Chapter 16
Ginny walked out of the Room of Requirements with Neville and Luna.
"That was great!" Neville said.
"Yes," Luna agreed. "Most definitely."
Ginny grinned. "Everyone did really well. When do you think we should have the next meeting?"
"Why don't we have them every other week?" Neville suggested. "We can keep up with that, can't we?"
Luna nodded, looking to Ginny for confirmation.
"Sounds great." she said.
"Cool." Luna said. "Well, I've got to get back to my room now. I suspect the Nargles may be trying to steal my shoes again." With that, Luna waved, leaving Ginny and Neville alone.
They walked back to the common room, checking to be sure they wouldn't run into anyone. "So Ginny, other than the Death Eaters crashing your brother's wedding, how was your summer?"
She sighed. "To be honest, not that great. It was really difficult having Harry around after we- well, you know..."
"So Harry was there then?"
"Of course. He was always over. The Minister of Magic even came over and saw him there."
"The Minister? And the Death Eaters waited so long to attack? Wow." Neville said. "What did the Minister want?"
"Well," Ginny said as they stepped through the Portrait, "Apparently, Dumbledore left the three of them some things in his will."
"All of them? Ron and Hermione too?"
"Yeah. But Harry was given two things, not just one." She continued. "Only problem is, they wouldn't give him the second thing."
"Why not?"
She shrugged. "Said it wasn't Dumbledore's to give away."
"What did Dumbledore try to give him?" Neville asked curiously.
"The Sword of Gryffindor."
"Hello Ginny." said Luna in her usually airy voice.
"Hey Luna. Hey Neville." Ginny said as she took her place at the table in the library. "What's up?"
"Well, Gin," Neville answered, "I told Luna about what you told me. How Dumbledore left Harry the Sword of Gryffindor and all. And well, we've been thinking."
"What about?" she asked her two friends.
"We think it would be a wonderful surprise to steal it!" Answered Luna.
"Steal it?" Ginny asked incredulously. "The Sword is Snape's office! We'd have to break in."
They nodded.
"But if Dumbledore meant to leave the Sword to Harry then he must need it." Neville reasoned.
"We can go during dinner. All of the staff, even Snape, will be in the Great Hall then." Luna added.
"You've really thought this out, haven't you guys?"
"Absolutely. We're Dumbledore's Army. We should be helping the students who can't help themselves. Fighting for what's right! Come on, Gin. We can do this."
"Alright then." Ginny nodded. "When shall we do it?"
"How about tomorrow?" Luna offered.
They nodded in agreement.
"Come on, quick." Ginny said, waving the others over. "Make sure nobody's coming."
"Right." Neville said and he and Luna turned, watching the hall.
Ginny waved her wand, "Alohamora." she whispered and heard the click of the door unlocking itself.
She pushed the door open and crept inside, Neville and Luna slowly backing into the room with her. They closed the door and breathed a sigh of relief. The three of them split up, searching Snape's office for the Sword of Gryffindor.
"It's over here!" Ginny called quietly to Neville and Luna. The other two joined her quickly around the glass case where the sword was kept.
"How do we get it out?" Neville asked. "I'm sure Snape would have put protective spells on it to keep it safe."
"How right you are, Mr. Longbottom." drawled a deep, grave voice from behind them.
The three friends turned quickly, coming face to face with Snape.
"Did you three honestly believe you could sneak into my office and steal from me?" Snape drawled.
"That Sword belongs to Harry." Ginny said. "Dumbledore left it to him!"
"No, Weasley. This sword is property of Hogwarts. Dumbledore had no right to give it away."
"He had every r-"
"Silence!" Snape demanded. "You come into my office and try to justify stealing from me? The three of you will be punished for this!" He drew his wand, pointing it first at Neville. Ropes shot out of his wand, wrapping themselves around Neville's body. He moved his wand to Luna and did the same, binding her tightly with rope.
"We shall start with you then, hmm, Ms. Weasley." he sneered.
She stared directly into his eyes, showing him that she would not beg him to spare her. That she would not give in to his power.
He pointed his wand at her. "Crucio!"
Ginny's body jerked in pain. She gritted her teeth, unwilling to cry out. Pain burned through her and she closed her eyes, trying to block it out.
"Not enough, Weasley?" he snarled. His wand raised a little higher and the pain tripled, causing Ginny to scream. "There we are." Snape smirked, watching the body of the little red head twist in pain. Her screams now filled the air.
"Ginny!" Neville yelled. "Stop! You're hurting her."
Snape ignored him.
"You're a monster Snape!" Luna yelled, joining Neville's protests. "Leave her go! Stop it!"
His wand moved from Ginny and her body fell slack to the floor. Snape focused his wand on Neville and a white light shot out, hitting him in the chest. Neville slumped forward, doubling over in pain. His eyes closed briefly as he breathed, forcing the pain to the back of his mind.
He noticed Snape's wand had moved to Luna. Panic made him call out. "Is that all you've got Snape? Barely felt a thing, I did."
Snape's eyes turned back to Neville, his wand doing the same some seconds after. "Barely felt a thing, did you?" Another shot of light, this time purple, hit Neville.
His back arched in an attempt to suppress the pain. "That one almost felt good." Neville said, smirking through the pain.
"You talk pretty big, Longbottom. But then, so did your parents." Snape spat. "Let's see it you're as weak as they were."
Snape released the ropes from him and raised his wand to Neville's chest. "Crucio!" Neville's face contorted in pain as his body lifted from the ground, twisting in pain.
"No, Neville! Leave him alone, please!" Luna cried.
"I had almost forgotten you there, Ms.- Lovegood, was it?" Snape drawled. He let Neville fall to the floor as he turned his attention to her. "What shall your punishment be then? A Cruciatus curse like the others, perhaps?"
Luna didn't answer. Her eyes were pinned to Neville and Ginny, panting on the floor as they recovered.
"I am speaking to you!" he snarled. Luna continued to ignore him, looking at her friends. "Crucio!" he shouted, pointing his wand at her.
Luna screamed as her body jerked in pain.
There was a sudden pounding on Snape's door and her body went slack, sinking to the floor. He waved his wand at the door and it opened, revealing a distraught looking Minerva McGonagall.
"I heard screaming. What is the- oh my." she stopped as she saw the three students laying helpless on the floor. "You- you're a monster Severus. Attacking children."
"These children saw it fit to break into my office and attempt to steal from me. They deserved what they got."
"They are students, Severus!" McGonagall scolded.
"I am aware of that Minerva. And if you do not wish for them to be punished further, I would suggest taking them back to their respective houses."
Professor McGonagall looked appalled but she said nothing further. She helped the students to their feet and hurried them from the Headmaster's office. Together, they led Luna to her common room. Once she was inside, McGonagall led the other two back to Gryffindor tower.
Ginny expected to be reprimanded for what they had done. But to her surprise, after seeing that they were okay, Professor McGonagall left without saying a word.