Chapter 9
Authors note: It all belongs to J.K. Rowling (despite my dreams and wishes).
****Hey All, hopefully it all starts falling into place with this chapter. I know a lot of it is about Emma but bare with me.****
When they arrived back at the burrow the sun was already beginning to come up. They exited the floo, Ron entered first, followed by Harry holding onto Emma, to find the living room filled to bursting with Weasleys.
Harry sighed tiredly and turned to Ron.
"Would you mind taking her up to the room?"
Ron nodded his agreement and took her into his arms. She had passed out once again after Harry had informed her of their destination and had gotten a bit of her story out of her. Ron adjusted her carefully and marched off without a word to his stunned family. Harry stood in place for a moment before searching the room for Ginny.
She looked confused beyond belief. Harry couldn't control his reaction then. His mind was playing the scenario over and over. What if it had been her? The bastards didn't care who they took. What if he were to lose her? What if they were to do to her what they had done to Sarah Washburn? What they had tried to do to Emma?
He doubled over and gasped feeling his throat constrict. He stayed for a moment gripping his stomach bent over in pain, acutely aware of the Weasley's surrounding him suddenly asking him questions and making him feel dizzy. There were too many of them. Harry did his best to control his raging insides. He felt hot and out of control.
Ron's voice cut through the melee.
"Back up and give him some air!" He bellowed. "Move! Go on can't you see the bloke needs space!"
His family immediately complied and Ron moved swiftly to Harry's side. He pulled him up forcefully and placed a hand firmly on his shoulder, looking Harry in the eye.
"Are you about to be sick?"
Harry nodded, his tongue sticking in his throat. Ron acted quickly ushering him out the door and into the back yard where he held on to his best friend as he began to wretch violently.
Ron knew without a doubt that his family and Hermione were watching them through the windows but he didn't care. Right now all that mattered was that Harry needed him to hold him up and by all that was good and right in the world he was going to do it. They had been through hell that night. He couldn't even begin to imagine what the two women had suffered. His thoughts had turned to Hermione for the briefest of seconds but he pushed them back knowing he had to keep steady until Harry was finished.
He waited patiently hanging on to Harry to keep him from falling forward. His friend spent a good five minutes losing his insides before he stood up shakily.
Harry turned to Ron wiping his mouth with his sleeve.
"Your turn?" He said hoarsely.
Ron nodded and once Harry grabbed onto him, he took his turn vomiting up whatever he had in his stomach.
When Ron was finished they both backed up a few paces and then collapsed onto their backs on the grass.
"You alright mate?" Harry asked thickly after a few minutes.
Ron nodded his throat tight and burning. He swallowed with difficulty.
"I just keep thinking.. Hermione.."
Harry nodded in understanding.
"That's what pushed me over the edge. Gin.. you know?"
Ron shivered visibly.
"That woman… Emma.. was she.. was it bad?" Ron asked flatly.
Harry took deep breaths.
"Her legs mate. He'd scratched up her thighs..."
Ron made a strangled sound and rubbed his face harshly.
"Do you think we'll be able to handle this? All the time?" He asked finally.
Harry thought it over before answering.
"I think we have to."
****
Charlie was the first to react to the scene they were all watching from the living room.
"What the hell do you think happened to them?" He muttered worriedly.
Bill shook his head.
"It had to be bad. Did you see that woman they brought in? What do you think that's about?"
"She didn't look too good." Hermione responded. "She was rather pale."
"Just look at the two of them." Charlie breathed. "They are both pretty fucking messed up."
"Charlie!"
Mrs. Weasley scolded firmly.
"Sorry mum." He mumbled
offhand.
"Molly I think it would be best if we started breakfast. Let's just try to give them some space for awhile." Mr. Weasley suggested.
The others did their best to go about their usual morning routine but it was strange as none of them said a word. They were all listening for when Ron and Harry would re-enter the house.
It was forty-five minutes later that they were rewarded with the sound of the back door opening.
Harry and Ron entered the kitchen and stopped dead in their tracks at the sight of the family eating breakfast.
Harry recovered first. He leaned against the door frame and said hoarsely.
"Gin."
She didn't waste any time before jumping up and running to him. She threw herself into his arms and was startled when he gripped her fiercely. She noticed he was shaking. She wasn't going to lie, it scared her.
"Harry," she breathed the worry evident in her voice.
"I'm alright." He shuddered. "Just give me sec.."
She waited patiently and finally he straightened kissing the top of her head.
He looked to his left. Ron was still holding Hermione and looking scared. Their eyes met across the few feet of distance and they both nodded in understanding.
Harry moved slowly toward the breakfast table pulling Ginny with him. He sat and tried not to look at the food.
"Thanks for breakfast Mrs. Weasley. It looks great but I'm really not feeling up to it."
"That's quite alright Harry dear." She responded enthusiastically. "We are just glad you boys are home safely."
"Where's Percy?" Ron asked noticing he was the only one of his brother's not present.
"Just running a bit late is all." Mrs. Weasley responded quickly.
Ron nodded from his position next to Hermione. He accepted the glass of water she handed to him and swallowed half of it gratefully. He then handed it over to Harry who thanked him and swallowed it down just as enthusiastically.
"Here let me get you both some more." Hermione offered, moving to stand. Ron shook his head and yanked her back down to his side. "No.. just please stay here for a little while. Just stay next to me."
"Alright." She agreed confused her brown eyes sweeping over Ron as if to reassure herself that he was truly alright.
Mrs. Weasley completed the task of fetching water for her and after they had drank their fill Charlie decided to break the silence.
"So would it be too much of me to ask what happened to you two?"
Ron shook his head but looked to Harry.
He sighed.
"We found four death eaters hiding out in Gretna Green. You know that village where everyone goes to elope." The Weasley's all nodded. "Well they'd been hiding out in a house there. They claimed they were laying low until Voldemort returns again."
Harry's laugh was hollow as he went on.
"They seemed to be content just waiting and occupying themselves with whatever entertainment they could find."
He stared at his glass of water for a second before continuing. He explained their plan of attack then added,
"But it didn't go as we had planned."
"Why not?" Bill asked curiously.
"They had hostages." Ron supplied darkly.
"Hostages? But what on earth…" Mrs. Weasley stammered.
"They had two women." Harry growled getting angry all over again. "One was a muggle they had kidnapped from the village. She had come there to get married. Goyle had her in his grasp and Montfort and MacKay were afraid to do anything to provoke him and they didn't want to notify us because they couldn't risk the rest of us running into the house and causing him to hurt her unintentionally. The other woman was a witch. She lived there. They took her on her way home from work."
"But what could they want with…?" Hermione began before gasping horrified. "You can't mean they…but those poor women."
Ron nodded.
"We were too late to help them. They'd already…"
"No they didn't." Harry protested. Looking at Ron pointedly. "Emma wasn't violated."
Ron's eyes widened in astonishment and he groaned hoarsely with relief.
"But she was… I just assumed with her being completely undressed and with what happened to the muggle… so you mean Lestrange didn't..?"
Harry nodded.
"I killed the bastard in the middle of attempting it." He said flatly.
"Harry you didn't." Hermione gasped.
"I damned well did." He responded fiercely.
"That asshole deserved it Mione." Ron agreed firmly. "Besides Harry didn't kill him on purpose. He stunned him into the wall. It was the blow to his head that did him in."
"I wish I wouldn't have gotten rid of him so soon." Harry growled. "I'd like to have gotten the chance to beat the living shit out of him first."
Ron nodded his agreement, while Charlie, Bill, Mr. Weasley and George grunted in approval.
"The muggle woman had a fiancée. He was rather relieved to find out she was alive. We modified her memory and after a visit to the healer we are hoping she will come out alright." Ron added a moment later.
"What about the woman upstairs?" Hermione questioned.
"She wouldn't tell us where she lived." Ron stated flatly.
"But what about medical attention?" Hermione pestered.
"She refused it."
"But Ronald…"
"Drop it Hermione." Ron said more harshly than he'd meant to.
Harry sighed.
"It's alright Ron." He said softly.
"No mate." Ron said firmly. "I… I shouldn't have spoken that way to you Mione." He amended first. "But the girl is taken care of alright. I promise we didn't let her go unattended."
"Ron.." Harry began.
Suddenly there was screaming coming from up the stairs.
Harry, Ron, Bill and Charlie were up and running up the stairs in a matter of seconds. Ron was the first to enter Percy's room. He was startled to find Emma was awake and obviously still caught in the throws of a nightmare.
He turned around.
"Harry mate.."
Harry nodded and moved forward and sat on the edge of the bed pulling her into his arms.
"Emma," He said carefully while she struggled against him. "Your safe, do you hear me? Your safe. I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
The woman began to sob uncontrollably into Harry's chest.
"Please. Don't let him take me. He wants to. He keeps watching me." She screamed. "He raped her already. Sarah… they took Sarah. They hurt her in front of me. I.. please don't let them take me too."
Harry pulled her face up to look at him.
"Emma. Look at me." He directed. She was taking huge gulping breaths as she complied.
"It's me Harry. I came and got you out do you remember?"
She nodded shaking furiously.
"You're safe now. You are at the Burrow. Ron's house. You remember Ron don't you?" She nodded again. "Good. We aren't going to let anything happen to you. Lestrange is dead. He's dead Emma."
She began shaking her head back and forth.
"No… he was just here. He was… he tried to.."
Harry pulled her closer sighing tiredly.
"I know what he tried to do."
"I'm a virgin. I've waited all my life for the right person." She suddenly choked out, putting her face into his chest again.
"I know." Harry agreed. "I have too. I know what it means. I know it's important."
He pulled her chin up again.
"He didn't take that away from you Emma. He didn't. He's dead."
She closed her eyes tightly. Tears leaked out of the edges.
"Do you swear?" She gasped. "You swear he's dead?"
Harry nodded.
"I swear."
She sobbed uncontrollably then and Harry couldn't do anything but hold her.
****
Ron watched worriedly alongside his brothers.
"I'm going to keep the others downstairs." George said firmly leaving the room and heading down to make sure the rest of the family stayed in the kitchen.
"Ron." Bill said softly. "Why did you let Harry go to her?"
"He's the only one she will let touch her while she's awake." He answered gruffly. "He was the one who stunned Lestrange while he was… He was on top of her. By the time we got there Harry was trying to talk to her. To calm her down. She panicked when she saw the rest of us. She thought we were there to rape her."
He paused wondering if he should go on.
"She leapt from the bed. Practically launched herself at Harry when she saw us. She wasn't wearing anything and she wouldn't let him let her go. He covered her as best he could but she.. well she still won't let anyone else touch her yet. He's the only one she isn't afraid of right now."
"Bloody hell." Charlie breathed.
He watched as Harry held the sobbing woman. Rubbing her back and helping her calm down. He couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. It churned his insides to know that someone had tried to hurt her. Charlie wasn't an emotional person by nature but knowing what she had gone through was enough to make his throat close up. He couldn't imagine what all she had suffered at the hands of the Death Eaters. He felt an overwhelming sense of need to help her in some way. In whatever way he could. He promised himself he would do whatever it took to erase what the lowlifes had done to her and to replace it with something good.
The three brothers waited patiently while Harry did what he could. It was quite awhile later when she finally pulled back from his embrace and said softly.
"Thankyou."
Her gaze landed on Ron.
"And thankyou. I don't know how I will ever…"
"You don't owe us anything." Ron said firmly walking toward them slowly.
She clutched Harry a little tighter but he was pleased to see she didn't cringe or panic. Ron knowingly stopped a few feet from the bed.
"I want to introduce you to my brothers. The tall one is Bill. He's rather ugly but he's nice I promise." She smiled softly at Ron's words and dipped her chin at Bill who waved at her in a friendly manner. "The other shorter one is Charlie. He's rather nice as well."
At her smile of greeting Charlie felt his stomach drop. He didn't know what to say so he settled on dipping his chin at her and trying not to move toward her.
"Would you like a shower?" Harry asked her once the introductions were over.
She nodded.
"I don't know if I can stand yet though."
"Well you were doing an alright job of it earlier. I think you'll be alright." He grinned and she blushed knowing he was referring to when she had clung to him helplessly.
He slid off the bed and held his arms out to her.
She grabbed onto his outstretched forearms and used them to hold herself up.
"I'm sorry." She said embarrassed at her weakness. "I'm just very tired."
"That's understandable." Harry agreed.
Emma flushed.
"Merlin what you all must think of me.." She stammered. "I mean you're Harry Potter. The greatest wizard of our time…"
"I'm going to disagree and say that was Albus Dumbledore." Harry joked trying to distract her.
"And I'm in the Weasley's house." She went on as if she hadn't heard him. "The Weasley's for Merlin's sake! Do you know they are just as famous as you?!"
Harry quirked an eyebrow at her. She was rambling strangely.
"You know I'm pretty sure I heard that somewhere."
"It's said they've sacrificed more than almost anyone in the battle against Voldemort. I heard their oldest son was bitten by a werewolf and the youngest.." She suddenly stopped and looked to the three brothers flushing bright red. "I'm sorry I tend to ramble when I get nervous or embarrassed."
"That's alright." Bill informed her kindly. "We've been trying to get Ron to shut up for years. You're a pleasant change from his jabbering."
Ron chuckled and smiled at her. She smiled back. It was a start.
****
Once they got Emma settled in the bathroom they made their way down the stairs.
"Harry mate. I'm not sure how Ginny is going to take this whole Emma being attached to you thing." Bill remarked tentatively.
Harry sighed.
"She'll understand."
They found the rest of the family had moved to the living room again. Ron briefly explained that she would be staying with them for awhile.
"She looks somewhat familiar." Mr. Weasley remarked when he was finished. "Her last name is Brown you said?"
Harry nodded.
"I was thinking that too. That maybe she is related to Lavender."
"Yes exactly."
"I think she must be somewhere near Percy's year or perhaps a year below." Bill added thoughtfully. She looks about four or five years younger than Charlie.
Harry stopped pacing in front of the fireplace and asked curiously.
"Where's Ginny?"
"I think she went for a fly Harry dear." Mrs. Weasley informed him.
Harry excused himself then and made his way toward the Weasley's makeshift quidditch pitch.
She was flying alright. And she looked magnificent. Her red hair was streaming along behind her as she flew in circles over the pitch twisting and turning every so often. It was quite a few minutes before she spotted Harry.
She landed next to him and smiled softly lying down onto the grass next to him.
"Is she alright?" She asked.
Harry nodded.
"I think she will be."
Ginny smiled.
"That's good. It must have just been horrible what she went through."
"It was." He agreed.
They were quiet for a time.
"She needs you doesn't she Harry?" Ginny finally voiced worriedly.
"Yeah. I think she does."
Ginny nodded.
"She's rather pretty."
Harry smiled and rolled over propping himself up on his elbow to look down at her.
"I prefer red-heads. You know that."
Ginny frowned but Harry saw her eyes light up happily.
"I thought we decided red-heads prefer Potters."
"You decided that."
"Well I'm usually right."
"Gin."
"Yes."
"Hush and let me tell you happy birthday."
She smiled happily and obliged, letting his mouth capture hers sweetly.
He cupped her jaw while he worshiped her lips and instantly felt his stomach begin to flutter wildly. She gave him butterflies with her every movement.
He pulled away and looked at her flushed expression.
"It would kill me if anything were to happen to you Ginny." He said huskily.
She reached up and touched his cheek.
"Nothings
going to happen to me Harry."
Harry sighed and buried his face
into the curve of her neck.
"I need you."
"I need you too." She acknowledged, rubbing his back soothingly.
"I'll keep you safe." He said his voice firm with conviction.
She realized he was being absolutely serious and that he was worried about something happening to her. After what he'd been through that night Ginny knew he needed her to reassure him.
"I know love. I'm always safe with you."
He captured her lips once more, losing himself completely and letting everything that had happened the night before disappear.
****
Author's Note:
I know this was a weird place to end it but the next part is rather long and I will need more time to get it all laid out.
Sorry about all the dialogue in this one. It was rather necessary.
Hope you enjoyed it at least a little! And please Review!!!
