An Attempted Murder

Harry, Hermione and Ginny held onto each other as they awaited the inevitable. But the killing curse hit the girls and did nothing. The Death Eaters looked on as the Potter girls absorbed the killing curse and came out of it without so much as a scratch. But the trio took the element of surprise to their advantage and drew their wands. They cast stunning spells that hit a few of the Death Eaters. Throughout the Alley, other Academy students took their wands and aimed at the Death Eaters. There were also New Zealand Death Eaters participating in the attack. The terrorists had already killed a number of people. Aurors came into the Alley to join in the defence.

"FREEZE YOU BLOODY BASTARDS!" yelled someone.

"STUPEFY!" Hermione shouted and stunned a Death Eater. Then she screamed and fell to the ground. A Death Eater had fired a reducto curse at her in the back. Ginny disarmed him and put him under a body bind. She went to check on Hermione but fell on top of her as another Death Eater cursed her.

"NO!" Harry shouted. He ran to the girls and checked on them. He couldn't feel a pulse on either girl and there was blood everywhere. He stood up and looked at the Death Eaters. Harry then screamed as something happened to him. His skin turned grey, his hands and feet turned into giant paws. His entire body became thick-skinned, a giant horn grew on his face, followed by a smaller second one. Seconds later, he had transformed into a rhinoceros. The Death Eaters looked on as the rhino stared at them. It scuffed its front feet and then charged at them. Harry charged through the group of enemies then turned around. Anthony looked at him and seemed to understand the look.

"Hold on, Harry." He took Anna-Maria's wand from her and jumped onto the rhino's back. "Yee Haw!" he yelled, and Harry charged towards them again. Anthony fired stunners at the Death Eaters, stunning them, surprised at the events unfolding in front of them. One turned and ran. Harry charged after him and lowered his head. Getting really close to the Death Eater, he raised his head and rammed the villain. Meanwhile, other students and the Aurors were beating back the rest of the criminals. Realising they were beaten, they disapparated. Harry walked slowly to the girls and nudged them with his horn, trying to get them to move, but they wouldn't. The Aurors walked over.

"He seems to have gone through an animagus transformation, but can't turn back." Anthony told them. An Auror cast a spell and Harry turned back to normal. He screamed and flung himself upon the girls.

"Please don't be dead," he screamed, with tears in his eyes.

"Harry, let them go. We will take them to the hospital where they can be treated," Remus told him, prying him off them. Two Aurors apparated the girls to the hospital.

Harry looked on as the Aurors placed bindings on the stunned Death Eaters. They were then apparated away. Remus took his hand.

"Prepare yourself, Harry. Apparition is not a pleasant way of travel." Both he and Harry vanished and reappeared in the waiting room of the local magical hospital.

Remus walked to the reception desk. "We're here to see Ginny and Hermione Potter." He told the receptionist. She summoned the Healers.

"Mr. Potter, we have stabilised both Ginny and Hermione, but they are not out of the woods yet. To be frank, we don't expect them to survive. They lost a lot of blood and they were hit by powerful curses. We will do what we can for them. If they can survive the next 24 hours, there is a chance."

Harry fell to the ground on his knees and started crying as he and Remus were told the sad news.

"If they" Remus said to the Receptionist, "Then you and the rest of the hospital staff dies" and he took Harry away.

The next day – Great Hall, Hogwarts

Professor McGonagall stood up from her chair in the Great Hall and cleared her throat. All the students stopped eating and looked at her.

"I have an announcement I have to make, although it is one I do not wish to make. Yesterday, Death Eaters attacked Maori Alley in Wellington, New Zealand," she began. The students whispered among themselves, wondering where they knew the location from.

"Twelve people were killed, several more seriously wounded. Among the seriously wounded are our former students, Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley."

A lot of people gasped. Not many people were listening as Professor McGonagall finished her statement.

"Neither is expected to survive. All Weasleys are to report to my office at once."

Percy, Fred, George and Ron all got up and followed McGonagall to her office. She sat down in her chair. "I am granting the four of you compassionate leave in order to travel to New Zealand."

Percy looked outraged. "What about the exams, Professor?"

"Permission to murder Percy on the spot?" asked the twins at the same time.

"You bastard! How could you think of your exams when your sister is lying in a hospital bed close to death? As far as I'm concerned, Mum and Dad disowned the wrong person from the family" Fred said.

"I'm of age. You cannot force me to go." Percy replied.

"What about you?" McGonagall asked Ron.

"I'm sticking with Percy and staying here. Ginny was always mean and nasty at home" and that was all Ron said. George, Percy and McGonagall watched as Fred lifted Ron off his feet, and threw him out the window.

"What did you do?" asked McGonagall.

"Did what you mentioned the other day, Professor. Clearing up the trash. Besides" Fred added, "I muttered a spell so that he floated down and didn't die" and McGonagall looked at him.

"20 Points for attacking a defenceless student" and the twins would have sworn her lips curled at the corners. "You may return to your classes, Percy" the witch said.

"Yes, Professor" Percy replied, and he left the office at once. Silence reigned in the office as McGonagall looked at the Weasley twins staring at each other as if speaking with the aid of telepathy. After a few seconds, they turned to face McGonagall so formal looking that the good Professor wondered if they felt alright.

"Professor McGonagall?" they said in harmony, "May we have a few days off?" the twins requested.

"You have half an hour to pack some clothes and whatever else you need" she told them with a smile, "I suggest that you run as I'll be creating a limited use Portkey to Hong Kong. And if Argus Filch yells at you… prank him" and the twins rushed to get to Gryffindor tower which was on the other side of the castle.

#

The Weasleys used a Portkey specially organised by the Ministry to travel to Hong Kong, and from there they caught Coconut Airlines flight 272 to Wellington. The whole time on the plane, and the twins watched the in-flight movie – 'Worlds worst Plane Crashes' – they decided to stop watching after a few minutes. Hours after arriving, they made it to the hospital where Fred and George ran to the reception desk.

"I was told our sister Ginny Potter, was brought here two days ago. I've just arrived from England," Fred said.

"I will call the Healer," the receptionist said. Fred and George looked around and saw Remus. They ran over to him.

"What's going on, Remus?" Arthur asked him.

"It seems Ginny took a powerful reducto curse in the back. The same thing happened to Hermione. The Death Eaters first aimed the killing curse at them but it didn't even scratch them."

"How's Harry?" George asked, seeing Fred drain of colour.

"Not good. He didn't get hurt, but he's not said anything since it happened. He's not eaten anything or slept. He's just sat between the girls and refused to move." Just then, the Healer came over and shook hands with the twins.

"Mr. and Mr. Weasley?" The twins nodded. "I'm the Healer tending to your sister. For now, she out of danger but still critical."

"Will she die?" Lupin asked.

"I can't honestly tell you," the Healer replied. He took them to the private room and let them see through the window. Both Hermione and Ginny were in separate beds with all sorts of life support machines connected to them with a steady beat. In between them was Harry looking dead to the world. The Healer let them the twins inside, and they walked in and stood behind Harry. Fred looked round to glance at Harry's face, but the sight shocked him badly – it was as if Harry had had all colour, feeling and life drained out of him.

#

Hermione and Ginny opened their eyes and found themselves in a white void. There was nothing for miles on end. They walked around for what seemed hours and still saw nothing and no one.

Before they could do anything else, five people began to appear. Hermione recognised the first two. They were her parents. The other three were James and Lily Potter, along with Sirius Black.

"What are you doing here, Hermione?" Mrs. Granger asked.

"Ginny and I were attacked in Maori Alley. Harry was trying to defend us."

"You can't die, girls," James said. "Harry needs you."

"The Death Eaters used the killing curse on us but it didn't even scratch us."

James, Lily and Sirius listened with interest as the girls told them that.

"I think it is because of your bond with Harry. I assume you were holding hands at the time?" asked Lily. The girls answered affirmatively. "I believe it is because Harry survived the curse, and because of your bond and the fact that you were touching, it gave you the power to survive the killing curse."

"Hermione dear, it is not your time to leave the world. You have a long life ahead of you," said Mr. Granger, "You have a long and lengthy marriage with Harry ahead of you."

"You must pull through," began Sirius. "Harry will not last long without you."

"What do you mean?" asked Ginny. "Will he die if we do?"

"No, but without you, Harry will find life not worth living. Yes, he will have friends but he'll never find anyone else like you. I only wish James and I were still alive, we would have loved it when you have children with Harry. It would mean a nice brood of Potters for us to corrupt."

"This is no laughing matter, Sirius Black!" Lily shouted.

#

Remus was telling Fred and George about how he witnessed Ginny and Hermione survive the killing curse. He told them what he theorised based on what Harry and the girls had told him about their bond. Fred and George tried to get Harry to say something while Remus was looking on.

#

"You must fight now. If you remain here any longer, then you will not be able to go back," Lily said.

"How come we can see you here?" asked Hermione.

"We're already dead. We're supposed to guide you into the light and help you move on, but it's not your time. But that can go to the winds of hell. Fight and return to Harry." James said.

A beating noise could be heard. Ginny and Hermione turned in the general direction of the noise. Ginny stepped forward. There was no longer a white void. She was back in England. She could see the tall building that was the Burrow. Outside were her parents, Molly and Arthur. With them were her brothers; Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George and Ron. And with them was Harry. They were beckoning at her to come towards them. She began to walk towards them. Hermione grabbed her.

"Ginny, stop!"

"Hermione, it's my family and Harry. I must go to them," she argued.

"There's nothing there," Hermione said, shaking Ginny back to the void. Then the environment began to change. Hermione could see her old Muggle home – her parents and Harry were standing outside it. She made her way towards it. Ginny grabbed her to make her stop, but Hermione wouldn't. Ginny slapped Hermione's face. Hermione came round and looked, but all she could see was the white void.

"What happened?" she asked.

"That's what happens," Lily said, "I've seen it so many times. Dying people are shown images of things they really want to see to try and tempt them into crossing over."

"I saw Sirius before he crossed over." added James, "He later told me that he saw our home at Godric's Hollow along with me, Lily and Harry. The sight was enough to tempt him into crossing the void, into the afterlife."

"And that was a stupid mistake" Sirius said, "The women here just don't want any of the Padfoot" and James and Lily shook their heads.

"We'll see you soon," Hermione said.

"Take your time. We don't want to see you here for at least another hundred years," James replied. Hermione took Ginny's hand and they walked away from Lily, James and Sirius. They then began to fade away.

#

In the hospital, the girls eyes began to open. In the void, the girls disappeared. Fred and George saw Ginny's eyes open at the same time as Harry did

"Oh my…" Harry broke down"

"MEDIC!" yelled the twins, and healers came rushing in to see six foot neon arrows pointing towards each girl along with a beeping noise to indicate the issue. Everyone was shooed out of the room while the Healers checked the girls. Ten minutes later, the Healers came out.

"We have good news; Ginny and Hermione are going to be alright. Two people can go in at a time. Harry, you can stay with them," the main Healer said. Harry smiled for the first time in days. He went into the girls' room with Molly and Arthur and held their hands. They were still unable to speak but were aware of their surroundings.

#

Later on, at the Academy, Headmistress Jackson had an announcement to make.

"I am pleased to announce that Hermione and Ginny Potter are on the mend. It will be several weeks before they will be able to return to the Academy. When they do, they will need our support. On hearing the news, the Wellington Wents requested that our charity match be put on hold until Harry is able to play. It seems that they have heard how good he is and want to face him." All the students cheered when they heard Ginny and Hermione were going to be okay.

#

I decided not to be cruel and subject everyone to another cliffhanger so I thought I'd make this a happy ending. Now there are two references here. One is during the fight in the Alley and is from a film. The other concerns the twins and is when they take the flight to NZ… hope you spot them.

Reviews and Pm's in the normal manner…

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