Not Him
Ramona wasn't sure exactly where she was heading to look for George, but she figured the hall was probably a good place to start. As she ran students from different houses hurried past her and at one point she even saw Dean and another she could only assume was Seamus, leading a group of Gryffindor's to god knows where. She held her wand firmly in her hand at all times, she knew she wasn't exactly the most skilled when it came to duelling, but she kept reminding herself of the few tricks Preston and her father had taught her for emergencies.
As Ramona came up to the hall she saw Professor Sprout hurry past, her arms bulging with items and a few students trailing behind carrying things as well, then Neville trailed last disappearing from sight.
"NEVILLE!" She called when her brain registered it being him. She ran up and saw him still following the professor and her herd. "NEVILLE!" She cried again, then she realised he was wearing earmuffs. She ran up behind him and grabbed his shoulder, causing him to drop whatever was in his arms and spring around, wand in hand.
He looked at her for a second, eyes wide, before suddenly moving forward, almost knocking her down with the sheer force of his hug. As she held him back Ramona couldn't help but notice how much he had changed, he was taller, slimmer, he didn't really feel like Neville anymore.
"You got my message! I didn't know if you would." He shouted happily when he finally pulled back, his hands resting on her shoulders.
"Of course…" She pulled the earmuffs off him. "Of course I did. Neville what the bloody hell happened to you?" She asked, bringing a hand up to his poor wounded face.
"Oh, s'nuthin. Just the Carrows." He shrugged.
"Neville it looks like someone took a beaters bat to you."
"Felt like it." He chuckled. "Here, come with me and I'll tell you what happened, unless, where are you going?"
For a moment Ramona had completely forgotten about George, but seeing as she found Neville she thought sticking with him at this point might be a good idea. "No idea. I was looking for George but I can still look for him while I'm with you. You haven't seen him have you?"
The both bent down to pick up the plants Neville had just dropped off the floor. "Last time I saw George was in the room of requirement. I haven't seen him since."
Ramona nodded, not wanting her worry to show. "Are these Mandrakes?"
"We're going to throw them over the wall at the death eaters." He grinned. "Oh…I don't have any more ear muffs for you."
"It's ok, I'll help you carry them, then I'll go. Ok?"
"If….if you're sure."
"Course." She smiled as they both stood up. "Now tell me what happened while I wasn't here.
As they walked he told her everything, how himself, Ginny and Luna had attempted to obtain the sword, the detention, the classes, and how eventually they had decided it would be safer just to live in the room of requirement. "People were sneaking us food for a while" He said as they walked up the stairs. "But then it became too dangerous, that's when the passage to Hog's Head opened up.
"Wow, the room really does do everything doesn't it? So everyone was in the room of requirement?"
"Most of the 7th year, well, those who stayed."
"And you took charge?"
"Someone had to." He shrugged.
"AH! Longbottom! And Miss Hodges, lovely to see you dear!" Professor Sprout called. Ramona only waved knowing the professor wouldn't be able to hear anything she said. "I better get going." She said to Neville, taking the earmuffs off from around her neck. "You'll be careful won't you?"
"Haven't I all year?" He chuckled sadly. Ramona hugged him tightly again before placing the ear muffs on his head, then kissing his cheek. She waved sadly as she went back down the stairs and left Neville and the rest of them to their plans.
As she ran down the stairs Ramona suddenly froze when she saw someone walked past the bottom. She slowly tiptoes down and peaked her head around watching as he father walked away and disappeared from sight. She finally let go of her breath and went the opposite way, her heart racing as the castle trembled and as she listened to the shouting.
She was so distracted she didn't even see the man coming up behind her. As soon as she felt the hand on her shoulder she turned pointed her wand ready to blast whoever it was. "WOAH IT'S ONLY ME!"
"FRED! I could have blown your head off!"
"Don't look happy to see me then?" He smiled "No hug?"
"No! Damn it Fred!"
"I'm sorry, I wasn't sure if it was you for a second. I reckoned you would have been smart enough to at least change you appearance a bit."
She hadn't even thought of that.
"Are you ok?" She asked, him replying with a faint nod. "Course I am. I'm always alright."
"What about George?"
"Well, I don't know where he is actually." Fred answered in a tad shaky voice, then smiled. "Not to worry. Stick with me and we'll find him. We are twins; we're kind of like magnets for each other."
He held out his hand for Ramona to take before leading her to where he was posted in one of the passages. "Me and Percy are down here, spose to fend off any Death eaters that come our way."
"Percy?" She asked shocked. "Percy's here?"
"Yeah. The git realised what an idiot he was, least he came back for the good stuff eh?"
"And you just forgave him? Because I remember you saying some really horrible stuff about him?"
Ramona saw something flash on Fred's face, "Well, he's my brother isn't he?"
"Yeah. He is."
When they finally reached Percy he shook Ramona's hand remarking on how much more mature she had looked since their last meeting. Fred only scoffed and said something along the lines off 'clear off, that's George's girl you old perv.'
After that the three of them stood there in silence, Ramona standing extremely close to Fred who she could feel trembling slightly, then again it might have been her. That's when they heard it, shouting, thumping, yelling coming up the passageway. "Here we go." Fred said pulling his wand from his robes. "Ram you better stay back."
"Don't you dare Weasley," She scoffed holding up hers. "There is no way I'm standing at the back and watching."
He looked down at her and smirked before looking back up the passage. "Ready Weatherby?"
Percy laughed, that even caught Ramona by surprise. "Yes. Ready as I'll ever be, but Ramona if anything does happen."
"If you tell me to run as well, I'll bloody jinx you!"
As the hooded figures rounded the corner she suddenly felt dread spread throughout her entire body. The three of them were suddenly blocking spells and sending silent curses the Death eaters way. They were backing further out of the passage and Ramona could tell Fred was trying to block any spells that came her way, but she was getting there first. Suddenly all she could hear was Fred laughing, the air felt hot, Ramona wasn't even sure what was quite happening as she felt her feet back away, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. The wall was falling, people were screaming.
Then she found herself screaming Fred's name and moving as fast as she could towards him. She wasn't sure what she was doing, all she knew was that he was about to get hurt and she had to stop that, she had to get him out of the way, she had to do that for Fred.
She had to do that for George.
