Disclaimer: I hearby…er…disclaim.
This is dedicated to Amber (MalfoyMyFerret), my fweepsy beta, and to Darkstar, who accepted my author account when Amber was busy being fweepsy.
Bat-Bogey Hexes
"Y-you don't want to go in there," said Ginny Weasley, cursing herself for being such a frightened little ninny. "Someone's let off a load of Garroting Gas, it's really awful -"
As one, the entire group of large, intimidating and ugly Slytherins smirked. Ginny tried to make herself as small as possible. Ginny was chilled to see Gregory Goyle at her from the front of the pack, flanked by what must have been the largest and heaviest students in the school.
"You're not going anywhere, Weasley," he sneered, as she turned to start singing. "You're coming with us, I expect the Headmistress will be there by the time we arrive."
She glared at him as Veronica Cromwell, an exceedingly ugly and large sixth-year Slytherin Ginny knew only by sight, pinioned Ginny's arms to her sides and held her tight in her grip. She was quickly gagged.
"NO! Leave her alone!"
Ginny struggled to turn her head around.
Neville.
No, Neville, go back! Go away! She tried to shake her head frantically as he dramatically drew his wand.
Goyle laughed lazily and reached out his hammy fist and punched him in the eye. The swelling bruise above Neville's eye was enough to preoccupy him as he too was seized by Crabbe.
Ginny heard the tap of heels on marble as another huge Slytherin returned, bearing Luna and grunted, "Warrington's got the other." Malfoy gave a curt nod as the boy Ginny recognized as Warrington of the Quidditch team rushed to the small group, bearing a struggling Ron, and another Slytherin girl came with Luna, who was not struggling at all.
The pitiful group moved slowly to Umbridge's office as Neville, Ginny and Ron struggled against their captors. Luna merely gazed dreamily at the walls. Ginny could have sworn she heard the blonde-haired girl humming the refrain of "Weasley is our King" to herself.
Ginny kept struggling and kicking and screaming against the gag and so did all the others, with the exception of Luna. It did no good.
When they arrived at last - Ginny's sense of quiet dread had made the short trip down the corridor seem like forever - the three scuffling Gryffindors and the quiet Ravenclaw were shoved unceremoniously into the office. Ginny thought she was in danger of vomiting.
"MmmMPH!" she yelled at Veronica Cromwell, doing her level best to kick her shins. Veronica tried to push her down.
"MMPH!" she screamed, pushing, shoving against her captor. She was vaguely aware of the hum of conversation going on beyond her but she didn't care.
And - and then Hermione, Harry and Umbridge were gone.
Ginny took advantage of the quiet to stomp on Veronica's feet and whirl to kick her in the stomach, which produced the happy effect of knocking her to the ground.
All of the hulking Slytherins stepped forward, grunting, at this, but Draco Malfoy stopped them with a wave of his hand.
"I'll get Weasley," he drawled, and they returned to their charges - Ron, who'd tried to escape at this, got a punch in the lip for his troubles. Quickly Malfoy strode to Ginny and pinioned her arms to her sides, making sure she could not possibly escape, but she'd managed to bite through the gag.
"Let GO of me, Draco Malfoy!" she screeched, voice sore.
"Now, now, I don't think I could do that, Weasley," he said softly, twirling Harry's wand.
"I NEED to GO!" she screamed, not even knowing what she was saying.
"Oh, really," he whispered, his voice showing contempt.
"You think you're so great, you think you're so important, but there are more important things than you, Draco Malfoy, and if you'll excuse me, I'm off to save the world."
Rather a nice touch, she reflected, as she whirled around, flaming hair flying, and pointed her wand straight into his very surprised face.
Her voice was calm and clear as she intoned quietly, "Advocato verspertilios!"
She had only a glimpse of silver eyes, no longer languid but alert and - was that fear there? - before his face was covered in the great flapping monsters, eagerly attacking.
Malfoy shrieked and went down, grabbing at the wall frantically, clawing at the beasts as they attacked mercilessly.
She'd found it terribly amusing when she'd tried out her Bat-Bogey Hex on George after he'd put some dried Coughing Concentrate in her mashed potatoes ("But Mum, it was all in the name of science!" he'd yelled as Mrs. Weasley emptied his pockets of all the prototypes) but somehow this was utterly unamusing. She didn't feel bad for Draco Malfoy, did she? Could she possibly?
Immediately, as one, Ron and Neville turned on their captors, taking advantage of their shock, and hit Crabbe and a hulking Slytherin with Stunners. The Slytherin, however, had managed to shift his bulk and the jet of red light hit the stone, chipping it slightly.
Neville didn't lose his head, whipping an Impediment Jinx perfectly at his captor, who couldn't evade it this time.
Luna remained adrift in her own little world. Absently, she took her wand from behind her ear. Before her captor knew what hit him - literally - she said vaguely, "Expelliarmus!" The wand flew out of the Slytherin's grip and Ron quickly hit her with a Stunner.
The tap-tap of Ginny's flat black heels on the corridor and then their soft patter on the ground outside echoed in her head as she raced to find Harry and Hermione. She led the group. She didn't quite know why; Ron was older and so was Neville, although he plodded along steadily - good old Neville who was always so willing to follow.
Luna Lovegood, who was last, looked deep in thought, but as Ginny spared a quick glance back at her she looked less ethereal then she'd ever seemed. Her eyes were unclouded and focused.
All of a sudden, it hit Ginny what she had to do.
After all, as she had told Draco Malfoy, she needed to save the world.
She did reflect, however, her thoughts straying, that she was excellent at hexes, although as Mum was always reminding her, her Charms work could use some practice; when Ginny hexed someone, they stayed hexed.
It was only reasonable that Ginny Weasley was exceedingly proud of her Bat-Bogey Hexes.