Aurors at the Door

And no matter how much he wanted to look away from this scene, Ron couldn't. He wanted to do nothing more than hide away from all this messy, emotional turmoil that was taking place. But Harry needed him now; he had to stay brave for his best friend, his brother, someone he would literally give his own life for.

But it was incredibly hard not to shrink away from the look of absolute and utter rage that made itself known on Sirius's face. "They want to do WHAT?!" he roared, and desperately, he held onto Harry's hands as the boy began to shake violently.

"We're not going to let it happen," growled Ginny, whose voice was quaking with fierce anger. "And we're not the only ones. Hannah and Susan have let the staff know."

"They won't let it stand," said Hermione almost hysterically. "They can't."

There were several moments of prolonged, thick silence, and each second that passed was absolute torture. As Ron slowly met Harry's gaze, he saw nothing but desolation in his best friend's eyes. He truly looked as though he was going to be sick, and seeing this, Sirius only looked more unhinged. "You're damn right they can't let this stand," he shouted, and Ron could swear that the room almost vibrated with the intensity of his emotions. He stood up suddenly, and Ron got the feeling that if no one said anything, he would go storming out of the wing and right into the staff room himself. But this action would backfire spectacularly; he would land himself in Azkaban, or worse, by the day's end.

But it was then that Harry, in a small, weak voice filled with an infinite sadness and resignation, said, "It's all true. Those Hufflepuffs are right. I do put everyone in danger by being in this school, and now that Voldemort's back, it's only going to get worse. And why wouldn't some of them think I killed Cedric? I disappeared with him, and brought his body back." Taking a shuddering breath, he mustered up every ounce of strength he possessed. "If it'll make everyone safer, then I'll go," he said quietly, and Ron saw a look of stubborn determination enter his green eyes, even though they still looked shattered and despairing. This was truly the Harry Ron knew, and it saddened him beyond belief that his friend was going to lie down and give up.

He and Hermione both opened their mouths to give him a piece of their mind, but it was Ginny who beat them to the punch. "Don't you even dare, Harry Potter," she said in a low, shaking voice. "Don't you dare say that. You deserve to be here, and if anyone's responsible for this, it's all the fault of those damned staff. Ron and Hermione told me about Moody not being Moody, and he was the reason for what happened last night. The staff of this school did nothing to keep you safe, and you are ABSOLUTELY NOT going to lie down and take the bullshit that's being spewed at you now. No, Harry, you are staying here, and we'll make sure of it."

Ron reached over and squeezed Ginny's shoulder. She might be small and petite, but the youngest Weasley would not be underestimated. Her swearing did not surprise him, either; growing up with six older brothers, she could hold her own in the swearing department. He knew his mother would truly be shocked if she heard some of the words that escaped her young daughter's mouth. Oh, she had no idea that Ginny was not the innocent little flower she thought her to be. Ron couldn't be prouder of Ginny in that moment; she had never spoken to Harry in a tone like this, and Ron hoped beyond anything that it would jolt him into seeing sense.

"I know that your noble prat tendencies know no bounds," Ginny continued, gaining even more momentum and power. "But there comes a point when you need to fight for yourself. You're happy here at Hogwarts, and you are NOT going to let what a few complete arseholes say take that away from you."

Sirius looked at Ginny in shock, and from beside Ron, Hermione was doing the same. After a moment, Sirius said wistfully, "And there you have it, Harry. You have true fighters on your side." He gave Ginny a fierce grin, which she returned.

Harry looked back and forth between the group, his face still white, but his eyes shone with naked shock at the support he had just received. "But ..." he started, but then he faltered, not knowing what to say. He began to breathe fast and hard, and Ron knew his mind was churning as pure panic began to set in.

Instantly, Sirius gathered the boy into his arms. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny came closer to him, and Ron laid a hand on his shoulder while Hermione and Ginny touched his hands. They all stood around Harry while Sirius held and tried to calm him, a solid net of support who were going to shelter and protect him, even if it was from himself.

They stayed that way for several minutes, no one saying a word. They all knew that whatever was to come, they would all stand with Harry no matter what. He would never be alone.

And it was in the next moment that their loyalty was tested once again. Since they had been within the boundaries of the Silencing Charm, they hadn't heard what was going on in the rest of the wing. But suddenly, Madam Pomfrey burst into their space, her eyes wild. "They're here," she whispered weakly, her eyes filled with an endless apology. "Aurors."

And Ron knew, at that moment, that it was only the beginning.

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