The Years of Riddle

Chapter Fifty-Nine | Hogwarts, June 1997

Chapter Fifty-Nine

Hogwarts, June 1997

         The halls of Hogwarts were quiet, students tucked away in bed. The sky outside was murky, not a star in sight, and there was a chill to the air, despite summer being nearly upon them. The torches flickered as Silas and Bill Weasley patrolled their old school, murmuring between each other.

"We should split up," Bill said finally, "We could cover more ground."

Silas hesitated. "I agree we could be more efficient, but upon running into something unexpected..."

Pausing, Bill smiled, exhausted. "Mum put you up to this."

"Not necessarily," he shrugged, "we have a deal see, to watch out for each other's children. I would anyways."

"For her peace of mind, and I guess ours as well, we should stay together."

The two set on, quiet mostly. Bill remarked he couldn't believe that Estelle's son, little Will, would be two in December already. "It seems as if everything happened yesterday," he muttered, shaking his head.

"Would you...well, you and Fleur...?"

Bill grinned. "We want to wait, after the wedding, and the war, but...yes. Desperately. I feel the need for a quieter adventure."

"A quiet adventure." Silas smiled. "Sounds lovely. We're all looking forward to the wedding by the way, Inesa keeps tearing up."

"Her and Mum both," chuckled Bill, but was cut off by Silas' sharp intake of breath. "What is it? Silas, what –"

"Look." Silas was pointing out the window, towards the astronomy tower; hovering above it was the dark mark, the blazing green skull with a serpent tongue – left my Death Eaters when they had entered a building, when they had murdered. Their shock was short lived, as they both turned at the sudden sound of shouting from the staircase close by, coming from below.

"Lets go," Silas said, and they set off running down the nearest set of stairs where the noise was heard. There was shouting coming from below, and the corridor was filled with what Silas was sure was Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder. The fight moved out of the smog, towards the tower; slowly figures began appearing, and he recognized people he had been hunting for what felt like years, all in one spot. This was not good, and he remembered then that Magnus, his youngest son, was at Hogwarts. In the Hufflepuff dorms, he remembered now. He spotted a glimpse of long, red hair – Ginny Weasley was out of bed, fighting Death Easters. Molly was going to murder him. "Ginny!" he shouted, and she turned.

"Silas?" she gasped, and then spotted her brother. "Bill?"

"Ginny, what do you think you're –" Bill roared, but his face paled as he saw a figure leap towards his younger sister. He hurtled forward, not even bothering with his wand, simply putting all his physical force into getting the monster away from his sister. Silas, still shooting curses, recognized Fenrir Greyback; he grabbed Ginny and pulled her away.

"Your mother –" he breathed heavily, "Is going to murder the both of us."

Ginny's brown eyes flashed in the same way Molly's did, and she ripped her arm from Silas' grasp. "Who cares? Help Bill."

"Take cover," ordered Silas, and ran to help Molly's son. They were nearing closer to the Astronomy tower now, and he saw Greyback tackle Bill to the ground, going for his throat. "NO!" roared Silas, pushing forward. He hexed Fenrir, who shouted in pain and loped off, following Yaxley and a few other Death Eaters. Something was going on in that tower, but at that moment Silas didn't have time to worry about that. Molly's son was on the ground, bleeding and moaning.