"Finished." I whispered as the last ingredient fell into the potion, staining it red.

Harry glanced up with solemn eyes, gently whispering something to Hermione before getting up to inspect my work. Hermione stayed put on the floor, whimpering. Susan was gone, but I would make sure everyone knew of her sacrifice.

"Is it supposed to be red?" Harry asked.

I wasn't listening. Outside the tower, people were crawling and clawing and carelessly drooling away. The potion had to be perfect for them.

The potion had to save them.

"We don't have time to make another." I muttered, my eyes flicking away from the gruesome scene outside.

The-Boy-Who-Lived nodded, following my gaze with a sigh. He was afraid for them too. He always had been and always would be.

Harry grabbed onto one handle and we tipped the red contents onto the ground, stepping back to avoid its slithery path.

It was almost like a billion snakes burst from the blood red liquid. It separated into streams that then morphed into the disgusting creatures, fangs and all. Each snake had a target, slithering to them and biting.

Instead of filling the person bitten with venom, it practically inhaled the zombie virus infecting each person. Green seeped from their skin and though they still looked beaten up and bruised, they were human again.

Confused people stumbled around the grounds, horrifying memories of pain and green skin slowly finding their way into their heads. We whooped in celebration, high-fiving and hugging each other at the sight.

They were real people. We had succeeded.

"Thanks Susan." Hermione whispered, her eyes closed in remembrance.

I smiled, but the sense of peace quickly dissolved at the cold presence appearing behind us.