The week passed as sluggishly as it could. They did not see the Carrows twins again - they hadn't any more lessons scheduled with them and neither one made a habit of lingering out in the open. With appearances so rare and fleeting, one could almost forget them entirely and treat Hogwarts as it was it's usual self. Likewise could be said for their headmaster - nobody had seen nor caught wind of Severus Snape since the opening feast. A constant light in the Headmaster's tower was his only presence, reassuring them that as comfortable as they may feel, it would unwise to get used to it.

Getting back to a schedule had been a small victory for Daphne. Once a baseline was in place, she could build on top of it. Earlier she'd been stabbing in the dark, but now she was able to structure her time, effort and feelings accordingly. It was the bare minimum she was capable of - she'd abandoned all hobbies in favour of retreating to the safety of her dorm room every night - but it was still something. She was turning up to lessons and completing the revision work on time and though Madam Pomfrey's potions had probably been a large contributor, she liked to take some credit for herself. Dare say... she'd been through so many traumatic events these past years that she was beginning to work better under pressure.

Seeing her timetable came with an unusually high level of validation. It reassured her that despite all life may throw at her, the wheel did, in fact, keep turning. Sometimes she was on top, sometimes the bottom and currently, she was dancing somewhere around the middle.

When the weekend arrived she decided that taking Hagrid up on his offer was precisely what her world needed right now. If she was to get back on the horse then this was the first step.

She'd even debated inviting Astoria down with them. Although so far as she was aware, the two had never interacted, she was sure that the cosy atmosphere of his hut would have been a good match for her interests. But after the night she'd broken the news, she struggled to spot her younger sister much during her daily routine. Come the morning of and she arrived at the conclusion she was being avoided. She could hardly blame her - hiding from what made her upset was probably a skill learned from her.

For the walk into the grounds she finally found it in herself to explain the finer details of the documents she'd signed.

"Thought you already were a Lady, though?"

"To qualify as a Lord or Lady, one only needs to belong to a family that owns land. Barons and Baroness are addressed as Lord or Lady as their actual title, though other ranks of the peerage have the umbrella appellation. Non-hereditary family members could also be addressed as such."

"It iz like zhe differenze between being engaged and married?"

"Not strictly… Not all Lords or Ladies are Barons or Baronesses, but all Barons and Baronesses are Lords and Ladies."

"So you've gone from what, princess to queen?"

Daphne struggled, then settled on a nod.

Tracey laughed vindictively.

"The Ice Queen lives!"

As the Slytherin trio made the trip through the grounds, the blinding sun sparkled in the reflection of the Great Lake. A calm breeze kept the foliage from coming to a complete halt, but never got too difficult to cause a chill.

Considering the death of, not just her father, but now her grandfather hot in her mind, her rapid feelings of abandonment from the Order of the Phoenix and now the worry of losing custody of Astoria - it was almost insulting for the day to be as beautiful as it was. Even nature itself had turned and was mocking her.

"Ohhh... et iz not exactly… subtle, iz it?"

Her paces began to slow.

SUPPERT HARRY POTTER !

She grimaced, staring at the banner emblazoned above the door.

"... if he got clearance for this, I'll eat my bra," she muttered.

Her eye line continued into the garden, where she was surprised by the size of the turn-out. Immediately noticeable between the pumpkins were Ginny Weasley and Neville Longbottom, then three from the Gryffindor Quidditch team that she suspected were Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnegan and Nadia Khanna. And upon further examination Luna Lovegood from Ravenclaw and Hannah Abbott from Hufflepuff were also milling about.

Her immediate thought had been to turn back. Why hadn't it occurred to her that Harry's other friends would be there? And wasn't the idea of having them on her side supposed to be good?

Somehow the answer was no. No matter what Harry had tried to instil into her about how his friend's accepted her now, that apparently didn't translate to any genuine efforts of befriending her themselves. About the only ones she'd had any prolonged contact with were Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, who were not here either. The others looked upon her strangely; none seemed willing enough to approach despite supposedly knowing her innocence.

Maybe if Astoria had come they could've busied themselves making flower crowns instead?

Her hesitance must have been evident on her face.

"What iz wrong?"

"It's nothing. Just don't like some of the faces I see, is all."

Tracey did an jubilant dance in front the girls, causing them to startle.

"Dean! Seamus!" she bellowed with joy.

The two lads returned the ecstatic welcome. Before she could reconsider her options for a sixth time this morning, the Gryffindor's had charged over to greet them. There was something in the way one of them - Ginny Weasley -behaved; a sudden burst of awkwardness that told Daphne that if it were just her and the other Slytherin girl, this might have not been a joyous reunion. Once greetings had finished, there came a very sudden, full-throttle opening of the huts door and the appearance of a giant shaggy beard.

"Ahh, there ya'are! Was worryin' you weren't gonna make it!"

He wasted no time ushering them, but instead of heading into the hut, they were directed over to back of the cabbage patch, as it afforded the largest view of the green open space outside. He waved his massive hands to a buffet of finger foods and drinks set up along a work bench.

"Aww, Hagrid, this is lovely!" Ginny beamed.

"Made 'em all me'self! Do 'elp yerself to whatever, ah got some butterbeers inside, also!"

The look of the food - along with the feeling of being watched at all times, made her elect to not sample any of the fare and drink. She kept on the edges as everyone else found seats or food where possible throughout the garden. A minute of disinterested scanning was all Daphne could handle before resorting to taking deep interest in the crop instead of her peers.

"Soooo... shall we talk about the missing elephants in the room?"

With his words, it was like Dean had broken an invisible seal of some sort.

"Here we go... Don't tell me..." Tracey cut in dryly, " ... is it the sexual tension of such a good looking group? Because I was already thinking about pairing us all off."

Her bemused protest fell short against Hannah's tuts.

"Jesus Christ, Trace! You need to get laid!" Seamus chuckled.

Tracey's smile was so smug, it bordered on condescending.

"Actually, I do, thanks for remindin' me."

The rest of the witches, besides Daphne, failed to suppress giggles. Dean shot her a guilty look for the entire incident. The sincerity was noted. She had seen that expression far too often of late and empathised with it.

"What do you wish to talk about, Thomas?" she asked with the distinct lack of tone that she'd become best known for - words that had faint suggestion of aggravation, but otherwise flatline and calm. Plausible deniability to if she'd been pissed off or not.

Dean saw his opening, cleared his throat and spoke.

"What's the... plan?"

A stillness set in, her body stiffened and all laughter in the group dried up. It wasn't funny anymore. There wasn't really a proper way to respond either.

No one liked the reminder of everyone else's absence. Of the deaths and tragedies that had taken place. Everyone had a hand in what had happened in the days and weeks prior. Everyone lost someone they cared for, or was worried for a friend.

Finally, Dean dared the moment with a sombre tone.

"I... just wanted to know if Harry had something planned... or... hoped that one of you..."

His speech trailed away.

A silent moment passed, all were aware of the young men, the many who should be here: The Golden Boy, the Brightest Witch of Her Age and.. and Ronald Weasley.

He asked the question to their group of ten, but it was clear who he was directing it toward.

A guilty thought flickered in her, one that only manifested in small quantities of self-reflection over the past two weeks. If only she knew for certain that Harry had a solid plan in place. Then perhaps she'd feel confident in a more outspoken view on the current situation. Then she could sit around a campfire and tell all, with certainty, that they'd see their friend soon and hear first-hand of how the 'gang' were bringing hell on earth to those that harmed them.

But for her to offer false assurances would be insincere at best. A lie at worst. To talk of something she had no real idea about and with all their hope and reassurance resting on her?

"I'm sorry to disappoint... but I was actually hoping you all would be able to inform me of that."

She was careful in her tone, enough not to provoke any further questions on the subject but enough to offer some levity of her position.

Dean let his breath out slowly, eyes darting at the grass beside him. His reaction had been different, somehow. Was he expecting something else, something more? Something she wouldn't be able to deliver because she wasn't Harry or the Weasleys, who were supposed to have this sorted?

Then Ginny was watching her. Eyes heavy, breathing just that little bit more concentrated than she might normally. It wasn't pity. The witch opposite did not feel that for her. Whatever she had thought of her as a person was long gone in favour of someone who cared about her family. Someone that wanted answers.

They were answers that she wanted as well.

"So, we're all in the dark, then?" Neville asked out loud.

"Seems so..." Ginny muttered bitterly. "Although..."

A few brows were raised.

"... a general lack of trust goes a long way, too. Out of all of us, Greengrass... " she stressed, eyes flickering to Neville in confirmation, "... would be the one most likely to hear."

The silence, again, grew thick and heavy around them. Even without saying anything more, she could almost sense the exact moment when everyone seemed to share the same thought. It was a sensation that rippled around the ring of students, like a breeze rippling through a wheat field.

"Are you implying that I am concealing information?"

And just like that, it felt like the Slytherin girls were now the primary recipients for their mistrust - mistrust that should going to their shared enemy.

"Ginny's brother is missing too, she's worried, is all. We all are," Luna said with the distinct air of an apology.

Daphne gave a silent thank you to the younger witch. She never would have thought Luna to come to her aid. Maybe she was simply being logical? Either way it was appreciated.

Ginny shook her head and huffed a humourless chuckle.

"Luna's right. It isn't fair."

Luna and Dean exchanged concerned glances with each other. A collective relief was palpable in the air.

But she could still hear Tracey grinding her teeth.

If she was honest, maybe liquor would loosen up her social skills to be able to reassuringly speak her mind of it, but that ship had long sailed. Besides, she did not trust herself drunk with her current mindset. All the mess that was her world and the weight she held would have tumbled out in that very moment. All the concerns for her sister, her boyfriend and her closest companions, then her anger at the injustices she had been dealt would have come from out as one. Perhaps she'd finally even murder somebody.

But she remained unresponsive.

"I do not possess any ulterior motivate that would require me to hide anything from you," she said, her mouth set. "If I had information about Harry I would share it, as a gesture of good will, since we are all on the same side. But frankly, I feel just as forgotten about as you do."

She winced; a phantom pain had pulsed against her chest at the words.

"Well... shit," Dean cursed, exhaling sharply.

He probably hadn't expected a response as straight and direct.

Tracey threw herself back on the grass and flopped an arm over her eyes.

"Some help you lot are, much appreciated!" she moaned sarcastically.

The comment successfully relieved some of the pressure.

There was silence as everyone processed their emotions. The issues were dealt with, well at least for now, and thankfully, so were the questions. It was not lost on Daphne the opportunity she had just missed, the one chance to come out and say to those closest to Harry what needed to be said. It could have helped put her on even ground with the others, made her seem less an adversary in their struggle. It could even have lent her their aid.

Yet it felt too soon. Too opportunistic. Besides, it wasn't a group of idiots.

For the better half of an hour, Daphne stood perfectly still while everyone did their thing, watching like a hawk from afar. A conversation about Quidditch had emerged from the players among them. Dominique was trying to interact, though she seemed to struggle to keep up with the laddish banter.

Every time she glanced their way she spotted them, giving her looks and immediately shying away the second they caught her returning gaze. It was going to be like this all afternoon, wasn't it?

Just as she had the thought, she felt a finger tap her on the shoulder. Pivoting, she discovered an unexpected, though friendly face.

Luna Lovegood, always with her dreamlike expression, approached.

"I like your hair. It's very muggle-punk, wizard-rock of you. Is it inspired by the Weird Sisters or the Sex Pistols?"

Surprised for some reason – perhaps because she hadn't expected such honesty – she replied:

"I… cut it off to not get eaten by a werewolf?"

To which Luna nodded approvingly.

"Definitely more Sex Pistols, then."

She noticed how small her voice came. The girl sounded like a child pretending to be a ghost.

And somehow, through some incomprehensible method known only to the Lovegood, the pair had broken the ice.

"Would you like to sit with me and Neville? The boys are fine and all, but I often find myself more at peace in quieter company."

Neville did give a polite and acknowledging smile - she hadn't even noticed his proximity to them.

This was how Daphne ended up sitting with the two most introverted students at Hogwarts, perked on a giant pumpkin. Though Luna seemed less of a social outcast and more like she was on her own quest. It was her world and the rest of them were simply living in it. It was refreshing, and weirdly enough she didn't mind. She liked weird. Weird was nice.

Neville spoke his mind first:

"Thanks again for that help on the train. You were brilliant."

He stole glances towards her now and then. It didn't appear he had a great capacity for social interaction - not to the level of his fellow Gryffindor's, but he seemed alright if caught by himself. Like a deer, Daphne surmised.

He went on, still not confident enough to directly address her:

"It's awful. Harry should be here. Not like this."

She wanted to change the subject, anything but more on how awful things had been recently and why. Thankfully, it was as though Neville could read her mind, because it was precisely the right move to do next:

"You okay?"

It was the last thing she expected to hear from anyone here. Even so, she could not help herself, she opened up.

"This isn't really my thing, hanging out with all of... these people. Not really my idea of having fun."

"I didn't mean the party."

She stared quizzically into Neville's eyes. He looked up and was able to find the confidence in himself to keep his gaze held. His eyes were a light-hazel, a kind expression was shown. There was a steely strength, the kind she'd only seen in one man before.

"You know, my mum and dad are still here, and yet..."

He hung his head, and gave a weak chuckle.

"Some days I don't recognise them."

In that instance she made a mental note. Never had she seen or heard of Neville speak his mind so candidly about such matters. He was renowned for having a bad home-life. Despite her inability to identify exactly how their personal worlds connected, there was something in her that resonated with his pain. The strength, the knowledge and understanding he held. It was... liberating.

Neville turned to her again.

"I, uh, won't pretend to know what you're going through. But we've all been affected. There's no right way or wrong way to go about grief. No, er, uh... book to read. Well, there are, but everyone is different, I suppose?"

He took another deep breath, his eyes lit up a tad more.

"Sorry," he breathed, "I'm terrible at this, I think what I am trying to say is..."

Another pause, this time his shoulders raised upwards, a chuckle followed.

"We've got your back, alright? Me, Luna, Ginny. We know you're not who they make you out to be. We've not forgotten about you just cause things have been..."

"... difficult," Luna continued for him.

Something had happened. She wasn't entirely sure of what, but something had happened and as the three students retreated to a clearing some distance from the festivities, they knew they shared a profound moment. It didn't come from nowhere, it was built. For whatever reason, even with everything surrounding her and her family's name, in that moment all three had been completely honest with each other.

"My father and grandfather are dead... my boyfriend is a wanted man and now I might be loosing custardy of my sister..."

Then, her eyes softened.

"How could I be okay?"

The thought brought her up short. The power that the other teens held were beyond her, both figuratively and literally. That being the case, for them to step up and reassure her was heart-warming. Even if all she felt in that moment was numb. The possibility of emotion bubbled from within and was terrifying, yet equally exhilarating. The potential that the world might be, even if just in tiny portions, on her side for once was uplifting. It had felt so long, she almost had forgotten how.

"I hear you like wizard's opera?"

The sudden question that came from Luna left a stunned silence. It wasn't even the strangeness of it - just the volume coming from Luna.

"So do I. Nadia told me you and her sang together at the Slug Club?"

Now this was territory she could handle.

Luna's comment put a smile back on her lips, something she hadn't really done since Harry had left.

"She did that. But indeed, I accompanied her. And we were both very, very drunk."

Luna grew more enthusiastic as the topic settled into conversation.

"Do you know The King in Yellow?"

She took a quick thought of the book in question, a horror play she read once, based on a story originally penned by a dark American wizard.

"Oh, it's so bad," she smiled. " but... it's too beautiful... it's one of my favourites, actually."

"Right?"

Luna spoke more to her than Neville now. The poor Gryffindor's attempts to engage the conversation fell flat on the Ravenclaw.

"People think it's slow and boring, but it's not true. Or they call it cheesy. They don't understand it's intentionally camp and silly. And The Song of The King is truly exquisite."

Daphne could barely hide a laugh as she answered.

"You'd think even if they cannot understand the irony behind it, they could appreciate it for the overwrought glamour!"

Luna clapped her hands gleefully.

"Oh, exactly!"

Neville did a good job of concealing his confusion behind a weak smile and a little nod.

From there, her company did turn out to be pleasant enough to occupy her until the afternoon. Of course, she would not let herself go wild, even in her small group. So, she remained quiet and observant for the most part. So, they conversed. Most of it was pleasant talk and when Luna finished raving over The King in Yellow, she began explaining some new love of hers, which was an obscure Chinese band.

"Hey girlies! Not interruptin', are we? Hagrid's got some fire whiskey he's offerin' out?" Tracey teased, addressing the rest of their small gathering with an impish smirk.

She joined their little circle with Hannah and Dominique in tow, all a little merrier for some alcohol that had miraculously made it's way around. It was all well-intentioned and above board; no funny business. It also meant that Dean, Ginny and the others could stop lurking suspiciously in the corners to keep an eye on her. At a glance, the Gryffindor across from Daphne seemed less worried about her behaviour than she was earlier. Not quite so, but she could still sense the awkwardness Ginny directed at her and her alone. She had no idea how she was able to distinguish it from all the nervous stares she kept getting throughout the garden, but she was certain. Was she wrong in thinking so or...?

She shook her head.

Suddenly, her suspicions were confirmed when Ginny spoke to her again.

"Ahh come on, it could bring some life to those cheekbones of yours!"

All of the eyes present had zeroed in on her. Apparently, the abrupt focus on her was as disorientating for them as it was her.

She hesitated at the ginger's offer. Something was up, but the stare, she swore the stare was one of earnest intention.

It was strange; maybe Ginny had decided to go for the most unexpected tactic she could muster, and wanted to make a show that she was friendly with the Slytherins after all. She would have liked to in as genuine an intent as that.

Still, she tried not to let her scepticism get the better of her.

"May as well..."

Instead of venting her frustration and making it worse, she lifted the bottle to her lips and took one long chug. It burned, then she spat.

"Yog-Sothoth, that is vile!"

Everyone laughed.

"Git, we warned ya!" Tracey jeered, smirking.

Hannah looked slightly smug, her blue eyes gleaming in amusement.

"It's an acquired taste."

"Not one I care to ever acquire!" Daphne promised, shaking the empty bottle. "That's disgusting!"

Seamus grinned at her like a moron. Dominique was, like Tracey, giggling at the sight of her retching.

The day carried on and eventually, all their issues drifted into the distance, behind a layer of pleasant intoxication and warm afternoon sunshine, and things started to pick back up.

Hours passed before long and a round of quidditch was organised. Since there wasn't an even house divide they split as simply as they could - Gryffindor's against everybody else. To see Luna Lovegood playing Quaffle seemed ridiculous enough without fighting their own drunkenness off. Tracey, not surprising anyone, was their designated team seeker against Ginny. Hannah tagged along while Seamus joined them from his position covering goal posts' side.

Everyone was pretty well distracted as the first round took place. Dominique and Neville joined her quietly drinking cider in the pumpkin patch as the match unfolded above them. there was no telling which team was winning or who was scored - but the atmosphere made it not matter. Hagrid came strolling past occasionally offering encouragement where he thought necessary.

Without even realizing it, she was smiling.

She hadn't realized until this moment that she'd been doing it frequently since coming here: being herself again rather than trying hard to fit someone else's mould. She'd never really been able to relax around Harry's friends since meeting them, especially after everything, but right this moment nothing mattered except watching them play. Watching people do stuff that made them happy. And now here were four other girls doing exactly what brought out joy inside every single person: flying through imaginary hoops high over fields filled with grassy hillsides.

This sort of thing baffled Daphne, but all of a sudden, it was the simplest thing in the world to understand. Was this the simple life she'd been loathing for so long? Is this what she'd been missing out on all her life? All these years trying desperately to make herself indispensable... and here were new friendships - formed because they all had nothing better to do.

She smiled harder.

"I say, Hagrid?" Luna asked.

"Yes, ma dear?"

"Did you invite the Carrow's to this get together?"

"O' course not!"

"In that case, might I suggest taking cover?"

Daphne swore. Her smile dissipated, her mind fell to the dungeons and into it's darkest recesses.

But she had turned just moments too late - a burst of light, powerful and blazing bright, smashed apart a nearby pumpkin. The ground beneath them shook, sending dirt, stone and vegetation piercing piercing in every direction accompanied by an ear splitting boom. A wave of smoke engulfed them in an instant - then, with a violent whoosh, vanished in an instant.

For one brief instant everyone paused – stunned by shock. Then screams rose throughout the garden.

"Anyone hurt?" Dean shouted across the pumpkin patch.

Tracey was by her side in an instant, taking a firm grip of her sleeve. Her expression was unwavering as she pulled her sleeve, quickly ducking them both down behind tall stalks corn.

"WHAT THA BLOODY 'ELL DO YOU THINK YER DOIN'!?" Hagrid bellowed at them.

She could not hear a response from her position. They remained still and rigid. Then through a gap she saw the taller of the two Carrows stride directly to Hagrid and for one terrified moment, Daphne feared for him. Then the half-giant stomped forward, pointing his finger and spitting with anger.

"DON'T YOU TAKE ANOTHER STEP ONTO MY PROPE-"

"Havin' a little get together, are we? Professor Hagrid, is it?"

Amycus wasn't just shouting - he sounded smug. He took an aggressive step towards him - he did not seem remotely fazed by Hagrid's enormous gate.

"Tha' we are! And yer lot is not -"

"For Harry Potter?!" he shouted over him. "Think you're being funny, is it!?"

The other Carrow arrived shortly after.

"Seems like we've got an illegal gatherin'!"

She hadn't been paying attention on the positions of the rest - but apparently they'd all taken similar cues to take cover. That was until Dean emerged from the woodwork, hands raised in innocence.

"You're having a laugh, right?!"

"Nothin' of the sort, Mr Thomas! Come out, the lot of ya!"

Amycus glanced their way. Daphne froze - afraid her heartbeat alone could be heard through the foliage. His cruel features showed a sneer: it looked particularly uncouth given the colour he'd gone, cheeks splotched red. She had to make a decision on how she wanted to play this.

"Alrigh', ya miserable warts, a party is fine!"

It was Alecto's turn now. The woman stepped forward, head high and a vicious gleam in her eyes. Daphne glanced quickly at Hagrid, his fists clenched hard at his sides, then back to Carrow. Her pulse rate began to quicken. If she didn't step in, very bad events were imminent.

Steadily, with her hands clearly above her head, she rose as well.

"Daffy!"

There was a brief pause before as the Carrows and started to snicker.

"Well, Benny's girl! Thought I recognised you!"

Amycus turned to her, approaching.

She analysed her position carefully. Her appearance had taken the focus away from Hagrid, but he still looked just as ready.

"Professor Carrow... and Professor Carrow...," she spoke calmly. "It isn't against the Headmaster's new regulations to have a get-together among friends, is it?"

"Yeah, we're not hurting anyone!"

Dean appeared by her side.

"Awww, kiddies..." Amycus snickered. "You didn't have permission! You have to ask, these days! And look - what's this?"

He gestured a gloved hand toward the hand painted banner.

"Open support for a known undesirable? Can't be having that, now, can we?"

Daphne's lips pressed firmly together as her nostrils flared. Her bra would be remaining uneaten.

"Awww..." he chuckled, "... do you little bastards have any idea how much trouble you're in?"

"NOW JUST A MINUTE!" Hagrid bellowed.

Amycus stepped back to the gigantic groundskeeper. His cloak fell back revealing a wand gripped firmly in hand, his head held high and he jabbed his index finger violently to Hagrid's chest - there was no fear shown on his part whatsoever.

"Shut your mouth, oath. Half-breed's have no power over us."

"Don't call him that!"

Ginny appeared at her other side. At that - she realized most of their group had surrounding her, with only Dominique and Luna remaining sheltered behind the pumpkins. Dean and Seamus were standing to try and make themselves appear as tall as possible, while Neville and Nadia had taken distinctive steps toward Hagrid. Despite the hostilities, nobody had yet to raise a wand.

"You do not have any authority over Professor Hagrid, either!" she pushed again. "If you feel he is breaking the law then you must submit a report to the Headmaster, not take justice into your own hands!"

There was no immediate response to her proclamation. And when there was, it was in the shape of an expression, not an answer.

She'd only annoyed them.

"Well, how'd you like that? She's right! So, okay kids, let do this the Greengrass way..." Amycus rubbed his hands together. "... we're gonna march you lot up to Professor Snape. He's gonna let the Ministry know that a group of cock-sure sympathisers among the students. If they're feeling bad about the poor, misguided kiddies, you might get let off. If they're not, though..."

"LIKE 'ELL YOU ARE!"

She spared a staggered glance at the grounds keeper. He looked ready for an altercation.

"Are you threatening us, Professor Hagrid?"

Scratch that - it seemed everybody was.

"Make of it what yer will! Yer comin' onto my land, destroyin' my crops and threatenin' me and my student's! Merlin's Beard, if you think you can get away with -"

"You're all gonna come with us, nice and easy now. Any resistance will be -"

Hagrid glared down at him.

"If you want 'em, yer gonna have to go through -"

Daphne struck her voice in.

"But! There is no law anywhere in any rulebook that a Hogwarts student is forbidden from expressing their political beliefs!"

"She's right!" Tracey cheered.

"Yeah, so get lost!" Neville joined. "She's said it - you've no right to tell Hagrid what to do!"

A chorus of voices began chiming in from all sides.

"Yeah, piss off! Go get Professor Snape!"

"Sod off, losers!"

"Oui, eloignez-vous de nous, connards!"

For the first time, the Carrow's confidence seemed to falter. They looked between themselves, smiles dropping.

She continued.

" - a-and we have minor's in our group! Legally, they are incapable of committing the crimes you accuse - "

"Oh, Greengrass! Shut it!" Amycus finally snapped at her. "No muggle-shagging slut is going to think she's smarter than -"

It took another moment for anyone, herself included, to realize what occurred next.

Before he could utter the word, Amycus' wand went zooming across the grounds, clattering somewhere in the distance bushes. The sound was loud and painful - his left arm was bloodied, broken and limp. Hagrid had shattered it in a single swipe of his arm - the brutality of it terrified her.

He shrieked violently. Alecto, wand in hand, screamed, and struck Hagrid with a curse to the face. But little to no time elapsed between the spell landing and Hagrid striking her also - clearing an easy thirty feet back across the grounds. His retaliation proved surprisingly effective - he showed zero squeamishness about hitting a woman.

Daphne heard Tracey murmur to herself with clear anxiety.

"Ohh man... this is gonna be bad..."

"DOWN!"

She reacted without question, tackling Tracey to the grass before magic exploded from above - flying overhead so close she could feel it's heat. The curses began obliterating the pumpkin patch. The shock sent her heart racing - and only worsened when another blast followed suit. Amycus, who had scrambled for his wand, began a barrage of dark curses, sending destruction every which way he turned. Each missed spell sent a cloud of splattered vegetables into the air.

"STUPEFY!"

Ginny's attempt missed it's target. His retaliation did not - knocking her flat on her back.

Alecto was staggering back toward them - blood streaming from cuts all over face. She snarled.

"CRUCIO!"

Hagrid's eyes lit with rage, and the muscles in his jaw jumped with a building tension. He seemed to barely flinch in response as, with a wretch of his enormous arms, an overturned pumpkin was sent flying against his attacker, bashing into her torso with all the force he possessed.

The man was resourceful, she couldn't help but observe.

It was a second of delay that she nearly paid for dearly, as another curse from Amycus annihilated half of their hiding place.

"PROTEGO!" she shielded them.

Tracey pointed her own wand to the chaos and added to her barrier.

She took the second to glance across the grass - Seamus and Dominque had conjured barriers of their own, Hannah was firing spells from behind the entrance to the hut and Dean and Neville were leading the barrage of spells against them. The bombardment of curses would be impossible for anyone to avoid - if it were not for the forest of vegetables providing ample cover for both sides. Every other second she lost their attackers between a stalk of corn or behind a giant vegetable.

Through said cover, she caught a glimpse of Alecto returning to the scene - the woman had the ferocity of a dragon.

Ginny slid in next to them, breath ragged from the attack she'd been dealt. They nodded briefly - then Gryffindor turned her gaze, as if weighing their options for a strategic retreat or charging for support. Daphne gritted her teeth.

"Get ready," she warned them.

Forcing a reserve of adrenaline to surge through her system, she concentrated her magic to the area she last saw them both. Amycus's yells were drowned out by hers - not even the others curses could deafened out the pure malice in her words.

"BOMBARDA!"

She focused all her anger, hatred and desire for survival and let go a screaming blast straight at them. The spell struck true, destroying the ground beneath Amycus's feet and fling him atop a pile of rocks and splinters. She wobbled, unable to keep upright on the trembling earth. She didn't linger to watch Amycus hit the dirt hard, too consumed with maintaining her concentration; Alecto had avoided the attack.

She responded by directing a hex -

"LEVICORPUS!"

- which flew over her head and Dominique shrieked in pain - suddenly suspended mid air by her ankles.

"BITCH!" Tracey cried.

Daphne reached back and with a sharp jab of her wand, sent Dominique tumbling head over heels, screaming loudly she was brought down hard on her spine.

Amycus, disorientated by first having his arm shattered and then being exploded, appeared unsteady as he got to his knees, gasping for breath. She felt the beginnings of satisfaction swelling her chest - despite how terrible everything seemed to be turning out, the fool didn't know how to use his wand properly. Merula would have been proud.

Then a whistle from behind them. In one swift motion - Tracey kicked off from her broom and ascended to shoulder height before even being seated; she was a spectacular sight. She rocketed straight for the remaining twin. Alecto raised her wand but before her arm could finish a full arc, she was blown sideways. Tracey hadn't gone for a curse - she'd take a page from Hagrid's lead and tackled the witch full force. Both landed with an ugly crunch in the grass, their bodies tumbling over one another.

The battle hadn't lasted long. The Carrows were slow and uncoordinated compared to them. To anyone watching, the difference in skill between the adults and this group of children was laughable.

Except that there was a horribly uncomfortable pause. A tense hush. The entire field stilled as if afraid to make even the slightest noise. No one breathed, or spoke, or even dared to speak - the awareness of what just went down slowly descending on them.

Through the stillness she rushed to Tracey. Her movements were shaky, her mind blank and heart racing hard and fast. Then as she arrived, every molecule of air changed - Tracey was fine. Alive and unbroken. Her chest rose and fell with her breaths. Deep, powerful.

Drumming echoed in her ears, filling every last part of her. It was instinct, or maybe adrenaline, that had been in control then. Only now was the severity of their actions was occurring to her. A nauseating feeling creeping down her spine. They had attacked teachers. Their professors. There would be a severe punishment. They had instigated it - but that wouldn't matter, would it?

Dominique lay collapsed not more than two feet away, looking dead to the world. Nadia knelt next to her, gently wiping her friend's face of blood with a dampened piece torn from her robes. Neville and Dean stood protectively by their side. Hannah and Seamus looked like they didn't know what to do with themselves. Hagrid was frozen in place, staring down at the Carrows fallen bodies. Everyone was accounted for, alive and safe.

Daphne fell to her knees. She began breathing with as much calm as she could. Nothing they did next would stop the trouble from arising.

"We should go..." Ginny murmured. "... all of us. They're going to be coming."

It wasn't the most comforting idea she had heard, but if anybody besides her was willing to lead, she was in favour. She let out a slow, measured breath of relief.

"We wouldn't make it off the grounds."

"We can't stay here. They'll kill Hagrid for this."

She looked directly in Ginny's eyes - an odd experience in itself; they didn't know each other at all really. Something felt vaguely familiar but whatever it was, didn't seem important. What mattered here was survival and neither of them had lost focus. Ginny held eye contact longer and she could see it on her expression - the strain and panic as clear in her eyes, despite the placid, level tone her face kept. She was a survivor too.

"You take him. Flee through the forest to Yorktown."

"I'm not leaving the school like this!"

The fire in the red heads eyes told her this would be one argument she'd loose.

"YOU'VE KILLED HER! YOU'VE KILLED MY SISTER!"

Amycus rushed the two, wheezing. His movements came wobbly and unsteady; his features contorting painfully. Bloodied nose and blood leaking from various places, but it was his body language which startled everyone.

He grabbed Tracey to roughly pull her away. The second he made contact with her - the sight of her being handled so unceremoniously - she couldn't control it.

"Stupefy!"

A rush of bright magic exploded from her wand like an erupting volcano, his whole body spun in an instant, like a puppet in the wind. In the next, he slammed face down onto the hard, packed dirt. There was not even any fight back.

And there was silence again. Apart from the muttering from the half giant.

"Ah should not 'ave done that... Ah should never... ah..."

She scratched her arm again. Her wound had reopened.