Before we knew it, it was 1 September 1997, time for me and Ginny to head back to school. My last bloody year. I was supposed to be excited, but I was dreading it to be honest. We heard that bloody SNAPE was now headmaster. I assumed he used his bloody Death Eater friends to threaten McGonegall.
That morning, Fred dropped me and Ginny off at the train station— Molly and George were busy with the Order. Fred was going to meet them later, but wanted to see us off first. On the platform, dark shrouded individuals lined the walls, watching the students, looking for muggles too, I imagine. I kept an eye on Ginny while I talked to Fred.
"I'll keep her safe," I said. "D.A getting back together and Ginny are literally the only reason I'm goin back. No other reason for me to."
"I know love, mum appreciates that. We all do actually."
"I'm dreading this Freddie. My last year and bloody Snape is the damn headmaster. And these.. Death Eaters? Mad!"
"I know love. Have all the stuff I packed for you?" he asked with a smile.
"Oh, but of course.. gotta figure out which to pull first. I have my radio too." I whispered that part as I noticed one of the darkly dressed persons got closer.
"I love you, Mary," Fred said as he leaned down to pick me up to hug me.
"I love you more!"
"Be safe, please."
"Always Freddie!"
He started to kiss me, when one of Death Eaters came toward us, "let's go Ms... Fudge." He snapped.
"Blimey honey.. that's not good, they know ya already. See ya later I suppose," Fred whispered angrily before glaring at the man.
"Bye darling!" I said as the death Eater forced me to the train. I quickly found Ginny and took a seat next to her.
I knew this year was gonna be bloody awful, but it was even worse than that.
When we got to school and went to our dorms, we found out that all items that were not school related were destroyed. All of our things usually arrived before we did, but this year, they used it as an excuse to ruin our lives. All my pictures of me at the burrow, with Fred, things Luna gave me, all gone. I noticed Luna wasn't around either.
I was furious, and stormed out. I began to stride toward Headmaster Snape's office— just that thought alone made me want to vomit. I was about to enter the elevator when my wand was knocked out of my hand. I saw Snape coming toward me, two Death Eaters by his side.
"Fudge... what... insufferable.. thing are you planning now?" he said.
"Actually.. I'm looking for you!" I replied.
They stood silent.
"Why the bloody hell d'you take our things? That's PRIVATE PROPERTY!"
"Stupefy" one of the cronies stunned me.
"What the bloody fuck?! I'm a student!"
"I'm very much away aware of that," she walked toward me. "You're Mary Fudge. Your mother is.. was, a mud-blood. And you're dating Mr. Fred Weasley. I'm Amycus Carrow, your new Defense Against the.. Arts, teacher. This is m'brother, Alecto. He teaches dirty muggle studies." She had to have seen the panic in my eyes. She got closer, "I hear you're quite the git." She had ghastly yellow teeth.
"You know NOTHING about me," I said as I stood. "And don't you DARE say his name!"
"Who? Ol' Freddie?" She cackled.
"Expeliarmus!" I shouted. "Say his name again!" I felt my body fill with a rage I hadn't known since I saw George hurt that night we moved Harry.
"HOW DARE YOU? YOU FILTHY HALF-BLOOD," her eyes were wide as she screamed at me. I stood my ground.
"How're Fred and George doing in ol' Diagon Alley wit' their pathetic joke shop?" her equally ugly, but even more terrifying brother said.
"Don't you DARE say their names! Stupefy!" I yelled. Knocking both of them down. Snape just stood there.
Gryffindor must've heard— Ginny, Neville, and Seamus walked briskly out of their common room.
"Depulso!" they fell again.
"Go inside, you lot!" I yelled to my friends.
"Like hell Mary!" Neville replied. He walked out next to me.
"Ah. Mr. Longbottom. How's ya mum?" the woman asked.
"Leave him OUT OF THIS!" I shouted.
"DETENTION!" Snape finally cracked. "Ms. Fudge and... Mr. Longbottom."
"Bloody fine!" I said as I rolled my eyes. They walked away. I never even got my question answered. "Bloody hell Neville, I'm sorry!"
"No trouble Mary. Fred'd kill me if I stood there an didn' help," he smiled.
Seamus spoke just then, "sorry Mary."
"Not at all Seamus! Don worry! Gits."
"Here," he handed me a note.
"Read it in private," Neville added.
I shook my head in agreement. "See ya tomorrow in detention Nevs," I replied as I tucked the parchment into my back pocket.
"See ya for the welcome.. lecture," he chuckled.
"Fuck! I didn' think we'd still be having those."
Later on, in the Great Hall, that's exactly what it was.. a welcome lecture. We couldn't even bloody sit down. The tables were gone. It was dark and dingy. Awful. The non-Death Eater professors instructed us to stand with our house. I did not, o'course. I started toward Neville and Ginny across the room.
"Uh-hem. Ms. Fudge, where d'you think you're going!?" Amycus screamed.
"To see m'mates," I replied with an eye roll.
"And you think you can jus' do that?!" she was real miffed at me now. I liked this game.
"Yup. We usedta do it all the time," I snickered back and continued my walk.
"Well.. you can longer visit your MATES!" she was bright red. Really miffed. "COME HERE!"
"And what if I don'" I snapped back.
"We'll just go and visit those twins of yours," her brother smirked. "What're their names again... George and Freddie was'it?" he laughed.
I herd Ginny gasp. I could've shot daggers from my eyes. "I tol' you... keep their names outta your BLOODY MOUTH!" I began to walk toward them, wand drawn.
"Ohh.. sensitive," they both smirked.
"Testy," Alecto said.
"KEEP THEM OUTTA THIS," I said with muted anger as I walked up the steps and met their wands with mine. I heard Ginny gasp again.
"Ohh.. very testy!" Amycus smirked.
"Keep them out of your BLOODY DAMN mouth!" I pointed my wand in the face of Alecto. Snape cracked thunder at the ceiling, causing everyone to jump. The siblings smiled.
"First Years.. allow us to show you what happens when you don't follow the rules," they said.
"By doing something ILLEGAL, I reckon?" I spoke up. They forced me onto a chair they brought out. "Umbridge already did a number on me a few years back. Lil' late Snapey," I said looking directly at our Headmaster. He was silent.
"I can take it," I snarled at the three of them.
"Well, maybe you can.... but Ginny Weasley can't," Amycus whispered in my ear. She started to walk toward the Gryffindors.
"No!" I stopped her.
She whispered again, "it seems we found your weakness, Fudge. The bloody Weasley's." I ripped my head away from her mouth. Then she laughed. She let the school hear her laugh.
"Fine.." I said as I gripped the arm rests of the chair, tears began to form but I held them back. I looked out in the crowed and locked eyes with Ginny and Neville. I mouthed, 'it's okay.'
"CRUCIO," I remembered the sound of that word, and the pain that came after. My thoughts flashed back to that night, with Umbridge. Crying out to Fred and him feeling so bad he couldn't help. Then they flashed to Fred's lips, George's laugh, Molly's hugs. It was getting me through the pain.
I heard myself scream when I refocused for a moment, "ahhhh!" It still hurt just as bad, but I knew what to expect this time. I heard Ginny sniffle away tears.. I knew her cries.
Then it stopped.
I fell out of the chair and onto the floor, where I stayed for a moment and locked eyes with Neville, who was fuming. I grabbed the chair and propped myself against it.
"See students, we don't break rules," Alecto said. Snape looked at me, leaning on the chair, and seemed to wince when he saw the pain on my face.
I helped myself stand, "students. That was the Cruciatus Curse also called the torture curse— one of three unforgivable curses." Ginny and Neville looked at the ground, Seamus looked right miffed. "It hurts like fuck, and is ILLEGAL. But it appears rules don' matter here anymore.." I started to limp down the steps before my wand was knocked from my hand.
"Mind your business fudge!" The siblings quipped. "You still have detention tomorrow, with Mr. Longbottom."
Seamus stepped out of line to hand me my wand.
"And NOW Mr. Finnegan too!" Amycus snapped.
"I'm sorry.." I whispered to Seamus.
"Don't be," Seamus said with a smile.
"Back to your dorms! NOW!" the siblings snapped.
Everyone began to exit. I was staggering behind everyone and sat down to let the lot pass me. Seamus put my arm around him and helped me walk to our neighboring common rooms.
I asked him, "what's the bloody note say anyway?"
"Oh, blimey! I guess you wouldn't have had time to read it.."
"Ha, not really."
"Follow me and Neville, Thursday, to a location for D.A meetings."
"Tryin to get me killed I see?" I chuckled.
"This was before..."
"That was a joke Seamus," I patted the shoulder my arm was draped over.
"Wait! You can apparate! It's the dungeon!" he exclaimed.
"Brilliant! But what're the rest of ya gonna do?" I questioned him.
"We have.. others helping," he looked around.
I whispered the next thing. We were nearing the hallway to our common rooms, but I didn' trust the school and it's bloody hidden passages or talking paintings anymore. "Teachers?"
"Yep. All of the ones who aren't Death Eaters.."
"But we just got back.. Howdya..?"
"We wrote letters!" he interrupted. "McGonagall, Filtwick, Slughorn, the lot! Didn wanna bother you wit Fred and George and all. We heard the radio broadcasts though."
"Brilliant!" I said as we arrived at our common rooms. "I wish you gits woulda told me though!"
"We were planning on it, Mary! The letter!" he chuckled.
"Well l'll be there."
"Bring some stuff, that'll be base. Leave some in the dorms though.. can' let um get suspicious."
"Thanks Seamus. D'ya hear if they're planning to filter letters we send from school?" I asked.
"Dunno. Gonna write Fred?"
"Haveta. But I'll leave some stuff out. Don' wan' him coming here.." I looked sad I'm sure. I missed him.
"Night Mary. See ya at detention!" he chuckled.
"Thanks again for walking me Seamus. See ya," I waved and limped into my common room!
The next morning, I awoke in some pain. Luna must've arrived sometime last night because she, Meredith, and Elizabeth were all sitting on their beds, starring at me when I rolled over and sat up.
"Oh Mary!" Elizabeth cried.
"I'm fine.." I held my arms out for a hug."Gently, please." They all walked over and we had a group hug.
"Wanna come on Thursday?" I laughed. "I know you nosy birds read the note."
Luna answered first, "of course. I'll go with you, since I assume you're apparating! I've never done that before."
I was the only student, still at Hogwarts, that could apparate. Everyone loved it. Leaned how third year, thanks Minerva.
"Ha, okay Luna. Bring somethin' small. Leave most of it here. What about y'two?" I asked Merr and Elizabeth
"Yup. We're gonna take turns.. that way it won' be as suspicious. All of us gone and all."
"Good. If they question you about me, just tell them. But only about me. No one else."
"Mary.. " Elizabeth started.
"NO ONE else." I insisted. "You lot saw what they did to me for just not listenin' to rules. I can' imagine what would happen if you lied. So don't. Not for me.."
"Mary, we're for the cause! We'd never flip on you. We love you, and Harry!"
"But girls.."
"We'll be fine! You've protected us since first year. Let us protect you."
"I love you girls!" We had another group hug. "We should all get to class before we ge'it," I said before we got dressed.
By the end of the day, I was able to walk normally and the pain was gone. Later we went to dinner, which was now only 30-minutes, and separated by house. 1 house per dinner period. Awful.
After I ate, I met Neville and Seamus between our common rooms and we headed for detention.
"Where is it?" I asked.
"Defense classroom I reckon," Neville said shyly.
They know the trauma I sustained in that room.
"Lovely," I chuckled. I put my arms around them and said, "at least I have my best mates!" They were— Luna, Ginny, Seamus, and Neville, my best friends at school. They helped with the sadness I felt from not being around Fred and George.
They each wrapped their arm around me too. We walked toward the Defense classroom, and when we got to where I could see it, I stopped.
"Y'okay Mary?" Seamus asked.
"Yeah.. alright." I replied.
"We've got ya," Neville smiled. "Fred wrote us to make sure we protect ya and al'that."
"I know," I smiled back. "But you protect me? Should be the other way 'round!" I chuckled.
"Let's just go." Neville laughed.
We walked in to literal hell. Snape, and the brother and sister were just standing at the front of the room, leering at us when we walked in. I took a deep breathe and followed the boys in.
"Fudge, over there. Longbottom and Finnegan, there." Snape pointed to opposite sides of the room. Seamus disobeyed them and followed me to a two-person table on to the side I was told to walk to. We sat down.
"Are you deaf, are just bloody stupid, Mr. Finnegan?" Alecto asked.
"Neither," Seamus answered.
"Go over there," I whispered to him.
"Then why are you over there when we instructed you to the other side?" Amycus asked.
Seamus didn't answer.
"Please.. go over there," I begged him.
"It's fine Mary," he replied in a whisper.
"UP HERE, Mr. Finnegan," the siblings demanded. Seamus got up, tapped my back, and walked to the front. He stopped in front of them.
Snape looked at them and proceeded to leave the room. I scowled at him when he walked by.
"Ms. Fudge, come up here!" they demanded. I stood up and walked to them.
"Please remind Mr. Finnegan what happens when students don't follow the rules," Amycus said.
"What? No.." I pleaded.
"I can go get Ginny".. she added.
I rolled my neck and started to tear up.
Seamus mouthed "it's okay."
I pulled my wand out, and pointed it at him. Tears coming from my eyes. My hand was shaking intensely as I looked in his eyes and thought of his mom.
"G'on," Alecto instructed.
My hand was trembling at the mere thought.
I didn't, I couldn't. Amycus slapped me across the face, hard. Seamus stood up at that point, Alecto punched him. And continued to beat him until I said something, "please stop!"
"Get the Weasley girl!"
"No!" I screamed. "He can do it to me.."
"Mary.." Seamus said after his beating was done. He was bleeding, and his eyes were swollen already.
"STOP!" the siblings screamed. "Sit down Fudge!" Amycus demanded as she forced me and Seamus into chairs.
"Longbottom! Up here!" He walked toward us. "G'on! Your friends broke the rules, as did you. This is your punishment, the pain is there's."
Neville stood there and looked at us, he was shaking a bit. But he wasn't the shy boy I once knew. No, he was brave and strong. Neville stood there, defiant. He didn't even pull his wand on us. "I'm not gonna do it," he said stoically.
"What?!" Alecto snapped.
"You heard me. I'm not gon do it. I won'."
Alecto was miffed— he punched Neville hard in the face.
"Neville!" I said as I attempted to get up. Amycus put her wand on me. "SIT DOWN!"
Neville was getting whaled on something awful. Refusing all the while to use the Cruciatus curse on me or Seamus.
"Alright! Bloody stop it!" we both said. Amycus walked over and slapped me across the face. Then she slapped Seamus. She turned her slaps into punches and struck Seamus again.
"Stop it!" I pleaded as they continued to batter my best friends. The ghastly siblings laughed as they punched and stunned them with various charms. They were torturing them, and my punishment was to watch. "Please! Stop it!" My cries went ignored.
After nearly 20 minutes of watching them get tortured, the siblings stopped.
"Hah! Look at you all now!" Alecto laughed as he got one last slap in on me. "Get out!"
I stood up, grabbed the boys, and rushed them out of the room.
"Fuck! I'm so sorry guys!" I said as I began to walk them toward the hospital, tears filled my eyes again.
"Mary.. it's not your fault!" Neville said while wiping blood from his brow. "Are you okay??"
Seamus rubbed his jaw and looked me in the eye. "He's right! Are you??"
"Bloody hell! They're way worse than I thought they'd be! I'm fine!"
"We don need the hospital, Mary. It's fine, really."
"No.. you're going! Both of you!"
"Yes ma'am," they both replied. I propped them on my body and took them to the hospital.
The next Thursday night, it was time. Time for the leaders of Dumbledore's Army to scout our new meeting spot. I was in my dorm with Luna and the girls.
"Alright girls, who's comin with?" I asked as I dabbed makeup on my bruises.
"I am!" Luna smiled, with kind eyes as she winced at my bruises.
"I'll come too!" Elizabeth said.
"Can you take all of us, Mary?" Meredith asked meekly.
"Ha, course! You just gotta take my hands!" They all smiled.
"Seamus, Neville, and I will go ahead.. make sure none of the cronies are around. When it's safe, I'll pop back here, grab you birds & head back!"
"Sounds brilliant!" Elizabeth said.
"Great! See ya soon!" I said as I apparated to the dungeons.
"Professor McGonegal!" I waved when I arrived to the dungeon. She hugged me, "Mary! I'm sorry for them, dear." She paused to look at my wounds. "I wish I could help you. All of you."
"Professor, you are!" I smiled as I hugged her again.
Neville and Seamus filtered in behind her.
"Al'right. Here it is!" Neville gestured.
"It's bloody brilliant! Perfect! Good find mates!" I said.
"We started lookin end of last year. Figured it'd be a great place!" Seamus said.
"Well, I love it!" I smiled. "Can I go get the girls?"
"I reckon! We seem to be good! Slughorn already checked out the area!" Neville answered.
"Be right back!" I aparated back to the dorm.
"Hi girls!" I said when I appeared in the room, around a corner.
"You're fine Mar!" Luna said and I walked into the middle of the room.
"Ready? Everyone grab my hand!" I said. I aparated back to the dungeons.
"Wicked!" Meredith and Elizabeth said when we arrived. Luna was smiling at the ceiling.
"Alright. You lot are gonna have to walk back tonight. That's bloody exhausting." I laughed.
Apparation was hard enough, and normally only house elves can apparate in and out of thick walls... I learned to do it, just bloody exhausted me, since I had to use more strength to get through.
Neville and Seamus had gone and gotten a few people too, just Lavender, Dean, Martin Greenlick, and Colin Creevy for now. They were showing them, and the girls around and telling them the plan of how it was to work. "This is base. We meet here. We'll have meetin's every Thursday. You can swap out your time between here and your dorm if ya want" Neville said.
"But," I added "it's very important that you keep this room, people, and magic inside a secret from people not in The Order or DA. AND just so you lot know.. as the leaders of Dumbledore's Army, the three of us will take any blame for anythin that comes down on us, IF it does."
Neville and Seamus nodded in agreement. "Also," Seamus added, "Mary's in charge of the radio. It's Fred show anyway. We listen to him and the death toll station. Clear?" He asked. The members shook their heads.
"These rules will be posted on the wall when we all meet officially," I finished. "You can go! Thank you all!" They all filtered through the tiny, hidden door.
Then it was just me, Seamus, Neville, and Professor McGonegall.
"Oh, Ms. Fudge" she said "I have this for you!" She handed me a letter as she smiled.
"Fred?!" I asked her excitedly.
She shook her head. 'She must've intercepted mine and ensured that Fred got it,' I thought.
That's exactly what she did, "I saw you in the owlery the day after first day. I intercepted your owl— I wanted to make sure Mr. Weasley got it." She smiled.
"Professor! If they find out you're intercepting letters before they read em they'll.." (the bloody gits were reading our letters).
"Shh. Ms. Fudge... they won't! I know you miss him. And I happen to like the Weasley family," she winked.
"An' you two! D'ya help?" I asked the guys.
They just smiled.
I read the letter:
'Mary,
My love, I am so sorry you're already having a bloody awful time, wish I could help! But thank you for watching over Ginny— she loves you as the sister you are. I hope they're not hurting you— I'll kill 'em. I love you always, Fred.'
I smiled at how he loved me. "Thank you Professor!" I looked down at my watch, it showed Fred was close. "Curious," I said.
"Pardon?" McGonegall said with a suspicious voice.
"Oh, uhm.. this watch, along with telling time, allows me to see where Fred is, in relation to me.. and it says he's close. I've never seen it be wrong before.." I said still looking down at it.
They were all smiling when I looked back up.
"What, you lot?"
"Look again," Seamus smirked.
He was even closer now. "What?! How?"
"Hogsmeade..." Neville said with a smile.
"What?! How...? D'you lot?" I started to tear up.
"Go!" they all instructed. I smiled from ear to ear and apparated to Hogsmeade.
When I re-appeared I had to duck for cover from a Death Eater. He didn't see me, and I looked down at my watch again, Fred was right on top of me.
"Got ya!" someone said before grabbing my waist.
"Oh!" I turned around. "Freddie!" I jumped into his arms and wrapped my legs around his waist.
"I've missed you!" he exclaimed. "McGonegall sent your letter... what the bloody hell is going on up there? Why didn' it come by owl?" he asked while looking in my eyes. He put me down, but held my waist. I took my knit cap off and gazed into his beautiful eyes.
I couldn't lie to him, "it's awful Freddy. They're torturing students... well me, Neville and Seamus get most of it... but I'm sure others! I had to watch our new Death Eater professors batter them, while I just sat there!"
He just listened, getting angrier and angrier.
"That wasn't even the worst of it! First day, at the bloody welcome lecture.. they used me as an example of 'what happens when you break the rules.' I reckon I did piss 'em off a bit. I attacked them.. they.." he put me down as I finished talking.
"Mary?? Why'd ya do that?" he grabbed my shoulders and looked in my eyes with tears in his.
"They destroyed ALL of our personal items- photographs, gifts, snow globes.. anythin that's not related to school, they got rid of, before WE even arrived. Bloody rubbish! I wen' to go confront Snape and he had these two Death Eaters.. professors, tossers actually.."
"Mary, you didn.."
"I had to! They took m'things! But... they knew everythin about me, Freddie. What happened to mum, that she was muggle-born, that you and I are dating. It was bloody terrible! They know what you and George do! They have no right to speak your name!" I started to tear up.
"Mary, love.." he kissed the top of my head.
"It gets worse Freddie.. at the welcome lecture they used me as example— I started to walk over to chat with Neville and Ginny, the two tossers— the female one, she asked where I was goin. An' I told her. She lost the plot Freddie! Totally! She screamed at me, an' after I was done toyin with her a bit.. I asked her what would happen if I didn' walk up there, an' her bloody brother said they'll go after you an' George!" I was crying again.
"Let them come," he scowled.
"No!"
"Sweetheart," he said as he kissed my forehead. "Let them come. Georgie an' I can handle it."
"That's not the point! They can' just threaten you! They know the Weasley's are my weakness now! I'll do anythin to keep you all safe!"
He grabbed my face and kissed me hard.
"There we're gonna to do it to Ginny... I had to let them do it on me!"
"What, love..?" he was confused.
"Cruciatus! They were NOT gonna do that to Ginny!" I was in a full sob at that point.
"Fuck..." I felt his hands tighten around my waist just then.
"Don' Freddie! It's fine! I... Ginny is safe." He wrapped me up in his arms and I cried into his chest. "I missed you so much Freddie!"
"I love you Mary, please don' let them hurt you anymore!"
"But Ginny.. they will hurt her! They don't care! I'll be fine, so will she. I have Seamus and Neville too!"
He kissed the top of my head before speaking again, "you're one of the bravest people I know Mary Emilia, and I'm bloody proud to love you!"
I locked eyes with him, and grabbed his face. "I would do anythin for ALL'you, ya hear? They can' just threaten the people I love most and get away wit it!"
"Just be careful, please. Don' piss em off into hurtin you anymore," he pleaded. "I love you."
"I love you more Freddie! Oh, we found a place for D.A meetings!"
"Wonderful," he winked. "You should get goin love. You cant get in more trouble!"
"I love you always, Freddie."
"I love you always," he replied.
He apparated away after blowing me a kiss. I did the same. I was back in the dungeons with the lot. I wiped tears away.
"Y'tell him?" Neville asked.
"Yeah.." I answered. "He was miffed."
They just looked at me, "what?" I said.
"Did it go well though?" Neville asked shyly.
"Oh yes! It was wonderful seein him! Thank you all, so much!" I smiled at the group. I walked over and hugged them.
"Alright, y'three. I'm off to bed. Be careful," McGonegall said before she departed.
"What do we do?" I asked the guys.
"Sleep here or in our beds," Seamus laughed as he looked around the large room. The ceiling was high and rounded, the walls were white brick and floor was cold to the touch, and grey concrete.
"Erm.. right," I chuckled. "What're you two doin?"
"Well it's just me an' Seamus in our dorm room, since ya know, Harry n' Ron are gone.." Neville said.
"I'm stayin here Neville," Seamus said.
"If you are, I am."
"You two.. bloody. Fine! I will too. I brought enough," I laughed and rolled my eyes.
They staked claim on two spots across the room from me, far enough to give me privacy, but close enough so they could still see me. I laid down a few blankets and a pillow.
While I was trying to sleep, I rolled over to my left side and saw it.. a giant hole covered with an empty canvas. I swear it wasn't there earlier, or maybe I just didn't actually look around the room. "Oi! Neville! You asleep?" I yelled in a whisper. I waited, and did it again. "Pssst! Neville! Wake up!"
"Mary? What's wrong?!" He answered with concern in his voice.
"Nothing y'tosser, don worry. But what is that?!" I gestured toward the opening.
"Oh right! We forgot!" he said as he rolled over and started to walk over to me.
"McGonegall says it leads to a friend."
"A friend?! That could be anybody..."
"Do trust her?" he asked.
"Who? McGonegall? Hell yes!"
"Then we'll find out when we need to," he smiled as he patted me on the head.
"Now I'm just bloody curious!" I laughed. "G'night Neville."
"G'night."
———————————————————————
The following week, we all got to work. The members of Dumbledore's Army filtered in and found their places in the giant room.
I had snuck down to Hogsmeade and found one of those room dividers, and put that up— we could go behind that and change if we needed.
Neville and Seamus had been working on stealing tables and chairs, cots, the like. It was shaping up to be a real nice spot. We had the radios set up, and we have a nice communication system with the members of the order.
One day, before we were about to begin our meeting Ginny runs down, "Mary! Snape wants you..."
"Fuck. F'what?" I asked her.
"Dunno. But he does. Just you.." she replied.
"Well, bloody fuck. Guess I better go. S'okay guys" I said to Neville and Seamus before I walked toward Ginny. I rolled my eyes and passed her to walk out our tiny, hidden entranceway.
I started the walk to his office, thinking of how I was gonna deal with the pain this time. But, 'would I be meeting with Snape or his cronies?' I thought. I approached the elevator that led the headmasters office and entered, with a lump in my throat. "Butter Mellow," I said. The elevator rose and stopped at his office.
When I excited, he was standing next to the desk, facing the ceiling.
"Erm, sir.. you wanted to see me?" I asked.
"Yes... Ms. Fudge.. sit down." He pointed to a plain chair with handles, in the middle of the room. I sat down, and he was still staring at the ceiling. I didn't say anything else.
Then he turned. "Ms. Fudge.... I've been told.. you've been using magic... illegally.. on school grounds.. to visit the wretched Wesley boy and his brother..."
I paused, and lied. "I dunno who told ya that, but they're lyin!" I gripped the chair handles.
Truth was, I'd been apparating to Diagon Alley to see Fred and George almost every day.. I thought I was good at hiding it. But a few times, I landed inside the clocktower courtyard, instead of my common room or the dungeon. Bloody git.
"It's not wise... to lie to me... Fudge," he sneered. I paused, I had no bloody idea what to say.
"Magic at school isn't illegal.."
"It is... when you're not instructed to use it..using magic at your will...is.. dangerous."
"Well, that wasn' me.."
He knew I was lying. Fuck.
"Ms. Fudge.... do not... lie to me."
I panicked inside.
"Legilimens," he snapped.
It burned.
He was in my head, looking at my memories.
"Fuck," I said to myself. I had to hide the recent memories of the twins, AND the memories of the new D.A. meeting spot... I was panicking. I resurfaced old memories, painful ones— Fred and I's fight, mums death, the burrow burning, Bill after being attacked, George getting jinxed.
I read about this spell before— pushing forward old memories to hide important ones usually worked to combat it.
"That ones private!" I yelled as forced him out of my mind. He almost saw a shag session with Fred. "I told ya. I didn' go anywhere!" I was out of breathe.
"Your mother, Fudge...."
"Don' say anythin, Snape."
"You can go.. Ms. Fudge." And that was the end. He went and sat down at his desk. I got up, and walked toward the door, and looked behind me. He was looking down at his desk. I entered the elevator.
When I exited, I paused and remained confused as to why he didn't press the issue farther. Oh well, it was over. I had to get back to the dungeon.
When I got back, everyone ran to me and asked me how it went. "Fine, everyone! Fine." I said. "He tried to bring up memories. I had to push bad ones up, those are all he saw. We're safe.."
"Thanks Mary!" A chorus of answers came through.
"You're all bloody nuts, ha!" I smiled.
———————————————————————
It was soon time for Christmas break, only it wasn't a break at all. Snape forbid most Gryffindor's, and a select few Ravenclaws, to go home. It was my first in 5 years that I wouldn't be leaving Hogwarts to head to the burrow. To say I was devastated was an understatement.
"This is bollocks!"
"I know Mar," Neville answered. "I know you miss em."
"You're bloody right. Fuck.. I'm going."
"Mary, you can't!" Seamus added.
"I don care what they'll do to me! I have to see Fred!" I screamed back. The rest of D.A sat in stunned silence. They'd never heard us fight.
"You told us before.. they'll hurt them if they find out," Neville gently reminded me.
"Bloody... and y'two.. I know! This is bollocks!" I was miffed. "I sent a letter an'way. I just hope they got it.. if not.. *ding*.. bloody.. Freddie will come for me," I looked down at my watch, Fred was close.
"Fuck! Freddie..." I whispered to my watch.
"Go Mary.." one of the Gryffindor's said.
"I just.. need to make sure he's not seen, is all..." I paused.
"We know.. go," Seamus added as he came up and rubbed my back. He and I never stayed mad after a fight.
"I promise, I'll be right back!" I said before I aparated out of the dungeon.
When I landing in Hogsmeade, I immediately had to duck into HoneyDukes to avoid bloody Death Eaters. I peered out, after they passed, and saw Fred walking across the way.
I ran and jumped him, we both fell into the snow. "Mary! Bloody hell.. ya didn show up an' I was worried! Told everyone I was comin ta get ya.."
"I miss you Freddie! I sent you all a letter.. but I reckon ya didn get it since you're here." I paused for a moment before I continued. "We can' go home for break this year, Fred. Well Slytherins, and a few Hufflepuffs can.. no Gryffindors, and no me, Luna, the girls, or most other Ravenclaws. Bloody stupid!"
He looked sad. "That breaks my heart Mary."
"Mine too, Freddie! I wanted nothin more than to see you and the family again, after this horrid year!"
"We miss you. Bill and Fleur are in too.."
"Bollocks! I'm sorry Freddie. I can' risk Snape knowing I've been talking to you... he might already suspect my aparating outings."
"Buggar. S'okay, Mary.. don' get in trouble. Here's the updated plans for the order," he said as he handed me a bit of parchment. He grabbed my face and snogged me hard.
"I love you," I whispered.
"Mm.. I love you too, Mary," he whispered back.
I reached behind me and grabbed a pile of snow, and threw it at his head. "You..!" He smirked. He picked me up and threw me into a snow pile, tickling me. I was the happiest I'd been in months.
After a few minutes of tussling about in the snow, "Gotta go love! Don' get in trouble. I love you!" he pulled away, and kissed me one last time before he apparated away. I smiled so big, and did the same.
"Blimey.." I said when I appeared back in the dungeons. "It's snowin' you lot!"
"I love snow!" Luna said.
"I know Luna!" I smiled. "Go look! We're not in prison! I'm sure we can go in the courtyard! Ask a Professor though, to be sure!"
As Luna and a few others went out to look at the snow, Neville and Seamus walked up to me.
"From Fred.. The Orders updated plans," I said as I handed Neville the parchment.
"Excellent!" He said.
"He says hi.." I replied sadly.
"We miss him!" Seamus laughed.
"Ha! YOU miss him?" I laughed back.
"Weird Christmas," Neville added.
"Yeah.. weird Christmas indeed," I replied.