𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗠𝗘

ACT ONE, CHAPTER NINE
the ultimate betrayal.

IN ALL HONESTY, Penelope had absolutely no idea what the fuck was going on, or how she had found herself in the situation she was in at the current moment.

It was now the end of June, and exams were coming up for everyone. Penelope was going for a night walk in the corridor to clear her mind, but something about the castle was . . . eerie. It seemed strangely quiet and made her feel uneasy. She had never felt that way about Hogwarts before, but Penelope often found herself glancing over her shoulder and shivers were constantly sent up her spine.

Turns out, her feelings were right. Ron had suddenly run up to her out of nowhere, his face panicked and breathing heavily. He thrust a tiny bottle of golden liquid into her hand, instructing her to drink it because they were coming. Ron then instructed her to stand guard outside the Astronomy Tower, and as Penelope ran away, she heard many shouts of her friends and apparently Death Eaters behind her.

So there she stood by the stairs to the Astronomy Tower, her breath caught in her throat as she looked out the window. The ugly figure of the Dark Mark was glittering directly above the highest point of the castle. Sounds of fighting echoed from somewhere else in the castle — Penelope had suddenly wished she had kissed Ron before they parted.

Suddenly, footsteps were heard from beside her. Penelope whirled around and instantly raised her wand, only to see Draco rushing past her. He looked extremely panicked.

"Draco?" Penelope asked tentatively, her heart beating against her chest. "Why are you going up there? Haven't you seen the fucking Dark Mark? It's not safe."

He finally looked at her. Penelope's eyes slightly widened. Draco looked the worst she'd ever seen him. His bloodshot eyes were filled with tears and dark undereye bags stuck out against his extremely pale, almost grayish, skin. He also looked to be unhealthily skinny, so much that she could see his bones peeking out through his robed. His gray eyes that she had always seen full of mischief were now darker and guarded.

Penelope immediately concerned. "Draco, you look like you're gonna be sick. Are you okay?"

"I — I have to go," Draco stammered.

He then quickly turned back around and started climbing the steps up to the Astronomy Tower two at a time. Penelope glanced back for a second in the direction of the sounds of fighting before ultimately following Draco up the steps. Something was wrong — Draco was never one to be skittish, but now that she thinks about it, he had been guarded all year . . .

"Expelliarmus!" she heard Draco shout.

Penelope finally reached the top, slightly out of breath from climbing all the stairs. She glanced around. Draco was standing across from Dumbledore, holding the Elder Wand in his hand. Two broomsticks were laying on the floor next to Dumbledore. Her eyebrows knit in confusion. What was going on?

"Good evening, Draco," Dumbledore greeted, looking unusually pale. "Good evening, Penelope."

"Penelope, leave," Draco ordered.

"No," Penelope refused. "I'm tired of you pushing me away. Something is wrong with you."

Draco didn't reply to her, but instead looked around the Astronomy Tower, his eyes finally settling on the second broom. "Who else is here?"

"A question I might ask you," Dumbledore replied. Or are you acting alone?"

"No. I've got backup. There are Death Eaters here in your school tonight."

Penelope's heart sunk to the pit of her stomach. No, there was no way. Backup. Death Eaters. Both of those things were connected. And that meant . . .

"Harry was right about you," Penelope whispered, her hands starting to tremble as she stared directly at Draco. "He was right about everything this whole time. And I . . . I defended you. I didn't listen, I told him it couldn't be true because I know you—"

"Penelope—" Draco started to plead, glancing over at her.

"You betrayed me," Penelope breathed out, her voice full of heartbreak. "I . . . I trusted you, Draco."

Draco swallowed nervously. "It had to be done. He chose me."

"Well, well," Dumbledore cut in, tears starting to drip down Penelope's cheeks against her own will. "Very good indeed. You found a way to let them in, did you?"

"Yeah," Draco responded. "Right under your nose and you never realized!"

"Ingenious. Yet . . . forgive me . . . where are they now? You seem unsupported."

"They met some of your guard. They're having a fight down below. They won't be long . . . I came on ahead. I — I've got a job to do."

"Well, then, you must get on and do it, my dear boy," Dumbledore said softly.

Penelope still stood there in shock, her heart racing as more tears fell. It wasn't supposed to be like this. None of this was supposed to happen. They weren't supposed to succumb to the evils of their family.

Dumbledore merely smiled at Draco. "Draco, Draco, you are not a killer."

"How do you know?" Draco questioned. He seemed to realize how childish the words sounded and became more forceful. "You don't know what I'm capable of. You don't know what I've done!"

"Oh, yes, I do. You almost killed Katie Bell and Ronald Weasley."

Penelope felt like she was going to be sick at that revelation. "You . . . you poisoned him?"

"You have been trying, with increasing desperation, to kill me all year," Dumbledore continued. "Forgive me, Draco, but they have been feeble attempts . . . so feeble, to be honest, that I wonder whether your heart has been really in it."

"It has been in it!" Draco insisted. "I've been working on it all year, and tonight—"

Somewhere in the depths of the castle below, there was a muffled yell. Penelope turned and looked down the steps towards the noise. She hated this . . .

"Somebody is putting up a good fight," Dumbledore voiced casually. "But you weresaying . . . yes, you have managed to introduce Death Eaters into my school which, I admit, I thought impossible . . . how did you do it?" Draco didn't answer — he continued to listen to whatever was happening below. "Perhaps you ought to get on with the job alone. What if your backup has been thwarted by my guard? As you have perhaps realized, there are members of the Order of the Phoenix here tonight, too. And after all, you don't really need help . . . I have no wand at the moment . . . I cannot defend myself."

Draco only stared at him. He didn't move or speak. Penelope watched her, sniffling slightly from crying so much.

"I see. You are afraid to act until they join you."

"I'm not afraid!" Draco protested. "It's you who should be scared!"

"But why?" Dumbledore countered. "I don't think you will kill me, Draco. Killing is not nearly as easy as the innocent believe . . . so tell me, while we wait for your friends . . . how did you smuggle them in here? It seems to have taken you a long time to work out how to do it."

Draco looked like he was about to vomit before gulping and taking several deep breaths, his wand pointing directly at Dumbledore's heart. "I had to mend that broken Vanishing Cabinet that no one's used for years. The one Montague got lost in last year."

Dumbledore sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. "Aaaah. That was clever . . . there is a pair, I take it?"

"The other's in Borgin and Burkes and they make a kind of passage between them. Montague told me that when he was stuck in the Hogwarts one, he was trapped in limbo but sometimes he could hear what was going on at school, and sometimes what was going on in the shop, as if the Cabinet was traveling between them, but he couldn't make anyone hear him . . . in the end he managed to Apparate out, even though he'd never passed his test. He nearly died doing it. Everyone thought it was a really good story, but I was the only one who realized what it meant — even Borgin didn't know — I was the one who realized there could be a way into Hogwarts through the Cabinets if I fixed the broken one."

"Very good. So the Death Eaters were able to pass from Borgin and Burkes into the school to help you . . . a clever plan, a very clever plan . . . and, as you say, right under my nose."

"Yeah," Draco responded, who seemed to draw courage from Dumbledore's praise. "Yeah, it was!"

"But there were times, weren't there, when you were not sure you would succeed in mending the Cabinet?" Dumbledore guessed, Penelope gritting her teeth and standing up straighter in effort to compose herself. "And you resorted to crude and badly judged measures such as sending me a cursed necklace that was bound to reach the wrong hands . . . poisoning mead there was only the slightest chance I might drink . . ."

"Yeah, well, you still didn't realize who was behind that stuff, did you?" Draco sneered.

Dumbledore slid a little down the ramparts, seemingly losing strength. "As a matter of fact, I did. I was sure it was you."

"Why didn't you stop me, then?" Draco demanded.

"I tried, Draco. Professor Snape has been keeping watch over you on my orders—"

"He hasn't been doing your orders, he promised my mother—"

"Of course that is what he would tell you, Draco, but—"

"He's a double agent, you stupid old man, he isn't working for you, you just think he is!"

"We must agree to differ on that, Draco. It so happens that I trust Professor Snape—"

"Well, you're losing your grip, then!" Draco stated. "He's been offering me plenty of help — wanting all the glory for himself — wanting a bit of the action — What are you doing? Did you do the necklace, that was stupid, it could have blown everything — But I haven't told him what I've been doing in the Room of Requirement, he's going to wake up tomorrow and it'll all be over and he won't be the Dark Lord's favorite any more, he'll be nothing compared to me, nothing!"

"What has gotten into you?" Penelope finally inquired, speaking for the first time in a while. "I don't . . . I don't know this Draco."

Draco didn't even glance at her. "I've changed, Pen."

"Very gratifying," Dumbledore announced, moving on from the two cousins talking. "We all like appreciation for our own hard work, of course. But you must have had an accomplice, all the same . . . someone in Hogsmeade, someone who was able to slip Katie the — the — aaaah . . ." Dumbledore closed his eyes and nodded. " . . . of course . . . Rosmerta. How long has she been under the Imperius Curse?"

"Got there at last, have you?" Draco taunted.

There was another yell from below that was louder than the last. Draco nervously looked over his shoulder before looking back to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore was placing all the pieces together. "So poor Rosmerta was forced to lurk in her own bathroom and pass that necklace to any Hogwarts student who entered the room unaccompanied? And the poisoned mead . . . well, naturally, Rosmerta was able to poison it for you before she sent the bottle to Slughorn, believing that it was to be my Christmas present . . . yes, very neat . . . very neat . . . poor Mr. Filch would not, of course, think to check a bottle of Rosmerta's . . . tell me, how have you been communicating with Rosmerta? I thought we had all methods of communication in and out of the school monitored."

Draco's wand hand was shaking badly. "Enchanted coins. I had one and she had the other and I could send her messages—"

"Isn't that the secret method of communication the group that called themselves Dumbledore's Army used last year?" Dumbledore asked.

Draco gave him a twisted smile, making shivers go up and down Penelope's spine. "Yeah, I got the idea from them. I got the idea of poisoning the mead from the Mudblood Granger, as well, I heard her talking in the library about Filch not recognizing potions."

"Don't call her that," Penelope argued.

Dumbledore nodded in agreement. "Please do not use that offensive word in front of me."

Draco let out a harsh laugh. "You care about me saying Mudblood when I'm about to kill you?"

"Yes, I do. But as for being about to kill me, Draco, you have had several long minutes now. We are quite alone besides the presence of Miss Lestrange. I am more defenseless than you can have dreamed of finding me, and still you have not acted . . . now, about tonight, I am a little puzzled about how it happened . . . you knew that I had left the school? But of course, Rosmerta saw me leaving, she tipped you off using your ingenious coins, I'm sure . . ."

"That's right. But she said you were just going for a drink, you'd be back . . ."

"Well, I certainly did have a drink . . . and I came back . . . after a fashion," Dumbledore mumbled. "So you decided to spring a trap for me?"

"We decided to put the Dark Mark over the Tower and get you to hurry up here, to see who'd been killed. And it worked!"

"Well . . . yes and no . . . but am I to take it, then, that nobody has been murdered?"

"Someone's dead," Draco confirmed, and Penelope's heart stopped. "One of your people . . . I don't know who, it was dark . . . I stepped over the body . . . I was supposed to be waiting up here when you got back, only your Phoenix lot got in the way . . . "

"Yes, they do that," Dumbledore replied.

There was a bang and shouts from below that were louder than ever. Penelope set her gaze onto the floor. Draco had stepped over a body . . . who had it been?

"There is little time, one way or another," Dumbledore announced. "So let us discuss your options, Draco."

"My options!" Draco repeated loudly. "I'm standing here with a wand — I'm about to kill yo —"

"My dear boy, let us have no more pretense about that. If you were going to kill me, you would have done it when you first disarmed me, you would not have stopped for this pleasant chat about ways and means."

Draco's face turned whiter. "I haven't got any options! I've got to do it! He'll kill me! He'll kill my whole family!"

Penelope shook her head. "No. Draco, you don't have to do this. You're so much more than a murderer, you're so much more than what your parents want you to be . . ." More tears filled her eyes. "Please prove me wrong, Draco. Prove to me that you can be better than this."

"I appreciate the difficulty of your position," Dumbledore admitted. "Why else do you think I have not confronted you before now? Because I knew that you would have been murdered if Lord Voldemort realized that I suspected you." Draco winced at the sound of the name. "I did not dare speak to you of the mission with which I knew you had been entrusted, in case he used Legilimency against you. But now at last we can speak plainly to each other . . . no harm has been done, you have hurt nobody, though you are very lucky that your unintentional victims survived . . . I can help you, Draco."

"No, you can't," Draco argued, and Penelope was vaguely aware of the way she was crying harder. "Nobody can. He told me to do it or he'll kill me. I've got no choice."

"Everyone has a choice," Penelope whispered.

"Come over to the right side, Draco, and we can hide you more completely than you can possibly imagine," Dumbledore explained. "What is more, I can send members of the Order to your mother tonight to hide her likewise. Your father is safe at the moment in Azkaban . . . when the time comes we can protect him too . . . come over to the right side, Draco . . . you are not a killer . . ."

Draco only stared at Dumbledore. "But I got this far, didn't I? They thought I'd die in the attempt, but I'm here . . . and you're in my power . . . I'm the one with the wand . . . you're at my mercy . . ."

"No, Draco. It is my mercy, and not yours, that matters now."

Draco didn't speak. His mouth was open and his wand hand was still trembling. Penelope could've sworn she saw it drop slightly, but footsteps were suddenly thundering up the stairs. She stumbled backwards and pressed her back up against the wall as four people in black robes burst through the door onto the ramparts. Penelope clenched her wand tightly and looked at them in terror. It seemed like the Death Eaters had won the fight below.

A lumpy-looking man let out a wheezy giggle. "Dumbledore cornered!" He then turned to a stocky little woman who was grinning eagerly — they looked to be siblings. "Dumbledore wandless, Dumbledore alone! Well done, Draco, well done!" The man then looked over at Penelope and smirked. "Ah, Lestrange's daughter, is it?"

"Fuck off," Penelope told him, not even caring if it was in front of her headmaster, clenching her wand tightly in her hand.

"Good evening, Amycus," Dumbledore greeted calmly. "And you've brought Alecto too . . . charming . . ."

"Think your little jokes'll help you on your death bed, then?" Alecto jeered.

"Jokes? No, no, these are manners."

"Do it," another Death Eater ordered.

It was a big, rangy man with matted gray hair and whiskers. His black Death Eater's robes looked uncomfortably tight. And his voice . . . it was like a raspy bark. There was a strong scent of dirt, sweat, and blood coming from him. His filthy hands had long yellowish nails.

"Is that you, Fenrir?" Dumbledore questioned.

"That's right. Pleased to see me, Dumbledore?"

"No, I cannot say that I am."

Fenrir Greyback grinned and showed his pointed teeth, and he licked his lips slowly as blood trickled down his chin. "But you know how much I like kids, Dumbledore."

"Am I to take it that you are attacking even without the full moon now?" Dumbledore continued. "This is most unusual . . . you have developed a taste for human flesh that cannot be satisfied once a month?"

"That's right. Shocks you, that, does it, Dumbledore? Frightens you?"

"Well, I cannot pretend it does not disgust me a little. And, yes, I am a little shocked that Draco here invited you, of all people, into the school where his friends live . . ."

"I didn't," Draco revealed, not even looking at Greyback. "I didn't know he was going to come—"

"I wouldn't want to miss a trip to Hogwarts, Dumbledore," Greyback rasped. "Not when there are throats to be ripped out . . . delicious, delicious . . ." Penelope watched in disgust as he raised a yellow fingernail and picked at his front teeth. "I could do you for afters, Dumbledore . . ."

"No," the fourth Death Eater voiced sharply. "We've gotorders. Draco's got to do it. Now, Draco, and quickly."

"Don't do it, Draco," Penelope pleaded.

"He's not long for this world anyway, if you ask me!" Amycus announced, accompanied by Alecto's wheezing giggles. "Look at him — what's happened to you, then, Dumby?"

"Oh, weaker resistance, slower reflexes, Amycus," Dumbledore answered. "Old age, in short . . oneday, perhaps, it will happen to you . . . if you are lucky . . ."

"What's that mean, then, what's that mean? Always the same, weren't yeh, Dumby, talking and doing nothing, nothing, I don't even know why the Dark Lord's bothering to kill yeh! Come on, Draco, do it!"

At that moment, there were new sounds of scuffling from below.

"They've blocked the stairs — Reducto!" a new voice shouted. "REDUCTO!"

Penelope's heart leapt. These four weren't the only Death Eaters, they had not eliminated everyone down below, but had merely broken through the fight to get to the top of the tower and created a barrier behind them.

"Now, Draco, quickly!" the fourth Death Eater demanded.

"You don't have to do this, Draco," Penelope stated.

"I'll do it," Greyback snarled, moving towards Dumbledore with outstretched hands and bared teeth.

"I said no!" the fourth Death Eater yelled.

There was a flash of light and the Werewolf was blasted out of the way. Greyback hit the ramparts and staggered, looking furious. It was getting hard to hear for Penelope since her heart was hammering so hard.

"Draco, do it, or stand aside so one of us—" Alecto began.

At that precise moment, the door to the ramparts burst open once more. It was Snape. Penelope took a deep, shuddering breath as she watched Snape look at the scene around him — Dumbledore, the four Death Eaters, an angry Greyback, Penelope, and Malfoy.

"We've got a problem, Snape, the boy doesn't seem able—" Amycus started to explain.

"Severus . . ." Dumbledore said softly.

Penelope watched as her Head of House walk forwards and push Draco roughly out of the way. Draco managed to move back next to Penelope, but she didn't acknowledge it. He was making her feel sick.

The three Death Eaters fell back, and even the Werewolf didn't move. Snape didn't say a word, but only gazed at Dumbledore, revulsion and hatred etching onto his featured.

"Severus . . . please . . . " Dumbledore pleaded.

Snape raised his wand and pointed it directly at Dumbledore. "Avada Kedavra!"

Penelope gasped and her eyes widened, her hand flying to her mouth in shock as a jet of green light shot out from the end of Snape's wand and hit Dumbledore squarely in the chest. Dumbledore was blasted into the air. He seemed to hang suspended beneath the shining skull for a moment before he slowly fell backwards over the battlements and out of sight.

"No!" Penelope screamed, running over the railing and watching her headmaster fall to the ground. She then turned to Snape. "What have you done?"

Snape ignored her. "Out of here, quickly."

He seized Draco by the scruff of the neck and forced him through the door ahead of the rest. Penelope couldn't move. Draco turned back to look at her with a saddened expression, but quickly dove out of sight. She stood there and watched as all of the Death Eaters left with an incredulous look on her face. Her mind kept repeating what the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck . . . .

It was about thirty seconds later when she came to her senses. There was still a fight going on downstairs, and Draco — this couldn't be it, things could still be mended. She started to sprint down the stairs. Once she made it, she saw the fight still raging in the corridor with half of the ceiling caving in.

"It's over, time to go!" Snape shouted.

Through her blurry tears, Penelope could see members of the D.A. and the Order of the Phoenix finish up their fighting with the Death Eaters. The Death Eaters then began to run after Snape and Draco, who had apparently made it through the fight unscathed. Up ahead, she saw Harry (where the fuck did he come from?) race after them. Penelope started to push her way through the fight, her eyes only set on the head of platinum blonde hair. The Death Eaters did this . . . she needed to get to Draco, talk some sense into him . . .

Soon enough, only members of the D.A. and the Order of the Phoenix were left in the corridor since all of the Death Eaters ran. Penelope continued to walk forwards, fully prepared to follow after the Death Eaters. Her mind was scrambling that she didn't even think to run.

"Everyone to the hospital wing," Professor McGonagall ordered.

Penelope barely heard her. She went on down the corridor, but a figure stood in front of her. Penelope tried to push past them, but they took her in their arms and pulled her back. She tried to fight against them.

"Hey, hey, it's me," Ron's voice said. "P, come on—"

She shook her head. "I have to go after him — Draco — it's wrong, it's all wrong—"

"He's in too deep, Penelope," Ron told her softly. "We have to go to the hospital wing. Neville, and Bill . . ."

His voice caught on his brother's name. Penelope blinked and looked back. McGonagall was levitating the bloody figure of Bill next to her with her wand, and Lupin was supporting Neville with Nymphadora. She finally nodded and started to wipe away her tears as they went to the hospital wing. Once they reached it, Madam Pomfrey shot up and ushered everyone into the room. McGonagall set down bill in a bed and Neville was set down in another one, falling asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Madam Pomfrey quickly healed Neville's injuries with a couple spells before moving onto Bill. Penelope stood there, her arms crossed and feeling slightly numb, as no spells worked on Bill. Ron put an arm around her shoulder and brought him in close to her, kissing the top of her head.

McGonagall then asked Venus if she could get Harry for them. Venus nodded and left the room, Professor McGonagall following after her. Penelope's eyes then locked with Nymphadora's. Her cousin opened her arms, and Penelope left Ron's side momentarily, collapsing in Nymphadora's arms. Nymphadora held her tight for a long couple of moments before releasing. She then placed her hands on Penelope's cheeks and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

It was about five minutes until Venus came back with Harry. Penelope looked up, now back besides Ron who was holding her close. He could tell something was wrong by her red and puffy eyes and her blotchy face. Harry didn't seem to want to leave Venus — their hands were tightly interlocked. Hermione, however, ran up and hugged Harry anyways.

Lupin approached them, looking anxious. "Are you all right, Harry?"

"I'm fine . . ." Harry trailed off. Bullshit. "How's Bill?"

None of them answered. Harry looked over to see Bill's slashed and ripped face. Madam Pomfrey was now dabbing at his wounds with a harsh-smelling green ointment.

"Can't you fix them with a charm or something?" Harry inquired.

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

Ron gazed down at his brother's face like he could mend it by staring. "But he wasn't bitten at the full moon. Greyback hadn't transformed, so surely Bill won't be a — a real—?"

"No, I don't think that Bill will be a true werewolf, but that does not mean that there won't be some contamination," Lupin answered when Ron looked at him uncertainly. "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. Where is he? Bill fought those maniacs on Dumbledore's orders, Dumbledore owes him, he can't leave him in this state—"

"He's dead," Penelope announced, her tone completely emotionless. "I witnessed it up on the Astronomy Tower."

"No!" Lupin exclaimed.

Lupin looked wildly between Penelope and Harry, hoping that they would contradict each other. When neither of them said anything, Lupin collapsed into a chair besides Bill's bed with his hands over his face. Penelope kept her gaze straight ahead — she didn't know what to do with herself.

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

"Snape killed him," Harry revealed. "I was there, I saw it. So was Penelope. 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—" Penelope wiped away another tear at that "—then Penelope came, and more Death Eaters arrived — and then Snape — and Snape did it. The Avada Kedavra."

Madam Pomfrey burst into tears.

"Shh!" Ginny scolded. "Listen!"

She gulped and pressed her fingers to her mouth, her eyes wide. Penelope then heard a sad song somewhere out in the darkness. A Phoenix was singing in terrible beauty. Every sad and angry emotion that Penelope ever felt was poured out into this song that echoed across the grounds and through the castle windows. She blinked back tears pooling in her eyes again and leaned her head against Ron's chest.

Penelope didn't know how long they had been standing there listening to the song, but it had been a while later before the hospital wing doors opened again. It was McGonagall — there were grazes on her face and her robes were ripped.

"Molly and Arthur are on their way," she announced, and the spell of the song broke. Everyone snapped out of their trances. "Harry, Penelope, what happened? According to Hagrid you were both with Professor Dumbledore when he — when it happened. He says Professor Snape was involved in some—"

"It was Snape," Penelope told her. "He killed Dumbledore."

McGonagall stared at the Slytherin for a moment before swaying alarmingly. Madam Pomfrey quickly pulled herself together and ran forwards, conjuring a chair from thin air. She pushed it under McGonagall.

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

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

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

McGonagall was now dabbing at the corners of her eyes with a tartan-edged handkerchief. "He always hinted that he had an ironclad reason for trusting Snape. 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."

"I know," Harry admitted, and they 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."

That sounded like a whole lot of bullshit to Penelope.

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

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

Nobody spoke for a moment. Penelope felt hatred and anger surge through her veins. It had been a Slytherin who killed Dumbledore tonight. She was always proud of her House, but yet two people she thought could trust just went and gave her House an even worse reputation.

"This is all my fault," McGonagall suddenly said, 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," Lupin stated 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?" Harry questioned in anger.

"I don't know exactly how it happened," McGonagall replied. "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 . . ."

"It was Draco," Penelope answered bitterly, her voice still monotone. "There's a Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement and one in Borgin and Burke's. They share a magical pathway, so if you enter one, you come out the other. He set the whole thing up."

Harry then glanced in between Venus, Ron, and Hermione — all of them look devastated.

"I messed up, Harry," Ron revealed. "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, Elijah, 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," Ginny added. "He was on his own, clutching that awful shriveled arm—"

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

"Anyway, 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," Ron explained. "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," Ginny continued. "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, Ron, Ginny, and Neville ran into us almost immediately and told us what had happened," Lupin voiced. "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?" Harry inquired.

"He must have done, yes, they must have arranged that before they left the Room of Requirement. 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."

Harry turned to Hermione. "So if Ron was watching the Room of Requirement with Ginny and Neville, were you—?"

"Outside Snape's office, yes, with Luna, Charlie, and Venus," Hermione whispered, tears in her eyes. "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 Venus, Charlie, 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?"

Venus then admitted that she was a complete idiot. Snape had apparently told them that Flitwick had collapsed and that they should help him while he went to fight the Death Eaters. She then said that he must've been Stupefied by Snape and that they just let him go.

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

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

"We were in trouble, we were losing," Nymphadora responded 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 stair behind them with some kind of curse . . . Neville ran at it and got thrown up into the air—"

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

"And then Snape was there, 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," Ginny stated.

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

"He must have known a spell we didn't," McGonagall suggested quietly. "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, but to help them, not to stop them . . . and I'll bet you had to have a Dark Mark to get through that barrier — so what happened when he came back down?" Harry asked.

"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," Lupin answered. "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," Nymphadora voiced. "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," Harry revealed. "He'd done what he'd meant to do." After a moment, Harry turned to Penelope. "Where were you?"

"By the Astronomy tower stairs," Penelope responded. "I was just waiting there, but Draco suddenly walked past me. He looked absolutely awful. I asked him why he was going up there, but he just said he had to go. Then I followed him up, and, well . . . you saw."

They all fell silent. Fawkes' song was still echoing over the grounds. Penelope felt her chest tighten. Everything had just gone so wrong.

The doors of the hospital wing then burst open, and all of them jumped at the sudden noise. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were striding up the ward towards Bill. Fleur was right behind them, her beautiful face terrified.

"Molly — Arthur—" McGonagall began, jumping up and hurrying to greet them. "I am so sorry—"

"Bill," Mrs. Weasley breathed out, pushing past McGonagall and going to her son. "Oh, Bill!"

Lupin and Nymphadora hastily got up and retreated so that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley could get close to the bed. Mrs. Weasley bent over her son and pressed her lips to his bloody forehead. Penelope frowned.

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

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

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

Mrs. Weasley then took the ointment from Madam Pomfrey and started dabbing at Bill's wounds herself.

"And Dumbledore . . ." Mr. Weasley trailed off. "Minerva, is it true. . . is he really . . . ?"

McGonagall nodded. Penelope then slightly focused on Fleur, and she nudged Ron's side with her elbow. Fleur was gazing down at Bill with a frozen expression on her face.

"Dumbledore gone," Mr. Weasley whispered.

Mrs. Weasley only had eyes for her eldest son — she began to sob, tears falling onto Bill's cut up face. "Of course, it doesn't matter how he looks. . . . It's not r-really important . . . 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 zat?" Fleur suddenly demanded loudly. "What do you mean, 'e was going to be married?"

Mrs. Weasley looked up at Fleur, startled. "Well — only that—"

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

"No, that's not what I—"

"Because 'e will!" Fleur drew herself up to her full height and threw back her long mane of silver hair. "It would take more zan a Werewolf to stop Bill loving me!"

"Well, yes, I'm sure, but I thought perhaps — given how — how he—" Mrs. Weasley stammered.

"You thought I would not weesh to marry him?" Fleur inquired. "Or per'aps, you hoped? 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 snatched the ointment from Mrs. Weasley. Mrs. Weasley fell back against her husband and watched as Fleur mopped up Bill's wounds with a curious expression. Penelope raised an eyebrow and looked up at Ron, who merely shrugged.

Mrs. Weasley hesitated for a second. "Our Great-Auntie Muriel 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," Fleur said stiffly. "I am sure zat will be lovely."

Penelope blinked, and in the next moment, both women were crying and hugging each other. Well, all right. She looked over at Venus, and the two of them shared a look. Well, it was only a matter of time.

"You see!" Nymphadora then exclaimed, her voice strained. Penelope looked over to see her glaring at Lupin so harshly that she thought Nymphadora's hair would turn red. "She still wants to marry him, even though he's been bitten! She doesn't care!"

Lupin tensed up. "It's different. Bill will not be a full Werewolf. The cases are completely—"

"But I don't care either, I don't care!" Nymphadora seized the front of Lupin's robes and shook them. "I've told you a million times . . ."

He refused to meet her gaze. "And I've told you a million times that I am too old for you, too poor . . . too dangerous . . ."

Penelope rolled her eyes. "You're being a fucking coward, Lupin." Her mind was screaming at her that she was a hypocrite, but she ignored the shocked look he gave her. "Nobody stays young and whole their entire life. You two obviously both love each other, so why are you waiting?"

Maybe, just maybe, she would take her own advice.

Lupin decided to move on. "This is . . . not the moment to discuss it. Dumbledore is dead . . ."

"Dumbledore would have been happier than anybody to thinkthat there was a little more love in the world," McGonagall added curtly.

Hagrid then walked into the hospital wing, crying hard. "I've . . . I've done it, Professor. 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." McGonagall stood up at once and looked at the group. "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."

Hagrid nodded, turned, and shuffled out of the room.

McGonagall looked down at Harry. "Before I meet them I would like a quick word with you, Harry. If you'll come with me . . ."

Harry quickly told McGonagall that he didn't want to go anywhere without Venus. McGonagall seemed to soften a little bit and agreed, and the three of them left the room. The hospital wing — or perhaps the entire world — turned quiet.

Ron then tapped Penelope's shoulder. She looked up, only to see him nod his head towards the door. Penelope nodded, and the two of them left the tense atmosphere of the hospital wing. They took a seat on one of the windowsills in the corridor. Neither of them said anything for a while.

"What a night," Ron commented.

"Biggest understatement of the year," Penelope replied, still not showing much emotion. "I need to help him. Draco. He . . . he's gotta get out of there."

"Things aren't going to be the same anymore, P."

Penelope stared at the ground for a moment. Maybe things wouldn't be the same, but one thing could — and that was her relationship with Ron. She let out a deep, shuddering breath. It was time to take the advice she had given to Remus and tell Ron what she had kept from him for so long.

"I love you," Penelope whispered, her eyes slightly shining with tears.

Ron paused for a moment. "What?"

"I love you," Penelope repeated sincerely. "That first day of Potions, where we smelled the Amortentia . . . I smelled you in it." She turned to him and finally looked at him, her heart racing against her chest. "I love you." Her lip quivered and tears began to fall down her face. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but I was scared, and—"

"Hey," Ron interrupted, reaching up and taking her face in his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "Penelope, it's okay."

"It has nothing to do with you," she cried, her chest feeling like it was caving in. "I swear, it doesn't. But the family that I'm a part of, especially my mother — it's fucked me up, Ron. You deserve better than that."

"Do you remember what I said to that months ago?" Ron responded, and Penelope slightly nodded. "That I deserve you."

Penelope let out a sob. "I don't want to lose you."

"You're not going to." Ron pulled her close and kissed her, their lips tasting salty from the tears. "I love you more, Penelope."

Penelope threw her arms around him and started to cry harder. Ron held her tight.

Maybe things had changed so drastically tonight, but there was one thing that stayed — love.

☆ 彡

oh, he passed away? aw. all right.

anyways if steve dies in stranger things 4 I will also die. I do not share the same sentiment with dumbledore.