Chapter Two
"Let it Be"
Ron was wandering through the corridors. He was looking for an exit one that he knew was not up all of the flights of stairs he climbed or down any of the halls in which he wander. He knew he wasn't going to the hospital wing because Fred's body was there and the rest of his family would be there too. He really didn't want to see them right now. He didn't want to be told it would be okay because it wouldn't. He didn't want to be responsible for comforting someone else when he knew he would never find comfort himself. He continued down the hall and stopped his toes at the edge of the piece of swamp Professor Flitwick had roped off in Fred and George's seventh year. That really was a "good bit of magic".
Tears swelled in Ron's eyes and his steps quickened. He hurried down what was left of the marble staircase and out the front doors and onto the grounds. He sprinted down the drive forced open the gate and apparated. He could never go back to the burrow after what happened tonight, it would never feel like home again. He could finally breathe when he opened his eyes he was standing in a dark alley.
_SNAPE'S OFFICE_
"How dare you help that filthy mudblood!"
"There will be no more killing!"
"You're absolutely correct but there will be a lesson on respect because you seem to forget who you're talking to!"
"Perhaps some other time father but I don't have time for your cowardly ways."
Lucius was fuming, his nostrils flaring his eyes wide with anger. He raised his wand he was going to do a simple spell to keep Draco in line but he had a better idea. One that would really smack so sense into him, he lunged towards Draco smacked him across the face then grabbed him by the collar.
Draco could feel the sting of where his father had hit him and he was trying to ignore it as he wiggled about in his father grasp and when he finally got loose he fell backwards into the fireplace. He grabbed some floo powder and shouted "leaky cauldron". The last thing he saw before he started spinning was his father glaring with rage.
He landed flat on his face on the floor of the Leaky Cauldron. He looked up and noticed Hermione still sitting on the floor staring at him. He quickly got to his feet and pulled her up with him.
"Let go of me!" she protested as he pulled her towards the exit that leads to the muggle Street.
"He's coming! Keep moving!" He said
"Who" Hermione said as she looked over her shoulder to see a furious Lucius Malfoy stepping out of the fireplace just as the pub door closed.
_ENTRANCE HALL_
"Bloody hell, what do you suppose is going on down there," Seamus asked peering through the door that leads to the dungeon.
"I don't know but pull your head back up here before Lucius the lunatic blows it off," Dean said pulling on Seamus' shoulder.
"Your one to talk, I thought your head was blown off somewhere! You just ran off into the night and didn't tell anyone where you were." Seamus huffed
"I'm sorry I was trying to protect you and everyone else I know…"
"Scared me half to death," Seamus cut him off
"Alright you two," Neville stepped between them both, "We're all happy Dean is safe, enough with the bickering or you two may have to attend couples counseling."
"Shut up Longbottom," Seamus smacked Neville playfully in the back of the head.
"Oh, he's so right. It's good to talk things through. You two are very close it would be a shame to see your friendship falter." Luna said dreamily
"Where did you come from," Dean asked they hadn't notice that she followed them from the great hall.
The chatter about the Great Hall was packed with question and wonder about what happened with the Malfoy's. Seamus immediately ran out behind them to see the action and Dean, Neville and apparently Luna did as well. The celebration that consisted of whiskey, old mead, pumpkin juice and all the food that was left in the kitchen began to thin out. Aurors, the Law Enforcement Squad, and ministry support staff, were arriving assessing damages. Healers and volunteers flooded the grounds counting bodies, and patching up people. Mundungus Fletcher shouted something about a celebratory brunch at the Leaky Cauldron. He probably needed even more food to soak up all the fire whiskey he downed.
"Sorry if I frightened you."
"You always frighten us Luna," Seamus swung an arm around her.
"But counseling is good, Harry and Ron should go as well, to sort out Ron's inferiority complex and Harry's mounting hero complex," she went on.
"We'll look into it," Seamus lied hoping she wouldn't talk about it anymore
"Excuse me young man," one of the healers approached them. "You need someone to look at that wound," he was referring to the burn mark on Neville's forehead.
"It's fine, there are others who have far greater injuries," he said but the healer didn't take no for an answer as he forced Neville down on the bottom step of the marble staircase. Or at least on the half that was left and opened his medical bag and began to patch him up.
"See Neville next time you shouldn't be so brave…" Seamus began
"Yeah then perhaps Voldemort wouldn't have put the flaming sorting hat on your head," Dean finished, they chuckled, but ceased as Katie Bell came stumbling down what was left of the marble staircase.
She slipped on the last step and Luna helped her up, she was crying, "What's wrong Katie, falling down the rubble of stairs isn't that bad. Besides its marble, it's pretty."
She snorted, she wanted to laugh she really did but she couldn't "You know why people call you Looney right."
"Because they don't understand," she shrugged unbothered and dusted the rubble off Katie's shoulder.
"Anyway, it's not about the stairs. It's Fred."
"What about Fred," Seamus asked
"Fred Weasley is dead" as she said this tears came pouring from her eyes as if it was the first time she heard it, the room seemed to get suddenly still, there was a sinking feeling in the pit of everyone's stomach.
"What do you mean, he can't possibly…." Neville began turning his head from the Healer who kept turning it back.
"He…" Katie whimpered
"He what," Dean pressed
"I can't… sorry," Katie left them and went to talk to others, who gasped when they heard the news, some began crying.
"What the fuck…" Dean went on
"Calm down," Luna said peacefully
"Where is he?" Seamus wondered
"Some bodies have been taken to the hospital wing," the Healer who was patching up Neville informed.
Dean, Seamus, and Luna immediately began to climb the staircase, "Thanks," Neville said to the Healer. He snatched the bandage the Healer was getting ready to use on him from his hand and followed them up the stairs. He figured he'd apply the bandage himself later.
_A MUGGLE STREET_
Draco started to run and continued to pull Hermione along with him. He turned down an alley and looked around the corner to see if anyone was coming.
"Alright, I think we lost him." He said looking around. "You can go but I suggest that you avoid Lucius." He put his hand to his face and began to massage where Lucius had hit him.
Hermione stared at Draco completely puzzled. "You just saved my life."
He looked down at her, face void of expression. "Yeah" He turned and disapparated
Hermione stood in the alley still thinking Draco Malfoy just saved my life.
_GRYFFINDOR TOWER _
What can I tell her, that I loved Fred like a brother and that his death breaks my heart because it's my fault? If I had only gone to Voldemort when he first called me, Fred wouldn't be dead. Should I tell her that I love her and that I can't take the fact that all her pain is my fault? Harry stared around the room. It seemed darker and colder even though the morning sun was painting the sky a hazy orange and the light fell softly into the room. He looked back a Ginny and she was staring at him teary eyed. He wanted to tell her everything. He knew that she would completely understand. He took a deep breath than let it out.
Ginny looked at Harry as if she knew something was wrong she waited patiently for him to tell her. After a few minutes passed and he didn't say anything she asked, "Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"
"Why would you think something's wrong?" replied Harry.
"You look worried."
"I'm not worried."
"Your hearts racing"
He pushed Ginny off of him and began to pace in front of his bed. Ginny lay on her back watching him thoughtfully. After awhile he stopped pacing and stared into Ginny's eyes and began to talk.
"It's because of me that all these people died. How could I have let something like this happen? I was sitting here thinking about how peaceful and ordinary life could be now. I didn't even consider the fact that other people's peaceful and ordinary lives will never be the same again. But when I saw you it all came flooding back. I love you and all I seem to do is hurt you. Fred is dead because of me! Your brother is dead because of me! HELL! He was like my brother I killed my own brother! Voldemort returns and just when you need me the most I push you away. Not to mention the countless times that me just being around has put your entire family in danger. Nothing good has come of vanquishing the Dark Lord," he sighed.
"The people I love are more destroyed than ever. Lupin and Tonks made me the Godfather of their child. I am a terrible Godparent! Teddy's parents are dead because of me. And Colin Creevey he worshipped me. Yes, that was a bit creepy but he was a nice guy over all and certainly didn't deserve to die. He was underage and risked his life to come back here and fight. It's all, my fault …"Ginny cut him off before he could finish.
"HARRY! Stop this right now!" Ginny ordered, "If you say me one more time I will scream! This is not your fault it wasn't about you! We all had the option to fight or leave, everyone who died made their choice to fight. As for Collin he answered the DA call, just like everyone else he knew what could happen when he signed that piece of parchment… We weren't fighting for you we were fighting for our freedom. Whether you were part of some prophecy or not Voldemort was going to take over and we were not going to let that happen with or without Harry Potter!"
Ginny got off the bed, walked over and wrapped her arms around Harry "I'm beyond devastated about the loss that this whole situation has caused and I'm going to miss my brother and friends more then I can possibly contemplate at this time… but they didn't die in vain. Because of them and countless other people, Voldemort's gone forever… Harry your bravery since the day you found out you were a wizard has inspired so many and that's why we all had no problem standing beside you in battle and clearing the way so that you could kill Voldemort once and for all." She smiled at Harry. "Oh! By the way… I love you too."
He leaned forward and lightly kissed her on the lips.
"I suppose I'll get my chance to be normal", said Harry.
"Yes because being referred to as the one who killed the Dark Lord, our hero is perfectly normal." she chuckled. Ginny took Harry's hand in hers "Let's go see the family"
"Let it Be" The Beatles
