A/N: This chapter contains graphic violence and torture. Please, if this offends you, do not read.
Ginny was dropped roughly by Draco. She cursed and blinked, thrashing at the ropes that kept her bound. Amycus Carrow sat before her wearing a expression of mild contentment.
"You are dismissed, Mr. Malfoy," Amycus said.
"Dismissed?" Draco snarled, "They told me I could stay for the interrogation."
"Is this a challenge to my authority? Would you have me bring this recalcitrance up with your father?"
Draco paused, "My- my father?"
"Yes, even though the life has been scared out of him, I dare say it would look poorly on your father and mother as the hosts to our Master. Am I making sense to you?"
Draco clenched his fists, "Fine. I'll wait outside."
Draco exited swiftly, muttering low. Ginny shook with nerves. Leaning against the stone wall was Neville who looked almost unrecognizable under bruises and gashes. Tears rolling down her eyes, Ginny bit her lip, unwilling to release her sobs in front of a Deatheater. What had they done to him?
"Now, Ginevra Weasley," Amycus said blandly, flipping through a stack of notes on his lap, his eyes down, "You are here for the murder of three men. Witnesses have attested that you as well as other members of a group you call 'Dumbledore's Army' instigated an assault on these men."
"Deatheaters," Ginny cut in.
"Yes," Amycus said wearily, looking up at Ginny, "I've heard of your cheek. If this is the choice you have made."
"Choice? What do you mean by, wait, waitwaitwait DON'T!"
Amycus brought out his wand and ran it along Neville's cheek. Neville's eyes rolled open and he screamed in shock. The wand was cutting him like a blade.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Ginny screeched, flailing in her bindings.
Amycus paused, his wand still against Neville's face. Neville was panting and straining at his metal shackles.
"You will behave yourself or I will hurt him. Do you want that? Is this it?"
Amycus made to cut his other cheek, but Ginny was sobbing loudly.
"No, please don't," she croaked.
"Ginny," Neville wheezed, "don't tell him anything. I'll be fine. Just don't-"
"Knock it, you ugly bastard!" Amycus shouted, striking him hotly across the face.
Neville lapsed into unconsciousness once more.
"Now is someone ready?" Amycus asked, taking out his quill.
"And we're back for a Very Harry Christmas Special!"
"Right you are, River!" Fred Weasley responded brightly, blowing a party horn.
"Rapier, as students make their way back home for the holidays, what are some words of advice we can offer them?"
"How about, if it's big and greasy, it's either Snape or time to take out the garbage bin."
Lightning arched across the sky, throwing two long shadows against the darkened street. Thunder followed like a rumble of timpani from the heavens. It was an angry storm, and the two figures that cut through the fierce rain could sense it all the way down to the tip of their wands.
Iron gates stood before the two wizards. The taller figure hissed a spell and the two slid through the gates as if it were black smoke. Wands raised, boots crunching on gravel, they approached the manor of the late Rufus Scrimgeour.
"Or," Lee Jordan added, "if Chief Death Eater makes an appearance at your holiday party, offer to take his coat. It's only polite."
"Courtesy really is a lost art, River."
"Truly, Rapier."
"But in all seriousness-"
A guard crashed onto the ground, eyes blank. Throat cut, a crimson streak trickled into the gravel. Another guard ran frantically across the sodden lawn. He kept slipping and falling, unable to gain traction on the soggy grass. Behind him, a green light flashed and he dropped, still as death.
The two wizards lowered their wands and spun tightly into nothingness, appearing on the sloped roof of the manor. A small window was kicked open and the two figures ducked inside. It was the attic. Their movements not been detected. The two had planned for a night such as this, where the rain would muffle their infiltration and the moon was heavy and full.
Yori threw back her black hood.
"How are you feeling?" She asked.
Arran turned his hands over for her inspection. Tufts of black hair ran down to his knuckles and his fingers were sharp talons.
"Do you consider this to be a problem?"
Yori smiled. In his time away from Hogwarts, Arran had mastered a control of his abilities like she had never known possible. She slid her mask over her face, a terrifying red-faced creature with a lion's open mouth and malevolent eyes. It was shikami, the Noh demon mask.
Wordlessly, Yori slid down the ladder. Jumping behind her, Arran followed.
"Rapier, I don't believe I could have said it better myself. Deatheaters are making terrifying strides towards a pure-blood only era. We here at Potterwatch, however, know it simply cannot come to pass. As long as we have each other, we have a reason to say no. We're bigger than this, people. And we believe in you."
"River, I promised I wouldn't cry, but here I go."
"Yes, folks, here he goes. I believe the most dignified thing, at this point, would be to say farewell. For now."
"Quite true. Okay folks, the word for next time is 'Crookshanks'. So keep warm, keep cheery-"
"And keep sticking it to Ol' Moldemort!"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Ginny said flatly, keeping her eyes down.
"I asked, did you know the man whose wand you destroyed?" Amycus barked, standing up from his chair, his wand pointed at Neville.
"He was a bloke pointing his wand at a student at Hogwarts. I thought anyone who would do such a thing was probably a danger best dealt with quickly," Ginny said, twisting her mouth into a knot.
Amycus's lip twitched.
"Don't think I won't kill him. Don't think you'll be leaving here without some sort of compensation for your senseless act of valor."
Ginny held her tongue. Why had she let something so careless slip? It had been a stupid thing to do. Neville was wheezing faintly, blood trickling down his nose. He needed Madame Pomfrey's care, that was certain. Perhaps it was time to play his game.
"What are you thinking, blood traitor? Huh? Answer me!" Amycus shouted.
Ginny cocked her head, "You wanted a list of everyone in Dumbledore's Army?"
"What are you playing at, here? Think you can get away with being funny?"
"Not funny. Just a realization. I've got nothing and you have everything. The best I can do is walk away with my life. Might as well take what I can, right?" Ginny replied smoothly.
Amycus frowned, sitting back in his chair. He did not know what to make of this rapid development.
"But first," Ginny said, gesturing her head to Neville, "some negotiations. That's only fair, right? I work with you, you work with-"
"There's only one person working around here," Amycus cut in, raising a hand to silence her, "And that's you. You talk, you live. There are no other terms to discuss."
"My friend requires immediate medical attention. If he can be brought down to the hospital wing, I will gladly give you your information."
"What makes you think I take the word of a treacherous rat?" Amycus barked, sweat glistening on his forehead.
"Because you have a traitor. Someone who has been working for us. Someone who gave us information about your two owls Olivia and Barney."
Ginny was not sure where she was going with this, but decided to continue.
"Someone who told us that Fenrir Greyback was there."
Amycus leaned forward in his chair. His eyes were hard like cut stone.
"How do you know all this?" he asked.
"You will take Neville down to the hospital. I'll tell you then," Ginny said, her eyes electric with rage.
The top story hallway of the manor of Rufus Scrimgeour was silent. Yori and Arran leapt down, wands drawn. They were silhouettes in the moonlight, shadows criss-crossing past open rooms.
They heard footsteps. Hurried footsteps coming up the stairs. Yori and Arran swiveled into a darkened side room. The heavy footfalls came to the top story and knocked loudly on a closed door.
"What?" a surly voice responded.
Arran grabbed Yori's wrist. Neither had to say who it was.
"Master Scabior. Lyleson and McCree have been killed. We believe someone has entered the manor."
"Well God help 'em, then. You know what we do with bastards like that."
"Yes, sir."
There was a fluttering noise. It was the sound of apparition. Scabior had gone, but where? The messenger turned sharply and ran down the hall to alert the others. But there was a scratching sound close. The messenger turned. A figure was crouched low in the center of the hallway.
"Sectumsem-"
The dark shadow sprang and pinned the man to the ground. Yori cast a silencing charm as Arran stilled the man's thrashings.
"The alarm has been sounded, Arran. We need to get down to my family before they do something with them."
Arran wiped the blood from his face.
"Ready, captain."
Ginny walked slowly with her hands bound. Draco and Blaise dragged the unconscious Neville between them while Amycus kept on eye on Ginny.
"Antonin Dolohov survived your little attack, I hope you know."
"Can't say the same about his wand," Ginny whispered.
Amycus growled and slapped Ginny across the face. She fell against the wall and wailed, shocked.
"You inconsequential bitch! You will be grateful for what I am doing for this boy!"
Ginny bit her lip. Draco and Blaise snickered loudly. She avoided Draco's eyes, knowing how much he reveled in watching her suffer. They arrived at the hospital wing and Madame Pomfrey was summoned. The woman kept her eyes down and Ginny saw that her left eye was blossoming into an ugly bruise. Ginny clenched her teeth, wondering which coward had struck the skilled nurse.
Neville was deposited onto a bed. Madame Pomfrey turned to a house-elf beside her.
"Winky, please bring me some hot towels and a bowl of water," Madame Pomfrey said gently.
Winky stared at Ginny for a moment, cocking her head, her wide eyes sad. It was as if she recognized her.
"You heard her, you mangy thing," Amycus said, knocking Winky over with his foot.
Winky cried out then sniffled. She picked herself back up and limped away with Madame Pomfrey.
"Alright then," Amycus said, leading Ginny away, "to my office."
Four bodies lay beside Yori and Arran on the second story. Yori was shaking with adrenaline. A fifth was twitching, grabbing at her pant leg.
Yori, demon mask still on, crouched near the Snatcher.
"What do you want, you prick?" she snarled.
"Why- Why have you-"
"These are your last breaths. Make them count. I am searching for the prisoners," the possessed eyes of her mask stared down at the dying man, "where are they?"
The man breathed shallowly and stopped. For a moment, Yori thought he was dead. But then another rattle stirred him.
"He will kill them. He will kill you."
"I've had enough," Yori whispered, standing up.
The two ran down the next staircase that led to the main floor. The man was left to shudder, hemorrhaging into the fine Persian rug.
In the office of Amycus Carrow, it was dark. The sky was obscured with storm clouds. A handful of candles guttered on the mantle. Amycus dismissed Draco and Blaise. They were alone.
"So," Amycus said, sitting Ginny into a chair. She was bound several times against it.
"Let's begin."
The fireplace suddenly roared to life. Roughly, Amycus shoved her close to the flames. She winced.
"I was going to tell you about the traitor!" Ginny shouted.
"Don't count me as one of your fools!" Amycus responded, pushing her closer to the hot coals. A flame leapt onto her pants, singing them.
"What are you doing? Please, stop! I swear I'll- I'll-"
"You'll what? Can't think of anymore clever tricks?"
Amycus pointed his wand at the fireplace and a burning coal was lifted out of the pile. It hovered centimeters from her face, the heat radiating off and painfully licking her cheek.
"Ginevra, there is simply no other recourse. You murdered three of our men and nearly killed Dolohov. The Dark Lord has called time and time again for one of you to be killed and I have kept him satisfied with the problems we would create should the murdering begin at Hogwarts so soon. If there has an embodiment of mercy, I have been that to Dumbledore's Army."
Another coal was lifted out of the flames and the two circled lazily around Ginny's face.
"But that time is over," Amycus whispered lethally.
The coals dropped. One knicked Ginny's right ear before it clanged onto the ground. The other dropped in her lap and she roared, kicking and bucking to throw it off. Heat pierced her thigh, pain engulfed her. After what seemed an eternity, the coal slid off and she panted, crying and soiled. Her right ear pumped hotly, she knew she was bleeding.
"Are you ready for another round? I can keep this up, you know," Amycus said dryly, circling his wand toward a fire poker that leaned against the fireplace.
"You're a coward. A man who follows a fool," Ginny said despite her tears.
Ginny's mouth was gagged. The fire poker hovered over the flames, the iron turning a glowing red.
"Such nonsense from a silly girl."
Yori and Arran sprinted down a corridor on the main floor. It was deserted. Scabior must have ordered everyone downstairs, Yori thought. That had to be where the prisoners were being kept.
Flying like ghosts, they sped towards voices. Standing at the top of the basement staircase, two Snatchers snapped their heads to the figures moving towards them. They shouted and shot red and green sparks. Yori rolled and hid behind a large bronze statue of a lion. Arran jumped fluidly onto the ceiling, talons gripping.
"Why don't you just leave?" One of the Snatchers, a woman's voice, asked.
"You really think you're here to rescue people? You really think they're still here?" the other asked.
There was a still moment. Yori held her breath. Then, in the darkness, Arran landed on both Snatchers. Yori pounced up and quickly shot two killing curses.
"You don't think they were telling the truth, do you?" Arran whispered as they ran down the stone stairs of the dark basement.
"Oh, I'd believe 'em," Scabior's voice suddenly rang out in the darkness.
Suddenly, the ground underneath them gave way. They dropped.
Ginny awoke. This was the third time she had passed out. Her clothes were rags, cut by hot pokers, knifes and coals. She was bleeding, crying, and shaking so hard her teeth threatened to shake loose. The world was blurring between the red of the flames and the darkness of unconsciousness.
She was on the ground in Amycus's office and felt a strange sensation. Her right arm was clutching her-
Her-
She passed out again.
Yori and Arran did not drop far, but they dropped into water. Yori lit the tip of her wand and saw that they were in an underground tunnel. At the far end of the tunnel was Scabior. He flashed a malicious grin.
"Wotchit," Scabior whispered, twirling his wand expertly.
The tip of his wand erupted in flame.
"Yori! It's Fiendfyre!" Arran cried, grabbing Yori's middle and pushing her in the opposite direction.
Yori jolted in panic. She had heard of this dark magic. The monstrous flames transformed into a stampede of wild horses, snorting, their mad eyes rolling in their heads. They charged forward, the water steaming hot in their wake.
The two ran, crashing in the cold water.
"Oi! You'll want to be hangin' a left up there. Take my word for it!" Scabior yelled out to them.
Ahead of Yori, the tunnel split off in two directions. Which way? Which bloody way, thought Yori.
"Captain?" Arran asked as Yori looked back and forth between the two directions. They were getting closer.
"Captain, which way? Which direction? Yori? YORI!"
"Fuck it all!" Yori screamed, swinging an abrupt right. Lit up from above was a metal ladder leading out.
Yori jumped and fled up the ladder. She turned and grabbed Arran's hands, madly scrambling to pull his entire body out the tunnel. A roaring whoosh of flame passed just under him. Some of the possessed fire came scorching out of the hole.
"Arran!" Yori shouted.
The two swung a heavy metal door over the hole and let it drop with a heavy bang. The Fiendfyre was gone. They sat and took a breath of relief.
"A lot of bloody good that did you two," Scabior hissed behind them.
Ginny woke again, this time to a mild breeze. She blinked and tried to sit up.
"Hold on, not so fast now," A gruff yet mild voice responded.
Ginny looked and almost cried out in joy. The sparkle of blue eyes, the long silver beard. But as her vision grew sharper, she knew it could not be.
"Name's Aberforth," the man said, holding out a bowl of soup, his spoon ready, "would you like something to eat?"
Ginny's voice rasped as she tried to reach out for the bowl. But something pained her. Something felt wrong.
"Wait, wait, I think you better let me help you," Aberforth warned.
Ginny looked down at her scars. All at once, everything that had happened to her came rushing back in full, highly saturated color. She fainted.