AN: Not my characters, ok?! I'm planning to do a series of one-shots told by various students at Hogwarts, about life under the Carrows' rule. Here's Neville's story.
Muggle studies. That class is an absolute joke. It's more about how Alecto Carrow hates muggles and muggleborns (she calls them mudbloods) than anything else.
We all sat quietly for the first lesson, because we didn't know what to expect. She set homework – a foot of parchment on why mudbloods are inferior. I didn't do it. Well, I wrote my name and the title at the top of a piece of parchment, and handed that in. She called me up to the front of the class when she saw what I'd done. Or rather, hadn't done.
"Longbottom." I stood there silently. "Longbottom. Ah, yes, I remember. The Aurors, Frank and Alice. I'm sure Bellatrix sends her regards."
That's when she cast the Cruciatus curse on me for the first time. I couldn't help screaming, I've never felt pain like it. The rest of the class were looking on in horror, but no-one dared to move.
"I'll deal with you later, Longbottom."
Leaving me to crawl back to my seat, she launched into another lecture about blood purity. I was given instructions to wait behind after the lesson, but I sneaked out behind Seamus and Dean.
There was only one place in Hogwarts I'd be safe, and I ran there, chased by Alecto. I flung myself through the door of the Room of Requirement, and it slammed shut behind me. Finally, I was safe.
That's how I found this hideout we're all living in now. As more people join us, it gets bigger, and sprouts more hammocks. The day Luna appeared, it even grew a proper bathroom, which is handy, as it's difficult to keep sneaking out. There's also a passage that leads to the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade, where Aberforth supplies us with food, and pretends to be grumpy about it.
We practise spells like we did in the DA, and wait for Harry, Ron and Hermione to reappear. They will, one day. You have to believe that, or all our rebellion is for nothing. I can cast a pretty good Patronus now, and my stunning spells are almost accurate. The one thing none of us will use are the Unforgivable Curses, because we refuse to stoop to their level.
Got to go now, Ginny's just appeared, and needs some cuts patching up. Despite everything, they won't really hurt us if we're pureblood. Muggleborns, though – it won't be long before they take it too far and someone ends up dead.
AN: Well, read and review, please. Ginny's up next.