'sszavuutet eSSet a midot nemr Tesara xiinova nissova'

They were in the hospital wing, Theodore being tended to for his bloody face and Harry gathering information from the Order. Lupin and Sirius were there and several other members of the Order as well as some students.

"What happened?"

"Well," Lupin ran a hand through his hair. "Apparently, some of the students decided to get involved."

Dean spoke up venomously. "Yeah, we figured out it was you and your Slytherin pals who took our map, so we spotted Nott in the hall and got it back."

"Attacked me is more correct." Theodore spat, but winced as Madam Pomfrey worked on him.

"And then we saw that Malfoy was up to no good and there were Death Eaters in the place." Seamus put in. "But you and Dumbledore were nowhere to be found."

Harry looked over to Ronald, face covered in scars that mutilated his face beyond recognition. "What about him?"

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

"But he wasn't bitten at the full moon." Bill asked hopefully. "Greyback hadn't transformed, so surely Ron won't be a...a real...?"

"No, I don't think that Ron will be a true werewolf." Lupin told him. "But that does not mean that there won't be some contamination. Those are cursed wounds. They are unlikely ever to heal fully, and...and Ron might have some wolfish characteristics from now on."

"Dumbledore might know something that'd work though." Bill turned to Harry. "Where is he? Ron fought those maniacs. Dumbledore owes him, he can't leave him in this state..."

"Dumbledore's dead." Harry murmured.

"No!" Lupin looked at Harry wildly and then collapsed into a chair. All around Harry people had gasped, horrified, and stared at him in disbelief.

"How did he die?" Tonks whispered. "How did it happen?"

"Snape killed him." Harry murmured. "I was there, I saw it. We arrived back on the Astronomy Tower because that's where the Mark was...Dumbledore was ill, he was weak, but I think he realized it was a trap when we heard footsteps running up the stairs. He immobilized me. I couldn't do anything. I was under the Invisibility Cloak...and then Malfoy came through the door and disarmed him..."

Hermione gasped and Dean groaned as Seamus whispered, "I knew it."

"...more Death Eaters arrived...and then Snape...and Snape did it. The Avada Kedavra."

"I told you!" Sirius was suddenly roaring. "I told you all over and over again! How could we trust Snape? How could he trust him? I knew the truth! He was a traitor! He never turned to our side!"

"Shut up!" Harry was on his feet. "Just shut up, Sirius!"

"Harry!" Lupin also stood.

"Oh, you're going to defend your precious teacher even though he's betrayed us?" Sirius was snarling. "Slytherins really do stick up for each other through and through."

"Shut up!" Harry roared. "I don't want to hear anymore about it!"

"Did you help him?" Sirius was growling and Lupin gasped at him. "Did you help weaken Dumbledore so that when Snape came along it'd be easier?"

"Don't you dare accuse him!" Theodore had shoved Madam Pomfrey away. "He's as innocent as any of you!"

"What is the meaning of this?" McGonagall asked as she came in, looking older than she had ever looked. "Bill, Molly and Arthur are on their way." She then turned swiftly to Harry. "Harry, what happened? According to Hagrid you were with Professor Dumbledore when he...when it happened. He says Professor Snape was involved in some..."

"Snape killed Dumbledore." Harry mumbled."

She stared at him for a moment and then began to fall, but Pomfrey was able to conjure a chair to catch her. "Snape...we all wondered...but he trusted...always...Snape...I can't believe it..."

"Snape was a highly accomplished Occlumens." Lupin informed them. "We always knew that."

"Funny." Sirius was suddenly glaring at Harry and Theodore. "I think I'm noticing some things in common. Slytherin and Occlumens."

"You don't seriously believe that these two boys were involved?" McGonagall gave Sirius a dark look. "In particular Potter?"

"Dumbledore trusts Harry!" Tonks turned to Sirius, eyes wide.

"He trusted Snape too, didn't he?" Sirius shot out. "And look where it got him?"

"Sirius!" Lupin yelped. "Harry is not working for the Dark Lord!"

"And what about his little friend?" Sirius gave a nod towards Theodore. "How are we to trust him?"

"Yeah!" Dean agreed. "We know he was friends with Malfoy and Malfoy went off with the Death Eaters."

"I trust Theodore." Harry found himself in front of the other boy.

"And you trusted Snape!" Sirius barked.

"We all trusted Snape!" Lupin put out a protective arm between Sirius and Harry. "Well, maybe, not you, Sirius, but most of us. We trusted Dumbledore's judgment, but we can't start pointing fingers at everyone Dumbledore trusted otherwise we're all going to be split apart because he trusted each of us! And you can't go by them being Slytherin because look at Pettigrew! He was a Gryffindor and our friend!"

Harry had never felt more appreciative of Lupin than in this moment.

"He was a special case!" Sirius argued.

"And maybe Harry and Theodore are special cases too." Lupin didn't seem about to budge. "Now, he is your godson..."

"He is no godson of mine!"

"Sirius!" McGonagall gasped.

"I thought you said colors didn't matter to you?" Lupin said dryly, face suddenly empty of emotion. "I thought you said that it was all right that Harry was in Slytherin. Well, I guess, you could never accept your brother, so how could you accept the son of your best friend."

Sirius simply glared at Lupin.

"Fine." Lupin straightened. "If you don't want to be Harry's godfather then I will be. I stand by Harry. I believe him."

The finality of his voice silenced Sirius, who stalked into a corner and stood there, scowling at everyone while Tonks came over to comfort him.

McGongall began to go on about this all being her fault while Theodore took his seat, pulling Harry over with him. Lupin comforted her, reassuring her it indeed wasn't her fault. Through everyone's input, Harry was able to get a grasp of exactly what had happened. Afterwards, Harry was asked to the Headmaster's office with McGonagall while Hagrid gathered the Heads of Houses with Slughorn representing Slytherin. McGonagall wanted to know what it was Dumbledore had been up to, but Harry refused to tell her. Then the Heads of Houses had decided what to do with the students, which was let them attend Dumbledore's Funeral as it would be what he and the students wanted. And then they would decide over the holidays whether or not to open the school the following year.

Before the Minister could arrive, Harry slipped out and found Theodore waiting for him down the hall. They went to the Owlry where Harry forced Theodore to make an Unbreakable Vow not to share the information he was about to learn with anyone. Afterwards, Harry told him everything about what he had been up to and how he needed to destroy these Horcruxe, including the fake Horcrux he had collected that night with Dumbledore. They opened it and found the note left by R.A.B., whom Theodore instantly figured was Regulus Black, Sirius' brother, who undoubtedly had figured it out somehow and gone to destroy the Horcrux and brought it back to Grimmauld Place. He had clearly failed and died as well. Then Harry said he needed Theodore's help more than ever now, but he needed to know that he could trust Theodore. After the story had been told, Theo was very quiet for a long time, contemplating the position he was in.

"Harry..." He began after a long time. "I...am a Death Eater. If he calls me, I must go. If he knows I am working with you..."

"You are a skilled Occlumens and can hide your thoughts from him." Harry told him factually. "If you really meant what you said last year..."

"Meant it." Theodore nodded, eyes revealing a tinge of emotion. "More than anything I have ever said: I meant that."

"Then prove it." Harry begged.

Theo hesitated a moment and then pulled out his wand. "Expecto Patronum..."

The tension Harry had felt at seeing the wand dissipated as the silver mist of the spell morphed and flitted around them, disturbing the owls who were trying to land in the early morning light. Finally, Harry recognized it and turned back to Theodore.

"A falcon."

"Yours." Theo mumbled. "Don't know if you know, but Patronuses change when...the feeling is strong. If you l-love someone...and mine has changed."

Harry's throat hurt and he gave a singular nod. "That's all the proof I need...but Theodore, I need your help. I can't do this alone."

"Any number of that Order would help you. They'd love to." Theodore told him. "Don't want to risk..."

"I can't..." Harry shook his head. "I can't trust them like I do you."

"Can't trust me, Harry. How can you ever trust me? Betrayed you."

"I love you." Harry's confidence radiated through his voice. "And I know you love me."

Theodore looked away, gave a momentary shudder, and then hung his head. "Harry..."

"Help me defeat him." Harry insisted. "Please..."

Giving a sigh, Theodore looked Harry in the eyes and said, "Only if you Legilimens me, Harry. Want you to know."

"You want me to know what?"

"The truth." Theodore said. "I want you to know that I am on your side."

"You just told me you were." Harry gave a nervous smile. "I trust you."

"Shouldn't..."

"But I do." Harry stated with even more conviction. "Help me, Theodore, or I do this alone."

The funeral for Dumbledore was perfect in the sense that Dumbledore himself probably would have loved it. Though Harry was upset, he still was able to smile a few times as he recalled pleasant memories, and he cried a little silently to himself. Finally, it was all over and he went back up to the castle with Theo where he ran into Arthur Weasley, who, despite everything and the rumors Sirius was now spreading, still invited both boys to come to his house for Bill and Fleur's wedding as it would be a pleasure to have them. Theodore told Harry the probably should as it'd give them (more Theo) time to get ready for their great adventure next year. Harry agreed, only because he knew he was already pushing Theodore hard enough.

At the top of the Astronomy Tower, overlooking the castle grounds, Harry tried to find comfort in the fact that one day he could come back and finish his schooling at Hogwarts because one day there would be no more Dark Lord. One day, he would be free of the prophecy and Theodore of the Dark Mark and everything would be as it should have been.

Theodore placed his hand gently over Harry's and the other Slytherin looked up at the taller boy.

"Are going to make it." Theodore gave a reassuring smile and then returned his own gaze out at the lake and forest and sky. "Well, maybe."

All Harry could do was laugh lightly and give the other boy's hand a hopeful squeeze.

Translation: 'Leave here and go where tears never fall' - a final farewell