Dropping the Act

March 1998
Ellie

Ellie kept her head down as she walked hurriedly down the hallway. She had just managed to make it through yet another Muggle Studies class by the skin of her teeth. Alecto was getting harder to deal with - though she refrained from targeting Ellie in class, she had stepped up her efforts to get to her friends. Meredith and Moira had walked out with a week of detention as well as Dennis Creevey. A few Hufflepuffs had very nearly gotten it as well.

It was proving harder to keep silent and Alecto knew it, shooting smirks her way whenever she went after her friends, knowing the mental turmoil that she was causing. Then she had the gall to ask how Mr. Finnegan was as she was leaving class, which nearly had Ellie spitting mad and wanting to lunge for her before Meredith pushed her out the door. In her anger, Ellie had stormed off, saying she needed something from the library just to get away.

"How the bloody hell am I supposed to deal with this," she muttered to herself as she weaved around students and turned a corner. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the hallway empty, walking over to sit down on a bench and fume in private.

Why wasn't Snape doing something? Or the other professors? Surely there was something they could do to step in and stop the Carrows' bloody reign? Already students had taken to hiding out in the room of requirement which was very quickly starting to resemble a bunk room. She wondered how long before all of them would be forced to hide out there and how on earth all of them were going to manage to get out of the castle.

For the first time in a long time, Ellie found herself wishing she could talk to her mother. She knew that she would help. Would know what to do. But the letters had pretty much stopped with McGonagall saying that the Carrows had taken to watching all owls in and out of the castle. Perhaps she should mention the passage to Hog's Head or speak with Neville about potentially using Aberforth Dumbledore as a sort of underground mail route, just so they could get word in and out.

Sighing heavily, Ellie had to admit to herself that perhaps she was getting in over her head. Sure, she hadn't been in detention since first term. But all around her, students were getting hurt and facing threats and she was helpless to do anything about it. Hot tears pricked at her eyes. Perhaps she had really made a mistake by coming back. Maybe she should have stayed at the manor.

"What's this? Little Black all alone? Thought for sure you'd be off with your boyfriend."

Ellie whipped her head over, seeing a group of Slytherins walking towards her, led by Millicent Bulstrode. She quickly jumped to her feet, her heart starting to pound though she mentally reminded herself that they couldn't touch her. Theodore had made sure of that. Not one Slytherin dared to say or do anything to her. But he was nowhere in sight and neither was Zabini, who despite being a bit too friendly for her liking didn't seem to harbor any ill will towards her in their brief interactions. He would likely stop them if he had been around. No, this was a group of three sixth years, besides Bulstrode. She was half-surprised that Pansy Parkinson wasn't there. The seventh year had an acid tongue and seemed to enjoy cutting others down to size.

"I'm just leaving," Ellie said, grabbing her bag and turning to walk in the other direction, but stopped, seeing two more Slytherins walking up. She stopped and looked around, seeing that they had her cornered. "What do you want?" she asked tiredly. It was on the tip of her tongue to bring up Theodore.

"Not so brave without Nott around are we?" Millicent said.

"I'm going to be late to class," Ellie said, trying to push passed them, but the sixth-year boy shoved her roughly back. "Let me pass!" She glared up at him, determined to stand her ground despite the fact he was a couple inches taller.

"We've got a bit of a bone to pick with you," Millicent said. "Heard you've been stepping out on Nott." Ellie whipped her head over to scowl at the seventh year, though she couldn't help but feel a spike of fear. "What's more, it's with a damn half-blood prat."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ellie said, trying to push passed them again. While she would normally stay and fight, she knew that it was five against one and she wasn't completely sure about those odds at the moment. Not to mention if they got caught, she would definitely have detention. The same boy shoved her back so hard, she stumbled into the wall, dropping her bag.

"Shut it, Black. We know," Millicent said, stepping up to her, her earlier cruel smile melting into a sneer. "And we don't take that lightly."

"What's it to you?" Ellie said, staring her down. "And it's not like you have proof."

"Oh, just stop. Everyone has seen the way you and Finnegan look at each other. Sure you two are off shagging in Gryffindor Tower every chance you get," the older girl spat.

"Again… what's it matter to you?" Ellie shouted back, though she couldn't help the red tint that came over her cheeks.

"You dishonor one of us, you dishonor all of us," Millicent said, pulling her wand out. "And it seems you need to learn a lesson." Ellie quickly sized up the group, gripping her wand in her robe pocket. She wasn't sure if she was going to get out of this unscathed, but she needed a plan quickly if she wanted to get away at all.

Before Millicent could do anything, Ellie shot off a disarming spell and then attempting to duck through the group, forgetting her bag for the time being. But she caught a fist to the stomach, stumbling as the wind got knocked out of her. Stunned, she didn't realize what was going on until she felt hands grabbing both of her arms. In that moment, it was as though something switched on inside her and she looked around to quickly assess the situation. Two of the boys her were holding her with one attempting to get her to let go of her wand, though she had it in a death grip. Already her wrist was starting to hurt from him twisting it. She then looked over just as Millicent advanced, reaching out and slapping her hard across her face. Blood welled up in her mouth from where she bit her tongue, but rather than let it stun her for too long, Ellie lifted her foot and stomped on the foot of the boy holding her wand hand, causing him to yelp in pain and let her go. She quickly did a stunning spell on Millicent and then kneed the other boy holding her so that he let her go.

She pushed passed him and then turned back to the group, her eyes wild and her wand up. Part of her wanted to stand off against all of them, but her better judgement won out as she yanked her bag off the ground and spun around, sprinting down the corridor. She could hear the footsteps thundering after her and silently thanked Harry for all the drills he had her do in quidditch last year as she ran at top speed through the castle. She still had her speed at least.

Though her heart was pounding and her lungs were starting to scream for air, she didn't stop until she came to the wall where the room of requirement was. Glancing over her shoulder, she could hear them coming but breathed a prayer of thanks to Merlin as the door appeared and she rushed in, nearly collapsing on the floor as the door shut behind her.

"What the hell?!"

Ellie looked up, seeing Ginny, Seamus and Neville quickly running up to her, leaving behind a second year they had been tending to with some bruises.

"Slytherins," Ellie managed to pant out as Ginny helped her to her feet.

"Who?!" Seamus demanded, taking in the red mark on her face as well as the bit of blood coming from her mouth. Ellie shook her head, stumbling over and falling onto a sofa.

"Don't. Detention," she said, still trying to catch her breath.

"I thought Nott was supposed to be making sure that this didn't happen," Seamus growled. Ellie looked up at him.

"They know. About us. Five of them cornered me in the hall… said it was payback," she wheezed out.

"But… how?" Ginny asked. "How could they find out? It's not like you two have been running around together." Ellie shook her head and shrugged.

"Dunno… there had been rumors. Could be they were fishing and I bloody bought into it," she said, finally managing to catch her breath. "And it's not like we've been hiding it here. Could be they overheard someone talk about it." She grimaced slightly, realizing that they had been rather lax lately. She had been so sure no one in DA would say anything.

"How hurt are you?" Ginny asked, bending down to look at her face. Ellie winced, feeling the pain in her side.

"Not too bad," she replied. "Millicent slapped me, but someone else got me in the ribs."

"They're getting out of control," Neville said. "Not even through the day and we've already had three students get beat up." Ellie looked over at the second year, who was crying large, fat tears.

"We have to stop them. Go after them," Seamus said.

"No," Ellie said loudly, looking at him. "That's what they want. They are provoking us. Then we'll get detention and be at the mercy of the Carrows." He stared at her, looking as though he wanted to argue with her on it. "Don't do it, Seamus. You remember what Alecto did to you last time."

He finally sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Then what do we do?" he asked.

"First of all, I think this means I can break up with Nott," she said, grimacing as Ginny felt around her ribs. "Merlin!"

"Sorry. Think they may have cracked one," Ginny said, standing and walking over to their supply of first aid potions and such. Ellie looked back at Neville and Seamus. Seamus still looked as though he wanted to go out and commit murder, while Neville had a grim look on his face.

"I really don't know if there's anything we can do," Ellie said.

"There must be something," Seamus replied as he frowned at her. "We do nothing and we're all fair game. And what's it matter? So we end up in detention, at least we stand up for ourselves and let Slytherin know they can't get away with this!" Ellie sighed, grimacing again at the pain, though turned her eyes to Neville.

"Don't go after them," he said, glancing at Seamus. "But I do think we should stand up for ourselves. At the very least, step in if we see them targeting younger students."

"Fair enough," Ellie replied as Ginny handed her a bottle. She quickly drank the contents, wincing at the taste, and then handed it back to her.

"Are you alright?" Neville asked. Ellie smiled at him.

"I've played quidditch. Been hurt worse than this," she said, pushing up off the sofa. Already the pain in her side was starting to die out, though she knew she'd be sore for a couple days.

"Please… try to stay away from the Carrows," Seamus said stepping up to her. Ellie rolled her eyes.

"Says the boy who was seconds away from walking right to them with open arms by going to beat up a load of Slytherins," she replied.

"I'm serious, Elle. For all we know, Alecto could have told them in the hopes she could catch you in the fight and give you detention," he replied. Ellie sighed and nodded.

"I know. I'll continue to keep my head down, even though she's giving anyone who so much as speaks to me detention," she huffed, reaching to grab her bag. She winced again as she slung it over her shoulder.

"Where are you going?" Ginny asked.

"Library. Got a date," Ellie said dryly as she started for the door.

"I'm going with you," Seamus said, following her. She stopped and nearly made a smart-ass comment about stroking the flames but decided against it. She barely got away from the Slytherins on her own. She didn't want to test that she could do it again.

"Very well," she said, turning and walking out the door.

They didn't say much as they walked, though Ellie looked around corners and such cautiously, while Seamus maintained a rather fierce look in case anyone should bother them. They made their way into the library and Ellie didn't stop, walking straight to the table where they usually worked. Theodore was sitting there - as expected - though his expression changed to one of shock when he took in Ellie's face. He then looked over, more stunned to see Seamus with her.

"Think our little arrangement has run its course," Ellie said softly. Theodore jumped to his feet and ran around the table, starting to reach out to take her face in his hands, but stopped.

"Who did this?" he whispered furiously.

"Gang led by Millicent Bulstrode… for cheating on you," Ellie said a bit more harshly than she intended. She then sighed. "Sorry. It's not your fault."

"They're not supposed to go anywhere near you," he replied.

"Well… they know and obviously not listening to you anymore, so it's no use keeping up the charade, is it?" Ellie asked softly. While it was over, she didn't want anyone to know that it was a ploy from the beginning and take that out on Theodore. He frowned as he looked around the library and then back at Ellie. "Best to make it believable, yea? Otherwise they'll know that you know."

"I'm not going to make a scene," he said, though his eyes flicked over to Seamus and then back at her. Ellie sighed as she started to back away from him.

"Then I will…" she whispered. She took a deep breath. "Sorry, love. You know how it is. Sorry you had to find out this way. But we're over," she said, raising her voice so that the students nearby could hear. She heard a few gasps and knew that she was coming off as a prat, but it would help Theodore out in the long run. "Let's go, Seamus."

She then turned around, grabbing his hand as she walked out of the library. Seamus looked over his shoulder at Nott, seeing the worry that was clearly there. He then nodded, hoping that he would understand that it was his way of saying he'd look after Ellie now. Theodore swallowed and returned it, before moving to sit back down at the table, running his fingers through his hair.

"Why'd you do that?" Seamus asked softly as they left, the two of them earning glares from Madam Pince on the way out.

"Do what?" Ellie asked, her eyes still trained ahead, though she was tightly gripping his hand.

"Make it look like it was all your fault?" he asked. Ellie stopped and looked up at him.

"If I didn't, they would suspect it was a set-up. They could go after him," she said plainly before starting to walk again. "Despite everything, he has been kind to me. Helped me. He doesn't deserve to get in trouble for that."

"That's… kind of you," Seamus said. Ellie just shrugged.

"Just returning the favor," she said. Seamus then stopped suddenly, turning to face her.

"You know what this means," he said. Ellie stared up at him, slightly confused.

"I've just painted a rather large target on my back?" she asked. He chuckled.

"Well, yea, but now I can do this," he said, leaning down and kissing her lightly on the lips. Despite everything, Ellie found herself smiling.

"Yea, I suppose there's that," she said, returning the kiss. "Now come on, I do actually need to study…"

Had to have a small bit of a happy moment there at the end with everything going on. And I do like Ellie and Seamus together, though they have a bit of complication to them as well.

Thanks for reading and following!