Carrow's eyes were practically gleaming in delight. Ginny, Neville and Colin were all lined up against the one wall of Snape's office. Carrow sat at Dumbledore's desk, tapping his fingers idly. He watched the three of them with intense dislike on his features and Carrow chuckled, "Looks like you're really in trouble now, Weasley. I knew this day was coming."
He got up and leered into his face, his black eyes glinting with menace and spite. Ginny held his gaze bravely and then Neville spoke up, "It's wasn't just Ginny's idea. It was mien too." Carrow turned on Neville and held his wand to his neck, "Oh really? Well…I think you also deserve some punishment then, eh? What will your girlfriend say about this…?"
Ginny bit her lip as the tension slipped into the room and reared its ugly head. She held her breath and Carrow stared Neville down before saying joyfully, "Crucio…" Neville stood his ground and refused to show any sign of pain. The curse lasted at least three minutes and Ginny didn't know how he had survived standing for so long. She truly admired him for his courage.
When Carrow lifted it, Neville's eyes narrowed, but otherwise he didn't show any sign of pain. Carrow spat at him, "You're going to go the same way as your parents. You're being stupidly stubborn." It was this remark that caused Neville to punch Carrow in the face! Ginny shouted at him and tried pulling him off Carrow as the Death Eater fell to the floor, his nose bleeding. Ginny restrained him, and so did Colin, who's mouth hung open in shock.
Carrow fixed his nose with a quick "Episkey spell and left the blood there. Ginny felt her fists clenching as Neville inahled harshly next to her. She was mad for her friend…mad that this man had the audacity to bring his parents us. Ginny suddenly couldn't restrain herself anymore. She spat at Carrow, "How dare you bring up his parents? You have no right to do what you just did!"
That's when Carrow walked up to her. He sneered at her like a snake, "Actually, Weasley, you'll find that I have every right! I'm in charge here. You better start showing some respect!" And then he did something she wasn't anticipating. Ginny watched his hand going in slow motion. It was coming for her, and she tensed…thinking 'He won't do it. He won't do it." And then he did it. He slapped her across the face. Not only did he do it once, but it did it on the other side. He was about to do it again, when Snape finally showed up.
The headmaster stared emotionlessly and snapped, "Professor Carrow…that's enough." Ginny's cheaks were stinging from the pain and she glared at the man before her with complete hatred in her eyes. Colin placed an arm around her and Ginny tried desperately to not show how much it ached. Nobody had ever slapped her like that. Nobody.
Snape took Neville by his arm and placed him in the chair behind the main desk. He handed Neville a vile of Veritserum. Neville shook his head in protest, "No…you can't force me." Carrow rolled his eyes and then grabbed Ginny by her robes. He pointed his wand at her neck and he smirked at Neville, "Do it now, or I will Crucio your girlfriend."
Neville raised his eyebrows and he had no choice but to drink the ghastly stuff. Ginny sighed and held her breath as she waited for Neville to say something. Luckily…Neville didn't know as much as she did. She wasn't sure the potion would protect her against Veriterserum. That was some powerful potion.
She waited with baited breath as Neville swallowed the stuff and she glanced at Colin nervously.
Carrow stood in front of Neville, releasing Ginny and grinned, "Right…now then. Where do we start? What were you doing in the headmasters' office?" Her heart was racing and Neville replied immediately, "We were trying to steal the sword of Gryffindor." Carrow smirked at Snape and then he asked, "Why?" Ginny's heart stopped then. This answer was one that could get them into serious trouble. Neville gulped and whispered, "We wanted to get it to Harry." Ginny glanced at her feet and she felt her cheeks burning.
Carrow turned to Ginny and smirked. Then he cackled, "I thought you didn't know where Potter was?" Neville replied in answer, "We don't." Snape held his hand up to Carrow in order to prevent him from asking the next question. Snape looked at Neville and said tonelessly, "Then why, bother stealing the sword in the first place?"
Ginny blinked. Snape had a fair point. They hadn't even thought that far ahead. Then she thought to herself 'Dobby…' They could have given it to Dobby who would at some point be called by Harry. Ginny sighed and shook her head. Snape turned to Carrow and nodded, "I think that's all the questions we need to ask."
Snape nodded at the three of them and said sternly, "You can all leave now." Carrow spluttered, "But what about their punishment?" Snape shrugged his shoulders carelessly, "I don't have time to sit around all day punishing students, Mr Carrow. I, unlike you, have lots of work to do. They've given us the answers we've wanted."
Carrow scowled and glared at Ginny, Neville and Colin with pure hatred in his eyes. Ginny couldn't believe that they were walking out of there fairly unscathed. They walked speedily until they reached an empty corridor. Neville whispered to Ginny with worry etched on his face, "Are you ok? You shouldn't have said that to him."
Ginny shrugged her shoulders and murmured, "I'm fine thanks Neville. This was worthwhile saying it." He moved his hand and gently brushed his thumb over Ginny's cheek. For one wild moment…Ginny imagined a life without Harry. Where Neville was the one she depended on. It's not like the thought had never cross her mind before…but she had never felt like it could be a possibility. In that one fleeting second, it might have been.
But then Colin coughed awkwardly and Neville removed his hand. There was a silence and Colin murmured, "Uh….I think we better get back to class, guys." Ginny nodded and then had to pull out her timetable to check what she had next. Transfiguration. McGonagall was no doubt going to be in a fantastic mood…after the stint they had just pulled.
When they arrived in Transfiguration, McGonagall stared at Ginny and Colin as they entered an took seats in the back. The class had already begun, but surprisingly, McGonagall chose not to make any remarks about them being late. This surprised Ginny to no end and she stared at Colin. What was wrong with these teachers today? Everybody was acting so out of character!
At the end of the class, once Ginny had successfully transfigured a wine glass into a water goblet, Professor McGonagall said briskly, "Class dismissed. Miss Weasley and Mr Creevey, please stay behind." There was an echo of "oooh" from some of the students and then Ginny glanced at Colin nervously.
Ginny walked up gingerly to McGonagall's desk and the professor sighed, "I am aware that the two of you were involved in the prank played earlier today." Ginny was staring at her feet and McGonagall said sternly, "No matter what your intentions were…and I believe they were good…they do not justify stealing private property from a staff member."
Ginny glanced up then and said irritably, "But Professor McGonagall…that sword is not Snape's to have!" she said in protest. The professor all but glared at her and Ginny continued, "It belongs to Gryffindor. Not Slytherin!" McGonagall sighed and shook her head sadly, "I know, Miss Weasley. I am well aware being the head of Gryffindor. But the headmaster runs the school, and therefore gets to make such decisions. In any event, since I am your house master, I have to decide how to proceed with your detentions."
Colin stared at her in disbelief, "Detentions! Professor McGonagall…Carrow slapped Ginny across the face!" he said angrily. Ginny had forgotten about that. McGonagall blinked furiously and spluttered, "Wh…what?" Colin nodded seriously and said, "Yeah. Because he was insulting Neville and his parents. Then Ginny defended them and he slapped her on both cheeks. He was going to do it a third time too."
Ginny felt embarrassed for some reason as McGonagall stared at her in horror. She whispered tightly, "Is this true, Miss Weasley?" Ginny nodded briefly, trying to ignore the angry emotions boiling up inside of her.
McGonagall was for once, speechless. Ginny had never seen the professor stare at her with nothing to say. She issued Colin a small smile in thanks for sticking up for her. Then McGonagall sighed and shook her head, "I'm going to make it my duty to speak to the git." Now it was Ginny's turned to stare at the professor. Ginny glanced at Colin, who tried not to laugh. McGonagall had a small smile on her face that she was trying desperately not to show. She shook her head and tried to avoid the subject, "Listen, you two…I'm in charge of your detentions. They're going to start as of Saturday."
Ginny sighed and Colin groaned, "How many, professor?" Colin asked grumpily. The professor pierced her lips, "Four weeks, for the both of you. I think that should be enough." Ginny huffed and replied, "But professor…" Professor McGonagall shook her head, "No buts, Miss Weasley. I will be in charge of those detentions so you can thank your lucky stars for that. Now, off you go. I'll let you know more about them at a later date." With that, McGonagall turned her attention back to her parchment and began writing.
They walked in silence until Ginny couldn't stand it anymore. She said with exasperation, "Aren't you confused as to how we got out of that with bare minimal punishment?" Colin shrugged his shoulders as they headed to the great hall for lunch. He whispered, "To be honest…I'm just extremely grateful. Although, I reckon Carrow will wreak havoc in the next class. I wouldn't put it past him." Ginny bit her lip with worry. She didn't like this anymore than the idea of the detentions she had in the near future. She huffed out a breath of some relief and then decided to quit complaining.
When they met Neville in the Great Hall, Ginny hurried to him and hugged him as he stood up to make space for her. She asked concernedly, "How are you doing?" Neville squeezed her tightly before replying, "I'm not sure…Ginny. To be completely honest…I feel like that was the biggest waste of time." Ginny nodded and sighed tiredly, "I know." Colin frowned as he sat beside Seamus and opposite Ginny, "Why?" he asked curiously, while helping himself to a cucumber sandwich. Ginny glanced at Neville, who murmured under his breath, "The Sword of Gryffindor was a fake." Seamus and Colin stared at them in disbelief and Ginny nodded morbidly. Seamus muttered, "Damnit! How did you find that out?" Ginny shrugged and murmured half-hardheartedly, "Dumbledores' portrait told us." The group of four ate the rest of their meal in stony cold silence.
A/N: Hey guys! No-one really replied to my last chapter or gave me any feedback. I thought it was the one everyone was waiting for so now I'm just unsure of how people found it…Please let me know thoughts? I'd really like to hear. Anyway, here's another one for you guys and I hope you enjoy this a little more.