o6 → [audio]

[aperfectthird]

[Percy's voice is quick, quiet, and worried, and his breathing occasionally catches, clearly walking in a hurry.]

Ginny, Fred, George - stay inside, whatever you do, just stay inside - no matter what happens. I'm Apparating back to the cabin now.

[A door. Ambient noises of being outside.]

Okay, I'm - [quieter now, away from the phone:] Miss, are you all right? What happened?

[Indistinguishable.]

With a plunger? I'm not much for healing spells but I can wrap it up for you - here, hold still - Ferula. There, how's th -

[Another voice enters the exchange:]

Exᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴀᴛᴇ.

Get out of here! I'll hold it off - Depulso! Confringo! For God's sake, go!

Exᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴀᴛᴇ.

[There is the high whine of a laser, and the connection abruptly ends.]

Comments

[hexuality]

In my apartment, where else? I'm about three seconds from Apparating out there, though.

That git. I can't believe the nerve.

[onlyholey]

Don't you dare leave yet. I'll apparate there and we'll go together.

sob all the timelines, CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

[hexuality]

Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape are going to City Solutions—we're going to look for him. Meet me there? I can't promise I won't hex Percy or our favourite Headmaster without you being my voice of reason.

[The words are joking but the tone is anything but.]

[onlyholey]

Never thought I'd see the day when I'm the voice of reason.

Alright, but you better not go anywhere until I see you.

[hexuality]

Of course not. Weasleys stick together, don't we?

[PERCY BROKE THAT RULE.]

[onlyholey]

Always.

[hexuality]

[And Ginny Apparates to one of the more discreet entrances to City Solutions, off the main street, just to be safe. There's no sign of their professors once she gets there, however—no surprise, with these things crawling through the City, it's not safe to stay in one place for long.

Merlin, she hopes she doesn't find Percy alone. She can't do that. Still, she draws her wand and waits.]

[onlyholey]

[It's only a few seconds until a CRACK and George has joined her. His face is set, hard. But there's also something churning under the surface. Something about to break loose.]

Where are we going?

[hexuality]

[She whips around at the sound, wand half drawn, but she recognises her brother a half-second later and relaxes just a little. She offers him an attempt at a bracing smile but there's no warmth to it, just a grimness she can't contain, and she hugs him for a quick instant before looking out to the job at hand.]

I don't know. He could be anywhere.

[Her hand tightens on her wand.]

D'you think those things can hear us if we start yelling for him?

[onlyholey]

[He hugs back, quick and fierce.]

I guess it's the only real place to start.

[hexuality]

[Ginny nods, then immediately turns and shouts out, voice sharp with worry and anger,]

Percy! Get out here, you selfless pillock!