Dumbledore's Army and the Year of Darkness

Chapter 6: The Forbidden Forest

"It's been two weeks! They can't just lock us up down here for the rest of the school year!" Neville slammed his fists against the unyielding metal bars in frustration as the house-elf piled the remains of his dinner onto a large tray. "Come on! Tell me something, anything!"

"Krimpet is sorry, sir, but Krimpet has orders from the Headmaster." The elf looked ashamed, but his large blue eyes were fearful, and he kept glancing at the walls as if they were watching him. "Krimpet brings the food for the prisoners, and he takes the dishes, and he has been given the strongest orders. He would have to punish himself most terribly grievously, and Krimpet is not brave like Dobby, oh no. He is scared of Headmaster Snape." He gave a thin, desperately servile smile, bowing as low as he could with his awkward burden. "But he brings the mustard for Luna Lovegood, and he makes the chicken for Neville Longbottom with not too much gravy, and he never forgets that Ginny Weasley likes the lemon with her tea, not the milk, so Neville Longbottom should not be so angry with Krimpet."

Neville let out a long sigh, sliding slowly down the bars until he was on his knees in the dank cell, his head sagging in frustrated defeat. Taking a deep breath, he looked up and tried to produce what he hoped was a kindly apologetic expression. "You're right, Krimpet, it's not your fault. I'm sorry. I just...I thought we'd be Cruciated at least, but they've only...it's making me mental. How are the girls?"

"Ginny Weasley is angry, just like Neville Longbottom. She yells things - most horrible language for a witch to use - but she forgets that there is powerful magic on the dungeons, and she cannot be heard upstairs or from inside other cells. But she is still well, oh yes, well enough to throw her cake and smash the plate into very tiny pieces." Krimpet shook his head sadly, clearly mourning the waste of pastry, then he brightened. "But Luna Lovegood is not angry, Neville Longbottom, sir. She sings and she paints with the food she does not eat, and Krimpet thinks she is much nicer."

"Have they sent me any messages?"

"Every day, Neville Longbottom asks this, and every day Krimpet must tell him that it is forbidden. Why does Neville Longbottom still ask?"

The question was asked with innocent, genuine curiosity, and he was forced to shrug, smiling sheepishly. "I don't know, really. I guess I just hope something's changed."

He had stood again, turning to resume the pacing that had become the constant staple of his existence, but stopped dead as the little being spoke again. "Dobby sends a message."

Neville whirled, fighting the urge to grab the towel and shake the elf until his brains rattled for not telling him sooner. Instead, he gritted his teeth, forcing his voice to remain calm and gentle. "What's that?"

"Dobby says that something big is coming very, very soon. That is all, Neville Longbottom, sir, and before he asks, Krimpet does not know what he means by this either, but Dobby is a free elf and very strange." The look on Krimpet's face clearly implored the young wizard to take anything from such an unbalanced individual with the deepest skepticism, then he bowed again. "Krimpet must go now." A loud crack echoed through the tiny stone chamber, and the elf was gone.

Something big. Neville ran his fingers maniacally through his greasy hair as he resumed pacing, his long strides covering the confines of the cell so quickly that he felt rather dizzy with the rapidity he was forced to turn. Something big. Was the D.A. planning a breakout? Had Snape finally decided to punish them? Were they being sent to Azkaban? Turned over to You-Know-Who himself? Or had he heard from Harry? Was the war won? Was it lost? Were they going to be executed? It could mean anything!

"Blimey, lad, I reckon I smelt yeh before I saw yeh. How long's it been since you had a bath?" Neville skidded to a halt, whirling towards the barred front of the dungeon cell as his jaw dropped open in shock. Dobby's cryptic message was immediately, wonderfully clear.