I was faintly aware of Dumbledore, rounding up all of the Death Eaters. Mad-Eye was trying to revive Tonks. Kingsley was continuing to battle with Bellatrix. Remus was holding Harry back. But then Neville turned to Harry, who was still being held back my Remus.
"Was dat man — was Sirius Black a — a friend of yours?" Neville asked Harry and I.
I was numb. I didn't respond. Harry nodded.
"Let's — let's find the others. Where are they all, Neville?" Remus was looking pale, his hand reaching out to hold mine.
"Dey're all back dere," said Neville. "A brain addacked Ron bud I dink he's all righd — and Herbione's unconscious, bud we could feel a bulse —"
There was a loud bang and a yell from behind the dais. Kingsley, yelling in pain, hit the ground. Bellatrix turned tail and ran as Dumbledore whipped around. He aimed a spell at her but she deflected it. She was halfway up the steps now
"Harry — no!" cried Lupin, but Harry had already ripped his arm from Lupin's slackened grip.
"SHE KILLED SIRIUS!" bellowed Harry. "SHE KILLED HIM— I'LL KILL HER!"
And he was off, scrambling up the stone benches.
"HARRY COME BACK!" Ollie screamed.
But Harry ran out of sight.
Making sure all the Death Eaters were rounded up in the middle of the room, Dumbledore ran out of the room.
"I'll go find the others!" Bill cried, and Ollie ran behind him.
Remus and I looked at each other.
"Sara." Remus reached out to me again.
"He's gone- he never- he never got to prove he was innocent. All he wanted was to go out in freedom." I whispered hoarsely.
Neville glanced at me. "I'm really sorry Sara."
"Should we find Harry?" I asked, wanting to take my mind of Sirius.
"No. Dumbledore will handle it." Remus whispered.
Luckily, soon, Ollie and Bill returned with everyone. Ginny had a broken ankle, and now sat on the floor panting. Hermione was unconscious. Ron was giggling uncontrollably, with welts all around his arms. Luna looked shaken, and was wincing slightly.
"What happened?" asked Ginny, looking around at everyone's faces.
My eyes were glassy, but I didn't say anything.
Bill whispered something to her and tears immediately formed in her eyes, but she said nothing.
Not long after, two people burst into the Department of Mysteries, and we all raised our hands right away, but Dawlish and Williamson just went straight to the Death Eaters.
"Lucius Malfoy?" Dawlish looked shocked. "Well well well."
Soon, Dumbledore and Fudge came through.
"Very well." Fudge looked shaken. "Take them to Azkaban straight away."
Dawlish and Williamson led the Death Eaters out of the room.
Fudge looked at us all in shock, his eyes lingering on Tonks, Mad-Eye, Kinsley I.
"My Auror's...?"
"They must all be taken to St. Mungo's. Except Sara. She can go to the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts with the students." Dumbledore said.
"Why?" asked Remus, on behalf of me.
"Because her brother would no doubt want to see her right away."
"I'm not even hurt." I mumbled.
"You have a twisted wrist."
In my daze of seeing Sirius die, I hadn't even realized that my wrist was twisted at a bad angle. Only now did I feel the pain, since I was focusing on it.
"Come on." Remus whispered.
And so, I was sent to St. Mungo's, where Madam Pomfrey patched me up right away. Remus decided to stay behind, because he didn't want Seamus to feel overwhelmed by seeing him just yet.
"Alright there Sara?" Pomfrey asked, looking at my blank face.
"Yeah." I mumbled.
Now that I was alright, I didn't need a bed. Ginny, who was also healed quickly, sat at the edge of Hermione's bed, and I sat at the edge of Ron's, along with Harry. Neville was sitting in as chair between the two beds, and Luna had dropped by, and was standing without even listening. Seamus hadn't visited just yet. I doubt he even knew what had happened yet.
Neville was reading the Daily Prophet out loud
HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED RETURNS! In a brief statement Friday night, Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge confirmed that He-Who-Must-Not-Be Named has returned to this country and is active once more. "It is with great regret that I must confirm that the wizard styling himself Lord — well, you know who I mean — is alive and among us again," said Fudge, looking tired and flustered as he addressed reporters. "It is with almost equal regret that we report the mass revolt of the dementors of Azkaban, who have shown themselves averse to continuing in the Ministry's employ. We believe that the dementors are currently taking direction from Lord — Thingy. "We urge the magical population to remain vigilant. The Ministry is currently publishing guides to elementary home and personal defense that will be delivered free to all Wizarding homes within the coming month." The Minister's statement was met with dismay and alarm from the Wizarding community, which as recently as last Wednesday was receiving Ministry assurances that there was "no truth whatsoever in these persistent rumors that You-Know-Who is operating amongst us once more." Details of the events that led to the Ministry turnaround are still hazy, though it is believed that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and a select band of followers (known as Death Eaters) gained entry to the Ministry of Magic itself on Thursday evening. Albus Dumbledore, newly reinstated headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, reinstated member of the International Confederation of Wizards, and reinstated Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, was unavailable for comment last night. He has insisted for a year that You-Know-Who was not dead, as was widely hoped and believed, but recruiting followers once more for a fresh attempt to seize power. Meanwhile the Boy Who Lived —
"There you are, Harry, I knew they'd drag you into it somehow," said Hermione,
"He's 'the Boy Who Lived' again now, though, isn't he?" said Ron darkly. "Not such a show-off maniac anymore, eh?"
"Yes, they're very complimentary about you now, Harry," said Hermione, now scanning down the article. " 'A lone voice of truth . . .perceived as unbalanced, yet never wavered in his story . . .' Hmmm," said Hermione, frowning, "I notice they don't mention the fact that it was them doing all the ridiculing and slandering, though. . . . " 'You-Know-Who's Last Attempt to Take Over, pages two to four, What the Ministry Should Have Told Us, page five, Why Nobody Listened to Albus Dumbledore, pages six to eight, Exclusive Interview with Harry Potter, page nine . . .' Well," said Hermione, folding up the news paper and throwing it aside, "it's certainly given them lots to write about. And that interview with Harry isn't exclusive, it's the one that was in The Quibbler months ago. . . ."
"Daddy sold it to them," said Luna vaguely, turning a page of The Quibbler. "He got a very good price for it too, so we're going to go on an expedition to Sweden this summer and see if we can catch a Crumple-Horned Snorkack."
Hermione seemed to struggle with herself for a moment, then said, "That sounds lovely. So anyway," said Hermione, sitting up a little straighter and wincing again, "what's going on in school?"
"Well, Flitwick's got rid of Fred and George's swamp," said Ginny. "He did it in about three seconds. But he left a tiny patch under the window and he's roped it off —"
"Why?" said Hermione, looking startled.
"Oh, he just says it was a really good bit of magic," said Ginny, shrugging.
"I think he left it as a monument to Fred and George," said Ron through a mouthful of chocolate. "They sent me all these, you know," he told Harry, pointing at the small mountain of Frogs beside him. "Must be doing all right out of that joke shop, eh?"
Harry then stood up. "I'm going to Hagrid's."
"Oh alright then." Hermione said.
I knew he wasn't going to Hagrid's but I didn't say anything.
Just then, two people hurtled in the Hospital Wing.
"SARA!" Shay ran at me and I stood up as he threw himself into my arms. "Dumbledore just told me you're here! He told me you were there! Are you alright? Are you okay?"
I nodded. "I'm fine Shay. I'm alright."
Dean was looking worried, behind. I noticed he shared a smile with Ginny, before turning back to me. "Alright Sara?"
I nodded. "Just tired."
Almost then, McGonagall walked briskly into the Hospital Wing, holding a bag, and a cane.
"Professor McGonagall?" Hermione gasped. "Are you alright?"
"I am perfectly well. Just this stupid stick here. Thank you Miss. Granger." she walked forwards and looked down at me, before pulling me into a hug. She pulled away and looked down at everyone. "Well done, all of you." And then she limped out of the room.
"Damn." Shay whistled. "She's pretty cool isn't she."
I smiled faintly. "Yeah."
He looked at me. "Are you.... okay? I know you're tired but, you look more sad then tired."
Everyone turned to look at me with knowing expressions on their faces and tears formed in my eyes. "I'll- I'll tell you later okay? I don't want to talk about it now."
"Is Professor- is Remus okay?" Shay asked.
"Remus is fine. It's.... someone else. Later. Please."
Shay nodded, and spent the rest of the day with me in the wing.
~ ~ ~
Since I was all cured, I left Hogwarts as soon as I could. I couldn't bare to stay there anymore with everyone. There was only a few days left until the term ended, and I was told that I'd have to go to the Station so that a few of us could have a little chat with the Dursley's. I was looking forward to that.
I was now standing in Hogsmeade, not sure where to go. Dumbledore had informed me that Remus took all my stuff from Grimmauls place, and had brought everything to his little cottage. I was grateful because I didn't feel like stepping foot into the wretched place anytime soon. I sighed. I also didn't want to see Remus just yet. The two of us still felt the fresh pain of Sirius, and I felt like it would be too much if we saw each other right now. I knew where I should go first.
I knocked on the door of the Burrow. Mrs. Weasley opened the door, and pulled me into a hug without a word. We just stood like that, in the open front door, embracing each other. I saw a few figures standing behind Mrs. Weasley, waiting. I didn't want to let go.
"Come in dear." she whispered.
I let go of her and followed her into the kitchen, without a word. Mrs. Weasley bustled around, making tea. Mr. Weasley stood beside her, watching me with a sympathetic face. Fred and George sat on either side of me, while Bill sat across. He kept tapping my shoe with his very softly, as if to say I'm here.
Mrs. Weasley handed me tea and I drank it.
"I miss him." Fred said suddenly.
"Yeah, he was a funny bloke." George said.
I rubbed my eyes. "Yeah, he was."
Everyone looked at me nervously, no doubt waiting to see if I'd cry. But I didn't. I haven't cried since that day. I felt like crying, but I didn't. I felt like a horrible person. I felt numb.
"I have never experience a loss like this before." I said finally.
"No?"
"No. The only person I knew personally who died was my great-uncle. And I had only ever met him twice. And he hated me so I didn't really care. But Sirius was- he grew to be one of my closest friends."
The Weasley's just sat with me in silence, as we mourned Sirius.