Lucy Snape and the Final Battle (Book Seven)

Promises To Cousins

Chapter 22: Promises To Cousins

When Lucy and Shona arrived in the Transfiguration classroom they found their fellow seventh year students all crowded around McGonagall's desk, all trying to tell her at once how Amycus Carrow's lectures were inhumane. McGonagall tried to address each of them in turn but found herself overwhelmed by the constant conundrum of chatter.

Shona stuck her fingers in her mouth and gave an eardrum puncturing whistle. All fell silent and found the two girls standing there. "Don't bombard her, for goodness sake."

The students took their seats in twos at the desks, Lucy joining Matt with Dean sat at the side of the desk.

McGonagall stood up behind her own desk at the front of the room, mopping her brow with a tartan handkerchief looking just as exasperated as everyone else. "I understand that you're all upset with Mr Carrows actions, just as much as I am. But I'm afraid that this situation is out of my control. This is all down to the Headmaster."

A few students turned to glare in Lucy's direction. Hardly anyone knew that Snape was working as a double agent (but it was clear to Lucy that McGonagall had been let in on the secret).

"Don't blame me," Lucy snapped. "I'm not responsible for his actions."

"That is very much correct," McGonagall strode round to the front of the desk and glared at the students who had dared to blame Lucy especially. She then turned to the girl herself. "That was very silly of you to attack a teacher in such a way, Miss Snape."

"I'm sorry, Professor."

A small smile turned up the corners of the Professors mouth. "But that doesn't mean I don't support it — fifty points to Gryffindor."

Shona cheered and punched the air causing almost everyone to laugh, clearly the good spirits had been injected back into the class.

"Now," McGonagall continued. "I don't think it very prudent for me to demonstrate transfiguring any rodents into cups today to all of you. Instead I believe it is in your best interests to — "

"Professor?" Dean Cousins raised his hand politely.

"Yes, Mr Cousins?"

Dean looked as though this had been dominated the forefront of his thoughts for the majority of the day. "I don't mean to be so abrupt but why're we walking around this castle as though nothing has happened?"

"I don't think I quite understand what you mean, could you elaborate?"

"Dean, it's okay," Lucy whispered, knowing he was still shaken up from the mention of Amycus at breakfast.

"No, it's not," he sighed and then projected his voice so McGonagall could hear. "Professor, outside of these walls people are being killed every single day by...by the dark forces that threaten us — that threaten everybody. So why're we sitting in classrooms talking about education? While people are being slaughtered we live in comfort and safety, don't you think we should be inviting these people to Hogwarts so they have a safer place to be? After all, this is the most protected building in the wizarding world even though it's hidden in plain sight."

"It's true, Professor," Matt added. "Everyday in the newspaper the death count goes up."

"I'm so scared to leave my family," Hannah Abbot admitted in a small voice.

McGonagall pursed her lips. "I'll have words with Professor Snape about your suggestion, Mr Cousins."

Charms went by without an opportunity to chatter. Although it was Matt's favourite class not even he was focused enough to follow Professor Flitwicks instructions. But their final lesson arrived soon enough.

As they made it into the dungeons for Professor Slughorn's Potions lesson Matt turned to Lucy and whispered. "Is Dean okay? He's been acting weird."

Lucy watched as Dean slipped his leather jacket off and took a seat. "I think reality is setting in, that's all."

"Good morning all," Slughorn announced as warmly as possible as everyone began to get settled. "Lovely to see some familiar faces re-joining us. Now, rather than me lecturing you as I had intended let us get on with some practical work today. Turn to page fifty-four of your books where you'll find instructions to a peculiar little potion that'll keep you occupied for an hour — good luck!"

Everyone dug out their Potions books and began preparing their potions. Dean had already taken Lucy's textbook and was by the store cupboard fetching the ingredients, when he returned Lucy took them with thanks. "Say, Dean?"

"Huh?" He asked, worried about her sudden inquisitive tone.

"Is everything alright? It's not about what Amycus did to you is it?"

"Lucy," Dean slid a chopping board in front of her. "I let Amycus do that to me, I could've avoided the spell if I needed to but I had to let him make example of me rather than hurt anyone else. If it wasn't me it would be Ben, if it wasn't Ben it would be Pavarti, if it wasn't Pavarti it would be — "

"That's very brave of you but — "

"It's not about that. It's my mother."

"Oh?"

"Ever since you've told me she was alive it makes me worry more than if she was dead," he miserably handed her a bezoar. "Knowing she's alive means that Zuc could hurt her and manipulate her to find out where I am."

"I'm so sorry, this is my fault," Lucy looked sadly at the bezoar positioned between her thumb and forefinger.

"It was my choice to join the resistance, I wanted to help protect you. If I still lived on the Islands I'd either be working in a factory or be part of Zuc's army, fighting to take down you when my heart belongs to your cause." He took a deep breath. "And that's if I'm lucky. If not I'd be dead."

Lucy placed her hand on top of Dean's, pressed flat against the work top. "We'll get her out of there. Whatever it takes to rescue her mother, we'll get her to Hogwarts just like you want everyone else's parents to be. You shouldn't be excluding yourself from your own wisdom here."

"Thank you, Lucy."

"Whatever it takes," she nodded with a smile.