Someday, I will own something of great importance.
This will not be Harry Potter, as J K Rowling already
owns that.
End of Year Five
The next few weeks were, to put it mildly, rather
hellish. For once in her life, Ryua was wishing the
school year would end. At least at home, she had the
chance to attack her problems…
Now, she was stuck in the Slytherin dorm during much
of her off hours, with no quidditch or DA meetings to
occupy her. And when she wasn't there, she was with
Umbridge, carving letters into the palm of her hand
over, and over, and over… Ashley was there too for
three weeks, although they didn't get to talk a whole
lot. And then Ashley's detention was up, and Umbridge
kept Ryua for pure spite. At the end of the month,
Snape had fully intended to say something about it,
but Ryua was adamant. "You and Draco are the only
people left down here that I actually like, sir. If
you try to go against her, you'll end up in Azkaban,
probably, and then I'll really lose it." So Snape
waited, brewing up the occasional potion strengthener,
to boost Ryua's cream.
Even with that, there were still definite lines etched
into her skin. Ryua had noticed one day that on the
palm, the scars were sunken, while on the backs they
stayed up. Man, that's morbid… you know you've got too
many old wounds when…
Gryffindor won the cup, thanks to Ron's spectacular
come about. And, being in Slytherin with Umbridge
breathing down her neck, she couldn't even go to his
celebration party.
There was one good thing happening, though. With
Dumbledore gone, various students and teachers decided
to just let it all out. Even though the teachers
couldn't talk to the students about anything except
their subject, they were obviously rebelling. Sprout,
after seeing Harry's box of mice for the Quibbler
article, was now handing out candies in class. They
were rather like those little sweet tarts, except for
the messages, which read something along the lines of;
"Down with Umbridge", "Silent Rebellion", "Dumbledore
Forever!", and a couple obviously inspired by Fred and
George, such as "Beat the Butterball", and, "Oust the
Bitch!"
McGonnagall was stubbornly teaching her students the
same as ever, regardless of what Umbridge said. And,
since she was smarter, older, and wilier, she always
managed to find an older Ministry decree to support
her for it. It was a real treat to see Umbridge balked
at her own game… especially because McGonnagall seemed
to be assigning less homework.
Potions, even though Snape hated the Gryffindors as
much as ever, was transformed. He was concentrating on
poisons, hallucinogenic vapors, antidotes… anything
that could possibly be useful on their DADA finals.
And, as those who believed Dumbledore and Harry
realized, whatever could help to make up for their
lack of defensive instruction when the war broke out.
And for the first time ever, Ryua was excelling in
Charms. Flitwick had also thrown the more domestic
charms out the window, and was concentrating on spells
useful in a duel. Since it was her left hand that was
in a permanent state of disability this time, Ryua was
at the top of her form, charming people into
immobility, confusion, floating, tickling… Flitwick
was ecstatic to have finally made a breakthrough, and
Ryua was thrilled to have a shot at passing her OWL…
Care of Magical Creatures, on the other hand, was
pretty awful. Grubblyplank was a good enough teacher,
of course, but the Gryffindors' foul moods were
catching. Not having Hagrid around just took a little
something out of it. The danger, the excitement, the
uncertainty… all the stuff that made the class so much
fun, in Ryua's point of view.
And then the OWLs, which had been looming over them
since the first day, arrived. Or rather, the frail
looking judges who were grading them did. Classes were
suspended for the fifth and seventh years, and
studying tripled. The written DADA was no problem, and
neither was the practical, thanks to all the extra
practice time. Neville was in the room at the same
time as Ryua, and she was proud to see how much he'd
improved. He'd be getting an EE, at the very least.
And Harry's stag guaranteed him an O… and Draco wasn't
nearly as good as he'd expected. Rusty skills…
Potions was gleefully easy, Transfiguration went by
without a hitch, Arithmancy, Care of Magical
Creatures… the only one that really made her sweat was
Charms, of course. And lucky her, her judge was a
retired Auror, and had a penchant for dueling spells.
There were still the required domestic ones (most of
which Ryua failed miserably), but he seemed more than
willing to balance it with the spells she did know.
And then there was the Astronomy practical exam. Ryua
was about three-quarters through when she heard the
unmistakable sounds of a duel starting up. She jerked
up, head whipping around to see if the Death Eaters
had decided to come storming in and saw a jet of red
light. Stunners… can't be Death Eaters then. By now,
Harry and a handful of others had also looked over,
and she heard him say, "They're going for Hagrid!"
"No way," Ryua said, following him over to join Ron
and Hermione at the terrace. Sure enough, illuminated
by the light from his cabin and the wands of the
wizards below, Hagrid was in a full raging fury. A
rouge stunner hit Fang, which caused Hagrid to bellow
and knock the erring wizard back ten yards or so with
one hand. The spells sloughed off of him, probably
because of the giant's blood (Idiots! Ryua muttered.
So much for superior Auror training.) And then the
doors to the Great Hall burst open and McGonnagall was
rushing down the steps, wand raised, voice calling out
clearly across the grounds.
In the next instant, four stunners hit her square in
the chest. Hermione screamed, and Ryua wasn't far from
it. McGonnagall never came off as being a frail
pushover, but Ryua knew that no one was invincible,
and someone at her age couldn't take that much of a
jolt. Instead, she turned around and pelted towards
the hospital wing, just a little lower in the tower.
She would have followed Pomfery down and blasted a few
Aurors, but was (probably for the best) shoved
hurriedly back up the stairs.
She just cleared the top of the stairs again to see
Hagrid disappearing into the Forest, Fang slung over
his shoulder. The shocked OWL judge shook himself and
announced, "Two minutes test time…" but rather
quietly, knowing no one was paying the least bit of
attention.
The next two days saw Ryua spending a lot of time
asleep or getting the last bit of quidditch practice
in that she could, and of course, the never ending
detentions. And then one afternoon, when Ryua had just
come in from an exhilarating flight, she saw a sobbing
Hermione leading Harry and Umbridge into the Forest.
She was about to follow when she heard Draco's voice
echoing down a corridor. And he sounded far too
cheerful to mean any good for anyone else. So Ryua
slinked up the hall, easing around Umbridge's office
door.
There were three DA members, under watch of the
Inquisitorial Squad. Draco held a fistful of wands,
and his own pointing casually at each of the
Gryffindors. Ryua, not hesitating in the slightest,
quietly said, "Expelliarmus!"
The result was utter mayhem. Ginny, Neville, and Luna
all made a mad scramble for their wands, Luna calmly
breaking Crabbe's nose, Neville and Ron expertly
stunning the two by the window, and Ginny setting off
a truly exceptional bat bogey curse… in fact, it made
Ryua's nose itch to watch it. Instead, she calmly
picked up Harry and Hermione's wands and said, "Shall
we go then? And would someone tell me what's going on?
And while we're at it… could you teach me that spell,
Ginny?"
"Good timing," Ginny said, jogging down the corridor.
"Hermione's got Umbridge thinking that Dumbledore made
a weapon of some sort, and is hiding it in the
forest…"
"So now they're in the forest, without wands!" Ron
said, obviously worried. "And I have no clue what
she's up to!"
"Lovely." Ryua picked up the pace. She knew Harry and
Hermione could take care of themselves, but that was
with wands…
And they'd just gotten a hundred or two yards in when
they saw the two of them hurrying back, covered in
blood.
"Blimey, what happened to you two?" Ron drew to a
halt, aghast.
"Hmm? Oh, the blood. That's Gropp's." Hermione said,
taking her wand from Ryua.
"What's a Gropp?" Neville asked, panting.
"Hagrid's big brother," Harry said, trying to wipe his
glasses on his bloodstained robes. Ryua took them and
did it for him as he said, "Hagrid told us in the
middle of your quidditch game, Ron. We'll fill you in
later."
"Could anyone tell me what's going on?" Ryua asked,
handing Harry his glasses and wand.
"Voldemort's got Sirius in the Department of
Mysteries."
Ryua whistled. "And with most of the decent teachers
gone… did you tell anyone?"
"Yeah, well… sort of. I don't know if Snape understood
or not, I wasn't about to say it in front of Umbridge
and the Squad."
"So, we'll go get him," Ron said, although he looked
rather pale.
And how are we supposed to get to London?" Hermione
asked, tapping her foot.
"Those…" Luna said, pointing at a Thestral nibbling on
Harry's sleeve. Harry jumped, then a grim smile
stretched across his face.
"Whats? I don't see anything," Ron said, still
clueless.
"Thestrals, Ron." Ryua said, steering him towards
another one. "They're wonderful creatures really. Just
tell you where you want to go, and they'll take you
there. I really have to get one…"
"Okay." Neville set his jaw and awkwardly climbed up
on a Thestral licking Hermione's back.
"No. Just the three of us."
"What? There's no way three of you can take on a whole
load of Death Eaters!" Ryua said, stunned.
Yeah, you aren't leaving us," Ginny flatly stated,
looking incredibly like Fred and George.
"Yes, we are. I'm not getting you four in trouble."
"Too late, Harry." Neville said, having guided Ginny
onto a Thestral. "We're coming."
Harry looked helplessly from face to face, finally
settling on Ryua, sitting like an Amazon cavalry
warrior on her Thestral. "You stay, Ryua."
What? Have you lost your mind, Potter? You need me,
and there's no way I'm not following."
"Ryua, think about this. Your life's dangerous enough
as it is. If your father, or Voldemort finds out where
you are, you're screwed."
"I don't CARE!" Ryua snarled back, glaring at him.
"I'm not letting you go off against them, they'll kill
you. I know exactly what they're capable of, Harry."
"Ryua… Harry's right," Hermione said hesitantly. "If
you get caught attacking Death Eaters, with Harry…"
"What. What? They'll kill me? Who gives a damn?" Ryua
said, seething. Her Thestral danced under her, sensing
the high tension in its rider.
"I do." Harry said, firmly. "You're staying here."
"And how do you propose to make me? Stun me, and I'll
be helpless in this forest."
"Hermione, Thestrals go wherever you tell them,
right?"
Uh… yes."
"Okay. Silencio." Harry said, pointing his wand.
Ryua's eyes flew wide, blazing with fury. She started
calling him things that probably were better off
muted, but was helpless to do anything. Sure, if she
tried hard enough, she could probably curse a couple
of them, but what would be the point in that. "I'm
really sorry, Ryua, but you're not coming. Talk to
Snape, let him know."
Snape? Why the hell does he want me to talk to Snape?
Surely he knows Snape's a Death Eater by now… Ryua
watched helplessly as the other six told their
Thestrals the destination and disappeared through the
trees. Silently growling, she slid off her mount and
took off at a dead run. She was far enough out that it
was faster to stop at the broom shed than go directly
to the school. For a moment, she considered flying
after them, but realized she didn't have a chance of
tailing them without knowing the route. Instead, she
shot off to the school grounds, searching the walls
for an open window on her way.
Dumbledore's office window was wide open. Considering
it had been impenetrable since he left, it seemed like
something she ought to investigate. Inside was Snape,
talking to Professor Lupin in the fireplace. Ryua
glided in, and jumped to the floor with as much noise
as possible, considering she couldn't make much else
in the way of sound. Snape whirled around, looking
terrified, then relaxed when he saw her. "Ryua? What
are you doing here? Why is there blood on your hand?"
Ryua just stared, tapping her foot impatiently.
Snape's face cleared, and he undid the charm. "Harry,
Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny, and Luna Lovegood have
all taken off on Thestrals to the Ministry of Magic to
rescue Sirius Black!" Ryua burst out in one breath.
"And Harry told me to come and tell you. Now, I know
he hates you, and he knows you're a Death Eater. So
would you PLEASE tell me what is going on? Oh, hello
Professor," Ryua added calmly.
" Hello Ryua. Snape? It's your call. You're the
closest thing to a guardian the girl has. I'll take
care of things here." Lupin disappeared in a wash of
flame, leaving Ryua and Snape standing in the empty
office.
"Sir?" Ryua asked, rather demanding now.
"By rights, Ryua, I should wipe your memory now. It
could save your life…"
He was cut off by Ryua's wand pointed at his throat.
"Listen, sir, I've been having a very frustrating day,
where people start to tell me something, and then
charm me so they don't have to answer. Well, I want
some bloody answers! I'm tired of people treating me like a little kid!"
"Alright. Alright," he said, carefully lowering her
wand. "I want you to know that what I'm about to tell
you could make life exceedingly difficult for you… and
me. Even if you choose for me to wipe your memory
afterwards, that can be broken through if he suspects
anything, do you understand?" at her nod, he took a
deep breath and continued. "I'm not a Death Eater. At
least, not anymore. I'm a spy. I'm a member of
Dumbledore's answer to the Dark Lord's inner circle, a
secret organization. Harry, Hermione, and the whole
Weasley clan have known since summer. I didn't tell
you because…"
"No, that I understand. So… there's someone going
after them?"
"Yes. As much of the Order as can be mustered. Only
myself and the other member teachers will stay.
"Huh. Well. That's… huh. That explains a few things."
"Like?"
"Like how Dumbledore trusts you, went to bat while you
were on trial, why Harry told me to find you, and not…
Pomfery or someone."
"Hmm. Hopefully, no one else begins to suspect, or my
life is forfeit. With luck, Dumbledore will kill me
first."
Ryua grimaced. "So… we just have to wait?"
"Yes." Snape sighed. "We wait."
It was an incredibly long wait. Hours crawled by, and
they both waited in Dumbledore's office the whole
time. It was the site of the only secure floo place,
Fawkes' favorite spot, and the one place no one would
think or be able to look for them. They didn't talk
much, their thoughts in the Department of Mysteries,
wondering, hoping…
And then the fireplace flared up green, and an
exhausted, tear-streaked Harry fell into Ryua's arms.
She shifted him into a chair, looking back for anyone
else, but the fire died down again. "What happened,
Harry? Where are the others?"
"Hospital wing, I think," he mumbled. Snape turned on
his heel and went there.
"What happened?" Ryua asked, sitting on another chair.
"…A trap… Death Eaters everywhere, Hermione out, Luna
out, Ron out, Ginny out… Just me and Neville by the
end, thought we were dead… Then… they came… with…
with…" Harry couldn't finish, he couldn't force the
next words past his throat. He was completely still,
just the slightest tremors in his fingers. Ryua
recognized it as stress, the special kind of stress
you get after pain, fear, loss… all the worst things
rolled into one ordeal.
Unfortunately, she had no idea what to do to make it
better. Usually, she and Draco just patched each other
up, and generally fell asleep right after. Harry
didn't have any obvious cuts or curse marks… and he
looked like he'd never be able to sleep again,
exhausted as he obviously was. Awkwardly, she held his
hand, wishing she could do something more to help.
When the fireplace flared up again, Ryua placed
herself between Harry and the fire, wand pointed at…
Dumbledore's long, white beard. "Ryua, I promised
Harry I would speak with him now, and I have very
little time to waste. Please go to the hospital wing,
or wait at the bottom of my stairs for him."
It wasn't like Dumbledore to be so… abrupt, but Ryua
went anyway. It probably was one of those things she
really shouldn't hear if she expected to live the
summer out. But she did wait at the bottom of the
stairs, glaring at whoever happened by. They all sped
on their way, without bothering to look twice. Once
glance was enough to ascertain her mood.
Harry walked listlessly out from behind the gargoyle,
and Ryua gently pulled him up to the hospital wing.
Looks like I'll have to wait… She was completely
distracted, anyway, when she got into the wing and saw
the condition of her other friends. Hermione and Luna
were deathly pale, lying perfectly still, but with
their faces uncovered, signifying they were still
alive. Ron was also unconscious, but twitching as if
with bad dreams, and covered in weals even Ryua
couldn't recognize. Ginny was walking carefully over
to help Harry to a bed, tired but in one piece.
Neville was sitting on the end of his bed, his front
soaked in blood, with Madam Pomfery fixing a
spectacularly broken nose. "By the Four, what
happened?"
Having been shooed away by Madam Pomfery, Ginny came
over to Neville's bed, where Ryua had also sat down.
And between the two of them, they managed a fairly
complete version of events.
"Well." Ryua said, and then couldn't think of anything
to follow.
"Yeah. Aah… sorry about landing your various family
members in Azkaban, Ryua," Neville said nervously.
"Eh, good riddance. Draco and I'll have the run of the
house now. It should actually make for a decent
summer… until Voldemort breaks them out of Azkaban, of
course."
"Yeah. Hey, if that happens, come over to my place,"
Ginny said, "Just floo there, or something, we're at
the Burrow. We don't' have a whole lot of room, but
Mum'll always take in another kid."
"Thanks…" Ryua said, glancing back over at the four
sleeping students. "Hope they'll be alright."
"Yeah. It was a long night."
"I wish I could have helped you…"
"No you don't. If Lucius was that mean to just regular
kids, I can't imagine what he'd have done to you,"
Neville said, looking over at them.
"Poor Harry. The first family he'd ever really had…"
Ginny said quietly. Ryua knew she was thinking about
her own family, her brother so close to death…
"Yeah." Ryua really couldn't imagine. She'd never been
really close enough to people to really miss them when
they were gone. Narcissa… nope. Lucius? Hell, she'd
kill him herself, given half a chance. Aunt Bella? The
Crabbes or Goyles? Not really… "I should go. It's
probably not a good choice to be hanging around here…"
"Yeah, I guess. We'll let you know…"
"Thanks…" It wasn't until she was down into the
dungeon levels that she realized just how terrified
she was that Harry wouldn't last the night… "Shit. I
am not falling for the Boy Who Lived. I'm not, I'm
not, I'm not…"
Author's Note: I actually sort of like this one,
unlike the last four or so. Not perfect… but it's
getting there, it's getting there (and I just noticed
it's 7 pages…). Thanks, JeannieBeannie, for letting me
know someone still cares if I exist… And sorry if the formatting is messed up. I can only type on one computer, but it won't let me access or hotmail. So, I have to copy it into my yahoo email, send it to my hotmail, copy and paste to a word document, save it on this computer, and then I can upload it... all because floppy disks aren't compatable with the laptop... Ah, maybe I'll fix it, someday, if I ever figure out how!
