We've reached the point where I'll be alternating between Harry and Ron each chapter. This one is short but full of angst so you know, be warned. (The next one will be slightly less depressing I promise).
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Harry had been getting close to clocking out on time for once when Robards grabbed him. Thinking of nothing more than getting in a good day's rest and a full breakfast, the older Auror shouted his name in a voice that clearly left no room for argument. Sighing, he placed his leather work bag back down on his cluttered desk and followed him towards his office. Surprisingly, the old man suddenly turned and moved towards the large conference room down the hall instead.
"Sir? What is this about?" he asked with visible confusion. The conference room was usually for scheduled briefings, not one-on-ones. Robards chose not to answer and instead beckoned him inside. With a raised eyebrow Harry followed in with some apprehension. To his surprise, the room was full. All the Weasleys were sitting around the large oval table, as was Hermione. The only one missing it seemed was Ron.
"Harry! What's this about? They wouldn't tell us, they just said to get the ministry immediately!" Mrs. Weasley called worriedly to him. She was still dressed in her nightgown with a long wrinkled coat wrapped haphazardly around her. Harry sat down next to Hermione who barely glanced at him and looked deep in anxious thought. The rest of the Weasleys were seated around the large table looking confused, but not overly concerned. They'd been called in to the ministry for a number of reasons over the years, though to be fair it rarely was for good news.
"No idea, I just got grabbed too" he began before hearing a throat being cleared from in front of him. He looked over to see Kingsley had entered the room, looking extremely grave. Before he could ask anything Kingsley spoke.
"Thank you for joining us on such short notice. We wanted to have you all together to break this news to you." Most heads turned towards the front, but a few looked towards the door. Harry knew he wasn't alone in noticing the one missing Weasley in this discussion.
"Two hours ago a team was sent to an abandoned building on the outskirts of London due to reports of possible dark activity. Auror Weasley led the team in and discovered another magical energy bomb, apparently of similar origin to the ones they found in Sheffield several weeks ago."
Harry's stomach began to churn. He became slightly more worried about the missing redhead in the room. Was he injured? Is that why they were all gathered together? He looked around at the others in the room and saw similarly troubled faces.
Kingsley hesitated as he carefully considered his next words. Robards took over, looking rather tired. "Auror Weasley was able to successfully contain the explosion to one floor of the building. If not for his efforts, we believe the explosive would have blown up most of the block, resulting in dozens of casualties. As it stands, with his quick thinking there was only one casualty this morning."
Harry started to taste bile in the back of his throat. One casualty?
"Who was it? Who was the casualty?" He heard Bill ask meekly, the fear in his voice making it almost unrecognizable.
Robards refused to look at him and instead reached down to pull out a small wooden box from the bag at his feet. Harry knew what was in it before it was even opened. These were the boxes of personal items given to families when an auror died in the field. He didn't need to hear the man's next words to know.
"I'm very sorry to all of you. If it is any consolation, Ronald died tonight doing a very noble thing."
The words hung thickly in the air. Harry immediately stood up and began to pace, feeling if he didn't move his body he'd certainly be sick there and then. All thoughts of comfort and breakfast left him as he looked around the room. He saw Mrs. Weasley scream out "no!" before bursting into shocked tears, Arthur stroking her arm while looking off into space, eyes filled with moisture. Ginny was hugging herself, rocking slightly and crying openly. Bill had taken to Harry's choice and was pacing as well, looking pale. George was beside himself and was being held by Charlie who looked simultaneously sick and ready to hit something. Only Hermione remained still, looking too shocked to respond.
Harry started to shake his head, anger rising with his shock and grief.
"How did this happen?" He choked out, "You just sent him in there without knowing what was there? No scans, no detectors? What did you expect to find there!" His initially quiet question turned into shouting quickly by the end. Robards finally looked right at him, his face sympathetic and full of guilt.
"I'm sorry Harry. Truly, I am." he looked to the rest of the grieving family. "Before you go, I need to read you this. Before the explosion, Auror Weasley asked Auror Perkiss to deliver a message to you for after he… did what he did."
The Weasleys quickly turned their heads towards Robards again, and the crying and pacing slowed.
"I will read this verbatim from the memory of the incident provided to us by Auror Perkiss: "I need you to tell my family, and Harry and Hermione something. Tell them that I'm sorry. Really, properly sorry. For everything I did and everything I didn't. That I wish things had been different and ended differently. And that I hope one day they can understand why I had to do this.""
At this, Hermione finally lost her resolve. Openly sobbing, she suddenly jumped up and yelled a tearful "sorry" before running out of the room. Harry felt as if he should follow her, but found he couldn't convince himself to quite yet. Instead he continued his aimless pacing and processed the words he heard, the last he'd ever hear from his best friend. His best friend, who he'd barely spoken two words to in the last month. He turned then, feeling the fury bubble up through him, screaming to be released, and punched the white stucco wall behind him as hard as he could. It resulted in a loud crunching sound indicating a broken something, but he couldn't really feel it. If any of the Weasleys noticed his sudden outburst, they didn't show it. No one seemed very aware of any one else at the moment. Anger and shame quickly filled him and he realized he needed air. With a last resentful look towards his boss, he flung the door open and left.