Title:Game Without Tears

Disclaimer: I do not own, wish I did, but I don't. I only own my plot line. Full disclaimer, first chapter.

Author: ShaeLynn Teelle

All other information: See first chapter.

Polite constructive criticism welcome. FLAMES WILL BE FED TO THE DRAGON IN MY BED.

Chapter 33: All the Sons and Daughters

There was little sound when Daphne woke, save for quiet breathing nearby. She was disoriented for several long moments until the sterile smell of the infirmary penetrated her senses. Keeping her eyes closed she slowly took stock of herself to see how much damage had been done. Her left hand was alternately sore and numb. Her head hurt, not terribly so, but she was warm on a relatively comfortable mattress and she was alive.

Then, she searched for the spark of magic that had been created when her and Gregory had bonded, and found it. She sighed in relief. They had all known that if one of them would ever die, the spark would be gone and only a blackness would remain where it had been. She only hoped that the other couple had escaped the battle with their spark intact.

Slowly, she finally opened her eyes. Daphne felt weak, but not enough to stop her from moving. Pushing herself up from her prone position, she slid backward until she was resting against the pillows behind her. It was then that the pain in her hand sharpened from the points that she could feel and it felt lighter than it had before.

The appendage was brought up from her side and she stared at what was left of her hand, wrapped tightly in pristine white bandages. There were two fingers missing, the index and the pinkie. She tried to clench the three that were left, but they were only able to move into a loose fist and they straightened even less. Daphne stared at her hand, numbly comparing it to the resemblance of a claw rather than a human hand.

Daphne felt tears start to fill her eyes as she couldn't tear her gaze away from the damage. A choked sob escaped her and there was movement in the infirmary, though she didn't notice until a hand was placed on her shoulder. Her head spun around to stare at Neville who stood at her side. Invitingly he opened his arms to her and held her tightly as she started to sob into his chest.

Many minutes later, she had finally calmed down enough to pull away from the Gryffindor. Neville gently wiped the tears from her cheeks and sat down on the edge of the bed. He carefully lifted Daphne's wrapped hand, knowing it would be sore where the numbing spells had worn off, and held it in his hands as he met the girl's eyes.

"This changes nothing, Daphne. You haven't noticed, I'm sure, but whatever glamour you all have been using is no longer working for any of you. This is no more than what gave you this," he said, his hand brushing against the scar the curved about her throat on one side. "When your glamours are active again, this picture will only be a memory in your mind. Your hand may not be as useful as it once was, but what you see will pass until you can look at it again."

Daphne looked hard at Neville. Then, she glanced back down at her hand before meeting his eyes once again. "Thank you, Neville. Thank you so much."

"It's okay. I think the shock will hit us all as we awaken. Mine was more in remembered pain than in anything I could see, but the shock still gripped me regardless."

"What happened to you?"

"I was fighting Bellatrix Lestrange. She was fond of the Cruciatus Curse after what she had done and thought it a fitting punishment that I joined my parents in their personal blackness. I don't know how long she actually held the curse before she was stopped, but I was unconscious and still shaking for the first day after we were brought back."

"Who stopped her?"

"Ginny. I don't think you've ever seen Molly Weasley mad, but I had the displeasure of being there when she found out how Ron had reacted to Harry staying the nights with Draco. She can't hold a candle to her daughter's temper if it is truly roused. I thought I had seen what she could do when she first confronted Ron about his words to Harry, but I was wrong. That fiery redhead ran straight into her, knocking Bellatrix Lestrange to the ground. Then, she used her wonderful Bat-Bogey Hex and when the woman was distracted, Ginny put a dagger in her heart. I don't think she will ever tell me where she got the blade from either."

"I gave it to her," Daphne said quietly and saw the surprised look on Neville's face. "She had done research and found that while using the Killing Curse and any number of other dark arts spells could land a person in Azkaban, there was nothing in the Ministry laws about using a Muggle way to end another's life except poison. I suppose that when using bladed weapons became out-of-fashion in the Wizarding World, they took away some of the laws. A trial is usually held, but unless there was no reason or it was in cold-blood, the most they gave was a fine and house-arrest without outside contact for so long."

"I guess they didn't feel that most would think to use non-magical means. Only certain pure-blood families are taught to fence and even they do not think of using the blades to actually kill," Neville contemplated.

"Do you know how to fence, Neville?"

"Yes. Gran wanted me to learn before I entered Hogwarts, but it was just something to do. I never would have thought to actually use a sword against another witch or wizard."

"That's why the laws were changed," Ginny's voice came from the doorway to the infirmary.

Both Neville and Daphne turned to face her, equal looks of surprise on their visages. She had entered the infirmary just before Neville spoke of whom had stopped Lestrange and had leaned against the doorframe as she listened to the conversation. Ginny laughed softly and walked to them, one hand automatically resting against the back of Neville's neck.

"That's why the laws were changed, because a wizard or witch, no matter if they were pure-blood or Muggle-born, would never think to use a Muggle weapon once they were able to cast spells. It's just not how they are taught. Hogwarts teaches us to think of magic when we are in a situation like that. The only reason that I thought to use a dagger was because I had talked to you about it beforehand, Daphne, and you had given me one."

"Why did you have one, Daphne?" Neville asked in genuine curiosity.

"My father. Since we couldn't use magic outside of school on the holidays, I had to have some way to protect Selena and I from him. I never used it, but I made sure she knew how to use it and where it was if something happened to me." Daphne paused and looked around the infirmary, noting several white dividers were up to hide some of the beds. "What happened to everyone else?"

"There wasn't too much damage done to our side. Professors Snape and Lupin were only knocked unconscious, but Madam Pomfrey is keeping Remus here another day and she won't say how long Professor Snape will have to stay. She said he did damage to his knee again by 'running around where he shouldn't have even thought to go'. Hermione and Ron are alright. They're both excused already as they didn't have any major injuries that needed any serious attention.

"Greg has a number of cuts on the left side of his face, parallel to the one he already had and none of us think it's mere coincidence as he was found near his father. He hasn't woken up yet, but Madam Pomfrey says that he'll be fine, though the scars will never go away. Pansy only had some gashes across one leg and a nasty bump on the head, but Madam Pomfrey says she should wake up fine in a few days.

"Vince lost the hearing in one ear completely, Madam Pomfrey says there's nothing that can be done for him except wear a magical hearing aid, though it won't be anything like Mad-Eye Moody's eye. The other ear only has partial hearing. He'll be disoriented when he wakes as everything will sound faint like it's at the end of a long tunnel."

"What about Draco? Please tell me he's not dead."

"No, he's not dead," Ginny looked away before quickly continuing. "His right ankle was twisted or something, rather like Professor Snape's knee. It can't be fixed and he'll have a permanent slight limp, but that's all. He hasn't awoken yet, but Madam Pomfrey said that he should soon. He was found by Harry and Voldemort, but no one knows what happened there. I don't think anyone will know until he wakes."

"Harry?"

"He's alive, but no one knows what's wrong with him. Madam Pomfrey is hoping that Draco can help with that once he wakes up. There's nothing wrong with him physically, but nothing is waking him, they've tried everything."

"Was anyone else hurt? You're keeping something from me. What else is wrong."

Ginny looked away and it was Neville who finally spoke. "There were a number of casualties on our side. Ginny's brother Percy, was killed. Professor Trelawney and Hagrid also didn't make it. There were some people from Beauxbatons that came to help. Do you remember Fleur Delacour? Her younger sister and her mother were both killed. She had married Ginny's brother Bill. The Headmistress, Hagrid's fiancée was killed as well. There were five members of the DA that didn't survive. Tracey and Blaise are fine, though. Fudge and Scrimgoer were killed before the battle even actually began. They tried to approach Voldemort for a treaty."

"Who else was killed. Neither of you will look me in the eye. Who was it?"

Ginny swallowed heavily, "Pansy's Mum and Greg's Mum. They came just after the battle started and were helping to defend the DA along with Vince's Mum. They didn't want the children in the middle of the fight and were trying to keep as many Death Eaters from getting too close as they could. The DA were sending spells over their heads to drop things like stones and furniture on the Death Eaters. That was how the five in the DA were killed. Shortly before Voldemort was killed some of them got to Pansy and Greg's Mum and then into the DA members. It was all Vince's Mum could do to keep them from killing any others before Voldemort was killed. The moment Harry killed Voldemort, every person that was marked collapsed screaming unless they were already unconscious as we think some of you were."

"Oh, poor Pans and Greg. Pans' Mum couldn't be a mother to her much because of her husband, but she still loved her. And Greg will be horrified. He worried that she would come and he didn't want her to. She'd been ill for the last few years and he was afraid she wouldn't be strong enough for a battle."

"She took so many down with her, Daphne. She was more than strong enough for the fight. She just wasn't able to defend against five spells sent at her in the same instant," a new voice said from the doorway and the three looked over to see a woman with light brown hair. She wasn't very tall and didn't look very strong, but the strength reflected in her eyes altered that opinion.

"Madam Caroline," Daphne acknowledged quietly. It had been many years since she had last seen Vince's mother.

"Hello, Daphne. Thank you for standing by them all. Vincent has always kept me as updated on things as he could before your spying was discovered. Gregory will need you when he awakens. Also, congratulations on both your bonding and your mother. She contacted me shortly after she was safely ensconced in the Longbottom home. Has any of the others woken yet, Mr. Longbottom?"

"No, ma'am. They are still asleep."

The woman nodded once, "I thought they might be. The Headmaster spoke of visitors possibly being allowed in a few more days once more of those in the infirmary have awoken and were okayed to leave by Madam Pomfrey. I do believe those staying at the Longbottom residence were the first on the list beyond those that are already in the castle." So saying, she smiled at the three before quietly leaving the infirmary once again.

"I'll tell Madam Pomfrey you're awake, Daphne," Ginny said quietly. "Then, you can get some food before you're expected to go back to sleep. You do know that she won't let you leave for at least a number of days, yet, right?"

\/\/\/\/\/

The first thing Vincent became consciously aware of was muffled sounds somewhere to his right that echoed in his ears. He tried opening his eyes, but flinched away from the light and all sound around him stopped for a moment. Then, from his left he heard someone speaking quietly near his ear and after a moment identified the voice as Daphne's through the echoing in his ears.

"We turned the lights down, Vin. Try opening your eyes again. Slowly, let them adjust. You've been unconscious for some time," she said and laid her hand gently on his arm to not frighten him.

Vincent's arm still jumped at the unexpected contact, but he didn't pull away. Slowly his eyes opened, blinking hard even though the light in the room was barely half the strength it had been. He tried to speak, but instead it came out as a breathy groan. Vincent saw movement out the corner of his right eye and turned to see Ron holding out a glass of water to him.

He took it with a shaky hand and knew he wouldn't be able to get it to his mouth without spilling it. Daphne reached over and wordlessly steadied it with a hand that was wrapped tightly in bandages. Carefully, he sipped at the liquid, glancing at the other people around him.

"What happened?" he asked quietly, when his mouth and throat were no longer dry.

Professor Snape entered his line of sight, his limp more pronounced than it had been before the final attack. "There weren't many casualties to our side. Several members of the DA didn't see the end of the fight and a few more are likely to join them soon. Madam Pomfrey expects Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Goyle, and Miss… Mrs. Crabbe to awaken within the next week."

"What about Professor Lupin, Neville, Ginny, Potter, and the others?" Vincent asked, trying to sit up. Daphne rolled her eyes at his efforts and moved to help him, knowing he wouldn't relax until he knew everything he wanted.

"We're fine, Vincent."

He looked across the aisle and saw Ginny sitting next to Neville's bed. Vincent saw Remus propped up in the bed next to Neville, looking none too worse for wear. On the other side of Neville's bed lay Draco, unconscious still, and beyond him a bed that had the curtains pulled around it.

"What happened to Potter?"

The others in the room avoided his eyes. From beside him Daphne watched the other's reactions and sighed, wondering why they were all so reluctant to tell first her, now Vincent what had all happened.

"Madam Pomfrey doesn't know what happened and no one else seems to have been anywhere near him when he killed the Snake, except maybe Draco, but he's still out. All she really knows is that Potter's exhausted. Mentally, physically, and magically. If he wakes at all, it will probably take quite a while."

Vincent nodded and after looking to his right to see Gregory and Pansy where they lay in the beds next to him, he laid back down and closed his eyes. The others thought he was asleep when he spoke again.

"Has Narcissa been in yet?"

Professor Snape answered the question, "Yes, she has… briefly. She said there was nothing to do for any of you but allow you to wake on your own. She didn't know anything that would help Potter, but she said she was going to try and find Morgana, whom seems to have disappeared. That was all she said before she left."

Vincent nodded, then was silent. The only sound he made were his even breaths that slowed and relaxed as he slipped into sleep once again.

\/\/\/\/\/

It was several hours later when he next awoke and this time there were no sounds in the room. He sat up carefully, not sure how badly he had been injured in the battle, and looked around. Across from him Neville was asleep in his bed, Ginny absent from his side. Draco and Remus were both asleep as well on either side of Neville. The curtain was still drawn around Harry's bed and nothing else in the infirmary appeared to have been changed. He looked to his side where Pansy lay and started when he saw Poppy walking towards him, already only a step or two from where he lay. He hadn't heard her coming when his head was turned away.

"Madam Pomfrey," Vincent greeter her, nodding.

Though to his own ears his voice was very quiet, Poppy gestured for him to be quieter when he spoke. She walked around to the left side of his bed and sat down in the vacant chair there.

"Mr. Crabbe, the combination of dark curses that hit you caused damage that, even with magic, is irreparable," Pomfrey began, but to Vincent her voice was still muffled, though not nearly so bad as if she was talking to him from the other side. "The damage was not widespread, but you may have already noticed what was affected."

"My hearing," Vincent answered quietly in what he heard was a bare whisper, but Poppy nodded, having heard the answer clearly.

"Yes, Mr. Crabbe. You will no longer be able to hear from your right ear at all. Your left ear was not nearly so damaged, but your hearing will not be the same as it once was," she answered his statement apologetically.

"I'll make do. At least I'm still alive. We didn't know if any of us would make it or not," Vincent said quietly.

"We'll all make do if we have each other," Daphne added.

The two turned towards Daphne's bed to see the other girl awake and watching them. She smiled at Vincent as though sharing a private joke and he nodded back, a smile tugging at his lips, but still hidden.

"There is an aid that we can give you for your ear. It will not allow as well of hearing as you once had, but it will pick up on normal and loud vibrations in the air. A medi-wizard recently created it for deafness that we can't fix. While it is not the best, it is better than what could have been done a few months ago," Madam Pomfrey said and nodded before she walked away to check on her other patients.

Vincent lay back down and tried not to think about his hearing, though he did look for and find the spark in his mind that he knew led to Pansy. He fell asleep sending thoughts of love towards the spark, not thinking it would do anything, but unwilling to allow his mind to wander anywhere else. No one saw the small smile that crept across Pansy's face as she slept, her dreams less troubled than they had been.

\/\/\/\/\/

There was no sound in the room when Gregory first woke and the light was reduced to a few large candles. He was confused about where he was and what had happened. Then, he felt the edge of the bed shift slightly under his hand. Gregory turned his heavy head and saw light brown hair half covering a face he knew by heart. Daphne's hand was resting lightly on his and he had the distinct feeling she hadn't let go of his hand until she had fallen asleep.

Lightly Gregory brushed back the hair and revealed more of her shadowed face. He caressed her cheek and was rewarded when she nuzzled his hand in her sleep, brining a small smile to his face. He covered the hand that lay near him and squeezed gently before he relaxed and fell back into a peaceful sleep.

\/\/\/\/\/

When next he woke, Daphne was no longer by his side, but the place where she had lain her head was still slightly warm and a small crystallized violet was beneath his hand. He picked up the delicate trinket and smiled softly.

"It's good to see you awake, Greg."

Vincent stood at the end of the bed, a strained look on his face. Greg nodded and tipped his head in a silent question. He sighed and looked towards the other side of the infirmary where two beds were surrounded by white curtains.

"Dragon and Harry haven't woken up yet. Neither has Pans, but Madam Pomfrey said it'd be any day now. She expects Dragon to wake soon, probably later today. Harry… They don't know if he'll ever wake," Vincent responded quietly.

"What else happened?" Gregory asked, his voice dry and scratchy.

"There were a few that were injured that we knew, but most of them have woken here or at St. Mungo's."

"How many died? You're not telling me everything."

"There were a number of deaths. Some we knew and some that we didn't. Pansy's mother is gone. She came for the fight. Greg, your mother was also here."

"No," Gregory breathed in shock, his eyes impossibly wide as he realized what Vincent hadn't said.

The other Slytherin nodded and could only watch helplessly as his friend slowly broke down. Neither noticed the infirmary door open until Daphne was at Gregory's side, wrapping her arms about him and holding her lover against herself as he released his grief. When he managed to calm himself a bit and was exhausted, Vincent offered him the only real comfort that could be found with words.

"You would be proud of her. She took down five Death Eaters before they could overwhelm her. She saved nearly twenty students, Greg."

Even through his grief and exhaustion, Gregory smiled. "Then she died how she always wanted to go, protecting the innocent. She told me it was the only way she'd ever forgive herself for what happened to me as a child, for what she couldn't protect me from. I hope she has found her peace."

"I'm sure she has, Greg," Daphne spoke quietly, holding tightly to his hand. "I'm sure she has."

Gregory relaxed against his pillow and let his exhaustion claim him. Vincent nodded to Daphne and returned to his own vigil at Pansy's side. It wasn't long before sleep claimed him as well and only Daphne remained awake to hear Draco's first stirrings. She quickly went to his side and took hold of one hand, patiently waiting for him to become aware of himself.

Draco groaned and turned his head to the side, eyes blinking half-way as they adjusted to the light in the infirmary. He looked up at Daphne before turning his head away slightly and coughing, his throat parched. Daphne took the glass from the bedside table and carefully helped Draco sip some of the cool liquid.

"Harry?" Draco asked, his mind still cloudly from the length of his rest.

Daphne smiled slightly at Draco's first question, "He's not woken up, yet. They don't now what's wrong with him. Your ankle was crushed somehow—"

"Lucius," Draco mumbled, interrupting his friend.

"Madam Pomfrey will need to know you're awake. I'll be back in a few moments."

\/\/\/\/\/

It wasn't much later that Draco was resting against his pillows as Madam Pomfrey's words swirled around in his head. The result of Lucius' final blow at his son would linger for the rest of Draco's life. His crushed ankle would never fully recover, even with the miracles of magic and he would forever walk with a limp. She also said that it was likely he would need a cane in the winter or during bad weather as the very mild ache he felt would become much stronger.

Draco's first thoughts on that was he would only use a cane when he had no other choice left. He would not do as his father did and carry the thing whether he needed it or not. He'd had too many encounters with the snake headed cane as a child to ever want anything to do with one unless there was no option left.

There had been nothing else permanently wrong with him, but Madam Pomfrey had informed him that he had come in with the worst surface wounds of anyone. She had been surprised when there were nearly no scars remaining from the many cuts and abrasions he'd had. Then, she reluctantly informed him of the injuries of his friends as they had all fallen asleep again, but she refused to tell him anything about Harry except that he had yet to awaken.

For nearly an hour afterwards Draco lay in his bed resting until Vincent awoke and told him what Madam Pomfrey had left out. Draco's eyes filled with tears, though they didn't fall, as Vincent told him about Harry and what Narcissa had said. The blond only hoped that his ancestor returned soon so he may speak with her. When Vincent returned to Pansy's side, Draco started to plan to himself until sleep claimed him again, only hoping that what he was planning would work.

Reviews are appreciated.