11th August 1998 Ginny Weasley is 17
5.Night
"Damn!" yelled Charlie, wrenching open the shed door, seizing a couple of brooms, and throwing one to Ron. But when they tried to take off after Bill, they discovered they couldn't. "He's jinxed them," exclaimed Charlie. "He doesn't want anyone going after him. You'd better get Dad. Bill's a curse-breaker – I don't think you or I have a hope of breaking one of his jinxes, though I'll try."
As quickly as he could, Ron made his way back to the yard, which was in chaos. Fleur was sobbing in Hermione's arms. Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were both in tears too, and George didn't look far off it. "Well?" demanded Mr. Weasley, as Ron re-entered the yard, panting for breath.
"He's gone, Dad," gasped Ron. "Taken a broom and flown. We tried to follow him, but he'd jinxed the other brooms so we couldn't. Charlie's trying to un-jinx them, but he reckons he'll need your help." His father nodded, and set off at once for the far end of the orchard and the broom shed.
"I knew somesing like zis would 'appen," wailed Fleur. "I said to 'Ermione zis evening zat everyone relied on Bill too much and it was too much for 'im." She began sobbing again, and Mrs. Weasley took her in her arms, pushing Hermione gently out of the way.
"There, there, dear. Don't cry," she murmured, wiping her own tears with the back of her hand and smoothing her daughter-in-law's hair as she sobbed against her shoulder. "He won't have gone far, we'll find him, he'll be alright."
"Which way did he go, Ron?" asked Percy, looking at his youngest brother, who had collapsed into a chair.
"Didn't see," said Ron. "To be honest, I don't think he knew where he was going himself. I think he just wanted to get away."
"I'm going to make some coffee," said Hermione. "We can't do anything else till those brooms are usable again anyway. Come and help me, Harry."
By the time Arthur and Charlie returned, each carrying an armful of now functional broomsticks, the others were seated around the table drinking coffee, and even Fleur was reasonably composed.
"We need to split up and check the obvious places," said Mr. Weasley, accepting a cup of coffee from Hermione. "Fleur, you should go to Shell Cottage in case Bill's there. I don't think it's that likely, but it's worth a try. If he isn't there, you can leave a message for him in case he turns up later and then come back here. Someone needs to stay here too in case he comes back. And the rest of us can take brooms and see if we can spot him anywhere. I really don't think he can have gone that far …"
The others nodded. All of them were still feeling stunned by the abrupt break-up of the party. None of his siblings could quite believe that Bill had reacted like this to a simple mistake – one that it was inevitable that somebody was going to make sooner or later. Bill was the strong one, the big brother who sorted things out for them, not someone who ran out on situations that were too much for him. Bill's parents, however, were beginning to realise just how much pressure the family had unconsciously been putting on Bill since Fred's death, and both were feeling that they should have seen this coming and done something to prevent it.
As soon as the coffee was finished, they split up. Fleur, with Hermione for company, Disapparated to Shell Cottage. Molly and Arthur began clearing up the debris of the party – since someone had to stay at The Burrow, they might as well do something useful. The others took broomsticks – Charlie, Ron, Ginny and Harry heading out over the hills behind the house, while Percy and George made for the village. They flew as low as they dared, hoping for a sight of Bill somewhere, landing frequently to check the area more thoroughly.
It was the early hours of the morning before they all returned to The Burrow. Fleur and Hermione had found no sign of Bill at Shell Cottage, in the garden or on the surrounding cliff tops. Fleur had left Bill a note telling him they were worried about him, and would he please let them know he was okay, prominently displayed on the kitchen mantelpiece, but neither she nor Hermione thought it at all likely that Bill would turn up there to read it. The others had been equally unsuccessful. The only evidence any of them had found was a new wreath on Fred's grave which George had found, and which he knew had not been there earlier in the evening. But of Bill himself there was no sign.
Arthur looked round at his family gathered in the kitchen. Bill's hand on Mrs. Weasley's famous clock pointed to "Lost" which Arthur thought wryly wasn't terribly helpful as they knew that already. "We all need to get some sleep," he said. "We can start looking again in the morning, but there's nothing more we can do tonight. Chances are, Bill might be back by breakfast time. Things always look better by daylight." Even Fleur had to accept that he was right, and they trailed upstairs to bed.
