Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter, etc.
Chapter 17 - Disappearing
Ron and Ginny stared desolately at Charlie's motionless form, willing him to move, to show signs of life. Other than breathing, that is. Why does this always happen to us, Ron thought angrily. First Dad, then Charlie, both Ginny and I at the Department of Mysteries - How are we going to win this? And how long is it before someone doesn't just get injured, but dies?
Ron looked around at his family - they were all there. Mr. Weasley had his arm around a teary-eyed Mrs. Weasley, Fred and George were simply staring at Charlie's glassy-eyed expression. Bill and Percy were conversing quietly in low, serious tones, Percy for once not so pompous and sure of himself. Ginny was leaning quietly on Ron - Ron seemed to be some kind of pillar of support to girls these days - and the occasional tear was trickling down her face.
Ron looked at Charlie. He almost looked as if he was petrified, but Ron knew he wasn't. Charlie was limp and relaxed, almost devoid of life. Everyone's heads darted up as a nurse entered the room.
"Charlie will be fine. We have discovered he had been hit with a combination of a stunning spell and a Bombardment Hex, sending him into a state of total withdrawal. He's alive and will recover over a period of about a month, though."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that Charlie would be fine. Professor Dumbledore suddenly entered the room.
"Terribly sorry for interrupting, but I'm afraid to say that I will now have to - er - take Ron and Ginny back to Hogwarts."
Ron and Ginny nodded, saying goodbye to everyone and then following Dumbledore out. "Professor Dumbledore?" Dumbledore turned around to face Ron.
"Will we be able to visit Charlie?" Dumbledore smiled and nodded in confirmation.
"Yes, you may visit him as much as you like during weekends - during the school week if you wish to see him you may ask Professor McGonagall. Now, here's the fireplace," he gestured towards the fireplace and the Floo Powder on top of it. "You know what to do."
Ron nodded and grabbed a handful of Floo Powder, throwing it unceremoniously into the fire. He stepped in while clearly yelling "Hogwarts!" and was gone in a dizzying spin of fire and ash.
"Checkmate." Hermione frowned at the board, before sighing. She had beaten Harry on occasion, but this wasn't one of those times. Oh well, at least it wasn't an absolute massacre - like it always was with Ron. Hermione and Harry both jumped as Ron emerged through the Gryffindor Common Room fireplace nearly falling on the two of them and coughing a little. In fact, Hermione gave an outright yelp as Ron, stumbling, found his way onto the couch. Hermione seized her chance - odds were Ron would remember to be mad at her within a few seconds.
"Ron, I'm sorry for yelling at you. I know you were only trying to help and I was being stupid and self-centered. And I don't want you not to make the mistake of trying to understand again, I was just being annoying, and I'm sorry. Again."
Ron raised his eyebrows at Hermione, before nodding.
"Alright Hermione. Apology accepted." Hermione suddenly flung herself onto Ron's lap, grinning madly.
"I had really missed you."
"Yeah, me too," Ron said, also grinning.
"Ahem." Harry interrupted suddenly. "You haven't told us about Charlie, and where's -" Ginny suddenly stumbled through the fireplace, landing on top of Harry.
"Oh sorry Harry, I just fell through and didn't have any time to get off..."
"It's alright," Harry said, laughing. "Although it would be better if you would perhaps get off."
"Oh - right." Ginny suddenly hoisted herself off Harry. "Well, I'm gonna go look for Dean." She then sprinted out at top speed, slamming the portrait hole shut (causing indignance from the Fat Lady). Ron was chuckling and Hermione was grinning widely.
"So anyway - Charlie?" Ron suddenly grew somber.
"He'll be all right in about a month - he was hit with a stunning spell and a Bombardment Hex."
Harry nodded, glad that Charlie was alright. He had a suspicion that the fact that the attack was in Romania and that Charlie worked there wasn't just a random coincidence.
Then again, it could've been.
Pig appeared fluttering at the window again, holding what appeared to be - another newspaper?
"Another edition of the Prophet? There was one earlier!" Ron exclaimed.
"Must've been another attack," Harry said grimly. Ron sighed as he read the headline, confirming Harry's suspicions. Ron read it aloud to Harry and Hermione.
"Mysterious Disappearances in London - Three Aurors disappeared over the course of two weeks, the Daily Prophet reports. Each Disappearance was marked by the arrival of a dark-haired, sixteen year old boy, fairly tall, white. Odd, isn't it? You wouldn't figure Voldemort wouldn't send out a sixteen year old to kidnap the Aurors?"
"Definitely," Harry intoned, just as confused as Ron. He looked towards Hermione, but she shook her head to show that she didn't know any more than they did. Ron suddenly looked at the time.
"Whoa mate it's a minute till Quidditch practice and we're playing Hufflepuff tomorrow, let's go." The two rushed out of the portrait hole after a cursory goodbye to Hermione while discussing Quidditch tactics.
Not a great chapter, but I liked the new edition of the Daily Prophet.
Chapter 17 - Disappearing
Ron and Ginny stared desolately at Charlie's motionless form, willing him to move, to show signs of life. Other than breathing, that is. Why does this always happen to us, Ron thought angrily. First Dad, then Charlie, both Ginny and I at the Department of Mysteries - How are we going to win this? And how long is it before someone doesn't just get injured, but dies?
Ron looked around at his family - they were all there. Mr. Weasley had his arm around a teary-eyed Mrs. Weasley, Fred and George were simply staring at Charlie's glassy-eyed expression. Bill and Percy were conversing quietly in low, serious tones, Percy for once not so pompous and sure of himself. Ginny was leaning quietly on Ron - Ron seemed to be some kind of pillar of support to girls these days - and the occasional tear was trickling down her face.
Ron looked at Charlie. He almost looked as if he was petrified, but Ron knew he wasn't. Charlie was limp and relaxed, almost devoid of life. Everyone's heads darted up as a nurse entered the room.
"Charlie will be fine. We have discovered he had been hit with a combination of a stunning spell and a Bombardment Hex, sending him into a state of total withdrawal. He's alive and will recover over a period of about a month, though."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that Charlie would be fine. Professor Dumbledore suddenly entered the room.
"Terribly sorry for interrupting, but I'm afraid to say that I will now have to - er - take Ron and Ginny back to Hogwarts."
Ron and Ginny nodded, saying goodbye to everyone and then following Dumbledore out. "Professor Dumbledore?" Dumbledore turned around to face Ron.
"Will we be able to visit Charlie?" Dumbledore smiled and nodded in confirmation.
"Yes, you may visit him as much as you like during weekends - during the school week if you wish to see him you may ask Professor McGonagall. Now, here's the fireplace," he gestured towards the fireplace and the Floo Powder on top of it. "You know what to do."
Ron nodded and grabbed a handful of Floo Powder, throwing it unceremoniously into the fire. He stepped in while clearly yelling "Hogwarts!" and was gone in a dizzying spin of fire and ash.
"Checkmate." Hermione frowned at the board, before sighing. She had beaten Harry on occasion, but this wasn't one of those times. Oh well, at least it wasn't an absolute massacre - like it always was with Ron. Hermione and Harry both jumped as Ron emerged through the Gryffindor Common Room fireplace nearly falling on the two of them and coughing a little. In fact, Hermione gave an outright yelp as Ron, stumbling, found his way onto the couch. Hermione seized her chance - odds were Ron would remember to be mad at her within a few seconds.
"Ron, I'm sorry for yelling at you. I know you were only trying to help and I was being stupid and self-centered. And I don't want you not to make the mistake of trying to understand again, I was just being annoying, and I'm sorry. Again."
Ron raised his eyebrows at Hermione, before nodding.
"Alright Hermione. Apology accepted." Hermione suddenly flung herself onto Ron's lap, grinning madly.
"I had really missed you."
"Yeah, me too," Ron said, also grinning.
"Ahem." Harry interrupted suddenly. "You haven't told us about Charlie, and where's -" Ginny suddenly stumbled through the fireplace, landing on top of Harry.
"Oh sorry Harry, I just fell through and didn't have any time to get off..."
"It's alright," Harry said, laughing. "Although it would be better if you would perhaps get off."
"Oh - right." Ginny suddenly hoisted herself off Harry. "Well, I'm gonna go look for Dean." She then sprinted out at top speed, slamming the portrait hole shut (causing indignance from the Fat Lady). Ron was chuckling and Hermione was grinning widely.
"So anyway - Charlie?" Ron suddenly grew somber.
"He'll be all right in about a month - he was hit with a stunning spell and a Bombardment Hex."
Harry nodded, glad that Charlie was alright. He had a suspicion that the fact that the attack was in Romania and that Charlie worked there wasn't just a random coincidence.
Then again, it could've been.
Pig appeared fluttering at the window again, holding what appeared to be - another newspaper?
"Another edition of the Prophet? There was one earlier!" Ron exclaimed.
"Must've been another attack," Harry said grimly. Ron sighed as he read the headline, confirming Harry's suspicions. Ron read it aloud to Harry and Hermione.
"Mysterious Disappearances in London - Three Aurors disappeared over the course of two weeks, the Daily Prophet reports. Each Disappearance was marked by the arrival of a dark-haired, sixteen year old boy, fairly tall, white. Odd, isn't it? You wouldn't figure Voldemort wouldn't send out a sixteen year old to kidnap the Aurors?"
"Definitely," Harry intoned, just as confused as Ron. He looked towards Hermione, but she shook her head to show that she didn't know any more than they did. Ron suddenly looked at the time.
"Whoa mate it's a minute till Quidditch practice and we're playing Hufflepuff tomorrow, let's go." The two rushed out of the portrait hole after a cursory goodbye to Hermione while discussing Quidditch tactics.
Not a great chapter, but I liked the new edition of the Daily Prophet.