Deathly Hallows pt2
Detention with Hagrid was honestly really pleasant. He took them out into the forest to keep up appearances but then they just found a place to sit and relax for a moment.
“I’m so tired.” Ryleigh whispered leaning into a Lunas side.
“I know…” Luna said back rubbing a gently hand along the girls back as she held her.
“Lay down love.” Luna said softly and Ryleigh didn’t fight the suggestion, she shifted with a grunt and laid herself in Lunas lap. The blonde went to work rubbing the sides of Ryleighs temples in a gentle motion.
“In muggle studies yesterday she tried to teach us that squibs should be “put down” because they’re like a “lame cow” with no purpose and a danger to the blood line.” Ryleigh spat.
Hagrid scoffed loudly.
“That’s balmy, you and your brother are both very talented and your mum was a squib.” He said. “Sorry-“ he said.
“It’s alright, your right. It’s ridiculous.” She said.
“Strange don’t you think?” Luna asked.
“What?”
“That Snape sent us here for detention. He knows Hagrid is in the order and he knows we have reformed the DA… I just think it’s odd.” Luna said.
“He’s just got a soft spot for Ryleigh is all.” Ginny said and Ryleigh rolled her eyes.
“I don’t think that’s it- if he didn’t want to send Ryleigh he would have still sent us to the Carrows.. but he sent us all here.” Neville said.
“I just think… death eater or not he doesn’t want the students hurt.” Ryleigh said said and closed her eyes. “I’m taking a nap.” She said softly and they murmured to each other as she rested.
Xx
Ryleigh wasn’t sure how much more she could physically handle of these siblings. Somewhere inside she knew that Snape was doing his best to prevent the injury and torture of the students. But he was only one man and he couldn't be everywhere at once.
The DA had taken to graffitiing the walls and the Carrow sister had a serious dislike for it.
When the time for Christmas break came Ryleigh wished more than anything she had somewhere to go. She waved goodbye to Ginny and gave Luna long kiss.
“I love you…” Ryleigh whispered her forehead pressed against Lunas.
Luna ran a hand through Ryleighs hair.
“I love you.” She said firmly and Ryleigh just barely held back the sob that crept up her throat. She watched with tears brimming as the girl climbed onto the train and disappeared from sight.
She made her way back to McGonagalls office where Ro and Quinn were already waiting. Nearly everyone had gone home for the holiday this year and she couldn’t blame them for wanting to escape. She’d be surprised if anyone even came back. Though she was sure they would be found and arrested if they tried to run.
She let herself fall onto the couch while Ro read through his history of magic textbook and Quinn played by the fire. Almost instantly she was asleep.
When she woke it was late, the kids had gone to bed and just McGonagall was left.
“Oh I’m so sorry I slept all day…” Ryleigh said as she stood up.
“You needed the rest.” Was all the woman said back.
“You should rest too.” Ryleigh said to her. “While everyone’s gone. I know you stay up making sure the psychos don’t find kids out of bed.”
McGonagall made a face at her, “I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about.”
Ryleigh smiled at her.
Xx
Christmas came and went and Ryleigh didn’t see Snape at all that day or the day after.
When the train arrived again there were more than a few missing people. One of which was Luna.
“Where is she?” Ryleigh asked anxiously as Ginny met her at the door. The red head shrugged sadly. “They…. They took her from the train.”
“T-took her?? Took her where!?” Ryleigh asked in a panic.
“I-I don’t know Ry… they just… took her…” Ginny said.
Ryleigh shook her head, her breathing was picking up and she couldn’t control it.
“Ryleigh. Listen. Luna is strong and she can handle herself okay?” Ginny said.
“S-she— I—“
“Come on, let’s go.” Ginny said and took her arm, leading her into the castle and away from everyone.
Inside she brought her downstairs to the potions lab where she rifled through the shelves for a Draught of Peace and then gave it to Ryleigh.
She swallowed it quickly and then leaned forward with her elbows on her knees.
“I think I’m gonna be sick…” she whispered and Ginny searched the room for a garbage bin, quickly placing it under the girl as she tried to steady her breathing.
A few moments later Professor Slughorn entered the room.
“Oh my, what’s happened here?” He asked as he side stepped around them.
“She’s just—“ Ginny said, “I’ve taken a draught of peace but I’ll re brew it for you Professor.”
“Needn’t worry about that Ms Weasley.” He said. “What’s caused this upset?” He asked.
“The… the death eaters took Luna Lovegood from the express on our way home for Christmas…”
“Oh yes, Ms Lovegood and Ms Walsh were close I presume?” He asked awkwardly.
Ryleigh sniffed and sat up, finally feeling like she could breath and wasn’t on the verge of vomiting.
“She’s my girlfriend Professor.” Ryleigh said honestly. “And I was held for months by the death eaters last summer so I am well versed in the treatments of their prisoners. So the c-concept of someone I love dearly feeling even a portion of what I—“
Slughorn was quiet. “Ms Lovegood is a very capable young witch and I have every confidence she will return to us.”
Ryleigh just shook her head, “I need to go.” She said and stood, rushing as quickly as her body would allow out.
Xx
She didn’t go to class the next day, said she was sick and hid in her room in McGonagalls chambers where the woman found her much later, playing with Quinn.
“Sick?” She asked.
“Sick of this place, these people, the world being broken.” She said back.
“Come and have some tea.” Minerva said and Ryleigh sighed, standing and following the woman out. She sat down on the couch and McGonagall handed her a tea cup.
“Have you eaten?” She asked and Ryleigh nodded, it was a lie but she wasn’t hungry.
“I heard about Luna. I’m sure she’ll be returned as soon as Xenophilius stops publishing the quibbler.” McGonagall said.
“Doesn’t matter, there’s nothing I can do about it anyway.” Ryleigh said quietly.
“It matters because it’s someone you care about. It matters because it’s wrong.” McGonagall said.
“A lot of things are wrong and they don’t matter.” Ryleigh said back, “it doesn’t matter that the Carrows like to torture first years for sport. It doesn’t matter that they’ve gone and locked up children is Azkaban for doing so much as existing in the magical world. It doesn’t matter that Luna is gone! It doesn’t matter because that’s just how it is now.”
Xx
January passed in a blurry image of sad empty hallways and hallow silent classrooms.
When February came she spent Lunas birthday in the Astronomy tower alone. Ginny had come to look for her but she’d left soon after she realized Ryleigh planned to spent the entirety of the day there. She knew she’d miss her classes but she couldn’t bring herself to care about whatever sick punishment they’d come up with next.
March was much of the same, except Ginny left for the burrow and she was even more alone.
She and Ro had taken to spending more and more time in the room of requirement, along with much of the other DA members just to get away. At night they’d sneak back to McGonagalls chambers and sleep in there as apposed to the dorms as to leave space for kids who had no where to go at night.
She was so tired, all the time, but she pushed herself every day to get up, walk her brother to every one of his classes and then make it to her own. Albeit late to nearly every one she attended but the professors never said anything.
She could leave, she knew, she was 17. She could run away in the secret passage to hogshead and they wouldn’t be able to trace her but she couldn’t. She couldn’t leave them behind. Her brother and sister, her friends. So she stayed, for the same reason Neville stayed. She took care of the younger kids and kept them hidden in the room of requirement. Kept them safe from the dementors and coordinated drops with Aberforth.
She found herself laying on the stone ground that morning, most kids had gone to the classes they felt safe enough attending and the room was quiet. She was meant to be in transfiguration but she knew McGonagall wouldn’t mind.
She heard Ariana’s portrait whisper that aberforth wanted her and she sighed. The walk down to hogsmede was long and damp and her leg was already aching but she pushed herself up and climbed the latter. Making her way down the path with her wand alight she pushed the portrait open and nearly fell back at the sight.
“Luna…” she whispered before literally throwing herself out of the portrait hole and into her girlfriends waiting arms.
“You’re okay!? Oh my god where have you been!” She sobbed. The man in the corner made no face at them but he watched.
“I’m okay.” Luna said softly and hugged her back tightly. “You look worse than me.”
“W-why did.. how did you…” she stuttered then took a deep breath. “Why did you come back?”
Luna pulled back to look her in the eyes.
“Muggles hang seashells from strings and think they’ll keep evil away.” She said and Ryleigh just looked at her confused.
“They don’t work…. You can’t keep evil away.” Luna said. “But, you… you make it so the evil isn’t so bad. As long as I’m with you.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”