The Dark Mark (The Girl Who Lived part II)

The Ultimatum

**Harry's Point of View**

As soon as Scarlet was out of sight, there was a loud boom. The three of us stopped in our tracks. "What was that?" I asked Hermoine, my heart already beginning to pound. "Sounded like an explosion". Said Hermoine. Scarlet. She was back there. She must've been caught in the explosion. "Where's Ron?" I asked, noticing that he was missing. "He took off as soon as he heard that explosion, heading back the way we came. He muttered something about going on without him". Responded Hermoine. I began heading back, not able to move fast enough, struggling to keep my feet from tripping over one another. Scarlet. I needed to get to her. Ensure that she was alright. And I wouldn't feel alright unless I saw it myself. "Harry". Hermoine caught me by the wrist. "Scarlet could be in danger. I need to find her". I attempted to yank my arm back to my side, but she tugged on my wrist again. "Harry, Scarlet's tough. I know she's alive. Even if she were injured, she's got Ron. If you want to help Scarlet, then we need to kill that snake. It's the only way we can put an end to the danger". Hermoine said objectively. I sighed, knowing she was right. But even as we walked towards the shrieking shack, I continued to look over my shoulder, as if the slight turning of my head would make Scarlet appear. 

**Ron's Point of View** 

As soon as the boom of the explosion echoed through the halls and through my ears, I began sprinting towards the source. "Leave without me!" I yelled over my shoulder. I panted as I made my way through the corridor. Normally I'd stop to breathe, but I didn't have time. Scarlet didn't have time. When I rounded the corner, I found a disarmed Scarlet backing away from an acromatula that had crawled through one of the holes within the wall. With the flick of a wand, the spider hurtled back in which the direction it had come. "I hate spiders". My comment drew Scarlet's attention. She was shaking, her face, tear stricken. "Ron!" She began to sob. "Scarlet". She crumpled into my arms. I combed my fingers through her lengthy black hair. I was about to ask what was wrong, but she seemed to have had read my mind. Scarlet weakly pointed to Percy leaning over a body on the floor. I knew that face. It was Fred's face. My older brother who always brought joy (when he wasn't tormenting me) and had a smile on his face, would no longer smile that mischievous grin. Nor have that glint in his eye he got when the cogs in his brain had created a new idea. Never again. 

"Fred's dead". She mustered to say before sobbing once more. Her saying those words, only made the fact seem more real. I needed to stay strong for Scarlet. But as my lip quivered and my eyes began to water, I knew I wouldn't be able to. Now as I held her close, food was the last thing on my mind.

**Scarlet's Point of View**

While Percy went off to fight one of the Death Eater's, Ron brought me to the Great Hall. The both of us were in no condition to fight. "Scarlet, Ron". Neville greeted us at the entrance. Neville eyed my burns from the explosion. "I don't want to talk about it". I answered. Neville found a spot for me among the dead and the injured. He unpacked his first aid kit and began applying medicinal herbs to my skin. It went on cool, but as it sat on my skin, the herbs began to burn. Neville wrapped my body in gauze. "There, all done".  He said, neatly tucking the excess underneath the previous layers. I was covered in bandages head to toe. Surely, I looked like a mummy. Neville sat on the other side of me. Ron occupied the other. I locked arms with Neville and Ron and leaned my head on Neville's shoulder. Neville combed his fingers through my hair. Ron who noticed this, transferred my head onto his shoulder. Then, I shed tears for Fred. For the way he died, protecting me, even though the charm bracelet now down to twelve charms. For the inventions that he would no longer create. And lastly, for the way his eyes would no longer twinkle when he got an idea. 

.......................

Eventually, the battle seemed to have had come to a standstill. We were losing. The Great Hall filled with bodies could justify that. The Weasley gathered to mourn the death of Fred. George was taking it the hardest. Neville and I stood on the sidelines, merely specters of the scene. "He's dead because of me, Neville. I may as well have had stared him in the eye and plunged a dagger into his heart". "Scarlet, it wasn't your fault". Neville's reassurance did nothing for me. I nuzzled my head in the crook between his head and shoulder. Two Hogwarts student's who were moving the bodies, placed their hands on Fred. And when they did, I felt something within me snap. "He's not dead! You can't take him! He's just sleeping!" I yanked at their robes and did whatever I could to sabotage them from taking Fred. "Scarlet". I felt hands wrap around my waist. They were separating me from Fred. I struggled against them, kicking, scratching, whatever I could manage in the straining position I was in. Before he was carried out of arms reach, I tied my lace green ribbon around Fred's wrist. I watched helplessly as they carried Fred off, never to be seen again. When he was out of sight, I felt something within me die. Wither into nothingness. Fred was dead, and there was nothing I could do about it. 

I felt my eyes begin to water again. That same melancholy feeling. My knees felt weak. They buckled, and I soon found myself on the cement, wailing like a banshee. Tears streamed down my face as if there was no tomorrow. My vision, blurry. I was being pulled into something. George. He was having a worse time than I was. I stained his shirt with my tears. More of doused, than stained. Eventually, when my reservoir of tears had no more water left and it had reached a drought, George and I picked ourselves off the floor. We squeezed each other into an embrace once more. When we separated, George wiped my tears with his thumbs and I wiped his with the sleeves of my shirt. While time for the two of us had come to an utter standstill, the glove continued to rotate. I observed our new surroundings. Half of the bodies in the Great Hall had been moved. Harry stood next to Neville, who filled him in. "Go on". Said George who nudged me towards him and in turn, returned to the remaining members of the Weasley family.

I approached him. "Harry". I breathed. He tilted his head slightly in confusion. He couldn't recognize me underneath these bandages. I unraveled the gauze covering my face, tucking the excess underneath some of the previous bandages. A swirl of emotions  filled his eyes. "Scarlet". He began, not knowing what else to say. "Fred's dead, Harry". "I know". He answered, taking me into his arms. I could feel his warmth. Hear his heart beat. Both of those things, Fred no longer had. In an attempt to soothe my soul, he patted my back. Though sometimes, Harry didn't know his own strength. This was one of those times. Those pats felt like the equivalent of someone beating the life out of me. If I were a government agent with classified information packed full of secrets to kill for, I would've talked already. I winced a few times, but when Harry slightly separated from me and stared into my eyes, I smiled. I appreciated the gesture even though it did hurt. 

"If it weren't for me, Fred would be alive. If it weren't for this bloody bracelet-" Harry's hand hovered over my back as if he was going to pat my back again. When he made a downward motion with his hand, I shoved him away. "Don't touch me! If you hadn't had given me that bloody bracelet, I would be with Fred, or he'd be alive right now! And I wouldn't be feeling like this! This guilt that washes over me per every heart beat! The feeling as if I've committed a grave sin when I breath! The everlasting weight on my shoulders that increases by the second!" "Scarlet". The look of hurt flashed across his face. I'd hurt him multiple times before, but it was never like this. There was a pain in my heart. I was falling in love with Harry Potter.