I wasn't going to put this up until the next (And most likely final) chapter was written, but I was out all day yesterday and busy today, so I decided to put it up anyway.
Hermione leaned more heavily against Ginny when they arrived at the pub and Ginny glared at her a little.
"I thought you said you were strong enough."
"I am. See, I'm still standing and talking to you."
Growling softly Ginny looked around. It was very quiet.
"It's too quiet." Ginny stated. "Do you reckon the battle is over, or it was only happening at the school?"
"I'm not sure."
"Here," Ginny helped Hermione to a chair then looked around the pub. It really was a gross place. Sawdust, upon sawdust on the floor and dust and dirt covering everything. Ginny ran her finger along the bar. The dust on it must have been at least 2 centimetres deep. "Ugh, yuck. I swear this place gets worse every time I'm in here." Ginny stated as she found a bottle of butter beer behind the counter and opened it. Handing it to Hermione she said, "I'm just gonna stick my head outside to see if anything, or anyone is out there."
"Ginny no! You can't! What if there is someone out there and they kill you? I couldn't bear it Ginny. Don't go!"
Ginny knelt down beside Hermione's chair. "Hermione, you know I have to check. I won't be long and I will be very careful."
"Promise?" Hermione asked softly.
"Double promise."
Ginny thought about what Hermione had said if she walked out the door. Sticking her head very slowly around the edge of the building she smiled just a little. Hermione looking out for her was adorable.
It was still a little too quiet for her liking but she didn't see anyone so she walked out from around the corner of the building. Looking around, the whole town was boarded up with no one in sight.
"Hmm."
Deciding there wasn't anybody there, let alone Death Eaters, she went back to Hermione's side.
"It's ok Hermione, there is nobody here."
"No one?" Ginny nodded. "What do we do now?"
"You're asking me? You're the brain." Ginny chuckled when Hermione looked at her. "I think we make our way... Slowly!... To the school. Come on 'Mione." Ginny helped Hermione up. "Steady."
Hermione wobbled for a few seconds while she gained her balance leaning against Ginny. "I'm ok. Lets go before they start to get really worried."
"What?"
"Ron and Harry."
"Oh yeah. Ok." 'She just wants to see Ron. Of course.'
It was slow going. Hermione needed to lean against Ginny at all times as she could not walk on her left foot and although they didn't meet anyone along the way but they stayed hidden as much as possible. As they got closer to the school they heard it. Screaming. They looked at one another.
"What do you think that is?" Ginny asked afraid.
"Not sure. Come on Gin, I think I can move quicker, we need to get up there."
They started moving quicker. The yelling and screaming became even louder with every step they took. They we well within the school's perimeter now and they could see a few figures here and there running straight at them.
Seemingly out of no where someone appeared in front of them. Running directly at them brandishing their wand.
"Stupefy." The Death Eater yelled as he ran at them. Ginny jumped out of the way, but because of her bad leg, Hermione wasn't fast enough and the spell hit her. The Death Eater didn't stop, he hadn't even slowed down. Ginny fell don beside Hermione, picked up her wand and cast a curse at the running Death Eater but it was terribly off target and missed by a long shot.
Turning back to Hermione she broke down crying. "NOOOOOOOOOOO! HERMIONE! NO!" She screamed. "This can't be happening! This is all my fault!" Ginny felt Hermione's throat for a pulse and found a weak one. "You stay with me Hermione! You hear? Don't you leave me!" Ginny hugged the older girl close for a moment then she pointed her wand at Hermione. "Rennervate." Ginny waited and nothing happened. "Rennervate. Rennervate, rennervate. Why won't you wake up? Oh please! Hermione please! Wake up! Rennervate." Hermione's body lay there, as still as it was seconds before. "I'm just gonna pick you up and carry you to the castle. Ok?" Ginny knew Hermione couldn't hear her, but she didn't care it made her feel better none the less. She picked her up and started walking. "I'm so sorry Hermione. This is all my fault. I asked you to bring us here and you weren't ready." She started crying. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." It was like a mantra for her.
She didn't meet with another Death Eater and as she made out what all the yelling was about she understood why. The fighting was over and their side had won. She and Hermione must have met up with one of the last Death Eaters running away and as they was making their way into the ground not out of it, he must have known them for enemy and took a last chance to get a spell in. That must have been why he didn't stop. He didn't care if it hit or not, he just wanted to get out of there.
Slowly she started to make out shapes in the distance and as she closed in, those shapes started to look more like people. When she got close enough to make out the appearance of several people, she saw someone making their way over to her.
"Gi...Ginny?" She heard Ron's call and he started to jog. "Is that you Ginny? Where is Hermione? We were all hoping." He stopped mid sentence when he saw what Ginny had in her arms.
"Um." Ginny's eyebrow twitched once in annoyance when she first heard Ron's voice.
"Oh my god! Hermione! Ginny? What happened?"
"She needs to see Madam Pomfrey." She continued to walk up to the castle, still carrying the older girl.
"Ginny! What happened?"
Ginny was going crazy inside. "She needs to see Madam Pomfrey!"
"Here Ginny, it's ok now, give her to me, I'll carry her."
"It's ok Ron, I can do it."
"I'm her boyfriend Ginny! Let me carry her."
Ginny didn't have much of a choice in the matter. However reluctant she was to give Hermione to Ron, Ron muscled her away from Ginny.
Ginny stopped walking and watched as Ron turned around with Hermione and carried her back up to the castle. She couldn't stand it, she couldn't bare it, she turned the other way and ran away to her secret place. Once there, she fell to the ground and started crying hysterically.
