The Moments After
Ginny's POV
Ginny watched as the three friends left the great hall. He was alive. He was not dead, Ginny reminded herself as she watched Harry's retreating form. She couldn't get the image of his lifeless body out of her head. She had missed him so much the past year, yet he hadn't even said a word to her. Hadn't even sat next to her. Ginny was not one to usually shy away from conflict, but she hadn't had the energy to prod at why he was ignoring her. Trying to distract herself from the dark haired boy she put her attention on the conversation at the table. Unfortunately it was the exact conversation she was trying to avoid.
"They were too skinny. They looked as if they hadn't had a proper meal in ages" Her mother was telling the table. "They barely ate. Ron didn't eat. Do you know how worrying that is? Ronald not eating?"
"That was about the weight they had when they got to the shell cottage. We tried to get them to eat, but they obviously had their minds on something else. Spent all their time with that goblin. Must've been planning to break into Gringotts." Bill told them, piecing it together.
"Hermione ez much better than when ze first came to Shell Cottage." Fluer said her heavy french accent made it a little difficult to understand.
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked, worried for her friend. Bill answered,
"She was unconscious in Rons arms when they first came. Twitching like mad. Had cuts all over her body. Neither of the boys said what happened, only that the death eaters knew Ron was with Harry now." Silence descended over the table. Ginny felt awful. How had Hermione, who lived to study, had such terrible things happen to her. Ginny wanted to punch someone.
"I want to check on them. Let's go up." Mom said to the group.
"I bet they want to be alone now Molly." Dad told her gently, but with a look at Moms' murderous expression he stood up. The rest of the Weasleys and Fluer followed the two out the doors.
As they walked through Hogwarts halls, Ginny had to fight to not let her thoughts stray to all the bad things that had happened here. That was where Colin was found, Ginny thought, looking at a place on the floor not unlike the others. Rubble littered the patch of stone but there was no sign of blood. It would have been quick then, a curse probably, but quick, Ginny thought. With a shake of her head in an attempt to clear her head of such thoughts she continued on the somber march to the Gryffindor common room. As the Weasley family made their way up one of the many staircases, they were stopped by Mcgonagall.
"Where are Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter, and Ms. Granger?" She asked briskly. Straight to the point that woman, Ginny thought with a shake of her head.
"Up in Gryffindor tower." Dad informed her.
"I assume you'll be joining them there for the night?" The Weasleys nodded, "Not a problem, but because of security reasons we are limiting the number of people who can get in, Such as current Gryffindor students and members of the Order of the Phoenix. As Well as some other trustworthy past Grifndors, like Oliver wood. I've just set a new password ''Lemon Drop'. I'm passing it along to the necessary people." The Weasleys gave her questioning looks, Softening slightly she told them, "Oh, their a certain sweet Dumbledore fancied, felt it was only fitting."
"Can you make sure Luna also has the password?" Ginny asked, hoping her friend would visit the tower at some point.
"Of course, I do believe Miss. Lovegood has proved her trustworthiness. Do make sure they're alright. They've been through so much, too much." They didn't need to ask who Mcgonagall was referring to as their thoughts drifted towards the trio who were responsible for Voldemort's death.
"Don't worry we will." Ginny couldn't help but say. Professor McGonagall locked eyes with her.
"Make sure you're alright too Ginny. You helped keep Hogwarts standing this year, but I know it came with a price." Ginny noted the use of her first name and simply gave a nod. At the moment Ginny only felt numb, as though she had been drained of emotions. However she knew once she began to feel again she wouldn't be 'alright' she would be far from it. She had lost her brother and friend. She had thought she had lost Harry. She had been subjected to the Crutiatus curse from the carrows. She had been through hell.
They approached the Fat Ladys' portrait.
"Lemon Drop." Bill told her. The painting swung open. Ginny walked through the common room intending to head up to her own bed, when something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. She turned towards the fireplace. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat on one of the comfy red couches that they had favored throughout their Hogwarts years. Their eyes were closed, she watched the steady rise and fall of their chests.
"Mum, over here." Ginny said softly, careful not to wake the trio. The other weasleys walked over. Molly came over to where her daughter was standing. A slight smile reached her Mothers lips, but was followed by silent tears.
"Their only kids." Molly said quietly.
"I don't know if they are anymore." Arthur told her.
"Should we move them to some beds?" Charlie asked
"Probably. Don't want them to be startled when the others start to come up." Arthur told the group, his eyes not leaving Ron's face. He bent down to wake Ron first, seeing as he was in the middle. As he touched Rons shoulder to gently wake him, Ron leapt out of his seat. His wand was pointed at Arthurs chest. His sudden movements had caused the other to stir. They, lept to Ron's side, wands already out in their hands. Ginny watched as her dad's eyes widened at their defensive reactions. She knew his thoughts must be similar to her own. What had these three been through to react to such a simple action like that?
"Bloody Hell! Sorry Dad didn't realize it was you." Ron said apologetically as he lowered his wand. The other two didn't follow the motion. Harrys normally dazzling green eyes were squinted as though trying to see some evidence of fraud.
"Wh-what," Hermione's voice trembled. "Ginny, what's your patronus?"
"It's a horse." Ginny quickly replied to her nervous friend. Hermione lowered her wand, but only slightly. She glanced at Harry and Ron.
"Mr. Weasley, what is the first question you ever asked me?" Harry asked the Weasley patriarch.
"What is the function of a rubber duck?" He told Harry, although he still looked slightly confused as to why he was being asked. Harry then looked at Ron.
"Oh, I'm pretty sure it's really them, but fine." Ron told his two friends, "Um, ok. Charlie what's the dragon's name that you helped us smuggle out of Hogwarts first year."
"What, a dragon!" Molly said sharply, turning from the trio to Charlie.
"Now really Ron, you just had to get me in trouble?" He said, rolling his eyes at his younger brother. Ron raised his wand a little higher.
"Ok, ok. Its name was Norbert, but we found out it was a girl and now it's NorbertA." He said, putting emphasis on the 'a' at the end. The three exchanged one more glance before lowering their wands completely.
"Sorry, had to make sure if it was really you." Harry said look at the cluster or red heads.
"Constant Vigilance." Ginny mumbled, not able to resist a slight smile. Harry returned the gesture.
"Why did you wake us up? Is everything ok?" Ron asked.
"Everything's fine, just others are going to be coming into the dormitory shortly and we thought it was for the best that you move to your beds." Molly said kindly.
"Thanks, you're probably right. We were just too tired to make it up the stairs earlier." Hermione said, offering a slight smile. The three stood awkwardly for a moment before they began to make their way up the spiral stairs to the boys dormitory. Ginny was a little surprised her Mother let Hermione follow after them.
"Ok, Bill, Charlie, George, and Percy you can take the 1st years dormitory. Arthur, Ginny, and I can take the 2nd year dormitory" Molly told them. Ginny, however, thought she would prefer to sleep in her own dormitory and told her mother as much.
"I think I'll sleep in my usual bed." Ginny told her mother.
"Oh, but you'll be all alone, are you sure?" She asked. Molly wasn't wrong. Ginny, Colin, and Luna were the only underage kids in her year that had snuck into the battle.
"Yeah, I think I'll just be more comfortable there." Ginny wasn't exactly sure why she wanted so badly to be alone, but it was how she felt.
"Oh, ok. To bed, all of you." Molly told them, making them reminiscent of the old days at the burrow. As Ginny began the walk up the staircase to the girls dormitory, she couldn't help but to let tears cascade down her cheeks. They were for her brother Fred, who had made her laugh more times then she could count. They were for Collin, who had been a friend to her after her terrible first year. They were for Tonks, who had been like a sister to her. She stumbled into her old dorm room and let herself fall onto her old bed. Without bothering to get under the covers she closed her eyes and let herself fall into what hopefully would be a dreamless sleep.
AN: Updated faster then I thought I would. To be honest I'm awful at grammar and spelling, but please bare with me, I promise you it will get better over time. What did you think of Ginny's point of view, did I do the character justice?
