Note from LbN: Hey everybody! I'm just a writing machine lately! The people who read "A Place for my Head" probably don't think so, but I'm trying! This chapter is a lot more exposition, but at least it's exciting!
AWF
GPOV
I look to my left at Neville and sigh. Without saying a word, I reach over and gently take his knife and fork from his hands. I pull his plate towards me and cut everything on it into small pieces.
"Thanks," he whispers, smiling in spite of his swollen hands and impressive black eye.
You see, ever since Voldemort's take over at the Ministry, Hogwarts has gone through some pretty nasty changes. One of which is responsible for Neville's injuries. Two Death Eaters are now teaching classes here, Dark Arts (no defense involved) and Muggle Studies. Both are mandatory and both are disgusting. In Dark Arts, everyone under fourth year learns the history of the Dark Arts and how they should embrace them. Everyone fourth year and over learns the Unforgivables, along with other slightly less disgusting curses. We practice them on students who have detention. Neville's hands are proof of that. If we refuse, you ask? Well, Neville's eye will be better in no time, so I'm sure he thinks it was worth it.
It's the end of term feast tonight. Dumbledore's Army is sitting together at what used to be the Gryffindor table. All of the houses are now just sub sections of Slytherin, so it makes it easier for the DA to hang out like we are now. We've been doing some serious undercover work; trying to let everyone know that there's still hope for Hogwarts. It's hard, because even the members are starting to not believe it. Some of us have gotten caught in this past week (hence Neville's puffy hands) and it's hard to keep up morale when your members are being tortured, or kidnapped. Luna disappeared about two days ago. It was really hard on everyone, but it helped us in a weird way as well. I, naturally, told Tonks and she told me a helpful, but disturbing piece of news. Apparently, the "Ministry" is kidnapping the kids of wizards that can't prove their blood status. Made easier, I'm sure, by the new rule that all wizarding children have to go to Hogwarts. Most students don't know this of course; we just stay connected to Order news. Anyway, this information, though it scared all of us, gave us a good bit of warning to form the new plan, tentatively titled "Out". We were worried about the plan, not the name of it; give us a break…
See, the Carrows, our Death Eater teachers, don't know about the Room of Requirement; and if Snape does, he definitely hasn't told them. With the help of McGonagall, we found out a few of the students whose parents couldn't prove their blood status and were about to be taken away. They stayed in the Room until the Order could move them and their parents to a safe place. The one's whose parents are in Azkaban are still in the Room. Aberforth, the owner of the Hog's Head pub, gets them food through the connected portraits' passage.
None of us are talking much, even though the feast is loud and we wouldn't get caught. We're going home tomorrow, and all of us are scared. Not because we think Hogwarts is safe; no matter how many times the adults say it, we've ceased to believe it. No, we're afraid because our escape plan goes out the window at nine thirty tomorrow morning when we start loading the train. No Room of Requirement, no way to get out if Death Eaters decide to ambush us. Neville, Lavender, Seamus, Dean and the Patil twins don't have to worry though. They, very gallantly in my opinion, volunteered to stay behind with the students who are stuck in the Room. They gave messages to McGonagall to send to their families. They're leaving now to move into the room.
"Bye you guys," I say, smiling so the Carrows won't think anything's up. It only matters if they get caught by them or Snape, because no one else follows the whole "torture regime".
After they leave, Michael, who has two black eyes and various cuts, asks the question that's probably on everyone's mind.
"What are we going to do tomorrow…if…" he nods toward the head table.
"I don't know," I say, "Just make sure that all of the younger ones are with some of us older students. That way we might have a fighting chance if we have to duel."
"We should just leave through the room," Colin says.
"Won't work," I sigh, "There's too many…what do they call them?...Questionables, to get them out that way. They'd catch us before we could get even half of them out. And we can't get out that way, because we were formerly Gryffindors, so they'll be checking for us."
"Do you think they'll definitely try to take us?" Dennis asks over his brother.
"No," Michael says, "Maybe you Ginny, and maybe some of the Questionables, but not all of us just because we weren't in Slytherin."
"He's right," I say, "We have to go. Let's just make sure we're equally divided and hope for the best…"
AWF
It's around six in the morning. I'm up because Colin and I have just divided up everybody for travel arrangements. Though we hate Voldemort, we find it funny that he's actually granted one of Dumbledore's last wishes, unity. Now that there are only two actual houses, Slytherin and Hogwarts Second (which is divided for sleeping purposes into the other three houses), we all know and more or less get along with each other. Even some of the Slytherins are with us. None of them are in the DA, just in case, but a few, the Prefects and Head Boy and Girl included, don't follow the Carrows rules and generally make life easier for us.
We wake Dennis up so he can help us. Using our coins we send the groups for the train to everyone and head down to breakfast. We're feeling pretty pleased with ourselves. We managed to keep siblings together and everyone has a fifth, sixth, or seventh year student with them. Once we get down to breakfast we sit at our normal table with the rest of the DA, minus Neville and the Room group. Saying goodbye is weird. Really, really weird. We want to be with our groups the entire time we're boarding as well as the trip, so we're saying goodbye now. Everyone's fear is heightened when McGonagall stands up and tells the hall that it is time to leave.
We'll find out if our plan's good enough soon.
AWF
I'm riding with Michael and two third years from Ravenclaw. We told them as they got on the train that if they were attacked, they were to use any jinx that came to mind. What we're going to do even if we do manage to subdue any Death Eaters is beyond me. At least we'll go down fighting.
It's been about half an hour traveling and we're still waiting on pins and needles for something to happen. All of a sudden there is a pop in our cabin and we all jump to our feet; ready to hex the hell out of whoever just Apparated into our cabin. We stop when we realize who it is…
"Kingsley!" I yelp.
"Shhh," he says quietly, taking a seat, "the other Order members are in the other cabins. We weren't going to let you take this trip alone; not after what happened the last time."
Amazingly enough, the trip passed without incident. Right before we arrived at the station, Kingsley (and presumably the other Order members) Apparated ahead of us. Getting off the train, all of the parents rushed to grab their kids. All of the older DA members stay behind to make sure everyone is off before jumping into their parents' arms along with the rest. Looking out, I don't see Mum or Dad. Then I hear,
"Wotcher Squirms."
I jump about a mile into the air while turning around. I'm looking at a lady that could be related to Draco Malfoy. Well, she is…but anyway, Nym has turned into a blonde for the occasion. White blonde, mind you. She looks like Narcissa, which is really creepy.
"Did Mum and Dad not come?" I ask her.
"They couldn't," she says pointing her wand at my trunk, "I'll send this ahead. We need to move, I'll explain when we're away from here."
I take her arm and a second later feel like I'm being sucked through a very long, skinny straw. Once we land I look around. We're not at the Burrow…and we're definitely not at Nym's flat; this place is too big.
"It's my parents' house," Nym tells me, "We couldn't go straight to your parents' house. They're being watched by the new Ministry. They didn't want to be taken while on the platform, and I'm being watched so I didn't want to take you straight there. We'll stay here tonight and go to your house early."
"Ok," I say slowly, "Why are you all being watched?"
"The Ministry is cracking down on half bloods and blood traitors. Seeing us together is…a little dangerous. That's why we have to be careful in going back."
We're quiet for a moment.
"Does that mean you won't be able to see me anymore?" I ask her.
"Not exactly," she smiles, "It just means we'll have to be a little more creative about where and when we meet."
Having been paying attention to what Nym has been saying, I hadn't even noticed that we were walking through the house. We've ended up in the kitchen. Nym points her wand at the ice box and a bunch of vegetables zoom out.
"Where are your parents?"
"They'll be back in about an hour. They had to go to Diagon Ally for some new robes," she tells me, while enchanting the knives to chop the carrots and celery.
"Ok," I say, taking the milk out of the ice box, "Is there anything I can do?"
Making dinner is fun, mostly because Nym is really…protective…of her cooking. She doesn't want me messing it up, though those weren't her exact words. To think, I used to think she couldn't cook…
Her parents came home around forty minutes later. I can't believe what a nerve racking experience it was. They were both amazing though, and dinner went well.
"Nym?" I ask as we get ready for bed, "When we…came out to my parents, where you that nervous?"
"More," she grins," You'll note, of course, that while you only had my mother and father to talk to, I had your mother, father, and five brothers to deal with. In two different shifts."
"You were fine," I laugh climbing into bed with her.
"Whoa!" she says, "My mother will kill me if she thinks I'm…deflowering you…"
"Deflowering? God, you are related to Malfoy…" I say and snuggle deeper into the covers.
She rolls her eyes and climbs into bed with me.
LbN: Christmas break is going to be filled with surprises! Some will be awesome, and others...not so much, but it's going to be one hell of a time!
