Sorry this chapter is so late, life has gotten in the way, and I haven't been able to write much. Plus, I didn't want to post anything sub par. Trust and believe I am not giving up on this. I'm almost out of Half Blood Prince. I can't stop now lol.

So this chapter is basically going to be overlapping the time where Harry is with Dumbledore, and while Harry is in the tower.

I really hope to get this right. Imma try to make it as action packed as I can. I'm still no good at battles.

Chapter 184: The Infiltration

Hermione and I looked at each other in a stunned silence. We had no idea what to even do, or even to think about wanting to follow Malfoy.

"What do you think we should do?" Hermione asked me.

I shrugged. As much as I thought that Harry had officially gone off the bend, I couldn't help but have a sinking feeling that something wasn't right.

"I guess use the coin to call D.A. members to Gryffindor Tower and we I'll go from there. I'll check the map."

While Hermione went to get her D.A coin, I sat down, opened the map, and tapped it.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." I said. Instantly, the layout of the school appeared. I scanned it to find Malfoy's name, which I had ended up seeing for only a few seconds on the seventh floor near the Room Of Requirement before it disappeared, meaning he more than likely went into it. At the spot where he had disappeared, I seen Crabbe, Goyle, and Warrington's names floating around.

A minute later, Hermione came down the steps, fiddling with the side of her D.A. coin. "This is a long shot because the lot of them probably don't carry them anymore."

Fifteen minutes later, the portrait door swung open and in came Neville, Luna, and Ginny. The all looked as if they had been running.

"What's the hubbub?" asked Neville.

I groaned. "So it's just you three who had them, yeah?"

"Well don't look too happy to see us." said Ginny, rolling her eyes.

"Are we going on another mission?" asked Luna with a bit too much enthusiasm.

My eyes went back to the map, where I seen Snape walking up from the dungeons. "We need to be on alert tonight." I said. "Harry has a suspicion that Malfoy is going to try something. Right now he is in the Room Of Requirement, so we need to go and see what's going on."

I quickly pulled the Felix Felices back out of Harry's sock and passed it to Ginny. "All of you take a swig of this. We're going to need it."

Neville looked uneasy as Ginny took a swig and passed the vial to him. He took a swig and passed it to Luna, who did the same and passed it to Hermione.

"It's not enough for the both of us, Ron." said Hermione in a scared voice. "I don't-"

"Just take it! I make my own luck, remember?" I said with more confidence in my voice than what I felt.

Hermione sighed and took careful sip. I would have preferred her drink the rest, but she sipped it until she left an even amount for me, be is a small amount. I reluctantly took the bottle and drank the rest.

I felt an instant sort of pride and great feeling wash over me. I felt like I could take on the world. I could even kiss Hermione without thinking of repercussions.

"Right." I said, taking charge of the situation immediately. "Luna, Hermione, you two go and alert McGonagall, as well as keep an eye on Snape. Ginny, Neville, and I will go up to the seventh floor.

Everyone gave a confident nod and headed in the directions of my instructions. Neville marched ahead, his entire body radiating confidence and valor, as if he had become a soldier in a matter of minutes.

When we got to the tapestry on the seventh floor, nothing looked out of place, which made everything seem even more ominous. We all took out our wands and looked around the darkness with Neville keeping the light on his wand low.

"So what do we do?" asked Ginny.

"We wait, of course." I said, leaning against the wall, my wand still in my hand.

About an hour later, a door materialized out of nowhere. We ran and hid behind a pillar, anxious to see what would happen. Soon we saw Malfoy come out the door, holding what looked like a mummified hand that had been chopped off his owner.

And he wasn't alone.

"Is that-" Ginny began to whisper. I quickly put my hand over her mouth, but unfortunately, Malfoy had heard her. Suddenly, the corridor went pitch black and smoky. The darkness felt as thick as Mum's pea soup.

We heard a rush of footsteps and then an unmistakable cackle.

"Bellatrix!" I heard Neville growl.

We tried to literally move the darkness around so we could see. Ginny even used a spell to try to blow it away. Nothing. We had to stand for a good five minutes until we could see again, and by that time, Malfoy was nowhere to be found.

"Come on, we got to find Hermione and Luna." I said, taking off.

We ran as fast as we could down the stairs. When we got to the entrance hall, we ran right into Lupin and Tonks.

"Ron, what's th-"

"DEATH EATERS!" I yelled. "MALFOY LET THEM IN!"

Lupin and Tonks looked almost terrified as they sprang into action, running towards where we had came. Neville and Ginny decided to run back with them while I went to find Hermione and Luna.

I ignored a frantic Flitwick as he ran past me yelling about the Death Eaters. Something kept telling me to go back in the other direction, as if some unknown force was trying to guide me. So, I turned around and headed back the way I came.

When I got to the second floor, all hell broke loose. There were curses and hexes flying this way and that. It seemed as if things were happening in slow motion, and that Ginny, Neville, and I were barely missing getting hit by anything.

Suddenly, I saw my brother Bill, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. He yelled at Ginny and I to seek shelter, however, we didn't listen to him.

It seemed as if the hexes the Death Eaters were throwing our way refused to connect with us, even without us dodging them left and right. Suddenly, something moved and attacked my brother, quick as lightning.

"BILL! NOOOOOOO!" screamed Ginny at the top of her lungs. She ran towards whom I identified as Greyback the werewolf. I lunged at her, grabbing her by the waist and dragged her off.

"RON STOP IT! LET GO OF ME! HE'LL KILL HIM!" Ginny protested as she struggled in my arms.

"HE WILL KILL YOU TOO, LET'S GO!" I yelled, almost having to hold Ginny like she was one of those balls the people in Dean's posters hold. Finally she stopped struggling long enough for me to put her down, and she ran with me to find Hermione and Luna once again.

The battle between the school and Death Eaters raged on. For awhile, it had seemed to let up, but only for about 15 minutes. Then, chaos once again. By that time, the effects of the Felix Felicis has worn off on Neville, as he had been knocked out by a hex. Knocked out was much better than dead.

The Dark Mark illuminated the sky, casting an eerie green glow over the school. Eventually, things had calmed down, and the Death Eaters had left the school.

I helped the others bring some of the injured to the hospital wing, where Madam Pomfrey quickly got to work, especially on Bill. He had survived, however, he had been bitten, and his face had been horribly slashed. Madam Pomfrey was dabbing at his wounds with some harsh-smelling green ointment.

A few minutes later, Harry came bursting through the wing doors along with Ginny. Hermione ran to Harry and hugged him; Lupin moved forward too, looking anxious.

"Are you alright, Harry?"

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

None of us answered. Harry looked over Hermione's shoulder and took a look at Bill, trying hard to hide the disgust and hurt from his face. It didn't work.

"Can't you fix them with a charm or something?" he asked.

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

"But he wasn't bitten at the full moon," I said, gazing down into my brother's face as though I could somehow force his face to mend just by staring. "Greyback hadn't transformed, so surely Bill won't be a-a real-?"

I looked uncertainly at Lupin. He would know. He had to know.

"No, I don't think that Bill will be a true werewolf," said Lupin, "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 Bill might have some wolfish characteristics from now on."

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

"Ron-Dumbledore's dead," said Ginny.

I felt as if I had been hit in the gut with a bludger. Dumbledore, the greatest wizard the world has ever had...dead? I couldn't wrap my head around the thought. It has to be some sort of sick joke.

But when I looked over at Harry's face, I could see.

"No!" yelled Lupin, collapsing into a chair beside Bill's bed, his hands over his face.

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

"Snape killed him," said Harry (everyone gasped). "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 clapped her hands to her mouth and I groaned. Luna's mouth trembled.

"-more Death Eaters arrived-and then Snape-and Snape did it. The Avada Kedavra." Harry couldn't go on.

Madam Pomfrey burst into tears. Nobody paid her any attention except Ginny, who whispered, "Shhh! Listen!"

Gulping, Madam Pomfrey pressed her fingers to her mouth, her eyes wide. Somewhere out in the darkness, a phoenix was singing: a stricken lament of terrible beauty. It was Fawkes, and the sound of him in mourning made me want to break down and cry. It also brought a strange comfort.

It felt like ages that we listened to Fawkes song. No one said a word. Then later, the hospital door opened again and Professor McGonagall entered the ward. Like all the rest of us, she bore marks of the recent battle: there were grazes on her face and her robes were ripped.

"Molly and Arthur are on their way," she said, and the spell of the music was broken."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," said Harry.

She stared at him for a moment, then swayed alarmingly; Madam Pomfrey, who seemed to have pulled herself together, ran forward, conjuring a chair from thin air, which she pushed under McGonagall.

"Snape," repeated McGonagall faintly, falling into the chair. "We all wondered... but he trusted... always... Snape... I can't believe it..."

"Snape was a highly accomplished Occlumens," said Lupin, his voice harsh. "We always knew that."

"But Dumbledore swore he was on our side!" whispered Tonks. "I always thought Dumbledore must know something about Snape that we didn't..." .

"He always hinted that he had an ironclad reason for trusting Snape," muttered Professor McGonagall, now dabbing at the corners of her leaking eyes with a handkerchief. "I mean... with Snape's history ... of course people were bound to wonder... but Dumbledore told me explicitly that Snape's repentance was absolutely genuine... wouldn't hear a word against him!"

"I'd love to know what Snape told him to convince him," said Tonks.

"I know," said Harry, and we all turned to look at him. "Snape passed Voldemort the information that made Voldemort hunt down my mum and dad. Then Snape told Dumbledore he hadn't realized what he was doing, he was really sorry he'd done it, sorry that they were dead."

"And Dumbledore believed that?" said Lupin incredulously. "Dumbledore believed Snape was sorry James was dead? Snape hated James..."

"And he didn't think my mother was worth a damn either," said Harry, "because she was Muggle-born... 'Mudblood,' he called her..."

"This is all my fault," said Professor McGonagall suddenly. She looked disoriented, twisting her wet handkerchief in her hands. "My fault. I sent Filius to fetch Snape tonight, I actually sent for him to come and help us! If I hadn't alerted Snape to what was going on, he might never have joined forces with the Death Eaters. I don't think he knew they were there before Filius told him, I don't think he knew they were coming."

"It isn't your fault, Minerva," said Lupin firmly. "We all wanted more help, we were glad to think Snape was on his way..."

"So when he arrived at the fight, he joined in on the Death Eaters' side?" asked Harry.

"I don't know exactly how it happened," said Professor McGonagall distractedly. "It's all so confusing... Dumbledore had told us that he would be leaving the school for a few hours and that we were to patrol the corridors just in case... Remus, Bill, and Nymphadora were to join us ... and so we patrolled. All seemed quiet. Every secret passageway out of the school was covered. We knew nobody could fly in. There were powerful enchantments on every entrance into the castle. I still don't know how the Death Eaters can possibly have entered..."

"I do," said Harry, and he explained, briefly, about the pair of Vanishing Cabinets and the magical pathway they formed. "So they got in through the Room of Requirement."

"I messed up, Harry," I said with a heavy sigh. "We did like you told us: we checked the Marauder's Map and we couldn't see Malfoy on it, so we thought he must be in the Room of Requirement, so me, Ginny, and Neville went to keep watch on it... but Malfoy got past us."

"He came out of the Room about an hour after we started keeping watch," said Ginny. "He was on his own, clutching that awful shriveled arm-"

"His Hand of Glory," I said. "Gives light only to the holder, remember?"

"Anyway," Ginny went on, "he must have been checking whether the coast was clear to let the Death Eaters out, because the moment he saw us he threw something into the air and it all went pitch-black-"

"-Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder," I scoffed. "Fred and George's. I'm going to be having a word with them about who they let buy their products."

"We tried everything, Lumos, Incendio," said Ginny. "Nothing would penetrate the darkness; all we could do was grope our way out of the corridor again, and meanwhile we could hear people rushing past us. Obviously Malfoy could see because of that hand thing and was guiding them, but we didn't dare use any curses or anything in case we hit each other, and by the time we'd reached a corridor that was light, they'd gone."

"Luckily," said Lupin hoarsely, "Ron, Ginny, and Neville ran into us almost immediately and told us what had happened. We found the Death Eaters minutes later, heading in the direction of the Astronomy Tower. Malfoy obviously hadn't expected more people to be on the watch; he seemed to have exhausted his supply of Darkness Powder, at any rate. A fight broke out, they scattered and we gave chase. One of them, Gibbon, broke away and headed up the tower stairs-"

"To set off the Mark?" asked Harry.

"He must have done, yes, they must have arranged that before they left the Room of Requirement," said Lupin. "But I don't think Gibbon liked the idea of waiting up there alone for Dumbledore, because he came running back downstairs to rejoin the fight and was hit by a Killing Curse that just missed me."

"So if Ron was watching the Room of Requirement with Ginny and Neville," said Harry, turning to Hermione, "were you-?"

"Outside Snape's office, yes," whispered Hermione, her eyes sparkling with tears, "with Luna. We hung around for ages outside it and nothing happened... we didn't know what was going on upstairs, Ron had taken the map ... it was nearly midnight when Professor Flitwick came sprinting down into the dungeons. He was shouting about Death Eaters in the castle, I don't think he really registered that Luna and I were there at all, he just burst his way into Snape's office and we heard him saying that Snape had to go back with him and help and then we heard a loud thump and Snape came hurtling out of his room and he saw us and-and-"

"What?" Harry urged her.

"I was so stupid, Harry!" said Hermione in a high-pitched whisper. "He said Professor Flitwick had collapsed and that we should go and take care of him while he-while he went to help fight the Death Eaters-"

She covered her face in shame and continued to talk into her fingers, so that her voice was muffled. "We went into his office to see if we could help Professor Flitwick and found him unconscious on the floor... and oh, it's so obvious now, Snape must have Stupefied Flitwick, but we didn't realize, Harry, we didn't realize, we just let Snape go!"

"It's not your fault," said Lupin firmly. "Hermione, had you not obeyed Snape and got out of the way, he probably would have killed you and Luna."

"So then he came upstairs," said Harry, "and he found the place where you were all fighting..."

"We were in trouble, we were losing," said Tonks in a low voice. "Gibbon was down, but the rest of the Death Eaters seemed ready to fight to the death. Neville had been hurt, Bill had been savaged by Greyback... it was all dark... curses flying everywhere... the Malfoy boy had vanished, he must have slipped past, up the stairs... then more of them ran after him, but one of them blocked the stairs behind them with some kind of curse... Neville ran at it and got thrown up into the air-"

"None of us could break through," I chimed in, "and that massive Death Eater was still firing off jinxes all over the place, they were bouncing off the walls and barely missing us..."

"And then Snape was there," said Tonks, "and then he wasn't-"

"I saw him running toward us, but that huge Death Eater's jinx just missed me right afterward and I ducked and lost track of things," said Ginny.

"I saw him run straight through the cursed barrier as though it wasn't there," said Lupin. "I tried to follow him, but was thrown back just like Neville..."

"He must have known a spell we didn't," whispered McGonagall. "After all-he was the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher... I just assumed that he was in a hurry to chase after the Death Eaters who'd escaped up to the tower..."

"He was," said Harry savagely, "but to help them, not to stop the... and I'll bet you had to have a Dark Mark to get through that barrier-so what happened when he came back down?"

"Well, the big Death Eater had just fired off a hex that caused half the ceiling to fall in, and also broke the curse blocking the stairs," said Lupin. "We all ran forward-those of us who were still standing anyway-and then Snape and the boy emerged out of the dust-obviously, none of us attacked them-"

"We just let them pass," said Tonks in a hollow voice. "We thought they were being chased by the Death Eaters-and next thing, the other Death Eaters and Greyback were back and we were fighting again-I thought I heard Snape shout something, but I don't know what-"

"He shouted, 'It's over,'" said Harry. "He'd done what he'd meant to do."

We all fell silent. Fawkes's lament was still echoing over the dark grounds outside.

The doors of the hospital wing burst open, making them all jump: Mum and Dad came rushing in, followed by a terrified looking Fleur.

"Molly-Arthur-" said Professor McGonagall, jumping up and hurrying to greet them. "I am so sorry-"

"Bill," whispered Mum, darting past Professor McGonagall as she caught sight of Bill's mangled face. "Oh, Bill!"

Lupin and Tonks had got up hastily and retreated so that Mum and Dad could get nearer to the bed. Mum bent over Bill and pressed her lips to his bloody forehead.

"You said Greyback attacked him?" Dad asked Professor McGonagall distractedly. "But he hadn't transformed? So what does that mean? What will happen to Bill?"

"We don't yet know," said Professor McGonagall, looking helplessly at Lupin.

"There will probably be some contamination, Arthur," said Lupin. "It is an odd case, possibly unique... we don't know what his behavior might be like when he awakens..."

Mum took the nasty-smelling ointment from Madam Pomfrey and began dabbing at Bill's wounds.

"And Dumbledore ..." said Dad "Minerva, is it true ... is he really...?"

Professor McGonagall nodded. I looked over at Fleur, who was gazing down at Bill with a frozen expression on her face.

"Dumbledore gone," whispered Dad, but Mum had eyes only for her eldest son; she began to sob, tears falling onto Bill's mutilated face.

"Of course, it doesn't matter how he looks... it's not r-really important... but he was a very handsome little b-bo... always very handsome... and he was g-going to be married!"

"And what do you mean by zat?" said Fleur suddenly and loudly. "What do you mean, 'he was going to be married?'"

Mum raised her tear-stained face, looking startled. "Well-only that-"

"You theenk Bill will not wish to marry me anymore?" demanded Fleur. "You theenk, because of these bites, he will not love me?"

"No, that's not what I-"

"Because 'e will!" said Fleur, drawing herself up to her full height and throwing back her long mane of silver hair. "It would take more zan a werewolf to stop Bill loving me!"

"Well, yes, I'm sure," said Mum, "but I thought perhaps-given how-how he-"

"You thought I would not weesh to marry him? Or per'aps, you hoped?" said Fleur, her nostrils flaring. "What do I care how he looks? I am good-looking enough for both of us, I theenk! All these scars show is zat my husband is brave! And I shall do zat!" she added fiercely, pushing Mum aside and snatching the ointment from her.

Mum fell back against her husband and watched Fleur mopping up Bill's wounds with a most curious expression upon her face. Nobody said anything. I braced myself for the explosion that I knew was coming.

"Our Great-Auntie Muriel," said Mum after a long pause, "has a very beautiful tiara-goblin-made-which I am sure I could persuade her to lend you for the wedding. She is very fond of Bill, you know, and it would look lovely with your hair."

"Thank you," said Fleur stiffly. "I am sure zat will be lovely."

And then, so surprising, it scared me, both women were crying and hugging each other. I was stunned, but in a sense, felt much better. Looks like there was hope for the two of them.

"You see!" said a strained voice. Tonks was glaring at Lupin. "She still wants to marry him, even though he's been bitten! She doesn't care!"

I snapped my eyes in their direction. Tonks and Lupin?

"It's different," said Lupin, barely moving his lips and looking suddenly tense. "Bill will not be a full werewolf. The cases are completely-"

"But I don't care either, I don't care!" said Tonks, seizing the front of Lupin's robes and shaking them. "I've told you a million times..."

"And I've told you a million times," said Lupin, refusing to meet her eyes, staring at the floor, "that I am too old for you, too poor... too dangerous..."

"I've said all along you're taking a ridiculous line on this, Remus," said Mum over Fleur's shoulder as she patted her on the back.

"I am not being ridiculous," said Lupin steadily. "Tonks deserves somebody young and whole."

"But she wants you," said Dad, with a small smile. "And after all, Remus, young and whole men do not necessarily remain so."

He gestured sadly at his son, lying between them.

"This is... not the moment to discuss it," said Lupin, avoiding all of our eyes as he looked around distractedly. "Dumbledore is dead. ..."

"Dumbledore would have been happier than anybody to think that there was a little more love in the world," said Professor McGonagall curtly, just as the hospital doors opened again and Hagrid walked in.

The little of his face that was not obscured by hair or beard was soaking and swollen; he was shaking with tears, a vast, spotted handkerchief in his hand.

"I've... I've done it, Professor," he choked. "M-moved him. Professor Sprout's got the kids back in bed. Professor Flitwick's lyin down, but he says he'll be all righ' in a jiffy, an' Professor Slughorn says the Ministry's bin informed."

"Thank you, Hagrid," said Professor McGonagall, standing up at once and turning to look at the group around Bill's bed. "I shall have to see the Ministry when they get here. Hagrid, please tell the Heads of Houses-Slughorn can represent Slytherin- that I want to see them in my office forthwith. I would like you to join us too."

As Hagrid nodded, turned, and shuffled out of the room again, she looked down at Harry. "Before I meet them I would like a quick word with you, Harry. If you'll come with me..."

Harry stood up, murmured "See you in a bit" to Hermione, Ginny, and I, and followed Professor McGonagall back down the ward.

I looked back over at Bill. I had never seen Bill in a position like this. And to not know what was to become of him? It scared me. Bill had always been there for me when I needed him. Always been there to show me what to do and encourage me to do the right things. Would he become a werewolf now? Would he have to live the life that Lupin did? Would I be able to help take care of him? I would do anything for my big brother.

"You lot okay?" asked Mum as she walked over to Hermione, Ginny, and I, and hugged us all.

None of us said anything. We simply nodded. Mum wiped a tear that had made it's way out of Ginny's eye and down her cheek.

"He will be all right." said Mum, probably more to herself than us. "You know how Bill is. He's strong. He's a strong man. Remember when he broke his leg?"

"This isn't like his leg, Mum." said Ginny, in a harsh voice.

"I know Ginny dear, I know." said Mum, sniffling. "Now, Ron see to it that you and Hermione get to bed. Ginny, I need to talk to you."

I nodded and walked with Hermione out of the hospital wing.

"Why did she want Ginny to stay?" asked Hermione, as she looped her arm with mine.

"My guess is that she's probably mad that Ginny was fighting too." I said. "She went off the deep end last year with that whole ministry nonsense."

"Oh." said Hermione, almost in a whisper.

"Are you okay?" I asked her.

"I..."Hermione hesitated."Are you okay?"

"I asked you first."

"I'll be okay if you're okay." said Hermione, stopping.

I turned her her and drew her close for a hug. Her face crashed into my chest, and I felt her body shaking as she started to cry. I placed my head on top of hers, trying to find some way to comfort her. But how could I do that when I was fucked up myself?

"I'm not okay." I admitted. I felt Hermione nod, and her squeeze my sides with her arms. I tightened my hold on her as well, allowing a few tears to fall and disappear in her hair, which she didn't seem to mind.

We stayed like that for awhile, and then made our way quietly to Gryffindor tower. Hermione went to bed, and I went to my dorm.

When I got there, Seamus and Dean were in their beds. How they were sleeping, I had no idea. They must have not known everything that had taken place.

An hour later, Harry came into the dorm, looking sat down on his four-poster and for a moment, we simply stared at each other.

"They're talking about closing the school," said Harry.

"Lupin said they would."

There was a pause.

"So?" I said in a very low and hesitant voice. "Did you find one? Did you get it? A-a Horcrux?"

Harry shook his head.

"You didn't get it? It wasn't there?"

"No," said Harry. "Someone had already taken it and left a fake in its place."

"Already taken-?"

Wordlessly, Harry pulled a locket from his pocket, opened it, and passed it to me. I took out the small folded piece of parchment and read.

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 have 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.

"R.A.B.," I whispered, "but who was that?"

"Dunno," said Harry, lying back on his bed, staring blankly upwards.

I folded the piece of parchment back up and put it in the locket. I could tell that Harry had nothing else he wanted to say tonight.