Word Count: 483
It isn't the first time Demelza has found her girlfriend slumped against the wall in the corridor, roughed up and completely pitiful. The Carrows made their hatred for Ginny well known, and Ginny was too fiery to back down. These punishments seem to be getting more and more frequent.
"Easy does it," Demelza murmurs, carefully helping Ginny to her feet.
"I'm fine," Ginny says. "You don't have to help me."
Demelza snorts. "Try and stop me."
Ginny doesn't. She never does. Maybe she grudgingly acknowledges, in her own way, that she isn't invincible, that she does need someone. Demelza hates that Ginny causes so much trouble, but she will always stand at her girlfriend's side. Her wand is in her hand as she helps Ginny up the stairs. Zhe doesn't like the idea of attacking a professor, but she won't hesitate if the opportunity arises. Ginny means more to her than anything else in this world, and she will gladly fight for her.
"Bastard," Ginny growls. "One of these days… You'll see, Mel. One of these days, Amycus Carrow is gonna get what's coming to him. I hope I'm the one to give it to him."
"Can I be honest? You sound like a raving lunatic," Demelza says, pausing in front of the Fat Lady's portrait and giving the password. The entrance is revealed, and she helps Ginny into the common room.
It's mostly empty. Parvati and Lavender sit by the fireplace, holding hands and watching the flames. Neither acknowledge Ginny and Demelza as they take a seat on the other side of the common room.
"I'm afraid," Demelza admits, studying the cuts and bruises that mark Ginny's freckled skin.
"Don't be." Ginny waves a dismissive hand, a pained grin on her lips. "You have me."
Demelza sighs and shakes her head. Sometimes she thinks Ginny really doesn't get it. She means well, but she seems to miss the point. "I'm afraid because you keep getting hurt." She takes Ginny's hand, softly ghosting her thumb over her knuckles. "One day they might go too far, and…"
She closes her eyes. It isn't something she liked to think about. Demelza doesn't know what she would do if anything happened to Ginny.
"Hey," Ginny says softly, drawing Demelza back to the here and now. "I'm always going to fight. I'm not safe, and I won't apologize for that. It isn't just about honor. It's about stopping them and making Hogwarts safe again."
Demelza nods. She knows why Ginny does it. It's the same reason any of them do. Still, Ginny is her girlfriend, and Demelza can't help but worry about her.
"When this is all over," Ginny whispers, "things will be normal again. Until then, we have to do whatever we can to make things better."
"I know."
Demelza doesn't want to fight. She never asked for this war. Still, for Ginny, she will fight.