"It's Mr. Weasley- he's been attacked"

Hearing that, I stood and we ran to Dumbledore's office. My heart was racing, even after I stopped running. Inside his office, Dumbledore stood at one end of the room while the Weasleys crowded around a chair. I approached the chair and sat on the arm. Ginny took my hand and I looked down to see a face full of fear. I looked up at Harry, who was sweating heavily and looked deeply stressed. He was so different from only a few hours ago. My heart sank, finally ending the head rush, as I realized the severity of the situation.

We travelled by portkey to St. Mungo's to see Mr. Weasley. I had never seen him so defeated in all my life. I could see snakebites on his face and neck. Nearly all of him was bandaged, and what wasn't was bloody. A nurse quickly ushered us out of the room, muttering something about how he wasn't ready for visitors. Everyone, despite our protests, gathered around the portkey. At the last moment, I pulled back.

I bit my lip, realizing what I had done. There would be consequences, but I wasn't ready to leave yet.

The doorknob turned and the nurse walked out of the room, paying me no mind. When she had rounded the corner, I began to walk into the room. I was careful not to make any noise, for I didn't want to disturb him.

"Jenny?" he murmured. I froze in my step, turning to look at him. He moved his fingers, trying to lift his hand. I approached slowly, sliding my hand beneath his. He wasn't bloody now, but he was bruised and bandaged.

"I'm sorry"

"Sorry? What for?"

"Nothing," I shook it off, but I couldn't quite rid myself of this feeling. I felt almost… guilty. It was like being in the presence of a dementor. Melancholy. I feel melancholy.

"How did you know I was attacked?"

"Harry… he had a dream, a sort of vision," I wasn't really sure what it was. Perhaps a premonition? Maybe Harry had the sight.

"Thank him for me, will you? I'm afraid I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him," I nodded, "Let everyone know I'm alright. You can send an owl downstairs. There's floo, if you want to go back"

"I can stay a while longer," I said, pulling a chair closer so I could sit beside him.

"It was a snake, wasn't it?"

"Yes, a large snake"

"Is that common? For a snake to be in the Ministry, I mean"

"No… no it's not"

"Maybe it's someone's pet"

"That was no pet"

After a few moments, I found myself staring out the window.

"You best send an owl, I don't want Molly worrying"

I nodded and stood, leaving the room and heading downstairs. I asked a nurse where I could owl, and she gave me directions to their owlry. I looked around for a friendly looking one and came across a unique black one with white flecks and golden eyes.

"Ebony!" I rushed over to her, stroking over her ruffled feathers. She looked a little shaken. Perhaps there had been some strong winds. "Can you take this to Mrs. Weasley and the others?" I said, stuffing pulling out a piece of parchment and wrote three words.

He'll be okay.

I held out the parchment, which I had rolled up, and she took it into her talon before flying off.

When I left the room, I caught a glimpse of Neville and an elderly woman. Curious, I followed them.

"Hey Neville," I announced my presence before I became too stalkerish.

"Jenny! What are you doing here?"

"Mr. Weasley was attacked by a snake"

"Is he alright?"

"He will be," I tried to smile. I found my eyes wandering towards the unnamed woman.

"Oh, Grandma, this is Jenny. Jenny, my Grandma"

"It's a pleasure to meet you, dear," she smiled up at me, holding my hand between both of hers before releasing me and beginning to continue walking. I walked alongside Neville.

"You too," then I realized it was a rather odd place to run into friends from school. "Neville, why are you here?"

"I'm visiting my parents"

I remembered learning about Neville's parents last year in Dumbledore's office.

"Oh, Neville, I'm so sorry-"

"Fourteen years ago, a death eater named Bellatrix Lestrange used the Cruciatus Curse on my parents. She tortured them for information, but they never gave in. I'm quite proud to be their son, but I'm not sure I'm ready for everyone to know just yet"

He followed his grandmother into a room, then. I watched through the window as Neville cautiously approached his mother. It was as if she were a delicate item that he didn't want to break.

I wandered around in a daze, then. The melancholy seemed to be consuming me, even as the cool green flames consumed me. I dropped the ashes slowly, my hand relaxed and calm as the dust slipped through my fingers.

Number 12 Grimuald place

The words flitted through my mind. It was too dangerous to say them out loud, but it worked to just think them if I was using the floo network.

As my body burned, I reminded myself why I was so melancholy. I had almost lost Mr. Weasley, the closest thing I had to a father. The Weasleys were my family now, and I had to focus on them. I can't afford to keep losing people I care about.

"Jenny! Oh Jenny, dear," Mrs. Weasley engulfed me in her embrace.

"You received my owl?"

She looked at me oddly, "yes, dear"

"Mr. Weasley will be fine. He believes Harry's vision saved his life"

The others soon gathered in the room. Mrs. Weasley singled Harry out with a shower of thanks and hugs. I just looked around at everyone. They were all so warm and caring. Fred, George, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron all hurried into the room and smiled in relief when they saw me. Even a few stragglers, Tonks, Mad-eye, and Sirius, made an entrance. Hermione reached out and hugged me before pulling me away from the fireplace and towards the family. My family.