What Can You Do?
Disclaimer: Please review and I only own the OC.
Again, thank you to Darkangelfirekitsune for being my beta and putting up with me ^-^
If there are any A/N in this chapter they will be marked with a * and the meaning behind it will be at the bottom of the chapter.
***There are going to be straight, gay, and lesbian pairings in this story***
***Don't like. Don't read***
I dedicate this chapter to Shelleykids.
Hope everything gets better,
Kk
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Chapter 15
Sitting by the fire, George was enjoying the heat from the coals, imagining what kind of trouble Harry was in. When his group had not returned yesterday, they all started to worry. Bryan tried to reassure them that Harry, Arika, and Merle were ok, but it didn't work. Not with Luna and him knowing the way Harry's luck functioned.
Taking in a deep breath, he looked up at the sky. It was beautiful, with its orangish-pink coloration. His thoughts strayed to Angelina and their baby, hoping they were both ok. He could not believe the hell this 'vacation' had turned into. It was supposed to have been relaxing.
The family was going to take turns visiting with Harry, now that he was staying in one place for a while. Percy, Penelope, Luna, her husband, and his own little family were the first to come over. Then everything fell apart.
When Luna's husband was unable to go, Angelina told him that she would wait a few days and come over with Ron and Hermione. He tried to talk her out of it, but she swore up and down that it was fine. Give the four of them a chance to catch up, because she was not as close to Harry, as they were. She only played quidditch with him for a few years, and that they would be fine.
He could not figure out why? Why did the world have to end? Why couldn't it have waited a few more days? Where they somewhere safe? Would they have been better with him, or were they safer wherever they were? Once the questions entered his mind, they would not leave. They would just keep going around and around, like one of those merry-go-round things.
All these 'What if's' wouldn't let him rest, when what Luna said a few nights ago came to mind. When he was able to sleep, he couldn't recall the dreams, per se, just the feelings. Worry, terror, sadness, happiness, hope, safety, and love. He hoped that what she had said was true because that would mean that even though Angelina was worried and scared, that she was alive.
Noticing that blue was overtaking the sky, he leaned forward. Standing up George turned towards the tent and walked in to grab the items he needed to make breakfast. Once the oatmeal was done, he reached into the bag of berries that he had found and added them to each bowl. Getting up he walked over to the tent entrance and pulling it back he looking in to see Luna and Bryan still asleep.
"BREAKFAST!" he yelled, startling Bryan awake, making him fall off the cot. Luna just raised her hand and flipped him off, causing him to start laughing. Letting the flap fall back into place he walked over and sat back down.
"Was that necessary?" Bryan asked walking out of the tent rubbing the back of his head. Luna, right behind him, silently laughing.
"You should have seen how he was at school. Back then he and his friends would have pranked you with a sticking charm and some feathers or had something following you around singing. Fred, Lee, and him where the newest pranksters of the school. It was fun for the kids, not so much for the professors. I miss those days," Luna said sitting down with a sigh. Seeing the bowl being handed towards her, she gave thanks before grabbing it.
"I don't know," George said looking into his own.
"It was fun for a few years before it turned into hell. We know how to live and are better suited to survive now due to the war, but we were lucky that we only lost who we did during it. It could have been worse," he said voice filled with grief. Nodding her head in understanding, Luna started to eat.
"Was the war that bad?" Bryan asked in-between bites.
"Yes," George said.
"The youngest person fighting was 13-years-old, and the oldest was over a hundred, but the majority were still in school. That was our side. The other side had grown witches and wizards. Werewolves, Trolls, and Giants. It was an unfair fight when you think about it. At the time we were wanting to fight. We wanted to defend our home. We thought that we could do it and somehow we did, but it was by some miracle," George said setting his empty bowl aside.
"It was a dark time and I don't blame Harry for leaving. He had to kill a man at the age of 17. Instead of making sure he was ok, they just threw him into the limelight. At that time with all of the deaths, a lot of us could not help him and it was one of my greatest regrets. That I let him go through that without anyone being there."
"You were having to go through with burying…," Luna started to say before George shook his head no.
"I know, but you know that he would have wanted one of us to be there for Harry. He would have made sure that he was included," George said a few tears running down his face. Taking in a deep breath he slowly let it out.
"I think the reason that this is harder on us, is because the war was only 14-years-ago. We lost family and friends and were just getting our lives up and going. Finally living in peace and what happens, the dead start walking and eating everyone," George said standing up and walking away from camp.
"I'm going to check the perimeter. I'll be back," he said heading out of camp. He needed to breathe. There was nothing he could have done then and now. It was a matter of the heart. It was a wound that would never fully heal.
Walking around he kept his eyes open but thankfully he did not come across any inferius. Making his way into camp, he saw Bryan teaching Luna a card game. Going over towards his spot, he gave them a small smile before sitting down and watched them play. It was a game called Go fish, and after a few rounds of Luna losing he smiled at her. Turning their heads, both of them gave him a confused look.
"What?" Luna asked after a few seconds when George had not said anything.
"I know we don't need anything, but it would give us something to do while we wait. And you know the more the merrier," George said batting his eyes at her. Letting out a laugh she leaned over and pushed him before standing up. Turning to Bryan she gave a smile before asking, "Do you want to come with?"
"No. I'll stay here just in case. But you guys can go. It's better than just sitting here waiting," Bryan said getting up and going into the tent. George and Luna looked at each other but before they could say anything, Bryan came out with a book and a couple of bags. Holding the bags out they each grabbed one. Giving them a nod, he walked over to the fire and sat down.
"Go on. I can read while you guys are gone. There are a lot of medical books in the haul you guys grabbed. When I was still in medical school I worked in a hospital, but that was a long time ago with a younger me. I'm a personal care physician now or I was. I have not done anything surgical in years. Might as well read and see what I remember. Better to know what I can and can't do now rather than later," he said showing them the front of the book. Nodding their heads in understand, they turned and started to walk into the woods.
On the way to the road they talked and decided that they would split ways. One would work on each side of the road. Walking through the vehicles they checked each one for any items they could use. If one of the cars had an alarm still active, they bypassed it. Better to be safe than sorry, very, VERY sorry.
When the sun was high in the sky, signaling midday, they found a truck to take a break on. George, taking off his bag, reached in and took out some packs of peanut butter crackers and a bag full of berries. Offering some to Luna who gave a soft thanks, she took two packs of crackers. Reaching into the bag full of berries she put a hand full into her mouth.
"I've been meaning to ask you where and when did you find blueberries," Luna asked after she finished chewing.
"There are a couple of bushes by the stream. I double and tripled checked to make sure they were safe, then cleaned them. We have about 10 more bags of them back at camp," he said with a smirk on his face putting some into his mouth.
"Lucky us," Luna said going back to eating. Once the food of gone they leaned back to relax for a second.
"What have you found so far?" Luna asked looking up at the sky.
"Not much. Just clothes and a lot of personal items. You?" George asked before drinking some water.
"Same. I also found some cans of food and some cases of water. It's not much but it's something. Oh, and I also found this," she said pulling out a knife. It was not small, but it was also not too big. It was still new, shiny, and in great condition.
"I would give it to Harry when we see him next. He is down one since giving Arika his spare," George said reaching out to get a better look at it. Handing it over, George gave Luna thanks. It was heavier than any of his knives, but it felt good in a weird way. Getting ready to hand it back, he stopped midday when he heard shuffling.
Looking into Luna's eyes he saw that they were blown wide in fear. Jumping off the truck, the two of them rolled under it, not taking the time to see where they were coming from. The number of footsteps they could hear slowly getting closer was not sounding like a pleasant number.
Holding his breath, George reached down to grab his wand from the protective pouch on his side. Once freed he quietly cast a disillusionment charm*, and long with a silencio*. Now all they could do was wait and hope that it was enough. Grabbing ahold of each other's hand they waited for the first inferi to walk by. Hearing the groans with the shuffling of the feet they waited. It felt like hours but, could not have been more than five minutes before the last of the horde walked by.
Still, they waited a few more minutes to make sure the coast was clear. When no more walked by, George whispered finite* to cancel the spells he cast before rolling out from underneath the car. Being on high alert and not wanting to get caught unaware, Luna and George kept taking turns to look behind them while they lightly jog back down the road. Heading toward the break in the woods that they came from, they slowed down to walking. Making sure that they were checking the surroundings, for no surprise attacks. Walking further into the woods it was right before they hit the perimeter that two different screams were heard.
Once was Bryans and the other sounded female. Looking at each other, George nodded his head toward camp before taking off in a run towards where he thought the female scream came from. Running, he was not sure what he would find or even what he was running into. It wasn't Arika, that the screamed belonged to. It was too high pitched. He was hoping that the person was good and not bad.
He came upon a small clearing with a little girl trying to run away from a couple of inferius that were slowly walking towards her. Hurrying to her he grabbed her arm and put her behind him. Lifting his wand, he cast confringo* on the first inferi's head exploding it, while also setting it on fire. Turning to the other he repeated the process. He let them burn a little before pointing his wand at the burning corpses and cast aguamenti*, a stream of water jetted from the tip putting them out. Turning around, he let a couple of cusses out when he noticed that she was gone. Casting appare vestigium* one the ground he started to follow the light pink footprints.
While he was jogging, he still took in his surroundings, making sure that there were no other inferi nearby. Coming onto a small cabin he saw that the prints led to it. Slowing down he cautiously approached the front door.
Pushing it open he took a couple of steps in, looking around. It was an open floor plan. Walking a little further in, what was the living room, he heard a small whimper coming from the left. Goin over to the wall he saw that there was a door where the noise was coming from. With his wand at the read, he slowly opened the door. There curled up, with her knees to her chest and her left arm wrapped around them, was the little girl crying.
"Are you ok?" George asked her kneeling to her level. Shaking her head, she just held onto her knees tighter. Taking in a deep breath, he continued.
"Where are you hurt?"
"No," she said in a small whisper.
"It's ok. I just need to know so I can help you. How about your name? Mine is George."
"Sophia," she still whispering.
"Well Sofia, I would like to make sure you're ok. Once that is done, I can take you back to your family. Does that sound good to you?" George asked his voice staying calm. Looking up at him for the first time she stared into his eyes before nodding her head yes. Slowly she started to uncurled herself. Standing up she pointed to her right shoulder.
"It hurts," she said pointing at a red spot on her shirt. Looking at where she was pointing, he took in a deep breath. The shirt was ripped a little and she was still bleeding.
"I need to get a better look, is it ok if I pull it down a little?" George asked his voice still calm. But inside he was hoping and praying to anything or anyone that was listening that it was not what he was thinking. That the world couldn't be this cruel to someone so small and innocent. But he knew this was not the case. The world never played by those rules before it ended, so why would it start now. Taking in a deep breath, he grabbed a hold of her collar and pulled it so he could see the wound.
"Aw love," he said softly looking into her tear-filled eyes.
~~~~~~~~Slytherin~~~~~~~~
A/N-Also if anyone has any questions about the story please ask.
1. Disillusionment Charm
Type: Charm
Description: Causes the target to blend seamlessly in with its surroundings, like a chameleon.
2. Silencio- silence (Spanish/Portuguese)
Type: Silencing Charm
Pronunciation: sih-LEN-see-oh
Description: Makes something silent.
3. Finite- to finish (Latin)
Type: General Counter-Spell
Pronunciation: fi-NEE-tay in-can-TAH-tem
Description: Terminates all spell effects in the vicinity of the caster.
4. Confringo- destroy (Latin)
Type: Blasting Curse
Pronunciation: kon-FRING-goh
Description: Causes anything that the spell comes into contact with to explode, and presumably thereafter burst into flame.
5. Aguamenti- water mind (a hybrid of Latin and mentis)
Type: Charm, Conjuration
Pronunciation: AH-gwah-MEN-tee
Description: Produces a fountain or jet of water from the wand tip.
6. Appare Vestigium- it was clear footprints (Latin)
Type: Charm
Pronunciation: app-PAH-ray vest-EE-gee-um
Description: This spell is used to reveal footprints and track marks.
~~~~~~~~Ravenclaw~~~~~~~~
Thanks:
Rawrimallama1390
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Review Answers:
Sakura Lisel: (They are older. Bryan was 12-years-old and is now 50. The last time he saw them they were in their 70's. I hope that clears that up a little.)
Tara: (I have plans in the works on their safe base, but I will say you are close. ^-^)
Shelleykids: (I am sorry for the wait. It has been a rough few months for me. Nothing like what you have been going through just life hitting me. Add on work, and the holidays I have not had the inspiration to write. I hope to get back in the grove soon and I do hope you and everyone else enjoy this new chapter.)
ed24555: (Here is the new chapter. I hope you enjoy it.)