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00:00:00Chapter 28 Flight of the Prince

00:00:04Harry felt as though he, too, were hurtling through space.

00:00:07It had not happened.

00:00:08It could not have happened.

00:00:09Out of here!

00:00:11Quickly!

00:00:12said Snape.

00:00:13He seized Malfoy by the scruff of the neck and forced him through the door ahead of the

00:00:15rest.

00:00:16Greyback and the Squat Brother and Sister followed, the latter both panting excitedly.

00:00:21As they vanished through the door, Harry realised he could move again.

00:00:24What was now holding him paralysed against the wall was not magic, but horror and shock.

00:00:29He threw the Invisibility Cloak aside as the brutal-faced Death Eater, last to leave

00:00:33the tower top, was disappearing through the door.

00:00:36Petrificus Totalus!

00:00:38The Death Eater buckled, as though hit in the back with something solid and fell to

00:00:42the ground, rigid as a waxwork, but he had barely hit the floor when Harry was clambering

00:00:46over him and running down the darkened staircase.

00:00:49Terror tore at Harry's heart.

00:00:51He had to get to Dumbledore and he had to catch Snape.

00:00:54Somehow the two things were linked.

00:00:55He could reverse what had happened if he had them both together.

00:00:59Dumbledore could not have died.

00:01:01He leapt the last ten steps of the spiral staircase and stopped where he landed.

00:01:06His wand raised.

00:01:07The dimly lit corridor was full of dust.

00:01:10Half the ceiling seemed to have fallen in and a battle was raging before him, but even

00:01:14as he attempted to make out who was fighting whom, he heard the hated voice shout,

00:01:20It's over!

00:01:21Time to go!

00:01:22and saw Snape disappearing round the corner at the far end of the corridor.

00:01:26He and Malfoy seemed to have forced their way through the fight unscathed.

00:01:30As Harry plunged after them, one of the fighters detached themselves from the fray and flew

00:01:34at him.

00:01:35It was the werewolf, Greyback.

00:01:36He was on top of Harry before Harry could raise his wand.

00:01:39Harry fell backwards with filthy, matted hair in his face, the stench of sweat and blood

00:01:44filling his nose and mouth, hot, greedy breath at his throat.

00:01:48Petrificus Totalus!

00:01:50Harry felt Greyback collapse against him.

00:01:52With a stupendous effort, he pushed the werewolf off and onto the floor as a jet of green light

00:01:57came flying towards him.

00:01:59He ducked and ran, head first into the fight.

00:02:02His feet met something squashy and slippery on the floor and he stumbled.

00:02:07There were two bodies lying there, laying face down in a pool of blood, but there was

00:02:10no time to investigate.

00:02:12Harry saw Nassau red hair flying like flames in front of him.

00:02:17Ginny was locked in combat with the lumpy Death Eater, Amicus, who was throwing hex

00:02:21after hex at her while she dodged them.

00:02:24Amicus was giggling, enjoying the sport.

00:02:26Crucio!

00:02:27Crucio!

00:02:28You can't dance forever!

00:02:29Pretty!

00:02:30Impedimenta!

00:02:31Yelled Harry.

00:02:32His jinx hit Amicus in the chest.

00:02:34He gave a pig-like squeal of pain, was lifted off his feet and slammed into the opposite

00:02:38wall, slid down it and fell out of sight behind Ron, Professor McGonagall and Lupin, each

00:02:43of whom was battling a separate Death Eater beyond them.

00:02:47Harry saw Tonks fighting an enormous, blonde wizard who was sending curses flying in order

00:02:52directions so that they all ricocheted off the walls around them, cracking stone, shattering

00:02:56the nearest window.

00:02:57Harry, where did you come from?

00:02:59Ginny cried, but there was no time to answer her.

00:03:02He put his head down and sprinted forwards, narrowly avoiding a blast that erupted over

00:03:06his head, showering them all in bits of wall.

00:03:09Snape must not escape.

00:03:10He must catch up with Snape.

00:03:12Take that!

00:03:13shouted Professor McGonagall, and Harry glimpsed the female Death Eater, Alecto, sprinting

00:03:17away down the corridor with her arms over her head, her brother right behind her.

00:03:22Harry launched himself after them, but his foot caught on something, and next moment

00:03:26he was lying across someone's legs.

00:03:28Looking around, he saw Neville's pale, round face, flat against the floor.

00:03:32Neville, are you...

00:03:34I'm all right, muttered Neville, who was clutching his stomach.

00:03:38Harry...

00:03:39Snape and Malfoy ran past.

00:03:40I know.

00:03:41I'm on it, said Harry, aiming a hex from the floor at the enormous, blonde Death Eater

00:03:46who was causing most of the chaos.

00:03:48The man gave a howl of pain as the spell hit him in the face.

00:03:51He wheeled around, staggered, and then pounded away after the brother and sister.

00:03:56Harry scrambled up from the floor and began to sprint along the corridor, ignoring the

00:04:00bangs issuing from behind him, the yells of the others to come back, and the mute call

00:04:04of the figures on the ground, whose face he did not yet know.

00:04:08He skidded round the corner, his trainers slippery with blood.

00:04:11Snape had an immense head start.

00:04:13Was it possible that he had already entered the cabinet in the Room of Requirement, or

00:04:16had the Order made steps to secure it, to prevent the Death Eaters retreating that way?

00:04:21He could hear nothing but his own pounding feet, his own hammering heart, as he sprinted

00:04:26along the next empty corridor, but then spotted a bloody footprint which showed that at least

00:04:30one of the fleeing Death Eaters was heading towards the front doors.

00:04:35Perhaps the Room of Requirement was indeed blocked.

00:04:38He skidded round another corner and a curse flew past him.

00:04:41He dived behind a suit of armour which exploded.

00:04:44He saw the brother and sister Death Eaters running down the marble staircase ahead and

00:04:48aimed jinxes at them, but merely hit several bewigged witches in a portrait on the landing,

00:04:54who ran screeching into neighbouring paintings.

00:04:57As he leapt over the wreckage of armour, Harry heard more shouts and screams.

00:05:01Other people within the castle seemed to have awoken.

00:05:04He pelted towards a shortcut, hoping to overtake the brother and sister and close in on Snape

00:05:09and Malfoy, who must surely have reached the grounds by now.

00:05:12Remembering to leap the vanishing step halfway down the concealed staircase, he burst through

00:05:16a tapestry at the bottom and out into a corridor where a number of bewildered and pyjama-clad

00:05:21Hufflepuffs stood.

00:05:22Harry, we heard a noise and someone said something about the Dark Mark, began Ernie Macmillan.

00:05:28Out of the way, yelled Harry, knocking two boys aside as he sprinted towards the landing

00:05:32and down the remainder of the marble staircase.

00:05:35The oak front doors had been blasted open, there were smears of blood on the flagstones

00:05:39and several terrified students stood huddled against the walls, one or two still cowering

00:05:44with their arms over their faces.

00:05:46The giant Gryffindor hourglass had been hit by a curse and the rubies within it were still

00:05:51falling with a loud rattle onto the flagstones below.

00:05:55Harry flew across the entrance hall and out into the dark grounds.

00:05:59He could just make out three figures racing across the lawn, heading for the gates beyond

00:06:03which they could disapparate.

00:06:05By the looks of them, the huge blonde Deafeater and some way ahead of him Snape and Malfoy.

00:06:11The cold night air ripped at Harry's lungs as he tore after them.

00:06:14He saw a flash of light in the distance that momentarily silhouetted his quarry.

00:06:18He did not know what it was but continued to run, not yet near enough to get a good

00:06:23aim with a curse.

00:06:24Another flash, shouts, retaliatory jets of light and Harry understood.

00:06:30Hagrid had emerged from his cabin and was trying to stop the Deafeaters escaping and

00:06:34though every breath seemed to shred his lungs and the stitch in his chest was like fire,

00:06:40Harry sped up as an unbidden voice in his head said, not Hagrid, not Hagrid too.

00:06:46Something caught Harry hard in the small of the back and he fell forwards, his face smacking

00:06:50the ground, blood pouring out of both nostrils.

00:06:53He knew, even as he rolled over, his wand ready, that the brother and sister had overtaken

00:06:58using his shortcut and were closing in behind him.

00:07:02He yelled as he rolled over again, crouching close to the dark ground and miraculously

00:07:06his jinx hit one of them, who stumbled and fell, tripping up the other.

00:07:11Harry leapt to his feet and sprinted on after Snape and now he saw the vast outline of Hagrid,

00:07:16illuminated by the light of the crescent moon, revealed suddenly from behind clouds.

00:07:20The blonde Deafeater was aiming curse after curse at the gamekeeper but Hagrid's immense

00:07:25strength and the toughened skin that he inherited from his giantess mother seemed to be protecting

00:07:31him.

00:07:32Snape and Malfoy, however, were still running, they would soon be beyond the gates, able

00:07:35to disapparate.

00:07:37Harry tore past Hagrid and his opponent, took aim at Snape's back and yelled, stupefy!

00:07:42He missed.

00:07:43The jet of red light soared past Snape's head.

00:07:46Snape shouted, run Draco! and turned, twenty yards apart, he and Harry looked at each other

00:07:51before raising their wands simultaneously, cruise!

00:07:55But Snape parried the curse, knocking Harry backwards off his feet before he could complete

00:07:59it.

00:08:01Snape crawled over and scrambled back up again as the huge Deafeater behind him yelled, incendio!

00:08:06Harry heard an explosive bang and a dancing orange light spilled over all of them.

00:08:11Hagrid's house was on fire.

00:08:13Fangs in there, you're evil!

00:08:16Hagrid bellowed.

00:08:17Cruise! yelled Harry for the second time, aiming for the figure ahead illuminated in

00:08:22the dancing firelight but Snape blocked the smell again.

00:08:26Harry could see him sneering.

00:08:28No unforgivable curses from you Potter! he shouted over the rushing of the flames.

00:08:34Hagrid's yells and the wild yelping of the trapped fang.

00:08:37You haven't got the nerve or the ability.

00:08:40Incas! Harry roared, but Snape deflected the spell of an almost lazy flick of his arm.

00:08:46Fight back!

00:08:47Harry screamed at him.

00:08:48Fight back you cowardly!

00:08:49Coward?

00:08:50Did you call me Potter? shouted Snape.

00:08:52Your father would never attack me unless it was four on one.

00:08:56What would you call him?

00:08:58I wonder.

00:08:59Stupid!

00:09:00Blocked again and again and again until you learned to keep your mouth shut and your mind

00:09:04closed Potter! sneered Snape, deflecting the curse once more.

00:09:08Now come! he shouted at the huge Death Eater behind Harry.

00:09:12It is time to be gone before the Ministry turns up.

00:09:15Impera!

00:09:16But before he could finish this jinx, excruciating pain hit Harry.

00:09:20He kneeled over in the grass.

00:09:22Someone was screaming.

00:09:23He would surely die of this agony.

00:09:25Snape was going to torture him to death or madness.

00:09:28No! roared Snape's voice and the pain stopped as suddenly as it had started.

00:09:33Harry lay curled on the dark grass, clutching his wand and panting.

00:09:37Somewhere above him Snape was shouting.

00:09:39Have you forgotten our orders?

00:09:42Potter belongs to the Dark Lord.

00:09:44We are to leave him.

00:09:45Go!

00:09:46Go!

00:09:47And Harry felt the ground shudder under his face as the brother and sister and the enormous

00:09:51Death Eater obeyed, running towards the gates.

00:09:54Harry uttered an inarticulate yell of rage.

00:09:57In that instant he cared not whether he lived or died, pushing himself to his feet again.

00:10:02He staggered blindly towards Snape, the man he now hated as much as he hated Voldemort

00:10:07himself.

00:10:08Sectum!

00:10:09Snape flicked his wand and the curse was repelled yet again, but Harry was mere feet away now

00:10:14and he could see Snape's face clearly at last.

00:10:17He was no longer sneering or jeering.

00:10:19The blazing flames showed a face full of rage, mustering all his powers of concentration.

00:10:24Harry fought.

00:10:25Levy!

00:10:26No, Potter!

00:10:27screamed Snape.

00:10:28There was a loud bang and Harry was soaring backwards, hitting the ground hard again,

00:10:33and this time his wand flew out of his hand.

00:10:35He could hear Hagrid yelling and Fang howling as Snape closed in and looked down on him

00:10:40where he lay, wandless and defenceless as Dumbledore had been.

00:10:44Snape's pale face, illuminated by the flaming cabin, was suffused in hatred just as it had

00:10:50been before he had cursed Dumbledore.

00:10:53Would you dare use my own spells against me, Potter?

00:10:57It was I who invented them.

00:10:59I, the Half-Blood Prince, and you'd turn my inventions on me, like your fluffy father,

00:11:06would you?

00:11:07I don't think so.

00:11:08No!

00:11:09Harry had died for his wand.

00:11:11Snape shot a hex at it and it flew feet away into the darkness and out of sight.

00:11:16Kill me then, panted Harry, who felt no fear at all, but only rage and contempt.

00:11:21Kill me!

00:11:23Kill him, you coward!

00:11:24Don't!

00:11:25screamed Snape, and his face was suddenly demented, inhuman, as though he was in as

00:11:29much pain as the yelping, howling dog stuck in the burning house behind them.

00:11:34Call me coward!

00:11:36And he slashed at the air.

00:11:38Harry felt a white-hot whip-like something hit him across the face and was slammed backwards

00:11:42into the ground.

00:11:44Spots of light burst in front of his eyes and for a moment all the breath seemed to

00:11:47have gone from his body.

00:11:49Then he heard a rush of wings above him.

00:11:51And something enormous obscured the stars.

00:11:54Buckbeak had flown at Snape, who staggered backwards as the razor-sharp claws slashed

00:11:59at him.

00:12:00As Harry raised himself into a sitting position, his head still swimming from its last contact

00:12:05with the ground, he saw Snape running as hard as he could, the enormous beast flapping behind

00:12:09him and screeching as Harry had never heard him screech.

00:12:13Harry struggled to his feet, looking around groggily for his wand, hoping to give chase

00:12:18again.

00:12:19But even as his fingers fumbled in the grass, discarding twigs, he knew it would be too

00:12:23late.

00:12:24And sure enough, by the time he had located his wand, he had turned only to see the hippogriff

00:12:29circling the gates.

00:12:31Snape had managed to disapparate just beyond the school's boundaries.

00:12:35Hagrid, muttered Harry, still dazed, looking around.

00:12:39Hagrid?

00:12:40He stumbled towards the burning house as an enormous figure emerged from out of the flames

00:12:44carrying Fang on his back.

00:12:46With a cry of thankfulness, Harry sank to his knees.

00:12:49He was shaking in every limb, his body ached all over and his breath came in painful stabs.

00:12:55You alright, Harry?

00:12:56You alright?

00:12:57Speak to me, Harry!

00:12:59Hagrid's huge hairy face was swimming above Harry, blocking out the stars.

00:13:04Harry could smell burnt wood and dog hair.

00:13:06He put out a hand and felt Fang's reassuringly warm and alive body quivering beside him.

00:13:13I'm alright, panted Harry.

00:13:14Are you?

00:13:16Of course I am!

00:13:17Take more than that to finish me!

00:13:18Hagrid put his hands under Harry's arms and raised him up with such force that Harry's

00:13:23feet momentarily left the ground before Hagrid set him upright again.

00:13:27He could see blood trickling down Hagrid's cheek from a deep cut under one eye, which

00:13:31was swelling rapidly.

00:13:33We should put out your house, said Harry.

00:13:36The charms!

00:13:37Aguamenti!

00:13:38Knew it was something like that, mumbled Hagrid, and he raised a smouldering pink flowery umbrella

00:13:43and said, Aguamenti!

00:13:45A jet of water flew out of the umbrella tip.

00:13:48Harry raised his wand arm, which felt like lead, and murmured, Aguamenti!

00:13:52Two.

00:13:53Together, he and Hagrid poured water onto the house until the last flame was extinguished.

00:13:57It's not too bad, said Hagrid hopefully, a few minutes later, looking at the smoking

00:14:02wreck.

00:14:03Nothing Dumbledore won't be able to put right!

00:14:05Harry felt a searing pain in his stomach at the sound of the name.

00:14:08In the silence and the stillness, horror rose inside him.

00:14:12Hagrid.

00:14:13I was binding up a couple of bow-truckle legs when I heard them coming, said Hagrid sadly,

00:14:18still staring at his wrecked cabin.

00:14:19They'll have burnt to twigs, poor little things!

00:14:23Hagrid.

00:14:24But what happened, Harry?

00:14:25I just saw them Death Eaters running down from the castle!

00:14:28But what the ruddy hell was Snape doing with them?

00:14:30Where's he gone?

00:14:31Was he chasing them?

00:14:33He...

00:14:34Harry cleared his throat.

00:14:35It was dry from panic and the smoke.

00:14:38Hagrid.

00:14:39He killed.

00:14:40Killed, said Hagrid loudly, staring down at Harry.

00:14:43Snape killed?

00:14:44What are you on about, Harry?

00:14:45Dumbledore, said Harry.

00:14:47Snape.

00:14:48Killed.

00:14:49Dumbledore.

00:14:50Hagrid simply looked at him, the little of his face that could be seen completely blank,

00:14:54uncomprehending.

00:14:55Dumbledore?

00:14:56What?

00:14:57Harry?

00:14:58He's dead.

00:14:59Snape killed him.

00:15:00Don't say that, said Hagrid roughly.

00:15:02Snape killed Dumbledore?

00:15:03Don't be stupid, Harry.

00:15:04What?

00:15:05What's made you say that?

00:15:06I saw it happen.

00:15:07You couldn't have.

00:15:08I saw it, Hagrid.

00:15:10Hagrid shook his head.

00:15:11Harry's expression was disbelieving but sympathetic, and Harry knew that Hagrid thought he had

00:15:16sustained a blow to the head, and that he was confused, perhaps by the after-effects

00:15:20of a jinx.

00:15:21What must have happened was, Dumbledore must have told Snape to go with them Death Eaters,

00:15:26Hagrid said confidently.

00:15:27I suppose he's gotta keep his cover.

00:15:29Look, let's get you back up to the school.

00:15:31Come on, Harry.

00:15:32Harry did not attempt to argue or explain.

00:15:34He was still shaking uncontrollably.

00:15:37Hagrid would find out soon enough, too soon.

00:15:40As they directed their steps back towards the castle, Harry saw that many of its windows

00:15:44were lit now.

00:15:45He could imagine, clearly, the scenes inside as people moved from room to room, telling

00:15:50each other that Death Eaters had got in, that the mark was shining over Hogwarts, that somebody

00:15:54must have been killed.

00:15:56The oak front door stood open ahead of them, light flooding out onto the drive and the

00:16:01lawn.

00:16:02Slowly, uncertainly, dressing-gowned people were creeping down the steps, looking around

00:16:06nervously for some sign of the Death Eaters who had fled into the night.

00:16:10Harry's eyes, however, were fixed upon the ground at the foot of the tallest tower.

00:16:14He imagined that he could see a black huddled mass lying in the grass there, though he was

00:16:18really too far away to see anything of the sort.

00:16:21Even as he stared wordlessly at the place where he thought Dumbledore's body must lie,

00:16:25however, he saw people beginning to move towards it.

00:16:28What are they all looking at? said Hagrid, as he and Harry approached the castle front,

00:16:33Fang keeping as close as he could to their ankles.

00:16:36What's that lying on the grass?

00:16:38Hagrid added sharply, heading now towards the foot of the Astronomy Tower, where a small

00:16:42crowd was congregating.

00:16:44See it, Harry?

00:16:45Right at the foot of the tower, under where the mark...

00:16:47Blimey!

00:16:48You don't think someone got thrown?

00:16:51Hagrid fell silent, the thought apparently too horrible to express aloud.

00:16:55Harry walked alongside him, feeling the aches and pains in his face and his legs where the

00:16:59various hexes of the last half hour had hit him, though in an oddly detached way, as though

00:17:05somebody near him was suffering them.

00:17:07What was real and inescapable was the awful pressing feeling in his chest.

00:17:11He and Hagrid moved, dreamlike, through the murmuring crowd to the very front where the

00:17:16dumbstruck students and teachers had left a gap.

00:17:20Harry heard Hagrid's moan of pain and shock, but he did not stop.

00:17:24He walked slowly forwards until he reached the place where Dumbledore lay, and crouched

00:17:28down beside him.

00:17:29Harry had known there was no hope from the moment that the body-bind curse Dumbledore

00:17:33had placed upon him lifted, known that it could have happened only because its caster

00:17:37was dead, but there was still no preparation for seeing him here, spread-eagled, broken,

00:17:43the greatest wizard Harry had ever, or would ever, meet.

00:17:47Dumbledore's eyes were closed, but for the strange angle of his arms and legs, he might

00:17:51have been sleeping.

00:17:52Harry reached out, straightening the half-moon spectacles upon the crooked nose, and wiped

00:17:57a trickle of blood from the mouth with his own sleeve.

00:18:01Then he gazed down at the wise old face, and tried to absorb the enormous and incomprehensible

00:18:05truth that never again would Dumbledore speak to him.

00:18:09Never again could he help.

00:18:11The crowd murmured behind Harry.

00:18:13After what seemed like a long time, he became aware that he was kneeling upon something

00:18:16hard and looked down.

00:18:18The locket they had managed to steal so many hours before had fallen out of Dumbledore's

00:18:22pocket.

00:18:23It had opened, perhaps due to the force with which it had hit the ground, and although

00:18:27he could not feel more shock or horror or sadness than he felt already, Harry knew,

00:18:32as he picked it up, that there was something wrong.

00:18:35He turned the locket over in his hands.

00:18:37This was neither as large as the locket he remembered seeing in the Pensieve, nor were

00:18:41there any markings upon it, no sign of the ornate S that was supposed to be Slytherin's

00:18:45mark.

00:18:46Moreover, there was nothing inside but for a scrap of folded parchment, wedged tightly

00:18:51into the place where a portrait should have been.

00:18:54Automatically, without really thinking about what he was doing, Harry pulled out the fragment

00:18:58of parchment, opened it, and read, by the light of the many wands, what now had been

00:19:02lit behind him.

00:19:05To the Dark Lord, I know I will be dead long before you read this, but I want you to know

00:19:11that it was I who discovered your secret.

00:19:13I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can.

00:19:18I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more.

00:19:23R.A.B.

00:19:27Harry neither knew or cared what the message meant.

00:19:31Only one thing mattered.

00:19:32This was not a Horcrux.

00:19:34Dumbledore had weakened himself by drinking that terrible potion for nothing.

00:19:38Harry crumpled the parchment in his hand and his eyes burned with tears as behind him Fang

00:19:43began to howl.

00:19:46CHAPTER 29 THE PHOENIX LAMENT

00:19:49Come here, Harry.

00:19:51No.

00:19:52Come here, Harry.

00:19:53Come on, now.

00:19:54No.

00:19:55He did not want to leave Dumbledore's side.

00:19:56He did not want to move anywhere.

00:19:58Hagrid's hand on his shoulder was trembling.

00:20:00Then another voice said, Harry, come on.

00:20:02A much smaller and warmer hand had enclosed his and was pulling him upwards.

00:20:06He obeyed its pressure without really thinking about it.

00:20:09Only as he walked blindly back through the crowd did he realise, from a trace of flowery

00:20:13scent on the air, that it was Ginny who was leading him back to the castle.

00:20:17Incomprehensible voices battered him, sobs and shouts and wails stabbed the knight, but

00:20:22Harry and Ginny walked on, back up the steps into the entrance hall.

00:20:25Faces swam on the edges of Harry's vision.

00:20:27People were peering at him, whispering, wondering, and Gryffindor rubies glistened on the floor

00:20:32like drops of blood as they made their way towards the marble staircase.

00:20:35We're going to the hospital wing, said Ginny.

00:20:37I'm not hurt, said Harry.

00:20:39It's McGonagall's orders, said Ginny.

00:20:41Everyone's up there.

00:20:42Ron and Hermione and Lupin and everyone.

00:20:45Fear stirred in Harry's chest again.

00:20:46He had forgotten the inert figures he had left behind.

00:20:49Ginny?

00:20:50Who else is dead?

00:20:51Don't worry.

00:20:52None of us.

00:20:53But the Dark Mark.

00:20:54Malfoy said he stepped over a body.

00:20:55He stepped over Bill.

00:20:57But it's all right.

00:20:58He's alive.

00:20:59There was something in her voice, however, that Harry knew boded ill.

00:21:01Are you sure?

00:21:02Of course I'm sure.

00:21:03He's a bit of a mess, that's all.

00:21:06Greyback attacked him.

00:21:07Madame Pomfrey says he won't look the same anymore.

00:21:11Ginny's voice trembled a little.

00:21:13We don't really know what the after-effects will be.

00:21:16I mean, Greyback being a werewolf, but not transformed at the time.

00:21:20What about the others?

00:21:21There were other bodies on the ground.

00:21:23Neville's in the hospital wing, but Madame Pomfrey thinks he'll make a full recovery,

00:21:26and Professor Flitwick was knocked out, but he's all right, just a bit shaky.

00:21:30He insisted on going off to look after the Ravenclaws, and a Death Eater's dead.

00:21:34He got hit by a killing curse.

00:21:36The huge blonde one was firing off everywhere.

00:21:38Harry, if we hadn't had your Felix potion, I think we'd have all been killed, but everything

00:21:43seemed to just miss us.

00:21:45They had just reached the hospital wing, pushing open the doors.

00:21:48Harry saw Neville lying, apparently asleep, in a bed near the door.

00:21:51Ron, Hermione, Luna, Tonks and Lupin were gathered around another bed, near the far

00:21:55end of the ward.

00:21:56At the sound of the door's opening, they all looked up.

00:22:00Hermione ran to Harry and hugged him.

00:22:02Lupin moved forwards too, looking anxious.

00:22:03Are you all right, Harry?

00:22:05I'm fine.

00:22:06How's Bill?

00:22:08Nobody answered.

00:22:09Harry looked over Hermione's shoulder and saw an unrecognizable face lying on Bill's

00:22:13pillow, so badly slashed and ripped that he looked grotesque.

00:22:18Madame Pomfrey was dabbing at his wounds with some harsh-smelling green ointment.

00:22:22Harry remembered how Snape had mended Malfoy's septum-sempera wounds so easily with his wand.

00:22:26Can't you fix them, with a charm or something?

00:22:29he asked the matron.

00:22:30No charm will work on these, said Madame Pomfrey.

00:22:33I've tried everything I know, but there is no cure for werewolf bites.

00:22:37But he wasn't bitten at the full moon, said Ron.

00:22:40He was gazing down into his brother's face as though he could somehow force him to mend

00:22:44just by staring.

00:22:45His way back hadn't transformed, so surely Bill won't be a real...

00:22:49He looked uncertainly at Lupin.

00:22:51No, I don't think that Bill will be a true werewolf, said Lupin.

00:22:54But that does not mean that there won't be some contamination.

00:22:57Those are cursed wounds.

00:22:58They are unlikely ever to heal fully, and Bill might have some wolfish characteristics

00:23:03from now on.

00:23:05Dumbledore might know something that'd work, though, Ron said.

00:23:09Where is he?

00:23:10Bill fought those maniacs on Dumbledore's orders.

00:23:13Dumbledore owes him.

00:23:14We can't leave him in this state.

00:23:15Ron, Dumbledore's dead, said Ginny.

00:23:18No.

00:23:19Lupin looked wildly from Ginny to Harry, as though hoping the latter might contradict

00:23:23her.

00:23:24But when Harry did not, Lupin collapsed into a chair beside Bill's bed, his hands over

00:23:28his face.

00:23:29Harry had never seen Lupin lose control before.

00:23:31He felt as though he was intruding upon something private, indecent.

00:23:35He turned away and caught Ron's eye instead, exchanging in silence a look that confirmed

00:23:39what Ginny had said.

00:23:42How did he die?

00:23:43He was betonked.

00:23:44How did it happen?

00:23:45Snape killed him, said Harry.

00:23:46I was there.

00:23:47I saw it.

00:23:48We arrived back on the Astronomy Tower, because that's where the mark was.

00:23:52Dumbledore was ill.

00:23:53He was weak, but I think he realised it was a trap when we heard footsteps running up

00:23:56the stairs.

00:23:57He immobilised me.

00:23:59I couldn't do anything.

00:24:00I was under the invisibility cloak, and then Malfoy came through the door and disarmed

00:24:04him.

00:24:05Hermione clapped her hands to her mouth, and Ron groaned.

00:24:08Luna's mouth trembled.

00:24:10More Death Eaters arrived.

00:24:12And then Snape.

00:24:13And Snape did it.

00:24:14The Avada Kedavra.

00:24:15Harry couldn't go on.

00:24:17Madame Pomfrey burst into tears.

00:24:19Nobody paid her any attention except Ginny, who whispered,

00:24:21Shhh.

00:24:22Listen.

00:24:23Gulping, Madame Pomfrey pressed her fingers to her mouth, her eyes wide.

00:24:27Somewhere out in the darkness, a phoenix was singing in a way Harry had never heard before.

00:24:31A stricken lament of terrible beauty.

00:24:34And Harry felt, as he had felt about phoenix song before, that the music was inside him.

00:24:38Not without.

00:24:39It was his own grief turned magically to song that echoed across the grounds and through

00:24:44the castle windows.

00:24:46How long they all stood there listening he did not know, nor why it seemed to ease their

00:24:50pain a little to listen to the sound of their mourning.

00:24:54But it felt like a long time later that the hospital door opened again, and Professor

00:24:57McGonagall entered the ward.

00:24:59Like all the rest, she bore marks of the recent battle.

00:25:01There were grazes on her face, and her robes were ripped.

00:25:05Molly and Arthur are on their way, she said, and the spell of the music was broken.

00:25:10Everyone roused themselves as though coming out of trances, turning again to look at Bill,

00:25:14or else to rub their own eyes, shake their heads.

00:25:17Harry, what happened?

00:25:19According to Hagrid, you were with Professor Dumbledore when he... when it happened.

00:25:22He says Professor Sneak was involved in some...

00:25:25Snape killed Dumbledore, said Harry.

00:25:27She stared at him for a moment, and then swayed alarmingly.

00:25:30Madame Pomfrey, who seemed to have pulled herself together, ran forwards conjuring a

00:25:33chair from thin air, which she pushed under McGonagall.

00:25:37Snape, repeated McGonagall faintly, falling into the chair.

00:25:41We all wondered, but... he trusted, always.

00:25:44Snape, I can't believe it.

00:25:47Snape was highly... a highly accomplished oculomans, said Lupin, his voice uncharacteristically

00:25:52harsh.

00:25:53We always knew that.

00:25:54But Dumbledore swore he was on our side, whispered Tonks.

00:25:56I always thought Dumbledore must know something about Snape that we didn't.

00:26:01He always hinted that he had an ironclad reason for trusting Snape, muttered Professor

00:26:06McGonagall, now dabbing at the corners of her leaking eyes with a tartan edged handkerchief.

00:26:10I mean, with Snape's history.

00:26:13Of course people were bound to wonder, but Dumbledore told me explicitly that Snape's

00:26:18repentance was absolutely genuine.

00:26:20Wouldn't hear a word against him.

00:26:22I'd love to know what Snape told him to convince him, said Tonks.

00:26:25I know, said Harry, and they all turned to stare at him.

00:26:28Snape passed Voldemort the information that made Voldemort hunt down my mum and dad.

00:26:32Then Snape told Dumbledore he hadn't realised what he was doing.

00:26:35He was really sorry he'd done it.

00:26:37Sorry that they were dead.

00:26:39And Dumbledore believed that, said Lupin incredulously.

00:26:43Dumbledore believed Snape was sorry James was dead.

00:26:46Snape hated James.

00:26:47And he didn't think my mother was worth a damn either, said Harry, because she was muggle-born.

00:26:52Mudblood, he called her.

00:26:53Nobody asked how Harry knew this.

00:26:55All of them seemed to be lost in horrified shock, trying to digest the monstrous truth

00:26:59of what had happened.

00:27:00This is all my fault, said Professor McGonagall suddenly.

00:27:04She looked disorientated, twisting her wet handkerchief in her hands.

00:27:08My fault.

00:27:09I sent Filius to fetch Snape tonight.

00:27:11I actually sent for him to come and help us.

00:27:13If I hadn't alerted Snape to what was going on, he might never have joined forces with

00:27:17the Death Eaters.

00:27:18I don't think he knew they were there before Filius told him.

00:27:22I don't think he knew they were coming.

00:27:24It's not your fault, Minerva, said Lupin firmly.

00:27:26We all wanted more help.

00:27:28We were glad to think Snape was on his way.

00:27:31So when he arrived at the fight, he joined in on the Death Eaters' side, asked Harry,

00:27:35who wanted every detail of Snape's duplicity and infamy, feverishly collecting more reasons

00:27:40to hate him, to swear vengeance.

00:27:42I don't know exactly how it happened, said Professor McGonagall distractedly.

00:27:46It's all so confusing.

00:27:48Dumbledore had told us that he would be leaving the school for a few hours, and that we were

00:27:52to patrol the corridors just in case Remus, Bill and Nymphadora were to join us.

00:27:57And so we patrolled.

00:27:58All seemed quiet.

00:27:59Every secret passageway out of the school was covered.

00:28:02We knew nobody could fly in.

00:28:04There were powerful enchantments on every entrance into the castle.

00:28:07I still don't know how the Death Eaters can possibly have entered.

00:28:10I do, said Harry, and he explained briefly about the pair of vanishing cabinets and the

00:28:15magical pathway they formed.

00:28:17So they got in through the Room of Requirement.

00:28:21Almost against his will, he glanced from Ron to Hermione, both of whom looked devastated.

00:28:25I messed up, Harry, said Ron bleakly.

00:28:28We did, like you told us.

00:28:30We checked the Marauder's Map, and we couldn't see Malfoy on it, so we thought he must be

00:28:34in the Room of Requirement, so me, Ginny and Neville went to keep watch on it.

00:28:37But Malfoy got past us.

00:28:39He came out of the room about an hour after we started keeping watch, said Ginny.

00:28:43He was on his own, clutching that awful shrivelled arm.

00:28:46His Hand of Glory, said Ron, gives light only to the Holder, remember?

00:28:51Anyway, Ginny went on, he must have been checking whether the coast was clear to let the Death

00:28:55Eaters out, because the moment he saw us he threw something into the air, and it all went

00:28:59pitch black.

00:29:00Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder, said Ron bitterly.

00:29:04Fred and George's.

00:29:05I'm going to be having a word with them about who they let buy their products.

00:29:09We tried everything.

00:29:10Lumos.

00:29:11Incendio, said Ginny.

00:29:12Nothing would penetrate the darkness.

00:29:14All we could do was grope our way out of the corridor again, and meanwhile we could hear

00:29:18people rushing past us.

00:29:19Obviously Malfoy could see because of that hand thing, and was guiding them.

00:29:23But we didn't dare use any curses or anything in case we hit each other, and by the time

00:29:27we'd reached a corridor that was light, they'd gone.

00:29:30Luckily, said Lupin hoarsely, Ron, Ginny and Neville ran into us almost immediately, and

00:29:35told us what had happened.

00:29:36We found the Death Eaters minutes later, heading in the direction of the Astronomy Tower.

00:29:40Malfoy obviously hadn't expected more people to be on the watch.

00:29:43He seemed to have exhausted his supply of Darkness Powder.

00:29:46At any rate, a fight broke out, they scattered, and we gave chase.

00:29:50One of them, Gibbon, broke away, and headed up the tower stairs.

00:29:53To set off the mark, asked Harry.

00:29:55He must have done, yes.

00:29:56They must have arranged that before they left the Room of Requirement, said Lupin.

00:30:00But I don't think Gibbon liked the idea of waiting up there alone for Dumbledore, because

00:30:04he came running back downstairs to rejoin the fight, and was hit by a killing curse

00:30:07that just missed me.

00:30:09So if Ron was watching the Room of Requirement with Ginny and Neville, said Harry, turning

00:30:13to Hermione.

00:30:14Were you?

00:30:15Outside Snape's office, yes, whispered Hermione, her eyes sparkling with tears, with Luna.

00:30:20We hung around for ages outside it, and nothing happened.

00:30:23We didn't know what was going on upstairs.

00:30:25Ron had taken the Marauder's Map.

00:30:27It was nearly midnight when Professor Flitwick came sprinting down into the dungeons.

00:30:31He was shouting about Death Eaters in the castle.

00:30:33I don't think he really registered that Luna and I were there at all.

00:30:36He just burst his way into Snape's office, and we heard him saying that Snape had to

00:30:40go back with him, and help.

00:30:41Then we heard a loud thump, and Snape came hurtling out of his room, and he saw us.

00:30:46And what?

00:30:47Harry urged her.

00:30:49I was so stupid, Harry, said Hermione in a high-pitched whisper.

00:30:53He said Professor Flitwick had collapsed, and that we should go and take care of him

00:30:56while he went to help fight the Death Eaters.

00:31:00She covered her face in shame, and continued to talk into her fingers, so that her voice

00:31:04was muffled.

00:31:05We went into his office to see if we could help Professor Flitwick, and found him unconscious

00:31:10on the floor.

00:31:11You know, it's so obvious now.

00:31:13Snape must have stupefied Flitwick, but we didn't realise, Harry, we didn't realise.

00:31:17We just let Snape go.

00:31:19It's not your fault, said Lupin firmly.

00:31:22Hermione, had you not obeyed Snape and got out of the way, he would probably have killed

00:31:25you and Luna.

00:31:27So then he came upstairs, said Harry, who in his mind's eye was watching Snape running

00:31:31up the marble staircase, his black robes billowing behind him as ever, pulling his wand from

00:31:36under his cloak as he ascended.

00:31:38And he found the place where you were all fighting.

00:31:41We were in trouble.

00:31:42We were losing, said Tonks in a low voice.

00:31:44Gibbon was down, but the rest of the Death Eaters seemed ready to fight to the death.

00:31:49Neville had been hurt, Bill had been savaged by Greyback, it was all dark, curses flying

00:31:53everywhere, the Malfoy boy had vanished, he must have slipped past, up the stairs to the

00:31:57tower.

00:31:58Then, more of them ran after him, but one of them blocked the stairs behind them, it

00:32:01was some kind of curse, Neville ran at it and got thrown up into the air.

00:32:05None of us could break through, said Ron, and that massive Death Eater was still firing

00:32:09off Jinxes all over the place, they were bouncing off the walls and barely missing

00:32:13us.

00:32:14And then Snape was there, said Tonks.

00:32:16And then he wasn't.

00:32:17I saw him running towards us, but that huge Death Eater's Jinx just missed me right afterwards,

00:32:22and I ducked and lost track of things, said Ginny.

00:32:24I saw him run straight through the cursed barrier, as though it wasn't there, said Lupin.

00:32:28I tried to follow him, but he was thrown back, just like Neville.

00:32:31He must have known a spell we didn't, whispered McGonagall, after all, he was the Defence

00:32:35Against the Dark Arts teacher.

00:32:37I just assumed that he was in a hurry to chase after the Death Eaters who'd escaped up to

00:32:40the tower.

00:32:41He was, said Harry savagely, but to help them, not to stop them, and I'll bet you had to

00:32:50have a dark mark to get through that barrier.

00:32:52So what happened when he came back down?

00:32:54Well, the big Death Eater had just fired off a hex that caused half the ceiling to fall

00:32:59in and also broke the curse blocking the stairs, said Lupin.

00:33:03We all ran forwards, those of us who were still standing, anyway, and then Snape and

00:33:07the boy emerged out of the dust.

00:33:08Obviously, none of us attacked them.

00:33:10We just let them past, said Tonks in a hollow voice.

00:33:13We thought they were being chased by the Death Eaters, and next thing, the other Death Eaters

00:33:17and Greyback were back and we were fighting again.

00:33:19I thought I heard Snape shout something, but I don't know what.

00:33:23He shouted, it's over, said Harry.

00:33:26He'd done what he'd meant to do.

00:33:28They all fell silent.

00:33:29Harry's lament was still echoing over the dark grounds outside, as the music reverberated

00:33:34upon the air.

00:33:35Unbidden, unwelcome thoughts slunk into Harry's mind.

00:33:39Had they taken Dumbledore's body from the foot of the tower yet?

00:33:42What would happen to it next?

00:33:43Where would it rest?

00:33:44He clenched his fists tightly in his pockets.

00:33:47He could feel the small, cold lump of the fake Horcrux against the knuckles of his right

00:33:51hand.

00:33:52The doors of the hospital wing burst open, making them all jump.

00:33:56Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were standing and striding up the ward, Fleur just behind them, her beautiful

00:34:00face terrified.

00:34:02Molly?

00:34:03Aphra?

00:34:04said Professor McGonagall, jumping up and hurrying to greet them.

00:34:06I am so sorry.

00:34:08Bill?

00:34:09whispered Mrs. Weasley, darting past Professor McGonagall as she caught sight of Bill's mangled

00:34:14face.

00:34:15Oh, Bill!

00:34:16Lupin and Tonks had got up hastily and retreated so that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley could get nearer

00:34:21to the bed.

00:34:22Mrs. Weasley bent over her son and pressed her lips to his bloody forehead.

00:34:27You and Grayback attacked him?

00:34:30Mr. Weasley asked Professor McGonagall distractedly.

00:34:32But he didn't transform.

00:34:34He hadn't transformed.

00:34:35So what does that mean?

00:34:36What will happen to Bill?

00:34:38We don't know yet, said Professor McGonagall, looking helplessly at Lupin.

00:34:42There will probably be some contamination, Arthur, said Lupin.

00:34:46It is an odd case, possibly unique.

00:34:48We don't know what his behaviour might be like when he wakes up.

00:34:51Mrs. Weasley took the nasty-smelling ointment from Madame Pomfrey and began dabbing at Bill's

00:34:55wounds.

00:34:56And Dumbledore, said Mr. Weasley, Minerva, is it true?

00:35:00Is he really?

00:35:01As Professor McGonagall nodded, Harry felt Ginny move beside him and looked at her.

00:35:06Her slightly narrowed eyes were fixed upon Fleur, who was gazing down at Bill with a

00:35:09frozen expression on her face.

00:35:11Dumbledore gone! whispered Mr. Weasley.

00:35:14But Mrs. Weasley had eyes only for her eldest son.

00:35:18She began to sob, tears falling onto Bill's mutilated face.

00:35:22Of course, it doesn't matter how he looks.

00:35:25It's not really important.

00:35:27But he was a very handsome little boy, always very handsome, and he was going to be married.

00:35:34And what do you mean by that? said Fleur suddenly and loudly.

00:35:37What do you mean he was going to be married?

00:35:40Mrs. Weasley raised her tear-stained face, looking startled.

00:35:44Only that you think Bill will not wish to marry me any more? demanded Fleur.

00:35:48You think because of these bites he will not love me?

00:35:50No, that's not what I.

00:35:52Because he will, said Fleur, drawing herself up to her full height and throwing back her

00:35:57long mane of silver hair.

00:35:58It would take more than a werewolf to stop Bill loving me.

00:36:01Well, yes, I'm sure, said Mrs. Weasley.

00:36:04But I thought perhaps, given how he.

00:36:07You thought I would not wish to marry him?

00:36:08Or perhaps you hoped, said Fleur, her nostrils flaring.

00:36:13What do I care how he looks?

00:36:14I am good-looking enough for both of us, I think.

00:36:17All these scars show is that my husband is brave, and I shall do that, she added fiercely,

00:36:22pushing Mrs. Weasley aside and snatching the ointment from her.

00:36:27Mrs. Weasley fell back against her husband and watched Fleur mopping up Bill's wounds

00:36:31with a most curious expression upon her face.

00:36:33Nobody said anything.

00:36:35Harry did not dare move.

00:36:36Like everybody else, he was waiting for the explosion.

00:36:40Our great Auntie Muriel, said Mrs. Weasley after a long pause, has a very beautiful tiara.

00:36:45Goblin-made, which I am sure I could persuade her to lend you for the wedding.

00:36:50She is very fond of Bill, you know, and it would look lovely with your hair.

00:36:53Thank you, said Fleur stiffly.

00:36:55I am sure that would be lovely.

00:36:58And then Harry did not quite see how it happened.

00:37:00Both women were crying and hugging each other.

00:37:02Completely bewildered, wondering whether the world had gone mad, he turned around.

00:37:07Ron looked as stunned as Harry felt, and Ginny and Hermione were exchanging startled looks.

00:37:11You see, said a strained voice.

00:37:13Tonks was glaring at Lupin.

00:37:15She still wants to marry him, even though he's been bitten.

00:37:18She doesn't care.

00:37:19It's different, said Lupin, barely moving his lips and looking suddenly tense.

00:37:23Bill will not be a full werewolf.

00:37:25The cases are completely...

00:37:26But I don't care either.

00:37:27I don't care, said Tonks, seizing the front of Lupin's robes and shaking them.

00:37:32I've told you a million times.

00:37:34And the meaning of Tonks' Patronus and her mouse-coloured hair,

00:37:37and the reason she had come running to find Dumbledore

00:37:39when she heard a rumour someone had been attacked by Greyback,

00:37:42all suddenly became clear to Harry.

00:37:44It had not been serious that Tonks had been falling in love with, after all.

00:37:48And I've told you a million times, said Lupin, refusing to meet her eyes,

00:37:52staring at the floor, that I am too old for you, too poor, too dangerous.

00:37:57I've said all along, you're taking a ridiculous line on this, Remus,

00:38:01said Mrs Weasley, over Fleur's shoulder, as she patted her on the back.

00:38:04I am not being ridiculous, said Lupin steadily.

00:38:07Tonks deserves somebody young and whole.

00:38:09But she wants you, said Mr Weasley, with a small smile.

00:38:13And after all, Remus, young and whole men do not necessarily remain so,

00:38:16he gestured sadly at his son, lying between them.

00:38:19This is not the moment to discuss it, said Lupin,

00:38:23avoiding everybody's eyes as he looked around distractedly.

00:38:26Dumbledore is dead.

00:38:28Dumbledore would have been happier than anybody to think that there was

00:38:31a little more love in the world, said Professor McGonagall curtly,

00:38:35just as the hospital doors opened again and Hagrid walked in.

00:38:39The little of his face that was not obscured by hair or beard was soaking and swollen.

00:38:43He was shaking with tears, a vast spotted handkerchief in his hand.

00:38:47I've done it, Professor, he choked.

00:38:51Moved him.

00:38:52Professor Sprout's got the kids back in bed.

00:38:54Professor Flitwick's lying down, but he says he'll be all right in a jiffy.

00:38:57Professor Slughorn says the ministry's been informed.

00:39:00Thank you, Hagrid, said Professor McGonagall,

00:39:03standing up at once and turning to look at the group around Bill's bed.

00:39:06I shall have to see the ministry when they get here.

00:39:09Hagrid, please tell the heads of house Slughorn can represent Slytherin,

00:39:13but I want to see them in my office forthwith.

00:39:16I would like you to join us too, as Hagrid nodded,

00:39:19turned and shuffled out of the room again.

00:39:21She looked down at Harry.

00:39:23Before I meet them, I would like a quick word with you, Harry, if you'll come with me.

00:39:27Harry stood up, murmured,

00:39:29See you in a bit, to Ron, Hermione and Ginny and followed Professor McGonagall back down the ward.

00:39:36The corridors outside were deserted and the only sound was the distant Phoenix song.

00:39:40It was several minutes before Harry became aware that they were not

00:39:43heading for Professor McGonagall's office, but for Dumbledore's,

00:39:47and another few seconds before he realised that, of course,

00:39:50she had been deputy headmistress.

00:39:52Apparently she was now headmistress, so the room behind the gargoyle was now hers.

00:39:57In silence, they ascended the moving spiral staircase and entered the circular office.

00:40:02He did not know what he had expected,

00:40:04that the room would be draped in black, perhaps,

00:40:06or even that Dumbledore's body might be lying there.

00:40:08In fact, it looked almost exactly as it had done when he and Dumbledore

00:40:12had left it mere hours previously.

00:40:14The silver instruments whirring and puffing on their spindle-legged tables,

00:40:18Gryffindor's sword in its glass case gleaming in the moonlight,

00:40:21the sorting hat on a shelf behind the desk.

00:40:24But Fawke's perch stood empty.

00:40:26He was still crying his lament to the grounds,

00:40:28and a new portrait had joined the ranks of the dead headmasters and headmistresses of Hogwarts.

00:40:33Dumbledore was slumbering in a golden frame over the desk,

00:40:37his half-moon spectacles perched upon his crooked nose, looking peaceful and untroubled.

00:40:43After glancing once at this portrait, Professor McGonagall made an odd movement,

00:40:47as though stealing herself, and then rounded the desk to look at Harry,

00:40:51her face taut and lined.

00:40:52Harry, she said, I would like to know what you and Professor Dumbledore

00:40:56were doing this evening when you left the school.

00:40:58I can't tell you, Professor, said Harry.

00:41:00He had expected the question and had his answer ready.

00:41:03It had been here, in this very room, that Dumbledore had told him

00:41:06that he was to confide the contents of their lessons to nobody but Ron and Hermione.

00:41:11Harry, it might be important, said Professor McGonagall.

00:41:14It is, said Harry, very, but he didn't want me to tell anyone.

00:41:18Professor McGonagall glared at him.

00:41:20Potter, Harry registered the renewed use of his surname,

00:41:23in the light of Professor Dumbledore's death,

00:41:25I think you must see that the situation has changed somewhat.

00:41:28I don't think so, said Harry, shrugging.

00:41:30Professor Dumbledore never told me to stop following his orders if he died.

00:41:34But there's one thing you should know before the Ministry gets here, though.

00:41:38Madame Rosmerta's under the Imperius curse.

00:41:40She was helping Malfoy and the Death Eaters.

00:41:42That's how the necklace and the poisoned mead.

00:41:44Rosmerta, said Professor McGonagall, incredulously.

00:41:48But before she could go on, there was a knock on the door behind them,

00:41:51and Professors Sprout, Flitwick and Slughorn traipsed into the room,

00:41:54followed by Hagrid, who was still weeping copiously, his huge frame trembling with grief.

00:42:00Snape, ejaculated Slughorn, who looked the most shaken, pale and sweating.

00:42:04Snape!

00:42:05I taught him!

00:42:06I thought I knew him!

00:42:08But before any of them could respond to this, a sharp voice spoke from high on the wall,

00:42:12a sallow-faced wizard, with a short black fringe, had just walked back into his empty canvas.

00:42:18Minerva!

00:42:18The Minister will be here within seconds.

00:42:20He has just disapparated from the Ministry.

00:42:23Thank you, Everard, said Professor McGonagall, and she turned quickly to her teachers.

00:42:27I want to talk about what happens to Hogwarts before he gets here, she said quickly.

00:42:32Personally, I am not convinced that the school should reopen next year.

00:42:35The death of the Headmaster at the hands of one of our colleagues

00:42:38is a terrible stain upon Hogwarts history.

00:42:40It is horrible!

00:42:42I am sure Dumbledore would have wanted the school to remain open, said Professor Sprout.

00:42:46I feel that if a single pupil wants to come, then the school ought to remain open for that pupil.

00:42:52But will we have a single pupil after this?

00:42:55said Slughorn, now dabbing his sweating brow with a silken handkerchief.

00:43:00Parents will want to keep their children at home, and I can't say I blame them.

00:43:04Personally, I don't think we're in more danger at Hogwarts than we are anywhere else,

00:43:07but you can't expect mothers to think like that.

00:43:09They'll want to keep their families together, it's only natural.

00:43:12I agree, said Professor McGonagall.

00:43:14In any case, it is not true to say that Dumbledore never envisaged a situation

00:43:18in which Hogwarts might close.

00:43:20When the Chamber of Secrets reopened, he considered the closure of the school,

00:43:23and I must say that Professor Dumbledore's murder is more disturbing to me

00:43:27than the idea of a Slytherin monster living undetected in the bowels of the castle.

00:43:32We must consult the governors, said Professor Flitwick in his squeaky little voice.

00:43:36He had a large bruise on his forehead, but seemed otherwise unscathed by his collapse

00:43:40in Snape's office.

00:43:41We must follow the established procedures.

00:43:44A decision should not be made hastily.

00:43:46Hagrid.

00:43:47You haven't said anything, said Professor McGonagall.

00:43:49What are your views?

00:43:51Ought Hogwarts there a mean open?

00:43:54Hagrid, who had been weeping silently into his large spotted handkerchief throughout

00:43:57this conversation, now raised puffy red eyes and croaked,

00:44:01I don't know, Professor.

00:44:02That's for the heads of house and the headmistress to decide.

00:44:06Professor Dumbledore always valued your views, said Professor McGonagall kindly, and so do I.

00:44:12Well, I'm staying, said Hagrid, fat tears still leaking out of the corners of his eyes

00:44:17and trickling down into his tangled beard.

00:44:20It's me home.

00:44:21It's been my home since I was thirteen, and if there's kids who want to teach it,

00:44:24well, they want me to teach them, I'll do it.

00:44:26But, I don't know, Hogwarts without Dumbledore.

00:44:29He gulped and disappeared behind his handkerchief once more, and there was silence.

00:44:33Very well, said Professor McGonagall, glancing out of the window at the grounds,

00:44:37checking to see whether the minister was yet approaching.

00:44:40Then I must agree with Phileas that the right thing to do

00:44:42is to consult the governors who will make the final decision.

00:44:46Now, as to getting students home, there's an argument for doing it sooner rather than later.

00:44:52We could arrange for the Hogwarts Express to come tomorrow, if necessary.

00:44:55What about Dumbledore's funeral, said Harry, speaking at last.

00:44:59Well, said Professor McGonagall, losing a little of her briskness as her voice shook,

00:45:04I knew that it was Dumbledore's wish to be laid to rest here at Hogwarts.

00:45:09Then that's what'll happen, isn't it, said Harry fiercely.

00:45:12If the ministry thinks it's appropriate, said Professor McGonagall,

00:45:15no other headmaster or headmistress has ever been,

00:45:18no other headmaster or headmistress ever gave more to this school, growled Hagrid.

00:45:23Hogwarts should be Dumbledore's final resting place, said Professor Flitwick.

00:45:28Absolutely, said Professor Sprout.

00:45:30And in that case, said Harry, you shouldn't send the students home until the funeral's over.

00:45:34They'll want to say.

00:45:36The last word caught in his throat, Professor Sprout completed the sentence for him.

00:45:42Goodbye.

00:45:43Well said, squeaked Professor Flitwick.

00:45:45Well said indeed, our students should pay tribute, it is fitting.

00:45:49We can arrange transport home afterwards.

00:45:51Seconded, barked Professor Sprout.

00:45:54I suppose, yes, said Slughorn in a rather agitated voice,

00:45:57while Hagrid let out a tangled sob of assent.

00:46:00He's coming, said Professor McGonagall suddenly,

00:46:03gazing down into the grounds, the minister,

00:46:05and by the looks of it, he's brought a delegation.

00:46:08Can I leave, Professor, said Harry at once.

00:46:11He had no desire at all to see or be interrogated by Rufus Grimger tonight.

00:46:17You may, said Professor McGonagall, and quickly.

00:46:20She strode towards the door and held it open for him.

00:46:23He sped down the spiral staircase and off along the deserted corridor.

00:46:27He had left his invisibility cloak at the top of the astronomy tower,

00:46:30but it did not matter.

00:46:31There was nobody in the corridors to see him pass,

00:46:33not even Filch, Mrs. Norris, or Peeves.

00:46:35He did not meet another soul until he turned into the passage

00:46:38leading to the Gryffindor common room.

00:46:40Is it true, whispered the fat lady as he approached her.

00:46:44Is it really true?

00:46:45Dumbledore, dead?

00:46:46Yes, said Harry.

00:46:48She let out a wail, and without waiting for the password swung forwards to admit him.

00:46:53As Harry had suspected it would be, the common room was jam-packed.

00:46:57The room fell silent as he climbed through the portrait hole.

00:47:00He saw Dean and Seamus sitting in a group nearby.

00:47:03This meant that the dormitory must be empty, or nearly so.

00:47:06Without speaking to anybody, without making eye contact at all,

00:47:09Harry walked straight across the room and through the door to the boys' dormitories.

00:47:13As he had hoped, Ron was waiting for him, still fully dressed, sitting on his bed.

00:47:18Harry sat down on his own four-poster, and for a moment they simply stared at each other.

00:47:23They're talking about closing the school, said Harry.

00:47:25Lupin said they would, said Ron.

00:47:27There was a pause.

00:47:28So, said Ron in a very low voice, as though he thought the furniture might be listening in.

00:47:33Did you find one?

00:47:34Did you get it?

00:47:35A horcrux.

00:47:37Harry shook his head.

00:47:38All that had taken place around that black lake seemed like an old nightmare now.

00:47:42Had it really happened?

00:47:44And only hours ago?

00:47:45You didn't get it, said Ron, looking crestfallen.

00:47:48It wasn't there.

00:47:49No, said Harry.

00:47:50Someone had already taken it, and left a fake in its place.

00:47:54Already taken?

00:47:56Wordlessly, Harry pulled the fake locket from his pocket, opened it and passed it to Ron.

00:48:00The full story could wait.

00:48:02It did not matter tonight.

00:48:03Nothing mattered except the end.

00:48:05The end of their pointless adventure.

00:48:07The end of Dumbledore's life.

00:48:09R.A.B., whispered Ron.

00:48:11But who was that?

00:48:12Dunno, said Harry, lying back on his bed, fully clothed and staring blankly upwards.

00:48:16He felt no curiosity at all about R.A.B.

00:48:19He doubted that he would ever feel curious again.

00:48:21And he lay there.

00:48:22As he lay there, he became aware suddenly that the grounds were silent.

00:48:26Forks had stopped singing.

00:48:27And he knew, without knowing how he knew it, that the phoenix had gone.

00:48:31Had left Hogwarts for good.

00:48:33Just as Dumbledore had left the school.

00:48:35Had left the world.

00:48:36Had left Harry.

00:48:39Chapter 30 The White Tomb

00:48:43All lessons were suspended.

00:48:44All examinations postponed.

00:48:46Some students were hurried away from Hogwarts by their parents over the next couple of days.

00:48:50The Patil twins were gone before breakfast on the morning following Dumbledore's death.

00:48:54And Zacharias Smith was escorted from the castle by his haughty looking father.

00:48:58Seamus Finnegan, on the other hand, refused point blank to accompany his mother home.

00:49:02They had a shouting match in the entrance hall.

00:49:04Which was resolved when she agreed that he could remain behind for the funeral.

00:49:08She had difficulty in finding a bed in Hogsmeade.

00:49:10Seamus told Harry and Ron for wizards and witches were pouring into the village.

00:49:14Preparing to pay their last respects to Dumbledore.

00:49:17Some excitement was caused among the younger students.

00:49:20Who had never seen it before.

00:49:21When a powder blue carriage the size of a house.

00:49:23Pulled by a dozen giant winged palominos.

00:49:26Came soaring out of the sky in the late afternoon before the funeral.

00:49:29And landed on the edge of the forest.

00:49:31Harry watched from a window.

00:49:32As a gigantic and handsome olive skinned black haired woman.

00:49:35Descended the carriage steps.

00:49:37And threw herself into the waiting Hagrid's arms.

00:49:40Meanwhile a delegation of ministry officials.

00:49:42Including the minister for magic himself.

00:49:44Was being accommodated within the castle.

00:49:46Harry was diligently avoiding contact with any of them.

00:49:50He was sure that sooner or later.

00:49:51He would be asked again to account for Dumbledore's last excursion from Hogwarts.

00:49:55Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were spending all of their time together.

00:49:59The beautiful weather seemed to mock them.

00:50:01Harry could imagine how it would have been if Dumbledore had not died.

00:50:04And they had had this time together at the very end of the year.

00:50:06Ginny's examinations finished.

00:50:08The pressure of homework lifted.

00:50:09And hour by hour he put off saying the thing that he knew he must say.

00:50:13Doing what he knew it was right to do.

00:50:15Because it was too hard to forgo his best source of comfort.

00:50:20They visited the hospital wing twice a day.

00:50:22Neville had been discharged.

00:50:23But Bill remained under Madame Pomfrey's care.

00:50:26His scars were as bad as ever.

00:50:27In truth he now bore a distinct resemblance to Mad-Eye Moody.

00:50:30Though thankfully with both eyes and legs.

00:50:32But in personality he seemed just the same as ever.

00:50:35All that appeared to have changed was.

00:50:37That now he had a great liking for very rare steaks.

00:50:41So it is lucky he is marrying me.

00:50:43Said Fleur happily.

00:50:44Pumping up Bill's pillows.

00:50:46Because the British overcook their meat.

00:50:48I have always said this.

00:50:50I suppose I'm just going to have to accept that he really is going to marry her.

00:50:53Sighed Ginny later that evening.

00:50:55As she, Harry, Ron and Hermione sat beside the open window of the Gryffindor common room.

00:50:59Looking out over the twilight grounds.

00:51:02She's not that bad.

00:51:02Said Harry.

00:51:03Ugly though.

00:51:04He added hastily.

00:51:05As Ginny raised her eyebrows.

00:51:07She let out a reluctant giggle.

00:51:09Well, I suppose if Mum can stand it I can.

00:51:11Anyone else?

00:51:12We know died.

00:51:13Ron asked Hermione.

00:51:15Who was perusing the evening prophet.

00:51:17Hermione winced at the forced toughness in his voice.

00:51:20No, she said reprovingly.

00:51:21Folding up the newspaper.

00:51:23They're still looking for Snape.

00:51:24But no sign.

00:51:25Of course there isn't.

00:51:26Said Harry.

00:51:27Who became angry every time this subject cropped up.

00:51:29They won't find Snape.

00:51:30Till they find Voldemort.

00:51:32And seeing as though they've never managed to do that.

00:51:35It's all in all this time.

00:51:37I'm going to go to bed.

00:51:38Yawned Ginny.

00:51:39I haven't been sleeping that well since.

00:51:41Well, I could do with some sleep.

00:51:43She kissed Harry.

00:51:44Ron looked away pointedly.

00:51:45Waved at the other two and departed for the girl's dormitories.

00:51:49The moment the door had closed behind her.

00:51:51Hermione leaned forwards towards Harry with a most Hermione-ish look on her face.

00:51:56Harry.

00:51:56I found something out this morning.

00:51:58In the library.

00:51:59R.A.B.

00:52:00Said Harry.

00:52:00Sitting up straight.

00:52:01He did not feel the way he had so often felt before.

00:52:04Excited.

00:52:05Curious.

00:52:06Burning to get to the bottom of a mystery.

00:52:08He simply knew that the task of discovering the truth about the real Horcrux.

00:52:11Had to be completed before he could move a little further along the dark and winding path.

00:52:16Stretching ahead of him.

00:52:17The path that he and Dumbledore had set out upon together.

00:52:20And which he now knew he would have to journey alone.

00:52:23There might still be as many as four Horcruxes out there somewhere.

00:52:27And each would need to be found and eliminated before there was even a possibility.

00:52:31That Voldemort could be killed.

00:52:32He kept reciting their names to himself.

00:52:34As though by listing them he could bring them within reach.

00:52:37The Locket.

00:52:38The Cup.

00:52:39The Snake.

00:52:40Something of Gryffindor's or Ravenclaw's.

00:52:42The Locket.

00:52:43The Cup.

00:52:43The Snake.

00:52:44Something of Gryffindor's or Ravenclaw's.

00:52:47This mantra seemed to pulse through Harry's mind as he fell asleep at night.

00:52:51And his dreams were thick.

00:52:52With cups, lockets and mysterious objects that he could not quite reach.

00:52:56Though Dumbledore helpfully offered Harry a rope ladder.

00:52:59That turned to snakes the moment he began to climb.

00:53:02He had shown Hermione the note inside the Locket.

00:53:04The morning after Dumbledore's death.

00:53:06And although she had not immediately recognized the initials.

00:53:08As belonging to some obscure wizard about whom she had been reading.

00:53:12She had since been rushing off to the library a little more.

00:53:15Often than was strictly necessary for somebody who had no homework to do.

00:53:20No, she said sadly.

00:53:21I've been trying Harry.

00:53:22But I haven't found anything.

00:53:24There are a couple of reasonably well-known wizards with these initials.

00:53:27Rosalind.

00:53:28Antagon.

00:53:29Bungs.

00:53:30Rupert.

00:53:30Axebanger.

00:53:31Brookstanton.

00:53:32But they don't seem to fit at all.

00:53:35Judging by that note.

00:53:36The person who stole the Horcrux knew Voldemort.

00:53:38And I can't find a shred of evidence that Bungs or Axebanger ever had anything to do with him.

00:53:43No, actually.

00:53:44It's about...

00:53:45Well...

00:53:46Well, Snape.

00:53:47She looked nervous even saying the name again.

00:53:49What about him?

00:53:50Asked Harry heavily.

00:53:52Slumping back in his chair.

00:53:53Well, it's just that I was sort of right about the Half-Blood Prince business.

00:53:57She said tentatively.

00:53:58Do you have to rub it in, Hermione?

00:54:00How do you think I'd feel about that now?

00:54:02No, no, Harry.

00:54:03I didn't mean that.

00:54:04She said hastily, looking around to check that they were not being overheard.

00:54:07It's just that I was right about Eileen Prince once owning the book.

00:54:11You see, she was Snape's mother.

00:54:13I thought she wasn't much of a looker, said Ron.

00:54:16Hermione ignored him.

00:54:17I was going through the rest of the Old Prophets.

00:54:19And there was a tiny announcement about Eileen Prince marrying a man called Tobias Snape.

00:54:24And then later an announcement saying that she'd given birth to a...

00:54:27murderer, spat Harry.

00:54:29Well, yes, said Hermione.

00:54:31So I was sort of right.

00:54:32Snape must have been proud of being half a prince, you see.

00:54:36Tobias Snape was a muggle from what it said in the Prophet.

00:54:39Yeah, that fits, said Harry.

00:54:40He'd play up the pure-blood side so he could get in with Lucius Malfoy and the rest of them.

00:54:45He's just like Voldemort.

00:54:46Pure-blood mother.

00:54:47Muggle father.

00:54:48Ashamed of his parentage.

00:54:50Trying to make himself feared using the dark arts.

00:54:53Gave himself an impressive new name.

00:54:55Lord Voldemort.

00:54:56The half-blood prince.

00:54:58How could Dumbledore have missed?

00:55:00He broke off, looking out of the window.

00:55:02He could not stop himself dwelling upon Dumbledore's inexcusable trust in Snape.

00:55:06But as Hermione had just inadvertently reminded him, he, Harry, had been taken in just the same.

00:55:13In spite of the increasing nastiness of those scribbled spells, he had refused to believe

00:55:18ill of the boy who had been so clever, who had helped him so much.

00:55:22Helped him.

00:55:23It was an almost unendurable thought now.

00:55:26I still don't get why he didn't turn you in for using that book, cried Ron.

00:55:30He must have known where you were getting it all from.

00:55:32He knew, said Harry bitterly.

00:55:34He knew when I used Sectumsempra.

00:55:37He didn't really need legitimacy.

00:55:39He might have even known before then.

00:55:41With Slughorn talking about how brilliant I was at potions.

00:55:44Shouldn't have left his old book in the bottom of that cupboard, should he?

00:55:47But why didn't he turn you in?

00:55:49I don't think he wanted to associate himself with that book, said Hermione.

00:55:52I don't think Dumbledore would have liked it very much if he'd known.

00:55:55And even if Snape pretended it hadn't been his,

00:55:57Slughorn would have recognised his writing at once.

00:56:00Anyway, the book was left in Snape's old classroom,

00:56:02and I'll bet Dumbledore knew his mother was called Prince.

00:56:06I should have shown the book to Dumbledore, said Harry.

00:56:08All that time he was showing me how Voldemort was evil.

00:56:11When he was at school, and I had proof Snape was too.

00:56:14Evil is a strong word, said Hermione quietly.

00:56:17You were the one who kept telling me the book was dangerous.

00:56:19I'm trying to say, Harry, that you're putting too much blame on yourself.

00:56:23I thought the Prince seemed to have a nasty sense of humour,

00:56:25but I would never have guessed he was a potential killer.

00:56:28None of us could have guessed Snape would...

00:56:30You know, said Ron.

00:56:32Silence fell between them, each of them lost in their own thoughts.

00:56:35But Harry was sure that they, like him, were thinking about the following morning.

00:56:39When Dumbledore's body would be laid to rest.

00:56:43Harry had never attended a funeral before.

00:56:45There had been no body to bury when Sirius had died.

00:56:47He did not know what to expect, and was a little worried about what he might see,

00:56:52about how he would feel.

00:56:53He wondered whether Dumbledore's death would be more real to him once the funeral was over.

00:56:57Though he had moments when the horrible fact of it threatened to overwhelm him,

00:57:01there were blank stretches of numbness where,

00:57:03despite the fact that nobody was talking about anything else in the whole castle,

00:57:07he still found it difficult to believe that Dumbledore had really gone.

00:57:10Admittedly, he had not, as he had with Sirius,

00:57:13looked desperately for some kind of loophole, some way that Dumbledore would come back.

00:57:17He felt in his pocket for the gold chain of the fake Horcrux,

00:57:20which he now carried with him everywhere,

00:57:22not as a talisman, but as a reminder of what it had cost, and what remained still to do.

00:57:27Harry rose early to pack the next day.

00:57:30The Hogwarts Express would be leaving in an hour after the funeral.

00:57:34Downstairs he found the mood in the Great Hall subdued.

00:57:36Everybody was wearing their dress robes, and no one seemed very hungry.

00:57:40Professor McGonagall had left the throne-like chair in the middle of the staff table empty.

00:57:44Hagrid's chair was deserted too.

00:57:46Harry thought that perhaps he had not been able to face breakfast.

00:57:49But Snape's place had been unceremoniously filled by Rufus Scrimgeour.

00:57:53Harry avoided his yellowish eyes as they scanned the hall.

00:57:57Harry had the uncomfortable feeling that Scrimgeour was looking for him.

00:58:00Among Scrimgeour's entourage,

00:58:01Harry spotted the red hair and horn-rimmed glasses of Percy Weasley.

00:58:05Ron gave no sign that he was aware of Percy,

00:58:08apart from stabbing pieces of kipper with unwanted venom.

00:58:12Over at the Slytherin table, Crabbe and Goyle were muttering together.

00:58:15Hulking boys, though they were,

00:58:17they looked oddly lonely without the tall, pale figure of Malfoy between them,

00:58:20bossing them around.

00:58:22Harry had not spared Malfoy much thought.

00:58:24His animosity was all for Snape.

00:58:26But he had not forgotten the fear in Malfoy's voice on that tower-top,

00:58:29nor the fact that he had lowered his wand before the other Defeaters arrived.

00:58:33Harry did not believe that Malfoy would have killed Dumbledore.

00:58:36He despised Malfoy still for his infatuation with the dark arts,

00:58:40but now the tiniest drop of pity mingled with his dislike.

00:58:43Where, Harry wondered, was Malfoy now,

00:58:46and what was Voldemort making him do under threat of killing him and his parents?

00:58:50Harry's thoughts were interrupted by a nudge in the ribs from Ginny.

00:58:53Professor McGonagall had risen to her feet,

00:58:55and the mournful hum in the hall died away at once.

00:58:59It is nearly time, she said.

00:59:01Please follow your heads of house out into the grounds.

00:59:04Gryffindors, after me!

00:59:06They filed out from behind their benches in near silence.

00:59:09Harry glimpsed Slughorn at the head of the Slytherin column,

00:59:12wearing magnificent, long, emerald-green robes embroidered with silver.

00:59:16He had never seen Professor Sprout, head of the Hufflepuffs, looking so clean.

00:59:19There was not a single patch on her hat,

00:59:21and when they reached the entrance hall, they found Madame Pince standing beside Filch,

00:59:26she in a thick black veil that fell to her knees,

00:59:29he in an ancient black suit and tie reeking of mothballs.

00:59:33They were heading, as Harry saw,

00:59:34when he stepped out onto the stone steps from the front doors towards the lake.

00:59:38The warmth of the sun caressed his face as they followed Professor McGonagall in silence,

00:59:42to the place where hundreds of chairs had been set out in rows.

00:59:46An aisle ran down the centre of them.

00:59:47There was a marble table standing at the front, all chairs facing it.

00:59:51It was the most beautiful summer's day.

00:59:53An extraordinary assortment of people had already settled into half of the chairs,

00:59:57shabby and smart, old and young.

01:00:00Most Harry did not recognise, but there were a few that he did,

01:00:03including members of the Order of the Phoenix, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Mad-Eye Moody, Tonks,

01:00:08her hair miraculously returned to vividist pink,

01:00:11Remus Lupin, with whom she seemed to be holding hands,

01:00:14Mr and Mrs Weasley, Bill, supported by Fleur,

01:00:17and followed by Fred and George, who were wearing jackets of black dragonskin.

01:00:22Then there was Madame Maxime, who took up two and a half chairs on her own,

01:00:26Tom, the landlord of the Leaky Cauldron,

01:00:28Arabella Thig, Harry's squib neighbour,

01:00:31the hairy bass player from the wizarding group the Weird Sisters,

01:00:35Ernie Prang, driver of the night bus,

01:00:37Madame Malkin of the robe shop in Diagon Alley,

01:00:40and some people whom Harry merely knew by sight,

01:00:43such as the barman of the Hog's Head,

01:00:45and the witch who pushed the trolley on the Hogwarts Express.

01:00:48The castle ghosts were there too, barely visible in the bright sunlight,

01:00:51discernible only when they moved,

01:00:53shimmering insubstantially in the gleaming air.

01:00:57Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny filed into their seats

01:01:01at the end of the row beside the lake.

01:01:03People were whispering to each other.

01:01:04It sounded like a breeze in the grass,

01:01:07but the birdsong was louder by far.

01:01:09The crowd continued to swell with a great rush of affection for both of them.

01:01:13Harry saw Neville being helped into a seat by Luna.

01:01:16They alone, of all the DA, had responded to Hermione's summons

01:01:20the night that Dumbledore had died,

01:01:21and Harry knew why.

01:01:23They were the ones who had missed the DA most,

01:01:25probably the ones who had checked their coins regularly

01:01:28in the hope that there would be another meeting.

01:01:30Cornelius Fudge walked past them towards the front rows,

01:01:33his expression miserable, twirling his green bowler hat as usual.

01:01:37Harry next recognised Rita Skeeter,

01:01:39who he was infuriated to see had a notebook clutched in her red taloned hand,

01:01:44and then, with a worst jolt of fury,

01:01:45Dolores Umbridge, an unconvincing expression of grief upon her toad-like face,

01:01:50a black velvet bow set atop her iron-coloured curls.

01:01:54At the sight of the centaur Ferenz,

01:01:56who was standing like a sentinel near the water's edge,

01:01:58she gave a start and scurried hastily into a seat a good distance away.

01:02:03The staff were seated at last.

01:02:04Harry could see Scrimgeour looking grave and dignified

01:02:07in the front row with Professor McGonagall.

01:02:09He wondered whether Scrimgeour or any of these important people

01:02:12were really sorry that Dumbledore was dead,

01:02:14but then he heard music, strange, otherworldly music,

01:02:18and he forgot his dislike of the ministry and looking around for the source of it.

01:02:22He was not the only one.

01:02:23Many heads were turning, searching, a little alarmed.

01:02:27In there, whispered Ginny in Harry's ear,

01:02:29and he saw them in the clear green sunlit water,

01:02:32inches below the surface,

01:02:33reminding him horribly of the Inferi,

01:02:35a chorus of merpeople,

01:02:37singing in a strange language he did not understand,

01:02:40their pallid faces rippling,

01:02:41their purplish hair flowing all around them.

01:02:44The music made the hair on Harry's neck stand up,

01:02:47and yet it was not unpleasant.

01:02:48It spoke very clearly of loss and of despair,

01:02:51and he looked down into the wild faces of the singers.

01:02:54He had that feeling that they, at least,

01:02:56were sorry for Dumbledore's passing.

01:02:58Then Ginny nudged him again, and he looked around.

01:03:00Hagrid was walking slowly up the aisle between the chairs.

01:03:03He was crying quite silently,

01:03:05his face gleaming with tears,

01:03:07and in his arms, wrapped in purple velvet,

01:03:09spangled with golden stars,

01:03:10was what Harry knew to be Dumbledore's body.

01:03:13A sharp pain rose in Harry's throat at this sight.

01:03:16For a moment, the strange music

01:03:18and the knowledge that Dumbledore's body was so close

01:03:20seemed to take all warmth from the day.

01:03:22Ron looked white and shocked.

01:03:24Tears were falling thick and fast

01:03:26into both Ginny and Hermione's laps.

01:03:28They could not see clearly what was happening at the front.

01:03:30Hagrid seemed to have placed the body carefully upon the table.

01:03:33Now he retreated down the aisle,

01:03:35blowing his nose with loud trumpeting noises

01:03:38that drew scandalised looks from some,

01:03:39including Harry saw Dolores Umbridge.

01:03:42But Harry knew that Dumbledore would not have cared.

01:03:44He tried to make a friendly gesture to Hagrid as he passed,

01:03:47but Hagrid's eyes were so swollen

01:03:49it was a wonder he could see where he was going.

01:03:52Harry glanced at the back row to which Hagrid was heading

01:03:54and realised what was guiding him.

01:03:56For there, dressed in a jacket and trousers,

01:03:58each the size of a small marquee,

01:04:00was the giant Grawp,

01:04:01his great ugly boulder-like head,

01:04:03bowed, docile, almost human.

01:04:06Hagrid sat down next to his half-brother,

01:04:08and Grawp patted Hagrid hard on the head

01:04:11so that his chair legs sank into the ground.

01:04:13Harry had a wonderful momentary urge to laugh,

01:04:16but then the music stopped

01:04:17and he turned to face the front again.

01:04:20A little tufty-haired man in plain black robes

01:04:22had got to his feet

01:04:23and stood now in front of Dumbledore's body.

01:04:26Harry could not hear what he was saying.

01:04:28Odd words floated back to them over the hundreds of heads.

01:04:32Nobility of spirit, intellectual contribution,

01:04:35greatness of heart.

01:04:37It did not mean very much.

01:04:39It had little to do with Dumbledore

01:04:41as Harry had known him.

01:04:42He suddenly remembered Dumbledore's idea of a few words,

01:04:45nitwit, oddment, blubber, and tweak,

01:04:48and again had to suppress a grin.

01:04:50What was the matter with him?

01:04:52There was a soft splashing noise to his left,

01:04:54and he saw the merpeople had broken the surface to listen to.

01:04:57He remembered Dumbledore crouching

01:04:59at the water's edge two years ago,

01:05:01very close to where Harry now sat,

01:05:03and conversing in murmish with the merchieftainess.

01:05:08Harry wondered where Dumbledore had learned murmish.

01:05:11There was so much he had never asked him,

01:05:14so much he should have said,

01:05:15and then, without warning, it swept over him,

01:05:19the dreadful truth,

01:05:20more completely and undeniably than it had until now.

01:05:23Dumbledore was dead, gone.

01:05:26He clutched the cold locket in his hand

01:05:28so tightly that it hurt,

01:05:30that he could not prevent hot tears spilling from his eyes.

01:05:33He looked away from Ginny and the others

01:05:34and stared out over the lake,

01:05:36towards the forest,

01:05:37as the little man in black droned on.

01:05:39There was movement among the trees.

01:05:41The centaurs had come to pay their respects too.

01:05:44They did not move into the open,

01:05:45but Harry saw them standing quite still,

01:05:47half hidden in shadow,

01:05:49watching the wizards,

01:05:50their bows hanging at their sides.

01:05:52And Harry remembered his first nightmarish trip

01:05:55into the forest,

01:05:56the first time he had ever encountered

01:05:58the thing that was then Voldemort,

01:05:59and how he had forced him,

01:06:01and how he and Dumbledore had discussed fighting

01:06:03a losing battle not long thereafter.

01:06:05It was important, Dumbledore said, to fight,

01:06:08and fight again,

01:06:08and keep fighting,

01:06:09for only then could evil be kept at bay,

01:06:12though never quite eradicated.

01:06:15And Harry saw very clearly,

01:06:16as he sat there under the hot sun,

01:06:18how people who cared about him

01:06:20had stood in front of him one by one,

01:06:22his mother,

01:06:23his father,

01:06:24his godfather,

01:06:25and finally Dumbledore,

01:06:26all determined to protect him.

01:06:28But now that was over.

01:06:29He could not let anybody else

01:06:31stand between him and Voldemort.

01:06:32He must abandon forever the illusion

01:06:35he ought to have lost at that age of one,

01:06:38that the shelter of a parent's arms

01:06:41meant that nothing could hurt him.

01:06:42There was no walking from his nightmare,

01:06:44no comforting whisper in the dark

01:06:46that was safe really,

01:06:48that it was all in his imagination.

01:06:50The last and greatest of his protectors had died,

01:06:54and he was more alone

01:06:55than he had ever been before.

01:06:57The little man in black had stopped speaking at last,

01:06:59and resumed his seat.

01:07:01Harry waited for somebody else

01:07:02to get to their feet.

01:07:03He expected speeches,

01:07:04probably from the minister,

01:07:05but nobody moved.

01:07:08Then several people screamed.

01:07:10Bright white flames had erupted

01:07:11around Dumbledore's body,

01:07:13and the table upon which it lay,

01:07:14higher and higher they rose,

01:07:16obscuring the body.

01:07:17White smoke spiralled into the air

01:07:19and made strange shapes.

01:07:21Harry thought for one heart-stopping moment

01:07:22that he saw a phoenix fly joyfully into the blue.

01:07:25The next second the fire had vanished,

01:07:27and its place was a white marble tomb

01:07:30encasing Dumbledore's body,

01:07:32and the table on which he had rested.

01:07:34There were a few more cries of shock,

01:07:36as a shower of arrows soared through the air,

01:07:39but they fell short of the crowd.

01:07:41It was Harry knew the centaurs' tribute.

01:07:43He saw them turn tail

01:07:44and disappear back into the cool trees.

01:07:46Likewise, the merpeople sank slowly back

01:07:49into the green water,

01:07:50and were lost from view.

01:07:52Harry looked at Ginny, Ron and Hermione.

01:07:54Ron's face was screwed up

01:07:56as though the sunlight was blinding him.

01:07:57Hermione's face was glazed with tears,

01:08:00but Ginny was no longer crying.

01:08:02She met Harry's gaze,

01:08:03with the same hard, blazing look

01:08:06that he had seen when she had hugged him

01:08:08after winning the Quidditch Cup in his absence,

01:08:10and he knew that at that moment

01:08:12they understood each other perfectly,

01:08:14and that when he told her

01:08:15what he was going to do now,

01:08:16she would not say,

01:08:17be careful, or don't do it,

01:08:20but accept his decision,

01:08:21because she would not have expected

01:08:23anything less of him,

01:08:24and so he steeled himself to say

01:08:26what he had known he must say

01:08:27ever since Dumbledore had died.

01:08:29Ginny, listen, he said very quietly,

01:08:32as the buzz of conversation

01:08:33grew louder around them,

01:08:34and people began to get to their feet.

01:08:37I can't be involved with you anymore.

01:08:39We've got to stop seeing each other.

01:08:40We can't be together,

01:08:42she said with an oddly twisted smile.

01:08:44It's for some stupid, noble reason, isn't it?

01:08:47It's been like something

01:08:49out of someone else's life,

01:08:51these last few weeks with you, said Harry,

01:08:53but I can't, we can't.

01:08:55I've got things to do alone now.

01:08:57She did not cry.

01:08:58She simply looked at him.

01:08:59Voldemort uses people

01:09:01his enemies are close to.

01:09:02He's already used you as bait once,

01:09:04and that was just because

01:09:05you're my best friend's sister.

01:09:07Think how much danger you'll be in

01:09:09if we keep this up.

01:09:10He'll know, he'll find out,

01:09:11he'll try and get me through you.

01:09:14What if I don't care,

01:09:15said Ginny fiercely.

01:09:16I care, said Harry.

01:09:17How do you think I'd feel

01:09:18if this was your funeral,

01:09:20and it was my fault?

01:09:21She looked away from him,

01:09:23over the lake.

01:09:24I never really gave up on you,

01:09:26she said.

01:09:27Not really.

01:09:28I always hoped.

01:09:29Hermione told me to get on with life,

01:09:31maybe go out with some other people,

01:09:33relax a bit around you,

01:09:34because I never used to be able to talk

01:09:36if you were in the room, remember?

01:09:38And she thought you might

01:09:39take a bit more notice

01:09:41if I was a bit more myself.

01:09:43Smart girl, that Hermione,

01:09:44said Harry, trying to smile.

01:09:46I just wish I'd asked you sooner.

01:09:48We could have had ages,

01:09:49months, years maybe.

01:09:51But you've been too busy

01:09:52saving the wizarding world,

01:09:53said Ginny, half laughing.

01:09:55Well, I can't say I'm surprised.

01:09:57I knew this would happen in the end.

01:09:59I knew you wouldn't be happy

01:10:00unless you were hunting Voldemort.

01:10:02Maybe that's why I like you so much.

01:10:05Harry could not bear to hear these things,

01:10:07nor did he think his resolution

01:10:09would hold if he remained

01:10:10sitting beside her.

01:10:11Ron, he saw, was now holding Hermione

01:10:13and stroking her hair

01:10:14while she sobbed into his shoulder,

01:10:16tears dripping from the end

01:10:18of his own long nose.

01:10:19With a miserable gesture,

01:10:20Harry got up,

01:10:21turned his back on Ginny

01:10:23and on Dumbledore's tomb,

01:10:24and walked away around the lake.

01:10:27Moving felt much more bearable

01:10:29than sitting still,

01:10:30just as setting out as soon as possible

01:10:33to track down the Horcruxes

01:10:34and kill Voldemort

01:10:35would feel better than wanting to do it.

01:10:37Harry, he turned.

01:10:39Rufus Scrimgeour was limping

01:10:41rapidly towards him,

01:10:42around the bank,

01:10:43leaning on his walking stick.

01:10:44I've been hoping to have a word.

01:10:47Do you mind if I walk a little with you?

01:10:49No, said Harry indifferently,

01:10:51and set off again.

01:10:52Harry, this was a dreadful tragedy,

01:10:54said Scrimgeour quietly.

01:10:56I cannot tell you how appalled

01:10:58I was to hear of it.

01:10:59Dumbledore was a very great wizard.

01:11:01We had our disagreements, as you know,

01:11:02but no one knows better than I.

01:11:04What do you want?

01:11:05asked Harry flatly.

01:11:07Scrimgeour looked annoyed,

01:11:08but as before,

01:11:09hastily modified his expression

01:11:10to one of sorrowful understanding.

01:11:13You are, of course, devastated, he said.

01:11:15I know that you were very close to Dumbledore.

01:11:17I think you may have been

01:11:19his favourite ever pupil.

01:11:20The bond between the two of you?

01:11:22What do you want?

01:11:23Harry repeated,

01:11:24coming to a halt.

01:11:25Scrimgeour stopped too,

01:11:27leaning on his stick and stared at Harry,

01:11:29his expression shrewd now.

01:11:31The word is that you were with him

01:11:33when he left the school the night he died.

01:11:35Whose word? said Harry.

01:11:37Somebody stupefied a Death Eater

01:11:38on the top of the tower

01:11:39after Dumbledore died.

01:11:40There were also two broomsticks up there.

01:11:42The Ministry can add two and two, Harry.

01:11:44Glad to hear it, said Harry.

01:11:46Well, where I went with Dumbledore

01:11:48and what we did is my business.

01:11:50He didn't want people to know.

01:11:51Such loyalty is admirable, of course,

01:11:53said Scrimgeour,

01:11:54who seemed to be restraining his irritation

01:11:56with difficulty.

01:11:57But Dumbledore is gone.

01:11:59Harry, he's gone.

01:12:01He will only be gone from the school

01:12:02when none here are loyal to him,

01:12:04said Harry,

01:12:05smiling in spite of himself.

01:12:07My dear boy,

01:12:08even Dumbledore cannot return from the...

01:12:10I'm not saying he can.

01:12:11You wouldn't understand.

01:12:12But I've got nothing to tell you.

01:12:14Scrimgeour hesitated,

01:12:16then said in what was evidently

01:12:17supposed to be a tone of delicacy.

01:12:19The Ministry can offer you

01:12:20all sorts of protection, you know, Harry.

01:12:22I would be delighted to place

01:12:24a couple of my auras at your service.

01:12:26Harry laughed.

01:12:27Voldemort wants to kill me himself

01:12:29and auras won't stop him.

01:12:30So thanks for the offer,

01:12:31but no thanks.

01:12:32So, said Scrimgeour, his voice cold now,

01:12:35the request I made of you at Christmas.

01:12:37What request?

01:12:38Oh yeah, the one where I tell the world

01:12:40what a great job you're doing

01:12:42in exchange for...

01:12:43for raising everyone's morale,

01:12:44snapped Scrimgeour.

01:12:46Harry considered him for a moment.

01:12:49Released Stan Shunpike yet?

01:12:51Scrimgeour turned a nasty purple colour,

01:12:53highly reminiscent of Uncle Vernon.

01:12:55I see you are...

01:12:56Dumbledore's man through and through,

01:12:59said Harry.

01:12:59That's right.

01:13:00Scrimgeour glared at him for another moment

01:13:03and then turned and limped away

01:13:04without another word.

01:13:06Harry could see Percy and the rest

01:13:07of the Ministry delegation waiting for him,

01:13:09casting nervous glances

01:13:11at the sobbing Hagrid and Grawp,

01:13:12who were still in their seats.

01:13:14Ron and Hermione were hurrying towards Harry,

01:13:16passing Scrimgeour going in the opposite direction.

01:13:18Harry turned and walked slowly on,

01:13:20waiting for them to catch up,

01:13:22which they finally did

01:13:23in the shade of a beech tree,

01:13:24under which they had sat in happier times.

01:13:27What did Scrimgeour want?

01:13:28Harry whispered...

01:13:29Hermione whispered.

01:13:31Same as he wanted at Christmas,

01:13:32shrugged Harry.

01:13:33Wanted me to give him

01:13:34inside information on Dumbledore

01:13:36and be the Ministry's new poster boy.

01:13:38Ron seemed to struggle with himself for a moment

01:13:41and then he said loudly to Hermione,

01:13:43Look, let me go back and hit Percy.

01:13:45No, she said firmly, grabbing his arm.

01:13:47He'll make me feel better.

01:13:49Harry laughed.

01:13:50Even Hermione grinned a little,

01:13:52though her smile faded

01:13:53as she looked up at the castle.

01:13:55I can't bear the idea

01:13:56that we might never come back,

01:13:57she said softly.

01:13:58How can Hogwarts close?

01:14:00Maybe it won't, said Ron.

01:14:02We're not in any more danger here

01:14:04than we are at home, are we?

01:14:05Everywhere's the same now.

01:14:06I'd even say Hogwarts is safer.

01:14:08There are more wizards inside

01:14:09to defend the place.

01:14:11What do you reckon, Harry?

01:14:12I'm not coming back,

01:14:13even if it does reopen, said Harry.

01:14:15Ron gaped at him,

01:14:16but Hermione said sadly,

01:14:18I knew you were going to say that,

01:14:19but then what will you do?

01:14:22I'm going back to the Dursleys once more

01:14:24because Dumbledore wanted me to,

01:14:25said Harry,

01:14:26but it'll be a short visit

01:14:28and then I'll be gone for good.

01:14:30But where will you go

01:14:30if you don't come back to school?

01:14:32I thought I might go to Godric's Hollow,

01:14:35Harry muttered.

01:14:36He had the idea in his head

01:14:37ever since the night of Dumbledore's death.

01:14:39For me, it started there.

01:14:41All of it.

01:14:42I've just got a feeling I need to go there

01:14:44and I can visit my parents' graves.

01:14:46I'd like that.

01:14:47And then what, said Ron.

01:14:49Then I've got to track down

01:14:51the rest of the Horcruxes,

01:14:52haven't I, said Harry.

01:14:53His eyes upon Dumbledore's white tomb

01:14:55reflected in the water on the side of the lake.

01:14:58That's what he wanted me to do.

01:14:59That's why he told me all about them.

01:15:01If Dumbledore was right,

01:15:02and I'm sure he was,

01:15:03there are still four of them out there.

01:15:05I've got to find them and destroy them.

01:15:07And then I've got to go after

01:15:09the seventh bit of Voldemort's soul,

01:15:11the bit that's still in his body,

01:15:13and I'm the one who's going to kill him.

01:15:15And if I meet Severus Snape along the way,

01:15:17he added,

01:15:17so much the better for me,

01:15:19so much the worse for him.

01:15:20There was a long silence.

01:15:22The crowd had almost dispersed now,

01:15:24the stragglers giving

01:15:24the monumental figure of Grawp a wide berth

01:15:27as he cuddled Hagrid,

01:15:28whose howls of grief

01:15:29were still echoing across the water.

01:15:32We'll be there, Harry, said Ron.

01:15:34What?

01:15:34At your aunt and uncle's house, said Ron,

01:15:36and then we'll go with you,

01:15:38wherever you're going.

01:15:39No, said Harry quickly.

01:15:40He had not counted on this.

01:15:42He had meant them to understand

01:15:43that he was undertaking

01:15:44this most dangerous journey alone.

01:15:46You said to us once before,

01:15:47said Hermione quietly,

01:15:49that there was time to turn back

01:15:51if we wanted to.

01:15:52We've had time, haven't we?

01:15:54We're with you, whatever happens, said Ron.

01:15:56But mate,

01:15:56you're going to have to come

01:15:57round my mum and dad's house

01:15:59before we do anything else,

01:16:00even Godric's hollow.

01:16:02Why?

01:16:02Bill and Fleur's wedding, remember?

01:16:04Harry looked at him, startled.

01:16:06The idea that anything

01:16:07as normal as a wedding

01:16:08could still exist

01:16:09seemed incredible,

01:16:10and yet wonderful.

01:16:12Yeah, we shouldn't miss that,

01:16:14he said finally.

01:16:15His hand closed automatically

01:16:16around the fake Horcrux,

01:16:18but in spite of everything,

01:16:19in spite of the dark and twisting path

01:16:22he saw stretching ahead for himself,

01:16:24in spite of the final meeting

01:16:25with Voldemort he knew must come,

01:16:28whether in a month, in a year,

01:16:29or in ten,

01:16:30he felt his heart lift at the thought

01:16:32that there was still

01:16:33one last golden day of peace

01:16:35left to enjoy with Ron and Hermione.

Harry Potter and the half-blood prince part 10 AUDIOBOOK

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Harry Potter Audiobook

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