Silence

It is silent. Maddeningly silent. The only sounds breaking the cold, still silence are soft sobs. Small whimpers of pain.

But no one is moving. No one is talking.

Terror has gripped everyone in this room, and it is not letting go anytime soon.

She closes her eyes as tears flow down her cheeks. She tries to think of something good. Something that will make her heart feel a little less frozen.

But through the darkness behind her eyelids, all she sees is broken flesh, broken bones, and blood. So much blood. And with her eyes closed, the screams of the final battle just seem that much louder as they run through her mind.

They are waiting. Everyone in this room is waiting. The only survivors. Waiting for some sign of what their fate shall be. They all know it shan’t be good.

She never thought it would turn out this way. She was so sure their side would be victorious.

But Harry hadn’t put up much of a fight. He was past the point of caring, she thinks. He had always wanted to join Sirius.

His death was not quick. It was slow, agonizing, and painful. She remembers seeing his body. And vomiting until blood came up, because his body didn’t look like a body at all. Bones were piercing his skin, sticking out like horrible, white branches of a bloody-stained tree. There was a hole in his stomach, through which his entrails were protruding. It looked like every bone in his face was broken.

It was the worst thing she had ever seen. And she didn’t think she would ever get that image out of her mind.

She feels someone grab her hand and hold it so tight it is painful. She opens her eyes and feels a wave of relief spread through her. It is her brother, and he is clinging to her like his life depends on it. Blood from a nasty looking gash on his forehead is running down his cheek and staining his orange hair. His eyes are wide with panic and rimmed with red from crying.

She pulls him closer to her and wraps her arms around his waist, drawing them together as closely as she can manage, even though her body is agonizingly sore to the touch.

He buries his head in her neck and she feels his tears falling onto her skin.

“They killed her,” he sobs. “They killed her, Ginny.”

He is shaking with the force of his crying. She already knew that, of course. She had seen Hermione die. Seen her writhing with pain on the blood-stained grass, Lucius Malfoy’s wand pointed at her and a malicious smile on his face. She had heard Hermione’s screams across the battlefield. And then, Hermione wasn’t moving anymore. And the screams abruptly stopped.

She hears footsteps behind her and tenses up. And then Ron is screaming her name as someone jerks her up by her arm. Their grip is like iron.

She is being pushed across the room, stepping over bodies and trying not to tread on anyone. She sees Parvati Patil staring up at her through wide, terrified dark eyes. There is blood on her cheeks.

And then she isn’t moving anymore. And she is standing in front of the most horrible sight she has ever seen.

Lord Voldemort is seated on a throne that appears to be made of flesh and bone. He is where Dumbledore used to be. But Dumbledore is dead now. She had seen his head being carried away on a stake.

Her insides are like ice. They have been since the end of the battle. Nothing seems to be rattling her anymore. She is certain she has seen too much, and she has finally shut down entirely.

But she can still feel disgust for this creature in front of her. The one who now owns this world, and can do with it what he wishes.

“Ginevra Weasley,” he says, his voice low, smooth, and cold. She can almost feel the chill in the air as he speaks.

She doesn’t say anything. She doesn’t flinch as his long, spider-like fingers brush her cheek. Her blood and tear stained cheek.

“You have grown to be so beautiful.”

She still says nothing. But her jaw is clenched. He really needs to stop touching her.

He smiles. A horrible smile.

“You say nothing, angel. Why is that?”

And then she is being jerked forward, and his grotesque hands are on her waist. She can feel Ron’s eyes on her from across the room. Can feel everyone staring. Can feel them wondering what in hell is going on.

Can hear them wondering why she isn’t more scared.

“Do I not scare you? Do you not fear the one who destroyed your beloved Harry Potter?”

She has been staring at the floor. Now she raises her eyes to his red ones. Stares into them defiantly.

“You do not. I can feel it. So strong, especially for someone so young.”

“Lucius,” he barks. Lucius Malfoy appears at her side, kneeling in front of the throne.

“Take her to her new quarters. “

“Yes, my Lord.”

He is gripping her arm tightly. She glares at him.

“Come with me, brat,” he spits.

But she wrenches herself out of his grip. She meets Voldemort’s eyes once more.

“I want my brother with me. And I want him unharmed.”

Voldemort’s eyes flash with glee.

In a moment, Ron is clinging to her once more, and they are both being dragged away.

“Ginny,” Ron whispers into her ear, his voice heavy with fright. “Ginny, what’s going on?”

She doesn’t answer, but tightens her grip on his hand, as if to assure him that things are going to be alright.

They reach the Slytherin common room, and she looks around. Draco Malfoy is sitting on the black leather couch, reading, as if it is just a normal day. He glances up from the pages when they enter.

“What are they doing here?” he asks, sneering.

“This is where they will be staying,” Lucius says smoothly. “The Lord wants it that way. They are not to be harmed. If you disobey, there will be hell to pay, so for once, listen.”

Draco rolls his eyes. “I get you, Father. I am capable of following simple instructions.”

“Good,” Lucius says with a sardonic smile. “Then you can take care of them for tonight.”