Finding Neverland | George Weasley ✓

Chapter Ninety-Nine

It didn't take very long for the Dark Lord to realize that they wouldn't hand Harry over so easy, so the battle began.

Death Eaters tried to take down the school's defenses but because of the layers of prep work that had been placed down previously by those protecting the castle, they were finding it a bit difficult to do so.

Minerva McGonagall's bewitched statues and suits of armor took down anyone that grew too close, while Professor Sprout and Neville Longbottom were proving to everyone that Herbology wasn't a waste of a class. Mandrakes were being thrown over the walls and as wand duels were already beginning. With each strike from the Death Eater, the castle shook.

Everyone had gathered in the courtyard getting ready to part ways, no one was ready to do so but they had no choice.

Thea had been assigned to patrol the corridors just inside from the main courtyard. She wasn't entirely happy about it, wanting to be fighting in the main courtyard but she would have to settle for it for now, particularly when Ginny arrived with everyone else much to Molly's protests.

"Ginerva! What are you doing here? You should be in the Room of Requirement!"

"I'm not leaving, mum. No matter what you say. Hogwarts is my home and I'd been damned if I didn't protect it."

Molly let out a small huff of frustration as Thea walked over to the two of them. "Molly?"

"Oh, hi there, Thea. Can you please try and convince Ginerva to go back to the Room of Requirement, she might actually listen to you."

"I won't Molly. Ginny is right, Hogwarts is all our home and we all want to protect it. I'm happy to look after Ginny, she can come and patrol the corridors with me."

"I don't need looking after," Ginny whined quietly.

"Just shut up and follow my lead," Thea replied back hotly.

"I don't want to agree to it but I have no choice, Ginny please just be careful. And Thea?"

"Yes, Molly."

"Please keep an eye out for her and keep safe yourself."

"Of course I will, Molly."

"Thank you, Thea."

Time was slowly counting down to the time that they would all have to separate. Thea walked over to Elliot again, hugging him tightly and not wanting to let go.

The two of them had been through so much. All the way from when they first met on the first day of Auror training, both of them, innocent and excited. Thea and the rest of the Order had just lost Sirius Black and had thrown herself into her work to try and distract herself while Elliot helped her along the way. They had gone from just being work-friends to something more and it wasn't in the romance way either. They were best friends and even though they had only known each other for a few years, they acted like they had known each other their whole lives. Neither of them wanted anything to happen to the other to the point where they had complained when Kinglsey had placed them apart from each other in the battle. Elliot would only be down a few corridors away from Thea but she wasn't very happy about it and neither was Elliot.

But there was nothing they could do except get on with it.

"Thea, you might have to let go of me eventually, everyone will be leaving soon."

Thea sighed as she released Elliot. "I know, I just have this awful feeling in the bottom of my stomach."

"I know, you've had that for days. But I've had it too. But everything's going to go fine, I promise. Don't forget you are the most skilled Auror I've ever met, so those Death Eaters no mercy."

"I've never been the most skilled Auror," Thea said.

"What do you mean?"

"I may have a slight temper and be determined but that doesn't mean I'm skilled, you've always been so much kinder and smarter. You are the most skilled Auror."

"We've been having this argument for years," Elliot said.

"And I win every time," Thea said.

"Just don't go getting hurt on me, okay Thea?"

"And the same goes for you. Thank you for being my best friend."

"Thank you for being mine, Thea."

Fred and George stood in the courtyard watching as the barrier around Hogwarts were being struck by spells. They shared a look.

"You okay, Freddie?"

"Yeah."

"Me too."