Ginny's Sixth Year

Chapter 19

"Ginny! We were beginning to think you would never show up!" Neville joked.

"Sorry. Snape talked forever," I explained.

"What did he say?"

"Oh, you know, he asked me if I was okay and then he droned on and on about who knows what and then—"

"You weren't paying attention?" Luna interrupted. "He could have said something important!"

"Yeah, well, my mind was on other things! And then he..." I paused, wondering if I should finish the story. "He apologized for George's ear."

"Oh, what happened?" Lavender asked. I immediately regretted telling the D.A. what Snape had told me.

"Snape cut George's ear off," I stated shortly. "He's fine," I snapped when I saw Luna's sympathetic expression.

"No wonder you hate him so much. Don't think I didn't see that look in your eye when you first saw him in the Headmaster's seat," Neville remarked.

"Yes," I said impatiently. "Now, we have more pressing matters on our hands. Do we all have our supplies?"

"Yes," a chorus of voices responded.

"What if we get caught?" Dean asked.

"Let's just pray that doesn't happen. It's already well past curfew, so there won't be any students," Luna responded calmly. "He only thing we have to worry about are the teachers. And I've taken care of that, as we discussed. Now, let's get ready to leave. Distraction team, with me!" Several D.A. members joined Luna, including Lavender and Colin. 

"Alright! Everyone else with me!" Neville said.

We left the Room of Requirement and snuck into the main corridor. I looked up at the wall where I had written my own death sentence five years ago. It seemed like an eternity ago. I was, once again, reminded of Riddle's words. I hoped that he was wrong. I couldn't bear to lose anyone in my family, not even Percy, who I had decided not to forgive until I saw him in person. He, in his second letter, told me that he hadn't apologized to anyone but me. I wanted to wait and see what the rest of my family said. 

We finished writing our message on he wall. Most of the D.A. headed back to the Room of Requirement while Neville stepped back to admire our work. I walked up next to him and looked up at our message:

DUMBLEDORE'S ARMY: STILL RECRUITING

It was written in red paint very similar to the one I had used to write threats on the wall.

"You alright, Ginny?" Neville asked quietly.

"Yeah, it's just...this ink reminds me of Riddle," I confessed.

"Oh, right. I remember how scared Percy, Fred, and George were that night when McGonnagal pulled them into her office. They came back into the common room about ten minutes later, and Fred was crying. Percy was pale as a ghost, and he told us all to stay calm. We asked what happened, but Percy wouldn't tell us. George pulled me into his dormitory and told me that Harry and Ron were missing, but Dumbledore was pretty sure that they were alive. I asked if that was what was wrong with Fred, and George looked down. He would never admit it, but I'm pretty sure he started crying. He told me that you were dead, and to not tell anyone that he told me. I was so scared that day, Ginny. I don't think Fred ever really got over that shock, despite what he says. We should go," Neville pointed out when we heard footsteps.

We rushed back to the Room of Requirement. "...and anyway, we didn't get caught, so it doesn't matter. Ginny!" Luna's face lit up as Neville and I walked into the room. "We were beginning to think..."

"Thankfully, no," Neville said. "We just scouted the area." 

"Okay. Anything either of you want to say?"

"Yes," I said, standing on the chair next to me. "You all did fantastic. And I don't want to end on a grim note, but the Carrows will see our message. Malfoy, and some of the others probably remember who was in the D.A. before, if it's not on record; especially those of you who have gotten in trouble before or are in Malfoy's year. We have to be careful. And can Luna and Neville stay a little while longer? Thank you everyone! You did an amazing job!"

Everyone cleared the room. Everyone except Luna and Neville. "What's up, Ginny?" Luna asked when everyone was gone.

"Snape has the Sword of Gryffindor," I told them.

"Isn't that Harry's?" Neville asked.

"Yeah. It is. I have a feeling that Ron, Harry, and Hermione need it."

"Well then, we should get it back!" Luna said confidently.

"Yeah! We should! We should plan tomorrow!" Neville replied excitedly.

"Wait, it might not be that simple!" I said.

"Well, why don't we meet tomorrow and assess the situation?" Luna suggested.

"Okay, yeah, I guess. After detention," I agreed hesitantly.

"Oh, right. Detention," Luna remembered.

"Do you have detention together again?" Neville asked.

"No!" Luna and I responded in unison, remembering the awful ordeal that detention had been the night before.

"G'night, Neville!" I said as I climbed the staircase to the girl's dormitory.

"Night!" Neville said while hovering over a book, occasionally scribbling notes on a roll of parchment sitting next to him.

I opened the door to my dormitory. I don't know what I expected to see, but I was disappointed by the empty dormitory that greeted me. I sat down on my bed to write another letter to Fred and George.

Fred and George,

It's Ginny, yet again. How are you two? Have you heard anything about Harry? I miss you!

Today could possibly have been the worst and best day yet at the same time. Dark Arts was the worst, but the rest of the day was great!

During Dark Arts, Luna said that there is no difference in how blood looks based on whether you are a Muggle-born, a "blood-traitor," or a pure-blood. Of course, Carrow had to prove this, so he made a girl named Elizabeth, Colin, and me stand in front of the class. He took blood from each of us then stabbed Colin twice and took almost all the skin off the side of my face. Luna was landed in a month of detention with Carrow.

Supper was also terrible. Carrow cut our food in half, and I was tortured by the Muggle Studies Carrow to the point where all my wounds split open. Did you even know that could happen?

We also started the D.A. again. Neville, Luna, and I are co-leading it. Today we went around the school and wrote messages on the walls, but don't tell Mum. She'd freak.

I also have a message to relay to George. Snape says that he's sorry about your ear. I guess he sounded kind of sincere, but you never know.

Miss you,

Ginny Weasley 

P.S. Snape's forcing me to go to the hospital wing tomorrow, just in case you were wondering.

I was so tired of sending letters like this to the twins. It seemed like everything I told them was about me getting beat up. I glanced at the pile of homework I had sitting on the floor, but I decided that it would best be saved for another night. I sent my letter and went to bed.