“He must have known a spell we didn't,”

“He must have known a spell we didn't,” whispered McGonagall. “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,” said Harry savagely, “but to help them, not to stop the... and I'll bet you had to have a Dark Mark to get through that barrier—so what happened when he

came back down?”

“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,” said Lupin. “We all ran

forward—those of us who were still standing anyway—and then Snape and the boy emerged out of the dust—obviously, none of us attacked them—”

“We just let them pass,” said Tonks 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,'” said Harry. “He'd done what he'd meant to do.”

They all fell silent. Fawkes's lament was still echoing over the dark grounds outside. As the music reverberated upon the air, unbidden, unwelcome thoughts slunk into

Harry's mind... had they taken Dumbledore's body from the foot of the tower yet? What would happen to it next? Where would it rest? He clenched his fists tighdy in his

pockets. He could feel the small cold lump of the fake Horcrux against the knuckles of his right hand.

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 beautiful face terrified.

“Molly—Arthur—” said Professor McGonagall, 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!”

Lupin 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 Lupin.

“There will probably be some contamination, Arthur,” said Lupin. “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 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, Harry felt Ginny move beside him and looked at her. Her slightly narrowed eyes were fixed upon Fleur, who was gazing down at Bill with a

frozen expression on her face.

“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-bo... always very handsome... and he was g-going to be

married!”