The Dark Gryffindor

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Continuation of…


Chapter Thirty-one: Escaping Hogwarts


By Saturday morning, Valerie and everyone else had discovered that Ginny and Neville had not gotten away unscathed in the forest. And thanks to Seamus telling his friends the news had spread of their attempt and the punishment that followed. For some reason, Valerie’s name had somehow been wiped of her involvement, apparently Seamus did not think it worthwhile mentioning her. Valerie could care less.

During dinnertime that evening, because she knew she’d be alone with them then, Valerie headed up the corridors to the far side of the castle. Her mission was mainly to do what Snape had advised, but it was also out of genuine concern for her cousin that she wanted to make a visit. She came into a large spacious room and was met by the matron, Madam Pomfrey.

Madam Pomfrey smiled and said, “Just visiting, my dear?….You’re not going to be a bother are you?”

“No…” said Valerie confused.

“Good,” the matron said primly and she scurried out of the room. Madam Pomfrey had spent the day kicking out Slytherins who wanted to pester Ginny and Neville. But she had not been authorized to ban the Carrows from harassing them.

Valerie could see two shapes in separate beds in a corner at the end, as she strode down the huge room they came into clearer focus. At least Neville and Ginny looked mildly content, the curtains were drawn back from their beds and she could see piles of treats on a mobile tray between them, Gryffindor rosettes strewn in them like flowers. Undoubtedly, the D.A. had chipped in to buy them it.

“Hey Ginny…Neville,” said Valerie in a hushed voice. She knew instinctively, Madam Pomfrey would expect this and would kick her out if she spoke normally.

“What did you do today?” asked Neville eagerly.

“Oh, nothing really. Just studying for the N.E.W.Ts. It’s hard work.”

“Yeah,” agreed Neville fervently. “I know…My gran sent me a note telling me I should take this leisure time to study more. So that’s what I’ve been doing…”

Valerie nodded and then stared at the two of them. They both had little blisters sprawled on their necks and arms. They kept itching them as if they were dragon pocks. Valerie wondered where the welts had come from. Furthermore, Ginny’s left foot was in a cast, sprung up. She had broken her ankle somehow in the forest, the second time in her life she had broken the same ankle.

Ginny watched Valerie study their injuries and smartly answered, “Don’t worry, Val…It’s nothing serious.”

“But can you tell me what it was like in the forest? The half-giant teacher must have dragged you into a lion’s den with all the injuries you’ve sustained!”

Neville laughed aloud and Valerie saw out of the corner of her eye Madam Pomfrey briefly check on them.

“Hagrid was great. If it wasn’t for him we might have died!” retorted Ginny.

“Oh. Guess he was good then.”

“It wasn’t his fault. When we first got in the forest I tripped and twisted my ankle. My foot was caught in a clump of weeds. It certainly wasn’t dramatic. But then much later, after doing some work with Hagrid a pack of werewolves scented us out. I wasn’t able to run, but Hagrid carried me to Aragog’s lair and Neville ran with him…”

“Who’s that?”

“The acromantula king.”

“Gross!”

“But the werewolves were still following us, so we had no choice but for them to take us back and it was still a few hours before dawn.”

Neville broke in; “Yeah and unfortunately…acromantulas don’t let humans ride on them. The colony transported us by their fangs. Hagrid rode in their fangs too, but his giant skin is stronger than ours is. So he runs no risk for infection.”

“And that’s how you got all those cuts?” asked Valerie delicately.

Neville and Ginny nodded together.

“They dropped us off by Hagrid’s hut…But the werewolves were still howling nearby, looking for us…We waited until morning before we could get to the wards…Hagrid was very upset…”

“Sorry…I guess the night of the full moon must have really worked against you…”

Ginny and Neville nodded.

“You want any of our candy?” offered Ginny eagerly.

“No…No, it’s yours…”

Valerie was thinking of how to approach the subject of Ginny leaving Hogwarts for good. No matter what, she must succeed at persuading her cousin, if not Snape would have to force Ginny and that could give away his true loyalties!

She decided to approach the subject with something she could relate to them on. “So Ginny,…Have the Carrows been any less horrible to YOU lately? They're still after me, you know because they know it was me with the banners.”

“We…Well I-,” stalled Ginny and her brown eyes gave a sidelong glance to Neville, sitting up in the other bed next to Ginny’s. Valerie saw this and wondered what she was confiding to him that Ginny didn’t wish to tell her. Neville nodded, giving his approval.

“It’s bad news. Awful news, Valerie. The Carrows were in here several times today threatening us….If not for Madam Pomfrey they would have beaten me…”

Valerie’s blue eyes widened. The Carrows were so cruel they would attack them even now when they already had been punished for the deed and hurt! “What are you going to do Ginny? Your options are waning! They’re painting you into a corner…” It was partly that she said this to make Ginny want to leave Hogwarts.

“They are. And what’s worse they threatened my whole family when they yelled at me today. Said they’re going to find a way to kill them! Kill them all. I’m actually really scared....Not for me, but for them.”

And Ginny bit her lip and stared despondently at the covers. Tears were slipping off her freckled complexion onto the sheets.

“The Carrows are pinning me as their primary target…Like what they did to Luna Lovegood…And I don’t know where she is now…Her dads really distraught, he doesn’t know if she’s alive… It’s all You-Know-Whos bidding I think!” she derisively added, as if Voldemort explained everything that was happening.

Valerie inwardly fought back a laugh at the mention of Ginny forging a friendship with ‘Loony’ Lovegood. But still it was wrong for a father not to know where his daughter was and she quickly regained a serious disposition.

“He wants them to pin me as their target....Who knows who the Carrows will threaten next?…”

“Probably me…” said Neville somberly.

Valerie said, “Nah. Seamus will be next. I hope so! Stupid git, boasting to his friends about it!” Valerie had decided she didn’t like Seamus Finnegan anymore.

Ginny shook her head slowly and glanced at Neville. It was ostensibly clear she believed he was going to be next.

Their heads turned quickly and Neville jumped when a rather ugly brown owl came soaring in, descending from the rafters.

“Oh…The school owl I borrowed…Should have a message from my brothers!” said Ginny gleefully. “I wrote to them this morning.”

The owl landed, placing its webbed feet on top the globular bedpost. Ginny reached for the message, untying it.

She scanned it several times reading it to herself. It was impossible to tell from her expression if the news was bad or good.

“First, it says Dad and Bill are out of work. I already knew that, who doesn’t? And wow…Fred and George moved their joke shop…somewhere…I can’t quite make it out…Wait- Oh, I see…”

“What is it?” said Valerie.

Ginny didn’t answer. “Well…I was going to leave this damn place anyway!”

“I really think you should!” boomed Valerie ardently. She felt a sense of relief that it wasn't going to take persuasion on her part to make Ginny escape.

Ginny gave her an incredulous look. “I have to leave, Pow-Valerie. You’re not coming with me!”

“I know…” said Valerie humbly. “I’m just worried about you.”

Valerie looked to Neville. She saw he did not look the least bit surprised. Apparently, they had already discussed this together.

Madam Pomfrey poked her head in and called out patiently, “Quiet down, please, children…” Then she was gone, going back to her business.

“But Ginny…” said Neville. “Where are you going once you’re gone? Theres nowhere for you to stay…”

Ginny had a determined look on her face. “I’m going to find my family…I know from the special code I made with Fred last summer, that they’re living under…” and suddenly she was whispering. She said with excitement, “the Fidelius Charm…”

Ginny continued to whisper conspiratorially. “So of course it doesn’t say where they are…So I won’t even be telling you guys my guess. Just in case somebody wants to torture it out of you. But I’m going to tell Fred and George I’m leaving…They’re the only ones that will understand, they at least can imagine why we hate this hellhole. My parents would want me to stay! But at least I know they’re safe. They’re in hiding!”

“When will you make your escape?” whispered Valerie.

“Dunno…Certainly not till my bones heal. Madam Pomfrey says I might be in the hospital wing for two weeks…We have to take so many potions from the bites.”

Neville added in primly for explanation, “She doesn’t trust we’ll take them often enough if we go. Stubborn old lady….Kinda like gran.”

Valerie considered this thoughtfully, “That is unfortunate…”

Neville added pragmatically, “Why don’t you try escaping into Hogsmeade and then go from there to disapparate! I know - there’s a secret passage under-”

But Ginny interrupted him, dispelling Neville’s optimism. “Never gonna work, Nev. Think about it, in Hogsmeade the Snatchers mob the place now…Not to mention the Catermole alert at night AND dementors!”

“Yeah, you’re right…” said Neville, looking discouraged. And he stared listlessly into space.

“How about on broom?” said Valerie. Surely that was the simplest way.

Ginny’s face fell. “We can’t…Since that Quidditch match…The Carrows have enforced anti-broom jinxes to prevent flying on the grounds…I guess, once again it was You-Know-Who's orders to have a 'No-fly zone.'”

Valerie narrowed her eyes. “Maybe…Maybe the Dark Lord did tell them!”

Ginny and Neville looked at Valerie hard. “Yeah, you mean You-Know-Who,” corrected Ginny.

After she dismissed Valerie’s different way to refer to Voldemort, they were rudely interrupted by Madam Pomfrey. She positively bubbled with delight, “Oh! What good boys and girls!…You're speaking quietly…Not once can I recall students speaking quietly for me.” It was obvious to them that Madam Pomfrey hadn’t heard a word and probably would never realize they had been conspiring.

“You have another visitor…” A man stepped into the light behind her from the shadows, hanging his head. “Now I must carry on…” And Madam Pomfrey was gone again.

“Hagrid!” said Neville loudly.

Hagrid trudged into the room and sat down on the edge of one of the beds. Hagrid still wasn’t really looking at them; he fiddled with his handkerchief in his lap.

“What’s the matter, Hagrid?” said Ginny quickly.

Hagrid answered in a hollow voice. “I just wanted to say goodbye…”

“What goodbye!” said Ginny and Neville at once.

“Yep…” said Hagrid in a pathetic whimper. “Here’s good-bye presents I got you…Or actually presents to make up what I did to ya!”

Ginny clearly would not tolerate Hagrid’s guilt. “Hagrid you didn’t do anything to us! Look we’re fine…It wasn’t your fault!”

“It was…Oh…” Hagrid faltered and slumped on the bed, pressing down deep into the springs of the mattress. “I have to go…and I won’t never be coming back.”

“Why? Hagrid, please don’t!” shrilled Neville. “You really cheer things up around here….So many people in the D.A. love your classes now!”

“Yeah?” said Hagrid roughly. Evidently he seemed to agree with Neville. “They only love them now!” he bawled. Tears were trickling from his beetle-black eyes into his beard.

“I’m a sorry sod….A sorry sod” said Hagrid dully.

“No you’re not! Stop this Hagrid!” said Ginny.

But Hagrid didn’t listen. He blocked out Ginny’s ranting with a blow of his nose that was almost like the honk of a horn in pitch. And Hagrid wiped his nose with the huge handkerchief.

After a long moment of listening to Hagrid’s weeping, he stopped and spoke again. “Look what happened to you two…An’ Ginny…Harry’s girl! Now look, got you in more trouble than just stealing the sword from Snape…The Carrows are after us. I have to leave Hogwarts. It’ll be better for everyone!”

“Hagrid – If you’re leaving, so am I. I’m leaving as soon as I get better.”

“What? What are you talking about Ginny? You can’t do that! Your family wants you to stay put.” And slowly, the pitch of Hagrid’s voice changed. It was like his mind was coming out of a blurry fog and back to reality.

“I’m fleeing Hogwarts,” said Ginny in a calm, hushed voice.

“No…Not you,” said Hagrid in denial.

“Yes. And either you can help me with this too, Hagrid or I’ll just go alone. So quit feeling sorry for yourself!”

Hagrid finally was jolted back into reality. His prior perspective dissipated over the distracting news.

“Hagrid we’ve gotta' find a way to get her off the grounds…You’re the gamekeeper!” argued Neville importantly.

He cheered up considerably as a sudden idea hit him. “Ginny…You can ride the thestrals with me! I’ll take good care of you and…” Hagrid paused and lowered his voice, “I’ll take you to the place Sirius used to hide…”

Ginny stared at him and said carefully, “Maybe that will work. We’ll have to conjure a patronus to get past the dementors.”

Hagrid nodded confidently.

Valerie finally broke in. “So, I guess that will be our last resort. We’ll need to have a more extensive plan, you know.”

“Who are you? Oh, yeah, your Powers, right?”

“Yes…Valerie Powers. A proud member of Dumbledore’s Army.”

Hagrid seemed to decide he liked Valerie. Of course, he had taught her Care of Magical Creatures in other years, but he had never gotten to know her outside the class. He smiled widely and Valerie returned it.

“Any friend of Ginny’s and Neville’s is a friend o' mine….Your idea of a plan is fine Valerie. But before I go I’ll be paying my respect to Dumbleore. At the tomb!”

The three of them nodded slowly in understanding.

But their conversation was cut short. Madam Pomfrey came bustling back into the room all a dither. “Bedtime…Bedtime…It’s late and these children need their tonics…So if you don’t mind Hagrid and you two miss…I must ask you to leave.”

Madam Pomfrey was getting ready her treatment supplies from a drawer. Ginny remembered her plans to write Fred and George back in encrypted writing. She took a piece of parchment from her nightstand and a quill in her hand.

“I almost forgot! Your presents!” Hagrid dumped on the bed several tins of treacle tart along with a yellow hair ribbon for Ginny.

“Good night! Good night!” said Madam Pomfrey to them, chivying Valerie and Hagrid out the door.

And Madam Pomfrey knelt over the bed and Valerie heard her say tenderly, “I have a fresh bottle of skelegro for you, dear…I’ll wake you for your second dosage at ten.”


Note: Please Review! One more update and we're back to the three major characters storyline...Valerie, Snape, and Voldemort.