𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗔 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗧

ACT ONE, CHAPTER FOURTEEN
say you won't let go.

VENUS WAS HONESTLY quite confused.

So Harry had come skidding into the common room, stating that he was leaving with Dumbledore to go look for a Horcrux. He then insisted that Malfoy and Snape had to be watched and to gather Penelope, Charlotte, Elijah, Ginny, Neville, and Luna to form groups. Harry had instructed them to take Felix Felicis, and with a quick kiss and an I love you to Venus, he had left.

They did what he had instructed, trusting Harry's gut. Their group had been gathered, and after taking a little bit of Felix Felicis, they split up. Venus stayed with Hermione, Luna, and Charlotte, and their group stayed outside Snape's office for a long time until everything exploded.

That's how Venus found herself where she was. She was back upstairs, fighting a battle with some Death Eaters that she never saw coming. Everyone in the other group — Ron, Elijah, Ginny, and Luna, Penelope was nowhere to be found — along with Nymphadora Tonks and Remus Lupin were there.

Venus had been fighting the same Death Eater for God knows how long. It must've been the Felix Felicis, because all of the curses sent to her missed her by an inch. And then suddenly, a spell from behind her sent the Death Eater flying back. Venus gripped her wand tightly and breathed heavily. She whipped around, only to see her boyfriend standing there, looking utterly devastated and totally angry.

"Harry!" Venus screamed. "Harry, what—"

He didn't answer her. Harry merely ducked his head down and continued his trudge forwards after whatever or whoever was in front of him. Venus watched him go in concern for a moment before she realized she was in the middle of a battle.

And then before she knew it, it was over.

After minutes of tireless fighting, only members of the D.A. and the Order of the Phoenix were left in the hallway. All of the Death Eaters had run away, leaving destruction in their wake. Venus watched as Charlotte knelt down next to Neville on the floor, who was groaning slightly.

"Everyone to the hospital wing," McGonagall demanded.

Venus let out a sigh. They definitely did need the hospital wing, but in reality, all she wanted to do was find Harry. The look on his face . . . something was definitely wrong.

McGonagall started levitating the bloody body of Bill, who had been attacked by the Werewolf Fenir Greyback, with her wand. Lupin and Tonks then picked Neville up and supported him. Venus, Elijah, and Charlotte all walked with each other, keeping close but staying silent. Luna wandered dreamily on her own, and Ron was staying with Penelope.

Madam Pomfrey immediately ushered them to be treated them when they got there. McGonagall set Bill down in a bed, and Lupin and Tonks hoisted Neville up on another one. Neville's injuries were healed quickly with a couple spells from Madam Pomfrey, but nothing was working on Bill.

"Miss Black," McGonagall then called. Venus blinked, snapping out of her trance and looked at the Professor. "Would you go find Potter for me? I have a feeling he needs to be here, and quite frankly, he won't listen to anyone else but you."

Venus nodded. "Yeah."

She then swiftly left the hospital wing. McGonagall followed her out but turned down another hallway. Venus approached a window and saw a large crowd forming outside at the very bottom of the Astronomy Tower. She decided to start there.

Venus descended down the steps and went to that spot. She pushed through the crowd, the crowd that was shouting and sobbing. It was only when she got to the front when she noticed why. Dumbledore, nothing but a dead body, was laying there. She stopped in her tracks, stunned for a moment, until her eyes set on the boy kneeling next to Dumbledore. Harry.

She averted her gaze from Dumbledore and approached cautiously. Venus ignored the murmurs from behind her and knelt down besides Harry. He evidently didn't notice her at first. Venus then placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Harry, come on," Venus said quietly. "We have to go."

He let out a quiet sob, Venus' heart breaking at the sound. "I — I can't leave him."

"I know, love, I know, but we have to, okay?" Venus replied, her voice slightly shaking. "Come on."

Venus took his hand and pulled him up, his limp body following hers absentmindedly. She kept a tight grip on his hand as she led him through the crowd of crying students back into the castle. People kept staring and pointing and whispering, but Venus ignored them and led Harry up the marble staircase.

Harry suddenly stopped when they got to the top of the stairs. Venus stopped as well and her eyebrows knit in confusion. She turned, only to see Harry staring at the floor intently.

"Hey," Venus stated softly, tugging on his hand a bit, making him look back up at her. "We have to go to the hospital wing."

"I'm not hurt, Star," Harry insisted. He squeezed her hand a little tighter, and his green eyes were pleading. "Can't we just go back to the Gryffindor common room? I — I just want to sit with you."

Venus took his other hand. "I would love that, but it's McGonagall's orders. Everyone's up there, too. Ron, Hermione, Charlotte, Elijah — all of them."

Harry's eyes swam with fear. "Who else died, Venus?"

"No one. We're all alive."

"But the Dark Mark . . . and — and Malfoy said he stepped over a body—"

"I didn't see, but he could've stepped over Bill or Neville," Venus responded. "But they're fine. Bill got attacked by Greyback, he's a little bit of a mess, but he's alive. And Neville's all right, he's asleep right now. The only other person who died was a Death Eater who got hit by a rogue killing curse."

"All right," Harry replied, his voice cracking slightly."

Venus' eyes softened upon noticing the tears in his eyes and she pressed up onto her toes, kissing his forehead. "We're going to be okay, Harry. As long as we have each other, we're going to get through this."

Harry hesitated for a moment. "I'm just so scared, Venus."

"I know," Venus voiced. "Me too."

Venus then dropped one of his hands and the two of them continued on. After minutes of walking in silence, they finally reached the hospital wing. Harry pushed open the doors. Everyone was gathered around Bill's bed. Hermione then immediately ran up to Harry and hugged him.

Lupin moved forwards too, looking anxious. "Are you all right, Harry?"

"I'm fine . . ." Harry answered, although Venus knew he clearly wasn't. "How's Bill?"

None of them responded. Harry then looked at Bill's slashes and ripped face. Madam Pomfrey was currently dabbing at his wounds with some harsh-smelling green ointment.

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

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

"But he wasn't bitten at the full moon," Ron cut in, gazing down at his brother's face. "Greyback hadn't transformed, so surely Bill won't be a — a real—?"

Lupin noticed the uncertain look Ron gave him. "No, I don't think that Bill will be a true Werewolf, but that does not mean that there won't be some contamination. 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—"

Penelope was the one to finally break the news that Dumbledore had died. She seemed quite numb and emotionless.

"No!" Lupin shouted.

He looked wildly between Penelope and Harry like he hoped they would say they were joking. None of them said anything. Lupin then collapsed into a chair besides Bill's bed and buried his face into his hands.

"How did he die?" Tonks questioned. "How did it happen?"

"Snape killed him," Harry answered. "I was there, I saw it. 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 — then Penelope came, and more Death Eaters arrived — and then Snape — and Snape did it. The Avada Kedavra."

Venus squeezed Harry's hand. He looked down at her, and she gave him a single nod. Madam Pomfrey then burst into tears.

"Shh!" Ginny whispered. "Listen!"

Madam Pomfrey gulped and pressed her fingers to her mouth, her eyes widened. Venus listened and heard a very sad song in the darkness. A Phoenix was singing a stricken lament of terrible beauty. The sad song echoed across the grounds and through the castle windows. Venus felt Harry lean his head on hers.

There was no telling how long they had listened to the song. It felt like a very long time when the hospital door opened. McGonagall entered, grazes on her face and ripped robes from the battle.

"Molly and Arthur are on their way," McGonagall announced, and everyone snapped out of their trances. "Harry, what happened? According to Hagrid you were with Professor Dumbledore when he — when it happened. He says Professor Snape was involved in some—"

Penelope then told McGonagall it had been Snape who killed Dumbledore. McGonagall stared at the Slytherin for a moment until she swayed alarmingly. Madam Pomfrey, who seemed to have pulled herself together, ran forwards and conjured a chair from thin air. She pushed it under McGonagall.

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

"Snape was a highly accomplished Occlumens," Lupin announced, sounding harsh. "We always knew that."

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

"He always hinted that he had an ironclad reason for trusting Snape," McGonagll muttered, dabbing the corners of her eyes with a tartan-edged handkerchief. "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 said, and all of them looked 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."

They all stared at him. Venus blinked. Literally none of that sounded genuine.

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

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

Nobody spoke for a moment, all of them stuck in a horrified shock.

McGonagall was the first one to speak, twisting her wet handkerchief in her hands. "This is all my fault 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 told her 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 asked, and Venus could tell that he was only starting to see red.

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

Penelope then told everyone it was Draco, who used the pair of Vanishing Cabinets from Borgin and Burke's to the Room of Requirement using their shared magical pathway.

Harry then glanced in between Venus, Ron, and Hermione.

"I messed up, Harry," Ron stated. "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 bitterly. "Fred and George's. I'm going to be having a word with them about who they let buy their products."

Ginny went on. "We tried everything, Lumos, Incendio. 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, Elijah, and Neville ran into us almost immediately and told us what had happened," Lupin continued. "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 questioned.

"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, Elijah, and Neville, you—?"

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

"I'm a complete idiot, that's what," Venus interrupted. "Snape told us that Flitwick collapsed and that we should help him while he went to go to the Death Eaters. We went into his office and found Flitwick unconscious. But now, looking back, Snape definitely Stunned Flitwick. We just let him go without realizing it."

"It's not your fault," Lupin stated firmly. "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 continued.

"We were in trouble, we were losing," Tonks said 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—"

Ron added to what she was saying. "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 . . ."

"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 revealed.

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

"He must have known a spell we didn't," McGonagall suggested. "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 throughthat barrier — so what happened when he came back down?" Harry inquired.

"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 responded. "We all ran forward — those of us who were still standing anyway — and then Snape and the boy emerged outof the dust — obviously, none of us attacked them—"

"We just let them pass," Tonks agreed in a hollow voice. "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 said. "He'd done what he'd meant to do."

After a short conversation between Harry and Penelope about where she was, everyone fell silent. Fawkes' song was still echoing over the dark grounds outside.

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

"Molly — Arthur—" McGonagall greeted, jumping up from her chair. "I am so sorry—"

"Bill," Mrs. Weasley whispered, brushing past McGonagall and going to her son. "Oh, Bill!"

Lupin and Tonks hastily got up and backed up so that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley could get close to the bed. Mrs. Weasley bent over Bill and pressed her lips to his bloody forehead. Venus looked down sadly.

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

"We don't yet know," McGonagall answered, 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 his behavior might be like when he awakens . . ."

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

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

McGonagall nodded. Venus looked back up, and her eyes immediately set on Fleur. She was gazing down at Bill with a frozen expression on her face.

"Dumbledore gone," Mr. Weasley echoed.

Mrs. Weasley only had eyes for her eldest son, and she started to sob, tears falling on Bill's slashed 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 raised her tear-stained face, evidently 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 insisted, drawing herself up to her full height and throwing 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? 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!"

Fleur pushed Mrs. Weasley aside and took the ointment from her. Mrs. Weasley fell back against her husband and watched Fleur mop up Bill's wounds, a curious expression on her face. Venus blinked and looked up at Harry. They shared a look.

Mrs. Weasley finally spoke up after a long pause. "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 responded stiffly. "I am sure zat will be lovely."

And then, Venus not knowing how it happened, Mrs. Weasley and Fleur were crying and hugging each other. Venus slightly smiled and looked at Penelope. The two of them had knowing expressions on their faces — after all, it was only a matter of time.

"You see!" a strained voice then shouted, and Venus looked to see that Tonks was glaring at Lupin. "She still wants to marry him, even though he's been bitten! She doesn't care!"

"It's different," Lupin protested, looking suddenly tense. "Bill will not be a full Werewolf. The cases are completely—"

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

And there it was. This whole time, Harry had been insisting that Tonks loved Sirius. But no, she loved Lupin.

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

Penelope then cut in, saying that Lupin was being a coward and that they shouldn't wait since they both loved each other.

Lupin avoided everybody's gaze. "This is . . . not the moment to discuss it. Dumbledore is dead. . . ."

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

Hagrid then entered the hospital wing, shaking with tears. "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 turned to look at their 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 then looked down at Harry. "Before I meet them I would like a quick word with you, Harry. If you'll come with me . . ."

"I don't want to go anywhere without Venus, Professor," Harry told her quickly, gripping Venus' hand tighter.

McGonagall glanced in between the couple, her eyes softening just a bit. "Very well. Come along, Miss Black."

Venus and Harry said a quiet goodbye to everyone before following McGonagall out the door. The hallways outside were deserted and the only sound was the distant Phoenix song. McGonagall was not heading towards her office but to the headmaster's — of course, as deputy headmistress, she was now headmistress, so that office was hers. In silence they went up the moving spiral staircase and entered the circular office. It was the same as Venus remembered from the mere two times she had been in there, but the only difference was the new portrait of Dumbledore. He was slumbering in a golden frame over the desk. Venus stared at it for a moment before McGonagall rounded the desk and looked at Harry.

"Harry, I would like to know what you and Professor Dumbledore were doing this evening when you left the school," McGonagall began.

"I can't tell you that, Professor," Harry replied, tugging Venus to stand a little closer to him.

"Harry, it might be important."

"It is, very, but he didn't want me to tell anyone."

McGonagall glared at him. "Potter, in the light of Professor Dumbledore's death, I think you must see that the situation has changed somewhat—"

Harry shrugged. "I don't think so. Professor Dumbledore never told me to stop following his orders if he died."

"But—"

"There's one thing you should know before the Ministry gets here, though. Madam Rosmerta's under the Imperius Curse, she was helping Malfoy and the Death Eaters, that's how the necklace and the poisoned mead—"

"Rosmerta?" McGonagall repeated incredulously.

However, before she could go on, there was a knock on the door. Professors Sprout, Flitwick, and Slughorn came into the room, followed by Hagrid, who was still weeping and trembling with grief.

"Snape!" Slughorn exclaimed, who looked the most shaken, pale, and sweating. "Snape! I taught him! I thought I knew him!"

A sallow-faced wizard with a short black fringe then walked back into his empty canvas. "Minerva, the Minister will be here within seconds, he has just Disapparated from the Ministry."

"Thank you, Everard," McGonagall told him before turning quickly to her teachers. "I want to talk about what happens to Hogwarts before he gets here. Personally, I am not convinced that the school should reopen next year. The death of the headmaster at the hands of one of our colleagues is a terrible stain upon Hogwarts's history. It is horrible."

"I am sure Dumbledore would have wanted the school to remain open," Sprout insisted. "I feel that if a single pupil wants to come, then the school ought to remain open for that pupil."

"But will we have a single pupil after this?" Slughorn countered. "Parents will want to keep their children at home and I can't say I blame them. Personally, I don't think we're in more danger at Hogwarts than we are anywhere else, but you can't expect mothers to think like that. They'll want to keep their families together, it's only natural."

"I agree," McGonagall said. "And in any case, it is not true to say that Dumbledore never envisaged a situation in which Hogwarts might close. When the Chamber of Secrets reopened he considered the closure of the school — and I must say that Professor Dumbledore's murder is more disturbing to me than the idea of Slytherin's monster living undetected in the bowels of the castle . . ."

"We must consult the governors," Flitwick voiced, a large bruise on his forehead but otherwise okay. "We must follow the established procedures. A decision should not bemade hastily."

"Hagrid, you haven't said anything. What are your views, ought Hogwarts to remain open?"

"I dunno, Professor . . . that's fer the Heads of House an' the headmistress ter decide . . ." Hagrid choked out.

"Professor Dumbledore always valued your views, and so do I," McGonagall told him kindly.

"Well, I'm stayin'," Hagrid stated, still crying. "It's me home, it's bin me home since I was thirteen. An' if there's kids who wan' me ter teach 'em, I'll do it. But . . . I dunno . . . Hogwarts without Dumbledore . . ."

He gulped and disappeared behind his handkerchief once more. There was silence. Venus watched Hagrid sadly.

McGonagall then glanced out of the window at the grounds to check if the Minister was approaching. "Very well, then I must agree with Filius that the right thing to do is to consult the governors, who will make the final decision. Now, as to getting students home . . . there is an argument for doing it sooner rather than later. We could arrange for the Hogwarts Express to come tomorrow if necessary—"

"What about Dumbledore's funeral?" Harry interrupted.

"Well . . . I — I know that it was Dumbledore's wish to be laid to rest here, at Hogwarts—"

"Then that's what'll happen, isn't it?"

"If the Ministry thinks it appropriate," McGonagall responded. "No other headmaster or headmistress has ever been—"

"No other headmaster or headmistress ever gave more to this school," Hagrid growled.

"Hogwarts should be Dumbledore's final resting place," Flitwick voiced.

"Absolutely," Sprout agreed.

"And in that case, you shouldn't send the students home until the funeral's over," Harry added. "They'll want to say—"

The last word caught in his throat. Venus turned and kissed his shoulder softly in comfort.

"Goodbye," Sprout finished for Harry.

"Well said," Flitwick squeaked. "Well said indeed! Our students should pay tribute, it is fitting. We can arrange transport home afterward."

"Seconded."

"I suppose . . . yes . . ." Slughorn trailed in a rather agitated voice, and Hagrid let out a strangled sob of assent.

"He's coming," McGonagall announced, gazing down into the grounds. "The Minister . . . and by the looks of it,he's brought a delegation . . ."

"Can Venus and I leave, Professor?" Harry questioned, clearly not wanting to be interrogated by the Minister.

"You may. And quickly."

She strode towards the door and held it open for them. Venus allowed Harry to lead them down the spiral staircase and walked next to him along the deserted hallway. There was absolutely nobody in the corridors. They didn't meet another person until they turned into the passage leading to the Gryffindor common room.

"Is it true?" the Fat Lady whispered as they approached her. "It is really true? Dumbledore — dead?"

"Yes," Harry said.

She let out a wail and swung forwards to admit them without waiting for a password. Just like Venus expected it to be, the common room was full. It fell silent as Venus and Harry climbed through the portrait hole. Seamus and Dean were sitting in a group nearby, and Neville was in the hospital wing, so Venus knew that it was just Ron there.

The two walked to where the staircases were to go to the dormitories. Venus went to let go of Harry's hand to let him go talk to Ron, but he merely held on tighter. She turned to look at him.

"Stay with me," Harry told her quietly. "Please."

Venus nodded. The two of them went up the stairs and went into Harry's room. Ron was waiting, still fully dressed while sitting on his bed. Harry and Venus sat on Harry's bed, and Harry placed their interlocked hands in his lap.

"They're talking about closing the school," Harry revealed.

"Lupin said they would," Ron stated. There was a pause. "So? Did you find one? Did you get it? A — a Horcrux?"

Harry shook his head.

"No?" Venus inquired, looking at him sadly. "You didn't get it?"

"No," Harry confirmed. "Someone had already taken it and left a fake in its place."

Ron blinked. "Already taken—?"

Harry then reached into his pocket, opened it, and passed it to Venus. She looked down at the snake emblem on the necklace and read the note before passing it to Ron.

"R.A.B., but who was that?" Ron asked.

"Dunno," Harry replied, laying back on his bed fully clothed and staring blankly upwards.

Venus glanced back at Ron pleadingly. He nodded his head. Venus then pulled out her wand and waved it at the curtains, making them close. She then cast a sticking charm on them before using Muffliato, making sure that nobody would hear their conversation.

"Harry," Venus began softly.

"Fawkes left the school," Harry said suddenly, still staring at the ceiling. "He's stopped singing. Just like Dumbledore left the school, left me . . . Fawkes is gone."

"The ones who love us never really leave us. My mom always told me that. I think that definitely applies here."

"And how would you know that?" Harry demanded loudly, sitting up. Venus slightly winced at how loud he was. Once he noticed the expression on her face, he sighed and placed his head in his hands. "I — I'm sorry."

"It's all right," Venus stated, taking his hands and pulling them away from his face. She then noticed how glassy his eyes were. "I know."

His bottom lip slightly quivered. Venus held his hands tighter and leaned forwards to press a gentle kiss to his forehead. She pulled away to look at him, and Harry instantly burst into tears. He surged forwards and wrapped his arms around her, burying his head into the crook of his neck. Venus held him close and allowed him to cry, rubbing his back softly. She blinked back tears of her own.

"I love you," Venus said quietly.

And Venus continued to hold him as he cried, but unlike last year, she wasn't sure if all the broken pieces of his heart could be mended back together.

» • » ✧ « • «

guys I still can't get over stranger things 4. like what the fuck was that.