Thanks to my loyal readers for sticking with this story, I appreciate it and hope you keep on reading. Happy holidays everyone!
"There are worse people to get stuck doin' detention with, eh?" Hagrid asked cheerily as he led Neville, Luna, and Ginny into the Forbidden Forest. His large lantern swung back and forth in his hand, creating abnormal patterns of light splayed across the dark trees. Neville gave him a half-hearted nod as he wrapped his cloak tightly around his body, silently wishing he had brought his hat and scarf along. The late November wind nipped at his face teasingly.
"Yes," Luna bobbed her head and smiled up at him in the darkness. "I quite enjoy your presence, Hagrid, I would've come along, detention or not." Hagrid looked touched and patted her on the shoulder, sending her sprawling forward and onto the dirty forest floor bed.
Neville easily pulled Luna up by her underarms and glanced at Ginny, who was silent and fuming as she stomped ten feet ahead of them. Despite striking out with luck regarding their detention, she had clearly expressed that she was furious that their plan had failed. Neville's mind drifted to the moment they had been caught, the look on her face as she and Luna clutched the sword, the glass case it had been kept in shattered in the background. While Luna's face had conveyed an emotion somewhere between surprise and fear, Ginny's showed raw anger.
"Why the long face, eh, Ginny?" Hagrid called ahead to the ginger, gesturing for the others to pick up the pace so they could catch up with her. It was much to everyone's surprise that Snape had given the trio detention with Hagrid rather than torturing them with a much harsher punishment. Parvati, Marcus, Sally-Anne, Hannah, Terry, Michael, Oliver, and Su, who had been caught and rounded up by the awake Slytherins while the sword was being stolen, were forced to do lines with the Carrows, who had unfortunately awoken from the sleeping gas. "Yer with me now, you can relax."
"Which we're ever so glad about," Neville added hurriedly, not wanting Ginny's foul mood to reflect badly on him and Luna. It was true, too. Though he never set foot in the Forbidden Forest if he could help it, Neville would take detention with Hagrid over the Carrows any day.
"I was, however, quite surprised that the Headmaster assigned us with you," Luna told Hagrid as they hurried to catch up to Ginny. "Especially after Ginny started yelling at him for being a traitor. I don't suppose the comment about George's missing ear helped, either."
"I s'pose not," Hagrid chuckled softly before shouting, "Oi, Ginny, stop here." Once the redhead had stopped, he threw a glance over his shoulder, as if checking that nobody was following them, and pulled a tankard and four mugs out of his pockets. "I wasn't really gon' make you lot wrestle Erklings like Snape was expectin', let's sit."
"Thank God," Neville muttered, for he had never been particularly fond of magical creatures. Ginny raised her eyebrows at Hagrid and Luna, who had been rather looking forward to the prospect of seeing different creatures of the Forbidden Forest, let out a small sigh of disappointment. Hagrid guided the trio over to a large, flat rock and gestured for them to sit down. Luna conjured up a small fire for them as Hagrid sloppily poured steaming butterbeer into the mugs and passed them out.
"To justice for missing appendages," Hagrid cheered as he held his mug up towards the moon. Ginny hesitated for a second before finally smiling and mirroring the gesture, causing Neville and Luna to beam and do the same.
"How have you been, Hagrid?" Ginny asked as she wrapped both hands around her steaming mug after taking a generous sip. "Sorry we haven't been able to visit, the new rules are-"
"No need to explain yerselves," Hagrid said firmly, holding up a large hand. "Those rules are endless and the way they've been enforcing them? It's disgustin'."
"You can say that again," Neville sighed, staring down into his cup. "The Carrows are criminals."
"Dumbledore never would've tolerated their practices," Hagrid sniffled as his eyes welled with tears at the thought of the former Headmaster. Luna produced a lavender handkerchief from her pocket and gave it to the gamekeeper, who dabbed at his eyes with the cloth that looked tiny against his face. "These are hard times, even here at Hogwarts, which I'm sure you three know better'n I do."
"It's all Snape's fault," Ginny muttered stiffly. "Things would be different if he hadn't murdered the best Headmaster Hogwarts has ever seen."
"Things would still be dark, even if Dumbledore were still 'ere," Hagrid said mildly, rolling the handkerchief into a ball in one of his hands. "Powerful and kind wizard Albus Dumbledore was but even he couldn't stop this war."
"He wouldn't encourage us to accept defeat like others are, though," Neville insisted.
Hagrid chuckled slightly as he looked down at the trio. "I don't think you three would accept defeat even if it was shoved down yer throats. And it seems like you've been provin' just that."
"Ah, so you've heard about the revivement of the DA." Luna leaned back against a knotted tree.
"There's been talk amongst the teachers." Hagrid nodded. "I've heard many things about the 'more rebellious students'. Graffiti all over the walls? Organizin' a prohibited Quidditch match? The return of Weasley products? Now that Harry, Ron, and Hermione are gone, I knew it had to be another troublesome trio. I suppose congratulations are in order."
"Congratulations for what?" Neville asked confusedly.
Hagrid shrugged, sloshing butterbeer in his beard. "Ye've scared 'em. I don't know about Snape, but those Carrows know yer a force ter be reckoned with. But yer gonna need ter be careful."
"We aren't afraid of their punishments," Ginny said boldly, though Neville noticed that she had gone pale in the firelight, no doubt reliving the Cruciatus Curse in her mind.
"It's not only that," Hagrid shook his head. "They know of yer friendship with Harry, sooner or later they'll be interrogatin' you for information."
"You don't really think that, do you?" Neville scoffed, warily eyeing the gamekeeper.
"I do. Death Eaters are everywhere now, in the Ministry, at Hogwarts, patrollin' the streets and keepin' tabs on people. Especially people allied with Harry. There's a reason all yer families are being watched."
"Even mine?" Luna asked curiously, fingering a crimped strand of pale blonde hair.
"I wouldn't be surprised," Hagrid said honestly. "From what I've heard, the Quibbler has been one of Harry's most active supporters." Luna smiled proudly at that statement. "Plus you and yer dad were at Bill n' Fleur's wedding, I'm sure you were sighted by the intruders."
"Speaking of families, have you heard any news from the Order?" Ginny interrupted, leaning forward eagerly.
"Not much," came Hagrid's brusque answer. "The Carrows n' Snape are so suspicious of me that I'm surprised I haven't been fired. The Order knows it would be too risky to give me any information with the three of 'em out for my blood. It's why I've been layin' low recently, I don't want ter start any trouble."
"Is that why you aren't teaching this year?" Luna asked morosely, staring up at Hagrid with big eyes.
"Aye, it is," Hagrid sighed forlornly, and the sad tone of his voice made Neville's heart ache slightly. "It's fer the best, though. But here's what I do know from the Order," he began after noticing Luna, Ginny, and Neville's sad expressions, causing them to perk up slightly. "Yer family has been very actively involved in the Order's safehouse networks, Ginny. Yer parents have been stayin' under the radar, fer good reason too, but yer brothers are transporting whole families from house to house."
"The Pottermore broadcasts have been mentioning the safehouse network," Neville said with a nod as Ginny practically glowed with pride. He hesitated slightly before asking, "Have you been spying on Snape for the Order?"
"I offered but Moody, may he rest in peace, thought it best that I don't risk it. Maybe if I were stayin' in the castle but I have little excuse to go up ter the school except for meals." Hagrid winced slightly and then said, "I also might've mentioned ter Molly 'n Arthur about the detentions and punishments those Carrows make you do."
"Great," Ginny groaned, rubbing the side of her face. "That'll be a fun holiday discussion."
"Your parents deserve to know," Luna calmly objected to Ginny's sarcastic tone. "Hogwarts is so isolated from the rest of the Wizarding World that little know about the injustice we've been facing."
"I know, but that won't prevent them from locking me in my bedroom until the war is over. In fact, don't expect to see me back in January."
"You're being dramatic," Neville rolled his eyes, though his heart sank at the thought of Ginny not returning. "I have no idea what Gran will do when she finds out."
"Yer families should be mad over this treatment of students, I know I sure am." Hagrid suddenly looked down at his watch that had a patchwork band. "It's gettin' late, I should send ye back ter the castle. Don't look at me like that," he said firmly at their sullen expressions. "You've got a whole nother week and a half of detention with me ter look forward to."
Hagrid instructed them to muss up their appearances to make it look like they had had a rough time in the forest. Neville smeared dirt onto his face as Ginny carefully ruffled up Luna's hair and decorated it with twigs and leaves while the blonde fiddled with the ginger's robes. "How do we look?" Luna asked cheerfully as the three of them stared up at Hagrid expectantly.
"Perfect," the gamekeeper beamed as he stuffed the mugs into his jacket. "Now let's get you three back." He herded them out of the forest, perking up at the sound of Fang's howls as his cabin came into sight.
"This was probably the best detention I've ever had," Ginny announced as they hurried up the stone steps single-file. Her friends, out of breath from the hill, nodded enthusiastically.
"Yer just sayin' that,'' Hagrid scoffed, but his eyes crinkled at the compliment. "Now remember, you three had a rough time wrestlin' some particularly nasty Erklings in the forest," he reminded them as he led them to a side door of the castle and pulled out his large ring of keys. He selected a rusty black one and unlocked the door, before shooing them inside. "See you tomorrow night," he said with a wink as he swung the door shut.
"Do you really think they'll soon be interrogating us about Harry?" Neville asked as they took one of the back staircases up to the first floor.
"It's possible," Luna shrugged with a sigh.
"Why don't you ask them yourself?" Ginny hissed as she nodded down a dimly lit hallway. The two Carrows glared at the trio as they peered out into the hall from Alecto's classroom doorway. The corners of their mouths turned up slightly at the disheveled appearances and they smirked as the door slowly swung shut.
"Bunch of gits," Ginny sneered at the closed door. "Smiling at our misfortune. Good thing it's not really misfortune. Now come one, let's get back to the dormitories, I'm exhausted."
They crept down the hall, careful to be quiet as not to alert Filch of their whereabouts. Hushed voices suddenly drifted down the hall, causing them to tense and look at each other fearfully. Neville threw his head in the direction of the way they had come from to indicate that they should turn but Ginny shook her head and grabbed his and Luna's hands, pulling them forward. They held their breaths as the voices grew louder and suddenly found eight of their friends hidden in an alcove, whispering furiously amongst each other. The group jumped at the sound of approaching footsteps but sighed in relief when they saw that it was only Luna, Neville, and Ginny.
"Don't scare us like that!" Parvati huffed, slapping Ginny on the arm as her fearful expression melted off her face.
"My bad," Ginny replied with a small smirk. "Wotcher folks, fancy seeing you lot here." She watched in amusement as the group unclenched their fists and began to relax, laughing in relief.
"Bloody hell, we thought you were the Carrows coming back for more," Sally-Anne gasped, the color slowly returning to her pale cheeks.
"Or some Slytherins," Michael added, his tensed shoulders dropping. "Bet you anything they're plotting their revenge right now."
"Luckily, no. How'd your detention go?" Neville asked the group, though his gaze lingered solely on Hannah. "They didn't make you write too many lines, did they?"
Parvati, Oliver, and Michael exchanged wary glances with one another as Marcus, Terry, and Su suddenly became very interested with the floor. It was finally Hannah who broke the silence, twisting her fingers nervously as she spoke. "We were expecting lines but apparently that's not what they had planned for us."
Ginny's eyebrows shot up. "What?"
"Well," Su Li cleared her throat awkwardly. "They thought it would be more…educational if we were to, um, p-practice spells on one another." Neville raised an eyebrow at her garbled words, for Su was often perfectly eloquent with everything she said.
"Spells?" Luna's eyes got wide and she looked at Terry, who sighed and nodded. For the first time Amycus gave a hands-on detention, Seamus had wound up with an injured ankle.
"But Snape promised lines," Neville gasped, outraged with the falsehood of the Headmaster's order.
"What the Headmaster doesn't know won't hurt him," Michael repeated the words of the Carrows in a low voice. Ginny, Luna, and Neville shot each other knowing glances, clearly remembering that Umbridge had said nearly the same thing as she was preparing to use a Cruciatus Curse on Harry two years prior.
"What did they do to you?" Neville growled as he took in their appearances, inspecting for any signs of injury. Sure enough, Oliver Rivers looked as if he was leaning heavily against a pillar, favoring his left leg. Su and Parvati were tugging at their sleeves to hide the bruises around their wrists. Sally-Anne bore several scratches on her neck. Marcus had a vacant look on his face and Michael's robes had been torn around the collar as if he had been dragged around by it.
"Just the Imperius Curse," Terry said in an attempted nonchalant voice. "It really wasn't too bad, I swear. They just roughed us up a bit-"
"No kidding! Alright there, Oliver?" Ginny looked at the Hufflepuff questioningly.
"I've been better," Oliver grinned weakly, only to wince as he attempted to put weight on his foot. He hopped back into his one-legged stance, leaning back on the pillar once again.
"They tried Imperiusing us into telling them about Harry Potter," Marcus shivered, gratefully accepting the pale blue cardigan Luna offered him. "Too bad it didn't work, you can't force someone to tell you the truth under the Imperius Curse because their mind is under your control and not their own. You'd think the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor would know that, what a nitwit."
"Besides," Michael snorted, running a hand through his messy, dark hair. "None of us know where Potter actually is, not even you three."
"Right," Neville laughed weakly, fully aware of the dismayed looks that Ginny and Luna were shooting him. Their worst fears had just been confirmed, the Carrows were looking for information on Harry. And although said information was sparse, the two Death Eaters would torture every last DA member if they thought it would help their cause.
"It was okay though," Hannah changed the subject as she attempted to smile. "Better than going into the Forbidden Forest. I mean, I would take detention with Hagrid over the Carrows any day but the forest is terrifying. It wasn't too bad, was it?"
"You look like you took a tumble down a hill," Sally-Anne commented, running her fingers along her neck delicately. "Rough."
Neville suddenly felt incredibly guilty, for the three of them had had a lovely picnic with Hagrid while their friends had suffered a less severe form of torture but still torture all the same. Judging by Ginny and Luna's expressions, they were feeling a similar kind of shame. He gave a weak shrug in response, the knot in his stomach preventing him from speaking.
"I think it's best if we go back to our dorms and patch ourselves up," Su broke the abrupt silence, her eyes trained on a clock visible from a classroom's open doorway.
"I agree," Hannah's forced-chipper voice immediately piped up as others mumbled in agreement. Goodbyes were said as the Hufflepuffs made their way to the basement while the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws found a staircase leading up to the various towers. Luna bid Ginny and Neville a shaky farewell as she and her housemates separated from the Gryffindors and drifted Westward towards their tower.
Parvati led the way to the portrait hole, obviously eager to be back in her own room. Ginny and Neville hung back slightly, putting more distance between themselves and their friend. "This is really bad," Ginny finally muttered once Parvati was far enough ahead of them.
"You can say that again." Neville rubbed his throbbing temples. "This is only the beginning, they'll only keep digging until they find what they're looking for."
"What do we do?" Ginny chewed her lip, for once at a loss for words.
Neville sighed as he watched Parvati pass by the Gryffindor Head of House office. "I think it's fine time we have another chat with McGonagall."