Safe With Me ~ Fred Weasley

The Battle

I wasn't sure how long Harry had been gone now. The excitement in the crowded room grew steadily as more people hopped through the passageway. There was very little room to stand now, though I was sure I would have been perched on Fred's lap either way. His hand had not moved from my hip since we had taken our seats, George and Lee going over each Potterwatch segment that Ginny and I may have missed while I tried to push the worry from my mind.

Something was happening, there was no denying it. Harry was back. The three Gryffindor's clearly had a plan in the works, though Hermione and Ron had been swarmed by students since Harry had left with Luna.

The rest of the Weasley's had arrived and after a few long, tear-filled embraces, specifically with Ginny who for once allowed Molly as long of a hug as she wanted, they were now speaking in hushed tones with Lupin, Kingsley, Bill and Fleur.

"Harry, what's happening?" Lupin announced, rushing to meet him at the foot of the stairs. In all of the chaos, hardly anyone had even noticed Harry's return.

"Voldemort's on his way, they're barricading the school—Snape's run for it..." Harry was glancing around at the crowd now.

"What first, Harry?" called George. "What's going on?"

"They're evacuating the younger kids and everyone's meeting in the Great Hall to get organized," Harry said. "We're fighting."

There was a great roar of excitement, yet all I felt was dread. He was coming. We were going to fight. The noise around me faded to the back of my mind, and I was only vaguely aware of the rush towards the door, Harry backing against the wall to let people out.

"You're underage!" Mrs. Weasley shouted, wrestling Ginny backwards as Harry approached them. "I won't permit it! The boys, yes, but you, you've got to get home!"

"Hey," Fred whispered, his fingers sliding beneath my chin and pulling my eyes to him. "You alright?"

I nodded, absentmindedly, eyes flicking back towards Ginny and the Weasleys before Fred pulled my gaze back to his.

"You're going to be fine. I swear it." He leaned down, pressing his lips against my forehead before lifting us both to our feet and starting towards his sister.

"I'm in Dumbledore's Army!" Ginny was shouting, eyes nearly red with anger.

"A teenager's gang!" Molly screamed.

"A teenagers' gang that's about to take him on, which no one else has dared to do!" Fred intervened, setting a hand on Molly's arm.

"She's sixteen!" Molly spun towards him, "She's not old enough! What are you thinking, Fred?"

I watched his jaw clench as he glanced down to Ginny, her eyes latching on his, her mouth falling open as if she could already see Molly had changed his mind.

"Mum's right, Ginny," said Bill gently. "You can't do this. Everyone underage will have to leave, it's only right."

"I can't go home!" Ginny shouted, angry tears sparkling in her eyes. "My whole family's here, I can't stand waiting there alone and not knowing and— " I watched as she finally turned to Harry, tears sparkling in her eyes as he shook his head slowly, eyes falling to the floor. "Fine, I'll say good-bye now then, and-"

She had taken only a few steps towards the passageway, and while part of me was glad she would be safe at the Burrow, there was another part that lived deeper in my chest that kept reminding me that this might be the last time I would see her.

Before I could speak or move towards the girl, there was a scuffle from inside the portrait hole and another red head clambered into the room of requirement.