A Young Wizard's Journey - The Lost Tomb

Love and Loss

The doors of the hospital wing burst open, making them all jump:

Mr and Mrs Weasley were striding up the ward, Fleur just behind them, her face a mask of fear.

'Molly, Arthur-' said Minerva, jumping up and hurrying to greet them. 'I am so sorry-'

'Bill,' whispered Mrs Weasley, darting past Professor McGonagall 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 Professor McGonagall distractedly. 'But he hadn't transformed? So, what does that mean? What will happen to Bill?'

'We don't yet know,' said Professor McGonagall, 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 behaviour might be like when he awakens.'

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

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

As Professor McGonagall nodded, Y/N spotted Fleur, who was gazing down at Bill with a frozen expression on her face.

'Dumbledore gone,' whispered Mr Weasley, before turning to Y/N. 'Y/N... I-'

'Don't Mr Weasley, it's okay. You know I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Bill's always been good to me, I'm just sorry that I wasn't quicker.'

Mrs Weasley meanwhile 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!'

'And what do you mean by zat?' said Fleur suddenly and loudly. 'What do you mean, ' "e was going to be married?"'

Mrs Weasley raised her tear-stained face, looking startled.

'Well- only that-'

'You theenk Bill will not wish to marry me anymore?' demanded Fleur. 'You theenk, because of these bites, he will not love me?'

'No, that's not what I-'

'Because 'e will!' said Fleur, 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,' said Mrs Weasley, 'but I thought perhaps- given how- how he-'

'You thought I would not weesh to marry him? Or per'aps, you hoped?' said Fleur, her nostrils flaring. '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 added fiercely, pushing Mrs Weasley aside and snatching the ointment from her.

Mrs Weasley fell back against her husband and watched Fleur mopping up Bill's wounds with a most curious expression upon her face.

Nobody said anything; Y/N couldn't stop the creeping smile up his face, that expression... that was respect.

'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.'