The Forgotten 7th Year

The Rebirth of Dumbledore's Army

Ginny's POV

Monday morning, I was discharged from the infirmary.

Madam Pomprey didn't think I was ready, but Professor Carow insisted I be back in class with the other students.

Luna and Neville and left Friday night, but I was cursed more, so the damage was more extensive.

That Defense Against the Dark Arts class, we were not asked to vote. Instead, we were given a very long lecture on Sectumsempra. The very curse that took off George's ear.

Though the entire lecture, Amicus watched me. I flinched every time his gaze met mine, the echo of my own pained scream ringing in my ears. The feel of his thumb, tracing me. A shudder coursed though me.

When class ended, I couldn't get out fast enough. The room seemed toxic and stifling, and the memories. They overwhelmed me as I sped into the hall.

I pressed my palms into my eyes, as I tried to breath.

Transfiguration was next. A good class. Not at all traumatizing. I'll be fine.

When I got to class, Professor Mcgonagall gave me a kind look.
Luna was already there. I was grateful she didn't object when I started talking to her.

"Hi."

"Hi...how do you feel?"

I was about to save fine, but paused. I knew I wasn't fine. I'd known since Defense Against the Dark Arts, when I'd seen Amicus for the first time since the Detention. "Not good." I replied honestly.

"Me neither. Throughout the whole lesson, Alecto stared at me with this superior little smirk. But, for you...we got a curse at the beginning, and occasionally after that, but Amicus tortured you constantly.
When you stopped screaming. I've never been more scared. It was like you'd..given up, and you just hung there, twitching. Well, what I'm trying to say is...it didn't look like you were going to be alright. And it was my fault! They only noticed you because you defended me. If you'd stayed quiet-"

"They would have done it to you."

"Exactly! And if I hadn't tried to escape-"

"They would have tortured Neville. There is nothing you could've done. Don't blame yourself for this."

Luna nodded, but her eyes remained dark with guilt. She changed the subject.
"The Nargle population has been growing very quickly. Soon, they might attack the unicorns.

Professor Mcgonagall saved me from responding. 

"Today, we will be learning how to Transfigure porcupines into pincushions."

The class was hard, but eventually I managed to turn my porcupine into a sort of pincushion. To my knowledge, pincushions did not walk around and shoot pins, but I felt satisfied with my work nonetheless.

The other students left the classroom, but Professor Mcgonagall said, "Ms. Weasley, a word? Ms. Lovegood too."

Luna and I hung back.

"Would you like a butterbeer?"

We accepted the offered glasses.

"I would just like you to know, the ordeal you've been though, if there's anything I could do to make it easier, let me know. I certainly don't expect you to complete homework, at least until you feel better. Mr. Longbottom too."

"Thank you." Luna said, and I knew what she was thinking. Now we'd have more time to devote to the DA.

I instantly felt guilty. She was giving us time to recover, from our detention, and we were using it to do something that would probably get us in detention again. I took a swig of butterbeer to hide and school my face into blankness.