OMG! Neville/Ginny fic!
Title: Something worth fighting for.
Chapter: 1, The calm before the storm.
Fandom: Harry Potter.
Disclaimer: Owned by JK Rowling. DUH!
Pairing: Neville/Ginny.
Warning: Warning for very harsh words (bad Draco, bad), and uppery teenagey stuff. Also, there will be lots of angst. And some fluff. But mostly angst... for now!
Rating: PG-15. If you think it should have a differnet rating, please to tell me. I'm very sleep deprived as I'm typing this.
Random Notes: This fic just had to be, with bad ass Neville Longbottom running the D.A. together with miss Ginny Weasley. Will become N/G, so if you have a problem with that pairing (what, are you crazy?) you won’t like this fic. The title was inspired by the line from the OotP-movie. Suitable for a fic centred around the D.A.
It follows as closely as possible to the new canon. However, this is a behind the scenes of MY DH, where the epilogue was ripped out of!
Bro: Hey, sis, have you seen my copy of the Deathly Hallows that you borrowed to check up some bits for your fic?
Me again: ...
Uh-oh.
The galleon in her breast pocket got warm. Ginny almost dropped the fork in her bacon and egg, and quickly stole a glance in Neville’s direction further down the table. It was his turn to decide their meeting time, and just as she had feared, he was doing it at the table. Sure, his hands were under the table, but how reckless could you get? No one else had noticed though, and she returned her attention to her food so to keep it that way the best she could. She started to realise that this was how it felt to be the one witnessing the reckless behaviour instead of being the one behind it.
It wasn’t until later when she arrived at headquarters, as usual one half hour before the meeting time indicated on the coin, that she was relatively safe to speak her mind to Neville. As long as it was safe with Luna around, and that it was to her.
“What were you thinking?”
“About what?” Neville seemed fairly oblivious, while Luna was distracted from her usual check on if there had sneaked any wrackspurts into the room since their last meeting.
“You know perfectly well what I’m talking about!”
Neville looked confused at first, and then remembered how Ginny had glanced at him when he had charmed his galleon.
“Ah, you mean about my charming the coin during lunch?”
“I wondered why the galleon got warm during while I was eating,” said Luna mildly curious. “I had figured that it was just my imagination and that the date had changed during last night.”
“Yes, well,” said Ginny, “it was reckless at any rate! In case you hadn’t noticed, there are three death eaters that dine with us every day, sitting at a elevated table where they have clear sight of anything not-ministry approved!”
“I know,” said Neville. “And believe me, I was worried myself about it. But I didn’t have that much of a choice. We needed a time for this meeting fast, and we needed to get people knowing as soon as possible. People are going to be returning home for the holidays in just two days, all of us included. And the ones staying needs to know what the overall strategy is.”
He walked up to her and gave her a friendly pat on the back.
“Besides,” he said teasingly. “I hardly think that little miss Lets-break-into-Snape’s-office should be giving speeches about being reckless.”
“Yes, well,” said Ginny once again, only now she was blushing furiously. “That was an entirely different thing! We all agreed to trust Dumbledore no matter what Skeeter thinks, you know, since we’re his army and all. And I heard Harry and Ron mention that he had left the sword to Harry in his will. There had to be some reason behind that, especially as Scrimgeour said it wasn’t his to give!”
“I haven’t forgotten why we did it, Ginny,” Neville said, and looked as close as he would ever be to roll his eyes. “But this is important as well. Not just for strategy, but for moral. The ones that have decided to stay will be more alone than the others, and they will need to see that the others will still keep the flame alive.”
“Lets not forget,” Luna added, “that the ones going home need to be reminded that what we do here is important, so that they aren’t tempted to stay at home with their families, no matter how criminal that is now. And this will also be our farewell party in a way, won’t it? That’s why the three of us are going to go to Aberforth and buy enough butterbeer for the entire army, no?”
Ginny looked at her two best friends still with her at Hogwarts. And she melted at last.
“You’re right. It’s just... I’m so worried. Since I got that letter from the twins, I just feel so helpless.”
Neville and Luna looked at each other. They realised that the isolation from “what was going on out there?” was much more taxing on Ginny than on either of them. She had more family members to worry about, not to mention a no 1 Undesirable for a boyfriend. Even though she had told them that they had broken up before summer, it was in name only. She still searched through every copy of the Prophet and The Quibbler for any mention of Harry Potter having been caught.
Luna took the first step, and walked up and embraced Ginny.
“It’s nothing to worry about. We’re with you, aren’t we?”
Neville walked up and joined the hug.
“And as long as we’re together we can’t be helpless, can we?”
Ginny finally slipped her own arms around her friends.
“Because when you think about it,” said Neville, determined to cheer her up. “How can you be helpless? You’ve got an entire army backing you up!”
And then she laughed. It was impossible not to, and it felt so good.
“Come on now,” said Luna. “We still need to get that butterbeer before they arrive. We’ll probably have to ask Aberforth to help us carry it all, and you know he’ll be grouchy about that.”
Neville broke free from the hug and went to the portrait of the mystery girl that held the connection to Hogsmeade. Luna and Ginny trailed behind.
“And think about it. We’ll soon be with our families, and we’ll get to know about everything that’s happened that we couldn’t be told of otherwise.”
Ginny agreed with her, but silently she thought that the reason why she was so nerve strung was that it now was so close to her finally getting to see her family. Did dad still have his job? Fred had mentioned in the letter that some death eater had threatened dad by telling him that he was being watched. Did the ministry know that he was a order member? Did they know that one of his children was tagging along with Harry Potter when he was supposed to be home with spattergroit? And did they know that his only daughter was part of the Hogwarts rebellion? As they walked through the tunnel, she was silently thanking all the threads of fate for having Neville and Luna with her. They kept her sane, the two of them. Now that was probably a first for Luna to be thought of that way, she thought to herself with a smile.
“So,” said Neville as the last butterbeer was handed out. “This is our last meeting before Christmas leave. As you all know, not continuing our usual approach to Christmas leave from earlier years, may be noted by Snape, the Death Eater that has been at Hogwarts for as long as any of us has been a student here. So those of you that would have returned for Christmas had things been different, must still do so, and those of you who have not must remain here like usual. If we are to keep our organisation secret, any non anonymous action by a member must be inconspicuous.”
Ginny looked around the gathered crowd. They were looking so attentive at what Neville was saying. She knew it was her turn to speak now, just as she, Neville and Luna had decided before the meeting.
“Which brings us to the role call of the students remaining for the holidays. Please stretch out your hand if you’re going to be staying at Hogwarts for Christmas.” While some hands flew up in the air, others were a bit unsure. “Don’t be shy,” she encouraged them. “We just want to know how many of you are going to be staying.”
When she finished counting it was about five hands in the air. Hardly a surprising number, the few first and second years they had with them had practically been commanded by them to go home, and anyone having an uneven record for going home or not would surely go home to see their family. She looked towards Neville, they had let the strategy for the staying depend on how many would be doing so.
“Right,” said Neville. “Good. Now listen, those of you who are going to be staying here. For the continued fight and for your own safety, your strategy is to keep low. Spend the holidays eating good food and have fun. Don’t do any unnecessary trips to Headquarters, and instead try to get some practising done in your dormitories and common rooms, but only if you’re sure that you will not be seen.” He looked at the five students remaining, and Ginny knew that he also saw the slight disappointment in some of their faces. “I know you want to keep it up, but you have to be patient. If something happens while there are so few of you left at school, it will be easier for Snape to narrow down the suspects, and one or all of you could get caught. It’s best to take advantage of our hidden numbers, they still don’t know how many of us they are up against. We have to win this war together.”
Even Luna seemed to have changed her facial expression as the others had. There was no denying how much Neville had grown these past few months of their rebellion. Whether it was teaching the other students how to fight, or to stand as an example in the classroom, or like now to inspire with words and passion the army to follow the way they had to, he had become so respected by the others it almost surprised Ginny that people still felt comfortable calling him by his first name. Almost, because in spite of what one might have thought, he had still remained that shy and sweet boy who had asked her to the Yuleball a lifetime ago.
“Now, for those of you returning home,” Luna continued, keeping with the protocol. “We urge you to remind your families that He-who-must-not-be-named hasn’t won as long as there is resistance. Harry Potter may be Undesirable no 1 in the eyes of the ministry, but not in the eyes of us who believe in freedom and that the purity of your blood doesn’t make you a better person. Remember to tell your parents how to tune in on Potterwatch on your wireless, and that the password for the Christmas special is “Patronus”. Also, The Quibbler will keep on reporting on how you can help the fight, and also report on the deaths and attacks that other papers won’t mention. Also remember what you have learnt here, and see if you can teach some of it to your family members and friends.”
“And most importantly,” added Ginny, wondering for herself if it seemed too obvious that they had rehearsed this meeting, “do make sure that you return back By which we mean for you to avoid doing something stupid like getting yourselves arrested or killed. Remember, we’re still more sheltered here at Hogwarts than we will be at home. Here we can at worst get detention or expulsion. And so far we have at least managed to avoid the latter.” She didn’t mention that that was probably because Voldemort wanted to keep them there. “However, if your family insists on leaving the country, we will understand if you don’t return.” She gave a quick glance towards Neville and Luna, and returned to the D.A. members. “That’s about it, Happy Holidays!”
“Hear hear!” One of the students called out, her butterbeer in the air. Others followed suit, and their leader trio held their bottles together in a private cheer resonating with the others.
“United we stand,” whispered Neville so only Ginny and Luna could hear him.
"Divided we fall," Ginny whispered back.
"The net is stronger than the chain," Luna whispered, the cryptic saying that they had deemed as their own secret motto. She had explained that while Voldemort and the Death Eaters were a chain, where the chain was only as strong as its weakest link, Dumbledore’s Army was a net, each thread using its strengths to cover for the weaknesses of others.
"Happy Holidays!" they all cheered, and soon the bottles were emptied.
"I can hardly wait to see father again. He’s written to me about a special surprise for Christmas." Luna looked up at the grey cloud covered sky. "I wonder if it could be a Crumple-Horned Snorkack..."
"Didn’t you tell us that after a whole summer in Sweden, you found nothing?" Ginny was sitting on her trunk, anxious for the carriages to come. She was the only one of their trio that still couldn’t see the thestrals pulling them. She wondered if she would remain in that one last innocence for long...
"Yes, but that doesn’t mean no one else could find them. If there’s been sightings, there’s bound to be proof."
Luna’s optimism was without boundaries as usual.
"Well, I hope your father is alright. He’s been taking a huge risk running The Quibbler like he has. No matter if he doesn’t have as many subscribers as the Prophet does, they won’t keep looking idly on it."
"I know," said Luna, with a sad smile. "I worry a bit about him. Because I know that he won’t stop doing what he’s doing even to save his life. They would have to offer him something much more valuable than that to get him on their side."
"Like what?" Neville piped in, curious as they were waiting. Luna seemed to be thinking about it for a while.
"Maybe the hallows that make you master of Death, or... the cauldron from which the skald’s mead comes that makes you skald like a wise and learned man."
Ginny had to stifle a giggle. She didn’t want to laugh at some of the more ridiculous notions of Luna, especially when she knew that most of the things Luna thought of did make more sense than first appeared. Though it was doubtless these examples were far from it. Hallows that made you master of death indeed! If there was such a thing, she would order death to do away with Voldemort and the Death Eaters and to keep away from all her loved ones. Bill would not be home for Christmas, she remembered. He was going to celebrate Christmas with Fleur. At least he would be safe... It was strange, as long as she had had her mother’s support, and not been forced to accept the inevitability of their marriage, it had been easy to dislike and despise Fleur. But after that time in the hospital wing, even though she had still been scorning her afterwards, she and Fleur had only got closer. That summer she had actually opened her eyes to how kind her new sister in law was, and had by the time of the wedding become proud that she now was part of the family.
"Ah, finally," said Neville. The carriages had arrived to take them to the train.
The three of them managed to get a compartment in private on the far end of the train, even if it had meant having to silently remind others that the D.A.’s secrets weren’t safe from other students. They mostly craved the isolation, because like they had been doing on the train ride last September, they were going to be planning D.A. business. Just to be on the safe side, they had loads of Exploding Snap cards, and Chocolate Frogs to give the impression that they were just three old friends passing the time on a dreary old train. They were looking through schedules that other students had supplied, providing holes for smaller meetings. Big meetings like the one before Christmas were very rare, and only when it came to overall battle plans. Usually they met in smaller groups for certain strikes. There were goals to be met, the one they prioritised being to keep morals up on their side and morals down on the other side. The very fact that they had given the Carrows and Snape a run for their money, had attracted more students to join them. Painting "Dumbledore’s Army, now recruiting" was just to point out what they were joining.
"We have to find out what they are doing with the missing students," Neville said.
"If they’re not sending them home or to Azkaban, they must be doing something much worse to them," said Ginny, thinking hard about the options. "George once mentioned that Filch has chains in his office which he has been dying to use on students. You don’t think they’re torturing them in the basement, do you?" Though it was easy to imagine Filch doing that in one of the twins’ jokes, or in reality itself, the very thought of actually doing that in their time...
"It’s possible," said Neville with afterthought. "We can’t rule it out."
"I think," said Luna, "one of the third years in my house said they heard the first year who was taken away screaming in one of the corridors, on the lower levels. But he hasn’t heard anything since, nor has anyone else."
Neville’s knuckles were turning white, as were Ginny’s she noticed, as she looked down at the piece of parchment that was crumpling in her hands. She felt a urge to go back to school and blast the bat bogey hex all over Snape, the Carrows and especially Filch. Although he was a Squib he had been all over with joy from the change of regime, finally a chance for him to be as cruel as he had longed to be towards the students. What would happen when things turned around on him wasn’t given a second thought.
“They’ll have to have let him return to his family, won’t they?” asked Luna, a tinge of worry in her voice. “Someone’s going to ask for him.”
“Just a bunch of filthy muggles that don’t have the right to know what’s happened to their own son,” said Ginny with scorn. “Just like they teach us in class.”
“Well,” said Neville, laying a now much calmer hand on Ginny’s schoulder, “we know better, so by the time things turn around, the joke’s on them.”
They heard someone getting closer to their compartment, so instead of replying Ginny took up her cards, and the others followed in unison.
“Snapple crack!” she shouted gleefully, having laid out a hand of cards that would either award her six points or explode in her hands, depending on what the others had.
Before the others could lay out their cards, the door opened and Draco Malfoy entered. Completely ignoring him, Luna and Neville laid out their cards.
“Sniggely dingel,” Neville said in a defeated voice, as his hand only awarded one point.
“Bongo crash.” Luna said, her voice not hinting at the victory of having a hand of twelve points. Promptly, Ginny’s and Neville’s cards exploded, leaving a trail of smoke in the air that Draco, as he was inhaling to speak in his coldest voice ended up filling his lungs with. He started to cough as they finally turned their attention towards him. Surprisingly they found that he was alone for once, Crabbe and Goyle nowhere to be seen. He quickly tried to get back his dignity and gave them his usual cold sneer.
“You know, Looney,” he said, smirking. “Usually when you have such a good hand as the Bongo Crash, you play it out immediately, rather than risk someone getting a better hand while you wait, or your cards exploding because of the time. Not that I’ve played that children’s game since I was twelve, but you know, common sense is good to exercise every now and then.”
“Well,” said Luna. “I like the excitement I get from the possible risk of the cards exploding, and it’s not like it hurts to have the cards blow up in your hands. But while we’re on the subject of common sense, how about the fact that none of the usual rules apply for underage magic on the train? And the fact that you come on your own to try and pick a fight with three students who are each one at least as good as yourself? How would you exercise common sense with these facts?”
Ginny burst out laughing, not believing that Malfoy had actually tried to bait Luna.
“Who says I’m here to pick a fight?” Draco Malfoy was determined not to give up just yet.
“Lets see,” said Ginny feeling like her usual gutsy self. “You come in without knocking first, which is generally considered rude no matter what family you are from. You insult Luna, and don’t even use her proper name which by the way is pronounced Loo-nah and not Loo-nee.”
He flushed a shade of pink, but he still remained otherwise unperturbed.
“Actually I just came to offer you three a warning. You three are all of pureblood lines, and have therefor so far been relatively safe at Hogwarts.” At ‘relatively’ he nodded his chin towards the slash that Neville had received on his face during muggle studies two weeks ago for having questioned the purity of the Carrows’ blood line. “But those pureblood families of yours can still get you into a lot of trouble. My aunt has told me a lot about your parents, Longbottom. Especially about how they screamed.” Neville was rapidly losing blood in his face, either of anger or how the pain of being reminded of how it felt to see his parents every year in their state caused by Malfoy’s aunt. But Draco just moved his eyes towards Luna. “And while your name is Loo-nah, and not Loo-nee, that’s more than can be said about your father. You really think your father’s stinking paper is going to make it in this new world order?” Luna showed no sign of being affected, mainly because she wasn’t. She was certain her father would be alright. Disappointed in her lack of reaction, Malfoy finally turned towards Ginny. “I don’t have to tell you Weasley, about the blood traitor status on your family, especially when you keep housing Potter over the summer.” He smirked and leered towards her. “And we should probably not talk about what they would do if they knew what you’ve been to Potter. Or rather what you did with him.” He stepped threateningly closer and lowered himself until he was almost eye to eye with her, only a little more elevated. “So tell me,” he whispered in a confidential tone, “was he as bad in bed as he was at picking his whore?”
Ginny doubted that there was any part of her that didn’t went scarlet right then and there. Neville flew past her and landed a punch so hard that Malfoy slumped down against the door leading out of the compartment. For one moment, everything was perfectly still besides the rushing images past the window. Then Luna walked up to Malfoy and examined him.
“He’s not dead, but I think you knocked him out cold,” she said and turned back to give him another look. “I wonder if it gave him a concussion?”
“There’s nothing in the world that can convince me that he didn’t deserve it for that comment.” Neville was absolutely furious. Ginny... She was still stunned over hearing such a thing. But it was almost just as shocking to see Neville punch someone. He turned towards her.
“Hey,” he said, hugging her lightly with one arm. “Don’t pay any attention to what he said. We know what Harry really means to you. He’s just upset that the only girls that would look at him twice are whores paid for by his dad.”
She whimpered a small thanks, but hardly dared to look at him. Neville probably didn’t know, and she doubted that Luna did either, but the combination of Ginny’s and Harry’s first kiss and the fact that he had walked away from her during Dumbledore’s funeral, had been the hottest gossip. At least the break up had served the purpose Harry had given for it. No one, besides her friends, believed that Ginny had been anything else but a quick snog for Harry. And now it was apparent that those were the nice rumours flying about.
This wasn’t the time to be a sissy, she thought angrily at herself.
“We better carry him out,” she said, taking the lead, “and clean of the blood running out of his nose. Perhaps we can make it seem as though he feel asleep? I know there’s at least one more compartment that’s empty around here...”
Luna sneaked out first in the corridor, looking for the closest empty compartment. Neville and Ginny lugged the Slytherin into the compartment while Luna kept watch. It was heavy work, he may have been thin but he was still tall. Lucky Ginny had been working out this summer, in pure frustration of still not being old enough to perform magic outside of Hogwarts. And Neville was no pushover either. She couldn’t help but wonder where he had grown those muscles from...
“You alright, Ginny?”
She had been staring at him.
“Yes, fine. Lets just leave Malfoy here and get back before anyone sees us.”
Finally in their own compartment they were free to let go of the breath they had been holding without noticing.
“I hope you don’t get in trouble for this.”
“Don’t think about it, Ginny,” Neville said, turning to face her, and resting his hands on her shoulders to keep her facing him. “No matter if they have me scrubbing all the boys’ bathrooms the muggle way for two weeks straight, or whatever else they think of doing against me, I would do it again given the choice. He’s got to learn some way that you get what you ask for.”
Now she had an inkling where the muscles came from.
“I don’t think there’s any real danger,” said Luna, who had been first to get seated, and was talking behind a copy of a book titled Seldom Seen Sightings. “He was so knocked out of it that his memory was probably jogged. But it was rather peculiar, wasn’t it?”
“What was?” Ginny asked, sitting down beside her and stealing a glance into the book.
“Draco Malfoy has never picked a fight with us, unless he had back up.”
“Perhaps Crabbe and Goyle are staying at Hogwarts for the Holidays?” Neville got seated opposite of the girls.
“Yes probably... But why would he do it then?”
Ginny agreed with her.
“It is strange. Malfoy doesn’t do something risky unless he gets something out of it.” She looked out through the window at the darkening skies. “But what?”
They spent the rest of the time not talking about the D.A. There would be time for that when they returned, and it was getting riskier as they got closer to London. Instead they played more Exploding Snap, read books, and laughed and joked. Luna shared the reading of her Seldom Seen Sights book with Ginny pointing out her own views on some of the material.
“This illustration of Blinking Whirwings isn’t accurate,” Luna said.
Luna had told Ginny several times now that she saw a swarm of Whirwings in her first year at Hogwarts. Blinking Whirwings were a fairy tale, told to wizarding children to encourage honourable traits in them, since the Whirwings only showed themselves to those of valour and wit or whatever it was mum told her. Ron once said that he had a dream about seeing a swarm, but that he still wasn’t sure whether it had been a dream or not.
“Hmm, how soon till we’re there,” asked the Ravenclaw girl, fidgeting in her seat.
“Not long now,” Neville said, looking at his coming of age watch. “Ten minutes.”
“Hmm, then I better put my stuff back in my trunk.”
“Why,” asked Ginny. “It won’t take two minutes to pack as it is.”
“Yes, but I need to use the bathroom, and if the trunk is packed ahead of time I won’t have to stress about it later.”
“You expect to be in the bathroom for a long time?” Neville looked confused.
“I expect having difficulty finding a bathroom first,” she answered as she put down her last chocolate frog in her trunk and closed it.
“I saw one before when we looked for this compartment,” Ginny said. “Next car, to the right.”
“Thanks, Ginny,” she said and walked up to the door. “If I take longer than expected, I guess we’ll be seeing each other next year.”
Ginny smiled at her friend.
“Happy Christmas, Luna.”
“Happy Christmas Luna,” Neville added.
“Happy Nargle-free Christmas to both of you.” She disappeared out the door. “I’ll owl you about the Snorkack.”
“Make sure you do!” Ginny called back at her.
“Dad!” Ginny ran up and hugged her father tightly.
“Your mother sends her love,” he said, hugging her back. “She’s waiting back at the Burrow, it’s not safe to travel in numbers. Now let me take your trunk for you.”
He gently levitated it up on a carriage, while Ginny looked back at where she had left Neville. She saw his old grandma, whom she had only met once before, walking up and hugging him. Wonder if she knew what he had been doing this past semester.
“Ready to go home?” Her father stretched out his hand to her. She looked around the platform one last time. There she saw Mr Lovegood waiting for his daughter. Good, the three of them would all have someone to go home with. She just hoped that the same could be said about the other Army members turning home.
“Yes.” As she clasped his hand, she knew that for one small moment, there was no pressure of leadership and no strikes at authority to be planned. Now there was only being with her family, and hearing everything they had been through. Everything else, she would face with her friends, after the holidays.
Next chapter.
Chapter: 1, The calm before the storm.
Fandom: Harry Potter.
Disclaimer: Owned by JK Rowling. DUH!
Pairing: Neville/Ginny.
Warning: Warning for very harsh words (bad Draco, bad), and uppery teenagey stuff. Also, there will be lots of angst. And some fluff. But mostly angst... for now!
Rating: PG-15. If you think it should have a differnet rating, please to tell me. I'm very sleep deprived as I'm typing this.
Random Notes: This fic just had to be, with bad ass Neville Longbottom running the D.A. together with miss Ginny Weasley. Will become N/G, so if you have a problem with that pairing (what, are you crazy?) you won’t like this fic. The title was inspired by the line from the OotP-movie. Suitable for a fic centred around the D.A.
It follows as closely as possible to the new canon. However, this is a behind the scenes of MY DH, where the epilogue was ripped out of!
Bro: Hey, sis, have you seen my copy of the Deathly Hallows that you borrowed to check up some bits for your fic?
Me again: ...
Uh-oh.
The galleon in her breast pocket got warm. Ginny almost dropped the fork in her bacon and egg, and quickly stole a glance in Neville’s direction further down the table. It was his turn to decide their meeting time, and just as she had feared, he was doing it at the table. Sure, his hands were under the table, but how reckless could you get? No one else had noticed though, and she returned her attention to her food so to keep it that way the best she could. She started to realise that this was how it felt to be the one witnessing the reckless behaviour instead of being the one behind it.
It wasn’t until later when she arrived at headquarters, as usual one half hour before the meeting time indicated on the coin, that she was relatively safe to speak her mind to Neville. As long as it was safe with Luna around, and that it was to her.
“What were you thinking?”
“About what?” Neville seemed fairly oblivious, while Luna was distracted from her usual check on if there had sneaked any wrackspurts into the room since their last meeting.
“You know perfectly well what I’m talking about!”
Neville looked confused at first, and then remembered how Ginny had glanced at him when he had charmed his galleon.
“Ah, you mean about my charming the coin during lunch?”
“I wondered why the galleon got warm during while I was eating,” said Luna mildly curious. “I had figured that it was just my imagination and that the date had changed during last night.”
“Yes, well,” said Ginny, “it was reckless at any rate! In case you hadn’t noticed, there are three death eaters that dine with us every day, sitting at a elevated table where they have clear sight of anything not-ministry approved!”
“I know,” said Neville. “And believe me, I was worried myself about it. But I didn’t have that much of a choice. We needed a time for this meeting fast, and we needed to get people knowing as soon as possible. People are going to be returning home for the holidays in just two days, all of us included. And the ones staying needs to know what the overall strategy is.”
He walked up to her and gave her a friendly pat on the back.
“Besides,” he said teasingly. “I hardly think that little miss Lets-break-into-Snape’s-office should be giving speeches about being reckless.”
“Yes, well,” said Ginny once again, only now she was blushing furiously. “That was an entirely different thing! We all agreed to trust Dumbledore no matter what Skeeter thinks, you know, since we’re his army and all. And I heard Harry and Ron mention that he had left the sword to Harry in his will. There had to be some reason behind that, especially as Scrimgeour said it wasn’t his to give!”
“I haven’t forgotten why we did it, Ginny,” Neville said, and looked as close as he would ever be to roll his eyes. “But this is important as well. Not just for strategy, but for moral. The ones that have decided to stay will be more alone than the others, and they will need to see that the others will still keep the flame alive.”
“Lets not forget,” Luna added, “that the ones going home need to be reminded that what we do here is important, so that they aren’t tempted to stay at home with their families, no matter how criminal that is now. And this will also be our farewell party in a way, won’t it? That’s why the three of us are going to go to Aberforth and buy enough butterbeer for the entire army, no?”
Ginny looked at her two best friends still with her at Hogwarts. And she melted at last.
“You’re right. It’s just... I’m so worried. Since I got that letter from the twins, I just feel so helpless.”
Neville and Luna looked at each other. They realised that the isolation from “what was going on out there?” was much more taxing on Ginny than on either of them. She had more family members to worry about, not to mention a no 1 Undesirable for a boyfriend. Even though she had told them that they had broken up before summer, it was in name only. She still searched through every copy of the Prophet and The Quibbler for any mention of Harry Potter having been caught.
Luna took the first step, and walked up and embraced Ginny.
“It’s nothing to worry about. We’re with you, aren’t we?”
Neville walked up and joined the hug.
“And as long as we’re together we can’t be helpless, can we?”
Ginny finally slipped her own arms around her friends.
“Because when you think about it,” said Neville, determined to cheer her up. “How can you be helpless? You’ve got an entire army backing you up!”
And then she laughed. It was impossible not to, and it felt so good.
“Come on now,” said Luna. “We still need to get that butterbeer before they arrive. We’ll probably have to ask Aberforth to help us carry it all, and you know he’ll be grouchy about that.”
Neville broke free from the hug and went to the portrait of the mystery girl that held the connection to Hogsmeade. Luna and Ginny trailed behind.
“And think about it. We’ll soon be with our families, and we’ll get to know about everything that’s happened that we couldn’t be told of otherwise.”
Ginny agreed with her, but silently she thought that the reason why she was so nerve strung was that it now was so close to her finally getting to see her family. Did dad still have his job? Fred had mentioned in the letter that some death eater had threatened dad by telling him that he was being watched. Did the ministry know that he was a order member? Did they know that one of his children was tagging along with Harry Potter when he was supposed to be home with spattergroit? And did they know that his only daughter was part of the Hogwarts rebellion? As they walked through the tunnel, she was silently thanking all the threads of fate for having Neville and Luna with her. They kept her sane, the two of them. Now that was probably a first for Luna to be thought of that way, she thought to herself with a smile.
“So,” said Neville as the last butterbeer was handed out. “This is our last meeting before Christmas leave. As you all know, not continuing our usual approach to Christmas leave from earlier years, may be noted by Snape, the Death Eater that has been at Hogwarts for as long as any of us has been a student here. So those of you that would have returned for Christmas had things been different, must still do so, and those of you who have not must remain here like usual. If we are to keep our organisation secret, any non anonymous action by a member must be inconspicuous.”
Ginny looked around the gathered crowd. They were looking so attentive at what Neville was saying. She knew it was her turn to speak now, just as she, Neville and Luna had decided before the meeting.
“Which brings us to the role call of the students remaining for the holidays. Please stretch out your hand if you’re going to be staying at Hogwarts for Christmas.” While some hands flew up in the air, others were a bit unsure. “Don’t be shy,” she encouraged them. “We just want to know how many of you are going to be staying.”
When she finished counting it was about five hands in the air. Hardly a surprising number, the few first and second years they had with them had practically been commanded by them to go home, and anyone having an uneven record for going home or not would surely go home to see their family. She looked towards Neville, they had let the strategy for the staying depend on how many would be doing so.
“Right,” said Neville. “Good. Now listen, those of you who are going to be staying here. For the continued fight and for your own safety, your strategy is to keep low. Spend the holidays eating good food and have fun. Don’t do any unnecessary trips to Headquarters, and instead try to get some practising done in your dormitories and common rooms, but only if you’re sure that you will not be seen.” He looked at the five students remaining, and Ginny knew that he also saw the slight disappointment in some of their faces. “I know you want to keep it up, but you have to be patient. If something happens while there are so few of you left at school, it will be easier for Snape to narrow down the suspects, and one or all of you could get caught. It’s best to take advantage of our hidden numbers, they still don’t know how many of us they are up against. We have to win this war together.”
Even Luna seemed to have changed her facial expression as the others had. There was no denying how much Neville had grown these past few months of their rebellion. Whether it was teaching the other students how to fight, or to stand as an example in the classroom, or like now to inspire with words and passion the army to follow the way they had to, he had become so respected by the others it almost surprised Ginny that people still felt comfortable calling him by his first name. Almost, because in spite of what one might have thought, he had still remained that shy and sweet boy who had asked her to the Yuleball a lifetime ago.
“Now, for those of you returning home,” Luna continued, keeping with the protocol. “We urge you to remind your families that He-who-must-not-be-named hasn’t won as long as there is resistance. Harry Potter may be Undesirable no 1 in the eyes of the ministry, but not in the eyes of us who believe in freedom and that the purity of your blood doesn’t make you a better person. Remember to tell your parents how to tune in on Potterwatch on your wireless, and that the password for the Christmas special is “Patronus”. Also, The Quibbler will keep on reporting on how you can help the fight, and also report on the deaths and attacks that other papers won’t mention. Also remember what you have learnt here, and see if you can teach some of it to your family members and friends.”
“And most importantly,” added Ginny, wondering for herself if it seemed too obvious that they had rehearsed this meeting, “do make sure that you return back By which we mean for you to avoid doing something stupid like getting yourselves arrested or killed. Remember, we’re still more sheltered here at Hogwarts than we will be at home. Here we can at worst get detention or expulsion. And so far we have at least managed to avoid the latter.” She didn’t mention that that was probably because Voldemort wanted to keep them there. “However, if your family insists on leaving the country, we will understand if you don’t return.” She gave a quick glance towards Neville and Luna, and returned to the D.A. members. “That’s about it, Happy Holidays!”
“Hear hear!” One of the students called out, her butterbeer in the air. Others followed suit, and their leader trio held their bottles together in a private cheer resonating with the others.
“United we stand,” whispered Neville so only Ginny and Luna could hear him.
"Divided we fall," Ginny whispered back.
"The net is stronger than the chain," Luna whispered, the cryptic saying that they had deemed as their own secret motto. She had explained that while Voldemort and the Death Eaters were a chain, where the chain was only as strong as its weakest link, Dumbledore’s Army was a net, each thread using its strengths to cover for the weaknesses of others.
"Happy Holidays!" they all cheered, and soon the bottles were emptied.
"I can hardly wait to see father again. He’s written to me about a special surprise for Christmas." Luna looked up at the grey cloud covered sky. "I wonder if it could be a Crumple-Horned Snorkack..."
"Didn’t you tell us that after a whole summer in Sweden, you found nothing?" Ginny was sitting on her trunk, anxious for the carriages to come. She was the only one of their trio that still couldn’t see the thestrals pulling them. She wondered if she would remain in that one last innocence for long...
"Yes, but that doesn’t mean no one else could find them. If there’s been sightings, there’s bound to be proof."
Luna’s optimism was without boundaries as usual.
"Well, I hope your father is alright. He’s been taking a huge risk running The Quibbler like he has. No matter if he doesn’t have as many subscribers as the Prophet does, they won’t keep looking idly on it."
"I know," said Luna, with a sad smile. "I worry a bit about him. Because I know that he won’t stop doing what he’s doing even to save his life. They would have to offer him something much more valuable than that to get him on their side."
"Like what?" Neville piped in, curious as they were waiting. Luna seemed to be thinking about it for a while.
"Maybe the hallows that make you master of Death, or... the cauldron from which the skald’s mead comes that makes you skald like a wise and learned man."
Ginny had to stifle a giggle. She didn’t want to laugh at some of the more ridiculous notions of Luna, especially when she knew that most of the things Luna thought of did make more sense than first appeared. Though it was doubtless these examples were far from it. Hallows that made you master of death indeed! If there was such a thing, she would order death to do away with Voldemort and the Death Eaters and to keep away from all her loved ones. Bill would not be home for Christmas, she remembered. He was going to celebrate Christmas with Fleur. At least he would be safe... It was strange, as long as she had had her mother’s support, and not been forced to accept the inevitability of their marriage, it had been easy to dislike and despise Fleur. But after that time in the hospital wing, even though she had still been scorning her afterwards, she and Fleur had only got closer. That summer she had actually opened her eyes to how kind her new sister in law was, and had by the time of the wedding become proud that she now was part of the family.
"Ah, finally," said Neville. The carriages had arrived to take them to the train.
The three of them managed to get a compartment in private on the far end of the train, even if it had meant having to silently remind others that the D.A.’s secrets weren’t safe from other students. They mostly craved the isolation, because like they had been doing on the train ride last September, they were going to be planning D.A. business. Just to be on the safe side, they had loads of Exploding Snap cards, and Chocolate Frogs to give the impression that they were just three old friends passing the time on a dreary old train. They were looking through schedules that other students had supplied, providing holes for smaller meetings. Big meetings like the one before Christmas were very rare, and only when it came to overall battle plans. Usually they met in smaller groups for certain strikes. There were goals to be met, the one they prioritised being to keep morals up on their side and morals down on the other side. The very fact that they had given the Carrows and Snape a run for their money, had attracted more students to join them. Painting "Dumbledore’s Army, now recruiting" was just to point out what they were joining.
"We have to find out what they are doing with the missing students," Neville said.
"If they’re not sending them home or to Azkaban, they must be doing something much worse to them," said Ginny, thinking hard about the options. "George once mentioned that Filch has chains in his office which he has been dying to use on students. You don’t think they’re torturing them in the basement, do you?" Though it was easy to imagine Filch doing that in one of the twins’ jokes, or in reality itself, the very thought of actually doing that in their time...
"It’s possible," said Neville with afterthought. "We can’t rule it out."
"I think," said Luna, "one of the third years in my house said they heard the first year who was taken away screaming in one of the corridors, on the lower levels. But he hasn’t heard anything since, nor has anyone else."
Neville’s knuckles were turning white, as were Ginny’s she noticed, as she looked down at the piece of parchment that was crumpling in her hands. She felt a urge to go back to school and blast the bat bogey hex all over Snape, the Carrows and especially Filch. Although he was a Squib he had been all over with joy from the change of regime, finally a chance for him to be as cruel as he had longed to be towards the students. What would happen when things turned around on him wasn’t given a second thought.
“They’ll have to have let him return to his family, won’t they?” asked Luna, a tinge of worry in her voice. “Someone’s going to ask for him.”
“Just a bunch of filthy muggles that don’t have the right to know what’s happened to their own son,” said Ginny with scorn. “Just like they teach us in class.”
“Well,” said Neville, laying a now much calmer hand on Ginny’s schoulder, “we know better, so by the time things turn around, the joke’s on them.”
They heard someone getting closer to their compartment, so instead of replying Ginny took up her cards, and the others followed in unison.
“Snapple crack!” she shouted gleefully, having laid out a hand of cards that would either award her six points or explode in her hands, depending on what the others had.
Before the others could lay out their cards, the door opened and Draco Malfoy entered. Completely ignoring him, Luna and Neville laid out their cards.
“Sniggely dingel,” Neville said in a defeated voice, as his hand only awarded one point.
“Bongo crash.” Luna said, her voice not hinting at the victory of having a hand of twelve points. Promptly, Ginny’s and Neville’s cards exploded, leaving a trail of smoke in the air that Draco, as he was inhaling to speak in his coldest voice ended up filling his lungs with. He started to cough as they finally turned their attention towards him. Surprisingly they found that he was alone for once, Crabbe and Goyle nowhere to be seen. He quickly tried to get back his dignity and gave them his usual cold sneer.
“You know, Looney,” he said, smirking. “Usually when you have such a good hand as the Bongo Crash, you play it out immediately, rather than risk someone getting a better hand while you wait, or your cards exploding because of the time. Not that I’ve played that children’s game since I was twelve, but you know, common sense is good to exercise every now and then.”
“Well,” said Luna. “I like the excitement I get from the possible risk of the cards exploding, and it’s not like it hurts to have the cards blow up in your hands. But while we’re on the subject of common sense, how about the fact that none of the usual rules apply for underage magic on the train? And the fact that you come on your own to try and pick a fight with three students who are each one at least as good as yourself? How would you exercise common sense with these facts?”
Ginny burst out laughing, not believing that Malfoy had actually tried to bait Luna.
“Who says I’m here to pick a fight?” Draco Malfoy was determined not to give up just yet.
“Lets see,” said Ginny feeling like her usual gutsy self. “You come in without knocking first, which is generally considered rude no matter what family you are from. You insult Luna, and don’t even use her proper name which by the way is pronounced Loo-nah and not Loo-nee.”
He flushed a shade of pink, but he still remained otherwise unperturbed.
“Actually I just came to offer you three a warning. You three are all of pureblood lines, and have therefor so far been relatively safe at Hogwarts.” At ‘relatively’ he nodded his chin towards the slash that Neville had received on his face during muggle studies two weeks ago for having questioned the purity of the Carrows’ blood line. “But those pureblood families of yours can still get you into a lot of trouble. My aunt has told me a lot about your parents, Longbottom. Especially about how they screamed.” Neville was rapidly losing blood in his face, either of anger or how the pain of being reminded of how it felt to see his parents every year in their state caused by Malfoy’s aunt. But Draco just moved his eyes towards Luna. “And while your name is Loo-nah, and not Loo-nee, that’s more than can be said about your father. You really think your father’s stinking paper is going to make it in this new world order?” Luna showed no sign of being affected, mainly because she wasn’t. She was certain her father would be alright. Disappointed in her lack of reaction, Malfoy finally turned towards Ginny. “I don’t have to tell you Weasley, about the blood traitor status on your family, especially when you keep housing Potter over the summer.” He smirked and leered towards her. “And we should probably not talk about what they would do if they knew what you’ve been to Potter. Or rather what you did with him.” He stepped threateningly closer and lowered himself until he was almost eye to eye with her, only a little more elevated. “So tell me,” he whispered in a confidential tone, “was he as bad in bed as he was at picking his whore?”
Ginny doubted that there was any part of her that didn’t went scarlet right then and there. Neville flew past her and landed a punch so hard that Malfoy slumped down against the door leading out of the compartment. For one moment, everything was perfectly still besides the rushing images past the window. Then Luna walked up to Malfoy and examined him.
“He’s not dead, but I think you knocked him out cold,” she said and turned back to give him another look. “I wonder if it gave him a concussion?”
“There’s nothing in the world that can convince me that he didn’t deserve it for that comment.” Neville was absolutely furious. Ginny... She was still stunned over hearing such a thing. But it was almost just as shocking to see Neville punch someone. He turned towards her.
“Hey,” he said, hugging her lightly with one arm. “Don’t pay any attention to what he said. We know what Harry really means to you. He’s just upset that the only girls that would look at him twice are whores paid for by his dad.”
She whimpered a small thanks, but hardly dared to look at him. Neville probably didn’t know, and she doubted that Luna did either, but the combination of Ginny’s and Harry’s first kiss and the fact that he had walked away from her during Dumbledore’s funeral, had been the hottest gossip. At least the break up had served the purpose Harry had given for it. No one, besides her friends, believed that Ginny had been anything else but a quick snog for Harry. And now it was apparent that those were the nice rumours flying about.
This wasn’t the time to be a sissy, she thought angrily at herself.
“We better carry him out,” she said, taking the lead, “and clean of the blood running out of his nose. Perhaps we can make it seem as though he feel asleep? I know there’s at least one more compartment that’s empty around here...”
Luna sneaked out first in the corridor, looking for the closest empty compartment. Neville and Ginny lugged the Slytherin into the compartment while Luna kept watch. It was heavy work, he may have been thin but he was still tall. Lucky Ginny had been working out this summer, in pure frustration of still not being old enough to perform magic outside of Hogwarts. And Neville was no pushover either. She couldn’t help but wonder where he had grown those muscles from...
“You alright, Ginny?”
She had been staring at him.
“Yes, fine. Lets just leave Malfoy here and get back before anyone sees us.”
Finally in their own compartment they were free to let go of the breath they had been holding without noticing.
“I hope you don’t get in trouble for this.”
“Don’t think about it, Ginny,” Neville said, turning to face her, and resting his hands on her shoulders to keep her facing him. “No matter if they have me scrubbing all the boys’ bathrooms the muggle way for two weeks straight, or whatever else they think of doing against me, I would do it again given the choice. He’s got to learn some way that you get what you ask for.”
Now she had an inkling where the muscles came from.
“I don’t think there’s any real danger,” said Luna, who had been first to get seated, and was talking behind a copy of a book titled Seldom Seen Sightings. “He was so knocked out of it that his memory was probably jogged. But it was rather peculiar, wasn’t it?”
“What was?” Ginny asked, sitting down beside her and stealing a glance into the book.
“Draco Malfoy has never picked a fight with us, unless he had back up.”
“Perhaps Crabbe and Goyle are staying at Hogwarts for the Holidays?” Neville got seated opposite of the girls.
“Yes probably... But why would he do it then?”
Ginny agreed with her.
“It is strange. Malfoy doesn’t do something risky unless he gets something out of it.” She looked out through the window at the darkening skies. “But what?”
They spent the rest of the time not talking about the D.A. There would be time for that when they returned, and it was getting riskier as they got closer to London. Instead they played more Exploding Snap, read books, and laughed and joked. Luna shared the reading of her Seldom Seen Sights book with Ginny pointing out her own views on some of the material.
“This illustration of Blinking Whirwings isn’t accurate,” Luna said.
Luna had told Ginny several times now that she saw a swarm of Whirwings in her first year at Hogwarts. Blinking Whirwings were a fairy tale, told to wizarding children to encourage honourable traits in them, since the Whirwings only showed themselves to those of valour and wit or whatever it was mum told her. Ron once said that he had a dream about seeing a swarm, but that he still wasn’t sure whether it had been a dream or not.
“Hmm, how soon till we’re there,” asked the Ravenclaw girl, fidgeting in her seat.
“Not long now,” Neville said, looking at his coming of age watch. “Ten minutes.”
“Hmm, then I better put my stuff back in my trunk.”
“Why,” asked Ginny. “It won’t take two minutes to pack as it is.”
“Yes, but I need to use the bathroom, and if the trunk is packed ahead of time I won’t have to stress about it later.”
“You expect to be in the bathroom for a long time?” Neville looked confused.
“I expect having difficulty finding a bathroom first,” she answered as she put down her last chocolate frog in her trunk and closed it.
“I saw one before when we looked for this compartment,” Ginny said. “Next car, to the right.”
“Thanks, Ginny,” she said and walked up to the door. “If I take longer than expected, I guess we’ll be seeing each other next year.”
Ginny smiled at her friend.
“Happy Christmas, Luna.”
“Happy Christmas Luna,” Neville added.
“Happy Nargle-free Christmas to both of you.” She disappeared out the door. “I’ll owl you about the Snorkack.”
“Make sure you do!” Ginny called back at her.
“Dad!” Ginny ran up and hugged her father tightly.
“Your mother sends her love,” he said, hugging her back. “She’s waiting back at the Burrow, it’s not safe to travel in numbers. Now let me take your trunk for you.”
He gently levitated it up on a carriage, while Ginny looked back at where she had left Neville. She saw his old grandma, whom she had only met once before, walking up and hugging him. Wonder if she knew what he had been doing this past semester.
“Ready to go home?” Her father stretched out his hand to her. She looked around the platform one last time. There she saw Mr Lovegood waiting for his daughter. Good, the three of them would all have someone to go home with. She just hoped that the same could be said about the other Army members turning home.
“Yes.” As she clasped his hand, she knew that for one small moment, there was no pressure of leadership and no strikes at authority to be planned. Now there was only being with her family, and hearing everything they had been through. Everything else, she would face with her friends, after the holidays.
Next chapter.