The Seventh Year: Chapters 8 and 9
Title: The Seventh Year- Chapter 8: The Headmaster
Summary: During his final year at Hogwarts Neville struggles with the realization of his worst fear when Professor Snape is in charge of Hogwarts. McGonagall does her best to keep her students safe while Draco has reservation about his new allies.
Characters/Pairings: Neville, Draco, McGonagall
Genre: Adventure/Drama
Rating/Warnings: PG-13
Medium: Fic
Word Count: 2772
“Very good Pansy,” Alecto Carrow said. Muggles are violent, killing each other all the time. Very warlike. Ten points to Slytherin.” Pansy beamed and cast a dirty look at Ernie McMillan. As much as Draco disliked being around Hufflepuffs in general, he rather enjoyed having Muggle Studies with them this year. “Look at how Muggle measure history- with wars. If we didn’t stop them from killing themselves every now and then, there wouldn’t be any Muggles left.” Alecto said this with a near wistful tone. As wistful as her voice could manage, anyway. Ernie muttered something under his breath at the next table over.
“What was that, Macmillan?” Draco said loudly. “Something about wizards having wars too?”
“Speak, boy,” Alecto said. She has quickly strode over, and now loomed above him.
“No, Professor Carrow. I was just clearing my throat,” Ernie said.
“Five points from Hufflepuff,” Alecto said, walking back to the front of the room.
“What for?” Susan Bones said loudly.
“Bothering me!” Alecto shouted at her. Susan slunk down in her chair. Ernie cast a dirty look at Draco, but said nothing. Draco smiled back and gave a little wave. Pansy laughed at his side. Alecto gave Draco a brief smile, and then continued on with her lecture.
“It’s really a shame, Macmillan,” Draco said after class. “Your family’s as Pure-blooded as mine, but you’re the biggest blood traitor at the school. Well, except for the Weasley girl. What do your parents think about that? Cut you out of the will yet?” A cluster of Slytherins behind him laughed.
“How about your parents, Hannah?” Pansy Parkinson asked. “How do your parents feel about you?” Pansy laughed, then her grin grew a little wider. “Oh, your Mommy was killed last year, wasn’t she? Guess she didn’t know when to keep her mouth shut. Say, I think she’d get on well with MacMillan.”
“Ernie, no,” Hannah said softly. Ernie’s face had turned red as his hand had slipped into his robe pocket. “Let’s go.” Ernie looked at Hannah and let himself get pulled away.
“Go on then, Mcmillan. Run away!” Ted Nott called after him.
“No no,” Draco said loudly. “That won’t work. He’s in Hufflepuff, he already knows he’s a useless coward!” By the time the laughter had died down, Hannah and Ernie had left around the corner.
“Very good, Draco,” Alecto said. “I’m a teacher, so I’m not supposed to hurt the students feelings, even when I’m right. It’s good for you to keep them in line.” Alecto smiled and laid a hand on his shoulder. Draco suppressed a chill.
“Thank you, Professor Carrow,” he said. Draco enjoyed having the Carrows at Hogwarts, no doubt. But he didn’t care for them on a personal level, especially the unusual attention Alecto paid him.
“Please, Draco. Call me Alecto when I’m not in there.” She gestured over her shoulder to the classroom.
“Yes, Pro- Alecto.” She smiled at him again before walking down the hall.
“Think she might have a crush on you, Draco?” Nott asked.
“Quiet, Nott.” Draco said. Nott laughed again, but didn’t press the joke. “Let’s get some lunch.” As they went down to the Great Hall they wound up behind a cluster of Ravenclaws. He knew their names- Boot, Corner, Goldstein. They were too far off to bother with, and besides he was hungry. He tried to listen to Pansy instead, but a snatch of their conversation drifted back and caught his attention.
“…the look on the Carrow’s faces,” one of them said.
“And this is just the start,” another said excitedly. “It’s going to be much better than last time.”
“Draco? Are you even listening?” Draco turned back to Pansy. The other Slytherins were snickering.
“Does it seem like I am?” Draco snorted, and the others laughed even harder. The Ravenclaws seemed to notice them now, and spoke in more hushed tones. Annoyed, Draco returned his attention to his fellow Slytherins.
Once they arrived at the Great Hall they took their seats. Draco was pouring some pumpkin juice when Slughorn started speaking just behind him.
“Stay seated after you’re done,” Slughorn said. “The Headmaster has an announcement to make.” He spoke quietly. “You aren’t in trouble. It’s for everyone.”
“Of course, Professor Slughorn,” Pansy said sweetly. “Would you happen to know what this is about?”
“Acts of vandalism around the school,” Slughorn replied. “I don’t understand why it was such a big deal, but Mr. Filch was outraged.” Slughorn gave a shrug and walked down the table to inform another group of students about the announcement. The rest of the meal was spent speculating about what the announcement might be, and soon got their answer.
“You have all been told to stay here because there has been an act of vandalism on the school grounds. A most serious act of vandalism.” Snape pulled a small piece of parchment out of robe. His voice practically smoldered when he spoke. “Dumbledore’s Army: Still Recruiting.” He paused for a moment to replace the parchment. “I do not know if any of you recall what Dumbledore’s Army was. If not, I shall enlighten you. It was a small group of foolish students who took it upon themselves to try some little attempt to usurp the Ministry’s authority. It was an ill-fated attempt started by a boy with too big a head.
“If this new group is intending to follow in some of Dumbledore’s more misguided notions and reforming to resist the new order here at Hogwarts, they would do well to stop now. Anyone with sense can see that a few troublesome students won’t change anything, but I don’t credit them with overmuch sense.” Snape paused to look over the room. “If anyone hears any information about this group, inform myself or any of the other professors at once. That is all.”
As soon as Snape sat down, the sound of hushed voices one again filled the hall. Several students got up to leave, but many stayed to talk, in spite of all the fact that the meal was over.
“Is that all he’s going to do?” Nott sounded incredulous and angry.
“Maybe that’s all he needs to do,” Draco said. “With Potter and his friends out of the picture, what can they really do? They never managed anything without him and the Mudblood.”
“Potter had a lot of friends,” Nott said. Draco didn’t argue. He looked over to the Gryffindor table. Ginny Weasley looked positively smug. She was the one to watch. The others Draco didn’t expect much trouble from, but the Weasley girl had a temper, and wasn’t afraid to get in a fight. “It’d be best if Snape never gave them the chance.” Draco grunted a sort of agreement.
In truth, though, he’d rather come to enjoy Nott’s company this year. He found himself spending more and more time with him. During his first few years at Hogwarts, Draco had been content with Crabbe and Goyle’s mindless loyalty and adoration. And during his fourth year, he’s started to notice Pansy. But lately, he’d come to realize Crabbe and Goyle seemed incapable of having a sustained conversation about anything other than food. Most times they were too dim to do anything other than agree with what he’d said. Pansy was slightly better, but her voice got on his nerves. Blaise was smart enough, but he tended to focus his mental energy on finding girls to snog, which Draco had less interest in. Most off the younger members of his House tended to hover around the same mental capacity as Crabbe and Goyle. Which left Nott. Nott had always been a quiet but smart boy. At first Draco had thought he might find Nott boring, but he soon found they were of like minds.
“It would,” Draco agreed, “but the headmaster is busy. I really don’t think this ‘Army’ is anything to worry about.” Yet even as he spoke, he recalled overhearing the Ravenclaws earlier. As his group stood up and headed back for their common-room, Draco broke away.
“I need to speak to the headmaster for a moment,” he said.
“See you later, Draco,” Pansy called after him. He winced slightly. It was most annoying when she tried to sound cute.
Draco walked to the headmaster’s office. He stood in front off the gargoyle and spoke the password.
“Voldemort,” he said softly. Draco felt somewhat uncomfortable saying the name, but he had to hand it to Snape. Most people willing to speak Voldemort’s name rarely did so; they preferred calling him the Dark Lord. Those who might want to infiltrate the office would be those by and large those who were frightened to even speak the name, and also may have figured out that Voldemort’s name had been made Taboo. Of course, the Snatches couldn’t Apparate into Hogwarts, but the Dark Lord’s enemies might not realize that.
The gargoyle moved aside, though it did seem somewhat perturbed at having to do so. Draco ascended the spiral staircase quickly, but hesitated outside the Headmaster’s door. He had enjoyed Snape’s favor, but he hadn’t ever tried to talk to Snape in his office uninvited. He hadn’t even talked with Snape much since the end of last year, when…
Draco quickly made himself knock on the door, to derail that train of thought. He heard Snape’s footsteps cross the room. The door opened and moment later.
“Ah, Draco. Come in,” Snape said warmly. Well, as warmly as he said anything.
“Thank you, Headmaster.” Snape returned to his desk and sat down. Draco sat in the chair opposite him. He’d only been in this room and handful of times before with the previous occupant. Not much had changed from what Draco remembered. The silver instruments still littered the desk, though most of them had been pushed to one side. The portraits of the old Headmasters lined the wall. Draco made a conscious effort not to look at the newest one.
“So, Draco, I assume you have a good reason for coming to me in my office,” Snape said.
“Yes, Headmaster,” Draco said, but then he hesitated. Seeing Snape behind the desk had put him off for a moment. He’d been in this room with Snape once before, but Snape had been standing then, talking with Alecto Carrow. To see him sitting behind the desk seemed somehow wrong. His mind kept slipping back to the Astronomy Tower… but he wouldn’t let his mind go there.
“Are you well, Draco? Not so delirious to think this is Hospital Ward, I hope.”
“I’m fine,” Draco said, nearly snapping at the Headmaster. “I have news about Dumbledore’s Army.”
“So quickly?” Snape raised an eyebrow.
“I heard something on the way to lunch. It didn’t make sense until I heard your announcement. I think they were Ravenclaws”
“Thank you, Draco,” Snape said, looking back to his work. “I will inform Professor Flitwick, and take some measures of my own.”
Draco left quickly, trying to not to look at either Snape, or Dumbledore’s portrait.
His anxiety began to recede when he left the room. He doubted Flitwick would turn in anyone from his own House, but he knew Snape would do something. He pondered what Snape might do once he found out about this Army and his spirits rose. By the time he reached the common-room, he felt back to normal.
.
The Great Hall was bustling with energy when Draco walked in the following morning. Draco grinned, wondering which of the scenarios he’d played out in his mind Snape would enact. Perhaps Snape would finally give Filch permission to whip students.
“Grab her,” Draco said, pointing to a second-year Gryffindor. Crabbe grabbed the girl and pulled her over to Draco. “What’s going on? Why’s everyone so excited?”
“The Army!” she said excitedly. “They did some more vandalism last night!”
“What? Where this time?”
“In front of the Headmaster’s office,” she said. “And a few other places, I don’t know. It was really bad, it said he’d killed the last Headmaster.” For a moment Draco felt uneasy and guilty. The feeling faded when he realized how angry Snape would be. He would almost certainly take it out on someone. Hopefully the little Weasel.
“Let her go,” Draco said with a wave of his hand. Crabbe let the girl go and joined Draco at the Slytherin table. They sat in the middle, and the seats around the quickly filled up.
Moments later Snape swept into the room, flanked by the Carrows. “Sit!” he commanded to the few students still standing. “Quiet! Silence!” His jaw was firm, and his eyes seemed to blaze. He paused for a moment, appearing to compose himself somewhat, and then spoke again. “As many of you must be aware,” he said evenly, “there was another incident of vandalism. A far more serious one, directed at myself and our new teachers.
“We are currently investigating the matter. I have also implemented a few more measures to ensure this does not happen again. Following this meal, the House heads and other professors will be performing a search of the students’ quarters and belongings. In addition, any professor, and Mr. Filch, will have the authority to search any student for any reason at any time.
“Furthermore, all outside communication id hereby halted, save with permission from myself only. Only approved letters may be sent to approved persons.
“And thought I think it should go without saying, I should mention this for the benefit our more hopeless students.” To Draco, it looked like he was speaking directly to Neville Longbottom. He stifled a small laugh. “Whoever is responsible for these attacks, or any other disruptive activity will be punished harshly.” Snape turned and walked for the door before the echoes of his voice had faded. The Carrows looked confused, but sat down when the students began whispering amongst themselves.
“Is that all?” Draco said. He felt disappointed.
“Oh, he’s going to punish them if he catches them?” Nott said sarcastically. “I’m sure they were shocked to hear that!”
“Well let’s not forget,” Draco went on “he’s not letting them send out owls. They won’t be able to tell their parents about drawing on the walls, or order any Dungbombs from the Weasley shop.”
“They’ll just have to get them from Zonko’s,” Nott said. They shared a laugh, which eased Draco anger somewhat.
Draco watched Snape all through breakfast. He was deep in conversation with the Carrows, who grew increasingly annoyed. Even Alecto seemed to realize Snape was going too easy. When Snape got up to leave, Draco followed him.
“Professor!” he called out.
“Yes, Draco?” Snape said, turning back to Draco and stopping.
“You’re hardly doing anything! Restricting their owls won’t stop them. Did you find those Ravenclaws I told you about?”
“I informed Professor Flitwick of the matter,” Snape said.
“That’s not good enough, he won’t turn in students from his own House!”
“Draco, I have far more responsibilities than I did last year. I can no longer drop everything to chase down an overheard whisper,” Snape said. “I simply do not have the time.”
“Then they’re not going to stop,” Draco said stubbornly.
“You see, Snape?” Amycus spoke from behind Draco. “Even the boy knows it.” Amycus strode past Draco, followed by Alecto.
“I like it far less than you,” Snape said. Draco saw a flash of rage behind his eyes, which quickly vanished. “But I have more important things to do than read letters and track down vandals. If you wish to go through every letter the students wish to send, be my guest. Perhaps it will keep you busy enough to stop bothering me for a while.” Snape smirked at Amycus, who looked flustered, and walked off.
“What are you staring at?” Amycus snapped at Draco. “Get to class! Don’t think I won’t give you detention!” Draco turned away and joined up with a group of Slytherins leaving the Great Hall.
“Did you talk to Snape?” Nott asked.
“Yes,” Draco said. “I don’t think he’s taking the Army very seriously.”
“That was the impression I got,” Nott said with a shrug.
“Then maybe we need to take matters into our own hands.”
Author’s Note: Sorry for messing up the formatting the first time, in case anyone noticed that. I appreciate everyone who’s been reading and writing reviews. I know I don’t update very regularly, but I hope you all realize now that I am going to finish this story. It’s set at 30 chapters, so we got a long way to go, but hopefully you’ll think it’s worth it. I’ve had a real blast writing it.
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Title: The Seventh Year- Chapter 9: Unexpected Guests
Summary: During his final year at Hogwarts Neville struggles with the realization of his worst fear when Professor Snape is in charge of Hogwarts. McGonagall does her best to keep her students safe while Draco has reservation about his new allies.
Characters/Pairings: Neville, Draco, McGonagall
Genre: Adventure/Drama
Rating/Warnings: PG-13
Medium: Fic
Word Count: 4380
“Obliviate!” Neville shouted, aiming his wand at the wall.
“Obliviate!” nearly a dozen voices shouted from behind him.
“Good, good. You’re all coming along well,” Neville congratulated. “I think that’s all we have time for.” The DA members began to put up their wands and collect their things.
Ginny had wanted to wait before the DA did anything major. She wanted to Sword to be their first big act, because it was the most important. They would probably come down harder after the first big thing, and they may not get another chance at the Sword. Snape didn’t seem to be taking them seriously; she wanted to take full advantage of that fact.
But while Snape wasn’t taking them seriously, Draco Malfoy certainly was. He and his crowd were reporting any small instance of rule breaking to the Carrows. So far they only caught a handful, but a few detentions with the Carrows can do a lot of break someone’s spirit. Luckily, the Carrows sometimes took off House points for the more minor infractions, and the DA had been warned to watch for people following them.
“It’s only a matter of time, though,” Ginny had said. She had posed the question of what to do about Draco and his followers at the previous meeting.
“We could just fight them,” Demelza Robbins said. “We’ve been learning a lot of hexes.”
“That wouldn’t help,” Terry Boot said. “It would just make things worse in the long run.” Demelza shrugged. No one had any ideas beyond general caution.
“Memory modification,” Luna eventually said. “Fudge did it for years, I don’t see why we shouldn’t.”
“Luna that’s brilliant!” Ginny said.
“I’m glad you finally realized that,” Luna said, but Ginny had already continued talking.
“We’ll work on memory charms. Wipe the memories of any Slytherins that try to follow us. And maybe Draco Malfoy on general principle.”
And so the DA had begun practicing memory charms. So far they had been working only on the spell itself, and not the more complicated modification process itself. Neville was pleased with everyone’s progress, however, and thought they would be able to move on by the next meeting.
“Alright,” Neville said. “I think that’s all we have time for today. Everyone start leaving slowly.” Neville sent the DA members off in small groups, from the same House when possible. He was paying such attention that he didn’t notice that Demelza Robbins didn’t leave with Parvati and Lavender, and had come up to him.
“I just wanted to say,” she said, “that you’re really good at teaching the memory charms.”
“Erm, thanks,” Neville managed. Demelza was standing very close to him, and suddenly felt a little hot.
“I’m serious. At most of the other meetings you usually don’t say much. But since you’ve been doing the teaching, I understand why you’re one of the ones in charge.”
“Oh,” Neville said, surprised at the complement. “I guess teaching just sort of… comes naturally to me.”
“I’m sure you could do well at more things, if you tried.”
“Y-yeah, maybe.” He was pretty sure he was blushing by now. Demelza hadn’t looked away from him while they were talking.
“I think we need to be going now,” Hannah said. She and Ernie were waiting by the door. Everyone had had left.
“Of course,” Demelza said, finally looking away. “I’ll let you close up, or whatever you need to do.”
Neville didn’t really need to “close up or anything. The Room pretty much took care of everything by itself. He just had to make sure no one tried to stay behind, for whatever reason. He double checked the Room and left, starting for the Great Hall.
Along the way he passed several DA recruitment notices on the wall. So far they had really only been for show. They hadn’t agreed on any new members to admit so far, and not too many had inquired either. He knew more people would come eventually though. There was a line between how far the Carrows could push people before their anger and outrage outgrew their fear, and the Carrows would soon push people over that line.
As he entered the Great Hall, he noticed Snape and the Carrows having a somewhat heated conversation at the Staff table. He took a seat near the end of the table, hoping to overhear them.
“…done all we can for now. Have to… the act…” Neville was able to make out bits and pieces of what Snape was saying.
“…options, Snape.” He heard Amycus’ cool, liquid voice next. “I could have them… if you let me…”
“Not an option,” Snape said firmly. “…Lord told us… not… till he’s ready.”
“You’re scared,” Alecto said. “…backbone to…”
“Do not call me…” Snape replied. “They’re only… shouldn’t need to…”
“Hey, Neville.” Neville jumped at the mention of his name. He’d been listening to intently, he hadn’t noticed Ginny and Seamus sit down next to him. “You’re not looking wistfully at Snape, are you?” Ginny continued. She’d been in much better spirits since the DA had been up and running.
“No,” Neville said with a smile. “I was trying to listen in.” He gestured to the Snape and the Carrows, who seemed to be wrapping up their conversation. “Snape doesn’t seem to be taking us very seriously.”
“Good. The less he thinks of us the better. He won’t see it coming.”
“Plan on sharing what he won’t see coming?” Seamus said. “I’m starting to think most of us won’t either.”
“I haven’t worked anything out very far,” Ginny said. “I’m sorry I haven’t shared my every thought with you.”
Seamus opened his mouth to say something back, but Neville spoke first.
“Hey, an owl!” he blurted. He couldn’t think of anything to diffuse the situation, so he said the first thing he saw that stuck out.
Several other people in the Hall also noticed the owl. In the morning, it would have been normal. Somewhat normal, anyway; the Carrows still allowed certain students to send out owls, all of them Slytherins. They also allowed any Daily Prophet subscriptions to come in. But owls didn’t come at dinner.
Ginny looked as surprised as everyone else when the owl landed in front of her. She took the small note from its beak, trying to open it before…
“Give that to me this instant!” Ginny turned to see Amycus and Alecto looming over her.
“Give it, girl,” Alecto said. She had drawn her wand. Ginny gripped the letter a little tighter.
“You’ll have to take it from me.”
“Come, child,” Amycus said. “Do you really think I can’t or won’t?” Alecto let out a sharp laugh, which sent chills down Neville’s spine.
“Miss Weasley,” Snape’s voice came from behind the Carrows, who parted so he could move in closer. “Who sent you that letter?”
Ginny glanced down at the letter and quickly looked back.
“It’s from Hagrid.”
“Then there’s nothing you can do.” Now McGonagall had joined them, crowding around the Gryffindor table.
“What do you mean?” Alecto snapped.
“Professor Hagrid lives on the school grounds. You explicitly forbade any communication outside the school. He is not outside the school.”
“It seems you are correct,” Snape said after a moment, though it seemed to pain him to say so.
“You’re letting her off on a technicality, Snape?” Amycus nearly lost his cool demeanor.
“Professor Snape,” he replied. “And I’m afraid so. You know our… orders.” Then he smirked. “Besides, with any luck, one of his pets might maim her.” That seemed to satisfy Alecto, though Amycus still glowered.
“Anything else you need, Professor?” Ginny said cheerily.
“Detention, Weasley,” Amycus sneered.
“What for?”
“Insolence.”
“Hope that note’s worth it,” Seamus said sympathetically.
“I think it will be. Hagrid wouldn’t write unless it was important,” Ginny said. She doubled checked to make sure the Carrows had left, then opened the note. She quickly read it over, then passed it to Neville and Seamus. Hagrid’s handwriting was hard to read, but Neville was able to make it out.
.
Ginny,
It’s been great having you and Neville in class. I would like you to come down to the cabin for tea tonight to catch up. If you could come just after dinner that would be great. I’d have told you in person but Fang’s been a real handful today.
Hagrid
“What do you think he wants?” Neville asked.
“Maybe he’s got some really good tea,” Ginny mused. “I mean, Hagrid’s never been good at keeping secrets, it could just be tea.”
“Ginny…”
“We’re going, Neville,” Ginny said. “Of course.”
Neville felt good. Even if it was just tea, it would be nice to talk to Hagrid. He wasn’t even slightly intimidated by the Carrows.
.
He and Ginny finished eating quickly, but waited for Snape and the Carrows to leave before leaving themselves. They left the castle and quickly walked down to Hagrid’s cabin. They found the windows all shuttered, though it was still fairly warm, and the door locked. Hagrid opened the door the small bit when Ginny knocked.
“Just a minute!” Hagrid’s voice boomed from behind the door. The door jerked open a moment later. “Alrigh, come inside. There you go. I’ll get the door.” Hagrid hurried them into his cabin is quickly it took Neville a moment to notice the other two figures in the cabin.
One was a long, scraggly looking man with ginger hair. Neville’s grandmother knew him, or knew of him, but Neville couldn’t remember his name. The other was a House Elf Neville thought might be Dobby, until he looked a little closer.
“What are they doing here, Hagrid?” Ginny demanded.
“Ginny, calm down now…” Hagrid started.
“Hagrid, you know what they’ve done. You know better than I do!” Ginny was livid. She’s been in much better spirits the last few weeks, but she could be fierce when she lost her temper. She turned violently toward the two guests, but Hagrid and Neville reached out and grabbed her arms.
“If Miss Weasley will calm down,” the House Elf began, “Kreacher will explain everything.” The scraggly man said nothing, but looked very uncomfortable.
“You betrayed Harry! Both of you!”
“Ginny, calm down!” Neville shouted. He hadn’t meant to shout, and surprised himself when he did. Ginny and Hagrid were also surprised; Ginny had stopped shouting. “Let’s just,” Neville said slowly, then started over. “They must have come here for a reason. Let’s hear them out.”
“We did!” the House Elf exclaimed. “Harry Potter sent us to help Ginny Weasley, he did!”
“Harry? What?” Ginny’s arms relaxed, and Neville let her go. “He sent you?”
“Oh, yes. Harry Potter said to help you.” Ginny grew silent, so Hagrid spoke.
“So, why did he send you?” Hagrid sounded unusually cold toward his guests.
“Ah, this is where I come in,” the scraggly man said.
“Do I know you?” Neville asked.
“Might be that you do. Name’s Mundungus Fletcher.” He shook Neville’s somewhat unwilling hand, but did not offer it to Ginny. “Now just a moment, they’re in my bag here somewhere… here we go. Go on, it won’t break.” He handed Neville a patch of silver cloth.
“Is that an invisibility cloak?” Hagrid asked, taking a second one from Mundungus. “Harry has one like it.”
“Yes, well, I have heard that.” Mundungus continued to pull more cloaks out of his bag. “I don’t know if you’ll fit,” he said to Hagrid, “but I think it should be fine for the students.”
“Why are you doing this?” Ginny asked, speaking for the first time in several minutes.
“There was some nonsense about a locket,” Mundungus said, shaking his head. Kreacher cleared his throat, and Mundungus glance at him nervously. “They wouldn’t tell me why it was important, but it must have been. I thought it was just a locket. Pretty, but not important.” Mundungus scratched the back of his neck. “Anyway, it was important, so I came here- at great personal risk- to try and make up for losing it.”
“But… six invisibility cloaks. These are hard to find,” Ginny said.
“Yes, well. I had to call in a few favors.” He shuffled his feet, but then looked directly at Ginny. “I suppose I was making up for a few other things as well.”
Ginny seemed satisfied, and now looked to Kreacher. “You seem unusually happy. Why is that?”
“Harry Potter, he treats me like an equal now. He talks to me, respects me. Gave one of Master Regulus’ things. Kreacher now sees that the Black Family were not good masters. Kreacher wants to help Harry Potter.”
“I see.” Ginny’s expression was hard to read, but she stopped pressing the House-Elf. “Did Harry have any messages for me?”
“No, Miss Weasley. Kreacher is sorry, but he has not seen Harry Potter for some time. I am sure,” Kreacher added, “that he would have given Kreacher a message if he had known you were coming. He worried about you.”
“Thank you, Kreacher. And Mundungus.” Mundungus had been examining some of the stranger objects in Hagrid’s hut. Neville hoped he hadn’t taken anything important.
“It’s the least I could have done,” Mundungus said. “If you’re done talking, I think we should be going now.”
“We will leave when Miss Weasley is done,” Kreacher said harshly, causing Mundungus to flinch.
“No, it’s fine. It’s not safe here for either of you. You should go,” Ginny said. “How did you get here anyway?”
“Apparation,” Kreacher said.
“But you can’t Apparate on the Hogwarts grounds,” Neville blurted, as he sometimes did when he actually remembered something he’d learned.
“House-Elves can,” Kreacher said. “House-Elves can do many things. Come, Mundungus Fletcher.” Mundungus laid a hang on Kreacher’s shoulder.
“Hol’ on,” Hagrid said. “Why’d you leave Mad-Eye to die, Fletcher? After all he’d done for yeh, yeh left him alone with You- Know-Who.”
Mundungus looked like he’d been slapped. For a moment, Neville thought he might start shouting, but he suddenly looked sad and tired.
“I told him I didn’t want to be there,” Mundungus said a few moments later. “I’m no good at fighting. I’m just not a fighter. I just… don’t fight.” He took a breath. “I didn’t run when the fighting started. Only when You-Know-Who showed up. And what am I supposed to do against him?”
“Yer a coward, Fletcher.”
“I didn’t want to die if I could avoid it,” Mundungus snapped. “I didn’t want him to die either…”
“You should probably get going,” Neville said. He didn’t think the conversation was going to end well.
“Neville Longbottom is right. We have been too long,” Kreacher said.
“What will you do now?” Ginny asked.
“Kreacher will try to help Harry Potter, if he can,” Kreacher said. Neville thought he was smiling, but he couldn’t always read the expressions of a House-Elf.
“Try to keep my head down,” Mundungus said.
A moment later, they both vanished with a crack.
“Well,” Hagrid said, a little calmer now, “that was interesting, eh?”
“But helpful,” Neville said, running his hand across the invisibility cloak.
“We need to get back,” Ginny said. “I’m sorry, Hagrid. We’ll come for a real visit soon.”
“’Course,” Hagrid said. “Get those somewhere safe. Go on, I’ll see yeh soon, I know.”
Ginny thanked Hagrid again, and then set off with Neville back to the school.
“Ginny,” Neville said, after they left.
“Yes?”
“Do you think I’ll end up like him?”
“You mean Mundungus?” Neville nodded. “No, Neville. I don’t think so. Listen, do you know why Mundungus is in the Order?” Neville shook his head. “Harry told me once. Dumbledore helped him out of a jam once, and he’s helped the Order ever since. Now I don’t think he would have been a Death Eater if that hadn’t happened, but the only reason he even got involved was because of his loyalty to Dumbledore. You’re not just doing this for Harry, are you?”
Neville thought of Snape, his Gran, his parents, Bellatrix.
“No,” he said. “I’m doing it for myself.”
“Then you won’t wind up like him,” Ginny said.
Neville felt much better as he walked back to the castle. That night he slept without hearing voices.
.
“Seamus, is there another Potterwatch tonight?” Ginny asked.
“Yeah, at eight I think,” Seamus said from behind his Transfiguration book.
“I think that would be a good thing to do at tonight’s DA meeting,” Ginny said. “You know. Have everyone sit around and listen to it. Take a break from all the work, you know? Everyone’s getting stressed; we could all use some time to relax.”
It had been three days since Mundungus and Kreacher had come to visit. Neville had taken charge of hiding the invisibility cloaks. Due to their nature, this was not hard, but he wanted to keep them all separate, and in places where no one was likely to stumble across them.”
“Not a bad idea,” Seamus agreed, putting his book down and stretching.
“And we also need to talk about how we’re going to get that sword,” Ginny said. “We’ll need Luna, too.”
“I’m not sure need is the word,” Seamus mumbled. Ginny gave him a look which he did not acknowledge.
“So where’s the sword?” Neville asked.
“Harry said Dumbledore kept it in Snape’s office. I’m sure it’s still there,” Ginny said.
“Do we really need this sword?” Seamus asked. “I mean, I’m all for the DA, but how important is this sword?”
“Dumbledore wanted Harry to have it,” Ginny said, “and that’s good enough for me.”
“Merlin’s beard,” Seamus said softly. “If Dumbledore wanted it… it just seems so impossible.”
“Well, ever since Harry was born, impossible things have become a lot more commonplace,” Ginny said with a smirk. “We’ll think, and talk more tonight.”
After that, the three of them devoted their time to homework. Sometimes, Neville felt so strange doing schoolwork, what with everything else going on. But this war, it wouldn’t go on forever. He believed it would end, that they would win. And after that, he’d need to know the things in his classes, so he managed to keep up.
After a few more hours, the three of them left for the Room of Requirement. They tried to always arrive at the meetings at least half an hour early. They found the room, as always, exactly suited to their needs- a number of chairs and couches, arranged in a semicircle, around a small stand.
“Perfect,” Seamus said, rather unnecessarily. He placed the radio on the stand and then took a seat on one of the couches.
“This room is always so lovely,” Luna said. She had come in right behind Neville and the others. “I like it here.”
“Oh, hi Luna,” Ginny said. “Don’t forget, we need to talk after the meeting.”
“Oh yes, of course,” Luna said, “our daring new mission.”
Ginny smiled a little at that, and then went to work finding the proper radio station. By the time she had finished, Demelza Robbins, Lavender, and Parvati had all joined them in the room. Over the next twenty minutes or so, the rest of the DA arrived and took seats in the couches and chairs.
“So, what are we doing tonight?” Anthony asked, examining the room’s unusual layout.
“We’re going to listen to something on the radio,” Ginny said. “Have any of your heard of Potterwatch?” Anthony shook his head. “Well, we think you’ll like it.” The students settled into their seats and Seamus turned on the radio. Neville took a seat next to Ernie while Seamus spoke the password: Remember Med-Eye.
“So what’s this about?” Ernie asked Neville.
“It’s a radio program. Lee Jordan runs it. They keep us updated on the real news.”
“Ah, excellent,” Ernie said with a smile.
“Lee Jordan?” Hannah asked from the other side of Ernie.
“Erm, yes. He has a code name but you can tell it’s his voice,” Neville said. “I think it’s starting.”
“Good evening, and welcome to Potterwatch!” Lee Jordan’s voice boomed from the radio. “As always, we appreciate the risk all of your take by just listening to us. Take a moment to ensure your location is secure.” The radio went silent for a few moments. “Alright then, we’ll start with our top story at the moment. Several of our sources inside the ministry claim that there was disturbance just over a week ago. Dolores Umbridge, former Hogwarts High Inquisitor and head of the Muggle-Born Registration Commission claimed she was attacked and robbed during a court session, though she has since denied making those claims. This may be linked to other witness reports of two Reginald Cattermole’s, a ministry employee, having been seen in the atrium.”
Neville felt a tap on his shoulder. It was Ginny. She had collected Luna and Seamus already. Quietly, they went to back of the room and talked quietly.
“We need to find some way to get in to Snape’s office,” Ginny said. “I don’t imagine any of you have heard the password?” No one spoke up. “Right. Well, I guess we have two options. We can keep trying to stir up trouble until he takes one of us to his office,” Ginny went on.
“Not my favorite plan,” Seamus said.
“Really, I was pulling for that one,” Ginny said blandly. “Option two is a little less dangerous. We would just have to wait around with the cloaks till he went in.”
“Why don’t we do that?” Seamus said. “I like that plan much better.”
“The problem is,” Ginny went on, “is that we don’t know how often he goes to and from his office. And we would have to stand very close to be able to hear him. So we can think on it, for a few minutes.”
Neville was more in favor the second plan. It did seem safer. There was no need to get anyone punished before they went for the sword, especially if it was going to be one of them. Of course, he had no idea what Snape would do if he caught someone snooping around his office in an invisibility cloak. He would take the cloak, for one thing, and he might punish them worse than he would if they were simply brought to him by the Carrows.
Neville eventually let his thoughts go back to the radio, and he heard a more familiar voice.
“Hey, Ginny, aren’t those your brothers?” Neville asked. Ginny looked at him then turned toward the radio. Her face brightened noticeably as she recognized the voices.
“Alright, alright, seriously,” Lee Jordan was saying. “I hear you two have a theory on the disturbance at the Ministry. Rapier, Rapscallion, would you like to share?”
“But of course,” one of them said. Neville thought it was George.
“All these incidents can be easily explained,” the other said.
“Someone was trying to infiltrate the ministry.”
“Perhaps to rob it.”
“Perhaps for information.”
“And we feel that person,”
“Was Harry Potter,” they finished together.
Cheers erupted throughout the room. Neville looked toward the door with concern, but was pretty sure nothing could be heard from outside.
“We don’t know why exactly,” George said, “but we can only hope he was successful in whatever he was trying to do.”
“I thought we agreed he was trying to get Moody’s eye, Rapier,” Fred said.
“We don’t know that for sure.”
“Didn’t you hear how it went missing around that time?”
“My other ear still works fine, Rapscallion.”
“Anyway, moving on to our next guest,” Lee Jordan interrupted, “with some more news and some safety tips, we have Re-“
“Icarus,” a voice said.
“Icarus?” Lee said confusedly. “That doesn’t exactly fit with our theme…”
“I like the name Icarus,” he said.
“Very well,” Lee said with a sigh. “Icarus.”
“Hey, that’s my uncle Dedalus!” Deladus Diggle said. “I was named after him.”
“But you don’t have the same name,” Demelza Robins pointed out.
“My dad’s a little dyslexic,” Deladus said sheepishly.
“Any ideas?” Ginny said, turning back to the matter at hand.
“I was thinking,” Neville said. “We could use Peeves to cause some commotion, to draw Snape and the other away. I don’t think he likes the Carrows at all. I bet he’d help if we asked.”
“That’s a good idea,” Ginny said. “If we can get him to help. Do you want to ask him?”
“Not especially, but I will,” Neville said glumly.
“Alright, good. But we still need that password.”
“I think waiting is our best option,” Luna said. “I don’t want to know how hard we would have to try to get Snape to punish us personally.”
“I can help,” another voice said. Neville turned around to see Michael Corner standing behind him.
“What do you want?” Ginny said with a scowl.
“I can help,” Michael repeated.
“What are you talking about?” Ginny demanded.
“I know the password the Snape’s office. He caught me casting a spell in the halls.”
“Well, what is it?” Seamus said. “Come on, out with it.”
“No way,” Michael said. “If I tell you, you’ll just go on and do it. I want to come along.”
“Just give it to us,” Ginny said, getting to her feet.
“Only way I’ll tell you is if I can come along,” Michael said.
Ginny stared him down. It really looked like she was going to say no- and hex him, to boot.
“Come on, Ginny,” Neville said. “This is a good thing. We don’t have to worry about getting caught before hand.”
“Fine,” Ginny said after a moment. “You’re in.”
“Good,” Michael said with a grin. The Potterwatch show had just ended, and the rest of the DA was starting to look toward the group in the back.
“We’ll talk about this later,” Ginny said.
“Good, just let me know,” Michael replied, still smiling. He walked back to join Terry and Anthony.
“Wonderful,” Ginny muttered. “This year keeps getting better and better. I can’t believe he weaseled his way in to this.”
“He does remind me a bit of a weasel,” Luna said, “in the nose, a little bit.”
They all laughed a little at that. “Anyway,” Seamus said, “he’s in, and we might as well make the best of it. Let’s send everyone off and get back to the Tower.”
___________________________________________________________
Raymond//Gryffindor
Summary: During his final year at Hogwarts Neville struggles with the realization of his worst fear when Professor Snape is in charge of Hogwarts. McGonagall does her best to keep her students safe while Draco has reservation about his new allies.
Characters/Pairings: Neville, Draco, McGonagall
Genre: Adventure/Drama
Rating/Warnings: PG-13
Medium: Fic
Word Count: 2772
“Very good Pansy,” Alecto Carrow said. Muggles are violent, killing each other all the time. Very warlike. Ten points to Slytherin.” Pansy beamed and cast a dirty look at Ernie McMillan. As much as Draco disliked being around Hufflepuffs in general, he rather enjoyed having Muggle Studies with them this year. “Look at how Muggle measure history- with wars. If we didn’t stop them from killing themselves every now and then, there wouldn’t be any Muggles left.” Alecto said this with a near wistful tone. As wistful as her voice could manage, anyway. Ernie muttered something under his breath at the next table over.
“What was that, Macmillan?” Draco said loudly. “Something about wizards having wars too?”
“Speak, boy,” Alecto said. She has quickly strode over, and now loomed above him.
“No, Professor Carrow. I was just clearing my throat,” Ernie said.
“Five points from Hufflepuff,” Alecto said, walking back to the front of the room.
“What for?” Susan Bones said loudly.
“Bothering me!” Alecto shouted at her. Susan slunk down in her chair. Ernie cast a dirty look at Draco, but said nothing. Draco smiled back and gave a little wave. Pansy laughed at his side. Alecto gave Draco a brief smile, and then continued on with her lecture.
“It’s really a shame, Macmillan,” Draco said after class. “Your family’s as Pure-blooded as mine, but you’re the biggest blood traitor at the school. Well, except for the Weasley girl. What do your parents think about that? Cut you out of the will yet?” A cluster of Slytherins behind him laughed.
“How about your parents, Hannah?” Pansy Parkinson asked. “How do your parents feel about you?” Pansy laughed, then her grin grew a little wider. “Oh, your Mommy was killed last year, wasn’t she? Guess she didn’t know when to keep her mouth shut. Say, I think she’d get on well with MacMillan.”
“Ernie, no,” Hannah said softly. Ernie’s face had turned red as his hand had slipped into his robe pocket. “Let’s go.” Ernie looked at Hannah and let himself get pulled away.
“Go on then, Mcmillan. Run away!” Ted Nott called after him.
“No no,” Draco said loudly. “That won’t work. He’s in Hufflepuff, he already knows he’s a useless coward!” By the time the laughter had died down, Hannah and Ernie had left around the corner.
“Very good, Draco,” Alecto said. “I’m a teacher, so I’m not supposed to hurt the students feelings, even when I’m right. It’s good for you to keep them in line.” Alecto smiled and laid a hand on his shoulder. Draco suppressed a chill.
“Thank you, Professor Carrow,” he said. Draco enjoyed having the Carrows at Hogwarts, no doubt. But he didn’t care for them on a personal level, especially the unusual attention Alecto paid him.
“Please, Draco. Call me Alecto when I’m not in there.” She gestured over her shoulder to the classroom.
“Yes, Pro- Alecto.” She smiled at him again before walking down the hall.
“Think she might have a crush on you, Draco?” Nott asked.
“Quiet, Nott.” Draco said. Nott laughed again, but didn’t press the joke. “Let’s get some lunch.” As they went down to the Great Hall they wound up behind a cluster of Ravenclaws. He knew their names- Boot, Corner, Goldstein. They were too far off to bother with, and besides he was hungry. He tried to listen to Pansy instead, but a snatch of their conversation drifted back and caught his attention.
“…the look on the Carrow’s faces,” one of them said.
“And this is just the start,” another said excitedly. “It’s going to be much better than last time.”
“Draco? Are you even listening?” Draco turned back to Pansy. The other Slytherins were snickering.
“Does it seem like I am?” Draco snorted, and the others laughed even harder. The Ravenclaws seemed to notice them now, and spoke in more hushed tones. Annoyed, Draco returned his attention to his fellow Slytherins.
Once they arrived at the Great Hall they took their seats. Draco was pouring some pumpkin juice when Slughorn started speaking just behind him.
“Stay seated after you’re done,” Slughorn said. “The Headmaster has an announcement to make.” He spoke quietly. “You aren’t in trouble. It’s for everyone.”
“Of course, Professor Slughorn,” Pansy said sweetly. “Would you happen to know what this is about?”
“Acts of vandalism around the school,” Slughorn replied. “I don’t understand why it was such a big deal, but Mr. Filch was outraged.” Slughorn gave a shrug and walked down the table to inform another group of students about the announcement. The rest of the meal was spent speculating about what the announcement might be, and soon got their answer.
“You have all been told to stay here because there has been an act of vandalism on the school grounds. A most serious act of vandalism.” Snape pulled a small piece of parchment out of robe. His voice practically smoldered when he spoke. “Dumbledore’s Army: Still Recruiting.” He paused for a moment to replace the parchment. “I do not know if any of you recall what Dumbledore’s Army was. If not, I shall enlighten you. It was a small group of foolish students who took it upon themselves to try some little attempt to usurp the Ministry’s authority. It was an ill-fated attempt started by a boy with too big a head.
“If this new group is intending to follow in some of Dumbledore’s more misguided notions and reforming to resist the new order here at Hogwarts, they would do well to stop now. Anyone with sense can see that a few troublesome students won’t change anything, but I don’t credit them with overmuch sense.” Snape paused to look over the room. “If anyone hears any information about this group, inform myself or any of the other professors at once. That is all.”
As soon as Snape sat down, the sound of hushed voices one again filled the hall. Several students got up to leave, but many stayed to talk, in spite of all the fact that the meal was over.
“Is that all he’s going to do?” Nott sounded incredulous and angry.
“Maybe that’s all he needs to do,” Draco said. “With Potter and his friends out of the picture, what can they really do? They never managed anything without him and the Mudblood.”
“Potter had a lot of friends,” Nott said. Draco didn’t argue. He looked over to the Gryffindor table. Ginny Weasley looked positively smug. She was the one to watch. The others Draco didn’t expect much trouble from, but the Weasley girl had a temper, and wasn’t afraid to get in a fight. “It’d be best if Snape never gave them the chance.” Draco grunted a sort of agreement.
In truth, though, he’d rather come to enjoy Nott’s company this year. He found himself spending more and more time with him. During his first few years at Hogwarts, Draco had been content with Crabbe and Goyle’s mindless loyalty and adoration. And during his fourth year, he’s started to notice Pansy. But lately, he’d come to realize Crabbe and Goyle seemed incapable of having a sustained conversation about anything other than food. Most times they were too dim to do anything other than agree with what he’d said. Pansy was slightly better, but her voice got on his nerves. Blaise was smart enough, but he tended to focus his mental energy on finding girls to snog, which Draco had less interest in. Most off the younger members of his House tended to hover around the same mental capacity as Crabbe and Goyle. Which left Nott. Nott had always been a quiet but smart boy. At first Draco had thought he might find Nott boring, but he soon found they were of like minds.
“It would,” Draco agreed, “but the headmaster is busy. I really don’t think this ‘Army’ is anything to worry about.” Yet even as he spoke, he recalled overhearing the Ravenclaws earlier. As his group stood up and headed back for their common-room, Draco broke away.
“I need to speak to the headmaster for a moment,” he said.
“See you later, Draco,” Pansy called after him. He winced slightly. It was most annoying when she tried to sound cute.
Draco walked to the headmaster’s office. He stood in front off the gargoyle and spoke the password.
“Voldemort,” he said softly. Draco felt somewhat uncomfortable saying the name, but he had to hand it to Snape. Most people willing to speak Voldemort’s name rarely did so; they preferred calling him the Dark Lord. Those who might want to infiltrate the office would be those by and large those who were frightened to even speak the name, and also may have figured out that Voldemort’s name had been made Taboo. Of course, the Snatches couldn’t Apparate into Hogwarts, but the Dark Lord’s enemies might not realize that.
The gargoyle moved aside, though it did seem somewhat perturbed at having to do so. Draco ascended the spiral staircase quickly, but hesitated outside the Headmaster’s door. He had enjoyed Snape’s favor, but he hadn’t ever tried to talk to Snape in his office uninvited. He hadn’t even talked with Snape much since the end of last year, when…
Draco quickly made himself knock on the door, to derail that train of thought. He heard Snape’s footsteps cross the room. The door opened and moment later.
“Ah, Draco. Come in,” Snape said warmly. Well, as warmly as he said anything.
“Thank you, Headmaster.” Snape returned to his desk and sat down. Draco sat in the chair opposite him. He’d only been in this room and handful of times before with the previous occupant. Not much had changed from what Draco remembered. The silver instruments still littered the desk, though most of them had been pushed to one side. The portraits of the old Headmasters lined the wall. Draco made a conscious effort not to look at the newest one.
“So, Draco, I assume you have a good reason for coming to me in my office,” Snape said.
“Yes, Headmaster,” Draco said, but then he hesitated. Seeing Snape behind the desk had put him off for a moment. He’d been in this room with Snape once before, but Snape had been standing then, talking with Alecto Carrow. To see him sitting behind the desk seemed somehow wrong. His mind kept slipping back to the Astronomy Tower… but he wouldn’t let his mind go there.
“Are you well, Draco? Not so delirious to think this is Hospital Ward, I hope.”
“I’m fine,” Draco said, nearly snapping at the Headmaster. “I have news about Dumbledore’s Army.”
“So quickly?” Snape raised an eyebrow.
“I heard something on the way to lunch. It didn’t make sense until I heard your announcement. I think they were Ravenclaws”
“Thank you, Draco,” Snape said, looking back to his work. “I will inform Professor Flitwick, and take some measures of my own.”
Draco left quickly, trying to not to look at either Snape, or Dumbledore’s portrait.
His anxiety began to recede when he left the room. He doubted Flitwick would turn in anyone from his own House, but he knew Snape would do something. He pondered what Snape might do once he found out about this Army and his spirits rose. By the time he reached the common-room, he felt back to normal.
.
The Great Hall was bustling with energy when Draco walked in the following morning. Draco grinned, wondering which of the scenarios he’d played out in his mind Snape would enact. Perhaps Snape would finally give Filch permission to whip students.
“Grab her,” Draco said, pointing to a second-year Gryffindor. Crabbe grabbed the girl and pulled her over to Draco. “What’s going on? Why’s everyone so excited?”
“The Army!” she said excitedly. “They did some more vandalism last night!”
“What? Where this time?”
“In front of the Headmaster’s office,” she said. “And a few other places, I don’t know. It was really bad, it said he’d killed the last Headmaster.” For a moment Draco felt uneasy and guilty. The feeling faded when he realized how angry Snape would be. He would almost certainly take it out on someone. Hopefully the little Weasel.
“Let her go,” Draco said with a wave of his hand. Crabbe let the girl go and joined Draco at the Slytherin table. They sat in the middle, and the seats around the quickly filled up.
Moments later Snape swept into the room, flanked by the Carrows. “Sit!” he commanded to the few students still standing. “Quiet! Silence!” His jaw was firm, and his eyes seemed to blaze. He paused for a moment, appearing to compose himself somewhat, and then spoke again. “As many of you must be aware,” he said evenly, “there was another incident of vandalism. A far more serious one, directed at myself and our new teachers.
“We are currently investigating the matter. I have also implemented a few more measures to ensure this does not happen again. Following this meal, the House heads and other professors will be performing a search of the students’ quarters and belongings. In addition, any professor, and Mr. Filch, will have the authority to search any student for any reason at any time.
“Furthermore, all outside communication id hereby halted, save with permission from myself only. Only approved letters may be sent to approved persons.
“And thought I think it should go without saying, I should mention this for the benefit our more hopeless students.” To Draco, it looked like he was speaking directly to Neville Longbottom. He stifled a small laugh. “Whoever is responsible for these attacks, or any other disruptive activity will be punished harshly.” Snape turned and walked for the door before the echoes of his voice had faded. The Carrows looked confused, but sat down when the students began whispering amongst themselves.
“Is that all?” Draco said. He felt disappointed.
“Oh, he’s going to punish them if he catches them?” Nott said sarcastically. “I’m sure they were shocked to hear that!”
“Well let’s not forget,” Draco went on “he’s not letting them send out owls. They won’t be able to tell their parents about drawing on the walls, or order any Dungbombs from the Weasley shop.”
“They’ll just have to get them from Zonko’s,” Nott said. They shared a laugh, which eased Draco anger somewhat.
Draco watched Snape all through breakfast. He was deep in conversation with the Carrows, who grew increasingly annoyed. Even Alecto seemed to realize Snape was going too easy. When Snape got up to leave, Draco followed him.
“Professor!” he called out.
“Yes, Draco?” Snape said, turning back to Draco and stopping.
“You’re hardly doing anything! Restricting their owls won’t stop them. Did you find those Ravenclaws I told you about?”
“I informed Professor Flitwick of the matter,” Snape said.
“That’s not good enough, he won’t turn in students from his own House!”
“Draco, I have far more responsibilities than I did last year. I can no longer drop everything to chase down an overheard whisper,” Snape said. “I simply do not have the time.”
“Then they’re not going to stop,” Draco said stubbornly.
“You see, Snape?” Amycus spoke from behind Draco. “Even the boy knows it.” Amycus strode past Draco, followed by Alecto.
“I like it far less than you,” Snape said. Draco saw a flash of rage behind his eyes, which quickly vanished. “But I have more important things to do than read letters and track down vandals. If you wish to go through every letter the students wish to send, be my guest. Perhaps it will keep you busy enough to stop bothering me for a while.” Snape smirked at Amycus, who looked flustered, and walked off.
“What are you staring at?” Amycus snapped at Draco. “Get to class! Don’t think I won’t give you detention!” Draco turned away and joined up with a group of Slytherins leaving the Great Hall.
“Did you talk to Snape?” Nott asked.
“Yes,” Draco said. “I don’t think he’s taking the Army very seriously.”
“That was the impression I got,” Nott said with a shrug.
“Then maybe we need to take matters into our own hands.”
Author’s Note: Sorry for messing up the formatting the first time, in case anyone noticed that. I appreciate everyone who’s been reading and writing reviews. I know I don’t update very regularly, but I hope you all realize now that I am going to finish this story. It’s set at 30 chapters, so we got a long way to go, but hopefully you’ll think it’s worth it. I’ve had a real blast writing it.
___________________________________________________________
Title: The Seventh Year- Chapter 9: Unexpected Guests
Summary: During his final year at Hogwarts Neville struggles with the realization of his worst fear when Professor Snape is in charge of Hogwarts. McGonagall does her best to keep her students safe while Draco has reservation about his new allies.
Characters/Pairings: Neville, Draco, McGonagall
Genre: Adventure/Drama
Rating/Warnings: PG-13
Medium: Fic
Word Count: 4380
“Obliviate!” Neville shouted, aiming his wand at the wall.
“Obliviate!” nearly a dozen voices shouted from behind him.
“Good, good. You’re all coming along well,” Neville congratulated. “I think that’s all we have time for.” The DA members began to put up their wands and collect their things.
Ginny had wanted to wait before the DA did anything major. She wanted to Sword to be their first big act, because it was the most important. They would probably come down harder after the first big thing, and they may not get another chance at the Sword. Snape didn’t seem to be taking them seriously; she wanted to take full advantage of that fact.
But while Snape wasn’t taking them seriously, Draco Malfoy certainly was. He and his crowd were reporting any small instance of rule breaking to the Carrows. So far they only caught a handful, but a few detentions with the Carrows can do a lot of break someone’s spirit. Luckily, the Carrows sometimes took off House points for the more minor infractions, and the DA had been warned to watch for people following them.
“It’s only a matter of time, though,” Ginny had said. She had posed the question of what to do about Draco and his followers at the previous meeting.
“We could just fight them,” Demelza Robbins said. “We’ve been learning a lot of hexes.”
“That wouldn’t help,” Terry Boot said. “It would just make things worse in the long run.” Demelza shrugged. No one had any ideas beyond general caution.
“Memory modification,” Luna eventually said. “Fudge did it for years, I don’t see why we shouldn’t.”
“Luna that’s brilliant!” Ginny said.
“I’m glad you finally realized that,” Luna said, but Ginny had already continued talking.
“We’ll work on memory charms. Wipe the memories of any Slytherins that try to follow us. And maybe Draco Malfoy on general principle.”
And so the DA had begun practicing memory charms. So far they had been working only on the spell itself, and not the more complicated modification process itself. Neville was pleased with everyone’s progress, however, and thought they would be able to move on by the next meeting.
“Alright,” Neville said. “I think that’s all we have time for today. Everyone start leaving slowly.” Neville sent the DA members off in small groups, from the same House when possible. He was paying such attention that he didn’t notice that Demelza Robbins didn’t leave with Parvati and Lavender, and had come up to him.
“I just wanted to say,” she said, “that you’re really good at teaching the memory charms.”
“Erm, thanks,” Neville managed. Demelza was standing very close to him, and suddenly felt a little hot.
“I’m serious. At most of the other meetings you usually don’t say much. But since you’ve been doing the teaching, I understand why you’re one of the ones in charge.”
“Oh,” Neville said, surprised at the complement. “I guess teaching just sort of… comes naturally to me.”
“I’m sure you could do well at more things, if you tried.”
“Y-yeah, maybe.” He was pretty sure he was blushing by now. Demelza hadn’t looked away from him while they were talking.
“I think we need to be going now,” Hannah said. She and Ernie were waiting by the door. Everyone had had left.
“Of course,” Demelza said, finally looking away. “I’ll let you close up, or whatever you need to do.”
Neville didn’t really need to “close up or anything. The Room pretty much took care of everything by itself. He just had to make sure no one tried to stay behind, for whatever reason. He double checked the Room and left, starting for the Great Hall.
Along the way he passed several DA recruitment notices on the wall. So far they had really only been for show. They hadn’t agreed on any new members to admit so far, and not too many had inquired either. He knew more people would come eventually though. There was a line between how far the Carrows could push people before their anger and outrage outgrew their fear, and the Carrows would soon push people over that line.
As he entered the Great Hall, he noticed Snape and the Carrows having a somewhat heated conversation at the Staff table. He took a seat near the end of the table, hoping to overhear them.
“…done all we can for now. Have to… the act…” Neville was able to make out bits and pieces of what Snape was saying.
“…options, Snape.” He heard Amycus’ cool, liquid voice next. “I could have them… if you let me…”
“Not an option,” Snape said firmly. “…Lord told us… not… till he’s ready.”
“You’re scared,” Alecto said. “…backbone to…”
“Do not call me…” Snape replied. “They’re only… shouldn’t need to…”
“Hey, Neville.” Neville jumped at the mention of his name. He’d been listening to intently, he hadn’t noticed Ginny and Seamus sit down next to him. “You’re not looking wistfully at Snape, are you?” Ginny continued. She’d been in much better spirits since the DA had been up and running.
“No,” Neville said with a smile. “I was trying to listen in.” He gestured to the Snape and the Carrows, who seemed to be wrapping up their conversation. “Snape doesn’t seem to be taking us very seriously.”
“Good. The less he thinks of us the better. He won’t see it coming.”
“Plan on sharing what he won’t see coming?” Seamus said. “I’m starting to think most of us won’t either.”
“I haven’t worked anything out very far,” Ginny said. “I’m sorry I haven’t shared my every thought with you.”
Seamus opened his mouth to say something back, but Neville spoke first.
“Hey, an owl!” he blurted. He couldn’t think of anything to diffuse the situation, so he said the first thing he saw that stuck out.
Several other people in the Hall also noticed the owl. In the morning, it would have been normal. Somewhat normal, anyway; the Carrows still allowed certain students to send out owls, all of them Slytherins. They also allowed any Daily Prophet subscriptions to come in. But owls didn’t come at dinner.
Ginny looked as surprised as everyone else when the owl landed in front of her. She took the small note from its beak, trying to open it before…
“Give that to me this instant!” Ginny turned to see Amycus and Alecto looming over her.
“Give it, girl,” Alecto said. She had drawn her wand. Ginny gripped the letter a little tighter.
“You’ll have to take it from me.”
“Come, child,” Amycus said. “Do you really think I can’t or won’t?” Alecto let out a sharp laugh, which sent chills down Neville’s spine.
“Miss Weasley,” Snape’s voice came from behind the Carrows, who parted so he could move in closer. “Who sent you that letter?”
Ginny glanced down at the letter and quickly looked back.
“It’s from Hagrid.”
“Then there’s nothing you can do.” Now McGonagall had joined them, crowding around the Gryffindor table.
“What do you mean?” Alecto snapped.
“Professor Hagrid lives on the school grounds. You explicitly forbade any communication outside the school. He is not outside the school.”
“It seems you are correct,” Snape said after a moment, though it seemed to pain him to say so.
“You’re letting her off on a technicality, Snape?” Amycus nearly lost his cool demeanor.
“Professor Snape,” he replied. “And I’m afraid so. You know our… orders.” Then he smirked. “Besides, with any luck, one of his pets might maim her.” That seemed to satisfy Alecto, though Amycus still glowered.
“Anything else you need, Professor?” Ginny said cheerily.
“Detention, Weasley,” Amycus sneered.
“What for?”
“Insolence.”
“Hope that note’s worth it,” Seamus said sympathetically.
“I think it will be. Hagrid wouldn’t write unless it was important,” Ginny said. She doubled checked to make sure the Carrows had left, then opened the note. She quickly read it over, then passed it to Neville and Seamus. Hagrid’s handwriting was hard to read, but Neville was able to make it out.
.
Ginny,
It’s been great having you and Neville in class. I would like you to come down to the cabin for tea tonight to catch up. If you could come just after dinner that would be great. I’d have told you in person but Fang’s been a real handful today.
Hagrid
“What do you think he wants?” Neville asked.
“Maybe he’s got some really good tea,” Ginny mused. “I mean, Hagrid’s never been good at keeping secrets, it could just be tea.”
“Ginny…”
“We’re going, Neville,” Ginny said. “Of course.”
Neville felt good. Even if it was just tea, it would be nice to talk to Hagrid. He wasn’t even slightly intimidated by the Carrows.
.
He and Ginny finished eating quickly, but waited for Snape and the Carrows to leave before leaving themselves. They left the castle and quickly walked down to Hagrid’s cabin. They found the windows all shuttered, though it was still fairly warm, and the door locked. Hagrid opened the door the small bit when Ginny knocked.
“Just a minute!” Hagrid’s voice boomed from behind the door. The door jerked open a moment later. “Alrigh, come inside. There you go. I’ll get the door.” Hagrid hurried them into his cabin is quickly it took Neville a moment to notice the other two figures in the cabin.
One was a long, scraggly looking man with ginger hair. Neville’s grandmother knew him, or knew of him, but Neville couldn’t remember his name. The other was a House Elf Neville thought might be Dobby, until he looked a little closer.
“What are they doing here, Hagrid?” Ginny demanded.
“Ginny, calm down now…” Hagrid started.
“Hagrid, you know what they’ve done. You know better than I do!” Ginny was livid. She’s been in much better spirits the last few weeks, but she could be fierce when she lost her temper. She turned violently toward the two guests, but Hagrid and Neville reached out and grabbed her arms.
“If Miss Weasley will calm down,” the House Elf began, “Kreacher will explain everything.” The scraggly man said nothing, but looked very uncomfortable.
“You betrayed Harry! Both of you!”
“Ginny, calm down!” Neville shouted. He hadn’t meant to shout, and surprised himself when he did. Ginny and Hagrid were also surprised; Ginny had stopped shouting. “Let’s just,” Neville said slowly, then started over. “They must have come here for a reason. Let’s hear them out.”
“We did!” the House Elf exclaimed. “Harry Potter sent us to help Ginny Weasley, he did!”
“Harry? What?” Ginny’s arms relaxed, and Neville let her go. “He sent you?”
“Oh, yes. Harry Potter said to help you.” Ginny grew silent, so Hagrid spoke.
“So, why did he send you?” Hagrid sounded unusually cold toward his guests.
“Ah, this is where I come in,” the scraggly man said.
“Do I know you?” Neville asked.
“Might be that you do. Name’s Mundungus Fletcher.” He shook Neville’s somewhat unwilling hand, but did not offer it to Ginny. “Now just a moment, they’re in my bag here somewhere… here we go. Go on, it won’t break.” He handed Neville a patch of silver cloth.
“Is that an invisibility cloak?” Hagrid asked, taking a second one from Mundungus. “Harry has one like it.”
“Yes, well, I have heard that.” Mundungus continued to pull more cloaks out of his bag. “I don’t know if you’ll fit,” he said to Hagrid, “but I think it should be fine for the students.”
“Why are you doing this?” Ginny asked, speaking for the first time in several minutes.
“There was some nonsense about a locket,” Mundungus said, shaking his head. Kreacher cleared his throat, and Mundungus glance at him nervously. “They wouldn’t tell me why it was important, but it must have been. I thought it was just a locket. Pretty, but not important.” Mundungus scratched the back of his neck. “Anyway, it was important, so I came here- at great personal risk- to try and make up for losing it.”
“But… six invisibility cloaks. These are hard to find,” Ginny said.
“Yes, well. I had to call in a few favors.” He shuffled his feet, but then looked directly at Ginny. “I suppose I was making up for a few other things as well.”
Ginny seemed satisfied, and now looked to Kreacher. “You seem unusually happy. Why is that?”
“Harry Potter, he treats me like an equal now. He talks to me, respects me. Gave one of Master Regulus’ things. Kreacher now sees that the Black Family were not good masters. Kreacher wants to help Harry Potter.”
“I see.” Ginny’s expression was hard to read, but she stopped pressing the House-Elf. “Did Harry have any messages for me?”
“No, Miss Weasley. Kreacher is sorry, but he has not seen Harry Potter for some time. I am sure,” Kreacher added, “that he would have given Kreacher a message if he had known you were coming. He worried about you.”
“Thank you, Kreacher. And Mundungus.” Mundungus had been examining some of the stranger objects in Hagrid’s hut. Neville hoped he hadn’t taken anything important.
“It’s the least I could have done,” Mundungus said. “If you’re done talking, I think we should be going now.”
“We will leave when Miss Weasley is done,” Kreacher said harshly, causing Mundungus to flinch.
“No, it’s fine. It’s not safe here for either of you. You should go,” Ginny said. “How did you get here anyway?”
“Apparation,” Kreacher said.
“But you can’t Apparate on the Hogwarts grounds,” Neville blurted, as he sometimes did when he actually remembered something he’d learned.
“House-Elves can,” Kreacher said. “House-Elves can do many things. Come, Mundungus Fletcher.” Mundungus laid a hang on Kreacher’s shoulder.
“Hol’ on,” Hagrid said. “Why’d you leave Mad-Eye to die, Fletcher? After all he’d done for yeh, yeh left him alone with You- Know-Who.”
Mundungus looked like he’d been slapped. For a moment, Neville thought he might start shouting, but he suddenly looked sad and tired.
“I told him I didn’t want to be there,” Mundungus said a few moments later. “I’m no good at fighting. I’m just not a fighter. I just… don’t fight.” He took a breath. “I didn’t run when the fighting started. Only when You-Know-Who showed up. And what am I supposed to do against him?”
“Yer a coward, Fletcher.”
“I didn’t want to die if I could avoid it,” Mundungus snapped. “I didn’t want him to die either…”
“You should probably get going,” Neville said. He didn’t think the conversation was going to end well.
“Neville Longbottom is right. We have been too long,” Kreacher said.
“What will you do now?” Ginny asked.
“Kreacher will try to help Harry Potter, if he can,” Kreacher said. Neville thought he was smiling, but he couldn’t always read the expressions of a House-Elf.
“Try to keep my head down,” Mundungus said.
A moment later, they both vanished with a crack.
“Well,” Hagrid said, a little calmer now, “that was interesting, eh?”
“But helpful,” Neville said, running his hand across the invisibility cloak.
“We need to get back,” Ginny said. “I’m sorry, Hagrid. We’ll come for a real visit soon.”
“’Course,” Hagrid said. “Get those somewhere safe. Go on, I’ll see yeh soon, I know.”
Ginny thanked Hagrid again, and then set off with Neville back to the school.
“Ginny,” Neville said, after they left.
“Yes?”
“Do you think I’ll end up like him?”
“You mean Mundungus?” Neville nodded. “No, Neville. I don’t think so. Listen, do you know why Mundungus is in the Order?” Neville shook his head. “Harry told me once. Dumbledore helped him out of a jam once, and he’s helped the Order ever since. Now I don’t think he would have been a Death Eater if that hadn’t happened, but the only reason he even got involved was because of his loyalty to Dumbledore. You’re not just doing this for Harry, are you?”
Neville thought of Snape, his Gran, his parents, Bellatrix.
“No,” he said. “I’m doing it for myself.”
“Then you won’t wind up like him,” Ginny said.
Neville felt much better as he walked back to the castle. That night he slept without hearing voices.
.
“Seamus, is there another Potterwatch tonight?” Ginny asked.
“Yeah, at eight I think,” Seamus said from behind his Transfiguration book.
“I think that would be a good thing to do at tonight’s DA meeting,” Ginny said. “You know. Have everyone sit around and listen to it. Take a break from all the work, you know? Everyone’s getting stressed; we could all use some time to relax.”
It had been three days since Mundungus and Kreacher had come to visit. Neville had taken charge of hiding the invisibility cloaks. Due to their nature, this was not hard, but he wanted to keep them all separate, and in places where no one was likely to stumble across them.”
“Not a bad idea,” Seamus agreed, putting his book down and stretching.
“And we also need to talk about how we’re going to get that sword,” Ginny said. “We’ll need Luna, too.”
“I’m not sure need is the word,” Seamus mumbled. Ginny gave him a look which he did not acknowledge.
“So where’s the sword?” Neville asked.
“Harry said Dumbledore kept it in Snape’s office. I’m sure it’s still there,” Ginny said.
“Do we really need this sword?” Seamus asked. “I mean, I’m all for the DA, but how important is this sword?”
“Dumbledore wanted Harry to have it,” Ginny said, “and that’s good enough for me.”
“Merlin’s beard,” Seamus said softly. “If Dumbledore wanted it… it just seems so impossible.”
“Well, ever since Harry was born, impossible things have become a lot more commonplace,” Ginny said with a smirk. “We’ll think, and talk more tonight.”
After that, the three of them devoted their time to homework. Sometimes, Neville felt so strange doing schoolwork, what with everything else going on. But this war, it wouldn’t go on forever. He believed it would end, that they would win. And after that, he’d need to know the things in his classes, so he managed to keep up.
After a few more hours, the three of them left for the Room of Requirement. They tried to always arrive at the meetings at least half an hour early. They found the room, as always, exactly suited to their needs- a number of chairs and couches, arranged in a semicircle, around a small stand.
“Perfect,” Seamus said, rather unnecessarily. He placed the radio on the stand and then took a seat on one of the couches.
“This room is always so lovely,” Luna said. She had come in right behind Neville and the others. “I like it here.”
“Oh, hi Luna,” Ginny said. “Don’t forget, we need to talk after the meeting.”
“Oh yes, of course,” Luna said, “our daring new mission.”
Ginny smiled a little at that, and then went to work finding the proper radio station. By the time she had finished, Demelza Robbins, Lavender, and Parvati had all joined them in the room. Over the next twenty minutes or so, the rest of the DA arrived and took seats in the couches and chairs.
“So, what are we doing tonight?” Anthony asked, examining the room’s unusual layout.
“We’re going to listen to something on the radio,” Ginny said. “Have any of your heard of Potterwatch?” Anthony shook his head. “Well, we think you’ll like it.” The students settled into their seats and Seamus turned on the radio. Neville took a seat next to Ernie while Seamus spoke the password: Remember Med-Eye.
“So what’s this about?” Ernie asked Neville.
“It’s a radio program. Lee Jordan runs it. They keep us updated on the real news.”
“Ah, excellent,” Ernie said with a smile.
“Lee Jordan?” Hannah asked from the other side of Ernie.
“Erm, yes. He has a code name but you can tell it’s his voice,” Neville said. “I think it’s starting.”
“Good evening, and welcome to Potterwatch!” Lee Jordan’s voice boomed from the radio. “As always, we appreciate the risk all of your take by just listening to us. Take a moment to ensure your location is secure.” The radio went silent for a few moments. “Alright then, we’ll start with our top story at the moment. Several of our sources inside the ministry claim that there was disturbance just over a week ago. Dolores Umbridge, former Hogwarts High Inquisitor and head of the Muggle-Born Registration Commission claimed she was attacked and robbed during a court session, though she has since denied making those claims. This may be linked to other witness reports of two Reginald Cattermole’s, a ministry employee, having been seen in the atrium.”
Neville felt a tap on his shoulder. It was Ginny. She had collected Luna and Seamus already. Quietly, they went to back of the room and talked quietly.
“We need to find some way to get in to Snape’s office,” Ginny said. “I don’t imagine any of you have heard the password?” No one spoke up. “Right. Well, I guess we have two options. We can keep trying to stir up trouble until he takes one of us to his office,” Ginny went on.
“Not my favorite plan,” Seamus said.
“Really, I was pulling for that one,” Ginny said blandly. “Option two is a little less dangerous. We would just have to wait around with the cloaks till he went in.”
“Why don’t we do that?” Seamus said. “I like that plan much better.”
“The problem is,” Ginny went on, “is that we don’t know how often he goes to and from his office. And we would have to stand very close to be able to hear him. So we can think on it, for a few minutes.”
Neville was more in favor the second plan. It did seem safer. There was no need to get anyone punished before they went for the sword, especially if it was going to be one of them. Of course, he had no idea what Snape would do if he caught someone snooping around his office in an invisibility cloak. He would take the cloak, for one thing, and he might punish them worse than he would if they were simply brought to him by the Carrows.
Neville eventually let his thoughts go back to the radio, and he heard a more familiar voice.
“Hey, Ginny, aren’t those your brothers?” Neville asked. Ginny looked at him then turned toward the radio. Her face brightened noticeably as she recognized the voices.
“Alright, alright, seriously,” Lee Jordan was saying. “I hear you two have a theory on the disturbance at the Ministry. Rapier, Rapscallion, would you like to share?”
“But of course,” one of them said. Neville thought it was George.
“All these incidents can be easily explained,” the other said.
“Someone was trying to infiltrate the ministry.”
“Perhaps to rob it.”
“Perhaps for information.”
“And we feel that person,”
“Was Harry Potter,” they finished together.
Cheers erupted throughout the room. Neville looked toward the door with concern, but was pretty sure nothing could be heard from outside.
“We don’t know why exactly,” George said, “but we can only hope he was successful in whatever he was trying to do.”
“I thought we agreed he was trying to get Moody’s eye, Rapier,” Fred said.
“We don’t know that for sure.”
“Didn’t you hear how it went missing around that time?”
“My other ear still works fine, Rapscallion.”
“Anyway, moving on to our next guest,” Lee Jordan interrupted, “with some more news and some safety tips, we have Re-“
“Icarus,” a voice said.
“Icarus?” Lee said confusedly. “That doesn’t exactly fit with our theme…”
“I like the name Icarus,” he said.
“Very well,” Lee said with a sigh. “Icarus.”
“Hey, that’s my uncle Dedalus!” Deladus Diggle said. “I was named after him.”
“But you don’t have the same name,” Demelza Robins pointed out.
“My dad’s a little dyslexic,” Deladus said sheepishly.
“Any ideas?” Ginny said, turning back to the matter at hand.
“I was thinking,” Neville said. “We could use Peeves to cause some commotion, to draw Snape and the other away. I don’t think he likes the Carrows at all. I bet he’d help if we asked.”
“That’s a good idea,” Ginny said. “If we can get him to help. Do you want to ask him?”
“Not especially, but I will,” Neville said glumly.
“Alright, good. But we still need that password.”
“I think waiting is our best option,” Luna said. “I don’t want to know how hard we would have to try to get Snape to punish us personally.”
“I can help,” another voice said. Neville turned around to see Michael Corner standing behind him.
“What do you want?” Ginny said with a scowl.
“I can help,” Michael repeated.
“What are you talking about?” Ginny demanded.
“I know the password the Snape’s office. He caught me casting a spell in the halls.”
“Well, what is it?” Seamus said. “Come on, out with it.”
“No way,” Michael said. “If I tell you, you’ll just go on and do it. I want to come along.”
“Just give it to us,” Ginny said, getting to her feet.
“Only way I’ll tell you is if I can come along,” Michael said.
Ginny stared him down. It really looked like she was going to say no- and hex him, to boot.
“Come on, Ginny,” Neville said. “This is a good thing. We don’t have to worry about getting caught before hand.”
“Fine,” Ginny said after a moment. “You’re in.”
“Good,” Michael said with a grin. The Potterwatch show had just ended, and the rest of the DA was starting to look toward the group in the back.
“We’ll talk about this later,” Ginny said.
“Good, just let me know,” Michael replied, still smiling. He walked back to join Terry and Anthony.
“Wonderful,” Ginny muttered. “This year keeps getting better and better. I can’t believe he weaseled his way in to this.”
“He does remind me a bit of a weasel,” Luna said, “in the nose, a little bit.”
They all laughed a little at that. “Anyway,” Seamus said, “he’s in, and we might as well make the best of it. Let’s send everyone off and get back to the Tower.”
___________________________________________________________
Raymond//Gryffindor