Spells and Visions; A Harry Potter story

Chapter 10: A Lament for Dumbledore

"Bill!" mrs Weasley cried out. "Oh, Bill!"
Tonks and Lupin moved out of the way so they could sit with their son.

"You said Greyback attacked him?" mr Weasley asked McGonagall. "But he hadn't transformed, so what does that mean for Bill?"
"We don't know, yet," McGonagall said.
"There will probably be some contamination," Lupin said. "We don't know what his behaviour will be like when he wakes up..."
Mrs Weasley started crying.
"And Dumbledore...?" mr Weasley looked questioning at McGonagall. "Is it true that he's..."
McGonagall nodded sadly.

None of us said anything, we just watched how mrs Weasley dabbed Bill's face with the ointment from Madam Pomfrey.
"Of course, it doesn't matter what he looks like..." mrs Weasley said more to herself then to anyone. "But my handsome boy... and he was going to be married..."
"What do you mean by zat?" Fleur suddenly said. "Going to be married? You theenk Bill will not want to marry me anymore?"
"No- I didn't say-" mrs Weasley said, started.
"You theenk, because of zese bites, he will not love me anymore?"
"No, I-"
"Because he will!" Fleur said, standing up. "It would take more zan a werewolf to stop him loving me!"
"Yes, I'm sure- but- I thought- given how he- how he-"
"You theenk I will not love him anymore? Why do I care how he looks? I am good-looking enough for ze both of us! Zese scars show zat my husband is brave!"

She snatched the ointment from a shocked mrs Weasley, pushed her aside, and went on dabbing Bill's face.
"Our Great Aunt Muriel," mrs Weasley said suddenly, breaking the silence. "Has a beautiful tiara, which I'm sure she could lend you for the wedding. She's very fond of Bill, you see. And I think it would look lovely with your hair."
"Zank you," Fleur said, a bit stiff, not taking her eyes off Bill. "I'm sure zat would be lovely."

I smiled a bit. At least someone here would be happy.
Then mrs Weasley started crying again, and Fleur too, and they hugged each other at last.
"You see!" Tonks suddenly said. "She still wants to marry him, even though he's bitten! She doesn't care!"
"It's different," Lupin said, not looking Tonks in the eyes. "Bill will not completely be a werewolf. The cases are totally different-"
"But I don't care!" Tonks said, shaking the front of Lupin's robes. "I've told you a million times!"
"And I've told you a million times," Lupin said. "I am too old for you. Too poor... too dangerous..."
I finally understood what had been up with Tonks and Lupin, why Tonks's hair had changed and why she had totally lost her funny humour. Why Lupin suddenly also was down. It wasn't because of Sirius, Tonks was in love with Lupin!
"I've told you, Remus," mrs Weasley said. "You're being ridiculous on this."
"I'm not being ridiculous, Tonks deserves someone young and whole."
"Young and whole people don't always stay that way," mrs Weasley said sadly, glancing at Bill.

The hospital doors opened, and Hagrid came in, a red and swollen face, his hair covering most of it. He was shaking.
"I've done it, Professor," he said trembling. "M-moved him. Professor Sprout's got everyone back in bed. Professor Flitwick's layin' down, but he said he'll soon be alrigh'. Professor Slughorn says the Ministry's been informed."
"Thank you, Hagrid," McGonagall said, standing up. "Tell the Heads of Houses- Slughorn for Slytherin- that they will have to come to my office when the Ministry arrives, please. I would like you to be there too. Harry, I would like a word with you before they come."
Harry nodded, and followed her. He still didn't look at me, I guessed he was still mad at me.

Neville was still in the hospital over the next few days, apparently he had broken his shoulder from the fall, that was easily mended, but he was still in pain, so I visited him regularly.

I didn't dare ask Harry if he actually got the Horcrux, but I did feel like everything was my fault, all over again. After a few days, I made the first move, by plopping down next to him on the couch by the fire. He was just sitting there, staring into the fire, playing with something in his hands. For a second, no one said anything.