Breaking the News

Till now Chris was struggling madly in Hagrid's big arms but she was surprised when all of a sudden Hagrid's hands loosened and he dropped her. Her first instinct was to run back towards the gate but then she stopped. She noticed the scene in front of her. There was a crowd in front of her but why? She started to move, dreamlike, through the murmuring crowd to the very front, where the dumbstruck students and teachers had left a gap. Her entire body was in pain, though in an oddly detached way, as though somebody near her was suffering them. What was real and inescapable was the awful pressing feeling in her chest. . . .

She walked slowly forward until she reached the place where Dumbledore lay and crouched down. Everything went still around her as she kneeled down beside Dumbledore. 

The greatest wizard Chris had ever met was lying there, spread-eagled, broken. Dumbledore's eyes were closed; but for the strange angle of his arms and legs, he might have been sleeping. Chris reached out, straightened the half-moon spectacles upon the crooked nose, wiped a trickle of blood from the mouth with her own sleeve, and pushed the long white ancient hairs away from his face.

Someone kneeled beside her and straightened Dumbledore's left arm, which was now completely black. Then the person held her hand.

"I thought he was a bit mad when I first met him," said Chris without knowing what she was saying or who was the person beside her.

"Me too," murmured Harry's voice. "He sang the Hogwarts song."

"He liked music," mumbled Chris resting her head on Harry's shoulder and Harry wrapped his arm around her.

"He did," whispered Harry. "Phoenix song was his favourite."

"I know. Do you think he used to sing?"

"Maybe, when he used to be alone in his office or somewhere."

"He never told us," Chris buried her face on the crook of Harry's neck. "Why didn't he told us, Harry? Why did he do this? Why did he. . . trusted Snape?"

Harry's arm tightened around her as she started to tremble.

"He — they killed — him," Chris moaned.

"I know."

"He didn't protest —"

"I know."

"He just accepted —"

"I know. I was there."

They stayed there like this — neither of them knows how long. Then Harry realized Chris was soaked in blood.

"You need to go to the hospital wing," he murmured in her hair. "Come on, you are injured."

"No," Chris clutched Dumbledore's hand like a baby. Her head still buried on Harry's chest.

"Please, Chris," Harry's throat tightened as he prepared himself to say the next words. "It will be okay, trust me."

And he picked up Chris from the ground, Chris didn't protest or lookup. She wrapped herself around Harry more tightly as he carried her out of the crowd. Within a few more minutes Chris was unconscious.

**

Hagrid pushed open the hospital wing door and Harry entered carrying an unconscious Chris. Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny, Luna, Colin, Aurelia, Sirius, Lupin and — to his surprise — Draco Malfoy, all were gathered around a bed near the far end of the ward. At the sound of the doors opening, they all looked up.

"Oh my god, is she — is that her blood, Harry?" asked Aurelia looking horror-struck.

Harry nodded slightly and put her down on a bed but didn't let go of her hand.

"Madam Pomfrey, her shoulder — check it first," Harry called and with a shock, saw an unrecognizable face lying on Bill's pillow, so badly slashed and ripped that he looked grotesque. Madam Pomfrey, who was dabbing at his wounds with some harsh-smelling green ointment, looked up at Chris.

"I will help her, Poppy," Aurelia said to Madam Pomfrey then looked at Ginny, Luna and Hermione, who were looking at Chris, shocked. "Girls, help me clean her wounds."

At once, Ginny and Luna started to move, Hermione followed. 

"Harry, let us," said Aurelia lightly tugging Harry.

Though he didn't want to, Harry let go of Chris' hand and Aurelia pulled the curtains around the bed. He backed away and stared at the curtains for a second, inside Hermione, Ginny, Luna and Aurelia were helping Chris. 

But will she be alright after everything?

"Harry, are you okay?" Sirius hugged Harry looking anxious. "Are you injured?"

"No, I am fine," Harry lied, though he knew soon everyone will notice his wounds. He forced himself to look away from Chris' bed and focused on Bill. "How did this happen?"

"Greyback attacked him," said Remus looking disgusted.

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

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

"But he wasn't bitten at the full moon," said Ron, who was gazing down into his brother's face as though he could somehow force him to mend just by staring. "Greyback hadn't transformed, so surely Bill won't be a — a real — ?"

He looked uncertainly at Lupin.

"No, I don't think that Bill will be a true werewolf," said Lupin, "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."

Cursed wounds. Harry's heart leapt. 

"What about wounds by Banshees? Do they heal?" he asked.

Everyone stared at him.

"Where did you found a Banshee?" asked Sirius surprised.

"I think I know," Aurelia came out from the curtain. "Harry, what attacked Chris' shoulder and back?"

There was a pause.

"Banshees," said Harry looking down, like it was his fault.

"Banshees? Not only one Banshee?" asked Colin looking terrified.

"There are Banshees inside the castle?" asked Draco incredulously.

"No, not inside the castle," said Harry. "There were Banshees. . . where Chris and I went with Dumbledore. . ."

There was a heavy silence. 

Aurelia sighed, "They had taken a pretty big chunk from Chris' shoulder, I don't know how she was moving till now. Poppy, give the ointments mixed with dittany. We have to try everything." Then she turned to Harry angrily. "I can't believe you, kids. Running around in these conditions. You could have been killed. She could have been killed."

And taking the ointments she marched back inside Chris' curtains.

"She is really worried," Sirius said to Harry sympathetically. "She saw you and Chris running through the battle. She was very furious to see you both acting carelessly. Don't worry, she will come around after she fixes Chris."

"Dumbledore might know something that'd work, though," Ron said suddenly. "He can tell us what could work on wounds made by werewolves and Banshees. Where is he? Bill fought those maniacs on Dumbledore's orders, and he loves Chris. Surely, he won't leave them in this state —"

Hagrid gave a watery sob behind them and walked out hurriedly.

"What happened?" Sirius asked sharply.

"Dumbledore is . . . he . . ." Harry couldn't say the word 'dead'. "Snape killed him."

"No!" Lupin collapsed into a chair beside Bill's bed, his hands over his face. Ron, Colin and Neville gaped at Harry. Draco looked terrified. Madam Pomfrey froze. The sound coming from Chris' bed stopped. Sirius roughly turned Harry to face him.

"What happened?"

"Snape killed him," repeated Harry. "I was there, I saw it. We arrived back on the Astronomy Tower because that's where the Mark was. . . . Chris ran downstairs to call Snape. 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 Jason came with a Malgino's man, who disarmed Dumbledore —"

"Jason? You mean Jason Fawley?" Draco spoke.

Harry didn't know why Draco was there or why no one was saying anything because of his presence but Harry was too tired to think about him. So he simply nodded.

"— more Death Eaters arrived — and then Snape — and Snape did it. The Avada Kedavra." Harry couldn't go on.

Madam Pomfrey burst into tears.

______________________________

To be continued. . .