I know its been...forever...Hannah sorry... I LOVE YOU:D...REVIEW..or die...hehe me and my threates... (I'm not kidding...i'll hunt you down...now I'm kidding...oh just read!)
Later that night Neville had changed into his crimson pajama pants and a white tee shirt and tucked himself into his four poster by nine. He lie in bed quietly, listening to the lull caused by the symmetrical breaths of the other two seventh year Gryffindors. Without Ron's loud snoring and Harry's tossing and turning all night the room the five had been occupying for six years seemed eerily quiet. It was nearly silent as Seamus, Dean and Neville faked sleep, listening intently for footsteps on the stairs. Just when sleep threatened to overtake them, they heard the door creek open and they held their breath as they watched a pillar of light billow from the now open door. A few moments later THE DOOR SHUT AND Dean rolled over, looking up.
"How long should we wait, Neville?" He whisper-shouted to the boy who'd also sat up in his bed. Seamus shifted from his position where he'd been rolled over on his side facing the window so he could see Neville's shape in the dim lighting.
Neville thought for a moment before responding in a hushed tone. "Give her a moment to get back to the common room." He told them and they nodded, sitting in muted silence for a long stretch of silence before the boys stood from their four posters and drew their robes from where they'd placed them innocently over their trunks as if set out only for tomorrow-not a midnight randevú in the Room of Requirement. They slipped their robes on before Neville led them down the staircase and into the common room.
Assembled there was a group of ten brave Gryffindors all standing with their robes that obviously hadn't been thought of as much as thrown on. Ginny was leaning against the back of the couch, looking curiously at Neville as he descended. She was wearing grey pajama pants and a white tank top, red hair slicked back into a tight pony tale. Parvati sat on the couch behind them, reclining in silky blue pajamas with her black hair falling gently around her face. Lavender was standing beside Ginny in pink pajama bottoms along with a white tank top. Both Seamus and Dean were dressed in their old Quidditch practice clothes, adorned in Gryffindor crimson and gold. Then there were a few assorted fifth years Neville had yet to have much contact with that must have decided to join the resistance.
"Alright, let's go." Neville said, nodding at Ginny who reached behind herself to grab a little box which she stuck in her pocket before following him to the portrait hole. "Sh, no talking. Just walk, keep up and stay together." He told them before they descended upon the halls of Hogwarts. The group walked silently and quickly down the hallway, making their way in a hushed crowd until they reached their destination. Neville summoned the room before sliding the door opened to reveal a room full of several large couches and big arm chairs. Perched upon the couches were the other houses that had already arrived and ditched their robes which cluttered one of the arm chairs. Cho was there wearing a frown and brown pajamas, legs crossed as her dark hair fell in a curtain in front of her face. Padama was sitting beside Cho, watching as her matching twin sister darted to her side so they could sit together. Michael who had been sitting at the end of that couch, scooted over to sit beside Padama, taking her hand. On another couch Hannah sat in red pajama bottoms and a white tank top, patting the seat beside her as Seamus crossed the room to sit at her side. On her other side was Ernie who looked tired and was seemingly half asleep as his head lolled back in his yellow and black Hufflepuff pajamas. Then Susan was sitting off by herself in an arm chair, biting her lip still wearing her robes.
Neville sighed after surveying the group but then smiled warmly at them as the Gryffindors settled into seats with the others. Ginny sat on the arm of one of the chairs nearer to Neville so she could smile encouragingly his way. "Er, hi. It seems the Room of Requirement has decided that tonight isn't for practicing, so we'll just talk. This meeting shouldn't be longer than thirty minutes so soon you should all be back in your beds, so just stay with us." He said, eyeing Ernie nervously. "I'm sure by now you all have either heard or noticed that Harry, Ron and Hermione aren't coming back to Hogwarts." He told them and the room went silent as the news sunk in.
"Well where are they?" Michael who had always been skeptical of Harry's intentions asked, causing Ginny to growl quietly.
"They are out looking to take down Voldemort, you idiot." She snapped before Neville put a gentle hand on her shoulder to silence her rage.
Neville looked at Michael with a tired expression. "Pardon Ginny. It's a rather sore spot but what she said is true. Harry, Ron and Hermione were given a mission by Dumbledore when he was still alive and they have had to leave Hogwarts in order to fulfill this mission." He stood there for a moment, thinking of what he should say next before he looked at them seriously. "You know what? Dumbledore gave us a mission too." He announced, causing the room to buzz with a quiet contemplation. "Now, this was an unspoken mission. One that was uttered in the silence of that night when Dumbledore fell from the tower as we held our wands up to make the Dark Mark go away. That night we all promised Dumbledore one thing. We promised him that we'd protect Hogwarts. So, that's our mission and that's what we're doing here."
The room was as Neville's words sunk in and every person's expression was different. Some looked nervous and others looked proud while some just looked like "Oh Godrick, what have I gotten myself into?"
Ginny smiled up at Neville, nodding at him. "You're right Neville. This is our mission, to take care of our home and be ready for whatever comes because we all know something is coming." She added darkly, turning to look out the window at the dark, ominous sky looming over them. "We also know that Snape's not going to allow us to learn anything we need to know." She added before she turned back to them.
"But who'll teach us?" One of the younger Gryffindors piped up, their expression mirroring the expression in many other's faces.
Neville sighed. "I know we no longer have Harry but we still have each other." He told them, smiling weakly. "We have each other and even though Harry isn't here to teach us we can still practice. We can still work hard together and help each other improve. I personally know that Ginny's pretty brilliant with magic. Which brings me to the next point. Ginny, the coins?" He asked and Ginny stood up, reaching over to her robes which she'd slung on the chair to pull out that little box.
She opened it and held up a smile coin, looking at them with a small smile. "If you were in DA before, you'll remember these. Hermione was able to enchant them so they change whenever we're having a DA meeting and I've managed to imitate her enchantment so they'll do the same thing. So when you leave, make sure to pick up this coin and then you should check it periodically to see if we're having a meeting."
Neville smiled. "Thanks Ginny. Before we let you go I'd like to say that we're going to attempt to have a meeting once a week although it needs to be staggered and can't have a pattern to it. That's why the coins are so important. Alright I think that's been enough for now." He told them and everyone tensed as they stood to grab their robes. "We should leave in small groups so… lets see, Ravenclaws why don't you leave first?"
They nodded and slipped out the door. Hannah and Seamus walked over to where Ginny and Neville stood at the front, talking quietly. "Great speech, Nev." Seamus told him, patting his back playfully as Hannah smiled his way.
"Yeah, Neville that's a really good way to think about this whole thing." Hannah added, smiling at him. "Thanks. I honestly feel better."
Neville smiled at Hannah. "I'm glad." He told her and she smiled, turning to kiss Seamus' cheek.
"I guess it's time for the Hufflepuff's to head downstairs. I'll see you tomorrow." She told him and he nodded, smiling at her as she walked away.
Neville watched as she left before turning to Ginny, Seamus and now Dean. "That went well, didn't it?" He asked and they all nodded with a genuine smile.
"It really did. You're quite a good leader, Longbottom." Dean said, hitting his shoulder. "Who knew?"
