Repercussions - 3

Ignoring the surprised look on her brother's face, she turned and sprinted out the door, leading Lupin and Moody to the others.

"She's been burned," Ron said as Remus leaned over Hermione. "She needs Madam Pomfrey right now."

"Let me take her inside, Ron," Remus said, gently lifting her from Ron's arms. "I'll Floo Poppy, and she'll be here in no time."

Ron nodded, struggling to stand. Moody pulled him to his feet and grabbed him around his waist when Ron started to sway.

"Easy, lad. I've got you. Just lean on me, and we'll get you inside," the old Auror said, surprisingly gently.

Bill stared down at Harry's crumpled form, an unreadable expression on his face. After waiting a moment, Ginny finally nudged him, and he leaned over to lift Harry. He pulled Harry to his feet and threw him over his shoulder none-too-gently. Ginny bit the inside of her cheeks, breathing through her nose, and followed them inside.

When they arrived in the entrance hall, they followed Remus and Moody into one of the smaller sitting rooms where Bill unceremoniously dropped Harry to the floor in a heap.

Ginny couldn't control her temper any longer. She whirled on her brother in a rage, holding her wand on him.

"That's enough," she snarled.

"Ginny," he said, his own temper rising.

"Not another word from you," she spat. "You have absolutely no idea what's going on here, and if you mishandle Harry one more time, I'm going to make certain you wish you'd never taught me the Bat Bogey Hex."

"That's enough," Remus said sharply. "We're not going to start fighting amongst ourselves. We're going to tend these injuries before we sit down and calmly discuss what's happened. I'm going to Floo Poppy. Bill, I think you should go and get your parents."

Bill frowned at Ginny for a moment before turning on his heel and leaving the room without a word.

"Stay with Harry, Ginny. I'll be right back," Remus said, squeezing her shoulder gently.

Moody sat Ron on a chair, but he immediately moved to the floor next to the couch where Hermione lay. He held her hand tightly, gazing intently at her closed eyelids. Ginny imagined he was willing her to wake up from sheer desire alone.

Moody helped her move Harry to the empty chair, and she gently rested his head to the side. The floor where Bill had dropped him was smeared with his blood, and the fabric on the chair where they placed him was rapidly becoming stained.

"He's going to need a Blood Replenishing Potion, but we'll let Poppy look him over first," Moody said, his good eye fixed on Ginny while his magical eye kept spinning to watch the other three.

A commotion in the doorway caused Ginny to look up to see her parents, Bill, Fred and George all staring back at her. Her mum was pale, although Ginny could see two bright spots of color growing rapidly on her cheeks.

That was never a good sign.

Ginny glanced at her father's face. She could read relief there, but had to look away from the disappointment she saw reflected in his eyes. What was it about parents that could make you feel so small and unsure, no matter how strongly you believed in what you were doing?

She knew she'd been right to go along with Harry and the others. She knew what they were doing was important, and that they were following Professor Dumbledore's instructions. She also knew the great burden Harry carried, and that he was stronger with her by his side. Why, then, could the simplest look from each of her parents make her feel as if she'd done something terribly wrong?