Unexpected | Bill Weasley

~44~ Some Small Love All Around

 The doors of the hospital wing burst open, making us all jump: Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were striding up the ward.

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

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

Remus and Tonks had 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 Minnie distractedly. "But he hadn't transformed? So what does that mean? What will happen to Bill?"

"We don't know," said Minnie, looking helplessly at Remus.

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

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

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

Minnie nodded.

"Dumbledore gone," whispered Mr. Weasley, but Mrs. Weasley had eyes only for her eldest son; she began to sob, tears falling onto Bill's mutilated 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!"

"What do you mean?" I asked, sitting up straight. "What do you mean he was going to get married?"

Mrs. Weasley raised her tear-stained face, looking startled. "Well — only that —"

"I don't think this should change his love for me." I snapped.

"No, that's not what I —"

I narrowed my eyes. "He will still love me when he wakes up. These scars will show that he's brave!" I snatched the ointment and pushed Mrs. Weasley aside. "I'll be doing that."

Everyone stayed silent. Mrs. Weasley and I had never gotten into an argument before. I started dabbing Bill's wounds.

"Our Great-Auntie Muriel," said Mrs. Weasley after a long pause, "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."

"Thanks." I said. "I'm sure that would be nice."

And then we both burst into tears and hugged each other, crying on each others shoulders.

"You see!" said a strained voice. Tonks was glaring at Remus. "Fawn still wants to marry him, even though he's been bitten! She doesn't care!

"It's different," said Remus, barely moving his lips and looking suddenly tense. "Bill will not be a full werewolf. The cases are completely —"

"But I don't care either, I don't care!" said Tonks, seizing the front of Remus' robes and shaking them. "I've told you a million times..."

"And I've told you a million times," said Remus, refusing to meet her eyes. "that I am too old for you, too poor...too dangerous..."

"I've said all along you're taking a ridiculous line on this, Remus," said Mrs. Weasley over my shoulder.

"I am not being ridiculous," said Remus steadily. "Tonks deserves somebody young and whole."