Mine

[28]

It didn't take long to adjust to the changes at Hogwarts. After being back for about a month, each day had become so routine that you barely had to even think about it. Wake up, go to breakfast, attend classes, go to lunch, attend more classes, go to the common room, go to dinner, then back to the common room until bed. We were walked in silent single-file lines from class to class, eliminating any sort of chatter in between classes. Students were barely found outside of their houses or the library during their free time. I barely got the chance to speak with Ginny or my brother due to this.

I think that was probably the worst part of all of these horrible changes. I was lucky to have Blaise and Draco in the same house as me, but I felt the absence of Hermione and I missed her. Not getting to spend time with Ginny and Grant only emphasized this. To put it simply, I missed the happiness that Hogwarts used to house.

I sat in the Great Hall, barely eating my dinner as I thought about Hermione and wondered where she was, if she was okay. I didn't notice the frantic footsteps approaching me or the heavy breathing until a finger was tapping on my shoulder. I turned around to be faced with Penelope, Grant's girlfriend, her eyes filled with tears.

"Penelope, what's wrong?" I asked, taking in her scared expression.

"Grant got detention. Alecto was yelling at some first years and Grant stepped in and then she – she dragged him to her office." Penelope said breathlessly, her fearful eyes only getting wider as she spoke.

I immediately shot out of my seat and went running to the dungeons where the Carrows office was. I didn't have time to think about what I was doing or what I would do when I got there, the only thing I could think about was that I couldn't let them hurt my brother. I burst into the room, mildly surprised to find that they'd left the doors unlocked.

Grant was standing in the middle of the office, his back to me so I wasn't able to see his face or if they had done anything to him yet. His shoulders were drooped, but I couldn't be sure if it were out of shame, fear, or what.

"Ah, Miss Brooks." Alecto said with a nasty smile. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

I paused for a moment as Grant turned his head over his shoulder to look at me. I could see the shadow of a black eye forming, making me rush to his side. "What did they do to you?" I whispered, ignoring the fact that we were still in the presence of the vile siblings.

"Students who step out of line are to be punished, Miss Brooks." Amycus said slowly. "Your brother stepped out of line."

"He has a black eye!" I exclaimed, whipping my head up to glare at Amycus. "Punishment is making a student sit in detention and write lines, not inflicting pain on them!"

"Mind your tone, young lady." Alecto spoke up, taking a step towards my brother and I. "Or you'll be next."

I stepped in front of my brother, holding my glare on Alecto as she stopped a few steps in front of me. "Gemma, stop. It's fine." Grant whispered urgently from behind me.

"You heard your brother. He's fine." Alecto said, a smirk forming on her lips. "Now, it would serve you well to let us finish our detention."

"No way in hell." I spat, remaining in my defensive stance before my brother. "He is done in here."

"Fine," Alecto said with a small shrug. "Mr. Brooks, you are free to go. I'd like to have a word with your sister. In private."

I could feel my heart begin to beat a little faster in my chest, but I wouldn't give the Carrow siblings the satisfaction of knowing that I was nervous. Grant didn't move from behind me, so I turned slightly to look at him. "It's okay. Go." I said softly. I could see in his eyes that he did not want to leave me there with them, but finally he began to back away towards the door.