Chapter Eleven: The Sword of Gryffindor
"Do you really think we can count on him?" Seamus whispered to Neville again.
"We haven't got much choice now, have we?" Neville whispered back. "Shh, someone's coming." Neville pressed himself against the wall under the invisibility cloak. A few moments later, Professors Flitwick and Slughorn rounded the corner. Neville tried to breathe as softly as possible as they walked by.
The previous day they had finalized their plans. They decided to steal the Sword of Gryffindor the next time Snape ate his dinner in the Great Hall. He usually ate in his chambers, but usually about once a week he would eat in the Great Hall with the Carrows. Neville had managed to convince Peeves to cause a commotion as dinner ended to buy them more time if they needed it.
Ginny was waiting in the Great Hall under an invisibility cloak, to see if Snape was there. Neville and the others waited in the hallway near Snape's office, also under invisibility cloaks. Ginny would come up in a few minutes and let them know what the situation was. If Snape was in the Great Hall, Michael would tell the gargoyle the password and they would all go inside and find the sword.
"What if he's got some other defenses?" Seamus asked. "Some traps or dark magic on the sword."
"We'll deal with that when we have to," Neville whispered back, as Ginny had said the last few times Seamus had asked such a question. He knew Seamus wasn't scared, just nervous, and it was making him talk more than he should. Yet the talking did provide some comfort to Neville as well, even if he knew they shouldn't.
Slughorn and Flitwick were too far away to hear them; they soon rounded a corner and their voices faded. As the minutes crept by and there was still no sign of Ginny, a few doubts began to enter Neville's mind. What if Peeves didn't hold up his end of the bargain? He hated the Carrows too, but that was no guarantee of anything. What if Michael backed out, or was bluffing? What if Snape didn't go after Peeves and caught them in his office? There seemed to be too many things that could go wrong.
Neville heard footsteps approach, but saw no body to go with them. Ginny appeared out of the air, looking out of breath.
"Sorry, I had a hard time getting out of the Hall. Snape's down there though, having a condescension match with Amycus. We've got time."
Neville pulled off his cloak and walked over to the gargoyle. Seamus, Luna, and Michael appeared from various points around the hall and joined them. Neville strained his ears but heard nothing nearby.
"Alright, out with it," Seamus said, elbowing Michael.
Michael looked very nervous. For a minute, Neville thought his earlier concern had been right, that Michael had been bluffing about knowing the password. But then he drew himself up a little and smiled at Ginny. "Voldemort."
Several of them gasped. Neville felt himself wince. Only Luna seemed unaffected.
"Michael, you idiot!" Ginny said. "Didn't you hear Potterwatch, that word's been made taboo, and-"
"I don't see any Snatchers," Michael said. "Do you? And look." He pointed at the gargoyle, which had stepped aside, allowing the wall to open up.
"I don't get it," Seamus finally said. "It was made taboo, wasn't it?"
"Well, it's simple, really," Michael said. "You can't Apparate into Hogwarts, right? That's what the Snatchers do. So they can't get in to Hogwarts, and anyway, why would they bother over some students? But no one ever wants to say his name, so it makes a great password. Ever if it occurs to someone, they won't want to guess it. It's pretty smart." Michael seemed very proud of this revelation. Neville had to admit it was pretty clever. Ginny scowled a little, but they quickly filed inside anyway.
About that time, they heard a crash come from further down the Hall.
"Peeves," Ginny said. "Closer than I'd like, but we should be fine if we can find the sword. Come on." They ran up the small staircase, but hesitated in front of the door.
Neville had only been in Dumbledore office once before. He'd been in school for nearly two months now, but he still thought of it as Dumbledore's office, even though he'd only been there once. He realized now that he probably always would. If he came back to Hogwarts ten years from now, he'd probably still think it belonged to Albus Dumbledore.
"Come on, what's the holdup?" Ginny asked.
"Might be a trap or something," Michael said, looking uneasily at the doorknob.
"Oh, bugger that. He's not going to set traps in his own office. Alecto would be setting them off every other day." Ginny shoved her way up to the front of the group. She put her hand on the door and stepped into the office.
Neville followed her in. The office was much as he remembered from the only other time he had been in here, during his fifth year. A Slytherin banner still hung in against one wall, and some of Dumbledore's silver instruments had been shoved to one side of the desk. The portraits of the old headmasters still hung along the wall, though one had been added since Neville was last here.
"Good evening," the portrait of Albus Dumbledore greeted. "I am aware my successor has made many changes to school policy, but I did not think allowing students into his office unattended during dinner was one of them."
"Professor, we're sorry," Ginny said. If she found it awkward to be scolded by a picture, she did not let it show. "We've just come to get something that will help Harry."
"Ah, I see," Dumbledore said with raised eyebrows. "And what would that be? If Harry had left something here I daresay I would have seen it."
"It's the sword, Professor," Ginny explained. "You… left it for him. You wanted him to have it, but Scrimgeour wouldn't let him."
"Ah, I thought Rufus might try something like that," Dumbledore said. "Well, I would not worry overmuch about it, Miss Weasley. I find these things will usually work themselves out. I would be more concerned about Professor Snape coming back, were I in your place. I would kindly suggest you leave before you are discovered."
"Professor, will all due respect, you seem like the last person to just trust that things will work out."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled a little, but he only repeated "I would kindly suggest that you leave before Professor Snape returns."
"You going to tell Snape we were here if we don't?" Seamus asked.
"Professor Snape, Mr. Finnigan," Dumbledore corrected. "And my suggestion would not be kind if it were actually a threat."
"Then we're taking it," Ginny said with finality.
"Then I urge you to make haste. The Sword is hidden in a panel in the wall behind the desk." Ginny, Seamus, Michael and Luna all went over to the desk, though Luna got distracted by some of the silver instruments. Neville lingered by the portrait. "Something the matter, Mr. Longbottom?"
"Just wondering about what my Gran would say," Neville said, "if she found out about this." Dumbledore only smiled down at him. "She told me to keep my head down this year. Done poor work of that, haven't I?"
"I think Augusta would be proud of you, Mr. Longbottom, if she knew what you were doing here tonight." He paused to adjust his glasses. "Even if she would have a hard time saying it." Neville suddenly felt a great weight lifted from his chest, a weight he hadn't even known was there.
"I miss you, Professor," Neville said softly.
Dumbledore closed his eyes. "Thank you, Mr. Longbottom." Neville wiped his watering eyes before joining his friends behind the desk. Seamus had found a small section books on a shelf along the back wall he deemed suspicious since they couldn't be removed.
"They're fake!" he said, keeping his voice to a whisper so as not to wake the other portraits. "Must be hiding something."
"No, no," Ginny said. "Look, they're all like that." She grabbed a book off the side shelf. It could not be removed either. "It's just a security spell. Snape probably enchanted them so no one else can take them."
"Oh, right," Seamus said. "Makes sense." After a few more minutes of searching, Michael found a suspicious looking patch of wall close to the ground. The five of them investigated it but could find no way to open it.
"Maybe it needs a spell or something," Neville mumbled.
"Of course it needs a 'spell or something.' The question is what?" Michael said. Ginny glared at him, but tried casting Alohamora anyway. Nothing happened. They all tried various spells that they could conceive might somehow open a door to no avail.
"Well, it could be a password," Michael mused. "Like for the gargoyle?"
"A password could be anything. We'd be here all bloody night," Seamus said. "Snape won't be much longer."
"Then we'd better think fast," Ginny said. Michael immediately said Voldemort's name again, but it had no effect. Seamus and Michael guessed several words and phrase, but nothing worked.
"We don't even know if it is a password," Seamus said, slumping against the wall. "Maybe Snape has to touch it, like the books?"
"Let me try one more thing," Ginny said. "Something I remember from last year." Ginny cleared he throat and spoke directly at the wall. "Half-Blood Prince."
The effect was immediate. The spot of wall slid away. A small shelf slid out, revealing the sword of Gryffindor on a small stand.
"That's it!" Seamus said.
"Are you sure?" Michael asked. "It could be another sword. It's not like it has his name on it or anything."
"Godric Gryffindor," Ginny read from the hilt. "Fancy that, being there."
"Alright, alright!" Michael said, throwing up his hands.
"Neville, you grab it," Ginny said. "You're biggest."
Neville was a little surprised. He was the biggest of them, true, but for some reason he'd always pictured Ginny carrying the sword. Looking at it, it seemed so large, and looked so heavy. He held his hand over it, but hesitated. He could practically feel the magic resonating off of it. A certain type of magic though… it wouldn't be able to shoot spells or anything, but Neville had the feeling it would never break if used in combat.
"Come on," Seamus urged.
"Sorry," Neville said. He grabbed the sword by the handle. It felt right; it just seemed to fit. He could feel a slight jolt of magic running down his arm a little way. It was a very strong magic. He lifted the sword up, and found it was light. Too light, more like it was made of glass than metal. It felt natural. The hilt fit his hand almost perfectly, though that may have been another enchantment.
"Neville!" Ginny whispered harshly. The others had already walked over to the door.
"Sorry." Neville walked quickly over to the door, rejoining the others. Ginny reached for the doorknob, but it jerked open before she touched it. Before he could react, several spells shot into the room, knocking Luna and Seamus to the back of the room. Ginny and Michael got hit with a body-bind curse.
"Well well, what have we here?" Snape stepped into the room, planting his boot on Michael's hand as he went. Amycus and Alecto flanked him. "A few thieves it seems." Amycus and Alecto fired stunning spells at Neville. Both hit him in the chest, sending him flying against the wall. He dropped the sword when he hit the wall.
.
The students had been lined up together against the wall. Their body-bind curses had been released, but Snape had cast a spell to bind them all with rope. Snape and Amycus were arguing on the other side of the room. They were only a few feet away, but every time Neville tried to listen in, all he could hear was a buzzing sound. Alecto was not privy to the conversation; she watching the students, mocking them, and hurting them when they tried to talk, or when she felt like.
"Going to be a big punishment for you," Alecto said. "Trying to kill the headmaster! Oh, they'll send you little brats off to Azkaban for sure. Go before the Wizengamot for high treason! Maybe they'll just kill you. I don't know but I'm going to watch."
"We weren't trying to kill-" Seamus began, but was cut off by a grunt of pain when Alecto pointed her wand at him.
"Don't talk back!" Alecto shouted. Neville's eyes drifted over to Amycus and Snape again. He couldn't imagine what they would be arguing over. They'd caught them red handed. It seem pretty clear cut to Neville, dismal as it was.
His eyes again drifted to the sword. Snape had picked it up and leaned it against the wall. It had made Neville's blood boil to see Snape holding it. Looking at the sword made Neville feel worse than when he was looking at the teachers. He thought he saw something ripple along the wall near the sword, but he blinked and it was gone. It wasn't late, but maybe his head was still groggy from when he hit the wall.
"They're wondering if we should even wait," Alecto said. "Maybe we should just kill you right here? Self defense." Alecto grinned widely. "Might get a medal for it." Neville fought a rising panic. Alecto couldn't hear him talking any more than Neville could. She was just trying to scare them.
"What is the meaning of this?" Everyone's head turned toward the door where Professor McGonagall had just entered. Neville had never been so glad to see her. Or any teacher, for that matter. She walked right past the Carrows and stood in front of Snape. Snape waved his hand and the buzzing wound dispersed. "You have students trussed up in here for an hour without so much as a word to me or Professor Flitwick?"
"This matter goes somewhat beyond school rules," Amycus said, pushing himself between Snape and McGonagall. "These students were apprehended attempting to assassinate our beloved headmaster when we caught them."
"This is ridiculous!" McGonagall spat at him before turning back to Snape. "I demand an explanation."
"And you have been given one, if you only had the ears to listen," Snape said with a smirk, stepping away from the older woman. "These students were found in my office with a weapon. We were discussing what should be done. I'm sure you can agree this is a very serious matter."
"Which is exactly why I should have been informed! They are in my House, Severus!"
"You will address me as Professor Snape!" Snape said angrily. "And since you are here and we have not yet reached a decision, perhaps you could cease your chattering and say something useful." McGonagall fumed for a moment then stepped away.
"The students of my House should be turned over to me for their punishment," McGonagall said sharply.
"Now now," Amycus said, "you have shown flagrant disregard for the policies and rules of this institution. Why should we trust you? Besides, this is no small matter of discipline, this was an assassination attempt! Caught in the headmaster's office with a weapon of considerable magical power! No doubt this should be turned over to the Wizengamot!"
"The Wizengamot! Assassination! Preposterous!" McGonagall shouted. "Have you even asked them why they're here?"
"Why bother? They would just lie," Amycus gave them a dirty look. "Filthy wretches. Professor Snape, call the Ministry of Magic and have some Aurors pick up these criminals." Neville felt his heart sink even farther. McGonagall, it seemed, it would not be able to get them out. Even if she took out her wand and tried to fight, it would be three on one. She wasn't stupid.
Even so, she still opened her mouth to protest. However, it was not her voice that contradicted Amycus.
"I believe I am in charge of this school, Professor Carrow." Snape's voice was level, yet Neville could sense flames behind each word. "You do not tell me what to do." He strode over to look at the students, though he spoke to the rest of the room. "Since I am headmaster, and since the infraction occurred in my office, I shall decide the punishment. Not Professor McGonagall, not Professor Flitwick, and certainly not Professor Carrow." Neville wasn't sure how he felt about this. Snape didn't seem to want to send them to Wizengamot, but that didn't mean his punishment would be any more pleasant.
"Stop jerking us around," Ginny said. "What are you going to do to us?"
"These students were not trying to kill me," Snape said. "They lack the fortitude or intelligence for such a task." Neville could almost feel Ginny getting angry beside him. He felt angry himself. "No, whatever they were trying to do it was inconsequential. I think a simple Saturday detention in the Forbidden Forest should be fine." McGonagall seemed to calm down a bit. The Carrows did not seem sure how to react to this news. "You will meet Professor Hagrid at his cabin on Saturday. I think a few hours in the Forbidden Forest should straighten them out."
"With Hagrid?" Amycus said, his smile vanishing. Alecto's lingered a moment longer, till she saw that Amycus had stopped. "Severus, what are you-"
"If you have a problem with my authority, you know who you can take it up with," Snape said. "I have another matter to attend to. Professor McGonagall, if you could escort these students to their quarters." Snape waved a hand at Amycus, who had opened his mouth, as he walked by. This dismissal seemed to fluster Amycus, and Snape got out of his office without having to speak to him again.
"I don't know what you're smiling at," Amycus snapped at Neville. Neville realized that in spite of himself, he had been grinning. Detention with Hagrid! That was almost a treat, more than a punishment. "If any of you think you've gotten off easy, allow me to assure you-"
"Excuse me, Professor, but the headmaster has ordered me to take these students," McGonagall cut in. She waved her wand and the ropes binding the students vanished. Neville hopped to his feet and left the fuming Carrows behind. His wrists hurt a little from the ropes, but otherwise he felt fine.
"That was quite an adventure," Luna said softly. She and Neville had fallen to the back of the group.
"Yeah, I guess it was," Neville said. In spite of the fact they'd almost been sent to the Wizengamot, his body still felt a little electrified.
"It was even better than the old days," Luna said. "We'll be able to look back on this in years and laugh."
"Yeah, I bet," Neville said. He didn't get Luna sometimes, but he did like talking to her.
"I will inform Professor Flitwick of this incident," McGonagall said, "in case he wants to add an additional punishment."
"Yes, Professor," Michael and Luna said in unison, Luna sounding far peppier. Michael, for his part, actually looked a little sick.
"Come," McGonagall said to her students. They walked down the hall a ways before McGonagall spoke again. "I hope you know you did a very foolish thing," she said. "And I hope you know how lucky you are. If Nick hadn't seen what was going on and informed me, you would have been left at their mercy. And if Snape hadn't wanted to show up Amycus, you would have been expelled, or worse." A wave of guilt washed over Neville. "I'd have recommended expulsion myself, under normal circumstances."
"We were trying to help Harry," Ginny said. "We were trying to get the sword."
"Miss Weasley," McGonagall said, "I understand you want to help but this sort of thing is not your concern…"
"Whose concern is it?" Ginny said. "I don't see that you've been doing much."
McGonagall stopped and whirled on her students. Her face had gone red with anger and perhaps something else as well. She said nothing, only stared at them. Neville and Seamus looked away, but Ginny held her gaze.
"You do not understand," McGonagall said slowly.
"What's to understand?" Ginny said. "Harry's out there risking his life and we're supposed to sit here and do nothing? Well I won't. We won't. There may not be much we can do from here, but we'll do whatever we can."
"I am doing what I can too, Miss Weasley, without losing my job or worse. The only thing that keeps me from leaving to fight with the Order is the thought of leaving you students here with Snape and the Carrows." McGonagall did not yell, though she was angrier than Neville had ever seen her.
Suddenly Ginny seemed very unsure. Her gaze faltered and she looked away. She didn't make any sort of apology, thought she looked like she wanted to. McGonagall turned and continued on down the passageway. At the portrait of the Fat Lady, McGonagall spoke the password and the portrait swung open. Ginny hopped through the hole quickly. Seamus went through afterwards a little slower, holding his midsection a little.
Neville lingered a moment longer. "Professor," he said. "We're really just trying to help. We can't sit here. You know what it's like." Neville hesitated. "I know you've been teaching us spells to help us out. I know you're just trying to look out for us, but this is something we have to do. It's what Harry would want. And Professor Dumbledore as well, I think."
McGonagall's expression softened. "I know, Mr. Longbottom," she said. "If you didn't want to do something, you wouldn't be in my House, would you?" She let out a sigh. "I have seen too many students and former students die young doing something stupid." For a moment, McGonagall looked very old. Her expression hardened again a moment later. "Be more careful, Mr. Longbottom." With that she turned and left down the hall.