Bruises and Books

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21. violence; pillage/plunder; extortion

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Marcus stood outside what had originally been the Burrow. Some of the crossbeams were still glowing embers. A salamander crawled passed his right foot, looking up at him curiously. Marcus ran a hand through his hair with a tortured sigh. It was painfully obvious that he was too late to warn anyone of the destruction. He knew that there were only two people at the Burrow that day: Percy and Molly Weasley. With a frustrated growl, Marcus turned on his heel.

Molly Weasley stood behind him. How she had managed to sneak up on him, Marcus wasn't sure. She had a violet bruise blossoming on her cheek and a dollop of blood smeared across her chin. Marcus looked pleadingly into her grey eyes.

She shook her head and enveloped him in a tight hug, tenderly kissing the top of his head.

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