The Dark Gryffindor

Sjauthor: Thanks for your review. What happens with Ginny, Neville, and Hagrid is actually pretty interesting.


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Chapter Thirty-one: Escaping Hogwarts


Dark Arts lessons resumed fairly quickly for Valerie the next afternoon. It was maddening to Valerie that Snape was acting as if nothing had happened yesterday evening. Gryffindor’s sword was perfectly safe in the now-repaired glass case near the window ledge behind Snape’s desk. Since then, the headmaster had cast several protective enchantments as well as an alert for himself to carry around, a charm that would go off as soon as someone touched the object.

Since Snape had been teaching her the Dark Arts, she had grown into a richer understanding of the power and even a taste for the reasons why certain wizards were drawn to that aspect of magic. In fact, to Valerie this was above all, the most engrossing angle on the subject.

But now the lesson was over and Valerie was putting her things back inside her jammed schoolbag, struggling to zipper it.

“Professor…I’m really not happy with the way you reacted to Ginny and Neville’s attempt to steal from you.” And Valerie irritably huffed as she tried to get the zipper past the corner of one of the textbooks sticking out of her schoolbag.

“Why not, Valerie? I’ll let you know that I did not lose control of my temper. Granted, if I had not been tipped off I probably would have been less prepared…So why on earth could this be troubling you?”

“Maybe you weren’t too angry…Maybe so…But still – you’re giving them a detention in the forest. The worst of all places!”

“It’s my decision. It’s a harsh punishment and I needed to stipulate a gross penalty. Hopefully, it will suggest a reason why it would be imprudent to go blabbing to their little friends about their deed in the future. They certainly won’t be, for if anyone else tries to steal this sword, they will be getting the same!”

Valerie bristled with anger at Snape’s combative attitude regarding it all. “Why can’t you have just gave them a ridiculous caning? It’s what you do to most everyone else…”

And Valerie paused and watched Snape nervously. His eyes sparkled at her now growing affronted by her attacks on him. He sneered sharply, “Now don’t you start. Watch your tone with me miss…”

But Valerie couldn’t bite back her tongue with what she wanted to say next. “They’re going out there, risking their necks, their lives, all because they tried to steal a stupid sword! It’s unbelievable!”

A vein flickered on Snape's forehead and his face twisted, all clear signs he was on the brink of raging at her. “I have not told you everything I'm doing, girl! You have no idea of the power of the sword. Gryffindor's sword holds tremendous sway to both sides. The Dark Lord covets it as does his enemies. Since, I am playing into both of their hands, it is incumbent upon me that I keep it...

“And why not send them to the forest? They are with Rubeus Hagrid…You know him, your former Care of Magical Creatures professor and he’s the gamekeeper…Hagrid knows his way around the terrain…”

Valerie nodded and cast her eyes down at the floor in defeat.

“It is my decision and it stands as final.”

“Yes, sir…” she murmured.

“You might have been wondering...” Snape offered after a moment’s silence stretched between them, “Why I didn’t call in Mr. Finnegan and even why I didn’t demand you see me after I caught them…”

“I thought that was obvious! You didn’t want the attention drawn to my spying.”

“Exactly. I was aware Mr. Finnegan was also involved through my Legilimency on Mr. Longbottom. But punishing Finnegan would mean punishing you as well. And of course, you didn’t deserve that. Not for the favour you did for me, correct?”

“I don’t deserve that,” Valerie answered automatically. She certainly didn’t deserve a punishment for pretending to help them steal the sword!

“And most conveniently, of all, Ms. Weasley never realized you tipped me off?”

“No, I’m sure she didn’t. But headmaster, she is suspicious of me.”

Snape said carefully, eyes squinting with curiosity, “Suspicious in what way?”

“Suspicious of lots of things! Like when I missed a Dumbledore’s Army practice she didn’t seem to like my explanation. And then Ginny was sort of demanding how you punished me for the banners…”

A slight pink streak rose up Valerie’s neck that suffused into her cheeks at the reminder of that event. She was by now, reformed of her previous rebellious attitude, finally deeply ashamed of it.

“I told her I was caned,” Valerie whispered.

Snape smiled with evident amusement. “Well, a caning might have sufficed…But we know I devised a much more creative punishment for your actions. Do we not?”

“Yes, sir,” said Valerie, cheeks flushing.

“If that’s all there is to say for her distrust, I think we can still go forward with the plan.”

“What plans are they, sir? I’m eager to serve you and also more than willing to serve our master.”

Snape frowned and his speech became dull and perhaps distasteful. “Yes…But this would only be a service to me, Valerie. Nothing involving the Dark Lord, but something the headmaster should like to do for Ms. Weasley’s sake. For if I fail to act soon, this student’s entire family will be put into terrible jeopardy. Furthermore, they are members of the Order of the Phoenix and so I don’t wish to see harm come to them.”

“What are you talking about professor? What danger?” And now Valerie was genuinely intrigued, blue eyes softening with a sparkle of wonder.

“The Carrows are talking of kidnapping Ginny and bringing her to Malfoy Manor. I happened to have overheard them, as I do eavesdrop on them. They want her to join inmates Luna Lovegood and Ollivander as prisoners. They think they can use her as bait, put a price over her head as ransom to make Order members come out again and fight openly like they did in the First War. You might not have noticed, but any resistance outside Hogwarts has been successfully squashed. The Order is almost completely undetectable these days, and Death Eaters would like to remove their presence.”

“Right. I never heard of the Order of the Phoenix.”

"And you wouldn't have....Especially as the Daily Prophet has to obey regulations in what they can print legally. The law's intent is to coerce the writers to print propaganda. Thus, indirectly, not openly proclaiming support for the Dark Lord...

“But never mind that. It’s an organization, a secret society to stop the Death Eaters…” He explained it quickly, eager to dodge the subject when there were so many more pressing issues at stake to discuss.

Quickly Valerie comprehended, “And so…The Carrows are going after Ginny because she’s a leader of the D.A. Right?”

“Precisely. The Carrows have already succeeded in going after her family. Her father, Arthur Weasley has already been fired from his ministry post and so has her elder brother, Bill Weasley.”

“That’s too bad,” said Valerie, dumbfounded and she stared at her hands, wondering what she could possibly do for the family. But she definitely wanted to help. She was distantly related to the Weasleys afterall! Baffled by this mind-boggling issue Valerie stared at Snape. “What could I possibly do for Ginny, sir?”

“I want you to help your cousin escape Hogwarts. I already have dozens of ideas, theoretical musings on how I’ll make this work. You will help me put my plans into execution. Ms. Weasley, though young and underage, is no fool. I imagine she may already be considering fleeing. Undoubtedly her family will be going into hiding…”

Valerie nodded, eyes widening. “Of course…The Weasleys’ status was published in the Daily Prophet months ago. Blood-traitors. The government is tracking their every move!”

“Yes, too right they are. It’s an inside operation and I wouldn’t be surprised to hear there are mercenaries roaming the grounds right this minute. Waiting for their chance to capture the poor girl.”

Valerie shuddered. “I hope she’ll be okay come Friday…”

“She will be,” said Snape firmly. “I already explained to you, they’ll be with Hagrid!” he boomed impatiently.

For the first time Valerie noticed how exasperated Snape was and she realised the enormous stress and taxing role to be headmaster during such violent times. But still, she couldn't help but blurt out her own distress, “I know!….How are we going to do this, sir?!”

“It will be a diversion. I shall distract Mr. Filch and the prefects from capturing her when she makes her escape. Maneuvering the Caretaker and the prefects away from the castle’s exits will at least give her a clear shot to make it outside unseen…However, the first step we must make is for you to talk to her. But wait until after the detention.”

“Yes, professor. I’ll do that.”

“Thank-you, Valerie. You have no idea how much your help means to me in this.”

“Why?”

“Nothing…” Snape's voice trailed away. Instantly, he regretted the implication he had just revealed about himself.

“No…Tell me. Please?” she pleaded. “Aren’t we supposed to tell each other everything? At least all our feelings! Please!”

“Very well…Sometimes I do feel a tinge of regret. I have caused much trouble with what Dumbledore has set out for me to do, Valerie. Now at least, I can help this particular family get out of a messy situation alive.”

“Right…”

“But they might never know it was me, Valerie. I am doing them a great favour and you cannot speak of your involvement with me ever. Not even to your cousin.”

“No, sir. Never,” said Valerie, wholeheartedly. “I’ve told you once before…I understand the dangers involved.”

“I know you do. But now it is getting late and I am ready to retire. You had better get to the Room of Requirement.”

Valerie nodded in response. She picked up her schoolbag and walked back out of the room, only turning her shoulder to say pleasantly, “Good night, sir.”

He answered her back. For a second Valerie lingered at the door. She wished they could be together more. But then she turned the brass handle and she was gone.


NOTE: Please review. I hope you don’t think Ginny’s much more canon story is taking over Valerie and Severus’s story. I assure you it’s not.