43 - A New Hogwarts

                                    

                                          
Serena's POV:
                          
        "Hi, Neville. Hi Luna. Want to sit in a cabin with us?" Ginny asks. "Sure. Did you know that there are wackspurts on this train right now?" Luna asks in her dreamy voice. We walk into an empty cabin. "So what are wackspurts again?" I ask. "You don't remember? I told you last year. They're invisible creatures that make your brain go fuzzy," Luna says. "Right," I say. "Wait, you were at the wedding right?" I ask suddenly. "Yes, why? It was a very lovely wedding though it was rudely interrupted," Luna says. "Krum told me that your dad was wearing Grindelwald's sign," I say. "Oh, that necklace? It's the sign of the Deathly Hallows," Luna says. "The Deathly- you mean like the items from that fairytale?" I ask. "Daddy reckons that it is a true story," Luna says. "Of course he does," I mutter. 
                          
          When we arrive at the castle, my aunt hugs me tightly. "Molly told me that you disapparated somewhere and didn't come back till yesterday," she says. "I'm fine. I accidentally apparated to Amos Diggory's house but Krum brought me back to the Burrow yesterday," I say. She sighs. "I was worried sick about you. Do you know what my brother would've done if I was the one that wrote to him that his daughter was kidnapped by Deatheater?" she says. I laugh. "My father knows that I am perfectly capable," I say. "You should go with Mr. Longbottom to the Great Hall," she says, pushing me lightly. 
                          
         I rejoin Neville and Ginny. Luna had left to join the Ravenclaws. Professor Snape stood up to the podium where Dumbledore once stood. "Good evening, students. As you may know, I am now Headmaster of Hogwarts so there will be some changes in this school. First, curfew is now eight o' clock. Second, Alecto and Amycus will now be joining us in the staff. That is all for tonight. Eat your food and get back to your rooms," Snape announces. I roll my eyes. "Well, this is going to be a great year," I say sarcastically. "Agreed," Ginny says, returning my sarcasm. We finish our dinner quietly and we head back to the common room. 
                          
        The next day, I walk into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Defense Against the Dark Arts is now just Dark Arts. "I will be assigning you seats," Amycus says with an evil grin. I notice after the first few pairs, that they were placing everyone with a Slytherin. Please let me be with Draco. "Malfoy and Longbottom," Amycus says. I groan silently, preparing myself for the worst. "McGonagall and Zabbini," he continues. I let out a sigh of relief as I sit down next to Blaise. 

                          
         "What? Happy to sit with me?" he asks me in a low whisper. A small smile tugs at my mouth. "Yeah, kinda," I reply in a whisper. "Why?" he asks with a smirk. "Cause you're the most decent Slytherin after Draco," I answer. 
                          
         "Alright. Unforgivable curses. I'm sure you all know about them. Who wants to come up here to be an example?" Amycus asks. No one moved. Amycus looks back at his clipboard. "My, my. We have a... McGonagall in this class. How about you?" he says, looking straight at me. "I'll do it," Draco says suddenly. "No, no. I insist that McGonagall does it. Come up here. Now," he says. I get up unsurely and I walk to the front of the classroom. Amycus looks back at his clipboard. "Longbottom. Come up here as well. You will perform whichever one of the three you like. I would suggest the Cruciatus curse," Amycus says. Neville doesn't move. "I said. Get. Up. Here," he says. "N-no. She's my friend," Neville says bravely. "How sweet. Detention, 4 o'clock. Sit back down. Both of you," he growls. I walk back to my table where Draco send me a worried look. 
                          
           That night, Neville came back from detention with a large gash on his face. "Neville! What h-happened?" I ask, my voice shaking. "He just punished me like this. I'm fine though," Neville says. "Oh Neville. You should've just used the Cruciatus Curse on me!" I say. I felt terrible that Neville was hurt because of me. "It's fine. Besides, if it were you in my position, you wouldn't have done it either," Neville says. "I'm so sorry," I mutter. "It's alright. You have nothing to be sorry for. It was my choice," Neville says. I give him a tight hug and I thank him for standing up for me. 
                          
            As days went by, nothing got better. The Carrows kept giving detentions and punishments and Amycus kept making us perform the Cruciatus Curse. "Perform the Cruciatus Curse on your partners and I will watch each of you. Now go on," Amycus says. I look at Blaise who gives me an apologetic look. I brace myself as the curse hits me. The feeling of my bones being on fire and my fingernails peeling returned. When the pain stopped my throat was sore. "Very good. Your turn," Amycus says with a grin. I look at Blaise and I point my wand. Then I lower my wand and I say, "No." "Excuse me, what did you say?" he asks. "I said no. I am not going to use the Cruciatus curse on him," I repeat impatiently. "Use it or I'll use it on you," he says. There was a pain in my head and I was getting dizzier by the second. "Do it," I say with all my strength. Amycus points his wand at me and starts to say, "Cru-" But before he could finish, my legs gave out and I collapse on the floor. Then everything went black. 
                          
          When I regained conscience, I was in the Hospital Wing with Neville next to me. "What happened?" I ask. "You collapsed and Amycus left you on the floor. Said you deserved it for not listening to him. Draco was furious but he couldn't do anything. Eventually, Snape came looking for Amycus and told me to bring you here," Neville explains. "Ugh. My head hurts so much," I complain while rubbing my forehead. Then the Hospital doors burst open and Ginny, Blaise and my aunt come rushing in. "Serena! I heard what happened. Are you alright?" Ginny asks. "I'm fine," I say with a smile. "How did this happen!" my aunt demands. "She was trying to help me," Blaise mutters. "What?" my aunt asks. "Amycus made me perform the Cruciatus curse on her. And then he told her to use it on me but she didn't. Then Amycus says that either she does it to me or he'll do it to her. And then she told Amycus to do the curse on her. Amycus was going to but before he could do anything, she collapsed," Blaise tells my aunt. My aunts face had turned red and I knew this wasn't going to be good. "I'm alright. No need to make a big deal out of it," I say getting out of the bed. My aunt starts to say, "Once I find-" "I said I'm fine!" I shout. My aunt purses her lips and I leave the Hospital Wing. 
                          
           Blaise catches up to me and asks, "Why did you do that?" "I don't know. It didn't feel right to perform a curse like that on someone else," I answer. "I performed it on you though," he points out. I shrug. "We all make mistakes and bad choices."