Title: Confrontations
Author: Domino
Email: zahfat@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Not mine…
Summary: An attack, a kiss, Voldemort and a surprise confrontation.
The attack came, not surprisingly during the summer vacation. Hogwarts, after all was heavily guarded, a virtual fortress with many protection charms on it. While it was technically possible to get past the defenses set up there, it would take both an extremely powerful wizard or witch, and more importantly a lot of energy. Voldemort was the former, but he had little precious energy to spare.
That left very few possibilities open. The Dursleys, while also under protection was in a completely muggle area, and the risk, for the first time was too high for Harry to remain there. No one was too unhappy by that decision, if you were make such an understatement. That left the Burrow. And the Weasleys. It was a full house this summer. All the Weasleys were home, including Bill and Charlie, although the younger ones suspected that their presence was more to protect than a vacation as they insisted. Even Hermione came. Dumbledore had sent her parents into hiding, and despite the jeopardy Hermione faced by being Muggle-born, she refused to spend the summer hiding, and was now, even more than before, an honoree member of the Weasleys, like Harry.
It started at the village, but the Order, under Dumbledore's lead taken precautions. Within minutes of the attack, Aurors from all over had apparated in, and pushed the battle into the woods that separated the Burrow from the village. That took it away from the innocent citizens, and the Muggles who lived there. It was also one of the only wins they managed to achieve. Seconds after the Aurors, many of whom were already there, because of Harry's presence, more Death-eaters showed up, easily out-numbering the side of good.
Whatever it was, the decisions, tactical and strategic planning, it all came down to this battle – the one that would decide the future of wizarding world. To say that the Order, and the wizarding population was expecting it, was true. To say they were prepared for it, wouldn't be as accurate. None of that mattered now. Now, they were going to fight. Good versus evil. For all their futures.
In the burrow, all of them gathered, wands in hand.
"Ginny, I want you to stay here. Hide. No matter what," Arthur Weasley said to his only daughter.
"Dad," she protested immediately. He gave her a helpless look, combined by the pleading looks from her brothers, Ginny eventually nodded reluctantly.
"Please, Ginny I need you to be safe," Molly Weasley added, hugging her daughter tightly.
"I…I love you," Ginny decided not to argue, not now.
"I love you too," both her parents said in unison. Almost as one, they looked at all their children standing solemnly there, "All of you."
Her eyes bright, Molly Weasley was the first to leave, her wand raised she ran into the woods towards the sounds of the battle.
"Be careful, stay alive," Arthur Weasley said, giving one last look at his children, both biological and by heart, before he followed his wife to defend them.
For a second, the children stared after the couple, emotionally caught. Ginny was the first too move. She saw her parents, and knew, in her heart that it might be the last time she would see any of them alive.
Walking over to Harry, she stood in front of him, looking into his eyes. To the rest of their surprise, he opened his arms, and she stepped into them, burying her face in his chest for a brief hug. Then she leaned back, stood on tiptoes, and to the astonishment of all her brothers, gently kissed him.
"Come back alive, Harry," she said, and stepped back. For once she wasn't blushing, and instead looked as serious as any of them had ever seen her.
Harry touched his lips for a second, a look of wonder in his eyes, then he smiled at her, reached forward tugged her hair tenderly, and gave her quick kiss on the forehead.
"Stay hidden, Ginny," he said quietly, before turning to the forest. At the end he turned once, looked directly at her before disappearing into the trees.
"I think we need to have a talk, Ginny," Ron's amused voice pulled Ginny back to the present. Ginny threw herself into his arms, ignoring his words. She hugged him tightly once, before letting him go.
Hermione hugged her next. "I'll watch them both," the brown haired girl promised Ginny softly. Ginny nodded. She watched as Ron and Hermione, grabbed each other's hands and with a quick emotionally charged glance at each other, that said more than words ever could, they followed their best friend into battle. Just like they always had, and always would.
Fred and George came next. In a typical twin move, the both aimed for either cheek giving her a kiss, and then a sandwich hug. They left, but not without a comment.
"Not as nice a kiss as Harry's, we're sure…" Fred said, laughing, despite the circumstances. As Ginny couldn't help smiling back, even as she made a silent prayer under her breathe for both of them to return, and to return laughing, as they left.
"No," she teased, "But as important," she added, lightly touching them both on the arm, before releasing them. Their eyes went serious for a second, as they looked at the baby sister they loved so much, before giving her identical grins, mischievous as ever, and heading into war.
"Don't think we're not going to talk about that kiss, young lady," Percy's pompous voice said. Ginny swallowed hard, hiding her tears. She gave Percy a hard hug, one he returned, equally.
"Come back, Perce," she said fiercely.
In an uncharacteristic move, Percy grinned at her, wiping the usual solemn expression of his face, and making him look more like the twins. "I love you, little Ginny," he said, and then ran off.
Bill and Charlie left, looked at the woods, once and then turned to their baby sister.
"When you come to the woods," Bill started, and Ginny wasn't surprised at his words. He always knew her best, "Stay hidden at least, okay," he said. Ginny nodded, unable to talk, with the tears choking her.
"That kiss wasn't just for Harry was it?" Charlie said. It wasn't a question, "It was for all of us. A reason, huh Ginny?" Not for the first time Ginny thought to herself how smart her brother was. She managed a smile for Charlie, and then after they both gave her quick kisses they left, the trees swallowing them up.
Ginny stood in the empty yard hugging herself. Then she took a deep breathe, headed into the house, grabbing Harry's invisible cloak from the chest, and took one last look around the Burrow. She wiped a tear as the clock on the wall, had "In mortal peril" for all but one. Without a backward look, Ginny put the cloak on, and disappeared under its bulky folds.
Ginny stood at the edge of the fighting, separate yet present. She watched as the Death-Eaters overpowered the Aurors. She saw her brothers fighting bravely, yet somehow futilely. The Death-Eaters totally outnumbered the side of good.
Catching sight of a curse heading being sent to Ron, she raised her wand, despite the warnings of her family to hide, and stay out of the fighting, and sent an intercepting curse, and in the next instant stunned the Death-Eater who sent it. Ginny ducked again behind the huge tree on the edge of the clearing where the showdown had went down. Taking off the cloak, she folded it carefully and hid it among the branches, before still staying out of sight she went back to observing the battle.
From near her, she watched Wormtail lift his wand to hit Sirius, who was defending Harry with everything in him, and in a second without thinking, she sent a Stunning Spell his way, watching in satisfaction as he fell to the ground. Moving closer, she used her wand to place a Full Body Bind on the man who had betrayed so many, and then hid him behind the tree, where she once again took her position of watch.
She continued this guerilla type effort for a while, defending hers when they needed it, staying out of sight the entire time. There was too much confusion during the battle for many to realize what was going on, although Bill had sent her a salute when she took care of two evil wizards who had ambushed him and Charlie. Her tactics changed when the fighting paused all around, as all turned to watch the battle that was now taking place in the center.
Dumbledore had started the fight with Voldemort, but he, in spite of his power had slowly been defeated. When Dumbledore had fallen, in exhaustion and pain, Harry, not unexpectedly challenged the Dark Lord. And Ginny knew, with all her faith in Harry, that the fight was not a good idea. Harry could barely stand with the pain in scar, due to the proximity with He-who-must-not-be-named, but still he tried to fight. Their wands may have been brothers and useless against each other, and Harry may have carried the sword of Gryffindor, but he was an inexperienced wizard fighting against the greatest Dark Lord in wizarding history.
Ginny held her breathe, as did all those fighting as Voldemort hit Harry with another Cruciatus curse, sending him to the floor in agony. The Dark Lord stood laughing over the sprawled out boy. Ginny turned desperately to Dumbledore to see what he could do. What anyone could do. But it was hopeless. Dumbledore, could barely move. Ginny could see from where she stood the great effort their Headmaster exerted just to lift his head, and watch the fight. She had to do something.
And it was like something in her broke. When all those around stood and stared, horrified as the Boy-who-lived, their last great hope, lay in pain on the floor, the Death-Eaters in triumph, it was the Dark Lord's laughter that made her snap. Ginny stepped out from behind her tree, and without a thought, stepped into the clearing towards the two in the center. Good and evil. A fight to death.
She heard her mother's gasp on the side, and saw Charlie, and then the twins try to step forward and stop her progress. The movement caused Voldemort to look up in curiosity. He smirked when he saw her striding confidently towards them.
"Well, if it isn't little Ginny Weasley?" he taunted, as she stood and faced him bravely. A look of surprise, almost respect flashed over his face for a second, before it disappeared.
Somehow Ginny wasn't too surprised that he knew her identity, and now that she was face to face with Him, Ginny felt the fear she was almost numb to, return. She saw out of the corner of her eyes, the alarm that crossed her brothers faces, and the panic on her parents. Swallowing hard, Ginny glanced down at Harry, still writhing in pain, begging her with his bright green eyes, and her resolution returned.
"No, Ginny," Harry moaned, "Run!"
Ginny ignored his instructions, and casually twirled her wand in her hand, determined not to show any fear. She had the attention of everyone in the clearing, most of them wearing dumbstruck expressions at her daring.
"You know, Tom, " she drawled out, "You really are a bully. Can't find someone your own size to fight. You try to kill defenseless babies." Her words had the desired effect. Their were gasps from most of the room. The death-eaters in the room all faced their wands at her, and a look of sheer anger crossed Voldemort face.
"My name is Lord Voldemort!" he roared at the little slip of a girl that dared disrespect him.
Ginny looked at him, and laughed. Mouths dropped open from all those present.
"What is she doing?" Ron asked Hermione in a panicked whisper.
"What do you think?" Hermione replied, amazement on her face, "She's trying to save him."
"He's going to kill her," Ron said fearfully, unable to take his eyes of the scene in front of him.
"Tom Marvel Riddle," Ginny said, still in a casual tone to Voldemort. "Tell me, Tom," she said conversationally as if she was having tea with him, not in a battle for the future of all they knew, "I wonder what Salazar Slytherin would say if he knew his great heir was half muggle, oh what is the word you are so fond of…Mudblood, is it?" Ginny couldn't believe the words that were coming out of her mouth. She saw Voldemort getting more and more furious, and somehow in her, she reveled in it. She laughed again, payback for his laughing at Harry's pain, when she saw him open his mouth stunned, and closed it again. Around her the Death-Eaters were in shock at her revelation.
"What would your precious Death-Eaters say to that, huh. Their great Dark Lord a mudblood," her words were spoken with disdain, "Really, Tom…I really think that truth is the way to go." She said his name again, watching with inner glee at his reaction.
Suddenly Voldemort acted. He gave her an evil grin, "I am way beyond that. Tom Riddle doesn't exist any more, little girl. Just the greatest Dark Lord the world had ever known."
"I see modesty isn't one of your forte's," Ginny replied, keeping her voice casual. A part of her felt triumph, as she noticed the looks on his followers faces. Doubts were rising. She pushed the fear further back, and avoided looking Harry lying at her feet, knowing she had to stay strong for a little while longer, while Dumbledore gained strength.
"I have always heard, little girls should be seen and not heard," Voldemort smirked again, "Maybe I should make sure your parents learn that lesson," and with that he shouted, "Crucio!" at Arthur Weasley.
"No," it escaped from Ginny before she could stop it. She held herself back from running to her father's side. Her father looked up at her for a second, tears slipping from his eyes, and through it all, he smiled at her, a proud smile. With it he told her to keep going.
"Feeling the pressure, huh, Tom?" the words were laced with contempt. Anger crossed his face, but didn't show it again.
"You know, she tried to be brave too," he returned, now on to her game. Ginny didn't ask who. The telling glance he sent at Harry told her, and the rest who he was referring to.
"But I destroyed her," he smirked at Ginny.
"You didn't win," Ginny said, her voice confident and sure, "You'll never win. You may have killed Lily Potter, but she won. She defeated you, even in death."
"She didn't defeat me," he yelled at her, losing control for a second at her taunting.
Ginny laughed, "Yes she did. A young woman and a baby. You must be real powerful," Ginny said sarcastically. She remembered every confrontation she ever had with Malfoy, and drew on it.
"I am going to destroy you," Voldemort said, his voice determined, "Once I have had some fun first, of course." And again the roles switched. The upper hand passed.
"Threats, Tom. How evil bad guy of you?" Ginny told him even though inside she was quivering.
"Oh yes, lets see. What could I do?" Voldemort said musingly. He raised one hand to his chin and stared down at the red-head standing in front of him.
"Lets see. Watching your precious Harry Potter die just doesn't seem enough," he said, glaring at her, "Maybe, oh yes. Why don't you kill him," Voldemort red eyes gleamed as he spoke.
He glanced at Harry, and laughed an evil laugh, "Harry, how about it. You get to die by the hands of the pretty little girlfriend. How fitting."
"Go to hell," Harry spat at him. His expression softened when he looked at Ginny though. He smiled, and dared Voldemort with his eyes to do his worst.
Ginny felt dread rising in her. She knew what was coming next. For a second she thought about running, but she stood her ground. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Madame Pomfrey sneak something to Dumbledore, and felt enough hope to hold tight. Unconsciously she mimicked Harry, sending Voldemort the same smile, a confident smile, that hid the fear, and willed herself to be strong and fight.
"Imperious!" Voldemort shouted at Ginny. She couldn't duck, couldn't do anything.
The effects were immediate. Ginny felt herself withdrawing. In the background, she heard Voldemort give the order, "Kill him!" and despite herself she felt her feet move, and herself bending down, and picking up the sword of Gryffindor.
She stood there, unseeing of the horror on her family's face, the panic on Sirius and Lupin's face, or the calm of Dumbledore. For a second she paused the sword swung high, staring at the boy who she had loved as long as she could remember. It seemed like she was far away. His eyes looked up at her, and he smiled. A brave smile, a relieved smile. His eyes gleamed with a brightness she couldn't imagine on anyone else. .
"It's okay, Ginny," he said to her. Her expression remained blank, while her mind fought its constraints.
"Do it," the command came from behind her.
It was all she needed.
She lifted the sword, and swung around her. The blade slipped into his chest, and his shocked eyes, lifted from the sight of his blood trailing down his body. Gasps were heard throughout the clearing. Some of relief, some of shock, some in horror.
"You really should have known better, Tom," the heaving girl panted, her mind clear once more "I let you control me once. It will never happen again." With that she pulled the sword out. Voldemort stumbled back, in disbelief, blood dripping down his robes, his red eyes gleaming this time with pain, not evil.
Dumbledore suddenly appeared next to Ginny his wand held towards the Dark Lord. Ginny turned her head around, to see the Death-Eaters disappearing as they apparated out of the clearing. Their sense of survival was always strong, and the all knew when retreating was the best option.
"I will get you, little girl. You and your precious Harry Potter." Voldemort said, backing away.
Ginny looked at him and smiled, "And we will win, in death or in life," she said, so confidently that those hearing her had no choice but to believe her.
"I am going to make you suffer, Ginny Weasley," the words trailed off as Voldemort disappeared, his threat still hanging in the air.
"Had to have the last word, didn't he?" Ginny muttered darkly.
She heaved a sigh of relief, and turned to see Dumbledore slipping tiredly into a chair he had conjured up.
Around her, fallen Aurors lay, the results of the battle. Her brothers just stared, still in too much shock to move. It was over. And they were alive. She was alive. Harry was alive. No one said a word.
Ginny dropped the sword, still covered in blood, and the sound was loud in the abrupt silence. Suddenly everything just caught up with her.
"I think I am going to faint," she said to nobody in particular. And then she did.
"Ginny!" her name was shouted from many directions, and it was enough to have them all moving forward in that second.
Harry was the one that caught her. She slipped gracefully into his arms, and he slid them both back to the ground, holding her tightly.
The twins, Ron, Hermione, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Sirius, and Lupin surrounded the two anxiously. Dumbledore sat in his chair, next to them, watching them all fondly, and with a lazy twirl conjured up some chairs for Arthur who was still recovering, and Molly who looked like she might faint herself.
"We won," Fred said in wonderment.
"We did, indeed, Mr. Weasley," Professor MacGonogall said, her calm once again returned. She didn't mention the fact the war was most certainly not over.
"Ginny, wake up. Ginny!" Harry said, rather desperately, shaking her.
"Its okay, Harry. She just needs to recover. Fighting the Imperious curse takes a lot out of you," Dumbledore said reassuringly.
"How did she do that anyway? I can tell you I was really scared there for a minute." Charlie asked, looking at his sister lying in Harry's arms in amazement.
"A minute. I was scared the whole time. Thought for sure he was going to kill her," Ron said, collapsing down next to Harry and Ginny. He reached out with his hand and pulled Hermione down next to him. He then grabbed his sisters hand, and held it tight, exchanging a wordless glance with Harry. Hermione touched Harry's arm as well, before curling herself around Ron.
"What the hell was she thinking?" Bill said. He still looked scared.
"She did what the rest of us couldn't," Dumbledore stated, "She saved us. Saved him. Stood up to Voldemort." He touched Bill's arm to reassure him.
"I…" whatever Percy was going to say was interrupted, as Ginny opened her eyes, causing the rest to fall into silence. She stared straight up at Harry, not noticing the rest.
"Harry?" she asked, softly.
"Shhh, Ginny. Everything is okay now," Harry told her, pulling her towards him in a tight hug. Her arms folded around his neck, hugging him back. And the others watched as he closed his eyes, a single tear falling down his face. And suddenly they all felt like voyeurs watching an extremely private moment.
He released her from the hug, but kept her in his arms.
"Harry, I had the worst nightmare, Voldemort wanted me to kill you, and I couldn't break free of the curse, and then I stabbed…" Ginny began. Then she noticed where they were, and paused, "Oh God!" as realization clouded her face.
"Did I…?" she asked him.
"Win for us?" Harry questioned, not sure what she was asking, "You did."
"Dad?" Ginny turned in panic to find her father.
"I'm alright, Ginny," Arthur Weasley reassured his daughter. Ginny relaxed in Harry's arms again.
Then she in an abrupt movement tried to back away. Harry grabbed on tight and refused to let go.
"Ginny?" he asked, worriedly.
"I tried to kill you. What are you doing holding me?" she asked him. Her eyes filled with tears.
Harry laughed, and looked for a second genuinely amused. "Ginny, you weren't going to kill me," he said. And he sounded so confident, she was almost tempted to believe him. The rest remained silent, recognizing this was something that the two had to deal with themselves.
"Yes, I was. You don't know how hard it was to break free," she said.
"Yes, I do," Harry said softly, memories clouding over, "But I knew even so, you wouldn't have killed me, Ginny."
"How?"
"How did I know?" Harry smiled at her, a shy smile, "'Cos you're you, Ginny. You're one of the strongest people I know. Even if you don't know it." Ginny still didn't look too convinced.
"You want to know something else, Ginny," Harry added, "If I had to die, I would rather you did it then Voldemort."
Ginny stared at him in shock. "You wanted me to kill you?"
"Not really, but I figured you wouldn't anyway. I was more worried what He was going to do when you broke free."
"Really?"
"Really," he confirmed, pulling her forward into another hug. This time she didn't resist. And buried her face in his chest, tears falling.
"I was so scared, Harry," Ginny sobbed.
"Really, I couldn't tell," he said, laughing softly in relief, now that she was back in his arms again. "Now me on the other hand, I was more terrified than I have ever been."
"Because you almost died, huh," Ginny stated, leaning back, and wiping her face with Harry's robe.
"No, silly," Harry replied, lifting his hand to move a piece of her hair behind her ear, in a gently, almost possessive manner, "Because you almost died."
Ginny looked surprised, both at his words and at his actions. For a minute, the world faded as the two stared at each, both trying to define what had just happened. It would have gone on longer, but the Weasleys were not in general a patient bunch. Ron cleared his throat loudly, and then at the same time caught Hermione's hand before her fist made contact with his arm.
Both Harry and Ginny jumped in reaction.
"Can I hug my sister now?" Ron said, a slight whine in his voice. Both of them blushed, and moved away from each other, although it was noted by the observers the reluctance involved.
Ginny turned to Ron and hugged him tightly, while Hermione hugged Harry, tears falling down her cheeks. In a second, Ron and Hermione swapped, and Ron and Harry exchanged a brief, if heartfelt hug. Both of them backed off rather quickly not used to displaying such affections to each other. Ginny and Hermione were slower to part.
The rest of the Weasleys didn't wait after that. Ginny and Harry were besieged by all of them. Ginny was swung around, kissed and grabbed by all of her family, and Harry received pats on the back from all his pseudo family, while the adults watched amused. Sirius did pull Harry into an embrace, and was seen to be wiping his eyes after. Then he picked Ginny up, swung her up, while she giggled madly at his antics.
"I owe you, Ginny. You saved him," Sirius sad seriously to the girl.
She smiled at him, "I have a present for you," she replied, pointing her wand in the air and shouting, "Accio Wormtail." Everyone moved hurriedly out the way, as through the air, came a figure, still stunned, landing in front of Ginny and Sirius. The man looked terrified. He slithered back hurriedly as Ginny stepped forward, bending down next to him.
"Woah, remind me to not make you mad," Remus said, as he saw the fear exhibited by his former friend for Ginny. Sirius didn't say a word. He was staring open-mouthed at Peter Pettigrew. Harry, on the other hand, let out a huge whoop of joy. He gave Sirius a quick hug, and then grabbed Ginny and swung her around, happily.
The others laughed at the joy on his face, and Ginny's expression of first shock, turning into helpless giggles as Harry twirled around with her.
All that stopped when, one of the Aurors came up, under Dumbledore's summoning, and read the still bound man his memorandum rights under the Ministry.
"You're free now, Sirius," Ginny said to him, "You and Harry can be a family." She touched him gently on the shoulder, and he turned and wrapped her gently in his arms, almost as if she was glass and would break.
"Thank you," he said, his voice choked. And for a minute, his eyes brightened, with tears, that didn't fall. She could see all the years of pain and suffering in them, and the hope. The hope that was growing stronger. Harry, happily, for the first time, unselfconsciously joined the hug.
"Let's go home," Molly said suddenly, standing up.
"Yes, lets do that," Arthur agreed, getting up with difficulty. The twins both raced to his side, and supporting his either side helped him walk.
"Don't think I am going to forget about that kiss," Percy said to Ginny, as the rest followed. Harry and Ginny both blushed.
"I see things are returning to normal," Hermione said, referring to her friend's flushed faces.
"Something you want to share, mate," Ron said, a somewhat warning tone lacing his words. Harry shook his head mutely.
"What is with Potter's and redheads?" Remus asked quietly, to the adults on their heels.
"Must be genetic. And I have to say, they do have great taste," Sirius replied, referring both to Lily and Ginny.
"Undoubtedly, the best of the best," Dumbledore surprisingly commented.
"Oh, I don't think you can give Harry the credit, Sirius. She picked him, not the other way around," Arthur Weasley put in, somewhat smugly. Molly smiled at him.
"Then she has great taste," Sirius replied, good-naturedly.
"That, she does," Molly said, laughing.
Fred and George, on either side, were speechless listening to the adults talk.
"You do know we are still here, right?" George couldn't help asking. The adults all looked at the twins. From the looks on their faces, they had forgotten the twin's presence.
"Wait till I tell them what you were saying," Fred said, rather gleefully.
"You will do no such thing, boys," Molly Weasley said sternly, "After all we were just discussing my daughter's love life," she added defensively, taking away from the effect of the warning.
Both twins went bright red at words, "Love life," and groaned, not particularly liking the images that invoked, "Mum," they protested in unison, "Don't say things like that," Fred ordered.
Arthur Weasley didn't look too happy either. He had nightmares of this day arriving. The day when his little girl would be someone else's.
"At least it's just Harry," Professor Dumbledore said comfortingly, recognizing the parent look on Arthur's face. And his words were a reassurance, somehow. After all, he loved Harry like a son. If he had to lose his daughter to anyone, he would want it to be Harry Potter. Molly patted Arthur's arm in support.
"We love Harry, remember," she said, quietly to him. And he nodded.
"We do," he agreed, "Its just hard."
"I know. But Ginny's always known, Arthur. I have the feeling that she gave herself to him a long time ago," Molly said.
Fred and George looked at each, before turning to their parents, "It was just a kiss, mum," George said, rather desperately. Molly smiled at her son, "Yeah, its not like they got married, or something," Fred added.
"It was more than that, boys and you all know it," their mother told them.
"She's only 15 years old, Mum," Fred insisted, if rather weakly.
"And she's been in love with him, since she was 10," Arthur reminded the twins.
"That was just a crush," George objected. He and Fred looked a little shaken up.
"No, it wasn't. It never was," Bill interrupted. He and Charlie had drifted back, letting their younger siblings and their friends move ahead.
"What's the big deal, Fred, George? We all knew, even if we didn't want to admit it that she loved him. And we all knew, that eventually Harry was going to grow a clue and figure it out," Charlie asked, rather impatiently.
"What's the problem? The problem is Him," George gestured wildly with his free arm, "You-know-who."
"Look what she did. She could have been killed," Fred said, and his voice shook, "And all she cared about, was that she almost killed Harry. That is not normal."
"No, its not normal," Molly said sadly to her sons, "But it isn't normal that two teenagers should have to fight for their lives either. It isn't fair that Harry never had parents, or that he doesn't get to be a teenager. But Ginny – she's always known what loving him meant. Of all people in the world, she knew. She's always going to be my baby, but I trust her. I trust her choices. And I trust Harry to love her and protect her. He almost died for her once, when he barely knew her. He'll take care of her now, and Lord knows she'll protect him," Molly finished. They had all stopped walking and were now looking at her, rather in amazement.
"He loves her," George tried to convince Fred who was still looking a little mutinous, "You saw the way he looked at her." And Fred, rather reluctantly nodded at his twin.
"I just wish it wasn't so intense," Fred said.
"Me, too," Bill told his brother.
"I guess its okay. It is Harry after all," George stated, his normal cheerful disposition reasserting itself. They began to walk again, Arthur walking on his own now.
"And it will be fun to tease them. Ginny reacts so well," Fred added, looking a little happier. Everyone laughed.
"Does that mean, my godson is safe," Sirius asked, grinning at the Weasley boys.
"Safe…oh, I don't know…" Charlie started.
"After all we do have a duty as brothers…" Bill took over.
"Maybe, we won't beat him up…" George said, musingly.
"I figure a few threats should do the trick," Fred finished, grinning back at Sirius.
"Or," Charlie said, and paused for effect, "We could just let Percy lecture him." All the Weasley boys laughed, Dumbledore twinkled, and Sirius and Lupin grinned. Molly and Arthur hid their smiles.
"That should do it," Bill said in amusement.
"Can't imagine a worst punishment," Fred smiled, mischievously.
"Don't be mean, boys," Molly Weasley reprimanded. But it want up to her usual standard. And they all knew it.
"Don't worry, Sirius," Remus said, "Ginny won't let them do anything to Harry. Rumour has it she has an interesting temper," he glanced at the Weasley boys who had paled slightly at the mention of their sister's temper.
"That I can believe," Sirius replied genuinely, looking highly amused at their reaction, "Must be the red hair."
Everyone fell silent, as they had reached the Burrow.
TBC