Aftermath - Chapter 12 - The Attack

As if in a nightmare Harry saw Fenrir Greyback bending over Ginny, his teeth ready to sink into her flesh. He could hear Travers laughing and Harry knew it was all over for him and Ginny.

But it wasn't.

There was a popping sound and then Greyback heard it too, hesitated, turned and then Harry heard a strangle cry and a flash of green light as a voice yelled. "Avada Kedavra!"

Greyback was hit by the Killing Curse and he flew back off of Ginny and lay spread eagle on the ground, not moving at all. And then in almost the same instance Harry heard another voice yelling "Petrificus Totalus!" and Travers gasped and then fell and landed next to Harry.

Someone was running past Harry and it was Ron, his wand out, running to his sister. "Ginny!" he was yelling and then Harry suddenly felt he could move and Hermione was bending over him.

"Harry! What happened? Are you hurt?" she was saying.

"She's alive!" Ron was crying, holding Ginny.

"Ow! Course I'm alive," Ginny was saying in a groggy voice. "What the…Ron!? Where's Harry!?! It was Greyback! I saw him! Harry!"

Then she saw him, sitting on the ground with Hermione and she crawled to where he was and hugged him and cried and Harry held tight, not believing they were still alive.

"We've got to move," Hermione said quickly, as she pocketed Travers' and Greyback's wands. "Before anyone notices us."

"Wait!" Harry said as he stood and helped Ginny up. "What happened? Why are you here?"

"Later!" she said in exasperation. "Ron, grab Greyback and get back to the Burrow, I'll take Travers. Harry can you Apparate with Ginny?"

"Yes, but…"

"There's no time! Don't forget your bag. GO RON!"

And then Harry saw Ron grab Greyback's arm and in a flash he was gone and then Hermione was glaring at Harry and in an instant he thought of the Burrow and held tight to Ginny and then they were home and in a second Hermione was landing beside him with the petrified Travers just next to the Burrow front door.

"Ginny! Harry!" Mrs. Weasley shouted and then she was running toward them and she saw the two Death Eaters and screamed for her husband. In a flash Mr. Weasley and Percy and George were there, the two brothers with their wands out pointed at Travers and Greyback. Mrs. Weasley gasped as she saw blood on Ginny's head and in a moment she was taking her into the house.

"He's dead," said Ron in a hollow voice, looking at Greyback as George stood there with his wand at the ready.

"Dead?" said Mr. Weasley in disbelief. "Who killed him?"

Ron looked away and Hermione took a deep breath. "Ron did." Then she handed the two Death Eater's wands to Mr. Weasley.

"Bloody hell!" George said, looking at Ron in the fading light with admiration. "Good show!"

"Shut it!" Ron said fiercely. "He was going to kill Ginny! I had to do it!"

"You did well, son," Mr. Weasley said. "Now go in the house and tell your mother the story while Hermione tells us." Ron stumbled away, in a daze, and entered the house.

Harry just stood there, in shock at how close they had come to death and then suddenly Hermione came at him and hugged him tight. "Oh, Harry!" she said and she started crying.

"It's all right," he said gently. "You saved us."

"I …I should have come earlier," she stammered as she pulled back. "I just knew something was wrong. You were gone so long…so…Mrs. Weasley, she told us to go to the village and call your uncle's house. Your cousin answered and said you had left hours ago. Ron and I decided to come and get you. I remembered the alley from the time we came to take you last year. And…and…if we had been seconds later…" and then she started crying again and Harry hugged her.

"You weren't," Percy said to her and then looked at his father. "Dad. We need to inform the Ministry."

"Right. It's Sunday night but there should be someone on duty," Mr. Weasley said and in flash he Apparated away.

Harry helped Hermione into the kitchen where they sat down. Ron sat in a daze and Mrs. Weasley sat with Ginny tending a cut on the back of her head. "OW! Mum, be careful!" she said, wincing.

"You're the ones that should be careful! Death Eaters waiting for you!" and she glared at Harry. "What in the blazes took you so long?"

"Don't shout at him, Mum!" Ginny said. "We've had a rough day!"

"A rough day!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed. "What in Merlin's beard happened?"

Harry told his and Ginny's side of the story while Hermione explained what happened when they arrived in the alley. Apparently Ron was in too much of a daze to tell the story yet.

"And…Greyback…was bending over Ginny.." Hermione said.

"He was?" Ginny exclaimed in shock.

"Yes," Harry said and knew he sounded guilty as he spoke. "I was petrified, couldn't move. It was Travers that jinxed me. And you were unconscious."

"Unconscious!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed. "I think a trip to St. Mungos is in order."

"I'll be fine, Mum," Ginny said.

"I'll be the judge of that," Mrs. Weasley stated firmly. "Now, then what happened?" she asked Hermione

"And then Ron just…pulled out his wand…and killed Greyback," Hermione said quietly, looking at Ron. Mrs. Weasley looked at her in shock and then turned to Ron.

"You did?"

Ron just nodded, not even looking her in the eye. She took him in a big hug, squeezing tight.

"Well done!" she said. "I'm so proud of you!"

Ron broke free and stood, anguish in his face. "Proud? I…I killed someone!"

"Someone who was going to kill me and Harry," Ginny said. But Ron just stared at them, saying nothing and Hermione stood and took Ron's hand.

"Let's go sit in the living room," she said gently and he just numbly nodded and allowed her to lead him to the sofa where they sat and Hermione said nothing, just held his hand and let him be while he stared off into space, his wand still in his other hand.

"He should be proud," Ginny said in a whisper. "Saved our lives."

"Hush, Ginerva," her mother said as she returned to tending Ginny's injury. "He's in shock, that's all. He'll be all right." Then she looked at Harry. "I'm sorry I yelled at you dear. But…you've got to be more careful! I think there will be no more trips until all of the Death Eaters are captured."

"Sure," Harry said numbly, his mind thinking on how powerless and weak he was, about to watch Ginny died. She looked at him and took his hand.

"Not your fault," she said as if she could read his mind. "They surprised us, were waiting for us."

"Yeah," was all he could say and then he stood. "Sorry, need some air."

He went back outside where Percy and George were standing over Travers. George was taunting him, knowing he could see and hear him.

"Not so uppity now, eh? Your master is nothing but a pile of ash! Nice long stay in Azkaban for you, mate," George was saying to Travers, pointing his wand at his head. "Was it you that blasted that great big ruddy hole in Hogwarts and killed my brother? Maybe we ought to finished him off right here, eh fellows? You can join your master and your pal Greyback over there. Save the Ministry the expense of a trial and your room and board for the next thirty years. Oh, right, you'll be dead long before that. Hear most of them go crazy in the first year in Azkaban. Not many last more then ten without giving up."

Percy glared at George. "Enough already! Where's Dad?" he added with impatience.

Just then Mr. Weasley popped into view with two Aurors. "Bloody hell, Arthur," said one as he saw the two most wanted Death Eaters. Well, Greyback wasn't exactly a Death Eater, but he may as well have been. The one who had spoken was the same Auror who had been guarding the door of the courtroom the day of Draco Malfoy's trial. The other Auror had been one of the guards inside with Malfoy. He looked closely at the Death Eaters. "It is Greyback and Travers! And Greyback's dead?"

"Yes, he is," said Mr. Weasley. "Could you take them to the Ministry? Sorry, but I'll fill out the proper report on Monday. It's been a trying experience for us all."

"Just give us the broad strokes for now," said one of the Aurors and Mr. Weasley quickly explained and the two Aurors kept looking over at Harry. After Mr. Weasley finished talking, one of the Aurors, the one who had been guarding the courtroom door, approached Harry

"Sorry, Harry," he said. "I think they might have left some kind of alarm to warn them when you came back. We did have someone there in Privet Drive last week checking for alarms, and we found a few near the house, but no one thought to check too far from the house and no one bothered with that alleyway."

"It's all right," said Harry. "My fault. Should have be more careful."

No one said anything else and after some goodbyes the two Aurors took the body of Greyback and the petrified Travers and their wands and Apparated away.

When Harry came back into the house Hermione and Ron had gone upstairs. Ginny and her mother had a long argument about her going to the hospital which was finally ended by Mr. Weasley saying they would go in the morning if Ginny felt bad. They had been waiting for Harry and Ginny for supper and so they sat and ate, without Ron and Hermione, despite Mrs. Weasley's shouts upstairs to them.

"Let them be, dear," Mr. Weasley said as he spooned some mashed potatoes onto his plate and handed the dish to George. "Ron will be all right. Let's just give him some space, shall we?"

"Never killed anyone before, has he?" Percy said, looking at Harry.

"No, don't think so," said Harry. "Not something people do every day, is it?"

"No, indeed not," said Mr. Weasley. "Greyback was the one who wanted to kill Hermione at the Malfoy mansion, wasn't he Harry?"

"Yeah, that's right," Harry said, wondering what Mr. Weasley was getting at.

"Then he should be happy he killed him!" said George fiercely. "Instead of moping around like he's done something wrong."

"Just a minute George, let me explain," Mr. Weasley said. "Now the first thing Ron saw when he appeared in the alley was Greyback leaning over his sister. And he probable thought you were dead." He said this last as he looked at Ginny and Mrs. Weasley gave a small gasp.

"Don't say that, Arthur!" she quickly said.

"Sorry, dear."

"But I wasn't dead," Ginny said.

"Ron didn't know that," Harry said, seeing where Mr. Weasley was going with this.

"Exactly," said Mr. Weasley. "So in a blaze of anger he killed Greyback. The Killing Curse will only work if you really mean it. And Ron meant it with every ounce of his body. There was this beast that had once threatened Hermione and now appeared to have killed his sister and in an instant Ron killed him without even thinking about it."

George just smiled. "Right! He killed the evil git and well done I say!"

"But killing does something to your soul," Harry said quietly. "Even if the person you killed deserved it."

Mr. Weasley nodded and looked at Harry waiting for him to continue. "And now," Harry said. "Ron is feeling remorse."

"Correct," said Mr. Weasley. "Which is good. Without remorse, he might have damaged his soul."

"But it wasn't murder," Harry said. "Voldemort's soul was ripped because he murdered people. Ron had to kill Greyback."

"True," said Mr. Weasley. "But even if Greyback deserved to die, and I don't think any one of us thinks otherwise, it is good that Ron feels some remorse for his actions. Killing is an unnatural act, no matter if the person deserved to die or not."

George just scoffed. "I wouldn't feel a lick of remorse if I ever find that one that killed…"

But he didn't finish as his mother glared at him. "Don't say that!"

"Sorry, Mum," George said. "But, just…I…need to do something!"

"There is no glory in revenge," Harry said to George quietly and Ginny looked at him.

"You don't feel remorse, do you?" she asked. " For killing Voldemort?"

Now they were all staring at Harry. "No," he said. "Not one bit. Don't think it damage my soul though. Least I don't know if it did. But…but…maybe it is because he killed my parents. If anyone deserved to die, it was him. I got my revenge. But they are still dead. Don't go looking for revenge, George. It won't make the pain go away."

George stared at Harry and then just nodded slightly and Harry wasn't sure if he agreed with him or not. Mrs. Weasley sniffed and then suddenly spoke in an obvious attempt at cheer. "So, Harry, Ginny, what happened at Harry's uncle's house?"

And then Ginny started talking and soon Harry joined in and they had a few laughs about the Dursleys adventures and Harry showed them the papers he received and the newspaper clipping. Mr. Weasley explained that wizards and witches don't have such things as birth certificates or wedding licenses. He knew a few people who were married to Muggles who had to deal with such things, but as his family was pure-blood it had never been an issue. As Mrs. Weasley had said, people know who you are or they don't. And everyone knew who Harry was.

Just as Mrs. Weasley was serving dessert Hermione came downstairs. "He's sleeping," she said and Mrs. Weasley put down the apple pie on the table and gave her a big hug.

"You did wonderful today, dear. And someday you'll make a wonderful wife."

Hermione blushed all over and gasped her thanks and sat down as everyone grinned at her. "Now eat up," Mrs. Weasley said, placing a plate of food in front of Hermione while she cut the pie for the others.

Then they got a fright as Kinsley Shacklebolt's silver lynx Patronus shoot across the front lawn and came through a window and appeared in the room. "Need a word, Arthur, at the Ministry. Now, please." it said in Kingsley's deep voice. Mr. Weasley just sighed, got up, and went outside, and Apparated away.

A long worrying hour later he came back home. "I think I should put in for overtime," he said wearily as he sat at the table and Mrs. Weasley fixed him some tea. Everyone except Ron was still up waiting for him.

"So," he began. "Took some doing but we finally agreed on a statement for the Prophet tomorrow. It was decided to make no mention of any of you four in the death of Greyback and the capture of Travers."

"Why not?' said Ginny. "Ron and Hermione did do them in, didn't they?"

"Yes," said Mr. Weasley. "But Kingsley thinks it might not be good for people to think Harry was attacked, so soon after the end of Voldemort."

"Bad for the image of the Ministry," Harry scoffed.

"No, Harry," Mr. Weasley said. "Kingsley just wants to protect you from any more scrutiny. And Ron too for that matter."

Harry understood. "Sorry, just…I thought we were done telling lies."

"Well, this one is just a small one, and for your sake, not for the Ministry's," Mr. Weasley said.

"So how are they going to explain what happened?" Percy asked.

"We'll say they were spotted in London by a Ministry employee who doesn't even exist," Mr. Weasley said. "The Aurors arrived, had a fight in a dark alley, which is true to a point, and Greyback died and Travers was captured."

"But those two Aurors know the truth," said George.

"They're Aurors," said Percy. "They won't go talking, will they?"

"Certainly not," said Mr. Weasley. "The head of the Auror office has been notified and has had a word with those two fellows. We thought of altering their memories but Kingsley said too much of that has gone on in the past."

"It will get out," Hermione said gravely. "The true story will be known, at least in the Ministry."

"Perhaps," said Mr. Weasley. "But for now, this is the way Kingsley thinks is the best way to proceed."

After more discussion Harry felt exhausted and just wanted to go to bed. He had to be at the Ministry tomorrow and knew he would have to pretend to be surprised as news of Greyback's death and Travers' capture spread. He said his goodnights and Ginny followed him upstairs. Outside the door to her room she stopped, but Harry kept on walking.

"Harry?"

"What?" he said, sounding a little rude.

She was taken aback. "Ah…goodnight?"

He realized he had made a mistake. "Sorry, Ginny. I just, my head is somewhere else…I'm sorry…about…I thought you we're going to…and if Ron and Hermione hadn't come…."

But he couldn't finish. As his eyes misted over she took him in her arms and hugged tight. "Now, now, not your fault, I said already. We were ambushed, we had no chance."

"Just...I thought I was going to lose you," he gasped and tears trickled down his face. Ginny opened the door to her room and took Harry inside and led him to her bed. She lay down with him and hugged him and for a long time they just held each other and kissed a bit and told each other how much they loved each other. After a bit Harry was sleeping quietly.

Hermione came in the room and saw the scene and stopped.

"I think you're needed upstairs," Ginny said quietly and Hermione just nodded, grabbed her toothbrush and pajamas and left, giving Ginny a grin as she closed the door.

Then next morning Harry woke up and looked at a strange ceiling, blurry because he didn't have his glasses on. He was surprised that he was still wearing his clothes from the day before. Then he remembered. He was in Ginny's room and in Ginny's bed. But where was Ginny? He found his glasses on a small nightstand by the bed, put them on and saw Ginny asleep in Hermione's bed.

Then he heard a shriek from upstairs. "WHAT IN THE BLAZES IS GOING ON IN MY HOUSE?!?!" It was Mrs. Weasley and Harry had the feeling she just discovered something not to her liking at all.

"Oh, no," Harry said and moved to Ginny. "Ginny! Ginny!" But she just mumbled and turned over. Then Harry heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

"I can't believe it! Ronald Weasley! Downstairs! Arthur! Have a word with your son about decent behavior. And you! In here! Now!"

The door burst open and Harry didn't even think to Apparate away, just stood there, waiting for it.

"HARRY!" Mrs. Weasley shrieked, Hermione standing behind her in her pajamas, hair all bushy, looking very red faced. Mrs. Weasley just glared at Harry. "Kitchen! Now!" she said to him.

"Oh, Mum, give it a rest," mumbled Ginny from her bed "Nothing happened."

"NOTHING HAPPENED! Boys and girls do not share bedrooms under my roof! Especially boys and girls who are dating each other! Harry! Kitchen!"

Harry said nothing, just nodded and walked past Mrs. Weasley, gave Hermione a weak smile as she just rolled her eyes. As he walked downstairs Mrs. Weasley took Hermione by the arm and pulled her into Ginny's room and then slammed the door. As soon as he left Ginny and her mother started a row to end all rows, their voices muffled but obviously raised in anger.

Harry tramped down to the kitchen where a sleepy-eyed Ron sat with his father and brothers, all three older Weasley men grinning.

"Got caught, eh?" George said to Harry, as he ate some oatmeal. "Got to learn to Apparate under conditions of stress."

"Yeah," said Harry as he sat down. "Just…fell asleep in her bed." Then as George and Percy laughed Harry shot Mr. Weasley a look of panic. "Sorry…nothing happened...honest."

"It's all right, Harry," Mr. Weasley said with a grin. "I trust you. Had a rough day yesterday and needed a woman's warm arms. Nothing to be ashamed about. Just…well, I trust you to do what's right by Ginny, so…no need to say anymore, all right?"

Harry felt tons better and just smiled. "Thanks. I'm really sorry, though."

Mr. Weasley grinned. "No worries. Now boys, for the sake of your mother Ron I need to do a bit of shouting."

"Yeah," said Ron, also grinning a bit. "I guess better you than her."

Just then they heard Ginny's bedroom door open and the sound of footsteps.

"AND ANOTHER THING YOU TWO…NO MORE FUNNY BUSINESS UNDER MY ROOF!" Mr. Weasley shouted, but Harry could tell his heart wasn't in it and so could Mrs. Weasley as she came downstairs chasing a very mad Ginny and followed by a very ashamed looking Hermione.

"Oh, Arthur, leave it to me!" Mrs. Weasley said.

"Lay off Harry and Ron, Mum!" Ginny said as she sat in a huff, still in her pajamas. "We're old enough to do what we like!"

"Your not of age yet!" her mother shouted back.

"I will be in two weeks! And besides, NOTHING HAPPENED!"

"That's not the point!" Mrs. Weasley said. "There are rules in this house and one rule is boys and girls do not share bedrooms!"

"What about Percy then!" Ginny said. "He didn't spend Saturday night alone in his flat in London, you can be sure!"

"What?" Percy said, flabbergasted. "How dare you…why I …I…' but he had turned red and George and Ron laughed at him.

"Percy!" said George in an imitation of his mother. "My word! And before you are even married!"

"Oh shut it!" Percy said. "As if you knew anything about it!"

George laughed at him. "More than you I reckon."

Mrs. Weasley just sat down and let out a whimper. "I can't believe it. My own sons and daughter. A bunch of….oh, my word. Arthur. DO SOMETHING! Please."

"Yes," he said, very embarrassed and uncomfortable looking. "So…Harry, Ron…you are not to sleep in the same room as the girls anymore…Ginny, Hermione, same goes for you…except the other way around…and Percy, George…do whatever you please. But not in this house."

"ARTHUR!" Mrs. Weasley shrieked. "Do whatever they please?"

"Now dear, they are grown men and there's not much you can do about it anyway."

She just looked at them all, glaring, and then her face fell. "I think I need to lie down. I'm sure a bunch of grown men…and women…can manage to make their own breakfast." And with that she stormed off to her bedroom.

"Ah, excuse me," said Mr. Weasley and he followed his wife.

"Bloody hell," Ron said in a quiet voice after his father left. "Thought she was going to take my head off."

"What happened?" Harry asked as he stood to help Ginny make toast and fry some bacon, things he had done often at the Dursleys house.

"She came in to wake Ron and you for work," said Hermione, still a bit red faced. "And…and…we were snogging."

Everyone started laughing at them. "My word!" said George again.

"I have to agree with mother," said Percy as he poured tea for them all. "Such behavior is not appropriate in the house."

"We weren't in the bed or anything," Ron said quickly. "We didn't even sleep in the same bed. Hell, I didn't even know she was there till I woke up this morning. Just…we were standing there…and you know…and she just burst in without knocking. Should have seen her face."

"We're not children," said Ginny as she sat and spread butter and jam on her toast.

Harry looked over at then from where he was making the bacon. "Well, no, we aren't children…but…it's her house…and Hermione and I are guests here so…"

"Harry's quite right," Hermione said, still pink in the face, her voice strained as she looked a Ron. "So…no more late night visits."

Ron just let out a sigh. "And what about early morning walks?"

Hermione grinned at him. "If you can get up early enough."

Just then Mr. Weasley came back, dressed in his work robes and carrying his briefcase. "She'll be all right. Just, well, I'm sure you are smart enough to not let that happen again."

"Or at least get caught," George added and his father gave him a nasty look and shook his head.

"Right. I'm off, many things to take care off today. Harry, Percy, I'm sure you can make you own way when you are ready. Ron, George, on your guard in Diagon Alley, have a sharp eye for any strange characters."

"Place is full of them," said George.

"Then stay out of Knockturn Alley," Percy said and George made a face at him.

Mr. Weasley sighed, then turned to Ginny and Hermione. "Girls, I think it would be nice if you cleaned up a bit around here, helped Molly out. And the vegetable garden is almost ready for planting, might want to do some work there. And Ginny, don't aggravate your mother today."

"I won't if she won't," Ginny said, still smarting from the morning's event.

"Actually," Hermione said. "I was hoping to go to my home today. To get some clothes and my passport, and to get the house ready for my parents return."

"No," said Ron swiftly and with concern. "Don't know who's waiting there."

"He's right," said Mr. Weasley. "Can you wait till tonight? I think we shouldn't move anywhere unless we are in a group. And I'll have a few Aurors go off and check the house first."

Hermione agreed and then Mr. Weasley left for work. Ten minutes later George and Percy left to get ready for work and the four friends were finally left alone. They started giggling as they looked at each other.

"Blimey," Ron said. "What a look on her face!"

"She was thunderstruck,' said Hermione, quietly in case Mrs. Weasley was listening in from the bedroom.

"So…what did actually happen?" Ginny asked in a teasing tone.

"What do you mean?" said Ron as he turned a bit red. "Just like we said."

"Oh, don't worry, Ron," said Hermione. "Your sister just has a dirty mind."

"Do not!" Ginny said, but in good fun and they all had a laugh, Ron and Harry glancing at each other with wide eyes.

"So, Ron, feeling better," Harry said after the laughter died down.

"Yeah…" he started, his grin falling a bit. "Just…don't know…weird feeling…I never…but he deserved it, if anyone did, the mangy werewolf."

"He certainly did," said Ginny and then she shocked them all by standing and kissing Ron on the forehead. "Thank you."

"Ah…yeah.." he said looking at Hermione and Harry with such a look of surprise on his face.

"Ok, you two, off to work," Ginny said, sounding just like her mother, and Harry and Ron quickly finished eating and went off to clean up and get ready for work. Soon they were ready and made their good byes to Ginny and Hermione. George and Ron Apparated away first. And then Harry and Percy left, Harry hoping the rest of this day would be peaceful and quiet, something he desperately craved.