Finding Neverland | George Weasley ✓

Chapter Ninety-Eight

Fred, George, Elliot and the rest of the Weasley's arrived at Hogwarts together. They all shared apprehensive looks with each other before heading up to the Room of Requirement where everyone was meeting.

As they were walking up, Elliot let out a few more violent coughs before breaking out into a small coughing fit.

"I really don't think you should be fighting, Elliot. That's a nasty cough." Molly remarked to Elliot.

"I'll be fine." Elliot quickly replied. "I'm not going to miss this."

"Are you sure?" George asked Elliot.

"I'm sure."

"I don't know about you but I don't think Elliot will be able to beat Death Eaters by coughing on them," Fred said in an attempt to lighten the mood.

Thea Diggory soon arrived at Hogwarts with Remus before heading up to the Room of Requirement. She marveled at all the people who had shown up to fight and to defend the school. Her eyes trailed across the room finding familiar faces and some not so familiar. However, her eyes stopped on someone who had arrived with a certain Weasley family.

"What are you doing here, Elliot!" Thea asked Elliot quickly. "You should be at home, resting not here fighting."

"That really does seem to be your catchphrase when I show up where you aren't expecting me."

"That's not the point, Elliot," Thea whined.

"I'll be fine, Thea. I promise."

"You better be. I'm not giving up on our dreams for the future." Thea said.

"We will travel the world together, one day. Now we need to focus." Elliot said gently. Thea looked towards her best friends before quickly enveloping him in a hug.

"Just don't go getting hurt on me."

Standing by Elliot's side, Thea's eyes scanned the room again. Molly Weasley was having a similar argument with Ginny not too far away. Ginny was a determined and courageous witch and she wanted to stay and fight just like anyone else. However, Molly was trying to reason with her daughter saying that it was too dangerous and as Ginny was still underage, it was too big of a risk. After fighting for several moments, Molly eventually even though rather reluctantly did allow her to stay but only if she stayed in the Room of Requirement and you can bet that Ginny wasn't too happy about it.

But Thea knew why she wanted to Elliot to leave and Molly wanted Ginny to leave. It wasn't just because Elliot was currently sick and Ginny was underage. Everyone held fear as to what was to come as no one could tell how the final battle would play out and who would win. It was a human instinct to fight when a loved one was placed in danger but there's wasn't a choice either way. They needed all the numbers they could get to fight Voldemort and his little entourage of Death Eaters. Children and adults alike were staying including some unsuspecting faces that showed up at the last minute.

The room had gotten incredibly tense when Percy Weasley walked through the doors approaching his family, begging for their forgiveness. Percy wouldn't even look most of his family in the eye, looking forward to where his mother stood. Molly looked caught between bursting into tears and bursting with happiness.

"I'm really sorry." Percy told his family looking down at his shoes like they were the most interesting thing in the world. "I don't expect any of you to forgive me...at all. But I just wanted you to know that I am truly sorry, I don't know what came over me and I-" Percy apologized but was cut off as Molly and Arthur walked forward pulling their son into a hug.

No matter what happened, Percy would always be their son and nothing could ever change that. The Weasley family was so close that he would always find forgiveness as least with his parents. For his siblings it took them a little longer to warm to the whole idea of forgiveness, having witnessed first hand how distraught their mother had been when Percy had deserted them. But eventually, they forgave him, finally letting Percy back into his family.

Thea had wandered a little away from the main group heading through the crowd and greeting those who she recognized. However, as she headed back towards where Elliot stood, she saw him talking with the Weasley twins. She walked up to them, an eyebrow slightly raised, even though they had met each other a few times, Thea didn't remember them being such good friends.

"Since when were you all such great friends?" She asked as she approached.

"Mainly since you decided it would be a good idea to sleep for three days straight." Elliot joked.

"Oh, yeah, worry buddies," Thea said, staring pointedly at Fred. "I remember now."

"I thought we agreed not to speak of that again." Fred asked.

"Well, you might have agreed to that but I didn't."

"You ready for all for this to be over Thea?" George asked.

"Hell yeah." Thea said. "What about you guys? Are you ready?"

"I am," George said.

"Me two." Fred said as well as Elliot also replied to Thea.

"Me three."

Members of the Order had gathered together, preparing for the battle ahead and planning where they would all be throughout the battle. Precautions were taken, younger students evacuated and defences placed up outside and within the castle. Flitwick had placed up defensive charms while McGonagall had bewitched the suits of armor and statues to help defend the castle as well. If they were going to die, they were going to die fighting.

Eventually, everyone moved into the Great Hall as they continued to prepare to fight. Thea hadn't noticed it at the start but as a figure with curly brown hair passed her one more time, Thea couldn't help but call out her name.

"Hermione!"

Hermione spun around looking for the person who had called her name. Hermione's eyes soon fell on Thea standing there, with a smile on her face, extremely happy to see her friend again.

"Thea!" Hermione shouted, running over to Thea. "How have you been?"

"I've been good. How about you?"

"I've been okay. I've missed you so much!"

"I've missed you too-" Thea was about to say before she was interrupted.

A voice boomed in the Great Hall causing the entire castle to shake.

"I know you are preparing to fight. Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood. Give me Harry Potter, and they shall not be harmed. Give me Harry Potter and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter and you will be rewarded."

Everyone in the Great Hall stiffened as everyone worked out who the voice belonged to. It belonged to Voldemort, himself.

"You have until midnight."