A/N ~ PLEASE I really couldn't think of a better title. Also, only 2 chapters left until we enter our final year *sheds bittersweet tear*

Enjoy the chapter iykyk :)

CW: Blood.

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Y/N scrambled in the darkness, trying to find her friends while attempting to cast Lumos with her wand, but failing miserably.

"Good job, Draco..." she heard Bellatrix say, somewhere around the entrance of the Room of Requirements.

About a dozen footsteps rumbled the corridor as Death Eaters filed out from the room and followed Malfoy's lead out of the pitch-black corridor.

Y/N stood absolutely still and waited until the last footstep went inaudible, and when she was sure they were well gone, she called into the darkness,

"You all still in here?"

"Here," Said Ron and Neville's voice from her left, both sounded terrified but solid.

"I'm here," Said Ginny, not so far away behind her.

"Is anyone hurt?" Y/N asked, and they all mumbled a no. "Right, stay where you are until the darkness clears off."

It wasn't long before the darkness around them faded away, revealing the seventh floor corridor again.

Y/N looked at Ginny, Ron, and Neville and could see the same horrified look on their faces, which she probably had on too.

"What happens now?" Neville asked in a low voice, glancing at Y/N hesitantly.

They all knew what they were about to face.

Y/N tried to gather her thoughts, brainstorming loopholes, but deep down she knew the only right thing to do.

"We fight," she replied weakly.

It was the answer Ron, Ginny, and Neville had expected but was not prepared for.

"We should alert the professors," said Ginny, her voice shaking slightly. "and the Order. I'll go get-"

"No, Ginny, you stick with Neville and Y/N," Ron said fiercely. "I'll alert the professors. We don't know where the Death Eaters are heading to, it's best if you stay put- no, listen-"

"No, you listen!" Ginny roared, stepping forwards. Ron was so taken aback that he fell silent. "You're right- we can't waste any more time- we have to go after the Death Eaters- we have to go fight- now,"

"I agree," said Y/N. "If the professors don't know by now, it might be too late. Our best hope is ourselves. But I'll understand if any of you want to stay behind-"

"We're going to fight and we're going to fight together, Y/N," Neville said confidently, gripping his wand determinedly.

"Dumbledore's Army wasn't for nothing, was it?" said Ron.

"Yes, no one will stay behind," said Ginny.

"Alright," Y/N huffed, "We'll have to go right now-"

Her words were cut off by a loud and echoing crash from somewhere below them, followed by a horribly wicked cackle.

As if hell has broken loose, Y/N suddenly heard the sounds of shouts, spells, and scatters burst out from every direction.

That meant one thing- people from their side had found the Death Eaters.

"Death Eaters! Death Eaters in the castle!"

"This way, Minerva!" yelled the faint voice of Nymphadora Tonks, from somewhere below.

Tonks was there. Y/N didn't waste any more time and sprinted out of the corridor. She heard Neville, Ginny, and Ron's voices calling after her, but she didn't care.

She had to get to Tonks and help her- she couldn't afford to lose her, and she didn't care if she had no idea what she was doing.

Her breath started to pick up as she worked all her might to get to wherever Tonks was as fast as possible.

For all she knew, there were about a dozen Death Eaters and not even half the amount of fighters from their side.

She trusted that they were all experienced professors and Tonks was one of the top Aurors, but it was practically impossible for them to beat all the Death Eaters.

Tears of worry started to form in her eyes as she hurried down the stairs.

She was running down so fast that she could probably sprain her ankle from one misstep, but she didn't care.

She stepped off the last steps of the moving staircase, but nearly fell over as she had to abruptly force herself to a stop.

Her eyes grew wide and she nearly screamed of fear, as she was stopped by the most horrifying scene she'd ever seen in her lifetime.

Two figures were sprawled on the floor.

One was obviously unconscious- she couldn't see their face.

The other seemed to be feeding off of the unconscious body's flesh, blood dripping from their chin onto the floor.

"NO!" Y/N exclaimed, then pointed her wand at the flesh-eating figure. "EXPELLIARMUS!"

It was the first spell she'd thought of in that situation, and she knew, immediately, it was a stupid move.

Because of her state of shock, the spell was barely effective.

It didn't do much apart from throwing the figure a few feet away from the unconscious body.

Y/N's eyes traveled to the bloody body on the floor and she let out a dry sob, backing one step away in aghast.

His tall lankly body, his long red hair, and ear piercings- it was no doubt, Bill Weasley.

He couldn't be dead- she wouldn't let him die- please, don't let him die.

Her first thought was to rush to his side to somehow stop his blood and shield him from the battle, but a voice stopped her.

"Well, hello there, sweetheart," snarled the figure she'd just thrown away from Bill.

Once Y/N looked up and saw the figure's face clearly, though it was covered in blood, she recognized the person, or rather- monster- in front of her immediately.

She'd seen him in papers, heard his name from stories, and he looked even more terrifying than ever.

Fenrir Greyback was standing at the end of the corridor across from her, his body tall and stocky, his face and hair greying, and his eyes huge and navy.

Unlike Remus, there was no trace of human left in Greyback. His eyes were hungry and desperate for blood, leaving no room for mercy.

He was panting slightly from the impact of her spell but otherwise seemed unharmed.

"Ah, if it isn't Y/N Scamander," snarled the werewolf, grinning and revealing his terrifyingly sharp teeth.

Y/N thought fast, and though her whole body was shaking, she brought up her wand again.

However, this time, it was too late. Her fear had taken advantage of her.

By the time she uttered the first half of the Reductor Curse, Greyback had disarmed her.

Y/N felt her wand fly out from her hand helplessly and landed somewhere way behind Greyback.

Greyback tutted, an evil grin revealing on his face.

"The Dark Lord wants you alive, yes, he made that very clear..." the werewolf continued, licking his lips. "but he didn't specify at what cost... I'm sure he wouldn't mind a missing limb or two."

Y/N's mind and lungs stopped working. She felt the blood drain from her face as Greyback stepped closer and closer to her.

She turned around, ready to run, but realized that the staircase she'd come down from had moved to the next corridor. She was trapped.

Because of how fast she'd run, Ginny, Ron, and Neville had probably lost her and were nowhere to be seen.

She turned back in horror to see that Greyback was merely a few steps away from her.

That was it, then. There was no way out.

Greyback let out a triumphant animal-like laugh and emerged closer to her.

Y/N closed her eyes and could feel his rough and heavy breath draw nearer and nearer...

However, just as Y/N was ready for any type of pain, a roaring voice rang out from the end of the corridor.

"PAWS OFF MY DAUGHTER, YOU VILE, LOATHSOME, HAIRY OLD PSYCHOPATH- REDUCTO!"

Greyback seemed to have barely realized what had happened when he was blasted backward, high into the air and hitting the wall behind with a loud crash.

The werewolf's body slowly slid down and crumpled onto the floor in a pile, blood seeping from the back of his head.

"Remus," Y/N breathed, still paralyzed in her spot.

She stared at her godfather as he dashed towards her, his soft eyes filled with worry and relief and his greyish brown hair unarranged.

Y/N could barely breathe when he crushed her with a tight embrace. She hugged him back and could hear his heart pounding loudly in his chest.

"For Merlin's sake, Y/N," Remus croaked, planting a frustrated kiss on the top of her head. "Are you alright? Are you hurt? Did Greyback touch you-?"

"Remus, I'm fine, I'm alright!" Y/N gasped, scrambling out of his hug. "But Bill isn't! Please- please help him."

Y/N pointed a shaky finger over Remus' shoulder and he spun around.

His eyes grew wide at the sight of Bill's body at the corner of the corridor.

The two ran to the body and fell to their knees on either side of Bill.

The Weasley's handsome face was covered with deep, dark red gashes, his shirt was torn apart, and his shoulder was imprinted with a terrifying bitemark.

Remus grabbed Bill's wrist and checked his pulse. As he did so, Y/N wished and prayed to anything she had in mind for him to be alright.

"He's alive... but his pulse is really weak," Remus finally said. "William- Bill- can you hear me?"

Bill didn't stir at all. His face remained still and peaceful.

"Bill, please," Y/N whispered, "Say something- anything-"

"Y/N, I don't think-"

"No! No..." She didn't want to imagine the rest of the Weasleys and Fleur's reaction if something bad happened to Bill. "Come on, Bill! Answer me, for Merlin's-"

"Y/N- Y/N, listen to me!" Remus said loudly, grabbing her wrist. "Calling his name isn't going to help. You've got to calm down and listen to me."

Y/N stopped rambling and gazed into Remus' eyes. She pursed her lips shut and nodded.

"It's too dangerous to move him now," Remus continued, "The Death Eaters are scattered everywhere. You know how to perform the healing spell, yes?"

"Yes, but I've never- I've never actually tried it before," Y/N replied quietly.

"It's alright, you'll be fine," Remus assured. "Just keep your wand low and your hand relaxed, you hear me?"

Y/N nodded firmly.

"I'm going to go get Madam Pomfrey and go back to help the others," said Remus. "Stay here with Bill- I don't think any of them will come back here."

"I want to help," Y/N protested. "Tonks is out there-"

"Tonks is a skilled and professionally trained Auror," Remus cut her off curtly. "She'll be alright. You'll stay here and heal Bill as best as you can- that's final!"

Without uttering another word or letting Y/N speak, Remus got to his feet and strode away, his wand ready in his hand.

Y/N accepted her job and pulled out her wand, taking a few deep breaths to relax, in order to perform the spell successfully.

She hovered her wand right above Bill's arm and recited the spell.

It was a spell her father had taught her since she was little- 'just in case', he would say, for she wasn't even allowed to use magic back then.

"Vulnera Senentur," Y/N recited clearly. The deep red bite on Bill's shoulder lightened immediately, the blood fading away. "Vulnera Senentur..."

She repeated the spell over and over until the wounds on Bill's face and shoulder could lighten no more.

They were still clear marks and his face was still pale and ghostly, but he was longer bleeding.

"Vulnera Senentur," Y/N finished off, letting out another sigh of relief.

She looked at Bill's face for a moment and checked his pulse again. His heartbeats were pretty solid.

She let out a long shaky breath, relieved to know he was going to make it out alive... but at what cost?

Greyback didn't fully transform when he bit Bill, but the bite did seem deep...

Suddenly, two voices in the very next corridor made Y/N physically freeze.

She held onto her wand firmly and listened.

"Ibpedibedta! Egsbelliarbus!" cried a muffled voice.

"Not so easy dueling with a bloody nose, huh, boy?" laughed the voice of a familiar female Death Eater.

"I'b doink just fide, thanks!"

Y/N realized the voice belonged to Neville. It sounded like he had a terrible cold and really needed help.

Y/N glanced at Bill once more and got to her feet, striding to the end of the corridor.

She pressed her back against the wall at the corner and had her wand out and ready.

"Poor Longbottom wants to end up like his parents so badly," The Death Eater pouted mockingly. "Don't worry, boy, I'll make sure of it... Cruci-"

"Petrificus Totalus!" Y/N bellowed, stepping out of her hiding spot and pointing her wand directly at Alecto Carrow.

The short ginger Death Eater let out a mouse-like shriek and fell backward, her arms snapped glued to her side.

"Y/N!" Neville exclaimed in delighted surprise. "Thank Berlin you're alright! Where were you? We lost you halfway ad Rod ad Giddy-"

"I bumped into Fenrir Greyback," Y/N said quickly. Neville looked horrified. "I'm alright now. Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I fink," Neville wheezed, wiping the blood from his nose with the back of his hand and glancing down at the petrified Death Eater.

"Right, stay steady, I'm going to fix your nose," said Y/N firmly.

Neville still looked confused and hesitant but obeyed, standing rooted to his spot as Y/N raised her wand to his face.

"Episky," said Y/N. There was an audible cracking noise and Neville winced horribly, though he slowly relaxed after a few seconds.

"Thanks," he said, sighing.

"No problem," Y/N smiled weakly. "Where's everyone else?"

"I think they're by the Astronomy Tower, dueling," said Neville. "we've got some backup from the Order- and some professors,"

"Are Hermione, Luna, and Rolf there?" Y/N asked worriedly.

"No, I haven't seen them yet," Neville said sadly. "but I'm sure they're alright, Y/N, they're way down in the dungeons- Y/N? Y/N, where are you going?"

"Come, follow me," said Y/N. She had turned around and strode to the corridor where Bill was.

Neville frowned and followed her quickly into the next corridor around the corner.

He did a big double-take when he saw the dent in the wall where Greyback's body collided with.

"What ha-?" Neville's eyes grew twice the size when he spotted Greyback's unconscious body sprawled in a pile against the wall. "Is that-?"

"Fenrir Greyback, yes," said Y/N. She was kneeling over Bill's body. "Bill got attacked." Neville gulped and went over to kneel beside her.

"Is he- will he be alright?" he asked faintly, staring at Bill's pale and almost yellow scarred face and the bite on his shoulder.

"He'll be alright for now," Y/N replied. "Could you please stay back here to look after him? I need to go help the others."

Neville glanced hesitantly at Greyback's unconscious body.

"He's well knocked out," Y/N said swiftly. "I put him in a Full Body-Bind Curse. Will you stay here with Bill? I think Remus alerted Madam Pomfrey, so she'll be here to take him in a moment."

"Yeah, alright," said Neville, though he still looked alarmed. "be careful,"

"I will, you too," said Y/N nodded, then quickly scrambled to her feet, rolling up her sleeves, ready to fight.

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They were in trouble- they were losing. Y/N knew right away when she arrived by the Astronomy Tower.

It was all dark- perhaps from more Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder- curses were flying everywhere...

Y/N couldn't really tell who was who, though she heard Ginny and Ron's voices distinctively from somewhere.

She could see one big Death Eater was down, but the rest of them seemed ready to fight to the death. Malfoy was nowhere to be seen.

A bright green light from a tall masked Death Eater shot towards her, and Y/N jumped away just in time.

"No!" Another Death Eater cried from somewhere in the darkness. "That's Y/N Scamander! The Dark Lord wants her alive, do not kill-!"

"Stupefy!" Y/N had shot her curse directly at the direction of the voice, and judging from the Death Eater's abrupt cut-off and the loud audible thud following, she'd met her aim.

The tall masked Death Eater that had sent the Killing Curse at her growled in fury and sent a purple streak of light in her direction.

Y/N blocked it non-verbally with her wand and shot another spell back, though the Death Eater was quick enough to block that one, too.

"Reducto!" Y/N shouted. The Death Eater reflected the curse elsewhere and it hit a statue nearby, which exploded into a million pieces.

The Death Eater laughed broadly, and, to Y/N's pure horror, another Death Eater- Dolohov- ran forwards beside his Death Eater friend to help, and sent another purple curse at her.

Y/N was so taken aback she barely escaped this one, though she jumped to the side as it hit the wall behind her.

It was now a two on one duel- the two tall Death Eaters against herself.

The others were too busy dueling their own opponents to realize Y/N was in a risky position, so she had no choice but to focus and rely on herself.

As she dueled the Death Eaters with difficulty, reflecting and blocking their curses and casting non-verbal curses and jinxes, Y/N felt a familiar warm and brewing sensation swirling in her veins.

That was it. Her powers. She still had something they both didn't have- something no one else in the room had.

She knew using her powers would weaken her, but it seemed to be the only way out.

So she let the powers she'd always restrained back surge into her eyes, focussing hard on the wands of the two Death Eaters in front of her.

She felt her eyelids grow hot and her fists shook from the struggle.

She was so busy attempting to recall her powers that she was distracted from the actual duel that was happening.

Dolohov took this advantage and yelled out the Disarming Charm, and the next thing Y/N knew, she was wandless.

"Whoopsy-daisies," Dolohov sneered, and his Death Eater friend laughed maniacally, throwing his head back.

That was it- the last push of anger she needed.

One second, the Death Eaters were laughing, then, they were yelling in horror. Their wands had burst into dust right in their hands.

"Whoopsy-daisies," Y/N jeered.

As the Death Eaters looked around in confusion and panic, Y/N took this chance to dart towards her disarmed wand on the ground and snatched it up again.

She turned back to the two panicking Death Eaters and slashed her wand mid-air, sending a double Stunning Spell at them.

The two red streaks hit the Death Eaters square in the chest and they both fell backward, onto the hard floor, stunned.

Wands were powerful magical items, and destroying two at the same time caused Y/N to physically wither.

Though she was practically out of breath and her vision was blurry, Y/N wasted no time and ran for the stairs to the Astronomy Tower.

There was only one possible reason why the Death Eaters were all there, and it was because they were guarding the Astronomy Tower and whatever was happening up there.

"No, Y/N, don't!" Someone behind her shouted and grabbed her wrist.

Y/N whipped her head back around to see Ginny- her face sweating and dirty, her forehead bleeding, and her ponytail frizzed up.

"They blocked the stairs," Ginny explained, ducking a jinx that flew from somewhere within the chaotic corridor. "We all tried and got thrown into the air," she pointed at her forehead.

"Then what do we do?" Y/N shouted, her voice sounding dangerously shaky. She staggered slightly and quickly clung onto Ginny's shoulder.

"Merlin- are you alright, Y/N?" said Ginny, looking alarmed when she got a good look at Y/N's state.

"I'm OK," Y/N rasped out, letting go of the Weasley's shoulder. "What do we do, Ginny?"

"We fight," Ginny replied firmly. "We fight until we get help-"

"TAKE THAT, YOU MANKY OLD FOOL!" shrieked a voice from behind them.

Y/N turned around, startled, just to see Pansy Parkinson triumphantly grinning, a few feet away from them, as her curse hit a dark long-haired Death Eater right in the face.

The Death eater grunted, staggering back a few steps as if punched by the air and finally falling backward onto the ground.

"Nice one!" Ginny yelled impressively.

"I know!" said Pansy, tossing her messy black hair, looking victorious.

"Pansy's here?" Y/N looked back at Ginny.

"Oh, she's here, alright," Ginny grinned, looking at Pansy as she twirled on her spot to celebrate, but her smile was quickly wiped away. "Pansy, look out!"

Ginny quickly ran forwards and jumped in front of Pansy, just on time, reflecting a striking purple curse away.

Pansy shrieked and shielded her face, though Ginny's charm avoided the curse from hitting her.

"Thanks," the Slytherin said breathlessly, staring at Ginny, looking stunned.

Y/N, on the other hand, was now dueling with a lumpy Death Eater she recognized as Amycus Carrow, who had attacked her from behind when Ginny was helping Pansy.

Y/N was quick enough to dodge away from the first curse he sent her but found herself fighting with great struggle.

She tried, once again, to recall her powers- but given her state, it wasn't a surprise she wasn't able to.

She was already feeling significantly weaker- she couldn't even stand straight, let alone duel with another powerful wizard.

Amycus was giggling, enjoying the sport, as he threw hex after hex at her while she dodged them.

"Not going to fight back, girl?" The Death Eater snarled. "Crucio- Crucio- you can't dance forever, pretty-"

"Impedimenta!" yelled a familiar voice.

The jinx hit Amycus in the chest. He gave a piglike squeal of pain, was lifted off his feet and slammed into the opposite wall, slid down it, and fell out of sight.

The Darkness Powder has now cleared and Y/N could now see the corridor properly.

She could see Ron, Professor McGonagall, and Remus, each of whom was battling a separate Death Eater.

Ginny and Pansy were sending curses at the Death Eater, Rowle.

Tonks and Sirius were fighting an enormous blond wizard who was sending curses flying in all directions.

But Y/N was mainly staring at the person that had just saved her from Amycus Carrow.

Harry looked awful- his hair and glasses were all over the place, but his expression was the worse- he looked like he was ready to kill.

"Harry, where did you come from?" Y/N cried.

"Later!" Harry shouted.

He put his head down and sprinted forward across the hallway, narrowly avoiding a blast that erupted over his head.

"Take that!" shouted Professor McGonagall.

Y/N whirled around to see a glimpse of a female Death Eater sprinting away down the corridor with her arms over her head.

Y/N contemplated on her choices, not knowing what to do, but finally decided to stagger after Harry, despite her frail state.

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Y/N stopped dead in front of Hagrid's hut, her breath and heartbeat racing each other.

She'd dragged herself down from the castle with difficulty- her vision was only half accurate and her head spun faster than a vinyl disk.

Hagrid's hut was burning down, fast- flames infecting its roofs and windows.

"Hagrid," Y/N muttered, still dazed, looking around. "HAGRID?"

She stumbled toward the burning house, just as an enormous figure emerged from out of the flames carrying Fang on his back.

With a cry of thankfulness, Y/N fell to her knees, shaking in every limb, her body ached all over, and her breath came in painful stabs.

"Yeh all righ', Y/N?" Hagrid cried. "Yeh all righ'? Speak ter me, Y/N..."

Hagrid's huge, hairy face was swimming above Y/N, blocking out the stars.

Y/N could smell burnt wood and dog hair- she put out a hand and felt Fang's reassuringly warm and alive body beside her.

"I'm all right," she panted, gathering back her breath. "Are you?"

"'Course I am..." Hagrid smiled. "take more'n that ter finish me."

Hagrid put his hands under Y/N's arms and raised her up effortlessly.

"We should put out your house," said Y/N, "the charm is aguamenti..."

"Knew it was summat like that," mumbled Hagrid. He raised a smoldering pink, flowery umbrella and said, "Aguamenti!"

A jet of water flew out of the umbrella tip.

Y/N raised her own wand, which felt like lead, and murmured the charm too.

Together, she and Hagrid poured water on the house until the last flame was extinguished.

"S' not too bad," said Hagrid, hopefully, a few minutes later, looking at the smoking wreck. "Nothin Dumbledore won' be able to put righ'..."

"What happened out here?" Y/N asked the giant.

"Death Eaters," Hagrid grumbled, sounding grim. "I didn' see 'em, but I recognized Bellatrix's voice. Horrid woman."

"Did you see Harry? I was running after him, but I lost him."

"Nah, I didn' see nuthin'," said Hagrid spitefully. "I was bindin' up a couple o' bowtruckle legs in my house... they'll bin burnt ter twigs."

"Poor things," Y/N whispered.

"We should go back ter the castle," said Hagrid, with a final sigh. "Don' think Harry'd be out here..."

Y/N nodded and silently followed Hagrid back across the grounds. Perhaps she'd lost Harry way back in the castle. The night really seemed quiet.

Heading now toward the foot of the Astronomy Tower, they could see a small crowd of students congregating around.

"What're they all lookin' at?" said Hagrid, as he and Y/N approached the castle front, Fang keeping as close as he could to their ankles. "Wha's that lyin' on the grass?"

Y/N had only noticed the terrifying sight of the Dark Mark that hung right over the tower as they neared.

"What's going on?" she asked faintly.

"See it, Y/N? Right at the foot of the tower?" Hagrid grunted. "Under where the Mark... blimey... yeh don' think someone got thrown-?"

Hagrid fell silent, the thought apparently too horrible to express aloud.

Y/N frowned and followed alongside Hagrid, both moving, dreamlike, through the murmuring crowd to the very front, where the dumbstruck students had left a gap.

Y/N heard Hagrid's cry of pain and shock and then froze in her tracks, falling dead silent.

At the foot of the tower lay, pale, spread-eagled, and broken- Albus Dumbledore.

Dumbledore's eyes were closed, and if it wasn't for the strange angle of his arms and legs, he might have been sleeping.

Harry was crouching over him, his whole body trembling, and he was clutching something chain-like in his hand.

A loud silence rang out, as Y/N watched the miserable sight for what felt like hours.

It was as though the last hope for the wizarding world had gone, as grim and silent as the night.

Finally, still sobbing heavily, Hagrid stepped forwards from the crowd and put a heavy hand on Harry's shoulder.

"C 'mere, Harry..."

"No." Harry replied, as tears dripped down his nose.

"Yeh can' stay here, Harry... come on, now..."

"No."

Harry did not want to leave Dumbledores side, he did not want to move anywhere.

Then, a much smaller and warmer hand touched his back. Harry didn't have to look up to know who it was.

Y/N slowly crouched down beside him and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into an embrace.

Harry sobbed even harder and sank into her arms tiredly, burying his face in her shoulder.

Y/N rubbed his back and let him weep on her shoulder for what seemed like a whole sunlit day.

After long sorrowful moments, she finally reached out her hand to enclose his and pulled him upwards.

He obeyed without really thinking about it.

Only as he walked blindly back through the crowd did he realize Y/N was leading him back into the castle.

Incomprehensible voices battered him, sobs and shouts and wails stabbed the night, but Harry and Y/N walked on, back up the steps into the entrance hall.

Faces swam on the edges of Harry's vision, people were peering at him, whispering, wondering, as they made their way toward the marble staircase.

"We're going to the hospital wing," said Y/N.

"I'm not hurt," said Harry.

"Everyone else's probably up there," Y/N replied calmly.

"Y/N, who else is dead?"

"I don't know. None of us, I think."

"But the Dark Mark- Malfoy said he stepped over a body-"

"He probably stepped over Bill- but it's all right, he's alive."

There was something in her voice, however, that Harry knew boded ill.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure..." Y/N whispered. "He's a- a bit of a mess, that's all. Greyback attacked him. I don't really know what the aftereffects will be..."

"But the others... there were other bodies on the ground..."

"Just a few stunned Death Eaters," Y/N said quietly. "one's dead, he got hit by a Killing Curse."

Harry nodded solemnly.

"Harry, if we hadn't had your Felix potion," Y/N mumbled, "I think we'd all have been killed."

"You don't understand how thankful I am that you're alright," said Harry, his voice cracking slightly. "When I saw the Dark Mark- I thought- I thought..."

His voice trailed away, and he swallowed, not able to finish his sentence- but Y/N understood.

Silently, mutually, they both stopped in their tracks and collided into each other's arms.

It was a long, painful embrace, filled with mixed emotions.

For those few seconds, all Y/N could think of was that Harry was alright- with her face buried in his chest, she knew he was alive and right there in her arms.

Harry gripped Y/N's back, clinging to her presence and not wanting to let go.

They both thought the same thing- despite what had happened, despite how wrong it felt given their situation, they were both so thankful they still had each other.

They broke apart, minutes later, and continued their walk to the hospital wing.

They reached the hospital wing minutes later and pushed open the double doors.

Y/N saw Neville lying, apparently asleep, in a bed near the door, and a much bigger group was gathered by the end of the ward.

Ron, Hermione, Pansy, Ginny, Luna, Rolf, Sirius, Tonks, and Remus sat around a sickbed, all of them, except for Ron and Hermione, who had also taken the Felix Felicis, had scratches and wounds on their faces.

At the sound of the doors opening, they all looked up.

Harry sprinted to Sirius first, and the two crashed into each other's arms. Sirius looked worried, but at the same time, relieved, that his godson was alright.

Remus and tonks both ran forwards and hugged Y/N.

"Are you all right?" Tonks asked her worriedly.

"I'm fine- and you both?"

"In one piece," Remus shrugged.

Y/N then went over to hug her brother, Hermione, and Luna, since she hadn't seen them since the three left to watch over Snape.

"How's Bill?" Harry asked, walking forwards with Sirius by his side.

Nobody answered. Harry looked over Hermione's shoulder and saw an unrecognizable face lying on Bill's pillow, so badly slashed and ripped.

Madam Pomfrey was dabbing at his wounds with some harsh-smelling green ointment.

"Can't you fix them with a charm or something?" Harry asked the matron.

"No charm will work on these," said Madam Pomfrey, then she looked up at Y/N. "You did a very good job with the healing charm, Miss Scamander- I've never seen better results. He could've died of blood loss if it wasn't for you."

Ginny and Ron turned to Y/N and gave her a thankful look.

"I don't think that Bill will be a true werewolf, however," said Madam Pomfrey, "but he might have some wolfish characteristics from now on."

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

"Ron, Dumbledores dead," said Y/N quietly.

"Dumbledore's- what?" Sirius exclaimed, his voice rough.

"No!" Remus looked wildly from his goddaughter to Harry, as though hoping he might contradict her, but Harry did not.

He collapsed 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. "I was there, I saw it. We arrived back at the Astronomy Tower because that's where the Mark was... Dumbledore was ill, he was weak,"

Sirius cursed under his breath, looking hopeless.

"We heard footsteps running up the stairs." Harry continued, "He immobilized me under the Invisibility cloak, I couldn't do anything. Malfoy came through the door and disarmed him."

Hermione clapped her hands to her mouth and Ron groaned. Luna's mouth trembled and Pansy's eyes were wide.

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

Madam Pomfrey burst into tears, pressing her hands against her lips.

How long they all stood there in shock, Y/N did not know.

It felt like a long time later that the hospital door opened again and Professor McGonagall entered the ward.

Like all the rest, 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 announced, "Harry, what happened? Hagrid said you were with Professor Dumbledore when he- when it happened. He says, Professor Snape-"

"Snape killed Dumbledore," said Harry.

Professor McGonagall stared at him for a moment, then swayed alarmingly.

Madam Pomfrey, who seemed to have finally 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..."

"That foul git," Sirius grumbled. "I always believed- there was no way he'd switch sides, he was a Death Eater..."

"Snape was a highly accomplished Occlumens," said Remus, his voice uncharacteristically 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..."

"I'd love to know what Snape told him to convince him," said Y/N spitefully.

"I know," said Harry, and they all turned to look at him. "Snape told Voldemort about the prophecy that made Voldemort hunt my family down. Then Snape told Dumbledore he was really sorry he'd done it."

They all stared at him.

"And Dumbledore believed that?" said Remus 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, "He called her a Mudblood."

Nobody asked how Harry knew this. All of them seemed to be lost in horrified shock.

"This is all my fault," said Professor McGonagall suddenly. She looked miserable, twisting her wet handkerchief in her hands.

Y/N shook her head. "Professor, don't-"

"I sent Filius to fetch Snape tonight to help us!" McGonagall continued. "If I hadn't alerted Snape, he might never have joined forces with the Death Eaters-"

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

"I messed up, too," said Ron bleakly. "We did like you told us, Harry. We thought Malfoy must be in the Room of Requirement, so Y/N, Ginny, Neville, and I went to keep watch on it, but Malfoy got past us."

"He came out of the room about an hour after," said Ginny. "The moment he saw us, he threw something into the air and it all went pitch-black."

"Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder," said Ron bitterly. "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, so we waited until it wore off. Til then, they were all gone."

"Then, Y/N ran off," said Ron, with a tone of bitterness in his voice. "and we lost her."

"Why did you run off?" demanded Remus, looking furious. "Do you know how dangerous that was? I've always told you to stick with your friends in situations like this."

"Remus..." Tonks tugged his sleeve warningly.

"I heard Tonks' voice and I wanted to go help," Y/N mumbled, not looking at her godfather. "but I just- happened to bump into Fenrir Greyback."

Harry looked up at her fiercely, looking alarmed.

"Luckily," said Lupin hoarsely, "I found you just in time and knocked off that son of a bitch."

"Then what?" Asked Harry.

They then took turns to tell Harry about how the battle occurred, how each of them managed to fight off the Death Eaters.

"So if the rest of you were dueling by the tower," said Harry, turning to Hermione, "were you-?"

"Outside Snape's office, yes," whispered Hermione, her eyes sparkling with tears, "with Luna and Rolf. We hung around for ages outside it and nothing happened..."

Her voice trailed away into a sob, and Rolf took over for her.

"It was nearly midnight when Professor Flitwick came sprinting down into the dungeons," he said. "He was shouting about the Death Eaters, I don't think he really saw us, and he just burst into Snape's office."

"I was so stupid, Harry!" said Hermione in a high-pitched whisper. "Snape came out and said Professor Flitwick had collapsed and that we should go and take care of him."

"It's so obvious now," Luna whispered. "Snape must have Stupefied Flitwick."

"We didn't realize, Harry, we didn't realize, we just let Snape go!" cried Hermione.

"It's not your fault," said Pansy firmly. "Had you not obeyed Snape and got out of the way, he probably would have killed you all."

"Wait, wait- what are you doing here, Miss Parkinson?" asked Professor McGonagall, only noticing Pansy now.

Everyone turned to Pansy, and she shrank back behind Ginny, looking alarmed.

"I- er... I could just-"

"She helped us," said Ginny defensively, and everyone stared at her. "She helped us fight the Death Eaters."

"She really did," Tonks chimed in. "I was dueling Yaxley- I was losing- then Pansy came in and threw him into the air with the Reductor Curse. Thank you, by the way."

"No problem," Pansy muttered, blushing slightly.

"I thought you were Malfoy's best mate," Ron shot at Pansy fiercely. "You're telling me you knew nothing about his plan?"

"No! I knew nothing!" said Pansy, sounding slightly hurt. "Nothing... he told me nothing..." Y/N could see the look of betrayal and disbelief in her.

Ginny looked hesitant, but slowly brought up an arm and wrapped it around Pansy's shoulder consolingly.

"But you all have to understand," Pansy said fiercely, looking at the adults, "He probably had no choice- Draco would never plan a murder willingly. He'd never join them willingly."

"Yeah, right," Ron muttered. "Wasn't he the one who was supposed to do the deed, if Snape hadn't gotten there right before?"

Pansy threw him a hurtful look and Ginny stepped forwards, glaring at her brother.

"We know nothing, for now, Miss Parkinson," Professor McGonagall said patiently, glancing at the Slytherin girl. "but from what we've heard-"

"No, I think Pansy's right," Harry said firmly. Everyone turned to him. "Malfoy was lowering his wand... I don't think he would've done it."

Professor McGonagall was still frowning but nodded, and Pansy dropped her head tiredly onto Ginny's shoulder.

Suddenly, the doors of the hospital wing burst open again, making them all jump and turn.

Mr and Mrs Weasley were striding up the ward, Fleur just behind them, her beautiful face terrified.

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

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

Sirius, Remus, and Tonks got up hastily and retreated so that Mr and Mrs Weasley could get nearer to the bed.

Mrs Weasley bent over her son and pressed her lips to his bloody forehead.

"You said Greyback attacked him?" Mr Weasley asked Professor McGonagall distractedly. "But he hadn't transformed? What will happen to our Bill?"

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

"There will probably be some contamination, Arthur," said Remus. "We don't know what his behavior might be like when he awakens..."

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

"And Dumbledore..." said Mr Weasley. "Minerva, is it true... Is he really...?"

As Professor McGonagall nodded, Harry felt Y/N move beside him and looked at her.

Her sympathetic eyes were fixed upon Fleur, who was gazing down at Bill with a frozen expression on her face.

Mrs Weasley had eyes only for her eldest son. She began to sob, tears falling onto Bill's face.

"Of course, it doesn't matter how he looks..." the mother wept. "But he was a very handsome little b-boy... always very handsome... and he was g-going to be married!"

"And what do you mean by that?" said Fleur suddenly and loudly. Everyone fell silent. "What do you mean, he was going to be married?"

Mrs Weasley raised her tear-stained face, looking startled.

"Well- only that-"

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

"No, that's not what I-"

"Because he will!" said Fleur, throwing back her long silver hair. "It would take more than a werewolf to stop Bill loving me!"

"Well, yes, I'm sure," said Mrs. Weasley, "but I thought perhaps- given how- how he looks-"

"You thought- or perhaps hoped- I would not wish to marry him?" said Fleur, her nostrils flaring. "What do I care how he looks?"

"Well, I don't- I- I thought-"

"You thought," Fleur repeated, "that just because I am a woman and am beautiful, that I would judge a man by his looks, only?"

By the look on Mrs Weasley's face, that was exactly what she'd thought.

Y/N could tell- Fleur was trying hard to sound bold and fierce, but she was also trying not to break down.

"Well, you're wrong!" she said stiffly. "I don't care about these scars- all they show is that my husband is brave! And I shall do that!"

She pushed Mrs Weasley aside and snatching the ointment from her with tears of fury and disbelief in her eyes.

Mrs Weasley fell back against her husband and watched Fleur mop up Bill's wounds with a most curious expression upon her face.

Y/N didn't say anything- like everybody else, she was waiting for the explosion.

"Our Great-Auntie Muriel," said Mrs Weasley after a long pause, "has a very beautiful tiara and it would look lovely with your hair. She is very fond of Bill, you know, I am sure she'll lend it to you."

"Thank you," said Fleur bluntly, though she still seemed hurt. "I am sure that will be lovely."

Fleur's voice shook, her lips trembled, and Y/N could see that she was blinking away her tears.

"Come here, dear," Mrs Weasley said, extending her arms.

To Y/N and everyone else's surprise, Fleur dropped the ointment and accepted Mrs Weasley's embrace, flinging herself into her arms and crying over her shoulder.

"I'm sorry," Mrs Weasley whispered, also crying, and patted Fleur's head gently.

Completely bewildered, wondering whether the world had gone mad, Y/N turned around.

Harry looked as stunned as she felt, Ron and Sirius were raising their eyebrows, and Ginny and Hermione were exchanging startled looks.

Amidst the madness, Y/N's eyes traveled to Tonks and Remus, expecting them to look uncomfortable, for Fleur and Bill's story was similar to theirs- but they were both smiling softly.

"Tonks..." Y/N whispered, staring at Tonks' left hand. "Tonks... what's that on your finger?"

She already knew the answer before the Metamophmagus opened her mouth to reply.

"Oh- I was about to tell you," said Tonks, holding up her hand to show off the dazzling ring on her ring finger. "Remus and I got engaged yesterday."

Y/N and Rolf let out identical gasps.

"Tell- me- everything!" Y/N said breathlessly, fighting back her smile that really wanted to appear at the wrong time.

"This is... not the moment to discuss it," said Remus, "Dumbledore is dead..."

"Trust me, Remus," Professor McGonagall said curtly. "Dumbledore would have been happier than anybody to think that there was a little more love in the world..."

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

A/N ~ I'm not the best at writing action scenes, so let's ignore the fact that this chapter was quite a mess :)

Anyway, I've been busy this week planning seventh year events- the last sixth year chapter will be up real soon !!

Stay tuned and stay hydrated besties<3

-ScribblingQuills