DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything to do with Harry Potter
Apologies, a lull in the creative flow plus tons of schoolwork equals very slow updating. Forgive me? Review if you do :) I'm getting chapters up as soon as I can. Promise.
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They had been flying for almost two hours. The night air was more than cold, it was numbing. The ice cold wind had been whipping at Harry's face for so long, he no longer felt it. His hands felt frozen to his broom handle, which was probably a good thing since he was so tired. Hermione had fallen asleep behind him, her face buried into his back looking for some protection from the freezing air.
Harry glanced behind him to make sure everyone was still following him. Susan was right beside him on his left, staring intently on the barely visible horizon. Dean and Neville flew side by side directly behind Harry, their eyes glazed and heavy with exhaustion. Seamus was the furthest behind, hardly able to keep up after so long in the air. His eyes would close every few minutes, his head nodding in sleepiness and his broom gradually dipping down below the rest of the group. Once his chin hit his chest he would come back to consciousness with a start, looking around and pulling his broom back up into formation with the others. Harry prayed they got to their destination soon. He didn't think they could last much longer.
Then, finally, he saw it. The familiar tower that was the home of the Weaslys appeared in the darkness below. Despite what he may have to face inside, Harry couldn't help but feel comforted by its presence. He had escaped from his terrible life with the Dursleys and sought refuge here many times.
Harry gently nudged Hermione awake. Tearing a hand away from the broom (with a little difficulty) he pointed to the dimly lit house.
They dropped low and fast in a steep line toward the ground. Susan, Harry and Dean glided smoothly to the ground. Seamus tripped and almost fell as his feet touched the ground. Neville's judgment on how close he was to the ground was way off. Before he could pull up, the tip of his broom stuck straight into the ground, launching him across the dew soaked grass. A few of the Weasly's lawn gnomes popped out of nowhere and quickly waddled over to where he lay dazed. They started beating him over the head with their plastic shovels until Hermione muttered Petrificus Totalus and helped Neville up.
It took them all a minute to switch from flying to the sudden use of their legs. After stumbling around for a few minutes, they dragged themselves up the driveway to the front door. They huddled against each other, damp and shivering.
Harry raised his hand to knock on the door, wondering if anyone was awake. Before his hand even connected with the worn wood, it swung open sharply. A hand from inside grabbed Harry by his shirt roughly and hurled him into the darkened house, flinging him across the room. He crashed and tumbled against the furniture, sending broken pieces of wooden chairs flying and a lamp crashing to the ground. Harry hit the wall with a gasp as the impact forced all the air out of his lungs. He crumpled to the ground on his knees, his forehead pressed against the floor as he tried to gulp the air. He tasted blood. His back, which hit the most furniture, felt like it had been whipped a hundred times. The pain was so great he couldn't speak.
"HARRY!!"
Hermione sprinted over to him, falling to his side and gripping his shoulders, shielding him. He cried out in pain when she grabbed him. Spots of blood soaked through the back of his shirt.
"What the FUCK is wrong with you, Percy?!"
The familiar name Seamus shouted forced Harry to lift his head as much as he could to look around. There by the door, surrounded by four wands pointed at him, was Percy Weasly. The dimly lit room cast heavy shadows across him which did nothing but enhance the fury carved in Percy's face. His shoulders heaved up and down, taking in long angry drags of air through clenched teeth.
"You," he pointed at Harry's hunched body, malice dripping in his words, "Potter. You will pay for ripping this family apart. These people who you claim to care so much for. Your best friend and his family, my family, our lives, you're the only one to blame here."
"Percy, what are you talking about?!" Hermione screeched, her voice going high in total fear.
He started walking slowly toward her and Harry, continuing to point at the ragged bleeding wizard. Each step he took toward them seemed to add to his height and anger.
"If it hadn't been for Harry, Ron wouldn't have flown off to god knows where. Dad would still have his job at the Ministry. Ginny wouldn't have snuck out to chase after Ron. My parents wouldn't have left to find Charlie in Ireland in order to bring him back to help find them. And I wouldn't have been suspended from my duties at the Ministry because of 'family instability'!"
His breaths sounded more like snarls as he towered over Harry and Hermione.
"Let…let me explain," Harry managed to say through gasping breaths. He struggled to stand up. Hermione grabbed his arm and helped him to his feet. He swayed momentarily before staring directly into the blazing eyes before him.
"Percy –"
A swift crack against Harry's jaw sent him spiraling. He heard 5 voices shout Stupefy! before he hit the wall and blacked out.
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Chapters might be a little slow appearing this week. So have patience, review, and I'll do my best to give you good stuff to read :)