"I guess he has to let you go back now, huh?" you say. Eloise nods, and you shift, wishing Floo were a more comfortable way to talk to someone. Lying on your stomach just doesn't feel that great.

"He's not pleased. And I'm not either, really. Without Dumbledore… you know? And did you read the paper today?"

"Not yet. I kind of dread looking at it, to tell you the truth. I don't want to see what horrible thing has happened this time."

"Well, look for the Muggleborn registration thing. It's too horrible for words."

"I'm glad that Justin's family managed to get out of the country. I hear it's getting harder to do, and things would be pretty bad for him here." You dad has actually broached the subject of leaving to you, but you decided it'd be best to finish Hogwarts first.

"I'll miss him, though," Eloise says wistfully.

"Hannah!" your dad calls.

"I've got to go," you say quickly, pulling your head out of the flames and grabbing a book to pretend to read. You're not supposed to use the Floo without your dad's permission. He doesn't think it's safe. But he's not letting you go out much, either, and you've got to keep in touch somehow.

Besides, it's not like anything's really safe, these days.


"I would like to say a few words before the start of the feast," Professor Snape says, staring coldly at the assembled students. "First of all, Dark Arts and Muggle Studies are now required classes for all students. Since Professor Burbage announced her retirement just a few weeks ago, Alecto Carrow will be taking her place."

A tall woman stands and smiles. There is a small smattering of applause, less from enthusiasm about a new teacher and more from the look on Snape's face that suggests he'll curse anyone who doesn't .

"Additionally, since the board of governors has seen fit to appoint me headmaster," His mouth twists into what on someone else might look like a smile. "Amycus Carrow will take my place as Dark Arts teacher." After everyone claps for the second Professor Carrow, Snape continues. "Now, I'm only going to say this once, so it'd be best if you listened, and tried to understand, as difficult as that may be for some of you." As usual, he has the talent of maintaining an entire room's attention without even raising his voice. "There is a war going on. However, I see no reason for it to interfere with your education. I myself attended Hogwarts during wartime. But nobody- I'll repeat, nobody- is permitted to discuss political views that oppose those of the Ministry of Magic."

"Is he serious?" Ernie whispers.

"Hogwarts has vowed to respect the position of the Ministry," Snape continues. "Therefore, I have selected Professors Carrow to be the heads of discipline at this school. The Ministry has approved of them as impartial leaders. If you have any problems, you must go to the, rather than your head of house, to discuss them. When necessary, the Carrows will bring problems to me, and I will address them directly. Is this quite understood?"

There is a sound of general assent from the students.

"Then the feast may being," Professor Snape says, sitting down.


With Muggle Studies added, you have a particularly full schedule this year, and with your internship over, you're taking Potions again. On the first day of Muggle Studies, you walk into the classroom completely unsure of what to expect. All of your friends are waiting in the classroom, but Justin and Susan leave a notable gap in your group. You're worried about Susan's absence. You at least knew that Justin would be gone, but you had assumed that she would be returning.

Guess you shouldn't assume things.

You share this class with the Ravenclaws, and as students file in, you notice more gaps. Lisa Turpin is gone, and John McKinney. Padma, sitting by herself in the corner, looks pale, and you notice that she seems incomplete without her Prefect's badge.

Because, what with the new discipline structure and half the Prefects missing anyways, they've overturned the Prefect system.

"All right, take your seats," Professor Carrow says, entering the room. "This is the seventh year Muggle Studies class. If that's not where you're supposed to be, now would be a good time to leave." She smiles. "This year will be divided into four units, with a research paper to be completed at the end of each. I don't give extensions, so please turn in your work in a timely manner." She taps the board with her wand. "These are the topics for the units we'll cover. I expect you to write them down."

You get out a piece of parchment and a quill, then read the board.

Unit One: Muggle Warfare

An intensive study of how and why Muggles fight.

Unit Two: Separate but Equal

A closer look at Muggle/Magical relationships, how we've been oppressed, and what can be done to change this.

Unit Three: Muggle Systems of Government

An introspective look into how the Muggle world is run, and how they use and distribute power.

Unit Four: The Threat of Muggle Blood

A discussion based unit on the dangers Muggleborns pose to society, and what can be done about it.

You carefully copy this down. For the rest of the class period, Professor Carrow gives a brief overview of Muggle weaponry, a subject that was never covered in your earlier Muggle Studies classes. When the class ends, you're a little sad that it does.

Ernie has a confused look on his face as you walk to the common room for your free period, and as soon as you're inside, he asks, "So, is she evil or isn't she?"

"She seems nice," you say. "Why would you think she's evil? A little misguided, maybe, but evil?"

"A lot of what she wrote on the board made it seem like she was a blood purist. Why would she be teaching us about Muggles being a threat if she wasn't evil? I don't trust that kind of talk. But she didn't seem to be saying it in a mean way. So, do you think she's evil, or not?"

"Do you even have to ask that?" Zacharias bursts out angrily. "My mum's a Muggle, and she's one of the most wonderful people you'll ever meet! All of that stuff about Muggles being dangerous was utter bull! Do you think my mum's evil? How can you just go on about how nice and sweet this woman is, when she's teaching us how to think like a Death Eater?"

"So, you think she's evil, then?" Ernie asks in a transparent attempt to lighten the mood.

"Whatever. I don't even care," Zacharias says, and stomps up the stairs to his dorm.

Your first class with the other Professor Carrow is quite different. The first thing he does, after slamming the door and walking to the front of the room, is the same as what Professor Moody did: shows you the Unforgivable Curses. Only he does it on turtles, and with a smile on his face that shows quite clearly how much he enjoys his job. There's no talk from him about constant vigilance.

"Pain," he says quietly. "That's your first lesson. Anyone can cause pain, and anyone can feel it, so you wanna make sure you're the one on the causin' end of the wand. I ain't gonna teach you these curses today. But someday soon, I'll be teachin' them, and you'd better be ready."

You shiver.

He spends the rest of the class outlining old magic that you're pretty sure is dangerous, such as Fiendfyre, then tells you that you're free to go.

"But always be comin' to class ready," he chuckles. "You never know when I might give you a practical lesson."

You can't believe that the Carrows are related. While Amycus is teaching you to be ruthless, and how to perform illegal magic, Alecto is facilitating lively discussions about nuclear bombs. You are really enjoying her methods of teaching, which seem to be just to let the students follow what they're interested in.

You've learned not to discuss this with Zacharias.


One day, on your way to the Great Hall, you see large, livid yellow words painted on the wall. Dumbldore's Army, Still Recruiting. During your free period, Ernie approaches you in the common room. "Well?" he whispers excitedly.

"Well, what?" you ask.

"Are we going to join? After seeing the graffiti, I checked my coin. You know, the ones from fifth year? There's a meeting tomorrow at seven. So, are you going?"

"Depends." You lower your voice. "What are they doing?"

"I asked Seamus. He said that he's not sure, but that Ginny, Neville, and that Lovegood girl from Ravenclaw got detention for trying to steal something from Snape."

"Ernie- I just don't know. It sounds- dangerous, you know? And after what happened to my mum- I just can't, you know?"

"I'd think, after what happened to your mother, that you'd want to do this even more. I've already talked to Zacharias and Eloise, and they're in. Come on, Hannah. This is our chance to actually do something."

"Do what? Graffitti the walls? Steal stuff? That's not my idea of resisting You-Know-Who."

"Just come to the first meeting, Hannah. If you don't want to come again, you don't have to."

"No."

"But, Hannah-"

"Ernie, I said no! " you yell, surprising yourself. You can't do this. Can't be a part of something so dangerous.

"Fine. Live in your safe little bubble, if that's what you want. But as for me, I'm going to do my best to help Justin, and people like him." Ernie walks up the stairs to his dormitory and slams the door.

You burst into tears. Part of you really wants to go to the meeting, but you're terrified. You have no idea what your mum was involved in, but it was something that made You-Know-Who want her dead. And you couldn't do that, to yourself or your dad.

But lying in bed that night, you wonder if you really said no because you just weren't brave enough.


You wait up in bed for Eloise, the night of the first meeting. Much to your surprise, so does Sally-Anne.

As soon as Eloise closes the door of the dormitory, you begin to ask questions. "What was it like?"

"It was kind of weird. I mean, I wasn't part of it last time, but it just felt- tense, I guess. The war felt more real than it has since we got back to Hogwarts." She pulls off her robes and stars putting on pajamas.

"Who's in charge?"

"That Ginny Weasley girl. And Luna Lovegood, and that quiet kid- what's his name? He's our year, in Gryffindor, his face is kind of chubby-"

"Neville Longbottom?" you ask.

"Yeah! You know him?"

"We were pretty good friends when we were kids."

"Did you find out anything about what's going on?" Sally-Anne asks. "The Prophet is complete rubbish these days, and the Carrows have banned the Quibbler. I'm dying for news." She looks worried, and you wonder briefly who she knows who's fighting.

"I did." Eloise lowers her voice and looks quickly around the room. With Susan gone, you're the only ones there. "And brace yourself, girls. Ginny says that Snape killed Dumbledore."

"What?"

"She says, um, Harry told her. Says he was there. And he's always been pretty honest, hasn't he? I mean, I don't know why he'd lie about something like that, and Ginny seemed pretty sure."

"But that doesn't make any sense," Sally-Anne says impatiently. "Why would he do that? Everyone knows that Dumbledore was killed by a Death Eater. The castle was swarming with them that night."

"Ginny seems to think that Snape is a Death Eater. And that's not all. She says,um, that the new teachers are Death Eaters, too." She rushes through the last sentence, as though afraid to say it.

"The Carrows? I can't see that," you say. Well, maybe Amycus.

"That's rubbish," Sally-Anne says dismissively. "Did you get any real news?"

Eloise looks hurt. "Ginny's whole family is in the Order of the Phoenix, practically, and she says-"

"I don't give a rat's arse what Ginny Weasley says about the stupid Order of the Phoenix! What I want to know is whether my brother is all right. He's been missing for a month now, okay? So unless the Order of the Phoenix knows where Sean Perks is, I'm going to sleep!" She pulls her curtains shut forcefully and turns off her lamp.

Eloise looks at you, but you just shrug. You 're not really in the mood to talk. You have to much information to digest.


A couple of days later, Professor Carrow pulls you aside after Muggle Studies and asks you to stay back for a couple of minutes.

"I'll write a note for your next teacher if I make you late to class. I just wanted to tell you that your essay on the American War of Independence was phenomenal. I particularly enjoyed the point you made about the necessity of the two nations to split."

"Thank you."

"I was wondering if you would be willing to give a presentation about it next week. You'd get extra credit, naturally."

Into your head, out of nowhere, pops Eloise's voice. The new teachers are Death Eaters, too. you push the thought aside. "I'd love to," you tell her. After all, it's not like you leading a class would help You-Know-Who even if Professor Carrow was a Death Eater.

That night, Eloise goes to another meeting, but when she gets back she doesn't tell you a thing.


You walk into Muggle Studies, notes in hand, a full fifteen minutes before class starts. Every couple of minutes you look anxiously at the clock, wondering when everyone else will get here. But when class starts, there are only three other people there. Sally-Anne, Anthony Goldstein, and Lara McDonald.

"Go on, Hannah," Professor Carrow says encouragingly. "I can assure you that the absent students will be dealt with accordingly."

You're standing in front of the class, and it's just like a nightmare, because you can't seem to open your mouth. How could all of your friends have skipped this? Sally-Anne catches your eye and smiles, and you know that you have to start talking.

But before you can open your mouth, Lara gasps, and you turn around to see words forming on the board.

What is truth?

Witches and Wizards have a lot of power. We fix things with the swish of a wand, and can create almost as easily. But we don't share this power. If we shared even just our healing magic with Muggles, who knows how many lives we can save?

Muggles have a lot of knowledge. They've figured out how to do just about everything we can, without any magic at all. If we combined resources, Muggles and Magical people would both benefit. So why don't we?

Muggles don't keep our world oppressed. Our greed any unwillingness to share our world is what's kept us oppressed.

So what is truth? The stories we tell might be true. But they're not the whole truth.

We look for truths that make us comfortable.

"Class today is cancelled. I will try to get a reading on the magical signatures to see who did this. If nothing else, we can assume any absent students without a signed certification of illness by Madame Pomfrey were responsible. Hannah, your presentation is rescheduled for next class." Professor Carrow waves her wand, and the board erases itself.

You go to the common room, but it's uncannily empty, so you and Sally-Anne go to the library to work on your charms essays. Neither of you says a word.

You know that something's wrong the minute you step into the Dark Arts classroom. Both Carrows are there, and everyone who should have been in Muggle Studies is line up at the front of the room, even the Ravenclaws, which is odd since this is a class you share with the Slytherins.

"Hannah," Alecto Carrow says as you walk in. "Please stand at the front."

"Well, well, well," says her brother, brushing his hands together. "I told ya' we'd be ahavin' a practical lesson before too long. And as it's Miss Abbott who these folks offended, it seemed suitin' that she be the one to punish them."

What is going on? You look questioningly at Professor Carrow, but it's his sister that explains.

"These students did you great disrespect by disrupting a class that you were facilitating, Hannah. And Amycus did want you kids to get in some practice with the Cruciatus Curse."

"This one bit me," he says, pulling Zacharias forward. "I think we'll have Miss Abbott start with him. After that, we'll let these other chillums have a turn."

You can't move. Can breathe. They want you to curse Zacharias?

"Go on, Hannah," Professor Carrow says. She gently pushes you forward.

You look at Zacharias. He glares back unflinchingly, as though daring you to try it. For a minute, you flash back to Fourth Year, when Professor Moody did the Cruciatus Curse on a spider. You have to mean it. Maybe, if your heart's really not in it, you won't hurt him.

But you still don't want to risk it.

"Miss Abbott," Professor Carrow says warningly, drawing his wand. "If you don't gots the balls to do this, maybe we's best be putting you up there on the receiving end."

You look back at Zacharais, trying to apologize with your eyes. You lift your wand slowly and point it at his chest. "Cr-crucio," you whisper, tears pooling behind your eyes. Pleasedon'twokrpleasedon'tworkpleasedon'tworkpleasedon'tworkplease-

Zacharias falls forward, and his scream rips the air. You can tell your curse wasn't as successful as it would have been if one of the Carrows had done it, but the spell did work. You lower your wand, horrified at what you've done.

"Congratulations, Hannah," Professor Carrow says. "You seem to have a knack for this spell."

You're not listening. You're running, running across the room and pushing past people until you're sprinting to the nearest bathroom and you're violently ill, head hanging over the toilet and then suddenly someone's there, holding your hair and what's she doing here, anyways, she should be in class, and you can't be good at the Cruciatus Curse, it's Dark Magic and you're a good person and your head is in Pansy's lap and she's stroking your hair. And oh God, your mouth tastes bad, and you wish you had your toothbrush with you.

"What are you doing here?" you ask when you're able to talk.

"I told Professor Carrow that you sometimes had a bad reaction to doing powerful magic, and asked if I could make sure you were okay."

"But I don't have a bad reaction to powerful magic."

"I know. I lied. Slytherin, remember?" She smiles a little bit, and you notice she looks worn out. "Besides, I didn't want to have to curse anyone."

"Why?"

"Same reason you didn't. I don't hate any of those people they wanted us to curse. I don't agree with a lot of them, but I don't hate them. Just like I don't hate you." A serious look comes onto her face. "Look, Hannah, don't do whatever they're doing, okay? It's too dangerous."

"But they're just trying to make things better."

"Well, they're just making things worse. Pass this message on, Hannah, okay? Tell them that it's better to look out for yourself. Keep your head down, because in just a couple of months, we'll have graduated, and then they can do what they want. Have their big revolution without putting the rest of us at stake. Or they could do the smart thing and get the hell out of here. A Hogwarts diploma will get you a job just about anywhere. A prison record won't."

"Is that what you're going to do? Get the hell out of here?"

Pansy nods. "What else is there to do? I'm not joining You-Know-Who."

"Where will you go?"

"I don't know. Switzerland maybe. Or Italy. Away."

"Oh."

You sit like that for a while long, head still on Pansy's lap, and all you can think about is how you've come full circle. How, six years ago (has it really been that long?), it was you comforting her because she'd lost the House Cup.


Going back to the Common Room is one of the hardest things you've ever had to do. You're not sure you can face the looks on your friend's faces, but you think that this is the sort of thing that's best done quick, like drinking Pepper-Up Potion.

You're expecting a few minutes to gain composure before the confrontation, but Zacharias, Ernie, and Eloise are waiting for you, arms crossed.

"Congratulations, Hannah," Zacharias says, in an uncanny impression of Alecto Carrow's voice. "You seem to have a talent for torturing your friends."

"Zacharias, I—"

"You what, forgot what that spell does? Didn't realize it was a wand you were holding, not a drum stick? What, exactly, were you going to say that would make it okay that you did the Cruciatus Curse on me?"

"Well, what was I supposed to do?" you burst out desperately. "He was going to torture me!"

"Then you should have let him," Ernie says quietly. "That's what every one of us would have done for you."

"Would you have? You didn't ever show up to my presentation in Muggle Studies!" It seems like such a trivial thing to be upset about, but you can't stop yourself from flinging that in his face. "That's what started this whole thing!"

"Is that a good reason to torture your friends?" Ernie demands.

"I didn't say that, I just-"

"Where's your sense of loyalty? What kind of Hufflepuff are you?"

"Oh, she's loyal, all right. Just not to us," Zacharias says, walking towards you. "Eloise was right. You are in the Carrows' pocket."

You look at Eloise, but she's staring fixedly at her feet. You're about to turn back to Zacharias, trying desperately to think of a retort, when Sally-Anne gets up from her armchair in the corner. At six foot one, she dwarfs both Zacharias and Ernie, and Eloise is still staring that the ground as though attempting wandless magic on it.

"Why can't you leave Hannah alone?" Sally-Anne demands, walking forwards. "Don't you think she's having a bad enough day as it is? I saw her face when Professor Carrow told her to torture Zacharias. She was terrified. Your stupid group is just making things hard for the rest of us. Maybe you should think about somebody other than yourselves." She storms towards your dormitory, then turns. "Come on, Hannah."

You follow in silence.


Sally-Anne and Pansy are the only people who will speak to you. Sally-Anne is really nice, but up until now you really didn't know her at all, so even though you're glad to be friends, it's not the same as have Ernie, Zacharias, and Eloise back. If only Susan were her, you're sure that she would speak to you.

Pansy is now talking to you more regularly than she has since before Hogwarts, and you often do your homework together in the library. You know now that this war scares her as much as it does you, and that makes it easier to be friends with her. At one point, she invites you to sit at the Slytherin table with her, but you say no. You don't want to give your housemates any further reasons to hate you.

In the end, there's only one thing you can think to do. You have to get your friends speaking to you again, and you need to be brave. If someone had been brave, your mum might not be dead. Of course, your mum might also be dead because she was being brave, but you're never going to know what really happened, and you can't let her death get in the way of living your life.

At first, you're not sure how to go about it, but then Neville asks to be your partner for an Herbology project, and you seize your chance.

"I want to join," you say quietly as you're walking from the Greenhouse to the castle.

It takes him a minute to understand what you're trying to say, but then he nods. "You still have the money Hermione loaned you?"

"Yeah."

"You'll have to sign up officially. Gobstones Club doesn't like surprise members."

For a minute, you think he's actually talking about Gobstones Club, but then you realize that's ridiculous. "Okay. I'll sign up when I come to a meeting."

"And Hannah?"

"Yeah?"

"It's good to have you back. Gobstones Club hasn't been the same without you."


It takes you longer than you expect to ditch Pansy on the night of your first meeting, and you walk into the Room of Requirement ten minutes late. Heads turn to look at you as you open the door.

"Hannah! I was worried you weren't coming," Neville says from the front of the room.

"What is she doing here?" Zacharias demands.

Neville's face clouds over with confusion. "She asked to join, and I said yes. Is there a problem?"

"Yes, I'd bloody well say there's a problem!" Ernie says. You've never heard him swear before. "She performed the Cruciatus Curse on Zacharias! She's probably just here to gather information for her precious Carrows."

"Is that true?" Neville asks, looking from you to Ernie to Zacharias with worry."

"You prats, of course it's not true!" Ginny says impatiently. "Do you see any Sneakoscopes spinning? If Hannah were fixing to betray us, they'd be going off like mad."

"Well, maybe she's not planning it now, but she will," Ernie says, still glaring at you.

"Hannah, would you mind writing your name here?" Neville asks, handing you a piece of parchment. You take it and sign, the give it back. "There," he says, tapping the parchment with his want to fold it up. "Ginny put a tongue-tying hex on this, and we all know her hexes are superb, so even Ernie can't argue with that, although he looks as if he wants to. Now, let's begin."


You walk into Zacharias and Ernie's compartment on the train back after the hols, feeling not entirely at ease. They're finally speaking to you again, but things between the three of you are definitely strained. It doesn't help that Neville suggested you stay close to the Carrows, both to avoid suspicion and to gather information. They haven't had you use the Cruciatus Curse again (at least, not on people,) but they still often ask you to do things that make your skin crawl.

"Hi," you say, sliding into the seat across from Ernie.

"Hello. How was your Christmas?"

"It was okay. My dad and I didn't talk much, but it's nice to see him again."

"I'm glad to hear that."

You sit in awkward silence for several minutes, until Seamus Finnegan comes into your compartment. "Can I sit with you?"

"Of course," Ernie says.

"Thanks." Seamus looks relieved. "Usually I'd sit with Neville and Ginny, but they're going up and down the train looking for Luna."

"She's not here?" Ernie asks sharply.

"No, but I'm not worried. Knowing Luna, she'll come to Hogwarts riding on the back of that Crumple-Horned Snorkack she's always talking about."

Ernie looks unsure, and you know how he feels. With everything going on right now, even little things like this could mean trouble.

"How were your holidays?" you ask, trying to change the subject.

"I spent some time with me mam. That was nice. Blimey, though, I miss Dean. We always used to spend the hols together. Almost makes me wish he'd pulled a Creevey, you know?"

"A what?" you ask.

"Didn't you hear? Seamus leans in and casts a Silencing Charm around your compartment. "Colin and Dennis Creevey faked their blood lines. Managed to pass for half-blood. That's why they're still at Hogwarts. You never wondered about that?"

Zacharias tears his eyes from the window, where he's been staring fixedly. "You'd best not be spreading stuff like that around, mate. Never know who could be listening."

"You still think Hannah here's a spy, then? Blimey, I don't know how she even puts up with you."

"I wasn't talking about Hannah. Just think you should be a little more careful."

"I think I can look out for myself, thanks."

Zacharias turns fully so that everyone in the compartment can see his right cheek, which bears three angry red scars. "The Carrows did this to me during a detention right before the holidays. You know why I got detention? Because I wrote in an essay that I think we need Muggle-borns or we'll die out."

When you'd asked before the holidays about the scars, Zacharias had refused to tell you.

"They Imperiused me. Made me cut into my own face."

"That's-that's horrible, mate," Seamus said shakily.

"All I'm saying is that there's a price for these things, and I don't think the Creeveys really deserve to pay it, do you?" He turns without waiting for a response and resumes staring out the window.


"Luna's missing," Neville says quietly when everyone is gathered. "On the way home for the holidays, she left our compartment to go to the loo and never returned. I thought she'd just gotten distracted and forgot to come back. She does that sometimes. But she still isn't back. We think she was taken by Death Eaters." His voice breaks as he says this. "What we're doing is incredibly dangerous. If any of you want to stop, I'd completely-"

"Who said anything about quitting?" Zacharias asks. He walks to the front of the room. "If anything, this means we should fight harder. It's people like Luna that we're fighting for. People like Luna, and Dean Thomas, and Justin. Even the sodding Golden Trio. We're fighting to create a world were things like this don't happen. And I know that Luan wouldn't abandon us. So who's with me?"

This speech is meet with loud applause. "Oh. Well, great," Neville says, looking relieved. "So, does anyone have news?"

"I was talking to Fred and George over Christmas, and they told me about a new radio station." Ginny launches into a description of Potterwatch. You look around the room, proud of these wonderful people who are willing to fight for what they believe in.


There are no speeches when Ginny fails to return after Easter. There's only action

Neville asks Alecto Carrow how much Muggle blood she has. Seamus charms Snape's robes pink, using a complicated spell that keeps Snape locked in his office for hours undoing. Attacks on Slytherins have become a daily occurrence, but you don't know any Hufflepuffs who participate. That's more in the Gryffindor line of work. Padma and Terry charm the school speakers to play news from Potterwatch around the clock, which unfortunately is dismantled after only an hour. You're failing half your classes because you're putting so much energy into this resistance, but it hardly matters. It's not like you want good grades so you can work in a world that belongs to You-Know-Who.

Graffiti is in all of the bathrooms, being put up faster than Filch can paint over it. Notes in the margins of library books ask questions designed to undermine the Carrows' propaganda.

Your group of Hufflepuffs manages a particularly tricky jinx that causes anyone at Hogwarts who uses the word "Mudblood" to become unable to use the letter "m" until midnight. This is particularly amusing when it happens to Professor Carrow during Muggle Studies.

When you have the time, you still do your homework in the library with Pansy, but now you sit in silence.


It's not until the Carrows begin going after first years that you realize that you're in over your head. And the first years haven't even done anything. It's the Carrows' way of getting to you. When the D.A. acts up and they can't find the culprit, a first year is punished in their place.

Michael tries to stop it the first time it happens. He makes it all the way to the dungeons and has begun to undo the chains when he's caught. You can hear his screams from the Great Hall.

It's this that effectively shuts down the D.A. You still meet, but it's riskier now, and there's less and less that can actually be done without serious repercussions. And pretty soon, the Carrows are after your group, and this time they're out for blood, pure or otherwise.

Neville is the first to retreat entirely to the Room of Requirement, and others follow soon after. The Carrows still think you're on their side, especially after all of your Muggle Studies presentations, so you're safe. Ernie and Zacharias, on the other hand, are among the first to go into hiding.

You're absolutely terrified of what might happen. Every time you go to a D.A. meeting, you know you'll get caught. You never look at your fake galleon in public, for fear of arousing suspicion, and every time you hang out with Pansy, you wonder if it's just because it makes you safer.

Slytherins are safe from everyone but Gryffindors.

Even with that fear, you're one of the first back to the room when you get the message that Harry's here. Now, finally, something will happen. You are there to hear all of Harry's exceedingly disappointing speech about how he doesn't need help. You see student's who've graduated coming through the passage. You see Seamus's delight at the return of his best friend, and wish that you could share that feeling.

But all you feel is scared.

It's not right, you tell yourself firmly as Harry concedes defeat and allows the D.A.s help. These people have all protected you, and they deserve your help. You may not be brave like a Gryffindor, or smart like a Ravenclaw, or even cunning, like a Slytherin, but you're loyal, like a Hufflepuff, and you have to see this through.

Harry leaves, and it seems like hours before his return. The room fills with people, but it's as silent as a wake. When Harry finally comes back and tells you to go to the Great Hall, you're relieved to be finally doing something. Anything is better than this waiting.

Professor McGonagall talks about evacuation, and how to get home, until Ernie yells, "And what if we want to stay and fight?"

"If you are of age, you may stay."

You're proud of Ernie for asking, but displeased with your teacher's response. What about Luna and Ginny, who both had summer birthdays, but had worked so hard at this resistance? It doesn't seem quite fair. Without them leading the D.A., this might not even be happening. If they want to fight, they shouldn't be forced to go home because they were too young.

When You-Know-Who's voice enters the hall, you scream involuntarily. Even though you've never heard it before, you know who's speaking at once.

"You have until midnight," he finishes.

Pansy points and shrieks, "But he's there! Potter's there! Someone grab him!"

Even as you're standing with your friends to protect Harry, you pity her. You know how hard things are for Pansy, and how much she just wanted to get out here. Now she's face with the possibility that she might die, that all of her self-preservation would have been for nothing.

You notice that Professor McGonagall doesn't invite the Slytherins to stay and fight.

When everyone divides into groups, you go to Fred and George's almost without thinking. Guarding passages puts you out of the direct line of fire, but allows you to still be helpful.

Before you leave the Great Hall, Zacharias stops you. "I'm going to say goodbye to you now."

"You're leaving?" You don't want to think of any other reasons he might be saying goodbye.

"Hannah, someone has to find Justin. Sure, he might have made it out of the country, but he might have been caught, and I don't like his odds of surviving if he was. If we lose tonight, and we might, I want to know that someone managed to save him. Everything's so chaotic right now, so I might actually have a chance." He envelopes you in a bear hug, then takes off running.

When you make it to the passage with your group, there are a few very tense minutes in which you just stand there, wand raised, every spell you know running through your head. Then the statue explodes, and you can hardly think.

It's instinct that get s you out of the way, and before your brain can stop you you're shouting every curse that Harry and Neville ever managed to teach you. You feel a grim sense of satisfaction as you manage a Shield Charm powerful enough to block the Cruciatus Curse.

Then a well aimed spell hits you in the back, and you fall to the ground.


"Ennervate," says Ernie's firm voice. You come to on the cold floor. "That spell must have hit you pretty hard. You were knocked out. Come on." He grabs your hand and starts pulling. "Let's go help Neville."

You let him lead you down the stairs.

"Merlin, don't ever scare me like that again. I thought you were dead for sure." His voice is faster paced than usual, and you can tell that he's struggling to regain his usual sense of calm and purpose. "I'm so glad I thought to check your pulse. The Death Eaters must have thought you were dead, or they would have finished you off."

A voice permeates the walls, seeming to come from everywhere at once. "You have fought valiantly. Lord Voldemort knows how to value bravery. Yet you have sustained heavy losses."

"Oh, God," you say hoarsely. "Who have we lost?" If one of your friends has died, you don't think you'll be able to take it.

"I don't know." Ernie looks lost and sad. "I don't know.

"Lord Voldemort is merciful," the voice continues. "I command my forces to retreat immediately. You have one hour. Dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured."

"Where are they keeping injured people?" you ask.

"That's what I was about to tell you. Neville's trying to get the dead and injured into the Great Hall."

You are bolting down the stairs, not even listening to You-Know-Who anymore. People are dying, and you might be able to help. Timothy managed to teach you a few tricks before your internship ended, and they can always use more hands when trying to Heal people.

In the Great Hall, Seamus and Madame Pomfrey are going from person to person providing what help they can. You remember Seamus once telling you his plan to become a Healer.

"How can I help?" you ask him.

He hands you a bottle of dittany. "Use it sparingly. We're almost out. Slughorn ran to his stores to get more, but he's more likely hiding behind his office door, whimpering. I know his type."

An hour passes quickly as you are forced to assess who needs the dittany most, and who it might be too late for. Some, like Lavendar Brown, are right on the brink of death. After a moment of indecision, you put dittany on all of her wounds, and don't for a moment regret the loss of potion.

When You-Know-Who's voice wakes you from the pattern you've formed, you jump, and have to return spilt dittany to the bottle with your wand.

"Harry Potter is dead."

Your blood runs cold as You-Know-Who talks of Harry's running away, and calls everyone to join him. You don't want to believe that Harry would do that, but, truth be told, you barely know him. You have no idea what he would do.

Everyone who can walk goes out the front door, wanting proof that it isn't true, that it can't be true. But there in front of you is Hagrid, holding Harry's limp body.

When You-Know-Who brings Neville forwards, you're terrified beyond belief, but Neville shows incredible courage, and ends up even killing You-Know-Who's snake.

Well, he is a Gryffindor.

The rest is history. Everyone knows the story of Harry defeating the Dark Lord, once and for all. That's the story that parents tell they're children, that's passed down from the people who boast proudly that they were there to see it.

Everyone tells the story of the Gryfindor, who is brave and noble and triumphs over evil. Nobody tells the story of the good friend, the hard worker. Even Cedric Diggory is only remembered by his untimely death. Nobody tells the story of the girl who curses off her nose, or the boy who is pompous only because he's scared. They are the onlookers, the side notes to the text. They are the Hufflepuffs.

You are a Hufflepuff.

You are Hannah Abbott, and this story belongs to you.