Ginny screamed helplessly.
Dust and rubble filled the air, blinding her surroundings. She panted in pain and from exhaustion, stumbling across fallen bricks and torn-up wooden pillars from the ceiling, bodies of students and Death Eaters alike lying scattered underneath them. Shakily she breathed in the sickening air of death, eyes stinging and watering.
So much death.
She had lost sight of Neville and Luna along the way, and had glimpses of Harry, Ron and Hermione running to and fro, only hoping and praying they had a plan and had not been stopped or killed in the process. Moments ago, her parents had been seen helping some of the other Order members getting the younger students and the wounded into safety, and she had followed the twins as they gave the Death Eaters hell together with Lee Jordan. In midst of the chaos the three of them had lost sight of Fred, and George had screamed his name as he and Lee battled a fuming Yaxley who forced them further and further away. The next second, an ear-deafening explosion shook the castle, spewing debris and screams, and Ginny was thrown backwards, landing by a shadowed wall of a nearby corridor, unseen. When she came to again, she realized she had been separated from the group and that her right trouser leg had been sliced open along her thigh; a long, painful cut that seared through her entire being with every step she took.
Tears threatened to spill from the corner of her eyes, but crying was useless. She had to focus and try and find the others instead.
She hobbled forwards.
Suddenly two strong arms clamped around her from behind, using the moment of distraction to snatch her wand, and pulled her backwards and away from the main fighting area. She screamed and flailed, struggling against the iron hold of her captor. Unfortunately, she was practically out of sight and sound of the distracting activities at the other end of the now ruined hallway where clouds of dust, smoke and pillars obscured much of the view.
A hand came up to cover her mouth, instantly silencing the scream lurching from her throat, and she was pulled into a darkened alcove, her back pressed against a tall, sturdy body. For a miniscule second, her panicked senses were struck by the masculine scent of expensive cologne and natural musk that enveloped her, and she thrashed within her captor's hold which instantly tightened again as she attempted to bite the hand covering her mouth.
"Don't bother, girl. I cast a Cave inimicum to avoid any inconvenient interruption," came a rich, drawling voice near her ear, promptly warning her off any sort of resistance.
That voice…
Ginny's eyes widened.