DISCLAIMER: See Ch. 1.

A/N: This chapter was kind of fun…

CHAPTER 43: RECOVERIES AND REPRECUSSIONS

Tacere nequeo, solus quod scio. I cannot keep quiet about what I alone know. –Plautus, Miles Gloriosus (265)

Once again, there was a meeting going on at the Riddle Manor. Involved was Malfoy, Umbridge, Snape, and a few other unfamiliar Death Eaters. The main topics of discussion were getting Death Eaters from other countries to make up for the lack of Death Eaters from Britain.

While saying all this, Voldemort was recovering from the wounds of that deadly curse which Dumbledore used. Of course, it didn't kill him, but it still managed to cause a lot of damage.

It was definitely worth it, though, because Harry Potter was finally dead. There was no way that he could have survived that curse.

Finally, Voldemort had an announcement to make towards the end.

"It also seems, my loyal Death Eaters, that we have a spy in our midst..." he said unhappily. He let this sentence dangle as his menacing eyes did a Russian roulette on his ranks, letting everyone shudder.

Snape stood firm, however. He had plans on getting out of all this alive. If he were to end up dying, so be it, but he at least had to give Voldemort hell before he went.

Finally, Voldemort's cat-like eyes stopped on Snape. "Care to explain a few things, Severus?"

"What would you like me to explain, my Lord?" he asked respectfully, bowing his head.

"I don't know," the Dark Lord said in what sounded like an amused voice. "The fact that you've been so prolific with potions lately when young Malfoy raided my stores... the fact that Cornwall claims you tortured him and sent him to Hogwarts for that fool Dumbledore to deal with him... the fact that my Death Eaters are always dropping like flies when I need you... Take your pick."

'Busted,' Snape thought.

"How's this for a satisfactory answer?" Snape responded with some disrespect apparent in his voice. "I hate you because you've been using me as a tool, and I'm really getting tired of it. So, I've been spying for Dumbledore and working to bring you down. You're the foulest thing to walk this earth. In the long run, I'd much rather see Harry Potter victorious over you."

The temperature in the room seemed to plummet to deadly freezing levels as these words sunk in. "Such a disappointment, Severus," Voldemort heaved sarcastically.

"However," Snape continued, "I have some information that might interest you."

As much as Voldemort wanted to murder Snape right now, he would never turn down free information. So, in a split-second decision, he decided to withdraw the information from Snape, and then kill him. "Go on."

"You remember nearly a year ago when Dolores used that Muggle device to shoot Potter, nearly killing him?" Everyone nodded, and Umbridge smiled smugly at the memory, which made Snape want to retch. "Dumbledore saved Potter's blood, in an attempt to undo the Dark magic you used to regain your body."

Voldemrot's eyes widened ever so slightly. Umbridge looked as though she'd been slapped in the face.

"Foresight never was one of your strong suits, Dolores, sorry to say," Snape said to her, which made her look incensed.

"Do you know where these samples are, Severus?" Voldemort asked, with the undertone of demanding an answer.

Snape smirked under his mask. "I managed to steal them."

Voldemort grinned oh so evilly. "And where are they?"

Snape lifted his left arm as though to take something out of his robes, but it was a feint.

Within five seconds, Snape had managed to poison the Dark Lord. First, he focused his left arm onto Voldemort while flexing the muscles in his wrist, which activated the device on his wrist. The left cuff of his robes was torn away as several spiked prongs made of some metal object around his wrist popped out. At the end of each prong was a syringe that could be shot or launched. Snape declared, "Die, Riddle!"

That was the password to launch the different antidotes to undo the Dark Magic. As quick as a flash, the syringes launched themselves straight into Voldemort's chest, which started the chain reaction to weaken the Dark wizard.

Voldemort's high-pitched scream could have woken up every last person in Great Britain if a Sonorus Charm had been applied. He wrenched the syringes out of his chest, but it was too late; the antidotes were taking effect.

As much as Severus wanted to see the Dark Lord suffer, he knew he had to get out of there. The Death Eaters all charged at him, trying to form a circle to trap him before using any spells on him.

Snape, on the other hand, was too quick and prepared for them. "HOVEQUANTA!"

They all flew aside like rag dolls, scattering all over the place, and Snape ran from the room as fast as he could. Voldemort couldn't even curse him, since the ugly tyrant was still shrieking in pain. The last thing Snape saw while running out the portal was Voldemort hunched over, clutching his head, and blood-colored steam escaping every orifice of his head, and even a bit of his bone-white skin melting. (1)

Snape knew that the bottom entrances would be guarded, so he instead ran up to one of the towers, planning to fly out from there.

As soon as he reached the tower, however, the torches providing the light went out.

'Damn,' Snape thought.

"So, Severus," said a snake-like voice from a corner, "Have problems with our Lord, do you?"

"Bellatrix," he said neutrally, acknowledging her.

A gigantic shadow blocked out the moonlight from a nearby window, which was already diffused by the curtains; it was obvious that Bellatrix had undergone even more mutations after the incident at the labs.

Snape had to learn how to use his senses a lot for his job as a spy. Right now, his senses were telling him that Bellatrix Lestrange was now a giant, serpentine monster, at least ten feet long. However, it was still too dark to make anything else out.

Snape stood firm, with honor and bravery for what he did. He didn't want to give Bellatrix any satisfaction.

"Truly working for Dumbledore, Severus?" she taunted him. "Helping Potter? Supporting all those Mudblood and Muggle loving fools?"

"I have no wish to harm you, Bellatrix," he said with a little forced respect in his voice. "You were there for me when I needed you at Hogwarts. You helped me survive and find my inner strength."

Snake-like laughter now resonate throughout the room. "Funny you should mention that, Severus," she hissed.

Curiosity was gnawing at Snape now, although he didn't dare show it. "What do you mean?"

There was a slash at his arm now, which caused Snape to wince. "I knew you always held something against those foolish Marauders which wasn't hatred, Severus," she gloated, with her snake-like hissing only amplifying the sinister effect. "In fact, I made sure the Marauders taunted you. Oh no, I didn't tell them to bully you outright, in case you were wondering. It took every ounce of cunning I possess. I mentioned ideas for pranks just loud enough for them to hear, and of course, they were anxious to try them on you. You acted like such a good puppet, hating them so you would join us. All you needed was a little persuasion, and you were ours."

A gamut of emotions, mainly shock, anger, rage and betrayal all rose in Snape's heart. Ever so slowly, he reached inside his robes for a beaker of explosive potion. He had developed an idea to use dangerous potions in containers the same way Muggles used hand grenades, and there were quite a few samples he was hoping to test out.

"And now," Bellatrix gloated, rearing up to her monstrous height (although Snape could only see a gigantic shadowy column), "Time for this old puppet to be thrown out where he belongs!"

She moved in for the kill just as Snape thrust the potion out of his robes. (2)

~*~*~*~

It was dinnertime in the Great Hall, and every seat at the High Table was filled, except for one: Snape's.

This was quite noticeable, as Snape was one for punctuality and precision. It was also obvious to the students that something was wrong, since the teachers were looking confused themselves.

Dinner was halfway through when the doors to the hall slowly opened to reveal a shocking sight indeed.

Snape walked in, with something of a limping gait. His robes were frayed, and torn at the bottom. His hair was also uneven, indicating a struggle. There were gashes on his face and arms, including a horizontal cut across his forehead. Small streams of blood ran down his arms, and a bit on his face. Anyone with good enough vision would have also seen a small trail of blood coming from behind him.

Perhaps the most haunting feature was his eyes. They just stared out in front of him, with something like surprise and sadness, looking strangely unfocused.

All in all, his mean, terrifying figure was gone, reduced to someone miserable and shattered.

There were gasps and commotions all over the hall, and even a few wails coming from girls at the Slytherin table. Up at the staff table, McGonagall clamped a hand to her mouth, looking repulsed. Dumbledore slowly got up, looking shocked himself. "Severus, what on earth happened? How painful are your injuries?"

The tiniest of smirks formed on Snape's face. "This is nowhere as painful as what I did to him." With that, he slumped forward, unconscious.

Pandemonium erupted as Hagrid and McGonagall got him to the hospital wing, and Dumbledore put an end to all of it. "Students of Hogwarts, regardless of whatever has happened to your professor, I ask that you still give him the respect that he deserves. He has done a lot for this school and its occupants, more than you might ever imagine."

As Dumbledore sat back down, the degree of puzzlement only increased. What did the Headmaster mean?

All the same, people kept wondering about Snape's peculiar response: "This is nowhere as painful as what I did to him."

~*~*~*~

At St. Mungo's, Healer Gabe Sangest was busy in a brand-new ward for people tortured by the Cruciatus Curse. With the war and all its casualties, it had to be created.

To the Healer, it was like a morgue full of living people; technically and physically, there were alive, but mentally, they were broken.

This Healer was in the same year as the Hogwarts Potions Master, Severus Snape. He was one of few people from Ravenclaw who was actually friendly with the dark man who had a reputation for his teaching methods. Even to this day, he and his old acquaintance (Snape) still traded ideas via owl post to come up with new potions for certain needs.

Sangest was just finishing with the Longbottoms when Snape's eagle owl flew in. Aurigo dropped off a letter and perched on the windowsill as the Healer read it.

Gabe,

It works. I finally have the Anti-Cruciatus Cure. With help from two Hogwarts students (Mr. Neville Longbottom of Gryffindor and Miss Lovegood of Ravenclaw), and ancient potions texts from Harry Potter himself, I managed to come up with the cure.

More owls are on the way with vials in creates with enough potion to cure all your patients. One dosage is enough, and they will recover after a day or two, while their nervous systems fix themselves and they get all their memories back. In the end, it will be like coming out of comas for them.

Please tell me how things work, as I’m interested.

Professor Severus Snape, Potions Master, Hogwarts.

Sangest looked up at Aurigo, still waiting patiently at the window. With a nod towards the Aurigo, the owl flew back outside to notify the owls with the crates. The owls flew inside, dropping off the crates in front of the patients' beds.

After thanking the owls, Healer Sangest immediately served his patients the cures they had been waiting for.

~*~*~*~

In the hospital wing, Snape was revived as Madam Pomfrey applied potions, spells and salves. Of course, he could have done most of these things himself, but there was no way that Madam Pomfrey would ever let anyone do the healing other than her.

Snape just kept staring out the window the whole time, watching the moon shine and fade between the moving clouds. He was deep in thought and wallowing in misery.

Throughout his entire life, Snape had been pushed around and thrown aside (both figuratively and literally). It seemed like his life was a perpetual open hunting season, and people kept trying to shoot him down. His father, the Marauders, his students, Death Eaters, Voldemort... sometimes he wondered why there just wasn't a line full of people, waiting to do something nasty to him.

He was always lied to, used, thrown aside, and waiting for it to happen all over again. It was the same mantra, passing like the seasons, happening over and over again.

In his occasional, darker moments, he wondered if he had been better off if his father had done what the Spartans in ancient Greece did with their unwanted children, and simply left them to die somewhere.

He shook that thought from his head, reminding himself that there were decent people in his life as well. His mother always cared. Lily Evans tried to give him some sanctuary.

Of course, Snape then reminded himself as they all vanished from his life through premature death, one way or another. His mother hung herself when he was only fifteen, leaving him alone to deal with his abusive father. Lily Potter died, defending her son from the Dark Lord.

It always seemed like people deserted him when they needed him, only to rescue him at the right times.

"Severus?" came a tentative voice from the side of his bed. It was Dumbledore.

Snape jumped a little as the old man's voice shook him from his thoughts. "Yes, Headmaster?"

"What happened to you?"

Using his wand, Snape summoned the wrist attachment that Madam Pomfrey had removed earlier. "I poisoned the Dark Lord. He should be in a world of pain even as we speak. The blood protection got repealed, and he's been incredibly weakened. I can't spy on him anymore."

Dumbledore looked sympathetic for Snape and his troubles, but then gave a small smile. "Excellent job, Severus. As interesting as it is to hear of Voldemort's pain, that still doesn't answer what happened to you."

Snape looked truly dark now. "Bellatrix," he said simply. "She's been redone again. I just narrowly made it out alive."

"How'd you manage that?"

Snape gave a small smirk, although it lacked its normal menace. "Explosive potion-filled beaker. I ducked behind a support pillar and tossed it."

"Did it do much damage?"

"To her? Yes. And from the sound of it, it did a lot of damage." Snape smirked again, although without the menace mixed in, he looked simply mischievous, which in itself was a strange sight.

Of course, this was indifferent to Dumbledore, given his own eccentricities and behavior.

"Do you need a day or two to recover?"

"I probably do, since that's probably the minimum amount of time that Poppy will keep me here."

Dumbledore chuckled a little.

As the Headmaster left after wishing Snape a speedy recover, the younger man stared back out the window as Madam Pomfrey set up curtains around his bed.

He really needed to fix his own life...

~*~*~*~

Just before the students left the Great Hall after dessert, Dumbledore came back in. "There is something that needs to be addressed," he declared, and the students sat back down. Once he had everyone's attention, he spoke.

"It should be known that Professor Snape has been spying on Voldemort ever since he regained his body after the Triwizard Tournament." People muttered and talked excitedly before allowing Dumbledore to continue. "Professor Snape has given us useful information that has helped us greatly. He was worked hard to ensure the well being of every teacher and student in this school. Tonight, at the cost of his own life, health and sanity, he managed to weaken Voldemort. His injuries are not serious or life-threatening, and he will be fine. When he recovers, I ask that you give him the respect that he deserves. That is all."

The hall was shocked, but then the Slytherins then answered with thunderous applause. There were polite claps from the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables, and Ginny silently applauded from the Gryffindor table.

~*~*~*~

The next morning, the Daily Prophet could only print what Dumbledore had said, and were forced to add speculations in order to add more reading material.

The Quibbler, on the other hand, actually contained a full interview with Snape, conducted by Luna Lovegood, the editor's daughter.

For some reason, Snape wanted people to know, As much as he hated the public and preferred his isolation from it, he felt as though it was a way to take off the many emotional burdens he had been carrying.

The interview talked of how he had been tricked into joining Slytherin students that became Death Eaters (although he left out things for the sake of Harry and Lupin), how he had decided to work for Dumbledore, how he tipped off Dumbledore when Voldemort set his sights on the Potters, how he tried to work against Quirrel, and his recent efforts to create a cure for people permanently affected by the Cruciatus Curse (they would all learn of that within a day or two).

The article succeeded in showing Snape as he wanted to be shown; someone who just wanted to be respected and contribute something to society. It also portrayed him as a man secretly working for Dumbledore and suffering for the cause.

Of course, the topic of his favoritism for the Slytherins came up. His response was simple: "I look out for them because no one else will." Upon further thought, he elaborated on House bias. "Slytherin may not have produced all of the best witches and wizards, but at least it's had its share of positive influence in the wizarding world. Now we've seen how evil isn't exclusive to any particular House. As for the rivalry, I don't know who actually started it, and I really don't care, so long as it stops."

Interestingly, the Slytherins weren't gloating about their new status as victims or sufferers for the common good. Some younger students wanted to rub it in the faces of the “Harry-haters”, but the older Slytherins, mainly those whom Harry got along with, pointed out that that only fueled the cycle of revenge. Besides, there was no point in punishing them when the “Harry-haters” were already punishing themselves.

~*~*~*~

Later that afternoon, Professor McGonagall summoned Ginny. The Transfiguration professor explained Bill and Charlie were almost done recuperating, but they were fine enough know to recognize Ginny and get back to their normal selves.

Ginny was delighted. McGonagall gave her a parcel to be delivered to Bill and Charlie, and also gave a Portkey in order to get to the hospital.

A minute before the Portkey went off, Neville came in. He also got a notice about his parent's recovery, and was understandably nervous and excited to meet his parents as they recovered.

The Portkey went off, and the two students were gone.

~*~*~*~

At the waiting area, Tonks was waiting for Neville and Ginny. "Wotcher!" she said while greeting them, her spiky pink hair almost bouncing with excitement. "We have people to visit, so let's go!"

After checking in with the bored receptionist, the trio made their way to the ward, temporarily mobbed by reporters. Thankfully, Tonks' status as an Auror saved them from further delays.

Upon entering the ward, Ginny immediately spotted a pair of redheads. With a gasp, she rushed over to see them.

Bill and Charlie both looked tired and pale, but unmistakably happy. Fleur was singing some unfamiliar French song as Ginny rushed up to them.

"Gin!" Bill exclaimed as his sister wrapped him in a hug that was probably unbreakable. "Look at you, you've grown! Are you alright?"

"I should be asking you that question!" Ginny laughed.

"Yes, Ginny, we're fine," Charlie reassured her. "Right here, in our comfy beds, blankets, and flannel pajamas."

"I still don't know if they've been taking that good care of you!" Fleur admonished, running her hands through his hair. "They removed your ponytail and earring, Bill..."

Bill laughed and said, "I'll get them back, Fleur, don't worry!"

Suddenly remembering the parcel, Ginny opened it up.

It was full of pictures and newspaper clippings from when all those people hated Harry and thought he was guilty (including her own family at first, after Percy had come home with the so-called “research”). Ginny was just wondering why when it hit her. McGonagall (and probably a few other teachers) wanted Bill and Charlie to hear about current events from Ginny, as opposed to them hearing it from the rest of the Weasleys, who would try to censor and downplay their own mistakes.

"Bill," she said, her smile vanishing, "There are some things I think you should know..."

Further down the room, Neville walked tentatively, his heart pounding with each step he took.

Finally, he saw his grandmother (identifiable by her stuffed vulture hat), talking to two familiar people.

His parents...

They had also changed physically. Neville had identified some spells used to change their hair color back to normal, and erase some wrinkles from their skin, but they looked pretty much like they did in pictures that Neville grew up with.

But Neville could also see something in their eyes. The pain and suffering they had endured was apparent there. Even still, Neville reminded himself, there were countless opportunities in the future to try to put the past behind.

Calling upon a mix of Gryffindor bravery and Slytherin determination, he took the final steps.

In the meantime, Alice Longbottom's attention wavered from her mother-in-law to a sixteen-year-old boy walking up to them. He had her face and Frank's eyes and hair. He couldn't be...

"Neville?" she asked, emotions flooding her.

He nodded, his face a mix of expressions.

Alice was bursting with pride as if she would explode. With delight, she reached forward and hugged him, unable to stop.

"Neville, is that you? Oh Merlin, you're so grown up! Your grandmother told us everything, I'm so proud of you, I wish I could have been there for you... oh God..."

Mrs. Longbottom had tears streaming from her eyes as she hugged her son close. Neville also had a few tears of emotion, but he couldn't bring himself to wipe them away. He was happy as well, and he was unashamed to admit it.

"Hey son," his father said, walking over and ruffling his hair. "Nice to see you."

Neville could only laugh weakly, unsure of what to say.

"First of all," Mr. Longbottom said, "We're immensely proud of you for all you've been through, and we couldn't ask for a better son. Second, I understand about the incident with my wand, and you're forgiven. Thirdly, thanks for helping with the Anti-Cruciatus Cure, and yes, we know, since the Healer in charge of this ward is an old school acquaintance of your Potions Professor. Finally, your mother and I are sorry we couldn't be there for you."

Neville nodded. "I understand, and I know you were trying to protect me and everyone else. I also know, from the old box that Sirius Black gave me in his will."

"It's alright, we were on first-name terms with him," Mr. Longbottom explained. "We knew about his being arrested for Pettigrew's 'murder,' since that happened a few weeks before what happened to us..." and his voice trailed off here, leaving no doubt in anyone's mind about how he felt about what happened. "I knew that something was fishy about that 'murder,' and your mother and I would have collected more evidence on the matter, proving Sirius' innocence, if those blasted Lestranges didn't come along when they did."

"You mean you knew about the Marauders?" Neville asked.

"I knew of them as pranksters, but not as three Animagi and a werewolf," his father continued to explain. "I was one of their roommates, and towards the end of our seventh year, I began to piece together than Remus Lupin- your Defense teacher, we know- was a werewolf. However, it was obvious he didn't want to harm anyone, so I said nothing. He, James Potter, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew would always disappear at least once a month, and I knew they knew something the rest of us didn't."

"We're up to speed on matters about the Order and other current events," Neville's mother said quietly. Brushing away her tears, she asked, "How's school for you? How are your classmates? And how have you been doing, personally??"

Neville took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, unsure of where exactly to begin. In a nutshell, he explained about what happened to Harry, from the rumors that Percy Weasley was tricked into spreading to the standoff at the cliff. His parents and grandmother looked shocked and angry at exactly the right times. When Neville finished, they all looked horrified.

"So what happened to Harry?" Neville’s mother asked. "We know about the prophecy too, and if Voldemort killed him..."

With a small smile, Neville whispered, "He didn't." Entrusting his three family members to keep a secret, he explained that Harry was alive and in the care of Snape, his new guardian.

"We'll keep it secret, Neville," his grandmother reassured him. "We're good at keeping secrets."

"Still," Mr. Longbottom commented, "I would have never guessed with Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy."

Neville agreed with him, although he was also glad that he left out the bit about Draco using the powerful amulet of Slytherin himself.

"So," Mr. Longbottom continued, trying to lighten the conversation by choosing a new topic, "Have any girls in your life, Neville?"

 Neville blushed and was saved from this question by a sudden distraction.

At that moment, a roar of fury echoed throughout the ward, causing everyone to quiet down. Bill Weasley was standing beside his bed, fists clenched, eyes burning, and clad only in his flannel pajamas. "THEY DID WHAT!?" he bellowed.

"I guess he must have found out about what his family did," Neville said quietly.

Bill then muttered indiscernible threats under his breath, stalked towards the door, and slammed it behind him on the way out.

There was silence before Fleur said, "Oh dear, he is absolutely going to tear them apart."

"Bugger!" Ginny moaned. “I didn’t get to tell him everything!”

"I don't think he will," Charlie said with a small smile. "He can't get to Hogwarts, and he doesn't have his clothes."

Just then, footsteps could be heard as Bill walked back in, looking slightly embarrassed with himself. "Uh, does anyone know where my clothes are?"

~*~*~*~

It took some persuasion, but Bill and Charlie would have to wait for the next morning to be officially released from the hospital to lambaste their family in front of everyone.

By some miracle, Snape had been released from the hospital wing before dinnertime to make an announcement.

"Students and staff, as some of you may know from the most recent issue of the Quibbler, I have been working on a way to undo the effects of long-term exposure to the Cruciatus Curse. I am proud to say that I have perfected it, and that tomorrow morning, Bill and Charlie Weasley will be coming. That is all."

Every student and teacher was surprised, but still excited. Ron gave a triumphant whoop of joy, deciding to ignore the fact that his least favorite professor had cured his oldest brothers.

Across from him, Ginny smiled. She was finally able to see her family reunited.

From the Ravenclaw table, Luna winked to her, which Ginny acknowledged. She had made sure that her father's friends from the Quibbler would be able to witness this.

Any of them could hardly wait. The Weasleys would finally get what they deserved, and they were going to enjoy it immensely.

~*~*~*~

At breakfast the next morning, there was a smaller ensemble of guests than when Lavender Brown had been exposed for faking her own death to frame Harry.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were there, sitting along with the twins and Percy at the Gryffindor table. Percy needed a cane to walk, but the nurses from St. Mungo's said that he would be fine for a few hours from the hospital.

Photographers and journalists also lined the walls, with Rita Skeeter in the lead, working for the Quibbler.

At the staff table, the teachers were enjoying their breakfast, wondering when they would show up. Only Snape wasn't eating, not because he was brooding, but because he was watching.

More specifically, he was watching the Marauder's Map, which he got from Harry's trunk. He figured out how to work it without being insulted again. (3) Sure enough, a few dots representing Bill Weasley, Charlie Weasley, Fleur Delacour and Penelope Clearwater were all walking up the front drive with a rather quickened pace.

After passing the gates guarded by the winged boars, Snape began to count down in his head towards the figurative fireworks show. After the small group entered the side hall, Snape thought blissfully, '3... 2... 1...'

BOOM.

The doors flew open to reveal a not-so-happy group. All four people wore pensive expressions, except for Bill, whose expression looked quite disappointed and unfriendly. Cameras clicked, and the journalists smiled as they started writing or set up their dictaquills. At the staff table, the teachers were on the edges of the seats, looking a little worried (except for Snape, eyeing the scene like an owl that caught a particularly juicy mouse).

The Weasleys and Gryffindors smiled and waved and cheered a little at their praised heroes, although the smiles faltered a little at the unhappy expressions on the four visitors. Without a word, Bill strode over the to the Gryffindor table, looking seriously grave, the sound of his dragon-hide boots making up for the silence that now flooded the hall.

Concerned, Ron foolishly got up out of his seat and hurried over to Bill. "Bill, what's wrong?"

Bill flushed another shade of red as he pushed his younger brother aside, just holding back his boiling anger. Looking hurt and betrayed, Ron exclaimed, "Ow! What did I do for that?"

The innocent tone combined with the question made Bill's temper burst.

"WHAT DID YOU DO!?" he screamed, causing everyone to jump and pay attention to the starting fight. "WERE YOU OUT OF YOUR-!?” (4)

His rant was suddenly cut off as his angry words ceased to be heard; someone put a Silencing Charm on him.

“Bill,” Ginny said calmly, getting out of her seat, “I think you’re mistaken.” She then leaned forward and whispered something in his ear.

By the time she withdrew, Bill looked tired and suddenly defeated. Trying to make the best of the situation, though, he said, “Well then, Gin, I suppose it’s a good thing you told me that just in time before I said some really serious and hurtful things.”

Practically unseen one the side, the reporters seemed to wilt with disappointment; apparently, they had been hoping for Bill to ream out his family. At the staff table, Snape’s interested expression wore off, taking the news of the lost ranting opportunity better than the reporters.

Turning to his mother, Bill said with his temper in check, “Let me see if I understand. Percy brought back something that you thought was true.”

“Yes.”

“What happened to me and Charlie also played on your experiences with what happened with your cousins, Gideon and Fabian Prewett.”

“Yes.”

“And then you all acted on that, doing such things as spreading this ‘information’ to everyone else in Gryffindor, which in turn spread to everyone else within the school.”

“Yes.” On the side, Ron flinched with guilt.

“And then after a meeting you realized you were wrong about all of that, you tried to reconcile with Harry, which eventually happened.”

“Yes.”

Bill took a deep breath, trying not to snap. “Sorry; I was under the assumption you hated and mistrusted him this whole time.” Putting his hand on Ron’s shoulder, “Sorry about that.”

Ron nodded, enormously glad that Bill had aborted his plans for a verbal rampage.

“So, you’re not angry at all of us?” Percy asked carefully.

Bill’s head snapped up at that, his expression almost feral. “All of you? No. You in particular, Percy? Oh yes. How one way or another, you keep putting your ambitions ahead of your family, especially when those ambitions include trying to shove Harry out of the way when the rest us of consider him one of our own. You used your power and position to get what you wanted, and look where that’s gotten you. You psychologically conditioned yourself into believing Harry was a threat because you so desperately wanted to believe it. After all he’s done for you, you act like a hypocrite, trying to sound like a moral person before you try to boot him aside. What if Harry’s dead now, Perce? Will it have been worth it?”

Something about Bill’s demeanor was chilling to just about everyone else in the entire hall; normally, Weasleys had a penchant for getting into explosive rants, not these cold, Snape-like speeches. Nonetheless, it still had a visible impact on Percy.

Trying to salvage as much of his dignity as he could, Percy responded, “You think I didn’t care about my family? I certainly cared about them! I tried to do the right thing and make them see what could happen!”

Bill snorted. “So you think it’s your job to think for everyone, do you? Your girlfriend has actually been wanting something to you for a while, or so she tells me…”

As Penelope marched towards him, Percy recalled when Cornwall turned her from his office on April Fools Day…

"I'm sorry, Percy," he said in a calm voice. "I'll agree that you have a smart girlfriend, but I couldn't allow her to debate with you like that. She could have talked you into doing something that would have undermined and torn apart everything you've been working for lately."

Penelope, being the bright Ravenclaw that she was, figured out how to distill everything that Percy hated and feared to himself into a single sentence.

Looking her boyfriend straight in the eye, Penelope asked rhetorically, “Why don’t you just put your entire family under the Imperius Curse, Percy?” (5)

That single sentence somehow managed to finish Bill’s lecturing, and Percy suddenly looked sad and sorrowful. Looking upset, he said, “I only wanted to protect everyone and stop Riddle! I saw the stuff I was trying to steal, and then Bill and Charlie get tortured! What was I supposed to think?”

“Granted, you may not have known just how manipulative Riddle can be,” Fleur said, speaking for the first time, “But you could have asked anyone who does know about that, as I know there are plenty of people who were involved in the first war against Riddle.”

An uneasy moment of silence passed, and unable to restrain herself any longer, Mrs. Weasley got up and hugged her son, muttering “It’s so good to have you back.”

As she did the same with Charlie, Bill noticed the vulture-like reporters on the side, still waiting for one last shot at some rant. Appalled by their intentions, he shouted, “What are you waiting for? Me to snap off at my family? Not in this universe, you vultures! Go away!” (6)

(End of Chapter 43.)

A/N: Well, this chapter was certainly made shorter than before, and it was already short then to begin with…

(1) Do you like the details of Voldemort’s suffering here? By the way, in case you didn’t know, “orifice” means an opening in the body; in this case, the orifices in his head are his eyes, nostrils, ears and mouth.

(2) This duel will be finished during the final battle. I can promise one hell of a fight!

(3) Think back to Chapter 14 of PoA.

(4) Sorry if you miss Bill’s rant, but I can promise you that Harry will be picking that back up in the upcoming chapters of “The Grief I Suffered,” you fight-thirsty readers will be repaid, plus interest! (Wink wink!)

(5) Actually, it’s kind of ironic that Penelope should ask this, since you all thought that Percy was doing just that, with the Imperius Curse and everything.

(6) Okay, I’m aware of the stereotype of journalists and reporters being annoying, bloodthirsty vultures, so I’d like to express right now that I do not agree with that stereotype, and I’m sure that there are some decent, nice journalists and reporters out there in the real world; let’s just assume that the majority of reporters in the “Potter-verse” are like that.

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