Roses and Riots | f. weasley

Chapter 39: The Attack

Emilia and Ginny shared looks of alarm at McGonagall's words before they quickly and quietly did as they were told, pulling on their dressing gowns and slippers before following Minerva down to the common room. 

Emilia was surprised to see the twins there too, also in their pyjamas, clearly having just been woken up too. This was clearly something concerning the Weasleys, and the thought made Emilia's stomach drop.

"What about Ron?" Ginny asked quietly as McGonagall led them out of the common room.

"Mr Weasley is already in the Headmaster's office with Mr Potter," McGonagall answered as they hurried to keep up with her fast pace across the castle.

"Harry? How does this involve Harry?" Emilia asked, concerned.

"The Headmaster will explain shortly," McGonagall said solemnly, and she led them in silence before stopping to give the password to the large stone Gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office.

When the gargoyle stepped aside to reveal the spiralling staircase, McGonagall wasted no time in hurrying up the steps, the rest of them running up after her.

She pushed open the door into Dumbledore's office, "Headmaster, I have the rest of the Weasleys and Miss Potter."

Emilia hadn't seen Dumbledore since September, and he had his back to them all even as he spoke, "please, come in."

Fred and George gestured to Ginny to take a seat in a large armchair, and Ginny who had been clinging to Emilia's hand since leaving the common room, pulled the older girl down with her onto the chair.

She squeezed Ginny's hand comfortingly, and looked behind her to where Ron had just stood with his older brothers.

She realised then that Harry was in the room, and his pale, ghost-like appearance shocked her to her core. He looked haunted, and was covered in a cold sweat, his eyes staring blankly ahead as he shivered despite the roaring fireplace behind them all.

They waited for an explanation, but instead, Dumbledore addressed Harry directly, but kept his back to them all as he spoke.

"In the dream, were you standing next to the victim, or looking down at the scene?" He asked calmly, and Emilia exchanged a confused look with her friends.

"Neither," Harry answered shakily. "It was like I..." he trailed off, looking completely lost. "Professor, will you please just tell me what's happening?"

Dumbledore ignored him and instead turned to speak to a portrait on the wall, "Everard, Arthur's on guard duty tonight, make sure he's found by the right people."

They all jolted in shock at the mention of Arthur's name, the twins took simultaneous sharp breaths, and Ginny whimpered in fear. Emilia wrapped an arm around Ginny's shoulders and held her tightly, blinking back the frightened tears that filled her own eyes.

"Sir-" Harry tried to get Dumbledore's attention again, but he was unsuccessful.

Even McGonagall looked to be at a loss of why Dumbledore was blatantly ignoring Harry, and they watched as he turned to another portrait of a past Headmaster.

"Phineas. You must go to your portrait at Grimmauld Place. Tell them that Arthur Weasley is gravely injured."

Ginny choked out a small cry and Emilia held her tighter, feeling a painful lump growing in her throat as she herself tried not to cry. Arthur Weasley was the solid force of positivity in the family that they could always rely on, and now something terrible had happened to him.

The twins were white with shock, and Ron was breathing shakily, all of them thinking the same thing: what if they lost Arthur?

"His children will be arriving soon by Portkey," Dumbledore told the portrait of Phineas Black, who nodded before leaving the frame.