(one of) my favorite comment(s) from the last chapter:
BeOkToday : "FUCKING HELL I JUST SPENT THE WHOLE
NIGHT READING THIS SERIES
AND ITS 2:00 AM WHAT AM I DOING I HAVE MORNING CLASSES TOMORROW MERLINS BEARD IM DOOMED"

i chose this one because i
relate to this sooo very much.

Ch. 16: Re-Fractured

Songs for this Chapter: Arctic Monkeys - R U Mine?

LANA'S POV :

Things had escalated so very quickly that night, that it was almost too hard for me to piece together on my own. One moment, Ginny, Jenna, Luna, and I were creeping into the Headmaster's Office, getting the signal from Neville that Snape was making his nightly rounds of the castle, and the next moment ... there was a blur of black.

My fingers had barely pushed against the glass case around the glistening Sword of Gryffindor, and then my eyes were shrouded in midnight. It felt like I was choking on the thick smoke, and I struggled to breathe as the ground left my feet, being tossed into the air.

Struggling against the cloud, which quickly formed into a cloaked Death Eater, I felt the weight of their unpredictably strong arms pin me down. I blinked away the film that had covered my eyes as the lanterns in the Headmaster's Office ignited, blinding my sight for a moment.

Each of one of us were tagged by a Death Eater, and I could see the fear on each of my friends' faces.

Craning my neck to the side, I struggled to make eye contact with the girl who was holding me in place. I was faintly surprised by the amount of strength the girl, Rachel Harvard, had.

She didn't look very strong, in fact she seemed to be thinner than the last time I had seen her. There were pale blue circles under her purple eyes, and I could tell that she was trying her hardest not to meet my gaze. I stared harder.

No one broke the silence in the room; it was as if we were waiting for something to happen. The calm before the proverbial storm.

The door to the Headmaster's Office slammed open with much needed extra drama as Professor Snape stalked in, a pained Neville behind him as he clutched to a bloody nose. Jenna jumped forward, eyes wide at his appearance, but was head back by the testicle-clad Evil Twin.

"They set off the charm," said the Carrow sister, taking a step forward, hands folded calmly behind her back as she cast me a placid smile, eyes scanning the rest of our crew. "I think that the two red-heads organized it. The Weasley is suspicious, of course, Snape."

I caught Ginny's eyes as she scowled, offering her a wink. It took all my strength to act casual about the situation, and she could tell that I was afraid, but she forced a smile back.

Snape shoved Neville to the floor, and stepped over him, his black eyes racking over us like hot coals. Tilting his hooked nose in the air, Snape nodded at his fellow Death Eaters and shrugged. "I sense we should punish them?"

The Carrow sister nodded eagerly, drawing her wand. However, Snape motioned for her to lower it. "No, not you, Alecto." Snape took a step closer, sizing up the group of us. "The others will handle the punishment; I need you to send a letter to Bellatrix."

"A letter." Alecto's lip curled back in distaste, showing her yellowed teeth as she began to bite out an insult at Snape. "Who do you think I am?"

Snape ignored her pointed question and simply nodded at the other Carrow sibling. "Do as you see fit, Alecto. However, do you want me to inform our Master that you have defied my order?" The woman paled, balking at the notion. "As I suspected. You are to be my new Deputy Headmistress, and as such, you will draft this letter."

Snape said nothing more as he left the room, Alecto Carrow following his trail with her tail between her legs and her head hung low. My heart sunk to my stomach when the door clicked shut behind them. Pain would soon follow. My eyes met with Jenna's and I was worried about what they would do to her. I was worried about what they would do to all of us.

"Alright then," Amycus Carrow said in a chipper tone. "The two red-heads first. Then," he reached out a hand and pinched Jenna's bruised cheek, causing her to wince, "the blondies."

Tears welled up in Jenna's eyes as the Death Eater pinched her cheek harder, obviously bruising her cheek more. I was proud at how she bit her tongue and didn't yelp in pain. Rachel muttered an apology in my ear, confusing me as she thrust me forward beside Ginny.

Carrow sized me up in one glance and immediately grabbed my right hand that was swollen and aching from being broken weeks before. With the strength of a demon, he grinned and twisted my fingers until I could hear the bones pop and snap.

I screamed so loud I was sure I woke the entire castle.           

ELLE'S POV :

I was getting pretty tired of all the bullshit attitudes sprouting up.

"Elle, stop making that face," Hermione sighed, staring adamantly at the pages of the fairytale book Dumbledore had left her in his will. She didn't even need to look at me to know I was not happy. "I said no about the ... drugs," I tried not to laugh as she whispered that word, as if it was dirty, "because we need to be smart about this. You know that."

Rolling my eyes, I crossed my arms over my chest and leant against one of the wooden poles holding up the tent Hermione, Harry, and I were taking shelter in. "It was a joke." I insisted, only half lying. "I'm not even mad about that."

Hermione huffed, sensing that I was going to keep distracting her from her readings and bookmarked her current page before turning to me. "All right, Elle. Why are you mad?"

"Do I need a reason?"

Hermione pinched the bridge of her nose. I noticed how tired she seemed, and how much this whole ordeal was taking a toll on all of us, Harry and Ron especially.

Frowning, I shook my head and stood up, hobbling on the split for a moment before gaining my balance. "Forget it, Hermione. Just, go back to what you're doing." 'Reading fairytales, as if Dumbledore had some master plan about all of this.'

I was angry. And, I was sure that Hermione noticed it by the way I feebly attempted to slam the front flap of the tent closed. It was childish, my attempt, and I felt stupid for doing it.

I sucked in a deep breath and turned my eyes to the grey, cloudy horizon. I wasn't entirely sure what time it was, but I was sure of when it was. The air was turning colder and soon winter would be upon us. I wondered if Christmas was coming up soon. I worried that it had already past me by. Shaking my head, I recounted the days in my mind, assuring myself that Christmas had not yet gone by.

Chuckling to myself, I walked away from the tent and towards a fringe of trees, thinking how silly I was to still be excited for a holiday I most likely would be spending in a tent. But, Christmas was the best. And, in a tent or no, I was determined to make the best of it.

I could hear the sound of static in the distance, and it perked up my senses. Following the noise, I found Ron sitting alone under a tall tree, face shrouded in pain and anger, but also a hint of sadness in his eyes. It was a face I knew well.

I paused before I entered the clearing. Ron had begun to go off on his own a lot these past few days, and I was unsure if he even wanted company. Something told me that he just didn't want to be around the others.

Ron and I had been spending a lot of time together, just him and I. It was great to be able to relate with him on all these fears that we were feeling, and the fact that Hermione and Harry seemed so oblivious to them. But, on a down side, it was becoming more and more evident everyday that there was a divide happening. It was 'Us' against 'Them' most days, and it wasn't until after the quick snippets of fighting that I would realize it and feel bad.

I was happy, though, that Ron didn't seem to mind my company. And yet, I still waited for his permission before I joined him.

Ron glanced up to meet my eye, looking around my body to see if the others were with me, then offered me a feeble smile. That was the signal that all was good.

Leaves crunched beneath my feet as I made my way to his fallen tree branch bench. I could hear Lee on the radio, giving the latest report on the situation in Hogwarts.

"Anything happen that I should know?" I asked, rubbing my cold hands together to get some warmth in my frigid fingers. Ron shook his head. "Good," I sighed in relief with the word.

Kicking some dried leaves into a pile and brushing some scattered twigs into the mess as well, I ignited a small forest fire with my wand. It wasn't much, and it wasn't very warm, but it was enough.

George's voice came onto the radio and Ron's smile slipped from his face, just as mine did. Reaching out, I cranked up the volume dial and leaned in closer to hear his report.

'More news from Hogwarts, fresh from our secret informant. Early this morning, at about four, it seems that five students were injured in attempts to help in the fight against the Dark One.

With holidays coming round, it is a dark matter to talk about the possibility of these students being held at the Hogwarts Castle instead of being released for end of term.

The names, for those loved ones listening, are: Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Lana Dowel,' -- I grabbed Ron's hand and felt him squeeze my palm reassuringly -- 'Jenna Chase, and Ginny Weasley.

We have no fatalities within Hogwarts to report as of this week.'

"Oh no," I gasped, meeting Ron's eye. "Those fucking idiots," I hissed to myself. "What have they gotten into now?"

I cradled my head in my palms and thought about Jenna and Lana. I felt guilty. I hadn't thought too much about them and what they could possibly be getting into at Hogwarts. I realized now that I was a fool for thinking that they would keep their heads low and simply stay out of trouble. It wouldn't have been hard for them to do, as they were both Pureblooded family lineages. But no.

"Ron," I pulled myself from the worry from my friend to the worry for my soon to be sister. "I'm so sorry. I'm sure Ginny is going to be all right."

He didn't say much, just mumbled somethings and turned down the radio, eyes clouded with fear and anger.

"This whole thing is fucking nuts," I whined, running my fingers through my matted hair, getting caught on some large sized tangles. "I thought... I thought that he had a plan."

I didn't believe in Dumbledore any more. How could I? I hadn't grown up with the man like Harry and Ron and Hermione. Hell, I had barely known him. The whole situation was just... terrible.

"Should we head back?" I asked, after a period of time had passed in tense silence. Th both of us had been so deep in our own thoughts that I was sure time had escaped us.

"I want this to be over." Ron's voice was sharp and cut against me.

"I do too."

------

sorry it's so short, homies.

welcome back to elle + fred's story

i was going to post a picture of some broke ass fingers, but i figured i would spare you guys the horrible gore that is now lana's right hand

[FML it's now been a full year of this book being up?! HOW HAS TIME GONE SO FAST! I'M SO TERRIBLE TO YOU GUYS FOR NOT BEING FURTHER ALONG! OML I AM SORRY! MORE TO COME SOON]