Disclaimer: Some dialogue in this chapter is taken from Deathly Hallows.
Ginny walked slowly across the dark grounds, her wand lit, her eyes scanning for bodies. It would be easy to let everything that had happened overwhelm her, to sit by Fred's body in the Great Hall and block it all out or to cry and never stop. But that wouldn't help anyone. The battle wasn't over, even if the fighting had paused, and Ginny wouldn't stop until she collapsed or there was no one left who needed her help.
Everyone who could still move under their own power had gathered in the Great Hall after Voldemort's announcement, but far too many hadn't made it back. Professor McGonagall had organized those who weren't wounded or lost in grief to help the rest. Anyone who knew anything about healing had stayed in the Great Hall to tend the many injured, and the rest had set out to recover the fallen. Some of the fighters now lying crumpled on the grounds and throughout the castle were unconscious or too injured to move on their own, and some were dead. Ginny had already found her fair share of both.
A light gleamed dimly in the darkness to her left, and Ginny turned towards it. A figure lay curled on the ground. As she approached, Ginny realized that the light that had caught her eye was a glowing ball attached to the figure's headband. The Dungeon Angel had joined the fight tonight, and it looked like she had payed dearly.
Ginny dropped into a crouch, reaching out to check for a pulse, her own heart speeding up. The Dungeon Angel had helped so many; she didn't deserve to die like this. As Ginny reached forward, the light of her wand fell on the Dungeon Angel's face. Ginny blinked in surprise. She hadn't ever had a good guess of who the D.A.'s mysterious helper might be, but she had never suspected it would be Astoria Greengrass.
Despite the fact that the two girls were in the same year, Ginny knew almost nothing about Astoria. From what she had seen, Astoria was quiet and withdrawn, never one to impose her own will on situations. Ginny had never imagined she would dare to resist the Carrows, secretly or overtly, and her presence on the battlefield tonight spoke of a courage and conviction Ginny had never known the shy Slytherin girl possessed.
Ginny's fingers found a pulse, and she relaxed slightly. She couldn't see any visible wounds, but given the nature of many of the Death Eaters' spells, that didn't mean much. She glanced back at Astoria's face, and this time, Astoria's eyes were open. They were tight with pain, but Ginny could see recognition in them.
"It's alright," Ginny said. "I'm here to help you this time."
She gave a small smile, and Astoria's lips quirked in return.
"Do you know what it was that you were hit with?" Ginny asked.
Astoria barely shook her head. "I didn't recognize it. Something's wrong inside—" she gestured towards her stomach, but broke off, the movement apparently exacerbating the pain she was in.
"I want my mother," she whispered, a tear streaking down her face.
This wasn't the first time Ginny had heard that wish from injured students tonight. She knew the feeling, but she had been lucky enough to have her mother there when she broke down by Fred's body. There was no such comfort she could offer Astoria now, so Ginny gave her all the reassurance she could offer.
"It's all right. It's okay. We're going to get you inside."
"But I want to go home," Astoria said, the emotion strong even in her whisper. "I don't want to fight anymore!"
And what a lonely fight Astoria had had, Ginny thought. Perhaps she had been safer than the D.A., but every risk she'd taken she'd had to take alone and in secret. Astoria had resisted all year, helping everyone else, but with no one to help her.
"I know," Ginny responded, voice breaking. She took Astoria's hand and squeezed it, offering what comfort she could. "It's going to be all right."
Ginny knew that she would need to levitate Astoria to get her back to the castle, and hoped she could do it without causing her more pain.
The air stirred behind her as if someone was walking by, and Ginny looked up. No one was there. She knew it was unreasonable, but Ginny couldn't help but picture Death walking silently among the fallen scattered across Hogwarts. Well, death wouldn't claim this hero on Ginny's watch.
She turned back to Astoria. "It's all right now. You're not alone. You've helped us all year; now it's our turn to help you."
The journey back to the castle was far from comfortable, but Astoria smiled a little just the same. She didn't yet know who would win this fight, but whatever the outcome, she wouldn't face it alone, and that was enough.