Speaking with withered hope I whispered, "Hermione."

My hand lay tenderly on the frail girl's shoulders that shook with fear. Her eyes, ever filled with wisdom and courage, met my own and ignited a protective brother-like feeling when I found them to be broken.

"We'll find someone else."

She sniffed in embarrassment at her display of emotions. She was almost always the first to silence pain in dire circumstances, but now she broke.

I knew that when I had mentioned myself for the sacrifice, she thought of how Ron would react.

She imagined the hurt as he saw his brother's body, dead, when he had so much more to live for. She crumpled at the thought of losing me because Ron crumpled at the thought of losing anyone else, especially another brother.

We sat in silence, the owls chirping almost protectively around us, as if they too could sense our fear and need of safety and comfort. Our brains searched their deepest depths for something to grasp. Anything that would solve the problem laid before us.

We didn't know who was alive that would be willing, and we didn't want anyone else to die.

"What about that girl in the woods?" Hermione asked spontaneously, back to her normal and unnaturally educated self once again.

Take care of them.

So we collected the body of the girl from the woods.

The virus hadn't affected her body when she died, but she still had a slightly green tint to her skin. Now that I was closer I could make out her features.

Red hair, slightly softer than a Weasley's. Not skinny but not fat. Gentle features that alluded to her being a kind and welcoming person. Her clothes were comfortable and she looked peaceful with her eyes closed and only the bite mark on her shoulder to hint at her death.

"Susan Bones." Hermione whispered, slowly brushing a stray hair from the girl's face.

Her memories of the girl assured her assumption and she shook. She was crying again, and Harry had a single tear. This girl had meant something to them. She had impacted them.

Susan Bones.

I wanted to give her a ceremony.

I wanted to honor her sacrifice.

But above all, I needed my brother back.

So I prepared the spell while Harry comforted Hermione.