The Seventh Year

Beaten Scared

Luna and Neville blankly stared at Ginny. Ginny continued to glance back and forth at her friends, but neither could project feedback on her idea. 

"Neville, didn't you see, in Snape— Dumbledore's office? It was in that case by the desk!" Neville looked dumbfounded and opened his mouth to say something. He quickly shut it and scratched his head, unsure of what to do. 

"Gin, the sword's not important. What could we do with it? It's not like we'd ever get close enough to the Carrows to injure them. And if we do get away with it, Snape will know it's us. He saw you staring at it."

Ginny took a moment to let his words sink in. Snape would know, she thought. Maybe we could brew a Sleeping Draught potion. He wouldn't know what hit him. That's it, she decided.

"We'll use the Confundus Charm on him. I promise he won't have a clue as to what's going on." Neville shook his head. 

"No, but he'll know after when he sees it's gone. Ginny, it's not a matter of how we'll take the sword; it's how we'll get away with it." Neville couldn't keep his cool. Ginny had forgotten to meet them to break the first-years out, Michael Corner was currently being tortured, and now she decides it's a good plan to steal a sword from the headmaster's office. 

Luna abruptly interrupted. "Hey, why do you want to steal it? Is there any purpose to it or...?" her voice trailed off. Ginny's face contorted into an agitated expression. 

"Can't you guys trust me for once? Obviously, it's bloody important, or I wouldn't be asking while Michael just got caught and is being tortured!" she exploded, her ears became redder with every breath. 

Neville and Luna looked astonished. They were at a loss for words. Ginny had never yelled at anyone like this before. Luna tried reaching for Ginny's arm, but she stalked away and up the stairs before she got the chance. 

Neville sat down, puzzled because Ginny had been acting strangely for the last week or two. Luna saw the bewildered look on his face and explained that she noticed how distant and moody Ginny was. Neville looked down at his feet and couldn't think of how to help for the first time in months. 

"Maybe we should all sleep on it. I think it'd be best since it's already gotten heated." Luna nodded and began heading to the portrait hole. "Wait, Luna! I think it's too dangerous. Maybe you should stay here for the night. With the Carrows out, it's really not safe. Come stay in Seamus' and my room." 

"Neville, I don't think I should. Honestly, I'll be alright." She turned away, but Neville grabbed her hand. 

"Please, Luna, don't!" he begged her. "Please..." 

She took a moment to decide. Finally, after minutes of silence, she quietly said, "Okay," and allowed him to navigate her up the stairs to his dormitory. Seamus was snoring softly, facing away from them. As the door creaked shut, he shifted but didn't wake. 

"How about you take that bed right there?" Neville asked, pointing to the bed across from Seamus. "It'll be easier to slip out unnoticed in the morning." Luna nodded and untucked the sheets. She pulled the covers over her and was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. 

Neville, on the other hand, was unable to sleep. He thought of Michael Corner, who was likely still being tortured, and he couldn't stop thinking about why Ginny got so angry with them. He stared at the ceiling for hours before he began drifting off. The sun was already rising by then, and he was half-asleep when he heard Luna sneak out the door. 

----

Luna awoke at dawn to an enchanting sunrise. The yellow from the sun mixed with peach and purple, creating a scene that Muggles would describe as "fairy-tale-like." She tip-toed her way over to the door and cringed as it squeaked open. Luckily, no one heard, and she left unseen.