Annabella The Sidekick (Sequal To Defiance)

Chapter 54

    Everything good must end. For me, that means hugging my family as I prepare to get on the Hogwarts express. Ginny stands beside me as we hug everyone.
    My father hugs me tightly. I know he's worried. He's already lost my mother and who knows where Harry is? He babbles on and on that he'll miss me and that he loves me. I say the same to him before turning to Remus.
    My godfather scoops me up into his arms. I press my face against his shoulder as I hug him back. "Please be safe," he tells me. "I will," I respond, nodding. "I love you Rem." My godfather manages to give me a small smile. "I love you too Bella."
    I hug Fred before turning to George. He hugs me as tightly as he can and lifts me up into the air. "Don't go," He tells me. "Don't worry about me Georgie. I'll be fine," I tell him.
    "I'm going to worry about you every day until you come back." With that, George kisses me in front of God and everyone. When we pull away the train is sounding it's horn. We bid everyone goodbye one more time and Ginny pulls me onto the train.
    No sooner have we found a compartment that Ginny begins to cry. "We're not coming back! We're going to die!" She sobs. I immediately pull her into my arms. "What do you mean Ginny?" I ask her worriedly. "Didn't you see them? The death eaters are everywhere."
    I'm about to dismiss her words when a flash of black robes pass by our compartment. Glancing out, I see that Ginny was correct. A death eater just passed us. I turn to my friend and take her by the shoulders. "Ginny. We will be fine."
    She nods in response but doesn't seem very convinced. Neville joins us not long later with Luna Lovegood by his side. Death eaters patrol the train, making sure nobody tries to escape I guess. Every time one passes Ginny clutches my hand.
We arrive at school not long after changing into our robes. I feel nervous as we approach the carriages. "I'm going to be alone," I say. The rest of our group looks at me with pity. "What about Draco?" Neville asks. I shake my head in reply.
"Draco won't talk to me. He's trying to protect me." Nobody says anything. After a moment, Ginny grips my hand. "Together," she says. I take Neville's hand, who in turn takes Luna's. Luna and Ginny join hands and all at once we say the thing that will get us through the year. "Together."
Severus is headmaster. I haven't talked to him in months but I know he was close with my parents. He looks out among the students as he gives a speech and his eyes pass over me. Does he not notice me? I know he killed Dumbledore. I told myself that he wouldn't betray Dumbledore. However when I see that two well known death eaters are teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts I'm not so sure.
Alecto and Amycus Carrow are teaching us. They look downright evil. They're siblings. Alecto would be fairly pretty if it wasn't for the constant sneer on her face. Amycus is just terrifying. They're also in charge of punishment. I don't know what they're going to do yet but I know it'll make Umbridge's blood quills look like a cakewalk.
I can't help but look around for my older cousin. He's here. He's alive. I find myself feeling relieved at this. He's thin and has dark circles under his eyes but he's breathing. His eyes meet mine and I see him. I see the Draco I know for just one second until Blaise Zabini says something to him. Then he returns to the sullen, withdrawn Draco I've seen tonight.
As we head to our dormitories, we're forced to walk in quiet lines. No joking or even whispering is allowed. Hogwarts is already vastly different and I don't like it.
When I get to my dorm I see Allie, Lila, and Alicia. This year however, they don't greet me like usual. They just sneer. I can't figure out why until I see a hint of black ink sticking out from underneath Lila's sleeve. Fear courses through my veins but I'll pretend I didn't see it. I'll pretend we're still friends.
    The first day of classes are terrible. I have several classes with Ginny but we don't see much of each other. We're still forced to walk in lines like children in primary school. We have potions together and Professor Slughorn allows us to choose our seats. Ginny and I pick a table at the back where we nearly collapse into each other with relief.
    "This is awful!" Ginny exclaims. I nod in agreement. "This place is terrible! I can't believe the Carrow's are teaching! I have them next," I say. Ginny looks slightly relieved. "Me too."
    We should not have been relieved. We thought the lesson would be okay when my some miracle the Carrows sat Ginny and I together. I guess something about house rivalries. We were happy at first. We could pass notes and maybe this wouldn't be so bad.
    It started when the Carrows informed us of a new law. The unforgivable curses are no longer illegal. Of course they aren't. Voldemort has taken over the ministry. Then Ginny gasped in surprise and Alecto walked over to our table.
    "Something to say Weasley?" She demanded. I know that Ginny knows better than to talk back to a teacher. A moment passes and I know Ginny won't get in trouble. Unfortunately, it appears I was wrong.
    "Well they're called the unforgivable curses for a reason," she says. I want to strangle her sometimes. She can't keep her mouth closed! Alecto smiles at Ginny before pulling out her wand. "We're going to use them for teaching purposes. Not only will you learn about the curses, you'll learn how to preform them." Ginny looks shocked but to my relief says nothing else.
    As Alecto is waking back up to the front of the room, a smile still on her face, she turns to Ginny. "Detention tonight Weasley."
    I freak out about Ginny's detention but she dismisses it. "What're they going to do Bella? Make me write lines?" I grab her arm on the way to lunch. "Gin, these are death eaters," I remind her in a low voice. If she's afraid she doesn't show it, she just looks defiant. "They can't break me."
    I sit with Neville and Ginny at lunch. Nobody is my house wants anything to do with me so I'll stick to my friends. Neville hasn't had Defense yet so we fill him in on the class. He looks at Ginny nervously. "I agree with Bella," he says. "They might do something really bad Ginny."
    I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn around to see Amycus Carrow. "Annabella Black?" He asks me. I nod my head in acknowledgment. "Why aren't you sitting with your house?" I gulp and play with my fingers nervously. All I have to do is answer respectfully. Apologize.
    "Well I haven't seen my friends all day, Professor." Amycus looks at me with narrowed eyes. "You know the rules. Detention Mrs. Black. You'll share one with Mrs. Weasley. Back to your table!" I scurry back to the Slytherin table where Draco barely glances over at me.
    The rest of my classes pass without incident and I find myself believing Ginny's words. Maybe this won't be so bad. Here's a spoiler: I was wrong.