Rage against the Growing Light

A/N: My apologies to Dylan Thomas Fans but this seemed like an appropriate title for what today is. - DG

Ginny stepped away from the smothering known as Mum's crushing hug. Ron and Hermione had slipped away from them a little while ago, with a space between them. Surely Harry was there, under his blasted cloak. But then after how she reacted earlier with him, it's no wonder that he wasn't having anything to do with her.

"Fuck," she muttered under her breath before sliding away from the table.

Only Daddy saw her leaving. Only Daddy's myopic eyes saw the pain on her face, hidden under the mountains of raging anger. He nodded once and turned his attention back to Mum, giving her what little comfort he could afford.

She walked off, stalking out the great doors and away from the humanity that still drew breath.

The halls stunk in a way she knew would never escape her nostrils, air that would always trigger her. Here, away from the Great Hall, she could walk even if this wasn't where she wanted to go. Only the thought of air and escape screamed in her head, driving her further away from everyone she cared about.

Away from the rest of them, where she could have moments alone, where the crushing emotional burden would lessen.

She blindly found her way to the stairs leading to the Astronomy tower. Yes, this will work, she said to herself. Yes, this is the escape I need.

Each step up burned the lungs. Each step was one away from the ones she cherished most of all. Each grinding step tore the sinew in her legs, her scarred hips, her barely healed back. But it was also where she could go, short of flying on a broom above the obliterated Quidditch Pitch.

Cold clean air greeted her. It wasn't up on a broom, flying by the seat of her knickers, but it would do. Up here, the air didn't reek of blood, or smoke, or soot. It was quiet, almost too quiet. The wind blew but that was all that was heard.

"Hello Ginny."

She turned, wand in her hand with a vicious curse on her lips. She dropped it when she saw pale blonde hair, oversized blue eyes, and skin so pale you could almost see through it.

"Luna!" She stumbled over her trainers to her dear friend and enveloped her in a warm embrace. Seconds that felt like days passed, with only the bare warmth of her friend's hug keeping her upright.

"I saw you leaving and thought you might come up here."

Ginny put her head on her dear friend's shoulder and shoved down the cascading emotions rolling through her. "Damn, I missed you."

"You can thank Harry and Ron and Hermione for that. They helped me escape."

"But you were there with us, fighting. I saw you downstairs, helping Hermione."

Ginny released her friend when she felt a shudder course through her. "I had to. Hermione is my friend."

Ginny looked at Luna closely. Up close, almost nose to nose, she saw the changes in her friend. Gone was the child-like innocence she had. Gone were the quiet that made her cherished. Obliterated was the Luna she was before, now replaced with this broken one, certainly not healed, and all the more dangerous.

"What happened?"

Luna squeezed her friend's hand and kept her head down. "You mean after I was kidnapped?"

"Yeah," Ginny whispered.

"Since you love me," Luna spoke in hushed breaths, "trust me. I'll tell you when I am able."

Ginny took a deep breath. "They hurt you, didn't they?"

"They did."

Ginny pulled her back to her, letting the rage she'd tamped down bloom again in fury. "Who?"

"You can't get revenge," she spoke into the soot covered jumper. "She's dead."

"Bellatrix," Ginny whispered. Luna shook softly.

Luna grasped her hand and squeezed.

"You're staying with me." It wasn't a question in Ginny's mind.

"I can't. I need to find Daddy."

"We'll get someone to find out for you."

Luna took a step and stopped. "Are you ready to go back down there?"

"No, but what choice to I have? They need me."

"Harry needs you too."

"Not after I treated him earlier."

"Yes, he does. He just doesn't realize it yet."

"Howso?"

"I was there and saw them." Luna smiled. "He needs a friend, too. He misses you."

"I doubt it," Ginny grumbled. She stalked to the railing and looked out over the scorched grounds. "If he missed me so, he had a funny way of showing it."

"You're angry at him when it's not his fault."

"I'm allowed to be angry, Luna. I thought he was dead!"

"I'm angry too," Luna said quietly, "and it hurts so much. But being mad at the ones we love only hurt ourselves. I'm not mad at Harry. Don't be mad either, not when he didn't start it."

"How can you say that? They hurt you!"

"Harry didn't. He didn't abandon you, not willingly. So don't be angry at him for doing what he had to do."

"He walked to his death, Luna, and didn't tell me."

"I know. You can be angry about that. But if you can't find a way to forgive him, he won't forgive himself."

Luna stepped towards the stairwell. "I'm getting some tea and pudding. Coming?"

The cauldron of emotions coursing through her soul hurt worse than any lashings the Carrows inflicted upon her. "Not yet, but I will. Tell Mum where I am."

Luna quietly left Ginny in the parapet, contemplating what she needed to do.

"The Carrows," she growled. She waited another minute before sprinting from her observation point. Someone had to be alerted of their presence in Ravenclaw tower.