Okay, so this one is very very short. Sorry! But I'll be updating soon-enjoy!
Running Out of Time
Seconds after George was dragged away, Ron appeared outside the gates of Hogsmeade. He clutched Hermione's hand and faced his family, who looked as if they had also just arrived. Ginny was clinging to the metal bars, peering at the bare village.
"It's empty," She said blankly. "It's empty. Maybe they're not here." She knew that it wasn't likely; she knew that she was just trying to convince herself. Her family didn't say anything, letting themselves hope for just one moment that George and Harry were safe; perhaps back at the Burrow, or in Diagon Alley. Wondering where everyone else had gone. But even Ginny didn't believe herself. She turned to her family and braced herself.
"Let's go in, then," She said matter-of-factly, and pulled out her wand, but Arthur grabbed her with lightning quick reflexes.
"We need some sort of plan," He said darkly.
"We don't have time!" Ginny burst. "Dad, they could by dying! We don't have time to figure something out, we just have to go!"
"Gin, do you know how dangerous these people are? I don't want any of you to—"
Suddenly, Arthur was cut off by Fleur's shriek.
"Look!" She gasped, clinging to Bill's arm, pointing at the ground. The family's eyes followed. Hermione felt Ron wilt beside her and let out a whimper; he was shaking. Blood covered the ground, still wet and gleaming red.
"They were here," Hermione whispered. "They were just here, just now…" She breathed, raising a hand to her mouth. She stole a glance at the rest of the family. Molly stood, transfixed by the red, grimy ground. She wasn't crying; she wasn't yelling. She just stood, staring.
"Mrs. Weasley?" Hermione said gently. "Mrs. Weasley, if you want to go home…" Hermione's voice was much too high. Molly looked at her with the same expressionless face, and Hermione fell silent. Nothing had to be said. Molly was staying. The family remained quiet for a moment before Bill spoke.
"The Shrieking Shack," He said quietly. "If they took George or Harry, that's where the Death Eaters could have taken them."
"How do you know?" Ginny asked.
"I don't," Bill admitted, running a hand through his hair. "But we've got to start somewhere, don't we? Anyone else have any ideas?"
Everyone was silent.
"Do you reckon both of them are there? What if they were split up, taken somewhere else?" Ginny asked.
"George is the one that brought Harry here," Bill said.
"He didn't know that it'd be filled with Death Eaters now, did he?" Ron snarled.
"Listen, we don't know why they came here today. We just need to do something," Ginny pleaded.
"She is right," Fleur agreed. "We must go."
"Fleur, I meant to talk to you," Bill said lowly, taking Fleur's arm and turning her away slightly. Knowing what Bill was about to say, Fleur tugged her arm back and scoffed.
"Bill, stop it. They are my family too, now. I am coming with you, as is Ginny," She said sharply, as Bill threw a glance at Ginny. "We are all here for him. For both of them."
Bill knew that it was a lost cause. He turned to Ginny, who was already glaring fiercely. Determined. She was good at magic, there was no doubt; and once she had her mind set on something, there was no hope of changing it. She was confident, of course; but a look in her eye told Bill that there was no time to argue.
"Okay," Arthur said quietly. "The Shrieking Shack, you said?"