Hey guys, here goes the revised version of the second chapter.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, or anything in the book series. Please, don't sue me.
Chapter 2: The First Battle
For the next week, Ginny focused on trying to keep Harry's mind off the nightmares that still haunted him. Ron had secretly told her that every night Harry had a nightmare, and each night it became more intense. They tactfully never mentioned they knew, but he figured on his own they did.
Ron and Hermione had adopted the habit of disappearing for hours at a time, leaving Harry and Ginny to their own devices. The young couple spent hours talking about Quidditch, the D.A., and how they both couldn't stand Snape. They had been sitting on Harry's bed, Ginny in his lap, talking, when two owls zoomed in through the open windows, dropped two letters on the floor, and left.
Ginny stood to pick them up and saw they had the Hogwarts crest. She smiled as she handed Harry his letter. "See if you're the new Quidditch captain."
Harry pulled her back into his lap. She giggled. "I told you, Katie Bell is going to be made Captain. She has seniority over the rest of us."
Ginny shrugged and opened her letter. It told her to take the Hogwarts Express at 10:00 AM on the 1st of September. She skimmed her booklist, looking to see the new Defense Against the Dark Arts book. There was none. She frowned slightly, then turned to Harry. "So?" she prodded.
"I've been made Quidditch Captain," Harry mumbled quietly as he looked at her. She gave him a smug smirk, as if to say 'I told you so.'
"So you've got two beaters and three chasers to replace," Ginny said, folding her letter and throwing it aside.
"Three Chasers?" Harry questioned. "Why three?"
"Katie resigned in June," Ginny explained in her calm way. "Said she need to concentrate on her N.E.W.T.S."
"Okay, then, what about you?" Harry asked, looking at the booklist.
"What about me?"
"Aren't you going to be a Chaser?" "Yeah," she nodded.
"Well, you're already on the team," Harry said, looking at the list of N.E.W.T. classes he had been accepted to. He had received his O.W.L. results the day before his birthday. He had gotten and O in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, and incredibly, Potions; and E in Care of Magical Creatures, Transfiguration, and Herbology; and A in Astronomy; and a D in History of Magic and Divination. He was happy to see that he'd gotten into all the required classes for Auror training.
"So?" Ginny asked.
"We'll just put you as Chaser instead of reserve Seeker, like McGonagall listed you," Harry answered simply.
Ginny shrugged, then looked at his list of classes: Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, and Potions. "Bet Snape is really angry that he had to let you in his N.E.W.T class."
"Not nearly as angry as I am," Harry scowled. Ginny laughed.
"I love you," she said, smiling.
Harry grinned widely. "I love you, too." He leaned in and kissed her,.
~*~ The next day, Mrs. Weasley gathered them all to go to Diagon Alley for their school shopping. As they all got ready to leave, Mad-Eye Moody, Tonks, and Lupin showed up to escort them to the Leaky Cauldron. They decided to walk, as it wasn't very far, and it was really quite a beautiful day, and then they would return by port key. Harry was eager to see Fred and George's new shop.
The adults paired up with the children and they started to walk. Mrs. Weasley and Ron led the way, followed by Hermione, Tonks, and Ginny, then Lupin and Harry. Mad-Eye walked behind them, keeping guard.
"So, Harry," Lupin began after walking in silence for a few minutes. "I understand that you're seeing Ginny exclusively."
Harry smiled slightly. Mad-Eye grunted in approval from behind. "Nice girl, that one. Pretty, intelligent, loyal, and honest. Good choice, Potter."
"She reminds me a lot of Lily," Lupin said softly. Harry looked at him in shock. Mad-Eye grunted again, this time in agreement. Lupin kept his eyes fixed on Ginny, who was currently chatting happily with Tonks and Hermione.
"How so?" Harry asked.
"Well, you've seen pictures of Lily," Lupin said, his gaze unwavering. "Ginny's hair is a lighter red than Lily's, but they have the same complexion, same height, same bearing. Lily was just as beautiful, proud, intelligent and honest as Ginny. And your mother had a habit of rubbing her palm lightly on the tip of her wand. When I taught Ginny, I noticed the same habit. I see many similarities."
Harry looked at Ginny. He had never seen that before. He remembered when he saw his mother in the Pensive, when he saw his father torture Snape. She had looked familiar, but he had dismissed the feeling; he had seen many pictures of her, of course, he would recognize his mum. But looking at Ginny now, he could see how similar she was to his mother.
Ginny turned, as though she had felt his gaze. She smiled and waved. Harry waved back and watched her turn back to Tonks.
They reached the Leaky Cauldron in silence. After entering Diagon Alley, Mrs. Weasley, Mad-Eye, Tonks and Lupin let the four teens roam around on their own. They took the booklists with them so the children didn't have to worry about them, and left them.
An argument immediately began between Ron and Hermione over where they should go first.
"Quality Quidditch Supplies," Ron said/
"Flourish and Blotts," Hermione said loudly.
"Mum's going to buy all our books," Ron said, suddenly inspired. "There's no need for us to go."
"He's got a point, Hermione," Harry said hesitantly.
Ginny, who had wanted to go to the bookstore, though for different reasons than her friend, came up with a plan. "Why don't you boys go to Quality Quidditch Supplies and Hermione and I go to Flourish and Blotts, and we meet in front of Fred and George's in half an hour?"
Everyone agreed and they went their separate ways. When the girls entered the store, Ginny skimmed the shop for her mother. She was at the register, paying for their books, the rest of the Order members waiting for her looking around the store. She knew they would separate and roam around Diagon Alley, looking for Death Eater activity. They all finally left the shop, whispering gravely.
Hermione didn't notice any of that. When she saw the new books on the shelf, her face lit up and she started to look through them. When she was sure that Hermione wasn't paying any attention to her, Ginny slowly wondered through to the back of the store to the Dark Arts section. She bent down to look at the bottom shelf, picked a book, and slowly put it in her bag. She walked around the store to the cash register, where Hermione was paying for her new books.
"Where were you?" she asked.
"Oh, I saw a friend from Hogwarts and stopped to say hello," Ginny lied quickly. Her friend nodded, paid, and they left to Fred and George's new store.
~*~ Harry and Ron had been waiting for the girls outside the twins' shop. they were in plain sight of the bookstore and saw them walking towards them. They all smiled. Harry took Ginny's hand and kissed her cheek. Harry noticed that Hermione had about three bags with her, and that Ron scowled at the sight of them, but said nothing.
They entered the twins' store and their jaws dropped in awe. The shop was filled with prank items and books that would appease even Fred and George's wild and dangerous imagination. The twins greeted them heartily and loaded them down with gifts. After making their way through the crowd of Hogwarts students that were stocking up on prank supplies, they walked out into the fresh air of the day.
They were walking to Fortescue's Ice Cream Shop, chatting merrily, when it happened. The entire street went suddenly dark. Harry felt Ginny's hand tense in his own and they, along with Ron and Hermione, drew their wands quickly. A sudden terrified yell made them look up into the black sky. The Dark Mark was clearly seen high above them.
Panic ensued. People started running in all directions, looking for places to hide and run away to. Harry caught a glance of Lupin rushing forward as the Death Eaters started to make their way across Diagon Alley.
Ginny let go of his hand and they all rushed forward. Along with the members of the Order of the Phoenix and a few Aurors who had been shopping for the day, they plunged into what was to become the first battle of the Second War.
Ginny quickly ran to the twins' shop. "Fred, George," she yelled over the crowd of customers. "Send out the word: Death Eaters are attacking Diagon Alley."
The twins went slightly pale. Fred rushed to the fireplace and contacted the Ministry and Order headquarters, while George led the now terrified shoppers down to the safety of the basement. Ginny back outside, determined to help. She could see people fighting all around her. Spells whizzed by her as she ran to the spot where she had last seen Harry. He was fighting a Death Eater in an intense duel. Harry sent out one last spell and the Death Eater fell to the floor, probably stunned.
Ginny turned and saw a Death Eater coming towards her, his wand ready. She quickly raised hers and yelled, "Stupefy!" The death Eater froze and fell to the floor. Another Death Eater moved forwards, and without hesitation, Ginny cast another stunning spell.
She turned and saw Ron dueling yet another Death Eater. The Death Eater saw her, and made to leave Ron and follow her. Ron caught him off guard with the Full Body-Bind. He then rushed to Ginny. "Gin," he said, pushing her back to the twins' shop. "Leave, run," He was out of breath, making Ginny believe that he had been fighting more Death Eaters than she had.
"No, this is my battle, too," Ginny said, pulling away from him and rushing to meet another Death Eater. She raised her wand, and before the Death Eater had a chance, she had cast the Bat Bogey Hex she was so famous for. The Death Eater fell back on the floor, his face being attacked with black bogeys.
Ginny heard a scream and turned around. She could make out the shape of a Death Eater standing over who she recognized as a Ravenclaw second year. She quickly stunned the Death Eater and went to the young girl. "Are you all right?" she asked.
The Ravenclaw was shaking with fright. She helped her up and led her towards Fred and George's store. She took her down to the basement with the others, and ran back outside. She noticed many more people were fighting the hooded figures. The Aurors and the Order members have all arrived, she thought gratefully. Everything is going to be all right.
She managed to stun two more Death Eaters before she was hit with what she guessed was a disarming spell. Her wand flew out of her hand and landed inside one of the stores.
"Well," she heard Lucius Malfoy say underneath his hood. "Looks like the youngest Weasel is trapped."
~*~ Harry had stunned about four Death Eaters when he heard Ginny scream. He froze in his spot and turned slowly. A Death Eater had grabbed Ginny and pointed his wand at her. Her wand was nowhere to be seen.
Harry didn't know why he was so worried about Ginny when he knew that that Death Eater couldn't hurt her even if he tried. He pointed his own wand at the hooded man. He heard Lucius Malfoy's cold voice, "Ah, Potter. Give me a reason and I will kill her." Harry saw a hint of a smile on Ginny's lips, but she suppressed it immediately.
Malfoy turned his attention to the girl in his arms. "My master wants to ask you a question you alone know the answer to, and I want to know just what Potter sees in you," he whispered in her ear. She felt his hand lowering slowly down her back. She felt a rage inside her that she had felt only once before, when she was down in the Chamber and Tom had betrayed her.
An invisible force pushed Malfoy away from Ginny, and he hit the wall of the building behind them. Ginny turned around, her eyes set and determined, her face contorted with anger. She smiled evilly as Malfoy let out his first scream of pain.
Harry stood in shock as he watched Ginny torture Malfoy. People who had been dueling around them stopped and looked on in fear and disgust as Malfoy started to bleed from his nose, mouth, and even his ears. His hood had fallen off when he hit the wall, and it's owner was writhing in pain and anguish on top of it. He finally stopped moving all together and a slash appeared on his left sleeve, as though made by an invisible knife, cutting the skin over his Dark Mark. Ginny had just tortured Lucius Malfoy to death.
Ginny stumbled back slightly when her magic had released itself. She looked down and Malfoy, bloody and very much dead, and gasped. She had known that her magic was strong, Tom said that to her repeatedly, but she never imagined that she could have killed a man with it. But that's not really what disturbed her. It was the fact that she had enjoyed it. Not killing Malfoy, but the release of the magic she had fought so hard to hide even from herself.
~*~ As people began to come out of their hiding places and evaluated the damage that was done, Ginny sobbed uncontrollably into Harry's shoulder. Harry held her, ignoring the intense and dark power that still radiated from her. When Dumbledore, Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Bill had reached them, they looked from the young couple to the dead man only feet away from them. Even Dumbledore looked slightly sick and pale as he saw what remained of Lucius Malfoy. Bill stepped forward and tried to help Harry comfort Ginny. At the sight of her brother, however, Ginny cried even harder than before. I'm going to Azkaban, she thought. And I'll never see my family again.
"Don't worry, Ginny," Dumbledore said softly. "You will not go to Azkaban."
The other adults looked horrified at Dumbledore, then Ginny. Bill turned his sister's face to see her. "Gin, did you do this?" he asked, scared.
"I'm so sorry, Bill," Ginny sobbed. "I don't know what came over me. I just lost control and I couldn't stop..."
Bill pulled Ginny into his embrace and looked terrified at Dumbledore, who shook his head slightly, then turned and had a whispered conversation with Tonks and Kingsley.
Harry hadn't said anything. He stood rooted to his spot, trying to push the image of Ginny look of sheer pleasure as she tortured Malfoy to death. He felt Dumbledore staring at him, and he turned his green eyes to the ground.
Tonks and Kingsley left hurriedly. Dumbledore addressed the Weasley siblings and Harry. "It was self-defense," he said. Ginny shook her head rapidly, as though Dumbledore had asked a question. His blue eyes met hers. "It was self-defense," he repeated firmly. Bill nodded seriously, followed by a hesitant Ginny. The old Headmaster turned to Harry, who looked at his girlfriend and then nodded, not quite meeting his gaze.
~*~
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, or anything in the book series. Please, don't sue me.
Chapter 2: The First Battle
For the next week, Ginny focused on trying to keep Harry's mind off the nightmares that still haunted him. Ron had secretly told her that every night Harry had a nightmare, and each night it became more intense. They tactfully never mentioned they knew, but he figured on his own they did.
Ron and Hermione had adopted the habit of disappearing for hours at a time, leaving Harry and Ginny to their own devices. The young couple spent hours talking about Quidditch, the D.A., and how they both couldn't stand Snape. They had been sitting on Harry's bed, Ginny in his lap, talking, when two owls zoomed in through the open windows, dropped two letters on the floor, and left.
Ginny stood to pick them up and saw they had the Hogwarts crest. She smiled as she handed Harry his letter. "See if you're the new Quidditch captain."
Harry pulled her back into his lap. She giggled. "I told you, Katie Bell is going to be made Captain. She has seniority over the rest of us."
Ginny shrugged and opened her letter. It told her to take the Hogwarts Express at 10:00 AM on the 1st of September. She skimmed her booklist, looking to see the new Defense Against the Dark Arts book. There was none. She frowned slightly, then turned to Harry. "So?" she prodded.
"I've been made Quidditch Captain," Harry mumbled quietly as he looked at her. She gave him a smug smirk, as if to say 'I told you so.'
"So you've got two beaters and three chasers to replace," Ginny said, folding her letter and throwing it aside.
"Three Chasers?" Harry questioned. "Why three?"
"Katie resigned in June," Ginny explained in her calm way. "Said she need to concentrate on her N.E.W.T.S."
"Okay, then, what about you?" Harry asked, looking at the booklist.
"What about me?"
"Aren't you going to be a Chaser?" "Yeah," she nodded.
"Well, you're already on the team," Harry said, looking at the list of N.E.W.T. classes he had been accepted to. He had received his O.W.L. results the day before his birthday. He had gotten and O in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, and incredibly, Potions; and E in Care of Magical Creatures, Transfiguration, and Herbology; and A in Astronomy; and a D in History of Magic and Divination. He was happy to see that he'd gotten into all the required classes for Auror training.
"So?" Ginny asked.
"We'll just put you as Chaser instead of reserve Seeker, like McGonagall listed you," Harry answered simply.
Ginny shrugged, then looked at his list of classes: Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, and Potions. "Bet Snape is really angry that he had to let you in his N.E.W.T class."
"Not nearly as angry as I am," Harry scowled. Ginny laughed.
"I love you," she said, smiling.
Harry grinned widely. "I love you, too." He leaned in and kissed her,.
~*~ The next day, Mrs. Weasley gathered them all to go to Diagon Alley for their school shopping. As they all got ready to leave, Mad-Eye Moody, Tonks, and Lupin showed up to escort them to the Leaky Cauldron. They decided to walk, as it wasn't very far, and it was really quite a beautiful day, and then they would return by port key. Harry was eager to see Fred and George's new shop.
The adults paired up with the children and they started to walk. Mrs. Weasley and Ron led the way, followed by Hermione, Tonks, and Ginny, then Lupin and Harry. Mad-Eye walked behind them, keeping guard.
"So, Harry," Lupin began after walking in silence for a few minutes. "I understand that you're seeing Ginny exclusively."
Harry smiled slightly. Mad-Eye grunted in approval from behind. "Nice girl, that one. Pretty, intelligent, loyal, and honest. Good choice, Potter."
"She reminds me a lot of Lily," Lupin said softly. Harry looked at him in shock. Mad-Eye grunted again, this time in agreement. Lupin kept his eyes fixed on Ginny, who was currently chatting happily with Tonks and Hermione.
"How so?" Harry asked.
"Well, you've seen pictures of Lily," Lupin said, his gaze unwavering. "Ginny's hair is a lighter red than Lily's, but they have the same complexion, same height, same bearing. Lily was just as beautiful, proud, intelligent and honest as Ginny. And your mother had a habit of rubbing her palm lightly on the tip of her wand. When I taught Ginny, I noticed the same habit. I see many similarities."
Harry looked at Ginny. He had never seen that before. He remembered when he saw his mother in the Pensive, when he saw his father torture Snape. She had looked familiar, but he had dismissed the feeling; he had seen many pictures of her, of course, he would recognize his mum. But looking at Ginny now, he could see how similar she was to his mother.
Ginny turned, as though she had felt his gaze. She smiled and waved. Harry waved back and watched her turn back to Tonks.
They reached the Leaky Cauldron in silence. After entering Diagon Alley, Mrs. Weasley, Mad-Eye, Tonks and Lupin let the four teens roam around on their own. They took the booklists with them so the children didn't have to worry about them, and left them.
An argument immediately began between Ron and Hermione over where they should go first.
"Quality Quidditch Supplies," Ron said/
"Flourish and Blotts," Hermione said loudly.
"Mum's going to buy all our books," Ron said, suddenly inspired. "There's no need for us to go."
"He's got a point, Hermione," Harry said hesitantly.
Ginny, who had wanted to go to the bookstore, though for different reasons than her friend, came up with a plan. "Why don't you boys go to Quality Quidditch Supplies and Hermione and I go to Flourish and Blotts, and we meet in front of Fred and George's in half an hour?"
Everyone agreed and they went their separate ways. When the girls entered the store, Ginny skimmed the shop for her mother. She was at the register, paying for their books, the rest of the Order members waiting for her looking around the store. She knew they would separate and roam around Diagon Alley, looking for Death Eater activity. They all finally left the shop, whispering gravely.
Hermione didn't notice any of that. When she saw the new books on the shelf, her face lit up and she started to look through them. When she was sure that Hermione wasn't paying any attention to her, Ginny slowly wondered through to the back of the store to the Dark Arts section. She bent down to look at the bottom shelf, picked a book, and slowly put it in her bag. She walked around the store to the cash register, where Hermione was paying for her new books.
"Where were you?" she asked.
"Oh, I saw a friend from Hogwarts and stopped to say hello," Ginny lied quickly. Her friend nodded, paid, and they left to Fred and George's new store.
~*~ Harry and Ron had been waiting for the girls outside the twins' shop. they were in plain sight of the bookstore and saw them walking towards them. They all smiled. Harry took Ginny's hand and kissed her cheek. Harry noticed that Hermione had about three bags with her, and that Ron scowled at the sight of them, but said nothing.
They entered the twins' store and their jaws dropped in awe. The shop was filled with prank items and books that would appease even Fred and George's wild and dangerous imagination. The twins greeted them heartily and loaded them down with gifts. After making their way through the crowd of Hogwarts students that were stocking up on prank supplies, they walked out into the fresh air of the day.
They were walking to Fortescue's Ice Cream Shop, chatting merrily, when it happened. The entire street went suddenly dark. Harry felt Ginny's hand tense in his own and they, along with Ron and Hermione, drew their wands quickly. A sudden terrified yell made them look up into the black sky. The Dark Mark was clearly seen high above them.
Panic ensued. People started running in all directions, looking for places to hide and run away to. Harry caught a glance of Lupin rushing forward as the Death Eaters started to make their way across Diagon Alley.
Ginny let go of his hand and they all rushed forward. Along with the members of the Order of the Phoenix and a few Aurors who had been shopping for the day, they plunged into what was to become the first battle of the Second War.
Ginny quickly ran to the twins' shop. "Fred, George," she yelled over the crowd of customers. "Send out the word: Death Eaters are attacking Diagon Alley."
The twins went slightly pale. Fred rushed to the fireplace and contacted the Ministry and Order headquarters, while George led the now terrified shoppers down to the safety of the basement. Ginny back outside, determined to help. She could see people fighting all around her. Spells whizzed by her as she ran to the spot where she had last seen Harry. He was fighting a Death Eater in an intense duel. Harry sent out one last spell and the Death Eater fell to the floor, probably stunned.
Ginny turned and saw a Death Eater coming towards her, his wand ready. She quickly raised hers and yelled, "Stupefy!" The death Eater froze and fell to the floor. Another Death Eater moved forwards, and without hesitation, Ginny cast another stunning spell.
She turned and saw Ron dueling yet another Death Eater. The Death Eater saw her, and made to leave Ron and follow her. Ron caught him off guard with the Full Body-Bind. He then rushed to Ginny. "Gin," he said, pushing her back to the twins' shop. "Leave, run," He was out of breath, making Ginny believe that he had been fighting more Death Eaters than she had.
"No, this is my battle, too," Ginny said, pulling away from him and rushing to meet another Death Eater. She raised her wand, and before the Death Eater had a chance, she had cast the Bat Bogey Hex she was so famous for. The Death Eater fell back on the floor, his face being attacked with black bogeys.
Ginny heard a scream and turned around. She could make out the shape of a Death Eater standing over who she recognized as a Ravenclaw second year. She quickly stunned the Death Eater and went to the young girl. "Are you all right?" she asked.
The Ravenclaw was shaking with fright. She helped her up and led her towards Fred and George's store. She took her down to the basement with the others, and ran back outside. She noticed many more people were fighting the hooded figures. The Aurors and the Order members have all arrived, she thought gratefully. Everything is going to be all right.
She managed to stun two more Death Eaters before she was hit with what she guessed was a disarming spell. Her wand flew out of her hand and landed inside one of the stores.
"Well," she heard Lucius Malfoy say underneath his hood. "Looks like the youngest Weasel is trapped."
~*~ Harry had stunned about four Death Eaters when he heard Ginny scream. He froze in his spot and turned slowly. A Death Eater had grabbed Ginny and pointed his wand at her. Her wand was nowhere to be seen.
Harry didn't know why he was so worried about Ginny when he knew that that Death Eater couldn't hurt her even if he tried. He pointed his own wand at the hooded man. He heard Lucius Malfoy's cold voice, "Ah, Potter. Give me a reason and I will kill her." Harry saw a hint of a smile on Ginny's lips, but she suppressed it immediately.
Malfoy turned his attention to the girl in his arms. "My master wants to ask you a question you alone know the answer to, and I want to know just what Potter sees in you," he whispered in her ear. She felt his hand lowering slowly down her back. She felt a rage inside her that she had felt only once before, when she was down in the Chamber and Tom had betrayed her.
An invisible force pushed Malfoy away from Ginny, and he hit the wall of the building behind them. Ginny turned around, her eyes set and determined, her face contorted with anger. She smiled evilly as Malfoy let out his first scream of pain.
Harry stood in shock as he watched Ginny torture Malfoy. People who had been dueling around them stopped and looked on in fear and disgust as Malfoy started to bleed from his nose, mouth, and even his ears. His hood had fallen off when he hit the wall, and it's owner was writhing in pain and anguish on top of it. He finally stopped moving all together and a slash appeared on his left sleeve, as though made by an invisible knife, cutting the skin over his Dark Mark. Ginny had just tortured Lucius Malfoy to death.
Ginny stumbled back slightly when her magic had released itself. She looked down and Malfoy, bloody and very much dead, and gasped. She had known that her magic was strong, Tom said that to her repeatedly, but she never imagined that she could have killed a man with it. But that's not really what disturbed her. It was the fact that she had enjoyed it. Not killing Malfoy, but the release of the magic she had fought so hard to hide even from herself.
~*~ As people began to come out of their hiding places and evaluated the damage that was done, Ginny sobbed uncontrollably into Harry's shoulder. Harry held her, ignoring the intense and dark power that still radiated from her. When Dumbledore, Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Bill had reached them, they looked from the young couple to the dead man only feet away from them. Even Dumbledore looked slightly sick and pale as he saw what remained of Lucius Malfoy. Bill stepped forward and tried to help Harry comfort Ginny. At the sight of her brother, however, Ginny cried even harder than before. I'm going to Azkaban, she thought. And I'll never see my family again.
"Don't worry, Ginny," Dumbledore said softly. "You will not go to Azkaban."
The other adults looked horrified at Dumbledore, then Ginny. Bill turned his sister's face to see her. "Gin, did you do this?" he asked, scared.
"I'm so sorry, Bill," Ginny sobbed. "I don't know what came over me. I just lost control and I couldn't stop..."
Bill pulled Ginny into his embrace and looked terrified at Dumbledore, who shook his head slightly, then turned and had a whispered conversation with Tonks and Kingsley.
Harry hadn't said anything. He stood rooted to his spot, trying to push the image of Ginny look of sheer pleasure as she tortured Malfoy to death. He felt Dumbledore staring at him, and he turned his green eyes to the ground.
Tonks and Kingsley left hurriedly. Dumbledore addressed the Weasley siblings and Harry. "It was self-defense," he said. Ginny shook her head rapidly, as though Dumbledore had asked a question. His blue eyes met hers. "It was self-defense," he repeated firmly. Bill nodded seriously, followed by a hesitant Ginny. The old Headmaster turned to Harry, who looked at his girlfriend and then nodded, not quite meeting his gaze.
~*~