The Carrows' Calling
Disclaimer: Neither of our names are J.K. Rowling. We hope you will enjoy this chapter!
Chapter Nine
Severus sighed, tired and worn-out. It wasn't his idea to send Ginny, Neville and Luna into the Forbidden Forest, but Professor Carrow, that brat, had insisted it so much that there was no way he could prevent it. The only thing he could do to help (for he was sure a werewolf would very near kill them) was to send a normal wolf, instead of Fenrir Greyback.
It would hurt one of them enough so the idiotic Carrows wouldn't notice anything was off, but it would only be a couple scratches; Severus knew they could handle that.
He had long knew about their plans to steal the Sword of Gryffindor; listening in on their conversations in the Room of Requirement. It had been pitifully easy to find a loophole—Neville hadn't thought of not letting Severus enter, only the Carrows. Guess they did me some good after all.
He was the one who gave permission to Dumbledore's Army and the Order. Severus was technically still in the Order; they had never really discharged him. Although he had made the stupid mistake of trying to strengthen his Disillusion Charm (he didn't think anyone would notice) and had let the ripple of colour run through the air. Ginny had surely noticed it; Severus heard her pointing it out to her friends. Good thing they didn't believe her.
As Severus prowled behind Miss. Weasley, Miss. Lovegood and Mr. Longbottom in the Forest, his mind drifted. He had tuned out on their conversation, lost in this own thoughts. How is this going to end? was the constant question that tickled Severus's mind as he trailed behind the trio, in some ways resembling the wolf also stalking them.
Red, yellow, and brown leaves slowly began to fall from their trees as Hogwarts entered November. Ginny gazed at the falling leaves, swirling through the air, as she walked to her first classes. She checked her schedule and groaned. Dark Arts. With Slytherin. Ginny shuffled to her classes with a much duller expression than the one she had before. But alas, she could not be late again; not after that detention. With a forced smile, Ginny pushed open the door and entered to a room of Slytherins.
"Oohh, look, it's the Sword Stealer!" a voice called out, jeering but laced with a bit of envy. Under that, Ginny even heard a touch of impressed awe. Right, she thought, having almost forgotten the attempt of breaking into Snape's office.
"Hey, at least you didn't find the sword, you might've accidentally stabbed yourself!"
"I bet you were too stupid to even put a soundproofing charm!"
"Ha, Snape probably felt pitiful for you; poor idiot Miss. Weasley!" Voices rang out from the room. Ginny clenched her hands, trying to keep herself from lunging and punching the nearest person.
She was almost thankful when Mr. Carrow walked in, when the jeering finally died out.
"Hmm… what a surprise, Miss. Weasley. The Sword Stealer, here in person!" he snickered, as Ginny glared. You too, Carrow? "Well, I would love to talk more, but let's not waste time; today's class will be very enjoyable," Professor Carrow said, menacing glee on his face. Ginny shivered. She had known his definition of enjoyable, and it was anything but.
"Today, we're going to learn the Cruciatus Curse." Ginny gasped in horror as whispers of fear and even excitement spread through the classroom. "And what better way to learn it, than hands-on!" Dread settled in her stomach. You'd better not be doing what I think you are. "So, I will partner you up, and on my count, you will simultaneously cast the spell. Whoever does it faster, well, gets to torture the other."
Noise erupted from the students; some looking horrified, some seeming gleeful. "Now, let's get going. We should have lots of time to practise."
As Professor Carrow walked around the classroom, making pairs. Ginny seethed with anger, and shook with fear. The Cruciatus Curse was one of the most terrifying experiences of Ginny's life, and she did not want to experience it again.
"Ah, and look here, Miss. Weasley… you will be partners with, let's see here… Mr. Erudia." A boy with dark brown hair and oddly honey-gold eyes walked forwards reluctantly. As he introduced himself, Ginny realised with a start, that this boy (who Ginny now knew as Logan) was one of the people who had called Ginny out this morning. The disgust must have shown on her face, because he quickly added:
"I'm sorry I made fun of you. It's just… I try to fit in, you know? I shouldn't have, I know, and I'm sorry."
Ginny softened a little. As she opened her mouth to accept the apology, she was interrupted by Professor Carrow.
"Now, let's begin! Three, two, one…" Ginny noticed immediately, as the room filled with screams, that some people had gone before they were supposed to. Professor Carrow seemed to enjoy this immensely.
Suddenly, she realised none of them, Logan or her, had raised their wands. Luckily, no one noticed; they were either too busy cursing or screaming, and Professor Carrow was submerged in his own sick glee.
"I don't want to hurt you. This shouldn't be allowed," Logan spoke over the shouts. Ginny nodded, relieved that Logan was not one of the Slytherins who hated Gryffindors with a dark, seething passion.
"You're right. I'm lucky I was partnered up with you."
As the class continued on, Ginny realised with horror that Professor Carrow was not joking when he said this was going to last the entire period. Ginny felt dread when the Gryffindor partners, sick of their cheating, started to cast the curse on the other student early too. This must be his plan, she thought angrily, noticing Professor Carrow's delight.
Neither Ginny or Logan had raised their wands at all.
Slowly, Ginny warmed up to him. They began to talk about the unfairness of the Carrows, and Snape. Ginny was incredibly happy when Logan agreed with Ginny on her perspective of them. But it didn't last forever. Halfway through the period, Professor Carrow walked up behind Ginny. Logan's eyes widened.
"What, may I ask, are you doing, Miss. Weasley?" Ginny spun around at his voice, her hair whipping him in the face.
"I believe, as you told us, we are casting the Cruciatus Curse," Professor Carrow sneered at them.
"Thought I was that stupid, didn't you?"
"No, maybe a tad bit more," Ginny retorted, studying her nails, not even looking at Professor Carrow's face.
"Why you—"
'Language, Professor," Ginny contradicted, the same thing she said to his sister. Professor Carrow glared but didn't say anything.
"Continue on with the curse. Mr. Erudia, I want you to Cruico her at least once. I want to hear that high pitched scream." Logan nodded, with a fearful expression on his face. Professor Carrow left them.
"OK, I need you to scream, so we can fool the idiot," Logan instructed. Ginny nodded. Then, trying her best to imitate the cries and screams she made on that night of the detention. Ginny collapsed on the floor, gasping,
"Please! No! No more!" Professor Carrow looked over to Logan. He walked over and patted him on the back.
"Good job. Not bad for the first time." Logan looked horrified. Once Professor Carrow had walked away, Logan helped Ginny up.
"That was amazing! You should go be an actor, I almost thought I accidentally cast an actual spell!"
"Thanks." I've had experience.
When the class was finished, they were the only ones not battered and bruised.
That evening, Ginny, Luna, and Neville met once again in the Room of Requirement, and Ginny was furious to know it wasn't just for one period.
"That's what happened to my class… I can't believe they did that…" Luna whispered, eyes wide.
"Yeah, me too… I'm so sorry that happened to you, Ginny. I should've been more empathetic." Neville apologised, as he shivered with the memory.
"It's okay. I was lucky enough to be partnered with someone who disliked the Carrows as well. And I think it's time to let in more people," Ginny said, finally giving in. Neville and Luna both nodded in agreement and relief.
"So, about having more people in D.A… " Ginny began.
"Oh, yeah! We're are going to kick those Carrows' butts!" Neville exclaimed. Ginny laughed.
"So, do you think that we should get the old people back? Where do you think we should meet?" asked Luna.
"Well, like last time, we could have a sign-up meeting in Hogsmeade, the next trip is in a week, right? Or, you know what? Maybe it would be easier to just have people come to the Room," Ginny suggested.
"I think we should keep it here," Luna indicated, talking about the Room of Requirement. "It will be easier. In Hogsmeade, we could be heard over. Better safe than sorry." Especially with the Carrows.
"Yeah, we could first ask the original members, then have some kind of message sent out that D.A. is still recruiting," said Neville. Luna nodded.
"Yes, but who do we know to trust?" asked Ginny, questioning loyalties.
"We could do something like what Hermione did last time, like have them all sign a contract, and if they reveal anything, they'll have some kind of jinx," Luna suggested.
"Can you do that, Luna? And what about the coins?"
"Oh yeah! I brought them to the detention, I wanted to give them to you, but Professor Carrow came," Luna explained, handing back Ginny and Neville their coins. The D.A coin looked the same, except where there were the serial numbers at the bottom of the coins, there were letters.
"See? You can use your wand to change the message," Luna demonstrated, pointing her wand at the coin and slowly changing the letters to say 'hello'. Ginny and Neville looked at their coins. And sure enough, the word 'hello' was printed at the bottom to the coin.
"Cool! Nice job, Luna!" Neville said. Ginny tried it out for herself; she concentrated, and spelt out 'how are you' on her coin. Soon, she got the reply from Neville, 'good, thanks'.
"This is really cool! Thank you!"
"So, you would be able to do this to everyone's coins?" asked Neville.
"Yep! I took me a while to figure it out, but once I did, duplicating it was easy," said Luna modestly.
"OK, so we should get word to more of the old members and then tell them the time we should meet again?" asked Ginny, restating the plan.
"Yep. Tell them to meet us in the Room of Requirement, seventh floor, third corridor, 7:30, the day after tomorrow. Is that a good time?" asked Neville.
"Yes, because it's right before curfew and it should be easy to have the Room transport people to places," replied Luna.
"So it's Room of Requirement, seventh floor, third corridor, 7:30, day after tomorrow. OK, that's good," Ginny confirmed.
"Oh, and I've been meaning to ask you—where did you get that hair-dyeing powder?" Neville suddenly interrupted. "You know, the one you threw at the werewolf."
"Fred and George gave it to me," Ginny answered, "along with a letter."
Just then, she remembered something. "Oh, right! And they told me about this radio station—Potterwatch." Ginny felt guilty for forgetting; Fred and George were supposedly going to be in it the day she received the letter.
A radio appeared on the table they were sitting at. Luna smiled.
"Shall we listen to it tonight?" Ginny pocketed the radio and smiled back.
"Totally."
That night, Ginny met with Neville and Luna in her dorm. She took out the radio they had taken from the Room of Requirement, and tuned it to the correct station. As Ginny realised they needed a password, the trio took turns guessing words to do with Harry or Dumbledore (as George and Fred said). It was actually simpler than Ginny thought; it took only a couple of minutes. Turns out, the password was 'Fawkes', Dumbledore's pet phoenix.
They all listened, as the radio crackled to life. It was precisely nine o'clock.
In our latest report for those out of touch and on the run, I bring some bad news for anyone interested in keeping things happy at Hogwarts!
"That's Lee Jordan!" Neville exclaimed. Ginny and Luna nodded, focusing on the radio.
Or anyone who likes to keep their hair clean.
Severus Snape has been appointed Headmaster of Hogwarts. We advise all students there to plan their responses carefully, as we have heard that "Slytherus Snape" has implored a number of Death Eaters to take care of discipline at the school! Ginny, Luna and Neville all laughed.
Grim times, indeed. And it's not just Hogwarts that's suffering. With the jinx on the Dark Lord's name, the one that starts with 'V', many are being caught at the time. Here will bring in, King!
Thank you, River. Kingsley's calm, deep voice came out of the radio. The Dark Lord's name, the 'V' one, has been placed with a taboo. If you speak the name, the Death Eaters will know immediately. So, Harry Potter, is you're out there, be careful and avoid the Dark Lord's name.
Thank you King, for that informational report. Don't speak the Dark Lord's name, or it may be the last thing you say! Here we have Rodent, reporting about the muggle world.
Thanks River.
"That's Fred! Or George, I'm not sure, but it's one of them!" Ginny exclaimed. Luna smiled at her, knowing that she missed her family.
The new wizarding order is also affecting the Muggle world...badly. Ginny gasped. Muggles were getting hurt too?
While Muggles remain ignorant of the source of their suffering, they continue to sustain, "heavy casualties".
However, we do hear some truly inspirational stories of wizards and witches risking their own safety to protect Muggle friends and neighbours. Often, without the Muggle's knowledge! I'd like to appeal to all our listeners to emulate their example, perhaps by casting a protective charm over any Muggles dwelling in your street. Many lives can be saved if such simple measures are taken!
And what would you say to those listeners who reply that in these dangerous times, it should be, "wizards first"?
I'd say that it's one short step from "wizards first", to "Pure-bloods first", and then to, Death Eaters. We're all human, aren't we? Every human life is worth the same, and is worth saving.
Excellently put. So, for all those who want Hogwarts-
free of Death Eaters-
and those who think Muggles should be protected,-
keep each other safe, keep faith, and help Harry Potter!
Yes! And we suggest that you continue to show your devotion to the man with the lightning scar by listening to…
POTTERWATCH! Listen in next time time with the password as Albus. The radio stream ended with a crack and turned off. Ginny, Luna and Neville looked at each other. Each student had a look of relief on their faces.
"He's still alive!" Ginny exclaimed. Neville had told her that if Harry Potter was killed, it would be posted everywhere. But it was still comforting to hear it from someone else. Luna smiled, relieved.
"But… what about Hermione and Ron?" Ginny's spirit dampened. What if Hermione and Ron aren't with Harry? No, they have to be. They wouldn't let Harry go on his own, Ginny's mind argued with itself.
"Ginny, they're fine. Harry wouldn't be alive without Hermione. If Hermione wasn't with him, Vol—"
"Luna, no!" Ginny sat forwards towards her, her hand stretched out.
"—emort?" Luna finished the name as a question. She tilted her head, curious as to why Ginny told her to stop.
"Didn't you hear the radio?!" Ginny exclaimed. Luna's eyes widened, as she noticed her mistake. They were breaking so many school rules, and now Ginny didn't know what hell of a detention they were going to get.
Ginny jumped to her feet, thinking as fast as she could. "Quick! Luna, you hide in that closet, and once you're in it, place a Disillusion Charm on yourself! Neville, go! Run down and place yourself in a chair, pretend to be sleeping!" Ginny instructed her friends. Neville didn't even look back and rushed down the stairs. They became a slide, making it easier for him to get down. Ginny knew that Neville had gotten to the bottom for the stairs had transformed back to normal. Luna ran to the closet and placed herself behind the clothes. Ginny shut the doors and jumped into bed, pretending to be sleeping.
As Ginny closed her eyes, trying to calm her racing heart, she hoped that Neville had made it into a chair in time. It would look very suspicious if Neville was found at the end of the of the staircase in the girls' dormitories. Just then, the door of her room burst open; it was knocked off the hinges and the wood had cracked. Ginny bolted up straight in bed, trying to make it look like that she had just woken up by the door being slammed open. She rubbed her eyes, and saw Professor Carrow standing in the entrance of the door, Headmaster Snape right behind him.
"Hmm? What happened?" Ginny yawned, pretending to be waking up. Snape spoke first,
"There has seemed to be a little disturbance in this dormitory," he said in his silky voice. Ginny tried to look confused.
"In this dormitory? Are you sure, Headmaster?" Ginny asked.
"She must've done it, Headmaster, this little idiot is the reason for everything!" Professor Carrow exclaimed, pointing his finger at Ginny.
"But if she was the one who said the Dark Lord's name, she would've said it to someone. Where are your little friends?" said Snape coolly.
"What Dark Lord's name? Is there a jinx on his name?"
"Don't play dumb with me, stupid girl," Professor Carrow said, poking his finger into Ginny's face. She could feel his breath on her cheek; did that man ever brush his teeth?
"No, really, what jinx on You-Know-Who's name?" asked Ginny once again, playing dumb.
"See, Headmaster, she doesn't know about the taboo. If she did, she would've been more careful about when and where she said it," Professor Carrow said, leaning away from Ginny and crossing his arms, looking as if he had proved a point.
"I see. But she just said You-Know-Who, instead of the Dark Lord's name," Snape pointed out. Is Snape trying to defend me?
"But Headmaster, she just heard us talking about the ji—"
"Miss. Weasley must've been talking to someone, where are your friends?" asked Snape in a dangerously quiet voice. Ginny didn't say anything. "You don't know, do you?" Snape walked over to the closet where Luna hid. He paused for a moment. His hand on the handle. "This seems to be the perfect place to hide somebody, don't you think, Professor Carrow?"
"Yes! Of course! Why didn't I think of it first?" Because you're a idiot. "Hurry now, open the closet!"
Snape looked annoyed, having Carrow tell him what to do, but still, he slowly turned the handle, and—
Nothing. Professor Carrow gawped at the seemingly empty closet. For some reason, Luna had made the clothes in the closet disappear too. Ginny stared at the bare closet, trying to make out Luna.
After a moment of squinting, Ginny realised that if she looked carefully enough, she could make out a ripple or two of colour that was out of place. Thankfully, Professor Carrow didn't seem to notice this.
"What—how did—"
"See, there's nothing there. May I please go back to sleep now?" Ginny carefully ventured. She wanted to gloat, but didn't want to push her luck any further. Snape sighed.
"Yes, you may. Professor Carrow," he said, turning around. Professor Carrow glared at Ginny one last time, as if he wanted to say something, but then he turned, and reluctantly followed Snape out of the room.
Ginny waited until the sound of the footsteps receded. Then she breathed out a deep sigh.
"Whew, that was a close one."
"Tell me about it." said Luna, appearing in the closet. "Hey, do you think we should go and get Neville back?"
"I think he'll be fine. He's probably snoring in a chair right now, asleep." Ginny smiled. "Speaking of which, we should get some rest, too. It's going to a long day tomorrow." Luna instinctively yawned, and walked towards the door.
"Alright. Good night, Ginny."
"Good night, Luna."
Author's Note:
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