Never Is Our Always

A Fallen Warrior

(Minnie pov)

"Come on!" I cried, then turned around again, "confringo! Argh! Stupefy!" I hit more death eaters before swerving off course so they wouldn't find the portkey.

(Fred pov)

George and I were laughing together.

"What's wrong?" I said, scanning their faces as they entered. "What's happened? Who's—?"

"Mad-Eye," dad said. "Dead."

Our grins turned to grimaces of shock. Nobody seemed to know what to do. Tonks was crying silently into a handkerchief: She had been close to Mad-Eye.

Hagrid, who had sat down on the floor in the corner where he had most space, was dabbing at his eyes with his tablecloth-sized handkerchief.

Bill walked over to the sideboard and pulled out a bottle of firewhisky and some glasses.

"Here," he said, and with a wave of his wand he sent twelve full glasses soaring through the room to each of them, holding the thirteenth aloft. "Mad-Eye."

"Mad-Eye," we all said, and drank.

"Mad-Eye," echoed Hagrid, a little late, with a hiccup.

"Alice isn't back," George said, "where the hell is Alice?" I look at him, then covered my face with my hands, thinking the absolute worst.

"Alice..." Mum said, "oh no."

"We— no," I got up, then shake my head, "she's not gone, don't you dare." My voice was wavy, "I'm—" a loud crack came from outside, I didn't waste a moment to rush outside.

As I saw the doppelgänger of Harry run into the open area, a wave of relief flushed over me.

Then she collapsed.

"Alice!" I ran up and fell on to the ground, she looked sick as her features transform back into her beautiful self. "Alice?" I shake her, she wasn't moving, "Alice? Come on, Alice!" I cried.

"What's happened?" Mum then screamed as she saw Minnie limp on the ground.

"Come on!" I cried, "Alice! Come on," I said more sternly, doing CPR on her chest.

Then, her body jolts, she gasped for air before I roll her on to her side as she vomits on the ground, sobbing loudly in pain.

Alice's body trembles for a moment before she sat herself up.

"I was supposed to be back two hours ago," she said quietly, not looking at me, "but I don't remember how I got here."

"What date did I ask you to be my girlfriend?" I ask.

"Seventeenth of March, 1995." She answered, I nod my head, "never going to forget that date and only four of us knew that date." She told me seriously.

"Because?" I ask.

"Everyone thought we were together properly on Christmas Eve, but it was Christmas Day because you asked me at midnight." She said.

"Are you okay?" I ask, she shakes her head, tears fell down her face as she touched her leg. I look down to see a blooded bandage on her leg.

"A curse... it got me there... and..." she takes my hand and placed it on her side, I could feel her ribs, her body jolts, then I watched her eyes become distant.

"Hey, stay with me," I said to her, but her head falls forward and she collapsed into my body. I pulled her on to my lap and cradled her protectively as I shut my eyes and prayed for her to be okay.

"Mum," she knelt beside me and I lift Minnie's arm. "Help her, please," I pleaded.

"Vulnera sanentur," I heard her whisper as the gash in Minnie's side started to heal. My chin rests on top of Minnie's head as I kept my eyes closed, feeling my fear wash away.