Chapter 7: Snogging Me?

When the Golden Trio had asked him to accompany into Hogsmeade that monthly visit, Neville had been thrilled to be included. Harry had said Neville was a relaxing presence to be around, especially with all the stressful and dark events going on with Umbridge and her ilk. Besides, Neville seemed like an ideal candidate for their "first recruit." Neville wasn't sure what that meant, but if he knew Harry, he imagined all would be revealed in due time.

The quartet took a booth in the corner of the Hog's Head pup, where Harry laid out his plan. Well, it was really Hermione's plan, but he was just reciting the logic she had put into his head. Neville was all too eager to help launch a secret Defense Against the Dark Arts club, to counteract all that Umbridge was failing to teach them.

In the middle of listing the names of potential recruits, Ron seemed to become distracted by a table behind him. "What the bloody hell is my sister doing with Dean?"

Hermione chanced a glance behind her. "Oh, honestly, Ron, they're only holding hands." That is, until Dean leaned across the table and captured Ginny's lips in his. "And snogging," Hermione amended.

Ron grew progressively uncomfortable, going so far as to announce pointedly while the bartender arrived with their drinks, "I'd like to leave."

"Don't be ridiculous!" Hermione scolded, even as she failed to hide her amusement at his discomfort. "If Ginny saw you or Neville snogging me, would you expect her to get up and leave?"

Neville didn't particularly have an answer to what Ginny might do in that situation. But Hermione raising a hypothetical scenario of him kissing her made Neville want to reach around the table and snog the beautiful witch right there...