Disclaimer: I took a few exerts out of the book for this chapter. I do not own them. I am just using them for a few flashbacks.
I know I said this chapter was suppose to be a huge battle scene, but I got a review that made me think of a better idea. I feel I need to elaborate on some of the points of view and where people are located or else my story will leave many lingering questions. Instead of writing one whole battle scene, I decided to break it up into smaller segments. Please enjoy.
Chapter 37: Thoughts
"We were always screwing around back then," he thought. It was night and he was alone in the dark with his thoughts.
"Have you any idea how worried I've been?"
"Sorry, Mum, but see, we had to-"
"Beds empty! No note! Car gone-could have crashed-out of my mind with worry-did you care?-never, as long as I've lived-you wait until your father gets home, we never had trouble like this from Bill or Charlie or Percy-"
The man smiled. They had stolen their dad's car to save their friend. He rolled over and looked out the bars and into the cell across from his. He could make out the faint outline of his brother, asleep on the cold stone floor. They had stuck with each other through all of the bad times. Fred Weasley closed his eyes and let his thoughts drift back…
"So you think it amusing to turn a school corridor into a swamp, do you?"
"Pretty amusing, yeah."
"You two, are about to learn what happens to wrongdoers in my school."
"You know what? I don't think we are," he said turning to his brother. "George. I think we've outgrown full-time education."
His twin nodded. "Yeah, I've been feeling that way myself."
"Time to test our talents in the real world, d'you reckon?"
"Definitely!"
In unison, the two brothers raised their wands. "Accio Brooms!"
He chuckled lightly. They had turned into heroes the day they hopped on their brooms and flown into the sunset. They had even gained the respect of the ever-famous Peeves. It was had to believe that was such a long time ago. Fred ran a hand through his hair. It had grown past his shoulders. It bothered him sometimes, along with the beard. "I look like a hermit," he thought. He hadn't seen his reflection for twelve years, but he didn't need to. He only had to look at his brother. George was the only thing that kept him sane and vice versa. Fred's thought's drifted back again…
Arthur ran into the kitchen. "Molly. I need you to stay here and look after the kids. Hogwarts has been attacked."
"No Arthur! I'm coming with you."
He looked at her and softened his voice. "I need you to take care of the family. Please stay here."
Molly slowly nodded her head. Arthur turned to the rest of the family. "Bill, Charlie. You'd better come."
Fred and George stood up. "What about us? We have as much right to defend Hogwarts as anybody!"
Arthur looked at his sons and with a hardened tone spoke. "As much as I don't want you there, I know we need you."
Molly's eyes widened. "Arthur you can't be serious! They're just children."
He turned to his wife. "They are old enough. We need all the help we can get. If Hogwarts falls then it will be the end of all we know now. "
"Dad didn't know how right he was." Fred sat up and leaned against the wall. They had fought that night. They lost. He remembered fighting back to back with George. He could feel his brother's presence behind him as they took down the enemy, one by one. He had raised his wand to fire a curse when he felt the cold on his back. He never heard the thud as his brother hit the ground. Everyone was yelling and screaming. He turned but before he could look for George, the world went black.
Fred heard footsteps and looked out of the bars of his cell. A hooded man carrying a lantern passed in front of his cell, barely glancing at him and walking on to the next. "Damn guards," he thought. Fred looked around his cell. "At least it's a bit nicer here."
The Dementors had been horrible creatures. The ride to Azkaban had left him chilled to the bone. There were many others crowded together in the hold of the ship. George had stood beside him. He hardly recognized anyone else. There were so many faces, covered in blood and dirt. Masked men had herded them out of the hold like animals and onto the muddy banks. It was morning, but the sky was grey and cast a shadow on the world. The prison loomed over them as they were marched inside. A man shoved him and his brother into a cell. He smiled when he saw his father, and Bill, and Charlie. His smile faltered when the cold came. It was sudden and he fell to his knees as horrible thoughts filled his head. The world became hazy. After what seemed like an eternity, the cold went away. He looked at his father. He was holding his head in his hands and for the first time, he looked old to his son.
Fred's eyes hardened. "They took dad away after a few weeks, or was it a month? They took another man too. Remus? Was Remus even there? I can't remember. Don't really want to either."
Fred and the others remained for a few weeks after Arthur was taken. They were put on a ship and brought to a new place. Fred didn't even know the name of where they were. Neither he, nor George cared though. It was warmer here and no one had to remember if they didn't want too.
He sat in silence for a while, listening to the sounds of night. He could hear two people snoring. Bill and Charlie. He smiled. Bill was in a cell on one side of him, and Charlie on the other side. At one time the sounds of snoring annoyed him. He hadn't seen his brother's faces for twelve years. Their noises were comforting at night. They were still alive. "Mom and dad use to snore," he thought. "Must be a family trait."
Fred looked across to George's cell. George was the only one with a small window. Fred looked towards it, but all he saw was black. "I wonder where they are now: Mom, Dad, Percy,Ron, Ginny. I had promised to teach Ginny some new Quiddich moves before I left that day."
His head felt heavy. Fred lay back down on the ground and closed his eyes. His thoughts were purged from his mind as the veil of sleep came to him. He was about to pass through when shouts disturbed his rest. He opened his eyes and heard people running through the halls. He tried to stand up but paused when he felt the floor shake beneath his feet. George was awake now. The guard that had passed by earlier ran back down the hallway and out of site.
"What the hell is going on," he heard Bill say. Somewhere in the distance they could hear explosions. There were torches on the walls. They had been extinguished for the night, but came alive and light filled the room. Fred looked around for the one who had lit the torches but saw no one. There were yells in the distance. Fred stared out of his cell and down the hall. He heard footsteps coming towards them. His heart beat faster and faster. What was going on? He saw a woman walk into the hallway.
Fred had seen pictures of his mother when she was young. She had been thin and beautiful, her red hair curly and long. He could have sworn it was her ghost when he saw the girl in the hall. She looked at him, her red hair glowing in the lamplight. She smiled when she saw him. "Fred?"
Fred looked at her in fear, and then he saw her eyes and smiled. She wasn't a ghost. Fred grabbed the bars of his cell and held onto them for support. "Ginny? Is that really you?"
Fred could see George looking at their sister, not really believing she was there. Ginny turned and used her wand to unlock Bill's cell, then Fred and George's, then Bill's. As she did so she spoke. "We have to hurry. We're taking the prison and we need to get everyone out of here quickly."
Fred saw Bill. His hair was even longer than it use to be. "How is this possible," Bill said.
Ginny smiled at him. "I'll explain later. Follow me. It's time to go home. Mom will be wanting to see you."
So what do you think? I'm rather proud of this chapter. It didn't feel right not to tell everyone's side of the story and I think this chapter helped me do that. Thank all of you readers who have taken the time to review and give me some pointers.