An eerie silence filled the room; punctuated only by the beginning sobs of the women, save for Ginny who was still under the effects of the calming spell.

"Everyone, get your things together," Arthur said with a shaky voice, trying his best to be strong although tears were slipping from his eyes. "We must get William to St. Mungo's as soon as possible."

Like robots, everyone gathered belongings while Ginny sat in numb silence beside her son. Neville was gone? But he was just with her. They were holding hands and talking about Hermione. Her brain found difficulty in accepting the fact he would not return to her. Why had this happened? And this bite...Ginny knew what that meant having learned firsthand of werewolf bites from a previous teacher and old friend. What would she do with a child that would now be infected for the rest of his life?

Molly reversed the calming spell & placed her arm around her daughter's shoulders while Ron picked up William. "Let's go Baby," she said gently, tears falling from her eyes. "Staying won't bring him back."

The next hour passed in a blur for Ginny as she and her family used a portkey to get back home before Molly & Arthur flooed to St. Mungo's with her and William. Ron and Tess returned home with their girls while Bill and Fleur stayed behind at the Burrow.

Molly took over, answering all the questions the mediwitch had about William and his bite, Ginny following like a zombie. Even though the calming spell was reversed, she was now in shock. The life she'd known was shattered in a matter of minutes. Neville was gone forever. Her beloved and father of her child, killed by a werewolf. No one could save him. What would she do? How could this be? After everything that had happened at Hogwarts, all the close calls they'd escaped, the war with Voldemort, and now his life ended because of a camping trip with her family. It was senseless.

"Ginny!"

"Hmm?" she muttered, realizing her mother had been talking to her.

"Is William allergic to any medications?" she repeated for the third time, trying not to sound annoyed as she understood her daughter had a reason to seem distant, fighting to remain calm herself.

"Not that I know of," Ginny answered quietly, watching as her father gently laid the unconscious boy on a gurney.

"Okay," the mediwitch was saying. "Let's get him in for an examination and start treating the bite before there's any infection."

Twenty-four hours later found Ginny sitting beside of William's bed, seemingly still in a trance. She hadn't cried, she hadn't broken down; nor had she eaten or slept. Her parents had given up trying to reach her as she refused to talk to them except to answer questions about her son when necessary and consequently decided to return home and leave her be at her father's prompting. Life as she knew it was over. What was she supposed to do? Neville was gone and their son would now bear the life sentence of werewolf, his life controlled by the phases of the moon. How did they really expect her to be?

"Miss Weasley," the mediwitch said gently. "There is a visitor to see you."

"I don't want to see any visitors," Ginny said with no emotion, her eyes not moving from her son's still unconscious body.

Cecilia, the current mediwitch on call, understood the young woman's request but this visitor could not be turned away. "Miss, Albus Dumbledore sent him specifically to see you," she informed her.

Dumbledore. Ginny turned her head slowly to look at her. Knowing the Headmaster was in his last days, she could not ignore his request. "Okay," she said quietly, standing up and following her from the room. She adored him as a grandfather-like figure so if he'd sent someone, then she would see who it was, even though it took more strength than she thought she had presently.

Staring at the floor as she walked, she heard Cecilia say, "I believe you two have met previously."

When Ginny lifted her eyes, she was staring into the tired, sad and sympathetic eyes of Remus Lupin, her previous teacher and friend.

"Remus," she breathed, feeling a sudden weight inside her chest, as if seeing him, knowing her son could have a life like his, knowing how difficult it had been for him, seemed to break her haze of denial and shock. Immediately, her eyes filled with tears as her facial features squeezed together in pain she hadn't wanted to admit or allow.

His heart ached for the young girl as he put an arm around her shoulders, hearing her sobs, silently walking her back to the hospital room where her son lay. He'd received an emergency owl from Albus after he'd received an owl from Arthur of the news and was thankful to be sent. No one could understand or help her like he could and Albus had known that.

Closing the door behind them, Remus leaned back against the wall and gently held Ginny, one arm around her body while cradling her head in his other hand as she covered her face and cried, allowing the release he knew she'd suppressed. He forcefully swallowed the burning lump in his own throat, as breaking down himself would not help her.

It was minutes before Ginny could compose herself, breathing erratic, gulping air and inhaling in short breaths, wiping her wet red face with her hands, pulling from Remus while he fetched a towel for her.

"What do I do?" she asked, voice shaky, using the towel to wipe her face. "Neville's gone, Remus."

"I know," he said as they sat in nearby chairs. "I'm so sorry, Ginny."

She nodded, inhaling deeply, hoping to calm her emotion. "William was bit by the werewolf," she said quietly.

"I know."

"How?"

His look told her she should have known. "Your father sent an owl to Albus right away," he explained. "Albus, of course, given the nature of the situation, sent an emergency owl to me. I flooed here immediately."

Ginny shook her head, the haze of helplessness clouding her eyes once more. "What do I do, Remus?" she asked again, barely above a whisper.

He smiled sadly, reaching over and squeezing her hand. "You are a strong, brave girl," he said gently. "You will get through this, I promise. For now, we must make sure your son is okay. He's still unconscious I'm assuming?"

She nodded, chewing her bottom lip.

"He probably will be for another day," he continued. "The bite affects every system in the body so it shuts down for a couple days to try to accommodate and get used to the change. He won't die, Ginny. Not from the bite anyway. And with the potion that Severus created for me, William will have a much easier life than I have."

Ginny nodded again. "Thank you for being here," she said. "I've been so...lost."

"I can only imagine," Remus told her truthfully. "Tragedy is never easy to accept."

A familiar look passed between them, reminding them of their days at Grimmauld Place, back during the war. Tragedy had been an all too common occurrence, everyone suffering from the emotional strain it caused. Some had made it, and some had not, but all had scars that would remain forever.

"No it's not easy," she agreed.

In the silence between them, Ginny's stomach quietly growled in hunger.

Her hand covered her stomach, her cheeks reddening, as Remus smiled and asked, "When did you eat last?"

"A day or so ago," she answered. "At the campsite."

"You must eat," he told her. "Hurting yourself will not help your son. I will have Cecilia bring in some food. When was the last time you slept?"

Ginny shrugged.

"Okay then I will be transfiguring a cot as well," he informed her and left the room to find the mediwitch.

By ten, Remus was ready to leave for the night. He'd made sure Ginny ate and had transfigured a towel into a small cot to place beside the bed where her son lay.

"I will return in the morning," he told her. "And I can stay all day if you wish."

"Thank you," she said stifling a yawn. "I really appreciate your help."

"I know," he said with a nod. "You helped me and now I will help you."

She offered a small smile, knowing she was close to sleep and watched as he left the room with a wave of his hand.

Ginny awoke, slowly opening her eyes. Had she heard something? She lifted her head to see her son's arm moving. "William?" she said, quickly getting up from the cot, rushing to his side. "William!"

His eyes were open but were staring at nothing, slowly moving each of his limbs as if rediscovering them.

"Can you hear me?" she asked, taking his hand and squeezing.

His head turned towards her. "Mummy," he whispered.

Tears spilled from her eyes as she covered his body with hers, quickly hugging him. "Oh Baby," she cried, kissing his forehead. "I've been so worried. How do you feel?"

"Weird," he answered.

Wiping her eyes, she smiled slightly. "You'll be fine," she told him, hating what she knew she had to tell him. "Honey, do you remember anything that happened at the campground?"

"A little," he answered. "We went for a walk."

Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Ginny nodded. "Do you remember anything else?" she asked, gently rubbing his arm.

William thought. "Something bit me," he answered. "It hurt real bad."

She inhaled deeply, fighting to keep her composure. "A werewolf attacked us," she explained. "That's what bit you. Do you remember Daddy telling you about werewolves?"

He nodded.

"Do you remember what he told you about their bite?"

He thought again, a look of horror quickly filling his face. "Am I a werewolf now?" he asked, fear seizing him.

Quickly biting her lip, a weak attempt at stopping her tears, Ginny answered, "Yes, I'm afraid the bite has infected you. But you will not ever harm anyone like this one did. There is medicine you can take and you will be fine."

"Are you sure?" he asked. "I don't want to hurt anyone."

Nodding, she answered, "I'm positive." She squeezed his hand again before saying, "There's something else I have to tell you." William never looked more like Neville than he did now and it broke her heart. "Baby, Daddy isn't here anymore."

"Where is he?" he asked simply.

"He died," she answered, voice cracking slightly. "He didn't survive the attack. He won't be coming back to us."

"Never?"

"Never."

William turned his head away as tears began to fall from his eyes.

Ginny's heart broke. "Come here Baby," she whispered, helping him sit up so she could hold him as he cried, allowing her tears freedom as well.

Remus opened the door then and saw the embrace of Ginny and William, knowing instantly she had told him about his father. He would have left but she looked towards him and motioned him over.

"William," she said, hoping to help calm him by having him talk to Remus. "There's someone I want you to meet; a very special friend of mine."

He wiped his eyes and sniffed loudly while she handed him a tissue. "Okay," he said quietly, wiping his nose.

"This is Remus Lupin," she introduced as he stood on the other side of the bed. "He was bit when he was young as well. You've heard Daddy and me talk about him."

William's eyes lit up slightly at this bit of information. "Yeah," he said absentmindedly. "You're a werewolf too right?"

Remus hated the boy's fate but it was a fact that had to be dealt with now regardless. "Yes I am a werewolf," he answered. "But it's all right. There is a type of medicine you can take that will help you."

"That's what Mummy said," he told him. "Have you ever attacked anyone?"

Glancing at Ginny and then back at William, Remus answered, "William, let's not discuss that right now. How do you feel?"

"Tired."

"Are you hungry?" he asked.

"Yes."

"I'll have the mediwitch bring some food," Ginny said, leaving the room.

After the door closed behind her, Remus sat on the edge of the bed. "Are you scared?" he asked gently. Sometimes it amazed him how William looked so much like his parents having Ginny's red hair, green eyes and freckles but Neville's full lips and chubby face.

William nodded.

"Don't be," he told him. "You will be fine. And you'll learn more as you get older."

William looked sad again. "Daddy's gone," he said.

"I know," Remus said, his heart breaking. "I'm very sorry. Neville was a good man and I bet a good daddy too."

"I miss him lots," he said as Ginny returned.

"Food will be here in just a few minutes," she told her son, sitting on the other side of his bed.

"Mummy, when can we go home?" William asked with a heavy sigh.

Ginny glanced at Remus before smiling at her son. "Soon Love," she answered. "Hopefully just a couple more days."

"I think I'll go see if I can find the healer," Remus offered, slightly tousling the small boy's hair and leaving the room.

About ten minutes later, Mediwitch Elizabeth brought in a tray of food that brought a small smile to William's face.

"Thank you," he said as she carefully set the tray across his lap. His eyes traveled across the scrambled eggs, bacon strips, buttered toast and glass of orange juice.

"You're very welcome," she said with a genuine smile as she left.

"How would you like to go home tomorrow afternoon?" Remus asked after returning.

"Really?" William asked with a big smile.

"Yes," Remus answered. "Healer Berkeley will be in to examine you in the morning and, as long as everything is all right, he said you could go home."

William's big green eyes fell to his lap where he played with his fingers. "Daddy won't be there," he said quietly.

Ginny and Remus glanced at each other again. "No Baby, I'm afraid not," she confirmed sadly, not looking forward to it herself for the same reason. "It'll be just you and me."

"If it's okay with you and your mother," Remus began, gently patting William's entwined hands. "I can stay a few days, just incase you have more questions and want to talk a bit."

The little boy lifted his head, looked at Remus and nodded. "You're nice," he said simply.

"Are you sure?" Ginny asked Remus. "I'm sure we'll be fine. I can send an owl to Hermione so she can get some potion ready for us and..."

Covering her hand that lay on the blanket between them, Remus said, "I have plenty of potion with me so, unless you truly prefer me not to stay, I'd like to. Given the nature of this, helping him will help me tremendously. And you could use an old friend I'm sure."

She laughed slightly and nodded her head. "Yes I could," Ginny agreed. "I don't think the implications of everything have fully hit me yet."

"They haven't," he confirmed, tone serious. "But I will be there when they do. If you want me to be."

Overcome with emotion that she knew she couldn't release right then, eyes filling with tears, she nodded a thank you she hoped he understood.

He did.