The next morning, Arthur Weasley slowly opened his eyes, blinking against the morning light of his hospital room. Around him, the Weasley family was gathered, some with tears of relief in their eyes.
Ginny was the first to rush to his side. Seeing her father awake, she threw herself into his arms, crying, holding him tightly as Arthur hugged her back, his own relief palpable.
Roy stood a few steps away, observing quietly. He allowed the moment to unfold before stepping forward, his calm presence steadying the emotional atmosphere.
Once Ginny pulled back, still sniffling, Roy turned to Mad-Eye Moody and Nymphadora Tonks, who had accompanied the family.
"Tell me exactly what happened," Roy said, his tone firm but not unkind.
Moody's eye, scarlet and alert as ever, scanned Roy before replying. "Arthur was ambushed by a magically-enhanced Basilisk. It was set to target him specifically. We tried to intercept, but the creature managed to hit him. He's strong, but the petrification and injuries would have been fatal without intervention."
Tonks nodded, her face serious. "We found him before it got worse, but it was close. Roy… you truly saved him. Whatever he's done to survive, it worked perfectly."
Roy nodded, absorbing the details. "And the injuries—how severe were they?"
Moody gestured to the scars and magical traces that were still faintly visible on Arthur's body. "Half of his body was affected by dark venom from the Basilisk, and several wards failed. He's lucky he had you to intervene."
Roy's gaze softened as he glanced at Ginny again, who was still watching her father with teary eyes. "I'll keep an eye on him for a few more days, but he's strong enough now. You all should focus on helping him fully recover."
Moody gave a sharp nod. "Understood. And Roy… your methods—impressive, as always."
Tonks smiled, slightly relieved. "We owe you one. Or several."
Roy gave a small, calm smile. "No debts needed. Just make sure he's safe and rested. That's enough for me."
Ginny, still holding her father's hand, looked up at Roy with a mixture of gratitude and admiration. "Thank you… for everything," she whispered.
Roy's eyes softened. "He's your father, Ginny. I'd do the same for anyone I care about."
With that, the group settled into a quieter moment, the tension of the past day slowly dissolving as Arthur began to speak, his voice steadying as he recounted bits and pieces of what had happened while unconscious.