Stronger for You

“I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge – myth is more potent than history – dreams are more powerful than facts – hope always triumphs over experience – laughter is the cure for grief – love is stronger than death.” – Robert Fulghum

Chapter 1

Seamus’ P.o.V.

I watch as Malfoy and the other Death Eaters leave. Anger and frustration build up inside of me. This is why we should have included her! She wouldn’t have tried to “save” him otherwise! I look down at her still body. It sent a tremor through my body. Harry had already stormed back up to the castle to deal with Dumbledore’s death.

I think I was in shock from that piece of news. Dumbledore, dead? It was bad enough about Jacky… Other than that, my right hand was in horrible pain from some curse a death eater had sent my way.

“Come on Jacky” I sigh as I pick her up bridal-style. Her head flops to the side and I shiver again. This was too real.

The grounds are too quiet, the forest silent and ominous. Where are the sounds? The lap of the lake against the shore? The nickering and crackling from the forest? The rustle and bustle of the castle?

My shoulders ache from the weight of her body, my hand throbbing in tune to my heartbeat, which is just now slowing down. Sweat outlines my body in my robes and I somehow singed my hair in the fight. My wand is stowed in my pocket, easily accessible if a death eater pops up.

I see the students and teachers, and also the defenders of Hogwarts, surrounding someone at the base of the Astronomy Tower. Of course, it’s Dumbledore.

I lie Jacky gently down on the nearest bench, making sure she is secure before joining Luna in the back of the crowd to pay my respects. My wand is lit up and raised to the sky, and to my great surprise there are tears building in my eyes and I blink them away, but one slips out anyway.

The shock is wearing off.

“They’re in the Hospital Wing. You can take Jacky there.” Luna whispers to me as she heads towards some fellow Ravenclaws. I nod and quickly head back to Jacky, cradling her back into my arms and walking with renewed purpose.

The crowd is with me as I walk, and I curse myself for stopping. The girls break into tears and the boys shout out in horror, some teachers attempt to fight their way through the students to reach me, but I only quicken my pace.

I rush towards the Hospital Wing doors and use my foot to pry open one of them. The room is dimly lit and I see the Weasley’s and Harry and Hermione gathered around another redhead. And there was that girl from fourth year, the champion for Beauxbatons. Fleur?

Neville was lying on another bed, with Hannah, Susan, and Dean by his side, talking softly with him. Madame Pomfrey was bustling between the two, as well as Professor Flitwick, and muttering under her breath. Professor McGonagall as well as the Order were also gathered, off to the side of the Weasleys.

When did I get so observant? I glance down at Jacky and suck in a breath. Her face is serene and at peace, the most peace I’ve seen since her family was killed.

Why did she have to be there?

I approach the nearest vacant bed and lay her down, placing her hands over her stomach and pushing the stray strands from her face. My hand strays to her own and grips the cooling fingers tightly.

“Seamus? Who’s that?” I can hear Hannah’s voice saying, but my ears seem to be echoing. My heartbeat is increasing as well.

Panic attack?

“Oh, oh Godric no, Susan! It’s Jacky!” Hannah suddenly screams out. I hear faint footsteps and then bodies are around the bed.

“Seamus? Seamus? What the hell happened?!” Dean was shaking me, but I couldn’t respond. I close my eyes and force myself to breathe evenly. This wasn’t actually happening.

“She was hit by a misdirected curse.” I open them as Harry speaks up. A few tear stains are on his cheeks but his eyes are wide with shock. The others fall quiet as he speaks and Hannah grips Jacky’s arm with her hand, holding Susan’s tightly with the other. Dean comes up behind me, gripping my shoulder for comfort as well as to give it.

I didn’t need it!

“Harry, is that true?” Lupin steps forward, his face deeply troubled. Mrs. Weasley rushes past him, heading straight for the bed.

“No, not a child. Please, please not a child.” She’s whispering under her breath, her eyes already flowing with tears. Mr. Weasley breaks away to grab her up tightly in a hug, his eyes wide as he stares at Jacky’s lifeless body on the bed.

“What do you mean, Remus?” Professor McGonagall asks, redirecting the conversation. I blink and see Hermione and Ron whispering with Ginny, whose face is calm and reflective. Good, they’re spreading the news.

Harry is staring stubbornly at Lupin.

“What do you mean?”

“I saw out of the windows what happened.” Harry clenches his jaw before nodding, his eyes flashing to mine, demanding me to speak. I open my mouth but only a gasp of air breaks through. He blinks patiently and nods. He faces the room and squares his shoulders.

“I told you all that I fought with Snape, but directly afterwards I found Malfoy sneaking behind me to get to the castle. I turned on him and I…” He pauses and looks at Jacky, closing his eyes tightly as if reliving it. I knew I was. I could feel my own wand raised, the spell flying from my lips.

“I cast a curse at him. And Jacky jumped in front of it and took it for him. Snape and Bellatrix forced him to leave a few minutes after that.” He looks at Hermione for help, but she’s too focused on explaining it to the other two to see it.

“The spell, Harry. Tell them what spell it was.” Lupin’s voice is harsh and unforgiving, his eyes slightly haunted. Harry clenches his fists and looks at the ground.

“Avada Kedavra”

Mrs. Weasley falls against her husband, Fleur backs towards Bill protectively. Professor McGonagall is staring at him as if she had never seen him before.

“You…you were going to kill him?” She whispers. Harry shakes his head.

“For Merlin’s sake, this is so messed up. Hermione!” He turns to his friend, causing her to jump in shock. Her mouth falls open as she sees everyone staring at her and then catches on.

“I think we should tell the Order, and her immediate friends, and of course her family. But no one else can know.” She instructs.

“Who will explain?” Ron mutters; his eyes still on his brother. Ginny moves as if to speak, but Mrs. Weasley marches forward.

“Jacky is dead! And you all are discussing something as if this were a chess game?” She shouts. Whoa, Ron wasn’t kidding when he spoke of his mother’s temper. Ginny cringes back slightly but moves to stand by my side at Jacky’s bed.

“Everyone, shut it!” She yells. It falls completely silent in the room and everyone’s eyes are on her.

I grip Jacky’s hand tightly as she begins to speak.

“Jacky’s not really dead.”