Chapter 6- Ginny
It had been a long year. Arthur and Molly descended into more depression as they had outlived 5 of their sons. Only their two youngest left. Ron who was still trying to process the death of his brothers, Bill's words and him finding out Lee Jordan had put Bill, Percy and George's lives to an end, all by himself. Ginny who was meant to be getting married and was trying unsuccessfully to get Ron to snap out of it.
Hermione had had another child. Another son. George Bill Fred Weasley. They were still yet to be married. Ron was only 26. The war had gone on for nearly 11 years and the wizarding community had grown weaker and thinner. Families wiped out. Children going untaught. Half the country leaving and the other dying was not a good situation. The minister was being threw out of power and the next coming up with other hopeless plans that he resigned. The 3rd said they should call in other countries help. France laughed in his face and America never replied to the owl. He was found dead a week later. Everyone wanted Harry to be the Minister but Harry was more concerned about his family than sitting in an office all day, running a country that was slipping further into the clutches of Voldemort.
Molly had asked Ron and Ginny to help with the grandchildren. Ginny took in Chris and Ron took in Mella. Percy, Fred and George had no children. Fleur still sent Christmas cards and birthday cards. She had not come from France to be at George's birthday. She did not receive a jumper that year. Molly had started sipping at Arthur's fire whiskey whenever he wasn't looking, and with Arthur in his shed with model aeroplanes and fuse wires he never noticed. She barely knitted but only having to do 6 jumpers to do for christmas wasn't as demanding as it was before the war when alot more were needed.
Ginny and Harry gladly became Neville's daughter's godparents. Lullaby Alice Carnatrisse Longbottom. Ron and Hermione godparents to his son, Caden Frank Rullamon Longbottom. Their mother was killed shortly after they were born. She had gone to St. Mungos in pain. The death eaters had showed no mercy. Neville was lucky to escape himself. Voldemort had put made more children orphans.
Harry had discussed the possibility of Voldemort being in hiding, training a bigger army. Possibly having the support from countries the ministries dreamed of having. There was no shortage of inferni and he could be using them all. Harry didn't know. Hermione had been trying to track him but she had run to dead ends everywhere. Then one day in March. Just before Ron's 27th birthday he came. He killed a whole muggle village and waited for Harry to come. Luring him north and tempting him with peace at last.
And he went. Ron by his side. Hermione at home keeping check on things from there. Ginny had gone ahead. It wasn't the first time Ron had seen Voldemort but this time he didn't know why it felt different. It felt as if he was going to die tonight and it was a glorious feeling. Ron felt confident but Harry was the opposite. He had a dull ache in his stomach and his legs were like lead. There was something worrying though. The lack of opposition. There was about 100 death eaters to about 250 DA and order members. In the confusion, Ron had been separated from Harry. He and Ginny and Neville who had apparated up fought hard. After an hour it seemed as if every death eater there had been destroyed. Ron knew it was the end finally, he couldn't stop the smile appearing on his lips yet dread was slowly creeping up his body. Half his family wasn't there to see this, and even now he wasn't sure it was over. He looked around and saw many order members hugging others and DA rallying at the end of the field. Many whooped and disapparated home.
"Ron" Ginny laughed as she grabbed her brother and kissed him hard on the lips. "We've did it. Finally we did it." Ron just grinned at her and hugged her tight. She pulled away and turned to Neville, pulling him into a hug and kissing him on the cheek. Neville reddened considerably.
"I'll tell Harry" Ron joked.
"Don't worry Ronnie. Harry will understand. We have an open relationship." Ginny laughed.
"Don't joke Gin" Ron shook his head laughter small in his voice.
"I know brother, your all serious now. As long as Harry is here we'll be together." Ginny smiled. Ron looked at her proudly and pulled her into a half hug as they and Neville wandered over to Harry. He was leaning against the wall. Ginny stepped forward to hug him but he stepped off the wall.
"There's something not right" Harry murmured. He started to pace.
"That's right Potter." A cool voice muttered. The 4 wiped round and saw him. Blackened in a cloak and red eyes glistening. "We come again to this fork in the road. And this time we shall go my way. No alternate routes."
Voldemort stood supposedly alone. The four spread out. Ron glanced around the lonely field. The remains of the village were still emitting heat from fires in houses but only the 5 stood in the field. The Deatheaters dead or disappeared and the DA at home. Running in different directions. Ron heard Harry yell in pain and he knew the cruciaus curse fired apon him. He heard another scream, this time a girls. Ron turned round in search of his sister.
"No" Ron whispered. "No. NO" He yelled running towards a lump in the grass. He looked down at his sister. The sister he so desperately tried to protect all her life.
"Ginny" Ron whispered to himself. He knelt down and took her head in his hands. Her face was still warm and her skin and hair was soft on his cold hands. She looked peaceful and terrified at the same time. Ron let the tears flow. He didn't care who saw him crying like a girl. Sobbing loudly he pulled Ginny further onto his lap and let his tears fall into her hair. Neville walked testily up to him. His own eyes full of tears.
"Gin" Was all he could choke out before he fell to the floor and stared at Ron who didn't acknowledge him. The air was silent as the yelling from Harry stopped. Another shout was heard and then footsteps rustling in the grass.
"What're you all doin-" Harry stopped as he came round to face Ron. He stared at him. He was still crying and his eyes were bloodshot. His face red and scrunched up. Harry looked to his lap and saw Ginny lying there. He fell to his knees and stared at her. Then up at the 2 men. The 3 of them in a circle round her.
"No" Harry said breathlessly. He would have continued in Voldemort's Cruciatis curse until he ended up like Neville's parents to have Ginny live longer than this. She didn't deserve this.
Ron opened his mouth but no words came out. He shut it again and looked at her again. Harry touched her hand still warm. Her engagement ring glistening in the sunset. Ron looked at Harry and felt anger bubble inside him. He rolled Ginny onto Harry's knees who was crying openly now and he stood up.
"Ron..." Neville asked looking up. Ron ignored him and stormed up the grassy hill. Voldemort was standing on a mount of earth. A foot taller than Ron but Ron could still see Voldemort's smug smile. His arm was rising his wand poking out of the black cloak that was long and covering his fingertips. Ron still not thinking straight raised his own wand. He could hear Voldemort laughing and speaking but none of it registered. "As long as Harry is here we'll be together." Ginny's voice echoed in his head. Ron shut his head as he felt Ginny grip his hand and he looked down at his hand. It was red raw and hot from where Voldmort had cast a spell, but it felt reassuring if he thought it was Ginny.
Voldemort had fell gracefully off it as Ron gave the last unforgivable curse of his lifetime. Voldemort landed in front of him. He looked at the pale man. His eyes no longer red and long fingers lying limp around the piece of wood he prized so much. Ron stood on the wand and it cracked into a million pieces. A Pheonix tail feather lying amongst the wood. He heard rustling and he looked round to see Neville standing next to him shocked.
"Ron" He said softly. "You did it."
"Neville." Ron said almost unbelievably.
"Yea" Neville said pinching his arm. "Not a dream"
Ron breathed again. He felt his brain fuzzing in and out as he began to process. A soft smile coming to his lips at Neville's ability to lighten the mood. Neville placed his hand on Ron's shoulder.
"We made it Ron. It's over" Neville said quietly. The 2 men looked at the horizon as the sun disappeared and a red sky darkened over head.