She was the one that gave the cursed necklace to Katie Bell, she gave Slughorn the poisoned wine...and she let the Death Eaters know we had gone." McGonagall went white.

"Upon my word. I wouldn't have thought..." They were interrupted by a swarm of the other teachers still half dressed. Some had their robes on while underneath they had their nightgowns, others would be fully dressed but wearing a dressing gown. Hagrid was among them, he was still weeping.

"I can't believe him!" Harry tensed at Slughorn's voice. "I taught him too! I never would've thought he could do such a thing!"

"I know. We all thought we knew him." Professor Sprout said as she passed Hagrid her pink handkerchief.

"Before we all rant about what a traitor Severus was...we need to decide what's going to happen before the Ministry get here." Minerva said in a loud clear voice. "After tonight I doubt it'll reopen again." At once the professors debated on this. Others wanted the school to stay open to protect students or people who needed it. Some including Slughorn were doubtful about it.

Harry watched as they debated, Hagrid said in a loud voice he'd be staying along with McGonagall. "We'll have to consult the governors." Minerva said, they stopped talking and nodded.

"What about Dumbledore's funeral?" Harry found himself asking. The professors stared at him. Even from the other side of the hall he could feel the others watching him.

"Well...I know it was Dumbledore's wish to be laid here but..." Minerva stammered.

"Then that's what's gonna happen right?"

"No Headmaster or Headmistress has ever been buried here before."

"Dumbledore has done more for this school than any other." Hagrid butted in fiercely.

"Hogwarts should be Dumbledore's final resting place." Professor Sprout agreed.

"Quite right." Slughorn said nodding in approval.

"Besides...the students should be given a chance to say...goodbye." Harry said finding the last word so hard to say. Professor Sprout smiled towards him.

"Well said! And the students should pay tribute; after all they too have protected this school tonight." Slughorn said nodding approvingly.

"Very well." McGonagall said giving Harry a quick smile.

"Minerva! Minerva!" Everyone in the small corridor turned to see Professor Flitwick rushing up towards them. He was out of breath when he reached them. "It's...it's...the Minister...they're...they're here!"

"Harry...I think it's best if you and your friends go into the Hospital Wing." Harry didn't need telling twice. He quickly walked towards the Hospital Wing, the others followed them witch the exception of Neville, Luna and Seamus who had to attend to their wounds.

They stopped and stared at the mass of Weasley's by a bed. Oh god no! Harry jogged over and saw that there was a scared man whom Fleur was kissing gently on the head. "Bill?" Ginny whispered shocked at the sight of her older brother.

"How...?" Hermione asked looking to Fred to George.

"He was attacked by that werewolf." It was Fleur who replied. Her voice trembled. "They attacked my Bill!" She was washing the blood from Bill's wounds with some orange ointment.

"Is...Dumbledore really...gone?" Harry turned to see Arthur Weasley holding a sobbing Molly. Harry nodded. Molly let out a large sob. But she wasn't looking at Harry she was staring at Bill's mutilated face. Three large scars went from Bill's forehead all down his face.

"It doesn't matter how he looks...that's not important...he really was a handsome little boy...always..."

"He's not dead." Ron said looking at his mother who just glared at him.

"He was about to get married." She sobbed. There came a loud clatter and they turned to see Fleur was standing up. Her blond hair behind her giving her a regal look.

"What did you mean by zat? You theenk Bill will not want to marry me?" Her voice loud and very angry. "It would take more zan a werewolf to stop Bill loving me!"

"But...I only thought that-"

"Ah I see I see! You think I don't want to marry 'im? Or you 'oped?" Molly looked away slightly embarrassed. "I do not care 'ow he looks! I'm proud of 'im! He is brave and dis scars prove it! I will marry 'im! I love 'im! I am good looking for us both!" She grabbed Bill's hand and began bandaging it. The Weasley's turned towards Molly to Fleur, they said nothing but they didn't have to.

"You can have Aunt Muriel's tiara." Molly said half sobbed. Fleur nodded and carried on bandaging her fiancé. Harry and Ron exchanged a wiry smile. Hermione and Ginny stared at Fleur with a new founded admiration.

"SEE!" They jumped and stared with surprise as Tonks turned to Lupin. "She doesn't care what he looks like!" Everyone stared at them. "Even he's been bitten! And she still loves him!"

"Tonks...this is different." Remus replied slightly strained and slightly uncomfortable at Tonk's outburst.

"Explain it to me." Tonks replied her normal bubblegum hair was now transforming into a fiery red a sign that Tonks was getting angry.

"Bill won't become a full werewolf. It's completely different!"

"Do any of you get what's going on?" Ron asked his elder brother Fred. Fred shrugged his shoulders and patted George's shoulder.

"Ok little brother. Our suspicions are that-" Fred started.

"Tonks is trying to tell Remus-" George continued.

"That she is in love with-"

"Him." They finished together. They quickly turned their attention to Tonks and Remus.

"I've told you a million of times! I do not care!" She spelled out each word as she grabbed Remus's robe.

"I'm old!" Remus replied. "I'm too poor...too dangerous..."

"So?" Tonks replied. "I do not care!"

"You're being ridiculous about this Remus." Molly said patting Tonk's shoulder. "And you know it."

"Tonks needs someone...who is whole...who can love her and look after her..."

"But she wants you." Hermione said quietly. "I know what it's like. I too love someone who isn't right for me but...so what?" It took Harry a minute to realise she was referring to Draco.

"And young and 'whole' men do not tend to remain so." Molly said stifling a sob as she stared at Bill's body.

"This is neither the moment nor the place to talk about it." Remus said looking around the Hospital Wing, students were being bandaged up, some were groaning in pain as their bones were being mended, although there weren't any casualties there were many with serious injuries.

"No time better than the present." Ron added cheerfully. Molly frowned at him. Hermione twirled her 'engagement' ring round her finger. It was all coming back to her, they had confessed their love for each other...he had given her the ring...as a promise for their future together...he told her what he had been forced to do...he knocked her out...a tear slid down her face as she remembered it all. All she wanted to do was cry. For Dumbledore, for Draco, for Bill...for everyone it seemed. She felt Ginny try and comfort her but somehow all she felt was numbness...then everything went black.

"Hermione!" Ginny cried out, Harry and Ron were immediately by her side. Together they laid her down on the remaining spare bed at the end of the ward. "Is she going to be ok?"

"She's worn out. We all are. We need some sleep too. It's three in the morning." Harry said letting out a yawn. "Come on." They said their goodbyes to the Weasley's; Tonks was already asleep in the chair Remus's robe round her.

As they went up the stairs the three students felt sure they could hear something or someone singing. Like a lament. As they turned round a corridor Harry realised it was Fawkes song. It was bittersweet, so beautiful yet so sad. Harry pulled Ginny closer to him. She held him tightly and placed her head on his shoulder. "I love you." He whispered softly to her. She smiled dreamily and snuggled closer to him. It was only when they reached the Gryffindor common room...that the song ended.

some reviews would encourage this lonely author...hahaha you know the drill you read it you review it. I'm trying to get to a hundred of ninety hahaha

LATER!