Y/N was sat on a bed topless being examined by Madam Pomfrey when the Headmaster arrived. Hermione was sat on a chair next to him with an angry look on her face as she tapped her fingernails on the wooden chair arm.

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"Well I don't know how you managed to get stabbed when you're supposed to be in class, nor how you got a muggle doctor to patch you up but this wound is fine" Madam Pomfrey said as she waved her hand and the stitches fell out.

"I've healed the wound at least but I can't do anything about the scar tissue. You're stuck with it I'm afraid."

"Add it to the pile" Y/N chuckled, looking down quickly as he saw Hermione's glare.

"Hello Poppy, Ms Granger" the Headmaster smiled. Pomfrey looked between the two males before grumbling.

"Yeah I know the drill. Banished in my own infirmary tut tut" she mumbled as she walked off. An awkward silence hung in the air before Y/N spoke:

"I'm sorry I got stabbed love. It wasn't my fault, it's an occupational hazard."

Hermione grumbled before sighing.

"Fine. I'm glad you're ok. Thank you for telling me."

A smile slowly built on her face as Y/N held his arm out as she stood and gave him a loving hug. As they parted Y/N chuckled:

"I was just having this conversation with Sam. That I don't hide anything from you. He asked me why I tell you, you know. Why I worry you."

"What did you say?"

"That you hide one thing, then another, then you're telling a small lie to cover what you're hiding, then it's bigger lies. It's a slippery slope. I'd rather tell you the truth and have you mad at me than lie to you baby."

Hermione smiled at her boyfriend. It was a fuller and more genuine smile this time. Y/N turned to Dumbledore.

"I had a vision in Herbology. That I was killing some guy. Saw the name of the town and the white cliffs of Dover. Went there with Sam. The town was under attack by a demonic virus. We found with a muggle doctor that traces of Sulfur appeared in the infected's blood. That's how we clicked it was demonic".

Dumbledore and Hermione exchanged worried glances as Y/N continued.

"Stuff happened, we were trapped in the medical centre will some survivors... my vision played out but I couldn't kill the guy. We were 80% sure he was infected and it was the smart play but in the end I.... I just couldn't do it. In case he wasn't infected."

Y/N looked down. Hermione hugged him.

"It's ok baby. It's ok."

"Turns out he wasn't infected, but another woman there was. I had gone into the dispensary to get more alcohol, we were making Molotov's to get the muggles out when she locked me in with her. I turned round and she was uh, topless."

Hermione's eyes went wide and her lip twitched.

"She tried to seduce me and I politely told her I wasn't interested. Then in a flash she threw me against the wall. This virus made them super strong, super fast, super psychotic. In an instant she was on top of me. She stabbed me in the chest, sliced her hand open and held it to the stab wound. The virus was spread by blood to blood contact."

Dumbledore went wide eyed as Hermione teared up.

"Sam kicked the door in and killed her. He gave the keys to his car to the muggles. Wanted to stay with me and... check out."

Y/N looked up as his eyes watered at the memory. Hermione rubbed his shoulder.

"I tried to make him go but he refused. Said he didn't have the strength to bury another brother and go on alone. That he owed my dad everything and wouldn't leave Tom's youngest son to die alone."

Y/N wiped his eyes with the back of his hand as Hermione rubbed his shoulder. He didn't have the strength to keep it in anymore.

"Ten minutes later the muggles came back. Everyone, all of the infected had disappeared, just disappeared. All that was left was an inscription. Croatoan."

"Just like......"

"Roanoke." Y/N finished the Headmaster's thoughts.

"We waited several hours and I wasn't infected. I was immune, no idea why but no Sulfur showed up in my blood and no urges to kill. Well any more than normal." Y/N chuckled. The other two didn't.

"The blood samples disappeared as well, everything just poof, gone. We've got a thousand questions, no answers and no leads."

"Where's Sam?" Dumbledore asked.

"He's headed to the Roadhouse. We were up fighting for 26 hours. He needs sleep. I need sleep" Y/N said as he rubbed his eyes.

"How are you feeling Y/N?" Dumbledore asked.

"Exhausted Albus. I'll see if Poppy has any wide eye before we go back to class."

"Baby you should rest" Hermione said with concern.

"Too many classes love, too much..."

"Ms Granger is right, Y/N. You need to rest. I'll excuse the both of you from the rest of the days classes and ask your teachers to send you their notes. Just rest with Ms. Granger. You made a difficult choice in the field Y/N. I'm proud of you."

The was a fluttering as Castiel appeared in the medical wing.

"Y/N thank God you're ok." The Angel said with a tone of concern.

"Cass. Good to see you. I tried to send a message to you for help but some demonic ward was blocking it I think. It was scrambling my legilimency and apparition as well. Please tell me it wasn't a seal."

"No, Y/N. It wasn't a seal. We're not sure what it was. I've just spoken to Sam, my garrison has checked a hundred miles in every direction. No sign of all the infected, we only found one body. Sam identified him as Sarge."

"What? What happened?" Y/N asked panicked as he shot to his feet.

"His throat was cut. It appeared to have been done by his travel companion. We found traces of Sulfur in the car. He appears to have been demonically possessed."

Y/N shot up on his feet, placing a hand across his eyes.

"Fuck. That was the kid I spared. It's my fault. Fuck."

In the blink of an eye Y/N had smashed his fist down through the cubicle's wooden overbed table, smashing it in two.

Hermione instantly wrapped her arms around him, checking his hand which wasn't broken fortunately as Albus nonverbally repaired the table. Castiel looked at Y/N sympathetically:

"If it's any consolation Peter-uh- Sarge was a good soul, Y/N. He is resting now in the bosom of heaven. He's at peace."

"Yeah he was a good guy" Y/N sighed before asking:

"Any idea why I was immune Cass?"

"Our working theory is that it is related to your abomination. I must go but I will be in touch. It's good to see you're ok, Y/N. All things considered."

Another flutter and the angel was gone.

"I'm so sorry about your friend baby. Are you ok?" Hermione asked.

"No. I'm really not. I should have trusted my gut. Not listened to Sam. Can we go to our special place now?" He asked and Hermione nodded.

Y/N put his top back on and they got up to leave.

"Oh Y/N, that reminds me- we found your broom from the Quidditch match, what was left of it. After you fell it must have drifted, into the Whomping Willow and it's... well there are only small fragments left. I'm sorry" the Headmaster said with s tone of sympathy.

"Kind of seems trivial right now Albus. Thanks for telling me."

The young couple walked out hand in hand, as the Headmaster silently watched them leave. Once the pair arrived Y/N stripped to his boxers and got into bed, Hermione smiling and stroking his face lovingly until he drifted off to sleep.

She walked across the room and sat herself up at the study area. Newt sat on her shoulder and gently tapped her cheek.

Hermione looked down at him and smiled before her expression turned to sadness when he frowned and pointed to Y/N.

"You're worries about Daddy, aren't you Newt."

The Bowtruckle nodded sadly.

"I'm worried about him too. We have to work together with Na-Hath and Crookshanks to look after Daddy, especially as he won't look after himself.

Newt smiled and stroked his mother's cheek lovingly.

—~—

Hermione spent the day in the room, Na-Hath periodically bringing her notes from the teachers and a small container with lunch from the great hall at lunch time. Hermione had thanked the Phoenix before the bird turned to look at his unconscious master. He turned back to Hermione and trilled.

"I know Na-Hath, Newt and I were saying we're worried about Daddy too. This is all getting on top of him. But we have to trust that he's ok, and be here for him when he wakes up."

She smiled as she softly spoke to the Phoenix and stroked the side of his face, the Phoenix cooing warmly at his mother's gentle touch.

—~—

The rest of the week passed quietly. Y/N had not been himself. He was quiet, withdrawn. He was still warm and affectionate with Hermione but she could tell he was holding back, working through things in his mind. He cancelled his appointment with Charlie on Thursday as he was 'not up to it this week'. Hermione grew more concerned with each passing day.

—~—

The death of Sarge had affected Y/N greatly. Hermione could see the guilt weighing him down. She spoke to McGonagall privately Saturday morning when Y/N was at Quidditch practice, explaining her concerns, what she saw in her boyfriend. McGonagall had thanked her and said she would pass on her concerns to the Headmaster. She also asked for Hermione and Y/N to come to the Headmaster's office at 7:00pm that night. Hermione agreed but was slightly concerned for what could be the reasoning behind the meeting.

She returned to her friends and lover who were already at at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall having lunch. She kissed her boyfriend as she sat.

"Everything ok love?" Y/N asked.

"Yeah baby, Professor McGonagall asked if we can go to the Headmaster's office at 7:00pm tonight. Just you and me."

"I wonder what that's about?" Lavender asked.

"I'm not sure, she didn't say, Lav. Only that it was important. Baby?" Hermione asked as she looked over to Y/N and saw his head down as he squeezed the bridge of his nose. He was doing that a lot lately.

"What the fuck is it gonna be this time?" Y/N asked rhetorically, Hermione rubbed his back and looked at Lav.

"Is he ok?" Lavender mouthed to Hermione.

Hermione shook her head saying no.