A/N: So…yeah. I'd estimate another 3 chapters? Maybe? I don't know…but like I said last time, I'm probably doing a spin-off. I'm about 75% sure. I've been doing some characterization. It would not be an Ettie-centric spin-off, but she would be present.
I am SO sorry if I totally butchered this. I was super intimidated by this chapter, with justification I'm sure you can agree. One thing is for sure, next chapter will be interesting…Book readers will know why, possibly. Ettie's not going to have a very good day
Anywho, without any further rambling…
DISCLAIMER: This is one of the most important disclaimers yet! I use DIRECT quotes originally written by J.K. Rowling from the Deathly Hallows. They belong to her, not me. So ANYTHING that you recognize from the series is property of her.
Combat boots were rather unappealing to Ettie. But that didn't stop her from shoving her feet into them at the last minute. Where she had gone to, there was no use for a stiletto heel. For all she knew, she was going to her death.
Standing on the Hogwarts' grounds sent a chill through her. She was in the very spot where she'd once studied and laughed, batted her eyes at boys, hopelessly crushing. No longer were there smiling faces, or lively students waving at her to check their homework. Instead, Ettie saw fearful, wide-eyed students being sent away, some standing their ground to fight.
It all felt like a lucid dream; she expected at any moment to come to full consciousness, to realize she truly was dreaming, though it felt so lifelike and tangible.
It was eerily quiet for what would precipitate very soon.
"George!" Ettie yelled and embraced him tightly, desperately.
"You made it."
"Of course. I'd rather die than not be here fighting." Ettie scanned the room. "Where are we?"
"Room of Requirement." He answered.
"Are all these students hiding?" She noted the familiar Longbottom boy and Sam.
"Yes. They've been sticking up for the cause, and have been punished."
"Some of them were in my house…Terry, Padma, Cho, and Luna…this is so real".
"You want real? Harry is here, too. I think you should meet him. And Hermione and my brother Ron."
Ettie whipped her head around and saw The Boy Who Lived speaking with Ginny.
"Harry…it's a pleasure to meet you. Especially now. I don't know if you were listening to Potterwatch, but I'm Roma. My real name is Ettie Song."
"Good to meet you."
"Hello, Ettie. I'm Hermione." Ettie remembered the Granger girl. She'd often been compared to her.
"I've heard about you, Ettie. Nice to meet you."
"And this," George said, "Is my brother Ron."
"I'm so happy I get to meet you, Ron. I hope we get more time to get to know one another…unfortunately I'm going to go check on the teachers and see if they need me. I'll be back." As Ettie left the Room of Requirement, George's face was worn with worry.
"Minerva!" Ettie screeched, recognizing the look of hatred in her matriarch's eyes.
"Severus has fled." She explained woodenly.
Ettie lifted her gaze to the large window. There was a jagged human-shaped hole in the panes, and in the distance a cloaked figure was gliding through the air.
"Gone to help his master." Sprout added, voice thick with malice she'd never shown before.
"Still believe him now, Et?" Minerva quipped sharply.
"How can I help?" Ettie asked, avoiding Minerva's question.
"You're remarkable at transfiguration and charms," Flitwick proposed, "You could help us professors set up obstacles."
"Brilliant. I'll be back in a moment. I have to tell George."
"Be back soon." Slughorn instructed.
"Pertotum Locomotor!" Minerva was yelling as Ettie turned her back. She lifted the necklace up to her lips; they were dry with anxiety and nerves. She pressed her chapped lips to the jewel and was instantly next to George.
"Ginny wants to fight." George informed, placing a protective arm around Ettie.
"She's underage…but I'd want to be involved, too."
"What were you two thinking, bringing her with you—" Mrs. Weasley bellowed, and George looked ashamed.
"Where's Harry?"
"With Luna. They're looking for the lost diadem."
"Of Ravenclaw?"
"What other?" George shrugged.
"I could have helped!"
"You know where it is?" George replied, eyebrows raised in surprise.
"Well, no…but I could have helped."
"We have you here now. You'll get your chance to fight."
"Actually, the teachers want me."
The door burst ajar, and every pair of eyes that belonged to a Weasley popped wide open.
"Am I too late? Has it started? I only just found out, so I—I—"
It was Percy. The git who George had told her about.
"I was a fool! I was an idiot, I was a pompous prat. I was a—a—"
Fred aided him in his speechlessness. "A ministry-loving, family-disowning, power-hungry moron—"
"Yes, I was!" The pointed-faced red head looked maniacal, as if pleading for his life.
"Well, you can't say it fairer than that." Fred shook hands with his brother.
"What made you see sense, Perce?" George inquired.
Ettie watched the reunion, but tuned out the words. She had to leave soon. She was brought back to reality only when George vocalized again.
"Well we do look to our prefects to take a lead at time such as these. Now let's get upstairs and fight, or all the good Death Eaters'll be taken." A chill filled Ettie's heart as she imagined George fighting the people she turned in.
"I have to go, George. You all take care of yourselves, or else I'll kill you personally. I love you all too much." She kissed George goodbye briefly, not even caring that her lips were rough. Then she turned to shake Percy's hand. He was introducing himself to Fleur as her brother-in-law.
"And you! I know you. You randomly left the Ministry. An auror. Ettiella Song."
"And you're Percy Weasley."
"Are you with my brother?"
"Yes." And despite the gravity of the predicament, she was smiling sunnily.
There were already Death Eaters fighting the faculty. Ettie situated herself in a discreet corner and sent a variety of her personal favorite spells at the people she lived to exterminate. She was stealthy, and found that most of the action was below. They never knew what had hit them until they were down.
She was happy to be contributing, but her mind often drifted to thoughts of how the Weasley's were faring. Now that Percy was back, she was sure they'd have a better chance of surviving the night.
The events of tonight struck her in unique ways. With Percy's return, the night held beautiful sentimental value. It was a new relationship for her, someone she now needed to become familiar with. His repentance was heart wrenching. It was one of the most genuine acts she'd ever experienced.
Yet, tonight was also terrible. It was an evening that would end one of two ways, and it was horrifying. What if they lost? What if—
Ettie snapped into an upright position and felt the sudden urge to run…to run away from where she stood safely. She sensed that someone needed help. It was instinct, part of an auror's job.
As she sprinted through the individual skirmishes, she muttered under her breath words of encouragement, and urgings.
"Constant vigilance, constant vigilance…" She huffed, grateful she had abandoned her spiked heels.
"Hello Minister!"
Ettie's eyes widened and she quickened her pace. She soon reached the place where her heart had led her. Percy and Fred were surrounding Thicknesse, the prime reason she had left the Ministry. He was a no-good puppet.
"Did I mention I'm resigning?"
It all happened so quickly then: the Minister collapsed on the ground, now horribly disfigured. Then an explosion, which made Ettie's eardrums go fuzzy. Everything sounded as if she were wearing earmuffs—like the ones Grace had tried to force her to wear, saying they were "all the rage."
Things broke as if they were made of the thinnest glass. A rain of rubble and dust fell upon the scene. Her vision was clouded, but Percy's shouts were enough to ensure that her fear was justified.
"No—No—No!" Percy cried frantically, helplessly. "No! Fred! No!"
The dust began to subside, and Ettie saw what devastation this night truly had in store.
Percy was on the ground, covered in the wreckage, huddled over his brother's dead body. The former Ministry-loving git was trying to protect Fred, George's twin, but he was too late.
A/N: Reviews please!!! So yeah, I'm curious about a couple things: what are your favorite characters/scenes from this story/ fav. chapter…? Do you have a dream pairing? Which character is most like you? Just wondering Was this chapter a complete letdown? I'm all self-conscious! I'll continue to work on the spin-off. It'll be one of those things where someone can just jump in without having read this story. Should be interesting! Remember to check me out on Twitter glttrandrcknrll I'll probably be posting some story-related news and what-not. Actually, I posted some names I've been tossing around. May give out a hint.