Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter in any shape or form.
Seven Segments of Seventh-Year.
1) Difference
The trip to the castle is different. Michael can tell by the tightening of people's faces, the furtive glances, the abject fear in their eyes. Neither Anthony nor Terry will talk for a long time and the journey is filled mostly with silence.
Perhaps the cruellest change is what awaits them upon entering the castle; two men grab Kevin Entwhistle because he is a Muggle-born. Michael leaps towards them. Anthony pulls him back.
"They'll kill him," Michael screeches.
"I know," Anthony replies. "Don't let them kill you too."
2) Laughter
Padma tells a joke about a hag, a banshee and a ghost and it sets them off laughing. When they finish, they see others staring at them. These students have hard looks. Michael gets the message. Right. What is there to laugh about?
As they all edgily get back to work, he realises that it's the first time they have laughed in a month.
3) Fight
Terry runs up to him, eyes wide.
"Mike, people are saying you hit Zabini," he gasps.
"I did."
"Because he was laughing at a second-year who got the Cruciatus curse," Terry confirms.
"Yes."
Terry stares at him. Michael says nothing.
"Everyone says he's going to fight you," Terry says.
"I know."
"Zabini's going to beat you. He's practiced all that dark magic." Terry shakes his head. "You're going to lose."
Michael hates losing but all he says is, "I know."
4) Melody
Michael joins the DA because he wants to fight back. He wants to get rid of the regime which haunts his school.
Still, he doesn't know why he frees the first-year from the chains in plain view, only that it strikes a chord with him then and there. He frees the boy but, of course, he gets himself caught. How ironic.
His screams are strangely in tune with a Christmas song he hears on the radio in the next room. As the Cruciatus curse is applied again, he loses all track of the blood-filled melody which the school now dances to.
5) Valentine
"Do you think I have a chance with Mandy?" Terry asks.
"Well, it's Valentine's day soon so it's worth a try," Anthony replies.
Michael starts because, of course, it really is only one week until 14th February. He doubts Death Eaters celebrate Valentine's Day.
"Where are you going with her?" he asks.
"Well…Hogsmeade," Terry says as though it's obvious.
"No more Hogsmeade trips, remember?"
"Oh, yeah."
Funny how the simplest of ideas bring back the worst of situations.
6) Hiding
He lasts longer than most people think he will but he, too, has to go into hiding eventually. His short temper always gets him into trouble and he can't deny that this, coupled with his DA activities, will get him arrested soon. He doesn't want to be another Kevin.
Neville, Ginny and the few others look pleased to see him when he arrives but he does not return the compliment. If he wasn't seeing them, then his life wouldn't be in danger. So he's not exactly happy to be with them, hiding like a criminal.
7) Raindrops
The day that he's let out of St. Mungo's is the last day of term and, true to British weather, it is raining. He smiles at the feel of raindrops falling on his face because raindrops are free and so is he.
Raindrops are also like tears and when he remembers Kevin, Anthony and Mandy, he can't tell where the raindrops stop and his tears begin.
Rain gives life and hope but it also gives despair and death.
As Michael tastes the raindrops - his first taste of freedom – he realises that the weather is a perfect end to his seventh year at Hogwarts.