Again, bits from the book are in italics.
Fleur's accent is a pain to write!
Chapter 8
Beside them, Ron stirred and muttered something to Percy, who nodded. "They're still bringing people in from outside," Ron said more loudly, so that all his family could hear. "I'm going to go and help. I want to be doing something." "I'll come too," said Ginny; and Hermione nodded. Bill looked at his wife, who nodded too. "We'll all go," he said, laying a hand briefly on his father's shoulder. Arthur turned towards him and whispered: "Okay. Look after each other." Both Molly and George seemed oblivious to anything going on around them. Molly had sat up now, but was clutching one of Fred's hands in both of hers as if it were a lifeline. George continued to cradle Fred's head, his eyes unfocused and desolate.
Bill and the others made their way out of the Great Hall and though the battle-damaged Entrance Hall to the outside. It was pitch black, but there were lights here and there where people were roaming over the wide lawns searching for the injured and the dead. "We'd better split up," said Ron, lighting his own wand. "No point in all of us going together." Bill nodded – Ron was right. "Stay in pairs though," he stipulated. "Dad told us to look after each other." The others nodded, and they split up, Ron and Hermione going in one direction, Percy and Ginny in another, and Bill and Fleur off towards the Forbidden Forest. Bill watched as Ginny and Percy headed off together. Ginny had not spoken to him, or even looked at him, as the six of them made their way out of the Castle. Bill knew she had not forgiven him. Fleur squeezed his hand, understanding what he was thinking. "Bill, she will come arround," she whispered. "You are zhust ze easiest person to take eet out on right now." Bill knew she was right, but Ginny's animosity was more than he could bear at the moment. "Come on," Fleur urged him. "We 'ave work to do."
The two of them set off over the grass, keeping their lit wands low as they searched for the fallen. They had not gone far before they found someone, and for nearly an hour they helped and comforted injured fighters, bringing them back to the relative safety of the Castle. They found bodies too. As Bill lay the body of a young woman he did not know at the end of the lengthening line in the Great Hall, they heard Voldemort's voice magically amplified and raised in triumph. "Harry Potter is dead … we bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone … kneel before me, and you shall be spared …"
The silence in the Hall was palpable, and then all at once, everyone began to move towards the Entrance Hall and the doors out of the Castle. As he and Fleur went with the crowd out of the wide doors, Bill saw Ron, Ginny and Hermione pushing their way to the front. Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he turned to see his parents, with George between them, and Percy just behind. They all looked as stunned as he felt. Was it really over? Had they lost? Had Fred died for nothing?