The Dark Gryffindor

sjauthor: Thanks for reviewing. I did not know you were reading this story as well. I bet you like it now a bit more as it's showing some real plot and that's why you decided to review right? Thanks though. I'm glad you're excited for Valerie.


Sheherazade: Mcgonagall will continue to have a small role in this story. I too wonder in what regard Dumbledore held her as a member of the Order. Clearly not much. Once she was asked to dress as a muggle woman while on duty for them in OotP. I don't know why. I do not believe she was ever involved with the D.A. and so she will not be involved with the D.A. in this story. Thanks for your review.


Continuation of….


Chapter Nineteen: Joining Dumbledore’s Army


The next evening Valerie was waiting for Ginny to show up and take her to wherever Dumbledore’s Army had their hideout. She wondered where it would be especially since Death Eaters guarded the entire school and all the secret passages she had ever heard of were under constant surveillance. Perhaps a hut in the Forbidden forest? But somehow that did not seem correct.

She sat in the comfortable cushions in front of the fireplace in the Gryffindor Common room in front of a warm, roaring fire. Not many fellow Gryffindors were around right now as it was Saturday night and many of them had went into Hogsmeade. One of the advantages to the new regime was that it was a lot easier to break rules and get away with it. It was now popular to find a way past the dementors and go out for a night of fun.

Valerie was leafing through her Dark Arts textbooks. On many of the highlighted and marked up pages she had written ‘Severus and Valerie’ in cute little hearts. Luckily, the professor had not seen this during the lessons as he did not like to teach from the book. She waved her wand at each heart in turn, making the ink vanish beneath the pages. If anybody from the D.A. went snooping through her stuff, they could not know anything, not even a hint of their relationship. And fleetingly, she wondered if the headmaster was ever going to permit her to address him by his first name. In just a few months she would no longer be his student. Surely, by then the latest? Valerie moved her lips, barely louder than a whisper, “Severus. Severus. Severus.” It felt so good and right to say his name and it somehow felt wrong to still call him only by formal titles.

A little while later, Ginny arrived through the portrait hole and scouted out Valerie Powers. She crossed the common room, the red tapestries and oil paintings filled every wall. “There you are, Powers. You’ve got your stuff ready, then?”

Somewhat disturbed, Valerie slammed her book shut and threw it in her suitcase, glaring at Ginny reproachfully. She hoped Ginny had not seen that they were Dark Arts books. But apparently, Ginny was not interested, but looking around the common room with a sense of longing, perhaps wishing she could return.

*

Several minutes later they past the statue of Paracelsus, and Valerie memorized that and all the markers that indicated the location in the castle of the blank stretch of wall. Bewildered, she watched Ginny pace back and forth, apparently concentrating on something. Valerie remained quiet, understanding that she shouldn’t ask how it was done until they arrived safely inside, free from potential eavesdroppers. But Valerie wasn’t so convinced this was a safe haven for the underground organization.

Finally, a door materialized and Ginny turned a brass knob, ushering Valerie along as well. Valerie’s pupils refocused. She was met by a dazzling array of lights within an enormous room of dark wood paneling, the walls windowless. As her eyes focused she could see assortments of colored hangings, and multicolored hammocks hanging from the ceiling. There seemed to be more interesting details, but before she could get a closer look, a heavy-set young man with dark hair and eyes and a round face was upon her.

“Hey, Ginny! Oh, hello,” the boy said a bit demurely to Valerie. Neville held his hand out and Valerie shook it, judging the boy's grip to be rather weak and unassuming.

“Oh, it’s you…Neville,” answered Valerie slowly, catching her slightly churlish tone before it went too far. She had not liked being spoken to as if Longbottom had never met her before, as they were in the same year! Valerie was too nervous to say anything else, but just stared right back at Neville. He only eyed her with a friendly curiosity.

She finally asked casually, “So how does this place work?”

“There’s nothin’ to it!,” said Neville cheerfully with a wave of his hand. Valerie was a bit taken aback by the newfound confidence. For this was certainly not the Neville Longbottom she remembered. “All we did was ask for exactly what we needed. We also make sure there aren’t any loopholes. But don’t worry, because one person must always be in the Room of Requirement in order to keep it as solely our own. Get it?”

“I think. So…I just tell it what I need…,” but Valerie’s voice trailed away, uncertain. She still wasn’t able to believe she could do it on her own quickly and she didn’t understand what to concentrate on upon making the entrance appear. But before she could find out, Ginny had taken her wrist.

“Come on, Powers. We’ll put your bag by my hammock for now,” said Ginny and she led her to one of the ladders. It was as if they going up to a loft.

Ginny elucidated more information as she put Valerie’s bag beside her own possessions when they reached the rafters, “We just use old sheets for hangings when we want privacy. You know, to get changed and things…”

Valerie nodded, appreciating the fact that her cousin was helping her get acclimated, not leaving her completely out in the cold. “Where will I get to sleep?”

Ginny frowned and bit her lip. “Sorry, I think you’ll have to sleep on the floor. The room hasn’t expanded for another member, yet. But there will be more space by tomorrow night. I’m sure of it. This happens all the time…Whenever we get new members.”

“Okay. I can sleep on the floor,” said Valerie, not sounding nettled at all.

Ginny added brightly, “Oh, by the way there is a girls’ bathroom for when you need it. The boys don’t get one but we’ll share it a little with them sometimes.”

Once they got their feet back on the floor again, Valerie looked up. Neville was gesturing from a narrow balcony above calling for Ginny. Clearly he wanted both Valerie and Ginny to join him. Valerie put her Comet Two-Sixty down next to where a few other broomsticks were propped against the wall and then followed Ginny.

Over two dozen mingling students were watching the three clustered on the balcony. Down below, the faces shone pale against the many lamps, light filling every corner of the enormous room. Only Ginny and Valerie were at Neville’s side.

Neville made an attempt at clearing his throat importantly. He shouted over the chatter, “Okay everyone…Guys, come on…I need to let you in on things before Potterwatch starts…”

Neville waited patiently as some of the members of the D.A. nudged the more talkative ones to quiet down. Finally he began, “Hello! Hope you’ve all had a great Saturday or at least found something fun to do…I wouldn’t recommend Hogsmeade right now though. Getting past Dementors is hard enough even if you can conjure a Patronus.” Neville was frowning by now, a look of misery on his round face. Obviously, Hogwarts was no longer a happy place, let alone a safe one.

Neville tossed his messy black-haired head back again, and his face shone in the lamplight. It accentuated the cuts and bruises on his cheeks bringing them into greater focus. After the short pause he started again, “Well things continue to get worse for us with the Carrows and Snape on our tails. It seems everyone else at Hogwarts has it in for the D.A. But really…that isn’t true. We’ve gained more members and while the Carrows might be getting more furious by the day…we are getting stronger and more equipped to handle problems. Because mark my words, before the year is out, Harry will be back. Harry Potter will come and help us overthrow Snape’s regime. Cause that’s our eventual goal isn’t it? To oust the bloody headmaster who killed Dumbledore?!…”

Cheers rung out suddenly and fists punched the air. Valerie felt a bad taste in her mouth. These kids didn’t really know what they were talking about. He may be a strict, tough disciplinarian of a headmaster, but if only they knew how hard Snape worked to protect them all. Valerie ,of course had an inkling of an idea of what Snape was doing, yet even she did not know everything.

The cheers died down pretty fast and Neville went on, suddenly less animated. “You all know the story…The beginning of the school year I refused to perform the Cruciatus curse in the dungeons. Never! I would never! Mine own praents – Frank and Alice Longbottom were tortured into insanity by Death Eaters! Infamous deranged psychotic monsters including that disgusting witch Bellatrix Lestrange! Supporters of You-Know-Who or how Fred and George say You-know-Poo…” Fits of laughter rang out and Valerie raised an eyebrow. She had better not tell Voldemort of this! Although, undoubtedly he had already heard of those advertisements of the Weasley’s joke shoppe, which had been destroyed on Diagon Alley.

“Finally I was kicked out of being a prison guard. But many other Prefects are still fulfilling the horrible task onto our fellow students…Torturing them almost as bad as my parents…,” and Neville’s face was shining with sweat from nerves, yet his face and eyes also seemed to gleam with a new ferocity. Valerie noticed the Prefects badge gleaming on Neville’s chest. “But I wasn’t going to take advantage of my role as a prefect, either. I want to make my parents and my gran proud. So, we must continue to help, releasing any who are so brave to resist the Carrows….,” and Neville was suddenly giving Valerie a side-long glance from the corner of his eye, “Come with me, whenever you can to help me release…th-the prisoners. I promise you won’t get caught. We also do it as a-a clandestine operation.”

Michael Corner’s hand shot up and he waved frantically from down below. Ginny elbowed Neville to get his attention. “Oh, questions? Michael?,” said Neville patiently.

“Is anyone being kept in the dungeons now? As we speak?!” said Michael adamant about taking a proactive move against the horrors.

“Luckily, no…As I checked couple a hours ago. Suppose the prefects, especially the Slytherins wanted to have some other fun tonight.”

Neville suddenly smiled, and his depressed mood seemed to lift. “Keep fighting everybody. I know it will do us good in the end, no matter what happens. Even if we die at the hands of the abusive Carrows. Don’t listen to the garbage they spew in their classes. That’s just crap You-Know-Who wants the Carrows to say. Lies to keep us under control. Keep fighting! It’s what Harry would do! I know it.”

“Where do you think Potter is right now?,” piped up an older Hufflepuff girl who wore a long plait down her back.

“All I know is Harry’s out there. Somewhere… Trying to beat You-Know-Who. He’s not just a boy on the run skipping school,” he insisted perkily. “He’s helping!”

At the words about Harry Potter there was more cheers and applause. Neville waited a moment for it to subside. “And now – if you please – welcome our newest recruit of Dumbledore’s Army –a Gryffindor chaser – Valerie Powers!”

There was some minor, respectful clapping, but that was all. Nobody seemed too interested in Valerie being inducted and quite frankly this relieved her. She was meant to be a spy on them, afterall. And so she could feel less paranoid at the fact she wouldn’t become the center of attention.

Neville put an arm around her and led her back downstairs and into a tiny shadowy alcove. Ginny remained at Valerie’s side as Neville presided over them, like the leader he was.

Valerie looked a bit nonplussed by the lack of ceremony. She had expected more of a formal initiation with perhaps some kind of test or a feat for her to perform. But apparently that was not the case. “Where is the parchment for me to sign?”

“There is none,” said Ginny. “We don’t keep records. A list would be the perfect evidence someone could use to turn us in.”

“Yes,” said Neville nodding profusely. “It happened when Harry was in charge.”

“Your right…I guess they could…,” answered Valerie thoughtfully. She was thinking, whilst performing Occlumency just in case one of them was a Legilimens, that she herself could have used the parchment to give to Snape, to possibly give to Voldemort himself! But now, she would have to find some other marker of proof.

Ginny instructed, “Hold your wand. Put your hand to your heart, wand pointing up. Kneel..”

Valerie obeyed, her robes swirling out behind her. “Repeat after me…I pledge my loyalty and honor to Dumbledore’s Army.”

Valerie repeated the clause solemnly.

Neville grinned widely. “Rise, Valerie Powers, honorary member of Dumbledore’s Army. May you contribute to Dumbledore’s memory being noble and brave at heart.”

Valerie stood slowly and after a second asked, “Is that it? Am I under a binding magical contract?”

“No,” said Ginny shortly and her brown eyes shot a suspicious , almost a calculating look at Valerie.

Suddenly Neville shoved a small gold coin in Valerie’s palm. “Protean charmed,” said Neville. “The fake galleon tells you whenever we’re gonna have a meeting, You’ll feel it burn in your pocket.”

Valerie nodded and smiled. This could very well serve as a marker of proof that Snape said she would need to convince Voldemort.

*

Half an hour later, everyone was sitting on a large circular carpet, a large wooden-cased wireless before them. Before this, Valerie had sat alone as she watched detachedly Ginny play a game of Exploding Snap with her friends. Valerie had longed to join in but was too afraid her cousin would reject her and she was sure the others would shun her. Being in Dumbledore’s Army didn’t necessarily guarantee a friendship between them, but Valerie still wished Ginny could somehow become friends with her. But then again, she knew she couldn’t be an adequate spy for the Headmaster and the Dark Lord if she was too emotionally involved with the members.

Neville bobbed over and with chubby fingers tuned the wireless, whilst he intoned this week’s password. The signal picked the word up magically, and there was a crackle like a power surge in the air. The show began, everyone hovering around together listening intently, and if needed whispering explanations.

For awhile after the hour was up, people continued to play around almost like it was a party. Valerie was at least offered a butterbeer by someone, which she gladly took. She kind of wished she could be with Snape now, longing to be in his bed rather than sleeping tonight on the floor. But she knew it was her place to be here and that Snape would be sorely disappointed and angry if she refused her commitment.

By one o’clock after midnight, a few Ravenclaws were yelling that it was time the lights went out. Gradually everyone got ready for bed and Valerie resigned herself to a spot in a corner, making much effort to remain unseen and not to draw attention to herself. Valerie had also taken a trip to the bathroom and put on pajamas. Although she usually slept in the nude – she wouldn’t dare to around all these people. So she put on a long t-shirt and panties. She was not going to wear a thong and she hoped nobody ever discovered her naughty lingerie. She would have to hide everything away from her own place once she got her own hammock.

Finally it was dark in the Room of Requirement and people were getting a peaceful night’s rest – safe and free from the horrors of the rest of the castle as they hung by the rafters in their hammocks. Valerie lay alone on a pile of her own clothes (she had no bedding). It was cold – but she knew she would only have to stick this out for one night. Even though she was freezing, she rolled over irritably and considered it was probably only because she was lying on the polished floor, using a pile of her robes as a comforter.


NOTE: One more scene devoid of Snape left. I hope you appreciate these scenes. We can't have Snape ALL the time. Ginny and Neville play a part in the story and Valerie plays a part in Ginny’s attempt at stealing the sword with Neville! I can't say how though.