Resistance

Chapter 9 - The Support Harry Potter Party

The master communication Galleon glinted in the firelight as Neville carefully adjusted the numbers, checking against a piece of parchment. He still found it a strange sensation to give instructions and have people follow them. The DA were finding it increasingly hard to meet, but by using the coins he was coordinating an effort to expand the remnant of the Twins' swamp around the school.

There were now offshoots developing in the Dark Arts and Muggle Studies classrooms, in the Great Hall under the Slytherin table, and in the Carrows' bedrooms. Anthony, Michael and Padma had worked out a hideously complex augmentation spell, meaning any efforts to magically remove the swamps simply made them increase in size. Every day, members of the DA with enough Charms ability would work a small piece of magic more, in different areas. By spreading it around that way they had avoided detection, although it was too risky for Neville or Ginny to try anything in person.

Ginny was hidden behind a copy of Keeping Water Demons for Profit and Pleasure, which looked as though it had been chewed. Seamus was doing homework too, a huge essay for Flitwick which as usual he'd left until the last minute. Neville finished updating the coin and threw the parchment into the fire. He watched it blacken and curl in the flames.

'Hagrid's acting oddly,' said Ginny, breaking into his thoughts.

'Hagrid always acts oddly,' pointed out Seamus. Ginny glared at him before she continued.

'He keeps going on about Dumbledore. He says he keeps asking himself, what would Dumbledore have done?'

'Done about what?' asked Neville, reaching for the poker.

'I don't know, he won't say. Just goes on and on about how Dumbledore always knew the right thing to do and how everything was better when he was around.' She watched Neville break up the crumbling remains of the parchment into smouldering embers.

'Still don't see what's odd about that,' said Seamus irritably. 'He's been going on like that all year.'

'This is different,' snapped Ginny. 'He just seems... I don't know. I can't really describe it. He's bothered about something. I think some of the younger Slytherins are giving him a hard time, and he doesn't feel he can punish them because of what the Carrows will do. He's been saying how Hogwarts isn't like his home anymore.' She chewed the end of her quill. 'I'm scared he'll leave.'

'Hagrid won't leave,' said Neville, confidently. 'Where would he go? He wouldn't leave the animals, or the other teachers, or us.'

'I'm not so sure. He doesn't think it's the right place for him. He wants to fight back, and he can't really do that here, can he? Not with Snape in charge. It's no different to how we feel, being stuck in school not able to do anything much useful, except at least we have the DA.'

Satisfied that the parchment was beyond resurrection, Neville laid the poker down. 'I still think you're worrying unnecessarily, Gin. Think of all the times Hagrid's had to leave before - he's always come straight back. I just can't see him leaving by choice.'

'Maybe you're right. Anyway, I guess I'd better get this homework done while he's still here to mark it.'

*****

Snape surveyed his charges with a look of utmost contempt. It was a Friday evening towards the end of term. The remnants of dinner had been magically whisked away before Neville had got to his second helping of crumble. He and Ginny were sitting alone together, Seamus having been allowed a weekend away to visit a sick relative. Neville was privately dreading his empty dorm and was surprised by how much he missed Seamus.

'The more observant among you may have noticed we appear to have a problem with vandalism in certain areas of the Castle. Some students believe it is amusing to encourage the growth of swamps within our hallowed halls.' Snape steepled his fingers and glared down them like the barrel of a gun. 'I can assure you, the joke is wearing rather thin.'

He rose to his feet. 'Students attend Hogwarts because they wish to be associated with a venerable and esteemed school of magic. Those of you with any intelligence whatsoever, realise that even the meanest collection of OWLs are elevated by the status of having attained them at Hogwarts. The Hogwarts name is a passport throughout the world to good employment.'

'With teachers like the Carrows, it's no wonder,' muttered Ginny.

'But reputation takes many centuries to build, and very little time to destroy. The antics of these petty troublemakers may seem amusing, or trivial, but every act of disobedience weakens the fabric of this fine institution. Honoured guests visit Hogwarts on a regular basis - leaders of industry, senior government figures - and these people expect to see a school that is well maintained. If they find childish daubings on the walls and swamps growing in the Great Hall, they are left with a lesser impression of the school , and accordingly, of its alumni. Perhaps they will think more kindly of students from Beauxbatons, whose halls, I can assure you, are unfailingly impeccable.'

Neville and Ginny rolled their eyes at each other. On the podium, Snape was pacing, swishing his cloak theatrically. Neville whispered, 'Hope you're sitting comfortably, looks like we're in for the long haul.'

'Let us not mince words. We know who are behind these childish acts; the illegal terrorist group calling itself 'Dumbledore's Army'. Troublemaking students, who are dragging the name of the school down - and the prospects of everyone in this hall with it.' At this, some of the Slytherins booed loudly before Snape continued. 'For some time I have appealed to the better natures of the members of this organisation. I have offered clemency and forgiveness. But I cannot continue to do so when the needs of other students are put in jeopardy.'

Snape paused and the Slytherins obliged with applause, a second too late. The Headmaster continued, 'I am therefore asking any student with evidence as to the identity of the leaders of Dumbledore's Army to come forwards. Let us cut out this rot that grows within us, before the mould spreads to contaminate you all. I am warning the ringleaders now,' Snape looked hard at Ginny and Neville, 'there is nowhere to hide and nowhere to run to. When I find out who is behind Dumbledore's Army, I will ensure they receive a punishment they do not forget, regardless of blood status.'

On the High Table, Neville saw Hagrid mopping his brow and looking uncomfortable. Professor McGonagall kept her eyes down. The Carrows leaned forward, eyes glittering in anticipation at meting out a punishment to the DA leaders.

When they were finally allowed to leave the Hall it was nearly curfew time, and everyone had to go straight to Common Rooms. 'Are you scared?' Neville asked Ginny, quietly as they climbed the many stairs towards Gryffindor tower.

She shook her head. 'He knows it's us and he's known all along. He hasn't done anything to us yet. Detention in the Forest with Hagrid hardly counts.'

'But he sounds like he means business now. Snape's nasty, Ginny, we mustn't underestimate him. They might really hurt us next time.'

'Are you scared?' She turned the question back on him with a burning look.

'No. Well, a bit maybe. I'm not so much scared for me, the thought of me being hurt is nothing like as bad as the thought of you being hurt.'

This made her laugh softly, to his surprise. 'I feel the same about you. No wonder the Death Eaters started kidnapping the relatives of those they want to get at.'

They walked along the corridor quietly for a minute. 'We're carrying on then?' asked Neville.

'One hundred percent.' She squeezed his arm. 'What you up to tomorrow?'

'I reckon we should leave the swamp for a day or two. I've got a huge Herbology essay, but hopefully I'll be done by evening. I could thrash you at Gobstones after dinner if you like.'

She thumped him playfully as they entered the Common Room. 'In your dreams! Well, if you're going to be boring and study all day, I've got a Runes project I ought to finish off, and maybe I'll go down and visit Hagrid in the afternoon. He looked really worried during that speech.'

'That's a good idea. Well, maybe I'll see you at breakfast. If not, give my best to Hagrid. Tell him not to worry about us.'

*****

It was Saturday evening, and the fire crackled merrily in the Gryffindor Common Room. Dinner was over and students were starting to gather in little groups. Ginny crashed in through the portrait hole looking wild and panicked, red hair flying everywhere. She almost collided with Colin Creevey and grabbed him. 'Colin, where's Neville?' she gasped to the startled youth.

'Neville? I haven't seen him...' began Colin, alarmed. 'What's going on?'

'Colin, I need you to find Neville, quick! Hagrid's going to get himself killed!'

Colin's eyes widened. 'Hagrid? Oh my God, how? What's happened?'

'He's holding a 'support Harry Potter' party,' explained Ginny, looking frantically around the Common Room as though Neville might jump out from behind an armchair.

'Cool!' exclaimed Colin, before seeing Ginny's face. 'OK, maybe it is a crazy idea...'

'It's completely bloody crazy!' shrieked Ginny. 'He's going to go and get himself thrown out, at best, and then that's one fewer person we'll have left here! How can he be so bloody selfish? I told everyone this would happen, I knew he was going to pull a stunt like this.'

'Ginny, calm down.' Colin tugged at her sleeve. 'Listen, you keep looking for Neville, I'll go down and speak to Hagrid, try and talk him out of it. Or at least stall him. Hey, Dennis! Ginny needs to find Neville, help her look will you?' The younger Creevey obligingly put down his homework and hurried over, looking pleased.

Ginny's heart sank - she'd even have preferred the assistance of Seamus to Dennis, but the seventh year was still away. She looked sceptically at the youth before her, two years her junior. He was skinny like his brother, with limbs that looked too small for his large head. 'Why don't you go and look for Neville in the library?' she suggested, hoping to get him out of the way.

'OK, but if I find him, where do I tell him to find you?' Dennis hovered, eagerly awaiting her decision.

'Tell him to coin me,' said Ginny, heading for the staircase to the boys' dorms.

'You can't go up there-' began Dennis, but stopped when he saw her face. 'I'll try the library,' he finished, hurrying in the direction of the portrait hole.

Ginny took the stairs two at a time, but to her disappointment it was a wasted journey. There was no sign of Neville in the dorm he shared with Seamus. Unsure of where to go next, she ran back down the steps, and arrived in the Common Room just as Neville entered through the portrait hole, led by a very excited Dennis.

'Gin! What's going on?' Neville hugged her before she could speak. 'Are you OK? Dennis said something about Hagrid...'

'I'm OK, Neville - he's organised a Support Harry Potter party! He says he sent out invitations and everything! We've got to stop him.' She pulled him to one side, away from the steady stream of students coming into the Common Room. It was close to curfew time.

'Damn!' Neville looked away for a moment, before collecting himself again. 'OK, we mustn't panic, we've got to get to him before any damage is done. If we can get there and stop him, then any invitations that come to light, we can say are a hoax. Come on.' He turned back to the portrait hole.

'It's after curfew!' Dennis pointed out.

'Then you'd better come with us and help keep a lookout. Are you up for that?' Neville looked the weedy boy in the eye and ignored Ginny's warning noise of dissent.

'Yes, of course. Dumbledore's Army forever!' Creevey almost fell over in his haste to get to the portrait hole.

Neville pulled him back by his robes. 'Wait! Dennis, listen, you've got to be really careful. They patrol the corridors at night. If they catch you out of bed - especially with us two - you'll be in a lot of trouble. D'you understand that?'

'I understand. Colin's out there, remember? No way is he going to do this and me stay behind.' He must have seen the look on Ginny's face because he continued, 'I'm not stupid, OK? I know how to keep a look out and I know how to defend myself if I have to, you've taught me that.'

'Good. Come on then.' The three stood aside to allow a group of sixth years through the portrait hole, and then slipped out into the corridor. They made their way quickly down the stairs, Ginny in the lead. At the fourth floor, she pushed them back up again and jumped onto another moving staircase. Neville and Dennis followed, Neville barely making it across. Amycus Carrow appeared inches from where they'd been standing, just as the steps swung away. They crouched shivering behind the bannisters as the stairs moved, Neville shutting his eyes to avoid looking at the drop from the end. As soon as they clunked into place, Ginny was back down, and then beckoning them onwards.

It was a dicey business, getting through the Castle. Although there was no way the teachers could patrol every inch of it, it was impossible to know which parts were being watched at any one time. They reached the ground floor with some relief and Ginny led the way round to the door that opened onto the path to the greenhouses. 'They don't normally lock this one,' she whispered, performing a spell to test it before pushing it open.

The three emerged into a dark night with only faint moonlight to guide them. Neville turned to Dennis. 'Listen, I want you to go and stay by the main exit. Keep down and well hidden. If Snape, or the Carrows, or Filch, or any other enemies come out, send up red stars. But wait a few minutes before you do it, or they'll catch you.'

The boy nodded, and lit his wand before slipping away into the darkness to find a hiding place. 'Come on,' said Neville grimly to Ginny. 'I think it's this way.'

It was hard to make their way through the gathering darkness, but neither dared illuminate their wands for fear of being spotted. 'If we get caught breaking curfew...' muttered Ginny. 'After all the stunts we've pulled with the DA, if Hagrid goes and blows it all for us now... I can't believe he's being so stupid.'

'This is Hagrid,' Neville pointed out, tripping on a tuft of grass and almost falling flat on his face. 'He doesn't think of it as being stupid. As far as he's concerned, he's helping out. Anyway, what happened, Gin?'

Distracted, she almost walked into a bush, and Neville had to disentangle her. 'Well, I went down to see him. That Runes stuff took loads longer than I expected so it was nearly dinner time. I didn't feel all that hungry since I'd been eating those cakes Mum sent all afternoon, so I went to Hagrid's instead. When I got there, I knew something was up. I asked him directly, and he told me he was holding a Support Harry Potter party, and hadn't I had my invitation?'

'What did you do?' asked Neville, risking lighting his wand to give them a bit more light after he nearly collided with a pine tree.

'Well...' he could tell from Ginny's voice that she was blushing. 'I kind of lost my rag a bit, actually, and yelled at him. Told him how stupid it was and so on. He just went really quiet and said he didn't see it as being stupid, he felt he'd been stupid all year following Snape and this was the most intelligent thing he'd done. He said we had the DA, and we were brave, and what had he done? Then he was going on about how worried he was we'd get caught and punished. He's convinced Snape is going to do something really awful to us.'

'So he's holding this stupid party to deflect attention from us?' Neville wasn't sure if he was following the logic.

'I hadn't thought of that, but yes, maybe that's it. But Neville, all he'll do is get himself thrown out and then they'll come after us just the same. Snape knows it's us. Oh why does Hagrid have to be so stupid?' From Ginny's voice, he could tell she was winding herself up to a towering rage again.

The squat shape of Hagrid's hut was now visible. The windows were bright squares in the darkness. 'Maybe he's just had enough, Gin. Perhaps he can't live a lie any more. You know how angry we feel with McGonagall and Flitwick sometimes, when they go along with authorities all the time. I guess Hagrid is just doing what we wish they'd do - make a stand. We can't blame McGonagall and Flitwick for complying with the regime, and then blame Hagrid for deciding not to on principle.'

'Stop being so bloody reasonable, Neville. Hagrid!' Ginny banged on the door of the hut, her voice a furious whisper. 'Hagrid, open up!'

The door opened so suddenly Ginny nearly fell over the threshold. Hagrid was beaming all over his face and was dressed in his horrible hairy suit, presumably his entertaining outfit. 'Neville, Ginny, so glad yeh could make it!' he boomed. His voice suggested he'd already had more than a few drinks. He stepped aside to reveal Colin, standing wretchedly behind him. The cabin was festooned with banners reading 'Support Harry Potter!'

'I tried to stop him,' said Colin, indicating the banners. 'I managed to convince him not to put any outside, but he won't listen about the party not being a good idea.'

'I'm disappointed in yeh, Colin, I though' yeh were one of 'Arry's friends!' Hagrid moved over to the kitchen area and turned to Ginny and Neville. 'Now that yeh're here, come and help us put out the crude-dittys.' He thrust a plate of carrots, some with roots still in place, at them.

'We're not helping you put out anything, Hagrid, this is the most stupid idea I've ever heard,' hissed Ginny furiously. 'If Snape or the Carrows find out you'll be thrown out for sure!'

'Well, if tha's the case, maybe it's time I went,' Hagrid replied, putting the carrots down on the table and turning his attention to a cheese-and-pineapple hedgehog. The hedgehog didn't look very impressed and was trying to get off the tarnished silver platter. 'It's about time I started showin' support for me old friend 'Arry, and none of you lot is gonna talk me out of it. Besides, I hope Professors Snape and Carrows do find out - I sent them an invitation.'

'You did WHAT!' Even Neville found his patience exasperated. He stared at the Gamekeeper in shock. He'd never believed Ginny when she said Hagrid was ready to go. Maybe he hadn't wanted to believe it. Suddenly, despite the fact that Hagrid did little for the DA and if anything was a bit of a liability, he found he was desperate for the big man to stay. 'Please don't leave us, Hagrid,' he said, aware of how his voice sounded, hurt and afraid. 'Stay here, with us. It's hard, keeping this up.' He couldn't say any more.

Hagrid turned to him and for the first time Neville thought he might be wavering. 'Listen, Neville, I got to do this. I can't bear just standing by any more while Snape and all that makes out 'Arry's a killer. I jus' can'. All them times 'Arry told me Snape were a wrong 'un and I didn' listen. Now Dumbledore's dead and 'Arry's on the run, and three times a day I'm sitting at the same table as the man responsible for it all, saying 'yes sir, no sir' and followin' his every instruction. I can't do it, can't live with mehself anymore.'

'So you're running away? You're making a grand gesture and running?' asked Neville.

'It's not running away!' exclaimed Hagrid hotly. 'Yeh think they're gonna let me stay much longer anyways? It's a miracle Snape's le' me stay on this long as it is! I'd rather go down with a bang, than be quietly pushed out over the holidays.' Hagrid and Neville faced each other across the kitchen, the air crackling with tension. 'I'm sorry, Neville,' he continued in a softer voice, 'Ginny. I really am. But yeh know as well as I do that there ain't a place at 'Ogwarts for me much longer.'

'Can't you keep trying? They might let you stay a bit longer.' Ginny's face had the strained appearance of someone about to cry.

'Listen, I ain't worried about the pair of yeh. Not one bit. Yeh're amazing kids, both of yeh. Neville, when I think what a frightened little thing yeh were when yeh first started! You too, Ginny. I'd 'ardly recognise yeh now. An' yeh know what? Yeh don't need me. Yeh can fight on without me.'

Colin, who'd been staring out of the window, gave a yelp. 'Red stars! Is that a sign?'

'Dennis!' exclaimed Ginny. 'We left him as look out. Red stars mean people coming.'

Colin ran to the door. 'I'll hide out front and hoot like an owl when they come in sight.' He disappeared into the night.

Hagrid looked around, suddenly panic stricken. 'Yeh gotta go, yeh gotta get out! If they find yeh here... quickly, go! Both of yeh!'

'If we're quick we can still get rid of all this stuff!' Neville pulled out his wand and looked around frantically, trying to decide which spell would be most effective. 'You can say the invitations were a hoax, say you know nothing about them. Come on!' He tried to reach the banner above his head.

'There ain't time, an' I don't want yeh to. I told yeh, it's time for me to make a stand.' Hagrid gripped his shoulders, almost lifting him off the ground. 'Yeh're a good man, Neville Longbottom, I'm honoured to have known yeh. Keep up the fight.' He turned to Ginny. 'An' you too, Ginny Weasley. Yeh managed to show yeh brothers that a Weasley girl's as good as any Weasley boy!'

Ginny could hardly bear to look at Hagrid, and brushed away his kind words and hands with a shake of her head. The gamekeeper continued, 'Now yeh've gotta get out of here, before I make yeh! Go on! Where's 'Ogwarts gonna be without yeh?' He shooed them both towards to the back door, pushing them into the cold night air. 'Go!'

Neville turned back to Hagrid on the threshold, wanting to beg and cling to the big man. But Hagrid was firm, shutting the door behind them even as a desperate and rather unconvincing owl hoot sounded from the front of the hut. Fighting his instinct to go back and try to pull Hagrid out, Neville grabbed Ginny's sleeve and dragged her down in the foliage at the side of the hut.

A moment later there was more banging on Hagrid's front door. 'All righ', I'm coming,' came Hagrid's voice, affable and booming again. They heard the click of the catch and squeak of the hinges. 'Professor, what a pleasant surprise! Won' yeh come in and join me?'

'Caught in the act!' came Alecto Carrow's voice, ugly with triumph. 'Support Harry Potter, eh? You stupid great oaf! Did you really think you could do this and get away with it?'

'Yeh've caught me bang to rights, Professor.' Hagrid didn't sound frightened or upset by his predicament. In fact, he sounded as though he was enjoying himself. 'Oh well, it were only a matter of time I suppose before yeh realised who were behind Dumbledore's Army.'

Ginny made a move as if to go to the hut, and Neville grabbed her arm and held it tightly.

'You?' Carrow's voice was raucous with disbelief. 'You really expect us to believe that you're the leader of Dumbledore's Army?'

'It's always the person you least expect,' continued Hagrid cheerfully. 'It were ever so easy, course I can go where I like, don' have to worry 'bout curfew or nothing. All the time you thought it were the students!'

'Enough of this chit-chat,' said an icy voice. Snape. 'Hagrid, I am most disappointed in you. I thought I could rely on you to uphold the traditions of this school. Siding with a bunch of teenage troublemakers and holding a party in support of the very boy who killed Albus Dumbledore! Tsk, tsk. And you so very fond of Dumbledore.'

'Don' yeh talk to me about the killer of Albus Dumbledore, Snape. I know who killed Dumbledore tha' nigh', and it weren't 'Arry. I don' know how you sleep at night.' The Gamekeeper's voice was suddenly low with menace.

'With ease,' replied Snape smoothly. 'And now, Hagrid, you've caused enough trouble in this school. It's time to relieve you of your duties.'

'Very well, but jus' remember - the spirit of 'Arry Potter and Albus Dumbledore lives on! You'll never extinguish it!'

From their hiding place in the bushes, Neville and Ginny never quite knew how what happened next unfolded. There was a crash, and a shout, and what looked like the flash of a spell, then a loud bang. Suddenly something streaked through the air into the night, apparently through the roof of Hagrid's hut. Another louder bang was followed by a shower of straw and rubble. 'Come on!' Neville pulled Ginny back, and the two retreated into the tree line, walking straight into another shadowy shape.

Neville's yell of alarm was fortunately drowned by another gargantuan bang from the direction of Hagrid's hut. The shadowy figure revealed itself to be Colin. 'What's going on?' he asked, but his question was drowned out by another explosion. This time a hugely bright light illuminated the whole area. They could make out figures on Hagrid's front lawn, presumably Snape and Carrow.

'Look!' Neville followed Colin's pointing finger to see emblazoned across the sky the words 'Support Harry Potter!' A moment later another bright flash spelt out the words 'Dumbledore's Army forever!'

The fireworks display was impressive. The whole sky lit up with images of Harry. In the meantime, the figures in Hagrid's garden appeared to be arguing. Of the giant shape of Hagrid himself, there was no sign. 'I hope he's got away!' whispered Ginny to Neville. 'You don't think he's... blown himself up, do you?'

'No,' whispered back Neville. 'He'd never have let Fang get hurt, and Fang wouldn't have left him.'

'Come on,' said Colin, tugging at their sleeves. 'We should get back up before anyone finds us here.'

They made their way back up the hill to the Castle, sticking within the treeline whenever possible. A group of shouting wizards with illuminated wands rushed past them at one point, racing towards Hagrid's hut, but the three evaded them easily. Back at the Castle, they were greeted by Dennis. 'Thank Merlin you're OK!' he squeaked, throwing his arms around his brother. 'I thought they might have got you!'

'No, we're fine, but come on quick, before they catch us out after curfew.'

The Gryffindor Common Room was full of excited students, watching the display out of the windows and discussing who was behind it. When the four friends tumbled in, they were seized upon by their classmates. Before they could explain, however, the portrait hole opened again and Professor McGonagall entered, in her now famous tartan dressing gown and slippers. 'What is going on here?' she demanded.

'Professor, have you seen the fireworks? They're amazing!' exclaimed one of the first years.

'Dumbledore's Army forever!' shouted someone else daringly from the back.

McGonagall's lips thinned. 'That is enough! I might remind you that Dumbledore's Army is a banned organisation, and anyone suspected of membership may be punished most severely.' She glared round at them. 'Do you all understand me?'

The subdued teenagers nodded, as the room lit up again with yet another vast firework from the grounds. McGonagall continued, 'If I have reason to suspect anyone in this house was behind these shenanigans, then I shall be obliged to tell the Headmaster. This school is no longer a safe place to express views in favour of Professor Dumbledore.' Neville suddenly thought how very old and lined Professor McGonagall's face looked. The firelight turned every wrinkle into a crevasse. 'Now, I suggest you all have an early night, before the Professors Carrow come looking for someone to blame. Go on!' She shooed them all towards the staircases.

Ginny and Neville hung back, allowing the younger children to go ahead, grumbling about the enforced early night. As Neville approached the stairs himself, though, McGonagall called him back. 'Longbottom! Weasley! A word, please.'

They returned to the stern Transfiguration teacher, as the last of the other Gryffindors departed up the stairs. The fireworks had stopped at last, and the Castle seemed dark and quiet without them. 'You two look as though you have been lurking around in a bush,' whispered the teacher, sweeping her gaze over their dishevelled clothing and muddy robes. 'If you give Professor Snape or Carrow any reason to think...'

'It was Hagrid,' whispered back Neville, sharply. 'Hagrid did it. We tried to talk him out of it, but he said it was time he took a stand.'

McGonagall stepped back, visibly shocked. 'But surely, that's madness...'

'He said he couldn't live with himself any more, going along with Snape.' Neville looked hard at his teacher. 'He's told Snape that it was him behind Dumbledore's Army all along.'

The teacher closed her eyes for a moment, then steadied herself. 'Very well. Hagrid has chosen to leave. But listen to me, if you think that will stop Snape and the Carrows suspecting you, then you are wrong. Get those clothes cleaned off and hidden, get into bed, and get your cover stories straight!'

They hurried away to the stairs, but Neville turned back. 'Professor, what's going to happen to Hagrid now?'

She fixed him with her gimlet stare. 'If he's got any sense - which I sometimes doubt - he will have used the fireworks display as cover to run. Provided he can get out of the grounds, he's got a good chance. Hagrid knows the outdoors better than most, and he has friends among the creatures and other races. Now bed, quickly!' She turned and left through the portrait hole.

Neville looked across the Common Room to Ginny, who had also hesitated at the foot of the girls' stairs. 'One more pro-Harry person gone,' she said softly.

'There's still us, Gin.' He smiled sadly at her. Unlike McGonagall the firelight made her face look softer, younger, more vulnerable.

'Yeah.' She smiled at him sadly. 'I'm so glad I've got you, Nev.'

'Likewise.' A noise from outside made them both jump. 'See you in the morning!' he whispered, before they both fled up their respective staircases to bed.