Everyone spun around to see Molly's stricken face. Silent tears welled up in her large brown eyes. Shaklebolt took her by the arm and headed down to the kitchen to make a cup of tea while the trio and Neville talked.
Well, first there was an overwhelming-awkward silence. Neville, still somewhat hurt, tried not to make eye contact, but soon had no choice because the dusty room really wasn't that much to look at.
"Listen, I-" he started to say, but Harry cut him off.
"No, Neville, we're sorry. Besides, we are all in this together." For a few moments, it was silent again. Then Ron burst out laughing.
"That...is...seriously...cheesy," he wheezed. It was impossible for everyone to keep a straight face after that.
Hearing something thump from above, Ginny and Tonks stood up and headed upstairs. Tonks tripped once or twice, but other than they were cautious not to be to noisy.
Ginny creaked open the door and saw Neville wiping tears from his eyes, but this time with an uncontrollable smile on his face. Then she saw them, Hermione, Ron, and...Harry.
Her breath caught in her chest as Tonks pushed her in. "HARRY! RON! HERMIONE!" Tonks exclaimed as she began to bury them each in suffocating hugs.
"Nice to see you too," Harry squeezed through his throat from somewhere in Tonk's grasp. Then his eyes saw the other girl who had entered the room. Ginny.
Tonks went off choke Ron, but Harry couldn't move, and either could Ginny. Then Ginny smiled, and it spread to his own lips. In a second, they were embracing as if there wasn't anyone else in the room. Both sets of eyes were tearing.
Neville smiled, knowing that though it would take much adjusting, this was the way it was supposed to be. That was the last thought he was able to think before Tonks throttled him in another bear hug, though he had been here an entire day already.
Unexpectantly, Ron swooped Hermione off her feet, caught in the moment, and she began to snog him in his arms. Neville and Tonks looked at each other awkwardly, then laughed and left the room of lovers.
Percy continued to look around the house, it had been obvious someone had been in his room. And through his desk. Before he had time to begin cleaning up, she arrived. He heard her shrill but lovely voice screech from the lower levels, "PERCY!"
He dropped whatever was in his hands and rushed to her, easily grabbing her in a hug that told her how much he needed her. She hugged back, telling him it was the same here.
After they broke apart a little, she was smiling and asked, "Are you ready?"
He wanted to nod vigorously, he wanted to tell her it meant everything to him, but he was stuck. "Someone's been here."
Penelope's face dropped, taking with it Percy's favorite smile. "What?"
"I think I know who it is too."
"Does He know?"
"No," Percy responded, almost mad at himself for changing the mood so drastically.
Her eyebrows crumpled, and she concluded, "Then we must tell him, do you have the list?"
He smiled, glad he had done something right. "Yes." She nodded, and smiled back. Ah, that was better, he thought, There's my love.
And then there was another visitor to the Borrow, one that sent both Percy and Penelope to their knees.
"My Lord," they both whispered.
"Rise, my dear friends. Do you have the list?" Voldemort hissed passionately.
"Yes, my Lord, right here," Percy said as he handed the list to the Dark Lord, who snatched it and read it through a few times before giving them a cold smile.
"Perfect."