Disclaimer: I still do not own Harry Potter.

Hello everyone. I hope you all had a fantastic holiday, and happy new year to all of my readers. I hope you had a wonderful start to 2019.

First of all, I wanted to apologize profusely for an incredibly awful continuity error I made in the last chapter. I realized that about five minutes after posting that I had Minerva McGonagall and Filius Flitwick speak lines during the meeting with Susan and Hannah. At the end of chapter 10, I had them leave the meeting early and go back to their students. I changed it right away and instead gave the lines to both Pomona Sprout and Charity Burbage, because it's true that I want other teachers getting involved as well. It's strange, because I did remember that I'd done that, but when it came to writing the next chapter, I wrote it like Minerva and Filius were still in the meeting. All I will say in my defense is that I want both those teachers to be deeply involved, but I ended up really liking what I did instead. If anyone read the original version, I am really sorry. I will now be way more aware of errors such as that, and will think extra hard about the chapters as I am writing them.

Anyway, to answer some of my readers' questions, you will see Harry and Sirius's reactions in this chapter. In future installments, you will discover what Dumbledore and the staff decide to do about all of this. What happens at the end of this chapter isn't pretty, and I warn you that there is a cliffhanger. But the plot is really going to speed up after this.

I really hope you enjoy!

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Ron didn't think there had ever been a moment in his life when he felt as terrible as he did now. Hermione and Ginny, who were standing beside him, felt the same emotions; he could see it on both of their faces. He truly hadn't thought that things could get worse after last night, but he had been proven very wrong indeed.

Moments ago, Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott had come by the hospital wing to deliver some grave news. Both girls had been frantic, and it was plain to see that they'd been crying. They'd wanted nothing more than to see Harry and break the news to him themselves, and give him all their support. But Madam Pomfrey had told them that Harry was not up for visitors, so instead, they had relayed the information to his best friends.

When the events in the Hufflepuff common room had been explained to them, they knew Harry needed to know. Hermione, in tears, had run to Madam Pomfrey's office, where she was sitting while Hannah and Susan told the trio what had happened. Hermione had gasped out the information to her, and begged her to let the girls tell Harry so he could be warned of what was to come.

But Madam Pomfrey had convinced them that because of the fragile emotional state Harry was in, it should be someone who knew him well who told him the news. It had taken some time, but eventually, they listened. The last thing they wanted to do was to hurt Harry even more.

But now, as Ron, Hermione, and Ginny opened the curtains around Harry's bed, they knew that this would hurt Harry very deeply. And honestly speaking, Ron had never been angrier in his entire life. It also made the guilt inside of him rise to new levels; how in Merlin's name had he ever wanted to be in Harry's shoes? As if he hadn't already been through enough. Now, less than twenty-four hours after a brutal and horrific ordeal, he would have to endure even more, and all because some people in this school found it in themselves to be vindictive and stupid, and they were letting their fear rule them.

Truth be told, Ron knew about the fear that was surrounding the school now, and unfortunately, he couldn't say he was immune to it. The fact that he and his entire family associated with Harry Potter put them at an insanely high risk, and now that You-Know-Who was back, the terror of what could happen to one of them was all too real. And with Harry, the main target, at their sides, the chances of something occurring was at an all-time high. The same went for Hermione, and the thought of anything befalling her was too awful to imagine. And Ron knew with a bone-deep certainty that neither she nor the Weasley family would be killed quickly, like Cedric had been. You-Know-Who and his Death Eaters would drag it out, and Ron felt sick to his stomach just thinking about it.

But as he and the two girls at his side saw Harry lying on the bed with a huge, bearlike black dog guarding him, he also knew with just as much certainty that they would never leave Harry. After all, how was it his fault that those monsters never stopped chasing him? The Weasleys were aware of what friendship with Harry might cost them, and no matter the sacrifices, they all knew it would be worth it. Molly and Arthur loved him like one of their own, and Harry was Ron's brother in all but blood. If this year had taught him anything, it was the fact that petty grudges and jealousies were downright ridiculous, and that he would never stray from Harry's side again.

And as far as the murder accusations went ... Merlin, could anyone be more pathetic? If any of these fools knew Harry at all, they would realize their beliefs were delusional. The boy would never do such a thing, and the fact that some in the school thought this about him made Ron literally want to walk up to them and pummel them beyond recognition.

The huge dog took one look at their stricken expressions, and the tear streaks on Hermione and Ginny's faces. Harry, who wasn't quite asleep but had been dozing quietly while his hand lay on the dog, came to awareness completely as his weary emerald eyes surveyed his friends.

Sirius transformed back into himself quicker than a bolt of lightning. "What is it?" he demanded, every muscle in his body snapping to attention. "What's happened?"

And it was then that Harry's three biggest supporters did the one thing that they despised doing above anything else, but knew that it had to be done. None of them could bear to tell the entire story, so they each took turns telling a part of it. They explained about Susan and Hannah's sudden appearance, and the information they had relayed. "They wanted to come in and see you themselves, mate," Ron said softly, a lump in his throat.

As Harry learned of everything that was going on, any bit of color that was in his face drained away until he was a ghostly white. Hermione burst into a round of fresh tears, and Ron put an arm around her on one side, Ginny on the other. His little sister was trembling in both fury and sorrow.

And no matter how much he wanted to look away from this scene, Ron couldn't. He wanted to do nothing more than hide away from all this messy, emotional turmoil that was taking place. But Harry needed him now; he had to stay brave for his best friend, his brother, someone he would literally give his own life for.

But it was incredibly hard not to shrink away from the look of absolute and utter rage that made itself known on Sirius's face. "They want to do WHAT?!" he roared, and desperately, he held onto Harry's hands as the boy began to shake violently.

"We're not going to let it happen," growled Ginny, whose voice was quaking with fierce anger. "And we're not the only ones. Hannah and Susan have let the staff know."

"They won't let it stand," said Hermione almost hysterically. "They can't."

There were several moments of prolonged, thick silence, and each second that passed was absolute torture. As Ron slowly met Harry's gaze, he saw nothing but desolation in his best friend's eyes. He truly looked as though he was going to be sick, and seeing this, Sirius only looked more unhinged. "You're damn right they can't let this stand," he shouted, and Ron could swear that the room almost vibrated with the intensity of his emotions. He stood up suddenly, and Ron got the feeling that if no one said anything, he would go storming out of the wing and right into the staff room himself. But this action would backfire spectacularly; he would land himself in Azkaban, or worse, by the day's end.

But it was then that Harry, in a small, weak voice filled with an infinite sadness and resignation, said, "It's all true. Those Hufflepuffs are right. I do put everyone in danger by being in this school, and now that Voldemort's back, it's only going to get worse. And why wouldn't some of them think I killed Cedric? I disappeared with him, and brought his body back." Taking a shuddering breath, he mustered up every ounce of strength he possessed. "If it'll make everyone safer, then I'll go," he said quietly, and Ron saw a look of stubborn determination enter his green eyes, even though they still looked shattered and despairing. This was truly the Harry Ron knew, and it saddened him beyond belief that his friend was going to lie down and give up.

He and Hermione both opened their mouths to give him a piece of their mind, but it was Ginny who beat them to the punch. "Don't you even dare, Harry Potter," she said in a low, shaking voice. "Don't you dare say that. You deserve to be here, and if anyone's responsible for this, it's all the fault of those damned staff. Ron and Hermione told me about Moody not being Moody, and he was the reason for what happened last night. The staff of this school did nothing to keep you safe, and you are ABSOLUTELY NOT going to lie down and take the bullshit that's being spewed at you now. No, Harry, you are staying here, and we'll make sure of it."

Ron reached over and squeezed Ginny's shoulder. She might be small and petite, but the youngest Weasley would not be underestimated. Her swearing did not surprise him, either; growing up with six older brothers, she could hold her own in the swearing department. He knew his mother would truly be shocked if she heard some of the words that escaped her young daughter's mouth. Oh, she had no idea that Ginny was not the innocent little flower she thought her to be. Ron couldn't be prouder of Ginny in that moment; she had never spoken to Harry in a tone like this, and Ron hoped beyond anything that it would jolt him into seeing sense.

"I know that your noble prat tendencies know no bounds," Ginny continued, gaining even more momentum and power. "But there comes a point when you need to fight for yourself. You're happy here at Hogwarts, and you are NOT going to let what a few complete arseholes say take that away from you."

Sirius looked at Ginny in shock, and from beside Ron, Hermione was doing the same. After a moment, Sirius said wistfully, "And there you have it, Harry. You have true fighters on your side." He gave Ginny a fierce grin, which she returned.

Harry looked back and forth between the group, his face still white, but his eyes shone with naked shock at the support he had just received. "But ..." he started, but then he faltered, not knowing what to say. He began to breathe fast and hard, and Ron knew his mind was churning as pure panic began to set in.

Instantly, Sirius gathered the boy into his arms. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny came closer to him, and Ron laid a hand on his shoulder while Hermione and Ginny touched his hands. They all stood around Harry while Sirius held and tried to calm him, a solid net of support who were going to shelter and protect him, even if it was from himself.

They stayed that way for several minutes, no one saying a word. They all knew that whatever was to come, they would all stand with Harry no matter what. He would never be alone.

And it was in the next moment that their loyalty was tested once again. Since they had been within the boundaries of the Silencing Charm, they hadn't heard what was going on in the rest of the wing. But suddenly, Madam Pomfrey burst into their space, her eyes wild. "They're here," she whispered weakly, her eyes filled with an endless apology. "Aurors."

And Ron knew, at that moment, that it was only the beginning.