Defend

Chapter Forty-Five That's what you're wearing?

 Draco pushes my sleeves up, revealing my cut and bruised arms.

"Eliza, this is unacceptable."

I have a huge headache. "It's fine. My whole body looks like this now. Every member of the DA does."

"That's not alright," Draco says. "Why are you letting the Carrows treat you like this?"

"I, and no one else on the DA is going to let them get their way."

"Yes, but you provoke them. Eliza, I'm serious, you're going to get yourself killed."

"I'm not trying to." I say, resting my pounding head on his lap.

Dray begins smoothing my hair down. "Just because you're not trying doesn't mean it won't happen."

~~~~

"It's almost Christmas," I say to Ginny. To no one's surprise, we aren't allowed to go to Hogsmeade this year either, so getting gifts will be a bit of a challenge. "I don't know about you, but I'm definitely staying here."

"Why?" Ginny raises her eyebrows practically off her head.

"Because there's simply no point in going home. Even if I went home with you, who knows if we'd be able to return to Hogwarts? If both you and I are gone, who's going to protect the younger students? Hogwarts needs us." I say with conviction.

Ginny seems to mull it over. "I suppose you're right. I'll stay with you for Christmas, but I'm going home for Easter."

"Fair."

~~~~

I hug Luna goodbye, as she's going home for Christmas. "I'll miss you, Luna. Please be safe."

She smiles. "I will." She reassures, smiling at me. I love seeing her smile, as she's the one person that remains so calm despite whatever happens.

~~~~

The Christmas feast is considerably disappointing, and the hall is more empty than I've ever seen. A letter comes from my parents, begging me to come home. I'm surprised that the letter was let through, as I had to steal a few letters from the Carrow's office, since the evil twins have been monitoring the post. I send my parents a return letter, reassuring them I'm alright and that my friends and I are sticking together, standing up for what we believe in. I didn't appreciate the guilt trip my dad most likely inserted, about not wanting to lose another child to the Dark Lord. I know my parents are still extremely distraught about Cedric's death, and I don't blame them, but that isn't a reason to restrict me. Especially since my dad had to mention in the postscript the agreement I made about allowing them to pull me out if necessary. It's different now, as I know exactly what I'm getting into.

At the moment though, more than anything, I want to sit with Ginny and Neville, but the Carrow's are very strict about sitting at your house table.

I sit beside Draco, not speaking much.

"Are you alright?" He asks, and I gaze around at the lack of Christmas trees, and the only thing in the Great Hall signalling the season is the snow lightly falling from the enchanted ceiling. Even the enchanted mistletoe that normally grows around Hogwarts has been surprisingly absent.

"I think so." I sigh, wishing for the Hogwarts magic that seems to be lacking this year. "I just wish—" I pause, unable to continue without dragging myself into despondency.

"What?" He presses, setting his fork down.

"I—" I set my head down on the table, horrified by the feeling that I may finally be losing hope.