Defend

Chapter Forty-Six More Torture Tattoos

 "Eliza, I have to tell you something." Draco says at dinner. I have a DA meeting afterwards as we're trying to plan how to avoid the younger students from getting hurt. I've been watching over Silwel even more carefully now as Luna isn't here to watch him in the common room. Me and a few other DA members had to stop the Carrow's from throwing knives at the children yesterday, and it put us all very on edge.

"Yes?" I reply, finishing my meal. "Make it quick, I have a meeting after dinner." I wrap my hands around my goblet of pumpkin juice.

"Well, I wish I wasn't saying this, but I have to leave."

"Leave?" I repeat, glancing up at him. "Where would you leave to?"

"My dad said I have to go home for Easter holiday. I can come right back after though—" He continues, upon seeing the drop in my face. "It's just two weeks." He whispers, grabbing my hand. "I wouldn't be so sure of myself if I didn't know how well you can defend yourself. And you have all those other friends who look out for you. I can write you letters as well. They probably won't block my letters."

"I know, but—" I say. "What if I do something mad, like miss you?" I tease, holding on to his hand.

"That's a risk we'll have to take." He smirks and tilts my chin up, before letting go of me. "Don't you have a meeting?"

I shake my head to clear my thoughts. "Right." I sprint to the seventh floor, smiling widely at Professor McGonagall. I love my classes that are with good teachers, like Professor Sprout, McGonagall, Flitwick, I even look forward to potions with Slughorn. It allows me to feel somewhat normal, in a time where everything is shaken. I would consider going home myself, but I know my parents would never let me return, even though I used to go home for Easter holiday when I was younger with Cedric. I found it harder to go home for holidays after Cedric's death.

I meet Ginny outside the room, and we pace together for a moment before the door appears.

"Eliza!" Silwel runs up and wraps himself around my waist. This allows everyone in the room to smile.

"Hi Silwel. How have you been?" I ask, bending down to give him a hug.

"Pretty good. My parents haven't been responding to my letters though." He looks a bit worried, and I point to a pile of letters on the other side of the room.

"Check in that pile. We have people periodically steal the intercepted post from the Carrow's offices." I reply, and he sprints away.

I turn to Ginny and hug her tightly. "Everytime I see you I'm so grateful we've been friends for so long."

Ginny embraces me back before holding me in front of her. "I suppose I can thank you for being a clumsy git and falling on me on the Hogwarts express." We stare at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter.

~~~~

At the end of the meeting, Ginny pulls me aside. "I already sent an owl to mum, and I told you this, but you need to know I'm leaving for Easter break." She whispers.

My smile vanishes. "First Luna, then Draco, now you. What am I going to do?" I reply, a frown etched across my face.

"Malfoy's leaving?" She asks.

"Just for Easter break. He'll return afterwards. Are you coming back?" I ask, my eyes pleading for her to agree.

"I'm not sure. I'd want to, to continue the rebellion and be with you and Neville, but I'm not sure if my parents would let me back, or if I'd even be allowed back. I'll do everything I can to send you an owl. Maybe I could get a message sent through Potterwatch." She assures me, alluding to the radio station the twins and Lee created. Remus, Kingsley, and a few others are on it, and they try to track Harry and the others to assure us of good news and safety of people who were in the Order.