|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Author: Kathryn Story: Hogwarts Rebellion Rating: Teens Setting: DH-interview Status: Completed Reviews: 17 Words: 103,858
Disclaimer: 'Any people, objects, places and so on that you recognise belong to JK Rowling. I'm just having fun playing in her sandbox for a while. "You have no proof, Severus!" the Head of Gryffindor all but shouted. Minerva McGonagall had thrown her Gryffindor scarf to the ground as she left the stands following Snape's words at the match. As soon as Ginny had landed her broomstick, she had felt Amycus Carrow take her wrist, seen Alecto Carrow take her broom and watched as her Head of House matched them step for step. Despite the look of disappoint that was clear on McGonagall's face, the fact that she was there gave her that little support that she needed. She was sure that she was on the verge of another lecture from the stern and serious professor later, but that was in the future. Ginny stood in the centre of the Headmaster's Office, right at the centre of attention, opposite the large oak desk and the sword of Gryffindor. All the portraits were looking at her, she could even feel Dumbledore's bright blue eyes penetrating her. She slowly massaged her wrist, as she took another look round the room and slowly weighed the situation. Things were bad, yes, but not as bad as they could have been. What she wanted was to be in a position where she could deny all knowledge of things that had happened on the pitch. That part of the plan had gone reasonably well. And she was more than positive that if she chose to deny all knowledge, Professor McGonagallProfessor McGonagall would support her words. "No proof at all," Professor McGonagall continued. "I have all the proof I need, Minerva," Snape hissed. "This girl has been breaking rules since the day that she arrived at this school." "A month!" Professor McGonagall's voice had risen several octaves. "It has been a month since you can prove that she has done anything wrong. How can you suspect her now without any evidence?" Snape let out a low laugh. "Who else would have access to those fireworks?" "Her brothers own a very popular shop." Ginny felt herself being pushed back towards the walls by her Head of House as she spoke. "Do you not think it is at all possible that someone else could have bought them?" "Can you name these other students?" Snape sneered. "I'm sure I could find time to personally investigate the matter. And at the same time, we could see if that stupid teenage group has actually reformed as we believe it has." Snape's sneer grew into a smile. "Yes, that would be rather useful, actually. I'll just get the Veritaserum for Miss Weasley." "No need. It was me, just me," Ginny said with a small shrug as she stepped back forward. She must not take that potion, whatever the cost. Snape would have a field day with all the knowledge she could give him. "I thought it was time people knew what was going on." There was no way that she was going to let anyone else take the blame here. Other people may have been involved, but this had been all her idea and she was not going to let anyone else pay for it. If it meant another couple of detentions, she could handle it. Hell, if it meant suffering from the Cruciatus Curse, she would deal. Not Neville nor Luna nor anyone else was going to suffer for her. "I believe that that concludes the matter," Snape grinned. "So do I get to punish her?" Amycus Carrow smiled, sometimes he was just like an overgrown schoolboy as he was literally bouncing up and down with excitement over the use of torturing a teenage girl. "No, no," Snape smiled, as a shiver ran down Ginny's spine, "I believe that that pleasure is all mine." He paused for a moment. "We will start off with a life Quidditch ban." "What?" Both the Death Eater and Ginny spat out. McGonagall glared at Ginny, urging her not to speak. This was not really that bad a punishment and she should really not let her shock get the better of her before Snape rethought his decision and came up with something else. Recognising her Head of House, Ginny dropped her gaze and adapted an expression that was suitably ashamed and regretful. "Alecto, it's all about reading their minds and then crushing their hopes." He was smiling. "Have you read this girl's file? Read her mind?" That vile smile had grown as he turned to look at his fellow Voldemort cronies. "She harbours the deluded dream that she is good enough to make it as a professional Quidditch player." That horrid laugh echoed round the room as Ginny looked back up at the Hogwarts Head Teacher. Just a few months ago, that punishment would have really hit her where it hurt and it was going to be hard watching the matches but it really was the least she had to expect now. "How are the Quidditch scouts to see her to give her a career if she is banned from playing at school?" "You make a good point," Alecto was forced to agree as she joined in laughing. "And I think we will follow up the ban with detention in dungeon seven," his dark eyes narrowed down onto her and she dropped her gaze, "starting next Saturday at 9 o'clock in the morning and there will be no need to bring your wand." "For how long?" Ginny asked tentatively, although she was not sure that she really wanted the answer to that question. It might be easier to face if she could kid herself that she was not going to be in there or at the mercy of cruel Death Eaters for long. Snape laughed again, a laugh that was echoed by both of the Carrows. "Until we say you are free to go, Miss Weasley." His smile grew. "Don't worry though, Miss Weasley. I will ensure that you are able to attend your Monday morning lessons; we would not want you missing those." "Well," Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, "if that is all, I will accompany Miss Weasley back to her common room. I would not like to give the possibility of adding to that punishment and I trust that my reassurance that she went straight back there and has not been involved in anything else will be good enough." "Certainly, Minerva," Snape spoke curtly, "as soon as she gives me her broom, she is free to go." A pang hit her as she held out her broomstick. Her first ever broomstick and not one that had been handed down through at least three of her brothers first and was already more than a little battered. It may not be the newest broom in the world and she knew it hardly mattered now but her dad had worked so hard to surprise her with the Cleansweep in an attempt to cheer her up on her birthday. All she could do now was to hope that Snape didn't throw it into the Whomping Willow. It pained her to know that she was causing her family so much grief now. How was she ever going to explain this? Her mum had enough to deal with over Ron, Percy and all those secretive Order missions that put her family in daily danger. She should be the one that was relatively safe. Guilt swept through her, she was already dreading the owl she would be getting. Each owl that had arrived had been at pains to tell her to behave and after her mother's last one, she had replied saying that she would. "Miss Weasley," she felt Professor McGonagall's hand on her shoulder blade as she guided her out of the room. Instead of walking the familiar path to Gryffindor Tower, with the lightest touch, the Order of the Phoenix member led her down a marble staircase to the first floor. The two women walked slowly and in silence until they reached the wooden door and the Head of Gryffindor let them into the office. Professor McGonagall nodded to one of the seats as she took the one on the other side of the desk. Glancing round the room, she could see the Quidditch pitch out of one of the windows. She turned her attention away from it and towards the Transfiguration professor. She could not bear to look at her last hope, her last release from everything at Hogwarts now that it was firmly gone. She really hadn't thought this through now not only had she a timetable from hell, being at the mercy of Death Eaters but there was no Hogsmeade or Quidditch to stop her from going crazy. She stepped backwards almost as soon as she let that thought cross her mind. No matter how much trouble she was in and as hard as her year was going to be, she was safe. Unlike the rest of her family, her life was not at risk and she was not fighting Death Eaters in open warfare. Unlike Harry or Hermione, she did not have a huge wanted sign hanging over her head. What she had done had unnerved Snape. His calling of just her surname at the match had done that and helped show the Hogwarts Death Eaters that there was still resistance out there. So she really needed to get a grip now and not care about her broomstick. After all, if this war wasn't won, Quidditch ban or not it was very doubtful that she would be permitted to join the British and Irish league; her background and blood traitor status would see to that. Already, players had been removed from squads for lesser things under this new regime than for being a blood traitor. "Miss Weasley?" Ginny looked up as the former Hogwarts deputy head teacher, drew her out of her thoughts. "Yes, Professor?" "You do realise that they had no evidence against you." McGonagall studied her face. "And I have already given you a warning over both your conduct and their punishments. What were you thinking, giving them further reasons to single you out?" "How could I not? I was involved; they would have found that out and much more with the Veritaserum." Ginny looked directly at her. "I'm not going to make people suffer for me, so I guess I'll take anything they throw." She smiled softly. "And as you have already said before, I know too much; anything else is too big a risk." "Very true." Professor McGonagall nodded and Ginny was almost positive that she heard a note of pride in her Head of House's voice. "That's very noble of you." Ginny offered her a small shrug. "I'm just playing my role." "Indeed," McGonagall spoke in a resigned tone, and Ginny was sure that her Head of House knew that she was fighting a losing battle asking her students not to get involved. But she lost that tone almost straight away as soon as the two pairs of eyes interlocked. "Next time, please avoid detection and do not openly admit to causing the breaking school rules. I can not defend you when you put yourself in this position." She paused briefly which added weight to the importance of her words. "Calm things down." Professor McGonagall waited briefly for a reply, "Miss Weasley?" "I will." "Good," Professor McGonagall said as she briefly turned her back on her student and reached for some floo powder. "This fire is still safe – well, as safe as you can get in the country at the moment." She handed over the Floo powder. "You should contact your parents before they hear the rumours and let them know that you aren't hurt." She crouched down to the empty fire gate with a fistful of powder in her hand. Ginny dropped the powder onto the logs stacked neatly beneath her and at once they exploded into green flames. "The Burrow." Her knees stuck firmly to the tough deep red carpet of the Head of Gryffindor's office, but her head was spinning, hurtling through the emerald green fire and into a variety of colours before it stopped abruptly. There she was staring out of the fireplace in the kitchen of the one place she was dying to be. She briefly let the thought of placing her whole body in the fire and returning home before rediscovering her resolve as she called out, "Mum? Dad? Anyone?" "Ginny!" Molly's voice came back frantically. "It's so good to see you. What are you doing here? What's happened now? Where are you? How are you?" Her mother's questions tumbled out in a rush. "I'm okay." She tried to sound calm but her Mum did not look convinced as her normal warm laugh lines had worry etched into them, "I swear, Mum, I'm okay." Molly looked at her shrewdly; she had seen that expression before. It was the same one that her mother used when she was trying to work out which of her children was responsible for whatever trouble had been caused. "Where are you?" "Professor McGonagall's office." "Why are you there?" Her mother's expression had barely changed except the worry lines may have increased. Professor McGonagall would hardly let her risk using the fire for just a social call. "What's happened?" "Nothing," Ginny spoke quickly so her mum could not interrupt, "It's nothing important, but since I can't write openly, I just wanted to tell you so you don't worry over anything when you get the official letter from school." Molly was frowning as Ginny pressed on with her words. "I swear, Mum, honestly I'm okay. Got a life Quidditch ban, but other than that I'm good." "How did that happen? What did you do? What on earth made you do something to let those professors single you out?" Her mother fired worried and frantic questions, before she looked straight into her brown eyes. "I thought you had promised to be more careful." "I will be, I swear." Guilt was rising again, which was, no doubt, part of Professor McGonagall's plan to shame her into behaving and keeping a low profile by letting her know what worry it was causing. "Anyway, I'm okay, and I just wanted you to know that before I go back to the tower since I've no idea when I'll be able to owl again. Love you, Mum, and I'm sure Professor McGonagall will talk to you soon." "I love you, Ginny," she paused and Ginny was almost positive that she could see tears sparkling in her mother's warm brown eyes, "and please, I'm saying this one last time, be careful." "Love you too, Mum," she said, unwilling to commit to the rest. "Right, Miss Weasley," McGonagall said as soon as she pulled her head out of the fire, "let's take you up to the common room. There is no point taking any more risks today." The evening was very quiet after Ginny had explained the events of the day to the older Gryffindors and the rest of her Quidditch team. She had briefly explained that while she would do what she could to help out, Demelza would be taking over the team. The Quidditch conversation had not lasted long though and it had quickly been followed with the more serious conversations as Neville called a D.A. meeting for the next night. Once there were replies from all the members of Dumbledore's Army via the coins, Ginny made her excuses and headed straight up for her dormitory. Quickly and quietly, she slipped into the four poster bed. Finally lying in her bed, she let herself relax, closing her eyes and letting her act drop. Maybe it was the fact that she was completely drawn physically and emotionally but the darkness let her be herself. As she lay looking up into the darkness, she could feel soft tears fall down her hot cheeks. Here she was fighting, doing what she could and suffering for it, and yet it did not feel like enough. Harry was still gone, she was still cut off from her family and despite the support of everyone in that common room she had never felt more alone. The worst thing was that she was never going to get full support and love again. She was deluding herself if she thought that all of her family and Harry and Hermione were going to come out the other side of this whole; life wasn't that good. Using her arm to roughly wipe her eyes, she took a couple of long deep breaths as she regained her composure. She could do this. Night faded into day and after lying awake in self pity mode into the early hours, she even managed a bit of sleep with a Sunday morning lie-in. The rest of the day disappeared as she waited to go back to the Room of Requirement. Before the meeting started, Ginny, Neville and Luna sat in the centre of the room as they discussed plans for the meeting. "I've been thinking," Neville started, "we need to stop playing at this now. We need to get serious. We need to beat them at their own game and not take any risks unless they are worth it." Ginny stared at him, more than a little incredulous, "Come on, Ginny, how much more do you think you can take of this?" "All that I need to," she replied as she hugged her knees in towards her chest, hoping that would provide some kind of support. "I know that," Neville said with a smile, "where will you be when we – when Harry really needs you and they have all but destroyed you? This detention really has to be the last." Ginny forced a smile. "Who've you been talking to? Mum or McGonagall?" "I believe it merits careful consideration on the use of the Cruciatus Curse within lessons," Luna spoke in a peaceful tone as she used her wand to curl her hair, "I think that we should administer the curse on each other." "What?" Ginny spat, but Neville looked curious. "The Cruciatus Curse is essentially about intent and the desire to inflict pain," Luna's voice sang with her words, "therefore surely it is more prudent for friends to perform the curse on each other rather than allow others to perform that task." "Makes sense," Neville agreed. The meeting involved drawing up a plan of action. The new priority was not going to be making stands and acts of bravery that just made a pointless bash at the Death Eaters. They would only make those statements if there was absolutely no way that it could get traced back to them. Instead they were going to focus on things that made a direct impact on the war effort, in particular learning to fight and protecting the younger students. Breakfast the next day brought the new plans into action and the next letter from home this time arrived with Bill's tawny owl, Adwin. She fed the young owl some scraps of her breakfast as she pulled the piece of parchment off his leg. Hi Ginny, I'm writing for a couple of reasons. First, I wanted to check that you are okay – it's not like you can be replaced if anything happens. Second, we still want to make sure that you get lots of regular letters to show how much we all care for our little spitfire and Mum's feeling a bit under the weather. I think everything is really beginning to take its toll. Not that that will matter if she gets another owl. I'm pretty sure the howlers will come out then. Not that you'd be the first Weasley to get one sent to school and some of us think it may be about time. Why should we have the embarrassment in front of the entire school but Mum's little girl escape? All seriousness, though, you are going to get a reception similar to that of the Ton-Tongue Toffee, so you might want a bit of a rethink. How are your NEWTs going? I was surprised to hear that you were struggling with them a bit. You had some pretty impressive marks before so here was I thinking you'd breeze through this year. I'm sure you can pull them up with a bit more help or a bit of extra time – maybe fewer detentions will actually let you have some time to study. I know none of us were perfect at school, well apart from maybe Percy, but we did leave some time to get some work done. If things get really bad, though, we are all here to help. Let me know if you want me to arrange for some of our old notes to be sent up to you. After all, we can't have you flunking out. We know if you put your mind to it you can do us proud. Things here are going okay. Fleur is really good and sends her love, married life is very enjoyable. We have the whole house finally set up and the garden is in order. Work is going okay. Charlie is good, fallen in love with a new baby Romanian Longhorn – but that's Charlie for you – he'll love anything that shoots fire. Nothing like Weasleys for attracting trouble, eh? Business is still booming with Fred and George, we hardly see them with all the projects they have taken on but at least they have Lee Jordan helping them. And everything is still the same with Ron. We all love you, miss you and can't wait to see you at Christmas. Take care of yourself. Love, Ginny folded the letter away, pleased for once she was not directly going against her family's wishes after the discussion at the D.A. meeting last night. And their new policies were put into action almost straight away as Ritchie was asked to perform the Cruciatus Curse on his girlfriend as Carrow looked to punish all of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Both Ritchie and Demelza held firm allowing the rest of the day to pass without too much incident. Ginny and the rest of Dumbledore's Army managed to keep a low profile. Monday got lost into Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and then Friday. As Ginny left Transfiguration on Friday at the end of a double, she even earned a small smile from Professor McGonagall and Ginny herself had to admit that she was quietly proud of herself. If needs must she could control her temper and that was just what she had done. Saturday morning brought an early start and the biggest breakfast that she had eaten in months. A breakfast that seemed to keep growing because as soon as she had eaten something Neville added another item to her full English breakfast, stacking up her plate. She didn't protest since she had no idea how long Snape was going to keep her in that dungeon. Snape had obviously held her detention back six days for a reason: either it was to build a sense of fear in her or because he was going to need a whole weekend for her detention. With more than a little sense of apprehension, she tucked a flask of water into her robes and left the Great Hall at quarter to nine to head down to the dungeons. The tall greasy haired professor was waiting for her as she reached the dungeons. She held her head up high as she walked towards him. If the delay had been to attempt to create fear in her, she was not going to show any. Snape opened the door. "In you go, Miss Weasley." Ginny walked in and felt her heart thud as the door slammed shut and locked behind her. She waited, standing against the door, until she heard the footsteps walk away. Slowly she sat down, resting her back against the wall as she looked round at her surroundings. It was dark, yes, but it was not uncomfortable and she was alone; there were no Hogwarts Death Eaters around here. She waited, a good ten minutes, it could have been longer, in the darkness it was hard to tell, before she moved again, waiting for footsteps to return. After she was reasonably confident that no Death Eaters were returning to ambush her in the dark, she reached her arms out. This was clearly one of the smaller dungeons. If she wanted to she could stretch her hands out and reach all four of the walls. The stone floor was cold but it appeared to be clean. Having her wand with her and not in her dorm room to cast a warming spell would have been nice but even that really wasn't so bad. Slowly and carefully she got to her feet using the wall as a guide; she felt her way up the walls. Her heart stopped for a moment when she felt the icy heavy metal of chains attached to the wall. Ignoring them, she ran her hands further along the wall, reaching the grate in the wooden doorway that offered the only light. This really wasn't too bad in here as detentions seemed to be going now. All she had to do would be to adjust to the stillness and the silence but that would not be as easy as it could be for many others as Snape probably knew after studying the working and the fears of her mind. Ginny did not do well with silence. She had never really encountered silence, growing up at The Burrow, where noise exploded from every crevice in the walls. Silence gave her time to think and thinking in the lower regions of the Hogwarts school was not going to be a good idea. A chill ran down her spine and she could feel her body shaking as she sank back down to the floor. She must not let those thoughts even enter her mind. Whenever the name Tom Riddle entered her mind she would turn into a nervous wreck and still, years after the worst moments of her life, she could take hours to recover if she allowed herself to think about the dark parts of the school. With everything else going on in that mess of a mind of hers and with all her emotions still raw she couldn't bear this. She was not sure that she could fight off those true comments that were buried deep down inside on how weak, stupid and useless she was and how she was going to be the one who helped to destroy Harry for the Dark Lord. No she could allow herself to think like that. She had to do things that would help Harry, help him get what he needed. Ginny rested her back against the wall as she let herself think of Harry. Closing her eyes she saw his face; she let herself think back to those happier times, even letting herself remember kissing him. Remembering the passion, of feeling his hands in her hair, the way her heart had pounded and the shivers that had run down her spine. Surely with time down here she could think of something useful, something that might help her and Harry. Like Harry had helped her last time she was in the lower reaches of the school and then it hit her. It was just so obvious that she could have kicked herself that she hadn't thought of it before. Maybe it was now that she just had time to think. Dumbledore had wanted Harry to have the sword of Gryffindor. The sword that was currently in Snape's office. And if she knew how to do one thing, it was how to liberate something she wanted out of a locked room. After all, she had been doing that since she was six. She could get the sword to Harry.
|