Word count: 405


Stupid, stupid, stupid! Ginny thinks to herself.

She's just a little too far from home for anyone to hear if she cries out, and her ankle feels like it's broken. She's only ten. No wand, no ability to heal, no anything, and now a new flurry of snowflakes begin to fall, joining the blanket of snow that's already blanketing the ground.

With a sniffle, Ginny shivers, panic setting in. She never even told her mum she was going outside to play. How long will it take them to notice she's gone? She'll probably freeze to death by then.

Another shiver. Her teeth chatter. She adjusts her lilac scarf, but the fabric is just a little too flimsy, and it does little good. The chilling wind still finds her skin.

She won't cry. That's what she tells herself. She is strong and brave, a future Gryffindor. Surely someone as brave as a lion wouldn't cry, even when everything feels so scary and hopeless.

But she does cry. Tears fall freely, the warm droplets feeling strange against her cold skin. Future Gryffindor or not, she is scared, and she doesn't want to die.

"What's that?"

She looks up when she hears that voice. It's impossible. Maybe she is dying. Maybe the cold has her mind playing tricks on her. Even so, she calls out, "Bill? Is that you?"

"Gin!"

The voice is louder now and much too clear to be her imagination. Impossible as it may be, she's certain she hears her eldest brother. "Mum sent word she couldn't find you, and I got here as soon as I could!"

He's by her side, dropped to his knees.

"Bill…" She sniffles and reaches out, holding him close. "It's you."

"Of course, it's me," he says with a soft laugh, relief heavy in his voice. "Let's get your ankle healed up."

All it takes is a quick incantation, and everything is okay again. The pain and swelling fade, and she finally knows that everything is going to be okay.

"C'mon. Let's get you home," he says, lifting her up.

Ginny huddles against her brother, shivering and grateful for his warmth. "I just wanted to play in the snow," she grumbles.

He chuckles. "Tell you what," he says. "Once we get home and Mum gives her seal of approval, I'll have a snowball fight with you before I go back to Egypt. Deal?"

Ginny can't help but grin. "Deal."