Ginny's Story

Chapter 29 Bellatrix Lestrange

I'm sorry if there are typos in here! It took me ages to write because I had my two year old cousin sleeping on my right arm, so I had to type it all with my left hand... it was a challenge, trust me! So I feel quite proud I managed to actually produce something to put on here haha!

Chapter 29 Death Eater Visits

Death Eaters had begun visiting the school more and more. They were easily noticed by all students from their black cloaks that conspicuously covered most of their body, the haughty way in which they all walked, and, of course, if one was to get close enough for you to see underneath the hoods, the scary and metallic Death Eater masks that people form all over Britain recognised as a sign of terror. They were brutal towards all us students, and whenever I saw one strolling down the stone corridors of Hogwarts, I had to get Neville to take my wand off me before I cursed them all.

"Have you heard?" the whispers ran through the school like a quickly spreading river. "Bellatrix Lestrange is at the school!"

"I wonder why," always came an answer. Or,

"What have we done this time?"

I was with Neville when he first heard this rumour. He clenched his fists and his jaw locked in place.

"Nev," I said cautiously, feeling a bit on-edge because I had never seen Neville act like that before. I squeezed his arm tightly, hoping to turn him back into Neville. "We don't have to see her. We can just hide away for the next few days until she leaves."

Neville shut his eyes and shook his head. "No," he said, his voice rough with emotion at his decision. "I need to see her. I need to punish her for what she did to my family. Ginny, I'm going to kill her."

I shivered at the serious way in which he said that. But I knew Neville, I knew he couldn't kill anyone... or could he? He'd become a much different person this year than in any other, but could he really have changed that much? I finally settled on a solution that while I didn't want Neville near Bellatrix, he could do what he wanted, and I would just have to be there with him to restrain him from doing something he would later regret.

"Let's go to lunch, then," I quietly said, walking to the Great Hall with Neville following me silently.

"Bellatrix," was the first noise I heard from him ten minutes later when we had just read the large double-doors leading into toe Great Hall.

I frowned and stood on my tip-toes to get a better view. Neville could see more than I could since he was taller than me. I craned my neck and gasped.

Bellatrix Lestrange stood before us, her dark and curly hair twisted crazily and a malicious glint in her hollow eyes. Her stance reminded me of a wild animal, poised to attack at any given moment and her mouth was curled in a grimace.

"Neville," I said hesitantly, reaching behind me for him, but all my hand caught was the air. "Neville!" I cried out, my heart beating a bit faster than usual. I pushed past people to try and find one of my best friends who would no doubt be about to get into big trouble with the maniac who ripped apart his family when he was just a baby.

I kept pushing past people until I saw a black, thick braid. Parvati Patil was running towards me, her dark eyes troubled but determined.

"Ginny!" she shouted. "I know where Neville is, and he needs your help! He's about to do something crazy, I know it!"

I ran after her until she stopped and I saw Neville. He was facing Bellatrix who hadn't noticed Neville yet. I hoped I could get him away before she did realise what he was about to do.

"Grab his arm," I instructed Parvati. We both snuck up on him and grabbed an arm each, pulling him backwards. But it seemed nothing would stop Neville from doing what he wanted to do. His eyes were determined and set, not even moving off Bellatrix's beautiful but terrifying face to see who his capturers were. He shrugged Parvati off his right arm easily, but I clung tight, even lifting my feet off the ground so all of my body weight was on Nevile''s left arm. But even that didn't seem to affect him.

Neville lifted his wand up and muttered a stinging curse under his breath, sending it to Bellatrix. The whole room fell silent as they saw the curse heading towards one of the most feared Death Eaters there were. Who would dare to do such a thing?

Luckily for Bellatrix, the Carrows were flanking her just as Neville sent the curse, and they easily blocked it, whispering to Bellatrix about what had happened.

"Who dares defy me?" Bellatrix screamed, making us all jump.

"T-that boy," Amycus stuttered, pointing to Neville. I shrunk back, but Neville stood proud, his head held high and his wand still pointing in the direction of Bellatrix.

"Ah," Bellatrix said quieter, her lips curling up in a smile. "Longbottom, how do you fare since our last meeting?"

"You-" Neville began, but words didn't seem to be able to express his utmost loathing and anger at Bellatrix.

"Crucio," Bellatrix shouted at Neville. I pulled him down to the ground and it narrowly missed him. "Avada Kedavra!" she screamed in frustration. We got down on our hands and knees crawling along the ground to find some place we could escape.

Curses continued to be flung at us, but they all most... mostly, anyway. One of them singed my red hair and another cut Neville's lip, making small beads of blood drip onto the cold stone floor.

"This way!" Neville panted, ducking around the corner. I dashed around with him, dodging spells as we did. "In here!"

Neville opened a small, red and gold door that I had never seen before, holding it open for me to go in first. He shut it behind him and  it disappeared.

"Are we locked in here now?" I asked worriedly.

Neville shrugged. "Who cares. If there's no door in here, I think it's safe to bet nobody else can come in, so we're safe."

"What is this place?" I asked, walking around the perimieter of the round room wondrously.

Gryffindor curtains were draped on all of the walls, tall lions standing upright and proud. The roof was low but not in a way that it made you feel claustrophobic. Instead it felt cosy. Two armchairs - both red - sat around a fireplace that already had a fire burning in it. There were also hammocks strung at one side of the room. The room reminded me a lot of the Gryffindor common room.

"I think I know," Neville said slowly. "I think that we've found the Room of Requirement!"

Of course, I thought. Why didn't we think of this place as an escape sooner? It was perfect!

"Let's remind the DA of this place and make it a headquarters, a bit like it was when Harry started the DA," I suggested, pulling out my coin. I sent a message, letting everyone know to meet us here.

"Brilliant!" Neville beamed.

Weird place to end the chapter, I know. The next chapter I think is going to have quite a lot going on though (from what I can remember at least!) or maybe I'm remembering wrong... anyway, I hope you enjoyed!

Oh and I'm thinking of entering this into the 2012 Watty Awards (I know it's probably not for a while yet) but I'm not sure yet... I've just had a few comments saying I should, so I'm just keeping my mind open! Let me know what you think I should do :)

Thanks for reading! I'm really loving writing this story so I'm glad you're all enjoying it :D

Emily<3