Chapter 12:
Paint the Roses Red
"A large rose tree stood near the entrance of the garden: the roses growing on it were white: but there were three gardeners at it, busily painting them red."
The Old- Timer kept his word. Ginny and Neville slept in one of the damp tavern rooms that hadn't been used for a long time, and early in the morning, that dawned gray and rainy, he took them to a small furnished lounge on the second floor. It contained a single armchair, one cabinet, a table and an empty fireplace. There were no decorations or paintings except one portrait of a blond girl hanging over the fireplace, watching them with childish curiosity.
Neville peered out of the lonely curtained window onto the wet street that was lit in a meager light. "We're at the Hog's- Head," he reported in surprise.
"Very sharp, boy," the old man said, suddenly assuming the shape of the barman who had watched the DA members suspiciously at their first meeting, which had taken place at the very same inn. "This is a piece of information you should keep to yourself."
"Of course," said Neville, moving away from the window. "We're on your side, sir, you don't have to – "
The old man snorted. "Don't be so sure, boy."
He turned to the girl in the portrait. "Let's get these two out of here, shall we?"
The girl smiled and clapped her hands with a childish enthusiasm that made even the old man smile for a moment, and then the portrait moved on its axis, revealing another narrow passage.
"Come on," were the old man's only words to them.
"Are you sure you couldn't – ?"
"No," he interrupted Neville sharply and gestured to the doorway. "Hurry, before I change my mind and call the Death Eaters."
Ginny knew he would never do that, but still she climbed after Neville on the mantelpiece without complaints. He almost stepped on a pocket mirror that lay there, and the Old Timer grabbed it and stuffed it in his pocket before he could even apologize.
The portrait closed behind them. They walked to the light of Ginny's wand for a while, wondering where the passage would bring them.
"Do you think he would've really called the Death Eaters?" Neville asked.
"No," Ginny said, thinking about the pocket mirror. She has seen something like that before. "He wouldn't have done that."
The girls in Ginny's dorm noticed that she hadn't returned that night, but with one look at Ginny's face, Betty motioned them all not to ask questions. Ginny knew she could count on her to keep her secret.
Dean and Seamus, on the other hand, demanded to know all the details. Ginny supposed she owed it to Seamus at least, because he was the last to know about the event that was going to take place that day; She was glad to see that it was more important to him to find a solution to the problem than to complain that no one had told him, and she appreciated him for it more than he ever knew.
They spent the day warning muggle- borns about what was going to happen. Classes were just restless breaks for Ginny, in which she was so engrossed in thoughts about the muggle- borns she had to find that she hardly noticed what was going on, even when in DADA Carrow demonstrated especially violent curses on her classmates.
As more students became aware of what was going to happen, the task of keeping the matter a secret got more difficult. By lunch Ginny was clearly aware of dozens of frightened, questioning looks as she passed through the corridor. They were afraid, they wanted to know when it would be time to slip into the secret meeting place, where they would be led through the secret passage to the temporary security of the Honeydukes. She began to fear that other students were getting suspicious.
She took a second year to the doorstep of an empty classroom on the way to Ancient Runes with the intention of warning him, but decided to give up and leave him confused when she saw a pair of fifth years from Ravenclaw talking to a Death Eaters as they were glancing at her. She hurried out of sight, trying to convince herself that the couple had responded naively to a direct question from the Death Eater, and that they wouldn't have thought of giving her up if they had known anything about her plan.
Lunch was over, and it seemed that nothing extraordinary was about to happen. For all the inhabitants of the castle it was just another gray, bitter autumn day in a golden cage, but Ginny couldn't stop glancing at the bolted main door, anxiously waiting to see it open. She tried to catch McGonagall's eye at breakfast and lunch and during class with her, but it seemed that her head of house was deliberately ignoring her, and when she tried to talk to her at the end of the lesson she made it clear that she wasn't going to speak to her when the bored Death Eater that observed the class was in the room. She walked out of the classroom in a defeated step, feeling, once again, that she was left to deal with the threat alone.
Her friends weren't very helpful either. Neville returned to his irritating silences while Seamus kept talking about the secret operation until Ginny was worried that someone must have heard him. Dean, like McGonagall, pretended that nothing was happening, and Ginny wondered if he was doing it in order to sooth his fears or out of stupidity.
"We have to do it now," Seamus urged her as they walked together between the afternoon classes.
"We have to wait," she insisted in a whisper, though she wanted very much to end this whole thing. "Otherwise people would suspect."
"Let them suspect. All our work will go down the drain if our visitors catch us with our pants down. It could happen any minute – "
"When classes are over," she said, and the decision helped her relax her nerves.
Seamus shrugged defeatedly before leaving. "Just don't say I didn't warn you."
"Just don't say I didn't warn you..." The words rang in Ginny's head throughout Charms, and she gnawed at the tip of her lower lip until she tasted blood in her mouth. Her gaze was drawn unceasingly to the door. What if they decide to come in the middle of class? Of course this is what they would, this was the best way for them... She should have listened to Seamus – she should have acted before –
The bell rang and she suddenly remembered to breathe. She was the first to leave the classroom, under the puzzled and contemptuous looks of the other students, and hurried to find familiar faces in the corridors.
She nodded approvingly to the wide- eyed muggle- borns who passed her and touched Dean's arm as he walked by with Seamus and Neville trailing after them. He nodded firmly at her and the three dispersed to convey the message.
Rumor spread like wildfire. Wherever she went, she saw students walking determinedly in a very definite direction. To her horror, it seemed she wasn't the only one who noticed it.
"Is there something going on today?" She heard a sixth year from Hufflepuff ask his friend as she strode past them.
"I don't know. It looks like everyone is hurrying somewhere..."
She turned down the corridor to get away from their voices, and suddenly she realized she was sweating. It wasn't according to plan – no one was supposed to get suspicious...
Finally she turned toward the meeting spot, having managed to squeeze in some last-minute warnings. She was surprised to discover that the corridors were suspiciously empty as she passed by – the students were few and the Death Eaters weren't seen at all. This made her feel uneasy. But the explanation came as she passed the main stairway; Many students huddled on the steps and around the Entrance Hall, watching a group of Death Eaters scurrying around in pursuit of a group of little golden snigots that were flying around while playing with the little cushions that were used for practice in Charms. The cushions got ripped apart during tiny golden birds' game, scattering white feathers on the floor and on the heads of the breathless Death Eaters. A lonely feather rested on Professor Carrow's, who was standing by and screaming orders at the Death Eaters while the students tried to conceal their smiles.
With relief and thankfulness to the person who had decided to pull the prank, Ginny was quickly making her way to the meeting place.
The classroom that was chosen as a meeting place was full of students. Everyone fell silent and looked at her as she entered. The older students stood around and talked earnestly, and younger students huddled on chairs and in the corners of the room. Some girls have been crying. They were about twenty-five students, barely a quarter of the muggle- borns at school. Ginny's relief went sour with disappointment.
"Are these all we managed to warn?" She asked generally. Seamus and Neville nodded. Dean, seated on one of the tables, stared at his shoes in gloomy silence. Luna was busy comforting a second- year girl.
Dennis Creevey said, "I can go look for more if – "
"No, we can't waste any more time," Ginny said, thinking of the temporary distraction in the Entrance Hall. They divided into a few groups and planed to walk to the secret passage in intervals, in order not to create suspicion. Sometimes Ginny led the way and sometimes Neville, and all the while the smugglers and the smuggled sat in the deserted classroom in suspense while the day darkened outside the window and the night took its place. Ginny pondered distractedly, wondering who was brave or foolish enough to try and prank the Death Eaters, and why were they so lucky that he decided to do it at that fateful hour.
Neville returned from leading the group before the last, panting. "I almost got caught..."
"Death Eaters?"
"Slytherins. I don't know how much they've seen, but they looked suspicious..."
Ginny opened her mouth to speak, but Dean, suddenly awakened to life, said, "We need to hurry."
In the classroom were Ginny, Dean, Seamus, Luna, the Creevey brothers, and two fourth-year students from Gryffindor straining to look brave.
"I'll go," Ginny said, taking her wand from Neville.
"Are you sure?" He hesitated. "If you get caught... They've already have their eye on you..."
"Let's just say me and Lestrange have an agreement," Ginny said bitterly and left, leading the remaining muggle- borns.
They made their way to the statue of the hump-backed witch, not running into anyone. The corridors were sunk in the dark gloom of twilight, the torches still not lit. An owl called out from the forest, shaking the silence, accompanied by a cough from some portrait.
"Dissendium!"
The passage opened into darkness. The fourth years entered first, while the Creeveys said hurried goodbyes to Ginny.
"Thanks for everything, Gin –"
"Yeah, and we'll keep fighting, you can count on us – "
Ginny urged them in, and then she realized Dean was looking at her. His eyes were very bright, wide in the darkness, like as lamb on it's way to the slaughter. His adam's apple moved as he swallowed.
"What are you waiting for?" His frightened look made her uneasy.
"I don't want us to part like this," he said, taking her hands. "If I never see you again – "
"Don't be stupid, sure we'll see each other." She couldn't quite convince herself, though.
"For anything that might happen – " he said, kissing her hands. "I'm sorry."
Ginny hated his ability to give her one broken look and dissolve all her resentment.
"Me, too," she said, forgetting her previous claim that she had nothing to apologize for.
Dean smiled nervously. "So if we ever meet again... Do you think we could have a chance?"
You know it would never work. We're just too much alike – and no one likes to look at himself in the mirror more than he has to. We should be with partners who make us better people, not worse.
"Maybe," she said, seeing Harry in the back of her mind. She pushed him toward the doorway. "Quick, someone's coming," she lied.
He smiled at her for the last time, a smile that was pleasant despite his tension, and entered the secret passage.
As she closed it behind him, she realized she was in fact hearing heavy footsteps coming closer. She thrust the wand into it's hiding place quickly and began to move away with a firm step. She didn't get far before a pair of Death Eaters blocked her way.
"Looky here," said one, a fat man with evil eyes. He moved toward her, and she retreated stiffly but confidently. "A little blood traitor strolling in the moonlight. Why aren't you downstairs, Weaslette, watching entertainment with all of your little friends?"
"We shouldn't be surprised that she's here when the rest of the school is downstairs," said an older Death Eater who appeared behind her with some Slytherin students. "It must have been part of some clever plan... What were you doing here, girl?"
"I'm just taking a walk," Ginny lied determinedly. "I wanted to be alone –"
"She's lying!" Declared a Slytherin student with a mole's face. "We've seen Longbottom here a moment ago!"
"Seems you've been caught, Weaslette," the fat Death Eater mocked and tried to grab her. She avoided him only to be grabbed by the shoulder by the older Death Eater.
"Is it true what they say? That Weasley's squeak like weasels when you hurt them?"
Ginny swallowed, intending to reply defiantly, but the older Death Eater said, "Snape can decide what to do with her."
"But –"
"It's not just some prank," the older man reprimanded. "She is associated with Potter and his friends, and her entire family is in Dumbledore's Order. She knows something – I can see it in her eyes. She has to be in a position to talk. Take her to Snape right away. I'll know if you won't do as I say."
The third Death Eater, who hadn't spoken until then, let out a growl. Ginny realized that he had gray, sunken eyes, bathed in madness. Fear gnawed at her while they both held her arms and led her away without a trace of gentleness. When she peered over her shoulder, she saw the older Death Eater looking behind the tapestries. Just before they passed the corner of the corridor, she saw him examining the statue of the hump- backed witch.
"Who does he think he is, anyway?" The fat Death Eater hissed on their way to the Headmaster's office. The fact that he had been sent to bring her to Snape didn't prevent him from enjoying some torture any way, and as they walked he burned her skin with the tip of his wand. His grip on her was so strong that she felt her muscles would tear as she tried to evade his abuse. "Giving us orders... He's Snape's pet, like everyone else around here. I'm telling you, mate, no one serves the Lord faithfully like we do these days."
To Ginny's relief, the fat man lost interest in abusing her halfway through the walk, and soon they arrived at the gargoyle that guarded the Headmaster's office.
"You know the password?" The fat man asked the mad Death Eater, who didn't respond.
"Damnit... Let us in!" The fat man kicked the statue, which didn't offer him a cleared respond than the madman.
He pushed Ginny to the floor and began cursing as she tried to get up. He kicked her thigh and she fell with a groan of pain. She stayed down.
Suddenly she heard voices, crawling over the floor, approaching her from an unclear direction.
"...On your head be it, Snape. You know the Lord will not be pleased if – "
"I am aware of the Lord's wishes, Ludwick," Snape's greasy voice could be heard just behind the statue. "There are reasons why I have been chosen to supervise this school. So please, keep your mistrust to yourself."
The statue moved and revealed a wide passage leading to a spiral staircase. Ginny raised her gaze and discovered Snape and two other men looming over her, all three looking at her as if she were a particularly disgusting piece of dirt on the floor.
"What is the meaning of this?" Snape, who wore a particularly expensive black robe, demanded.
The fat man opened his mouth to explain, but Snape interrupted him, "This girl is nothing but trouble, gentlemen. Please excuse me for not escorting to the gates, I must deal with her."
"Of course," said the older of the two, who had a long silver beard and big ears sticking out under his scarlet cap. "We'll go back to the office to forward your request – "
"Which won't be taken into account, of course," the second wizard interrupted, a man with an oily black mustache and unpleasant eyes. "The mudbloods at Hogwarts would receive the same treatment as the mudbloods outside Hogwarts. I don't know what you're playing with here, Snape, but you would consider yourself lucky if the Lord would let this mercifulness go unpunished."
"I'll take that into account, Ludwick," Snape said coldly and signaled the fat Death Eater and the madman. "Escort these gentlemen to the gates safely."
The fat man nodded surreptitiously, as if he hadn't been bad- mouthing Snape a few moments ago, and the madman just walked away without any particular interest. Snape watched them walk away and then turned to Ginny, who was trying to get up from the floor until a shapeless force shoved her down hard. Snape was standing over her, his wand drawn.
"What have you done this time, you useless girl?"
"Nothing."
"Lying, as always," Snape determined.
"Only you would know, sir," Ginny hissed defiantly, squinting up at him between the hairs that fell on her face. "You're the biggest liar of all."
She expected pain, or razor-sharp words as a replay, but to her surprise he just laughed. She couldn't remember ever hearing him laugh. It was a high- pitched, bitter, joyless sound, like naked tree branches scratching the window at night.
"If that is what you think," he said as the laughter died out. "You're exactly where you should be. Be gone, now, before I change my mind and let some of our friends have their fun with you."
She got up, her knees sliding against the marble floor, and walked away with a firm step, denying herself the urge to run.
