The Carrows' Calling
Disclaimer: None of this belongs to me, all credit goes Joanne Rowling.
Chapter Twenty-Five
"Ready?" Bill asked, looking at Luna and Dean. A dull sparkle glinted in his eyes.
"Yep," Luna replied, fiddling with her wand as she grasped onto Bill's hand, ready for Apparition. Dean nodded on the other side of her and Bill prepared his wand.
"We're leaving for Hogwarts!" Bill called over his shoulder and Fleur came bouncing out of the house.
"Good luck, come 'ome to me, Weasley!" she said, and kissed all three of them on the cheeks. Luna smiled at her kissed her back.
"Thank you, Fleur; you too Bill, for letting us stay," Luna said, giving her thanks. Dean nodded. Fleur grabbed her hand and looked her in the eye.
"It's been an 'onour. Write us ven you arrive, and good luck, Luna Lovegood," she replied, giving her a smile reminding Luna of Molly Weasley. "You too, Dean T'omas," she added.
Dean nodded, and shook her hand.
"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley."
Then, Bill looked expectantly at them.
"Ready?" They both nodded, and Fleur stepped back a bit, wiping her hands on her pale blue apron.
"Goodbye!" Fleur waved and that was the last thing Luna saw before she felt a jolting sensation in her body and she was whisked away miles, back to Hogwarts.
A large metal gate stood tall before them, with fancy, swirling designs weaving in and out of the bars. Luna looked at Bill and he nodded at her.
"This is where I leave you, I guess," he said, putting down Luna and Dean's trunks.
"Thanks Bill. Really, it was extremely kind of you to allow us to stay. I'll owl you later," Luna said, grabbing her trunk and beginning to push open the gate.
"Yeah, thanks Bill. See you soon," Dean added, grabbing his baggage too.
"You two better owl, and I'll see you both soon," Bill said back, waving to them as they walked through the gates onto Hogwarts grounds. Once she and Dean reached the large doors of the Entrance Hall, Luna looked back and saw Bill standing at the end of the path, right as he waved, and as she pushed the door open, she watched as he Apparated, and left.
"Ready?" she asked Dean, butterflies flickering in her stomach. He nodded and Luna pulled the door open and they both slipped in. Luna, however, instead of heading for the Ravenclaw common room, followed Dean to the Gryffindor one. He gave her a puzzling look as she began to trail him, but didn't question anything, used to Luna's antics by now.
Luna hoped that Neville was in the common room; it would certainly be awkward if she was seen going up to the boys' dormitories. Once Dean reached the portrait of the common room, Luna made a face and shuffled nervously as she realised that neither of them knew the password. Luna and Dean shared a dreaded look, and Dean was the first to speak.
"OK, I'll leave the baggage here and you watch over it. I'll go to McGonagall and ask her for the common room password. I'm sure she will give me the password. You should probably Disillusion yourself too; weird for a Ravenclaw to be outside of the Gryffindor common room." Luna nodded, but then she frowned and suddenly stopped him right before he left.
"Dean, aren't you supposed to be a criminal? If you were seen by the Carrows or Snape, you would be done for," Luna said, grabbing his arm. He turned around and looked at her with a reassuring smile.
"It's fine Luna, I'll be careful. And besides, it would be rather suspicious if a Ravenclaw was asking for the Gryffindor common room password," Dean replied with a low chuckle. Luna laughed along with him and nodded.
"OK. Just be careful?" Dean nodded back.
"I've done this before," he said with a small smirk. "I know my ways." Luna rolled her eyes and pulled out her wand to turn herself invisible, and sat on her suitcase, swinging her feet absentmindedly.
Soon, before she knew it, Dean came back.
"The password's 'flobberworm," Dean said, as the portrait hole opened. Luna kept on her her Disillusion spell and walked into the common room right behind Dean, holding both of their trunks. The common room was empty; it was rather late and Luna expected that Neville was probably sleeping.
"You can take it off you know," Dean said out of nowhere. "The Disillusion Charm I mean." Luna nodded, and raised her wand, pointing at her; muttering the counter-curse.
"There." Dean turned back around to her and grabbed his trunk from her hand.
"Thanks. Neville's probably in the dormitory," Dean said. Luna nodded and followed him as they walked up the stairs to the seventh years boys dormitory.
"Have you thought of starting up D.A. again?" Dean asked as they climbed the seven flights of stairs.
"We have considered it, but I wouldn't be surprised if Ginny and Neville had brought it up again," Luna replied, watching the ground as she climbed.
"OK, if they haven't and when you do begin, tell me OK? I want to fight. I want to join," Dean said as they reached the door of the dormitory. He pushed the door open and Luna saw Neville sitting on his bed his nose in a textbook. Seamus Finnigan was lying down on the bed across from Neville, writing something on a sheet of parchment.
"Hey Neville, Seamus," Dean said quietly and both of the boys looked up from the work, grins bursting out on their faces. ]
"DEAN!" Seamus exclaimed, running up to him and hugging him hard, and Dean hugged him back.
"Nice to see you too, mate," Luna heard Dean whisper and she thought she heard him choke up a bit.
"Hey Neville," Luna said, waving to him shyly. He did the same as Seamus and hugged Luna. He then pulled back, still holding Luna by the shoulders and examined her.
"You alright?" Luna nodded.
"Never better," she said. "What about Ginny?"
"She went to McGonagall's, not sure what for though. She just left, should be back soon," Neville replied, letting Luna go. "Where did you go? Where did the both of you go?" Luna and Dean shared a look and Dean sat down on his bed and placed his trunk at the end.
"Let me unpack first. Luna will explain," he said."Why do I have to explain?" Luna whined, completely unlike her and she found herself at the end of Seamus' and Neville's wands.
"What did was your cover story for luring Snape out of his office when we went to steal the sword?" Neville forcefully asked, and Luna felt his wand digging into her neck.
"That I was sleepwalking?" Luna replied, a little hesitant. Neville lowered his wand and so did Seamus. Neville nodded at the other boy and he began to question Dean.
"Sorry, it just sounded, not very, you, when you said that," Neville stammered. Luna smiled at him.
"It's fine. And about that story," Luna said and she sat down on Harry's bed as Dean and Seamus joined them, hanging onto every word her's.
"It began in…"
"Both of you go! The Carrows' must've gotten the letter instead!" Minerva whisper-shouted, trying to keep the fear out her voice as she heard the knocks on the door. She saw Molly push her youngest daughter to the fireplace and as Ginny disappeared.
"Molly go!" She hissed, pulling out her wand. At the moment precisely, the door slammed open and the Carrow brother
walked in.
"My, my, my. What have we got here? Professor McGonagall with Molly Weasley!" Amycus exclaimed, pointing his wand at both of them.
"Oh really?" Another sickening voice sang from right out of the office. Then, Alecto Carrow walked in, wand too in hand.
"What could Molly Weasley be doing here right now? At this late of an hour, with Professor McGonagall here," Amycus said, a smug smile on his face.
"We were simply meeting about Miss. Weasley's grades. As a professor you should surely know that parents are to meet with professors at least once a year?" Minerva said as innocent as she could, gripping her wand in her robe pocket. Alecto glared at her. Amycus, on the other hand, smiled a sweet, sickening smile that made Minerva want to gag.
"Of course Professor, but could you explain the long time you took to answer the door? It wouldn't have taken long, just excused yourself and welcomed us in," Amycus said, his wand still out.
"Minerva just had to use the washroom and I wasn't sure if I should've opened the door. It seems now, I should've," Molly said, before Minerva could say anything. She nodded.
"Yes, I was using the loo. So sorry about the inconvenience," Minerva said, trying to keep the sarcasm out of her voice only to miserably fail.
"Then what about the boy?" Alecto snarled. Minerva had to keep herself from stepping back in shock. How did the Carrows know of Dean? Muggleborns on the run were already not very well known (unless they had the list) and Dean had just gotten onto grounds.
"What boy?" Minerva asked, deciding to play dumb. Molly looked at her and they shared a look.
"You know very well what boy I'm talking about," Alecto snapped, stepping closer to McGonagall and pointing her wand at her neck.
"I'm afraid I do not know what boy you are talking about. There are many boys in the world," Minerva replied, stepping back from Alecto's wand and drawing her own. She saw out of the corner of her eye that Molly had her's out too.
"Dean Thomas, the mudblood," Amycus added, glaring at Minerva. She glared back at him.
"Dean Thomas has not stepped foot into the castle since last year, in June. If he has come back, why do you need him so? He has every right to stay in the castle; he is indeed a student, is he not?" The sister and brother shared a look and pointed both of their raised wands at Minerva.
"Where is he?" Amycus snarled, once again jabbing his wand into Minerva's neck. She forced herself to stay calm and not hex the man into the next century.
"I do not know. As I have told you before, Dean Thomas has not set foot into this castle since last year. Now if you please, I have some important business to discuss with Mrs. Weasley here," Minerva said, pushing Amycus' wand away from her neck and turned to face Molly.
"Well I think that important business can wait," Alecto said. Minerva, sensing what was about to happen, looked at Molly and indicated with a hand gesture for her to leave. She then raised her wand slightly from her side and pointed it at Molly, whispering the spell for Legilimency.
Molly, leave now, before they can get to you. Your daughter will be wondering where you are.
Mrs. Weasley's eyes widened and Minerva knew that she had gotten her message. However, she made no move to leave and stayed rooted on the spot. Stubborn, noble Gryffindor, Minerva thought, wanting to smack herself. Amycus raised his wand once more and Minerva silently cast a shield charm in front of her and Molly, completely ready for the Cruciatus Curse to bounce off. As expected, when Amycus and Alecto both shouted 'Crucio' the two jets of bright red light collided with the invisible shield charm. Taking advantage of the shock in the moment, Minerva hustled Molly over to the fireplace and stuffed a handful of Floo powder into her hand.
"Go! Miss. Weasley will be waiting for you. Go, before I make you," Minerva exclaimed, nearly pushing Molly into the fireplace when she hesitated. Just as the green fire disappeared, Minerva raised her wand and pointed it at the Carrows.
"Obliviate." Both of the siblings eyes turned glassy and they collapsed onto the ground. Minerva cast another quick spell to replace the memories with another; Snape couldn't suspect anything.
Then, the Carrows got up suddenly and walked out of the office as if in a trance, and Minerva waited until they had walked out of sight. Next task, time to warn Dean.
Minerva opened a secret passageway in her office leading straight to outside of the entrance of the Gryffindor common room; all Heads of House had one, in case they need to reach the common room in record time. She gave the password to the portrait and walked in, thinking that Dean was probably in the seventh years' boys' dormitory. She climbed the steps two at a time, lifting her robes as she did. When she reached the door, she knocked twice. Minerva thought she had heard frantic whispers before a grinning Neville Longbottom greeted her at the door.
"Hello Professor, how may we help you today?" Minerva raised an eyebrow at the much too cheerful reaction, but didn't question it.
"I am here to speak with Mr. Thomas. I assume he is here right now?" Neville stepped back in shock about her mention of Dean, but nevertheless let her in.
Dean was sitting on one of the five beds in the dormitory and Minerva felt her heart hurt when she realised that two of the beds would remain unoccupied for the year.
"Mr. Thomas." The boy looked up from his notes and looked startled to see her there. I supposed I don't venture up into the boys' dormitories very much.
"Professor!"
"I would just like you to know is that you should not attend your classes. I would've never thought I would say that, but they know you're here. Best be it you stay in the dormitory, or the room on the seventh floor; third corridor." And with that, Minerva left the room with the boys wondering what the hell she meant.
"What do you mean Ginny's not here?" Neville asked, as politely as he could as Professor McGonagall broke the news to him.
"Miss. Weasley will not be returning to Hogwarts. That is, what I think I meant," came the crisp, sharp reply.
"But Professor, there must be something I can do—" McGonagall turned around suddenly from writing lesson notes on the chalkboard.
"There is nothing you can do, Mr. Longbottom. Take my word for it." Neville stared the professor in the eye, shocked.
"You mean there's nothing you can do?" Neville asked, flabbergasted.
"I said nothing of the sort. There's no point of trying. Now, Mr. Longbottom, I believe you have a lesson?" Professor McGonagall said, clearly dismissing him. Neville glared at the back of McGonagall when she turned back around and continued to write onto the chalkboard. He fumed his way to the Dark Arts, and his mood got no better when the foul, pungent scent reached his nose.
Amycus Carrow stood at the front of the classroom, and surprisingly, a line of first years waited patiently behind him. What are they doing here? Or have I simply gotten to the wrong class?
When he looked around the classroom, he knew that it couldn't be, for Seamus, Terry, Padma, and Parvati were sitting in their normal seats. Terry had a look of disgust and revulsion etched upon his face and Seamus was clenching his hands.
"Ah, Mr. Longbottom, how nice you to join us," Carrow said, and Neville glared at him and sat down beside Seamus.
"What's going on?" he whispered to the other boy.
"Dunno, but I doubt it's going to be good. Just look at the first years," Seamus whispered back. When a few more students trailed in, (all without being noticed by Professor Carrow), the class began.
"Today, we will be putting the theory of the Cruciatus Curse to use. On these students right here," Professor Carrow said, a sickening smile on his face as he pushed on of the young first years forward. Neville stared at the man in shock. He knew that Ginny had to do it earlier in the year, and she was a year younger than him, but he had never expected to do it on first years. First years.
"How would you like to start, Mr. Longbottom," Carrow said. "Make sure to have them yell nice and loud. Then we'll know if you have done it at all." Neville glared at him, but didn't stand up or make any move to leave his seat.
"Well?" Professor Carrow asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No," Neville said plainly and sat firmly in his seat. Carrow looked flabbergasted at him. Well he shouldn't, since he has taught Ginny, Neville thought dryly.
"What did you say?"
"I think, unless you're deaf, which I think you're not, you would've heard Neville say no. I think even Snape in Dumbledore's office—no wait, in his office, would've heard it," Seamus exclaimed, barely hiding the fury in his voice; butting in and rising from his seat. By this Professor Carrow's attention turned toward Seamus, Neville was no longer on his mind.
"Dumbledore. Is. Dead. Dead, OK? I watched him die, as his old, limp body fell off the tower. I saw it! And I promise you, he will stay that way," Amycus snarled, glaring at everyone in the room in the eye. Neville then stood up too, joining Seamus.
"That is true, and I'm not going to deny it. But Dumbledore didn't die in vain. His death will be avenged and you are going to lose," Neville spat, trembling with anger, coming close to Professor Carrow's face.
"You think you're going to win? You have already lost. The Order is done. You lot will be finished soon, and my Lord will rule the world!" Carrow shouted, laughing in Neville's face. Neville, not wanting to give into Amycus, stood taller and stared him in the eye.
"Really? Well, I think that you should watch out, because Harry Potter is out there, and he will be coming to destroy your so called filthy Lord!" he shouted with his voice rising with his anger. "Harry Potter has escaped Gringotts! Gringotts! On a dragon! I think he will do just fine against your 'Lord'," Neville said.
Then, there was a sudden, loud swishing noise of a spell being cast. Suddenly, a sharp pain rang out on his cheek and he bit back a cry, his hand reaching up to his face to feel it. To his horror, when he pulled his hand away, it was red with blood.
He gazed in amazement at Carrow, who sneered, wiping his wiping his wand on his robe. It came out red.
"How dare you! Detention in my office at seven, and be on time! Leave my classroom right now!" Carrow shouted, pointing his wand at Neville and casting a Shield Charm in front of him. Panting with rage, Neville walked out of the room with his head held high, (blood still running down his face,) and bag in hand. He didn't want to enter that disgusting classroom ever again.
Once he was certain he was out of hearing range, he ran towards the Room of Requirement, knowing that he had a few more minutes before his next class to see Luna and Dean. He ran past the wall across from Barnabas the Barmy trice, thinking with his utmost concentration; I need to see Luna and Dean. Suddenly the door appeared and Neville pulled them open, making sure that no one was behind him or watching him, and then silently slipped in.
"NEVILLE!" The moment he walked in, he was tackled by a hug from Luna. He stumbled back with a surprised laugh and hugged her back.
"Hey Luna, Dean," he said, politely nodding in the direction of the other boy. He nodded back and returned to studying a long sheet of parchment that looked vaguely familiar to him. "I've only got a few minutes, so what've you got?"
"What about Ginny? Did you ask McGonagall about her?" Luna asked, right before Dean could even speak. Neville looked at her sadly.
"Well, McGonagall said that she wouldn't be returning to Hogwarts. Then she sent me off," Neville replied, sticking his hands in his pockets and staring at the ground. Luna looked at him as if he was crazy.
"She's not coming back? I didn't even get to see her!" Luna exclaimed. Dean came up to them.
"Do you think McGonagall knows where Ginny is?" Dean asked, spinning a quill between his fingers.
"I bet she does," Luna declared, her eyes blazing with a sudden fury. "She just didn't want to tell Neville, to keep him safe!"
"What's wrong with that?" Neville asked quietly, his eyes quite not meeting Luna's.
"Nothing, just that McGonagall has always been 'trying' to keep you safe, but all she's been doing is putting you in the height of danger!" Luna exclaimed, raising her hands above her head. Neville took a step back in shock.
"Professor McGonagall has done nothing to put Neville in danger. She wouldn't do that," Dean calmly cut in. Neville was just about to open his mouth and agree, but was interrupted by Luna, who spun on Dean furiously.
"You weren't even here for most of the year! How would you know?" she shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Dean. The other boy stepped back in shock, but hid it well on his face. He didn't say anything.
"Professor McGonagall's been doing her absolute best around here and asking her about where Ginny went isn't going to help!" Neville exclaimed, getting up and staring Luna down. Luna glared back, eyes blazing with a defiance Neville wasn't used to. But then, she looked at the ground, not meeting Neville's eyes anymore.
"You're right," she muttered tiredly. "It's just that, it's just so—it's just so unfair! Just when I get out of that place, Ginny has to leave! I didn't even get to see her!" Luna exclaimed, sitting down in a childish huff and curling up into a tight ball. Dean sat down beside her.
"You're right. It is unfair. And you know what? It's never going to be fair. But that's not what really matters right now. What matters is we need to get out of this alive, and we need to win," Dean said softly, fiddling his wand. Neville nodded, and a smile crept onto his face.
"And do you know what we can do?" Neville asked, the smile on his face growing wider by the moment. Luna opened her silver eyes and smiled too, and Dean looked between the two of them with confusion.
"Dumbledore's Army!" Luna exclaimed, pumping her fist in the air with enthusiasm. She looked at Neville, her smile even larger than it had been before. Dean nodded with a realisation, and placed his hand in the middle of their circle, looking at them expectantly. Neville did so, and Luna followed.
"Dumbledore's Army!" all three of them chanted, and golden sparks flew up into the air, conjured by Dean's wand. He stood up and made way for the door of the Room of Requirement.
"Where are you going?" Neville asked in a slight panic. Dean smiled reassuringly.
"Well, if we're to do something about this, Dumbledore's Army can't be an army without its soldiers, can it?" Neville and Luna nodded, and together, they prepared themselves for the rise of Dumbledore's Army, for the third time.
Author's Note:
Hey, hope you've enjoyed that chapter! I know it's been a while, but I really hope to post sooner! Please review, it's what that keeps me going! Thank you to all who have, and hope to post soon! (Please review!)
-Zigostia