Mischief not so Managed

9: Dad

George:

Cool. I had said cool. Merlin, I wanted to die, I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole. I would prefer face the quid out in the lake or face Umbridge unarmed that have to relive that moment. "what exactly is wrong with you Georgie?" Ginny asked when I sat down in the common room.

"cool" I said "I said cool". Ginny seemed confused for a second and then burst herself laughing.

"you didn't"

"I did" I held my head in my hands. "I'm heading to bed"

"cool" she sputtered between breaths of laughter "you sir, need serious dating advice". I sent her a vulgar gesture and headed for the stairs.

"George! George! Wake up!" I was being shook by someone, pulling me from some dream about me standing on the Astronomy Tower bridge watching fireworks go off. "George, for merlin's sake, wake up". I shot up, to find Ron standing in front of me. "Get up and get dressed".

"Ron?" Fred mumbled, pulling himself out of bed. "what's going on?"

"it's Dad"

We tumbled into the sitting room of Grimmualed Place, falling to the ground. My stomach felt like it had permanently moved house to my throat. "Mum?" Ginny called out "Mum, are you here?".

"she might not be back yet Gin" I said gripping her by shoulder. Then my Mum crashed through the door, followed by Remus and then Sirius. Their faces as pale as parchment. Mum had tears trekking down her face.

"he's alive" Sirius said, "Kingsleigh had him brought to St. Mungo's, he will be okay"

"Mum" Fred choked out before gathering her up in his arms, she sobbed and sobbed. Remus waved for us to go up to bed.

"Where's Harry?" Sirius asked.

"He'll be here tomorrow with Hermione" Ginny said, wiping the last of her tears and walking up the stairs.

"He had someone sort of it, it wasn't like any other dream he's ever had before Sirus" Ron said sitting on the bottom step of the stairs running his hands through his hair. "He was somewhere between parseltongue and screaming". Ron was pale and exhausted.

"Go to bed, Ron" I said pulling him off the stairs. He trudged up the stairs his head low.

"how bad is it?" I asked Remus.

"George"

"we aren't kids anymore" my tone was cool "we won't run away because it get's too scary".

"we're lucky we found him when we did" Remus said gravely. I nodded as Fred came out into the hall followed by Mum, who announced she was going to make some tea. Fred headed up the stairs ahead of me.

"Remus"

"yes" he looked at me.

"Dumbledore had Snape take Harry from the room before we left" I said quietly, so Mum wouldn't hear from the kitchen, "something about protecting his mind". Remus nodded, pushing Sirius into the kitchen before he let his rage fill the whole house.

Lia:

I pulled myself out of bed the next morning, my vision blurry. The common room was unusually quiet. I walked the great hall, tying my tie as I went. The snow was get thick outside. The castle was cool, dreary. I sat for breakfast and the table seemed very empty, but the Great Hall was full. I dug into some scrambled eggs and was thoroughly enjoying them, when Hermione dropped into the seat across from me. "Merlin's bear" I exclaimed "you look like you haven't slept in a week". She nodded grimly, the bags under her eyes and tired expression telling the world everything about how much sleep she was really getting, no matter what she said.

"have you seen Harry?"

"he's not down yet" I said pouring her a goblet of pumpkin juice.

"listen" she said quietly "I don't want to alarm you". I nodded, leaning in as to keep the conversation as private as possible. "but it's Mr. Weasley, he was attacked in the Ministry last night"

"that's why it's so quiet" I muttered, "is he okay? Is he alive?"

"barely" Hermione grimaced, "but they got there in time, Harry and I leave for Head, I mean home, this morning". Owls started pouring into the hall, dropping papers and letters to awaiting students. A brown barn owl dropped a copy of the Daily Prophet at my side and a letter with my mother's handwriting. I turned to see Harry walking towards us, he was in worse shape than Hermione.

"morning" he muttered, sitting down beside me. I smiled to him, opening the letter. He wasn't really in the mood to talk by the looks of it. I scanned the letter.

"you aren't the only ones going home" I muttered.

"are you coming with us?" Hermione looked up from her toast.

"no, I'm going home, home to get some things but I'll be there in a few days" I muttered, getting up. "I need to go pack". I looked down at Harry. Hermione just nodded. "I'll see you guys soon"