Please review this chapter – I will owe you a billion if you do! This is the second to last chapter of this story – which I really did enjoy writing a lot =)

This is set after Dumbledore's death. It crosses over into the actual text from the book a little bit too.

'Bill!'

Ron was staring at his eldest brother in shock. Hermione was just gaping. Just a few hours ago everything had been quiet...dormant...still...and now there was Bill, attacked and stained with blood – corridors destroyed...it was just horrible.

Ginny was staring in shock at her brother. Hermione couldn't find the right words to say anything. Madam Pomfrey pushed past them to dab more ointment on Bill's face. Professor McGonagall burst through the doors of the Hospital Wing, looking just as shocked as anyone. But as always, she seemed calm. McGonagall always seemed calm. She glanced at Neville but quickly looked away.

'Harry –' Hermione started. McGonagall shook her head.

'I don't know where he is,' she said. Ginny stood up from her chair.

'I'll go and find him,' she said. McGonagall nodded this time.

'Bring him up here,' she said in a soft voice that Hermione had rarely heard her use. Ginny nodded, wiping away tears from under her eyes before leaving the Hospital Wing hurriedly.

Luna looked as though she had been suddenly pulled from her dreamlike trance. Tonks and Lupin seemed shocked. Well, Lupin more...distraught, than shocked.

'Will he be OK?' Lupin asked quietly. Madam Pomfrey sighed, straightening up.

'It is...difficult to say, Remus. Obviously he won't be a...a full werewolf from now on,' she said, her voice shaking. 'But he won't be normal. He most certainly will not look the same but...as for what happens on a full moon, I cannot tell as of yet.' She sighed again and carried on dabbing the ointment on Bill's face.

'He looks awful,' Hermione murmured – more to herself than anyone else. But Ron seemed to hear her.

'Yeah,' he agreed. 'But then again – maybe we would all look like that if Harry hadn't given us the Felix Felicis Potion.'

Hermione nodded, wiping away more tears as she grimaced.

'But maybe Harry should have taken some,' she said quietly. 'I mean...he did go off with Dumbledore.'

Ron nodded this time. 'Shouldn't Dumbledore be down here? I mean, Bill did this for him.'

Hermione turned to Ron with narrowed eyes. 'Dumbledore has...bigger things to think about. Who knows if he and Harry are OK? Or maybe Dumbledore isn't even back yet – I mean, maybe he sent Harry back on his own...maybe it got too dangerous.'

Ron shrugged. 'Still – doesn't he have any idea what is going on at the moment?'

Hermione sighed. She didn't have the energy to get too mad at Ron right now. And plus, this wasn't the time or the place - or the situation. 'Ron – I am not arguing with you now,' Hermione sighed warily. 'Just...leave it.'

Ron sighed and turned away, but not looking at his brother.

'And Neville's going to be OK?' he asked Madam Pomfrey suddenly. Madam Pomfrey straightened up again, glancing at Neville and nodding.

'He should be fine. A night or two in here will sort him out.'

'Whoop for Neville,' Ron muttered tonelessly. Hermione gave a weak smile. There were noises coming from outside. Sobs, shouts, wails, cries...they all seemed to pierce your ears.

Hermione was too concerned about Harry to really start an argument – let alone a conversation. What if he was hurt? Or worse...no, she couldn't think about that. And then there were two recognisable voices from out in the corridor outside the Hospital Wing. A few seconds later, the footsteps came to a halt and the doors to the Hospital Wing swung open.

Hermione gave a sigh of relief when she saw Harry – holding Ginny's hand – and she rushed towards him, hugging him tightly. Lupin gave a start forwards too, looking concerned. Hermione had to stop herself from bursting into tears.

'Are you all right, Harry?' Lupin asked cautiously.

Harry nodded once, and Hermione noticed his face looked gaunt. Hermione went over to stand next to Ron.

'I'm fine...how's Bill?'

Nobody said anything. Hermione thought it better that way. There was no way to describe it...you had to look at Bill to understand.

Harry's face seemed to go pale. Ron seemed...different too. Hermione glanced at him and he forced a smile before looking down at his feet. Hermione took a staggered breath and took his hand hesitantly. Ron glanced at her, confused, but didn't say anything – or pull away.

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

'No charm will work on these. I've tried everything I know, but there is no cure for werewolf bites.'

'But he wasn't bitten at the full moon,' Ron said quickly, making Hermione give a small jump. 'Greyback hadn't transformed, so surely Bill won't be a – a real -?'

Lupin gave a small sigh, taking a step towards Ron hesitantly. Hermione didn't let go of Ron's hand still. 'No, I don't think that Bill will be a true werewolf. But that does not mean there won't be some contamination. Those are cursed wounds. They are unlikely ever to heal fully, and – Bill might have some wolfish characteristics from now on.'

Ron seemed desperate to think up some way to save his brother – to make him OK, to make him the Bill he used to be.

'Dumbledore might know something that'd work, though. Where is he? Bill fought those maniacs on Dumbledore's orders, Dumbledore owes him, he can't leave him in this state –'

Hermione saw Ginny and Harry exchange distraught looks. And the next few words were the words that made her instantly think there was no hope left.

'Ron – Dumbledore's dead.'