Work Text:
QLFC Round 9: Weasleys
Chudley Cannons
Seeker
Prompt: Ginny
Word Count: 1237
After the final battle at Hogwarts, Ginny had expected Harry would come and find her at some point. She saw him across the Great Hall a few times, talking to Kingsley and some other Ministry people, but then he disappeared. She got sidetracked as well, of course, helping the wounded to the makeshift hospital tent, and digging people out of the rubble of the castle — some alive, some dead.
It was a long day that stretched on late into the night, and Ginny kept herself busy, unwilling to slow down and confront her grief. She only went to bed when forced to by McGonagall, who found her still working past midnight. McGonagall walked her to Gryffindor Tower, which had remained untouched by the battle below it, and Ginny reluctantly went in and found her old four poster bed.
She fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow, and slept hard at first, but then started to have a dream that she was back in the battle again. Harry was dead on the ground, and she was kneeling by his body shaking it, trying to get him to wake up and defeat Voldemort, who was standing in front of them cackling and shooting the Killing Curse at everyone who tried to get near them. Finally, when everyone she loved lay around her dead, Voldemort turned his red eyes on her and lifted his wand.
Ginny woke up panting with the afterimage of green light in her eyes.
"Ginny?"
Luna was propped up on one elbow in the bed next to her.
"Sorry," Ginny said. "Did I wake you up?"
"Yes, but that's alright. My dreams weren't any better than yours."
"Oh." Ginny didn't know what to say.
"Come lay down with me," said Luna. She patted the bed. Ginny slowly got up, her limbs feeling unnaturally heavy, and she slid beneath the covers with Luna gratefully. Luna pulled Ginny closer, tucking Ginny's head against one of her shoulders and wrapping her arms gently around her.
"We're going to be okay," Luna whispered. Ginny felt her throat tighten a little, and silent tears slipped out of her eyes. Luna began stroking Ginny's hair, and that was how Ginny fell asleep, soothed back to sleep by her friend.
When Ginny woke up in the morning, Luna was sprawled out diagonally on the rest of the bed, but still had one hand reaching out to clasp Ginny's forearm. Ginny tried to get up carefully so she wouldn't wake her friend, but Luna started to stir almost as soon as Ginny moved.
"I'm just getting up," Ginny told her, still sitting on the edge of the bed.
"I was dozing, anyway," Luna said, and she stretched before sitting up with a smile. "How did you sleep?"
"Um, really well, actually," Ginny admitted, feeling a bit awkward and embarrassed. "Thanks."
Luna moved over and hugged Ginny around her waist. "You're welcome anytime, Ginny."
Ginny felt herself blushing and wondered where this unexpected rush of warm feelings towards Luna had come from. Luna had fallen asleep again already with her head in Ginny's lap, and Ginny smiled down at her fondly and laid back down on the bed with her.
When they finally woke up for good, the sun was shining into the room brightly, and Ginny was sure they'd missed breakfast. She and Luna showered and changed, and Ginny gave Luna some of her clothes to wear. They were a little large on Luna's shorter and slightly thinner frame, but Luna still looked good in them, Ginny thought.
They walked down to the Great Hall together, passing lots of people already at work repairing the castle. Ginny recognized a few — Neville, Ron and Hermione, Padma — but didn't see Harry anywhere. She felt a little guilty that it was the first she'd thought of him since yesterday.
In the Great Hall, there were only a few people eating, but plenty of food on the tables. It was well past breakfast, so it was all sandwiches and the like, but Ginny and Luna ate as if they hadn't seen food before. It was the best sandwich Ginny had ever tasted in her life.
When they were done eating Ginny was tempted to go right back up to Gryffindor Tower and take a nap, but she knew she should see where she was needed around the castle. They found McGonagall in the atrium, attempting to piece the gargoyles back together with Flitwick.
"Is there anywhere in particular you'd like us to help, Professor?"
McGonagall looked up from her gargoyle. "Miss Weasley, if you can find a broom Sinistra could use you on the roof repair team. And Miss Lovegood…" McGonagall paused, her eyes softening. "I need to talk to you for a moment."
McGonagall led Luna to the other side of the room to speak with her. Ginny couldn't make anything out, but she suspected it wasn't good based on the way Luna's shoulders hunched up as McGonagall spoke. When they walked back over, Ginny could see that Luna was crying.
"Come on," Ginny said, grabbing Luna's hand and pulling her down the hallway and into a broom cupboard. Luna's arms flew around Ginny's waist, and she didn't hold back her tears.
"My father's in St. Mungo's," Luna told her in between sobs. "They don't know if he'll make it; he was in Az — Azkaban."
"St. Mungo's is the best," Ginny said, hugging her tightly and trying her best to comfort her. "They'll fix him right up."
"McGonagall said I could use the Floo in the Headmaster's office," Luna said when she'd caught her breath. "Will you walk with me?"
"I'll go with you to Mungo's if you want."
Luna looked conflicted. "Weren't you going to help on the roof?"
"The roof'll be fine." Ginny said dismissively. "I think you need me more."
Luna smiled, and that settled it. They emerged from the broom closet holding hands and made their way through the rubble-filled halls to the Headmaster's office. Luna was about to give the password when there was a noise behind them. Ginny turned and saw Harry standing there.
"I've been wondering where you were," Harry said. He looked a little tired, Ginny thought, but otherwise alright.
"Here," Ginny said, with a half-formed gesture at the castle around them.
Harry glanced at her hand, still entwined with Luna's. "Can we talk?"
Ginny didn't know whether she felt more relief or apprehension, but she wanted to get it over with, either way.
"Yeah, okay. Tonight, at the Burrow?" She'd need to go home eventually. It might as well be tonight, before Mum showed up at the castle and dragged her back to the Burrow.
"Sure," said Harry.
There was a moment of silence that stretched just a little too long.
"Well," Ginny said, feeling impatient, "if you see McGonagall tell her I went to Mungo's with Luna?"
She barely waited for Harry to nod before turning back to the gargoyle and giving the password.
"You're invited, too, you know," Ginny told Luna abruptly as the gargoyle revealed the staircase. "I'm sure my mum would love to have you over."
"That would be nice," Luna said, "since my house is a little bit blown up at the moment."
Ginny couldn't help laughing as they went up the stairs together, even though she knew Luna was serious, but then Luna was giggling, too, and it was perfect.