...call for desperate measures.
Written for Hogwarts: Magical Objects & their Uses - Assignment 10
Words: 453
He knew what he was doing was wrong, very wrong, but there were lives on the line and if someone did not do anything about it – He did not want to finish that thought. The corridor was lit with the normal torches, yet the darkness outside gave it an eerie glow. He peered around the corner, hoping that this room had been forgotten since they last used it. His heart was pounding as he darted down the corridor, his back pack bumping up and down as he ran. Passing the patch of wall five times, he thought only this: I need a secret place. The last time he did so, he added: where I can do something stupid and dangerous. A door appeared in the wall and he smiled. Reaching his hand out to open it, he was surprised that the brass door-handle was warm to touch.
Neville slid inside, closing the door behind him. He looked around the room, taking in the high ceiling and the wide area. There was nothing but a small table in the centre of the room. Neville took a deep breath before placing his back pack onto the table and began taking out its contents. First was a book, a cauldron, some gloves, and then a couple buttons.
As he laid the items on the table, he said to himself:
"Okay, Neville. You know you can do this."
He opened the book, named 'Dark Curses and their Uses', and searched for what he needed, organising the buttons into a row. There it is.
"The Dolornomio curse, causes an object to inflict extreme pain when touched," he read aloud. He read and re-read the incantation, making himself familiar with it. Finally he retrieved his wands and after taking a moment to make sure everything was right, he spoke.
The room went dark as the table glowed. Neville's eyes went wide as he watched the buttons fly into the air. The green mist swirled around them until they seemed absorb it. Suddenly they clattered to the floor. Neville stood, his eyes wide, watching the place the buttons used to occupy. His breathing was rough and shallow as he took in what had just happened. He put on the gloves and scooped up the buttons carefully putting them in a bag.
Later that night he helped the rest of the DA sew the buttons carefully onto their collars. With gloves, they tested the Carrow's favourite threatening technique; to grab a student by the front of their robes. Neville smiled darkly as each test resulted in a finger or palm to touch the cursed button. He could not wait for the Carrows to get what they deserve.