Visions and Prophesies

Visions and Prophesies 13: Ashes, Ashes...

The tension in the common room was so thick that it suffocated even the happiest intentions. It was hard to believe that just two people caused it. Toby sat in one corner of the room with his eyes closed. Ginny was sitting on a table next to him, talking to him. Sarin sat on one of the couches in front of the fire while Ron occupied an armchair and kept himself occupied by studying Sarin again. He could probably happily spend the rest of his life doing just that. However, instead of taking pleasure in his study, he was concerned. She had not spoken a word since the scene in Dumbledore's office. He had a feeling that her collapse wasn't a result of her only brother declaring he hated her. It was something more. A hand brushed his arm and he looked up. Ginny stood over him, her face a careful mask. She shook her head and walked over to her friend. Sarin didn't move as Ginny settled in next to her. Ron watched as his sister tried to coax some sign of recognition out of the girl. Her head was bowed and her face obscured by a curtain of black hair. Ron knew she was crying, because the river that ran down the back of her hand gave it away. Ginny had her head bent down low next to Sarin's. She slowly looked up and shook her head at Ginny then wiped her face with her hands. Ginny sighed and hugged her best friend tightly, then stood.

"I'm going to the room to study. Keep an eye on her will you Ron?"

"Sure Gin," he murmured, never taking his eyes off Sarin. As time ticked on, the room became less and less crowded until there were only three of them remaining. Toby was still seated at the table across the room, but his eyes were open now. He stared into the fire and thought about everything that had happened that day. It was so hard to believe that the very person that always told him that he didn't understand her gift was one that lied to him. He expected others to lie, but his own sister? To keep something that horrible from him? He could vaguely hear her sniffles and soft sobs but he didn't care. Let her suffer for what she did. He looked over to the other side of the room. Ron had abandoned the armchair and was seated next to Sarin on the couch. His arm was around her shoulders, like he was protecting her. It disgusted Toby that his sister could blind Ron as to what she was. It disgusted him so much, that before he could think, he was crossing the room towards the two.

"It's a shame, really."

Ron and Sarin both looked up, Ron confused at the tone in the young man's voice and Sarin looking as if he had struck her across the face. Ron spoke first.

"A shame? What is?"

Toby laughed cruelly, hollowly. "It's a shame how she's got you tricked mate. Playing the innocent little damsel in distress. And she has you playing her knight come to rescue her. She doesn't need rescuing. She's not some poor unfortunate soul... she knew all of that was going to come to pass..."

Ron stood up and faced Toby.

"I think you should go get some rest Toby. You're not thinking strai--"

"Don't tell me I'm not thinking straight. That little bitch over there has you wrapped around her little finger..."

"Toby, that's enough! I know--"

"You know NOTHING Weasley. You sit there and protect her, comfort her. For what? She KNEW all of that would happen. She didn't even try to tell anyone.

Toby's increasing volume soon drew a gathering of pajama-clad students back into the common room. He didn't care that there was an audience. He wanted to see his sister humiliated.

"Poor Sarin," he took on a mock-pity tone. "Poor Sarin who saw her father get murdered and didn't tell anyone. Poor Sarin who says no one understands her but she doesn't give people the chance to understand! Go ahead Ron. Pity that little bitch..."

He moved towards her, his fists clenched. Ron beat him there and stepped in front of him. Toby threw back his head and laughed again.

"Move Weasley."

Ginny had come back downstairs and stood transfixed at the sight before her. She rushed over to the sofa and threw her arms around Sarin again. Toby looked down and seeing the gesture, he snorted.

"She's got you both fooled. Pity you don't see what I do."

"And what is that Toby?" asked Ron, in a calm voice.

"A master manipulator, a great actress. She's playing out her own little drama that she's the star of.."

"Toby, I think you need to go to bed before you say something you're going to regret."

"Oh, Ron thinks I should go to bed does he? What? Is he my guardian suddenly? Does he think I'll be a good little boy and trot along to my room? Think again. Everything I'm saying, she deserves to hear."

Ron reached over to grab Toby by the arm, but before he could register any movement, Toby had swung a hook and caught him on the side of his face. Reeling back, Ron clutched his cheek and looked at Toby in shock. Ginny screamed as Toby attacked again. He landed another punch, this time to Ron's nose. As blood spurted out amid the sound of a sickening crunch, a voice roared above the crowd.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

Everyone turned around to see who had cast it as Toby's still body crashed to the floor. Standing there with his wand out, Neville looked shocked.

"It worked!" Before he could celebrate too much, he glanced over to the sofa. Ginny was tending to Ron and no one was really paying attention to Sarin. She sat on the sofa wide-eyed and pale. Even from where he stood, Neville could see that she was trembling fiercely. Tears poured down her cheeks unchecked.

"Ginny... I think you better check on her." Neville said, looking worried. Just as Ginny turned, the portrait swung open and Professor McGonnagal stepped into the room.

"What is going on in here?" she demanded, her lips drawing together so tightly that it appeared she had none.

"I can explain Professor," said Seamus Finnegan. McGonnagal pierced him with her beady eyes and motioned for him to continue.

"We were all in our rooms and we heard someone yelling. We came down and saw that Ron was talking to Toby, who was yelling, and suddenly, Toby just went for him. He punched Ron twice and Ron didn't do anything back. I think he broke his nose too Professor!"

"I see Mr. Finnegan. And who did this to Mr. Haley? A ghost?" her eyes glinted dangerously.

"N-n-n-No ma'am," said a wavering voice from the back. "I-I--I did it." The crowd parted and there stood Neville, trembling under the glare of the professor.

"Mr. Longbottom? Surely... You did this?" A strange note of pride was in her voice before she straightened up and demanded an explanation.

"R-Ron was trying to calm Toby down and he... Toby, that is, started throwing punches at Ron. He wouldn't stop so... I cast the b-b-body binding curse." Neville finished talking to the floor and shrank back, expecting McGonnagal to yell at him. Instead she took a deep breath and nodded.

"Well done Longbottom. It's about time you learned to do something right."

Her hawkish eyes landed on Ron who was dabbing futilely at his dripping nose. "Mr. Weasley, I suggest you go to Madam Pomfrey and see about that nose... as well as that cheek." She strode briskly over to where Toby lay petrified and, after clucking her tongue, pronounced, "Finite Incantatum!" Turning around, she faced Ginny. "Ms. Weasley, perhaps you should accompany your brother to the wing?" Ginny started to nod before remembering Sarin.

"Professor, what about her? I.. I think she may be in shock."

McGonnagal looked towards the girl and nodded her head once.

"Up you go Ms. Haley," she said, gently guiding Sarin to her feet. "To Madam Pomfrey. The rest of you, get back to your rooms. There are classes tomorrow!" She turned abruptly on her heels and strode out of the room, her hand firmly gripping Toby's arm, as Ron and Ginny supported Sarin out of the portrait hole next. All were silent as they trooped up to the hospital. Professor McGonnagal ushered them in and then advanced back out of the room with Toby in tow. Madam Pomfrey clucked at Ron's injuries as she set about healing him.

"I'm afraid Mr. Weasley, that this bruise forming on your cheek may have to go away on it's own. The most I can do is make it less painful for you. As for your nose," she clucked again, "it will be as good as new in a few moments." She handed Ron two steaming goblets of foul smelling potion. "Well, what are you waiting for Weasley? Bottom's up!" As soon as both goblets were empty, Madam Pomfrey bustled over to Sarin. She sighed and turned to Ginny and Ron. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to keep her in here..."

"You can't!" said Ginny. "She is going home first thing in the morning. Her.. her father was killed."

Madam Pomfrey shook her head and sighed again.

"Then, the most I can do is try to get her to take a warming potion. The poor dear is cold as ice. You both will have to keep an eye on her through the night." With that, she went off to find the potion that she needed. While she was gone, Ginny tried to extract a reaction from Sarin. Finally, tears of frustration ran down her face as she gave up. Ron pulled his sister close and let her cry on his shoulder.

"Ron, She's scaring me! I want her to be okay!"

"I know Runt, I know," he said softly, stroking Ginny's tangled hair away from her face. "I do too." Madam Pomfrey returned and managed to get most of the potion down the girl's throat before leaving her in the care of Ron and Ginny. After Madam Pomfrey had been gone for a few moments, Sarin choked back a sob. Ginny leaped away from Ron and grabbed Sarin's hand. She released a strangled cry of relief as Sarin gripped back.