As We Survive - Part 1: The Evolution of Draco Malfoy - Chapter 6: The Meeting

(Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling, I own nothing but a few bits and pieces here and there. I’m trying to stay as close to the books as I can, while writing my own stories, because Rowling is a genius and it’s more challenging to stick with her storyline. I have also been inspired by another story idea focusing on Neville, which takes place the summer before Deathly Hallows. I’ll be posting it up here after I finish this one, so keep an eye out for it.)

It was a quiet gathering that filled the Gryffindor Common room, when Draco spoke the password for the evening “Remember” and ducked through the portrait hole. Neville and Harry stood talking quietly next to the fireplace, Michael Corner and Terry Boot sat in armchairs next to the fire, and he noticed with an all too familiar churning in his stomach that one of Corner’s pant legs was empty from the knee down. And as he looked around the room he saw injuries that he had not known about before. Under the hat on Terry’s head, there was a large bandage that covered nearly half his face.  Katie Bell lay on a pile of cushions, a patch over one eye, and Angelina Johnson wore a sling on one arm, as she lay curled on the cushions next to her friend.

Padma and Parvati Patil were sitting with Dennis Creevey sandwiched between them, and Draco did not have to look the younger boy in the face to feel his resentful glare. Hermione sat on a sofa in a corner, her head resting on Ron’s shoulder, her eyes were closed and wet and the ginger’s face was set and hard, making him look years older than he should. He stood frozen, looking at the scene around him, the injuries that dotted the room causing a queer twisting in his chest, and he felt himself half-poised between walking further into the room and walking back out the portrait hole, unsure of whether or not his presence was really welcome.

He had half-decided that he was going to leave, when the unexpected figures of Daphne Greengrass and Blaise Zabini appeared before him. Half-dazed he found himself shaking their hands and asking after their families.

“Thank you, for taking care of Astoria, Draco.” Daphne said. “She said you were really kind.” And he did not quite miss the note of surprise in her voice, which left him feeling both ashamed and slightly resentful. Had he really been so dreadful that being kind to a young girl from his own house would come as such a surprise?

Zabini gave him a strangely appraising look, and said, “There’s firewhiskey and butterbeer on the table over by the stairs. Watch out for the refreshments, though, apparently some of them are from Weasley’s shop, so I wouldn’t trust them.”

“I didn’t know you were here, Zabini.” Draco said awkwardly, as he followed his fellow Slytherin over to the back of the room.

“I just came up for the meeting. Daphne and I have been taking turns sitting with Tracy Davis at the hospital, her family won’t see her since she fought against Voldemort.” Zabini’s voice burned with resentment.

“Oh, that’s…I didn’t even know that they supported him.” Draco said.

“Only financially, but they believe in house loyalty.” The derision in Blaise’s voice was so strong its presence was nearly solid.

Draco’s response was interrupted by the tough Irish lilt of Seamus Finnigan’s voice, “So ya decided to come then?” The shorter wizard sounded surprised.

“I…yeah.” Draco said.

“Well, isn’t this an interesting turn of events, Dean was more than half-joking when he said for ya to come. Glad to see ya did, though.” Seamus said, and turned to Blaise, “Zabini, glad to see ya could make it. I saw ya fighting at the end, and I have to say, I’m glad that ya decided to join us.”

“Finnigan,” Zabini said, a strangely fierce light in his eye, “I saw some of the curses you threw, they were…surprising.”

“Aw, well, that’s the Irish for you. We’ve got our own ways.”

“So have we.”

“Yeah, I saw that. Well, cheers then.” And Seamus nodded and walked away.

Zabini nodded, and there was a hard, ferocious gleam in his eyes as he met the fierce Irish ones, and Draco wondered what they had seen in the battle that he had missed. There was a hardened look on most of the faces in the room that was inexplicably painful, and the urge to leave returned again but he ignored it and got himself a large glass of firewhiskey. There was a hard chair in dark corner where he could observe the room in quiet, and he settled into it as comfortably as he could.

Ginny Weasley was sitting between her two oldest brothers, her head resting on Bill’s shoulder and Charlie’s arm draped protectively around her shoulders. Ernie Macmillan and his friends Hannah Abbot and Justin Finch-Fletchley sat on the carpet in front of the fire, talking in serious undertones with Anthony Goldstein. He found himself spending a great deal of time observing Daphne and Blaise, who were exhibiting a special regard for each other that surprised him. As the fire whiskey burned through him, he found his mood blackening, until Neville Longbottom stepped forward.

“Welcome everyone, thank you all for coming.” He said, raising his glass to the room, “We called this meeting to remember our fallen and make sure we have a full list of the injured. We also want to check in on the status of everyone affected by the war, to ensure that all the students who engaged in the battle are properly taken care of.  First off, those at St. Mungos: Lavender Brown is the first on my list, and as she is one of the more severely injured we’ll start with her. Who can update us on her status?”

Seamus, Dean and Parvatti both raised their hands, and Neville looked between them for a moment. “All right, which of you were the last to visit her?”

“That would be Dean and myself.” Seamus said, “We stepped over to St. Mungos for a bit this afternoon. She had quite a few broken bones from her fall, which are healing nicely, but the…wounds…” Here he swallowed and shut his eyes for a moment, “The wounds that the werewolf gave her, are not healing well. The healers are goin’ to try some experimental methods in an attempt to limit the scarring, but it’s not lookin’ good. They’ve kept her in a magical sleep to protect her from the pain while they try and find something, but they’ll have to wake her up by the end of next week if they don’t find anything.”

Draco closed his eyes, his stomach churning, and wondered if had really been the right thing to save the girl. Then he felt in the vials in his pocket, and closed his eyes. His chest clenched and he bit his tongue, hard, against the guilt. But he leaned forward to listen better to what was being said.

“Thank you Seamus.” Neville said, and turned to the twins sitting with Dennis, “Parvati, do you have anything to add or any news on Lavender’s family?”

“Seamus covered everything healthwise. Her family’s doing fairly well, considering. Her mum and dad have been spending a lot of time sitting with her, and her cousin Kelly as well. It’s been really hard on them, though.” Parvati said through silent tears.

“How are you holding up, Parvati?” Neville asked gently.

She started shaking a bit, and Padma reached around Dennis to hold her hand, “I’m fine, just…” she trailed off shaking her head.

“Come see me or Hannah afterwards,” Neville said kindly, then continued with the names, “Daphne and Blaise, any news on Tracy?”

“The acromantuala did a lot of damage, but the wounds were not fatal, thanks to Corner and Boot. She’s recovering and the healer said that the wounds are pretty standard from a confrontation with the monsters. She should be out of St. Mungo’s by the end of the month.” Blaise said.

“Does she have a place to live when she gets out?” Dean asked.

“Daphne and I have made arrangements for her.” Blaise said.

“Excellent.” Neville said. “Let us know if she needs anything else, and keep us up to date on her health.” Blaise nodded the affirmative.

“Michael, it’s good to have you here, we didn’t expect you. How are you healing?” Neville turned to the darker haired wizard.

“Not bad, really.” Michael said, “Definitely could be much worse. They’ll be fitting me for a magical appendage next week and I’ll be racing you down the corridors by the end of the month.”

“I look forward to receiving good thrashing then.” Neville said, grinning, then looked down at his list again, “Ernie, how is Susan.”

“She’s doing most excellently. They’re supposed to be releasing her tomorrow or the next day.” Ernie replied, “She’s going to be coming back to help with the castle after she’s seen her family for a few days.”

“Wonderful, that’s brilliant, tell her to take it easy, though.” Neville said, and there was a general applause around the room.

“Lee, how has your back been healing?” Neville asked.

By way of an answer, Lee stood up, bowed and pulled an astonished Alicia Spinnet into his arms dancing her around the room in an overly enthusiastic manner. “Good answer.” Neville said with a chuckle, then turned towards the Hufflepuffs, “Any news on Wayne Hopkins and Megan Jones?”

“Both back with their families.” Hannah answered then added a little brokenly, “Or what’s left of their families.”

“What is the status on the families?” Neville asked gently.

“Wayne’s father survived, but he’s in critical condition at St. Mungos. His mother is at home, but very ill. Carl’s been helping look after them since the battle ended.” Justin Flinch-Fletchly answered.

“Megan lost her older brother at the start of the year,” Hannah added, “and Gwenog’s taking the summer off of quidditch to help look after Megan and the little ones. Her mum went on the run to protect the family and they haven’t heard from her yet, they think that the Snatchers may have…that is...” Hannah stopped talking abruptly.

“Does anyone know where she went to?” Charlie Weasley asked in a surprisingly soothing voice.

“She has family in Scotland, so she might have gone there.” Hannah replied, as Charlie nodded and wrote something down on a sheet of parchment on a table in front of him. “I’ll check into it, if you could give me a list of all possible locations, I’ll try to have news for you by the end of the week.” Hannah nodded, smiling at him gratefully.

Michael Corner, who had been talking quietly with a very pale looking Terry and Anthony spoke up, “Roger Malone didn’t make it, he died during the battle but they didn’t find his…remains until a few hours ago.” There were several startled sobs around the room at this news.

Neville bowed his head, looking suddenly many years older than he was and wrote something down on a piece of parchment before replying. “Thank you, Michael, would you mind letting his family know that there are still plots available with those who fought in the battle? We can make arrangements if they wish to bury him with the others. Come and have a debriefing about it afterwards.” Michael nodded, breathing deeply, as Neville asked, “Who found the body?”

Terry, Hermione and Ron raised their hands, receiving a nod from Neville who said,“You all come as well.”

“Lily Moon died last night.” Blaise said his voice was uncharacteristically gruff, “Sally-Anne is also in critical condition, they don’t know if she’ll make it through the night. The curse has progressed to some vital organs and they still haven’t figured out what she was hit with. Daphne and I are heading back to St. Mungo’s after the meeting is over.”

“Did anyone witness Lily going down?” Bill asked the room in general.

“Blaise and I saw it, but she was too far away for us to hear the curse. By the time we got there everyone around her was…was gone.” Daphne said shakily.

“Come and see me afterwards if you have time,” Said Neville, and Draco saw that he was shaking slightly, “Please let Lily’s family know that she can also be buried here on the grounds. And keep us notified about Sally-Anne’s condition.” He rubbed his head tiredly then asked, “Any news on Oliver?”

“He died two nights ago.” Ernie said somberly, “Undetectable slow-working poison is the official diagnosis. They thought that he was recovering when he…his heart stopped. They think that it was introduce through the knife wound.”

“Thank you Ernie, please give the family our condolences, and let them know that he can be buried here at the school. That leaves Runcorn from our year.” Neville said, to Draco’s surprise he saw noticed that the Gryffindor was shivering again.

“Also died, earlier today.” Daphne answered this time, her voice bitter. “His uncle found out that he’d fought on our side and he killed him right there in the hospital. They’ve taken the uncle to Azkaban, no trial necessary as one of the Healers saw it, happen.”

Neville nodded, writing again on the parchment, but seemed to have trouble steadying his hands. Hannah handed him a large cup of what appeared to be chocolate, and whispered in his ear for a moment, Neville nodded and replied in an inaudible undertone, then turned towards Ginny and Luna taking a sip from the mug. “Ginny and Luna, are all the sixth years accounted for? Most of them did not fight, so I think we’re covered there.” And Neville’s eyes drifted to where Dennis Creevey was sitting and staring at his hands.

“All accounted for, Neville.” Ginny replied. “Colin was the only one from our year who…that is…” She stammered to a halt, looking at Dennis. “All accounted for: there are eight in St. Mungos, and four more with minor injuries who are recovering at home. But it looks like everyone will pull through. Most of them came at the end of the second wave of the battle, so they avoided the worst of it.” She finished.

“Thanks Ginny, please get me their names and any information about their families, Harry and Seamus and I will follow up with them. Final member, Cho Chang, does anyone have any information on her whereabouts and health.”

Luna spoke up, “She’s doing well, but still a bit traumatized from everything. She said she’d try and make it to the next meeting, but she might not be able to.”

“Thank you, Luna, please tell her to stay in touch. I have a few things that need to be delivered to her, would you be able to cover that?” Luna nodded, smiling, and Neville asked, “Is that all students and members of the DA now covered?”

Anthony Goldstein spoke up, “I know that he deserted at the end, in the worst way possible, but I tracked down Zacharias Smith. He was injured escaping, but he made it out. He’s back home with his family.”

“Thank you, Anthony, I’m sure I can speak for us all in saying we’re glad that he is all right.” Neville’s voice was slightly chilly, and he looked down scanning the parchment in front of him, “Now for final business on my end: After the meeting anyone with untreated injuries, and I know quite a few of you have been hiding minor damages, please come and see Hannah and I. It is not heroic to keep your injuries to yourselves, people.” Here he gave Harry a very pointed look. “Also, anyone still suffering negative side effects from detentions with the Carrows, please come see us as well. The Minister would also like me to extend an invitation to everyone who has worked with the DA over the past year, to join the Aurors. Tests to confirm everyone’s capabilities, but I have it from a good source that they will not be anything that anyone who was in the DA will not be able to handle with a  little bit of study. Harry, I think it’s your turn now?”

Harry stood up in the front of the group, his posture was more confident than Neville’s had been, but Draco was surprised to see that most of the other members of the room were not responding to him with as much familiar respect as they had with Neville.

“Right.” Harry said, “Anyone still waiting for updates on family members, particularly those with muggle-born parents who had to go on the run, please see either Charlie or myself after the meeting. Does anyone have any questions about anyone they’ve been trying to contact?”

Dean spoke up, “Anyone have any news on the Cresswell boys? Their dad saved my life and I’d like to know how they are.”

“Oh, they’re fine.” Luna spoke up quietly. “I’m sorry, I hadn’t had a chance to tell you, I got an owl from them just before I came, they’re cousins of mine. John, the youngest, is still recovering a bit from what the Carrows did, but he’s nearly mended. The oldest one, Duncan, came and fought in the battle, didn’t you know?”

Dean shook his head, “So, he survived then?”

Luna nodded, “They’d like to meet you, they don’t know much about what happened to their dad. The snatchers just left his body on their doorstep with a rather horrid note. I can take you to their house if you’d like.”

Dean nodded, looking slightly ill, but he replied with enthusiasm, “That would be really good. I’d be happy to talk to them about him.”

“How’s your family doing, Dean?” Ernie asked.

Dean grinned, “They’re doing really well, me going on the run worked.  I left before they moved house, so the ministry didn’t have information on where they were living. I don’t think they tried too hard, to be honest. I’m not really that important.

“I think we can all agree that we’re glad they were so misinformed as to your value.” Harry said to his friend.

“Dennis, how is your family holding up?” Anthony Goldstein asked kindly. But a long, awkward silence followed as Dennis closed his eyes, his lips moving soundlessly.

Finally, Neville answered quietly, “Dennis’s dad was killed last summer when the boys fled to avoid being taken in for questioning. His aunt and uncle came to Colin’s funeral, but Dennis will be living with me and gran. If anyone has any more questions or concerns about Dennis or his family they can talk to me later.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” Anthony said, flushing with embarrassment.

“It’s ok.” Dennis said, as he finally found his voice, but his eyes were closed as he spoke and there was a tremor in his voice. “Most people don’t.” An awkward silence pervaded the room.

“Any further questions or concerns?” Harry asked, breaking through the uncomfortable atmosphere. “Or does anyone know of someone who is still missing or in need of anything?”

Justin Flinch-Fletchley spoke up, “What is being done to help the muggles who suffered because of our war? There are quite a few families who lost loved ones and even more who were injured by death eaters.”

“Thank you for asking, Justin.” Hermione answered, her voice tired, “We’re still working out the logistics for helping them. We have a meeting about that tomorrow morning at half eight in the staff room, if you’d like to take part in it.”

“Excellent, I’ll be there.” Justin answered.

“Brilliant.” Harry said, “I’ll wrap up in a minute, but first Bill has a few announcements.”

Bill Weasley stood up, and took Harry’s place by the fireplace. “Anyone who has had any trouble with Gringotts during the past year please come and speak with me in the hallway after the meeting, I’ll be there for an hour after we finish. Otherwise, please feel free to come and find me here at Hogwarts, I’ll be available every morning between breakfast and noon Monday through Friday, until the end of the month. If anyone’s family was forced to close their vault at Gringotts, or had it frozen, then please notify me right away and we will get it reinstated.”

He paused for a moment and took a deep breath, “And anyone who was bitten or knows anyone who was bitten by any of the werewolves during the battle is also welcome to come talk to me about it. If any of you are hiding bites, please let us know immediately. There are treatments that help a great deal with the pain, and we would like to assist you. If you are worried about the next full moon, please don’t be, the battle took place after the full moon so there shouldn’t be anyone that changes fully.” He nodded to Harry and then sat back down, wrapping his large hand around his wife’s small one.

Harry stood and spoke again, “Any further business that needs to be taken care of?” He was met with general silence and shaking of heads. “Right then, the minister would like me to let everyone know that monument to those who fought is being raised here on the grounds and on the fountain at the ministry of magic. And now, I’d like to call for a moment of silence for those who died during Voldemort’s reign.” Silence reigned for what felt like a lifetime to Draco, and he could see tears on the faces in the room and his heart wrenched again, painfully. He put his face in his hands and fought down the tears that were choking him.

“Thank you everyone for coming.” Harry said, his voice rough and painful, a startling intrusion in the pervading silence. “Please enjoy the refreshments and allow us to see to any needs that you may have.”

As soon as the meeting ended, Draco leapt to his feet and looked around for Daphne and Blaise, he saw them just making their way through the room towards the portrait hole and bolted after them. He caught up with them at the top of the staircase. “Zabini, Blaise, wait.” He said, hurrying towards them, removing a small blue vial from his cloak and thrusting it into the handsome wizard’s hand.

“What is this?” Blaise asked suspiciously, “We’re rather in a hurry at the moment.”

“It’s something very rare, but it can heal curses that other substances are unable to.” Draco said, “It should save Sally-Anne. It’s…something special and very difficult to obtain.”

“How long have you had it?” Blaise asked fiercely, gripping Draco’s arm with one hand.

“Since early Monday morning.” Draco said, and felt the shame and guilt filling him.

“Since Monday.” And Blaise’s voice was a monotone blanket covering a seething mass of rage. “Since Monday, and you never thought to say anything?”

“I know, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that anyone was…that there were people still dying, no one told me.” Draco said, clenching his jaw hard against another agonizing wave.

“I’ll take it and visit those who are left at St. Mungo’s.” Blaise said, stashing the vial in his cloak, “But seriously Draco, I knew you were a selfish prat, but this…”

“I know.” Draco said harshly, “You can’t hate me more than I already hate myself.”

“Blaise, don’t be so hard on him…” Daphne said gently.

“People are dead, Daphne.” Blaise said, his voice hard and cold. “And he could have saved some of them.”

“I know. But he can’t go back in time. So let’s just leave it, please?” She said, then turned to Draco. “Is that all you have?”

Silently he handed them another vial. “I have more, you only need a little, a few drops. It’s powerful.”

“Thanks.” Blaise said, in a harsh voice that sounded anything but thankful, “Come on Daphne.”

Daphne nodded, then said to Draco, “Hermione still has a wound from your aunt, you should…see to her if she’ll let you.”

Draco closed his eyes and breathed, nodding. When he opened his eyes, the two Slytherins were gone, and he turned back towards the Gryffindor Common Room. Bill Weasley was standing by the door, his long arms crossed and his ponytail slung carelessly over his shoulder.

“What was that about?” He asked, his eyes blazing and wolfish.

“I…acquired a substance not long after the battle. It has powerful healing properties, but I didn’t tell anyone about it and now people are dead. I should have known that all that was too good to be true.” Draco said, numbly. “It’s not dangerous, or contagious.” He added quickly.

“Could it heal this?” Bill asked, running his finger along the ragged scar on his cheek.

Draco shook his head, “Once a wound has scarred over it’s ineffective. I’m sorry.”

Bill smiled, “I don’t need to get rid of it anyway, Fleur thinks it makes me look noble and brave. But there are people whose battle injuries are still not healed and you should go help them. One thing I’ve learned as a curse breaker is that you cannot undo the damage of the past; you can only do what you are able to keep the curses of the past from tainting the future.”

Draco nodded, “I think can do that.” He said, resolutely.

“Then do it.” Bill said, then grabbed Draco’s arm as he started to pass him, “Kingsley told me about your plan. I think it’s a good one, but it will be very costly for you. Your father is going to make some very big demands in order to allow you to carry it out.”

“I know.” Draco said, “It’s a cost I’m willing to make.”

Bill nodded. “I hope you don’t regret it.”

“I won’t. I never expected to have a choice in the matter anyway, but I hope I am skilled enough to manipulate things so that they will be tolerable.” Said Draco firmly, his grey eyes blazing as he nodded curtly to Bill, who released his arm, as he stepped back through the portrait hole.

After giving Neville and Hannah two of the vials from his cloak and a very guarded explanation of what they were for and how to use them, Draco returned to the Common room. There was a part of him that wanted to leave, but he felt drawn to stay there. It was as though the people in the room had become a magnet holding him in place. So instead, he grabbed a bottle of fire whiskey from the table and settled into an armchair and drank himself into a stupor. There seemed have been a few drunken conversations, but for a long time afterwards he was not sure if they were real or only in his mind. In the background he thought he heard an Irish voice singing a mournful ballad about someone who died in a war. And as he settled into a troubled semi-sleep, he was vaguely aware that the lights in the room had dimmed, until only the fire was left burning brightly. Through a dark fog he heard Neville and Hannah come down the stairs and settle onto a couch near the fire before he fell into a troubled sleep.

He was startled awake early in the morning, his head throbbing and his body stiff and painful, by a raspy young voice calling loudly, “Neville? Neville?” in increasing panic.

He opened his eyes, and saw Hermione stand up from an armchair, and kneel beside a figure that was wrapped in blankets in front of the fire.

“Hey Dennis, Neville and Hannah had to go help Madam Pomfrey with an emergency. They’ll be back in a little while.” Hermione said, quietly.

“What happened?” Dennis asked.

“Percy Weasley tried, that is…he got sick last night, and they’re trying to heal him.” And a sudden, sickening sensation filled Draco’s insides, as he strained his ears to listen to the conversation.

There was a long silence then Dennis said, “Did he…Hermione, he didn’t…”

“He’s going to be fine, Dennis.” Hermione said soothingly, “Ron found him and…he’ll be fine.” And there was a quiet fierceness to her voice when she said “fine” that was jarring.

“Hermione?”

“Yes Dennis.”

“Will the world ever be better?” And Dennis’s voice was painful in its hollowness.

“I think so, Dennis. I think it will…someday.” And the woman’s voice was deeply broken underneath its smooth surface.

“Where’re the rest of them? The Weasleys?” Dennis asked.

“Ginny’s in my dorm room with Luna and Fleur, and Charlie and Bill took George home to Bill’s house, he was…having a hard time. The rest of them are with Percy.” Hermione said.

“Shouldn’t you be with Ginny?” Dennis asked.

“She’s fine, and she wanted to make sure that someone stayed down here with you. So I am taking care of her, by being here with you.”

“Oh. I guess that makes sense. I can take care of myself, though.” Dennis said, sounding defiant.

“Well, I still want to be here, it’s nice in front of the fire, and you’re good company even when you’re asleep. You don’t snore nearly as much as Harry and Ron.”

Dennis chuckled at this.

The silence was longer this time, and Draco was just beginning to drift off to sleep, when Dennis’s voice jolted him awake again.

“Hermoine?”

“Yes Dennis?”

“How do we keep going?” Another silence, and Draco could hear Hermione shifting uncomfortably.

“I don’t know Dennis. I used to think that surviving was an event. That if we lived past Voldemort being defeated, then we would have survived. But I think it’s harder than that.” She sighed heavily, “I think, it’s really just about taking one day at a time.  We remember the ones we’ve lost, and carry on because we’re here and they would want us to keep living.”

“That sounds more possible, actually, just carrying on as we survive one day at a time. I think I can do that. Life just seems too hard if I try and take it all at once.” And there was a bit of a sob hidden in Dennis’s voice, “I know Colin would want me to be happy, but I just can’t be right now.”

“I think that Colin would understand.” Hermione said. “He didn’t expect you to be happy when your dad died, did he?”

“No, he was really great. He just let me be and made me laugh when he could, and I miss him, I miss him and I want him back. I’m so afraid that I’ll forget him, I don’t want to forget him.” And Dennis was crying now in earnest, “Colin, oh Colin.”

“Oh Dennis,” And Draco could tell by her voice that Hermione was crying as well, “You won’t, you won’t forget him, you couldn’t. He loved you, and the ones who love us never really leave us.”

As he listened to the woman and the boy crying, Draco discovered that the swelling pain that he had tried to drown after the meeting the night before had not, in fact, died. It grew and grew inside him, until he felt as though it would cut him in two until finally, he set it free in silent tears of his own. And the wetness from his eyes streamed down his face until he fell once more into a fitful sleep, crying for the dead and the wounded and those who had survived. 

As he drifted off, he saw a piece of parchment fall hanging over a table half-way across the room from him, where someone had left a list of the fallen students from Hogwarts. He fell asleep reading the names that were visible from his seat.

Mandy Brocklehurst

Sue Li

Morag MacDougal

Lisa Turnpin

Kevin Entwhistle

Stephen Cornfoot

Alastair Runcorn

And his dreams were strange, and troubled, and full of blood and screaming and fire. In the morning he did not remember the conversation that he had heard between Hermione and Dennis, but he would remember it over and over in the weeks to come.