Doom Draco Day. Yeah, uh, don't have anything else to say other than read to make me happy! Actually, this chapter is going to have a lot of switches as to who is talking, POV, whatever. It may be confusing but I hope I have written it well enough so that you can follow along easily. Oh, and review! Reviews make me happy too! Shout out to PoppiiD…you're awesome! :)
(Saturday)
"Permission slips please! Hurry up Mr. Weasley, we're waiting on you!"
Professor McGonagall bellowed at the students as they huddled in a group, wrapped in their various house scarves. Ron was digging through all of his pockets, trying to find his slip. Finally finding it in his left chest pocket, he took out the torn and folded parchment.
"Err, sorry Professor. It's a bit torn up."
Professor McGonagall shook her head and snatched the paper with her long, slender fingers, "Very well Mr. Weasley. Well, that's all of you! Off you go! Enjoy yourselves!"
The mass of students turned away from the castle and started making the journey to Hogsmeade. Harry, never being able to acquire a signature from his terrible Uncle or Aunt, was concealed under the Invisibility Cloak. He was walking about a step behind Ginny and Ron, distancing them from Malfoy and Goyle, who were walking close behind. Harry whispered in his girlfriend's ear, "Watch Malfoy behind you. He's listening." Without turning around to give away the wizard's position, Ginny nodded her head ever so slightly.
The gang was walking in different pairs at various parts of the group to not draw attention. Luna and Cho were walking at the front, by the other Ravenclaws, and Hermione was walking with the other Gryffindor boys, save for Neville. 'Neville…where is that boy?' Harry pivoted his head, looking for the tall, dark haired wizard. He spotted him towards the back, behind the Slytherins, with Aubrielle Song. Harry raised his brow as he saw the couple. They were standing very close to each other, whispering. He knew that they were talking about today's plan but The Chosen One couldn't help but notice their close proximity and intimacy in their body language. How long had this been going on? Harry made a note to self to ask Neville about it later.
Hogsmeade's lit windows soon came into view. Normally this sight made Harry happy and feel warm. Now, he could feel his heart pounding against his rib cage. He took another glance at the two sixth years in the back of the group. Aubrielle's face grew pale as they approached the shops and restaurants. 'I wonder how she's doing.'
.o.
Neville grabbed Aubrielle's shaking hand and gripped it tightly, reassuring her that he was there and he wasn't going anywhere. Aubrielle gladly accepted the gesture, getting use to the wizard's little displays of affection.
"Neville, my heart is beating so quickly."
"It's normal Aubrielle. You're going to be fine, I told you that already."
"Yeah but words aren't going to comfort me right now."
Suddenly the Gryffindor stopped walking and yanked the witch back. He took his hand away from hers and used his arms to pull her into his chest. He encircled her and held her there, feeling her heart beat against his torso. She brought her arms up and put them around his waist, taking in his confidence that she seemed to be lacking recently. She buried her head into his chest and breathed. 'Alright Aubs, what the Hell has been going on? Huh? You need to be strong, be brave. You need to do this for not only yourself, but for Nielah and the other Ravenclaws.'
Neville gently put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her away to look into her face.
"Better?"
The witch smiled a genuine grin and nodded, "Better."
"Good."
Noticing that the two were significantly further back than the rest of the students, they picked up the pace to catch up. They had a Slytherin to stop.
o.O.o
Neville had to let go of Aubrielle's hand so she could join Seamus at the back door of The Three Broomsticks. Aubrielle felt lonely not having Neville next to her but Seamus seemed nice and she was always willing to make new friends. They were sitting on a stump, wands drawn, when the Gryffindor broke the silence.
"So, you're Aubrielle, right?"
The witch nodded her head and rolled her wand in her hand. She loved her wand. Nine and three quarter inches which a phoenix feather core. It was a beautiful brown color with a golden sheen. Her favorite part, though, was that there were two vine-like raised carvings, which wound all the way up to the tip of the wand.
"And you're Seamus? The one who had a knack for explosions?"
Seamus let out a hearty laugh as he heard her question.
"Yes, yes that's me. It's a gift, really. So, err, I know I don't know you very well, but you are a bloody brilliant seeker."
The Ravenclaw blushed as her record-breaking snatch played back in her mind. She really was proud of her Quidditch abilities and her team. It was one thing in her life that was constant, and she loved it. The witch smiled at the Gryffindor to show her genuine thanks. Quietness surrounded them once more but Aubrielle could tell that something was on Seamus's mind because he kept sneaking glances at her. She turned to face him and cocked her head to the side.
"Something's on your mind Seamus," the wizard quickly looked at the ground but Aubrielle pushed, "well, spit it out."
He was very quiet but the witch was still able to make out his run on words.
"."
"Hmm?"
"I, err, I'm being nosy. I just have noticed that you…and Longbottom…"
"Oh!' Aubrielle's eyes widened as she started to comprehend what Seamus was trying to say.
"I've, well we all have, been noticing that you two have been getting really close over the last week-"
"But we only started talking a week ago. Not like romantically talking, but just talking in general."
"So? People can start to have feelings for each other in that short of time. I don't know Aubrielle; I just notice you two are always together. And, when you are, Neville is really happy. Just saying."
The witch stared at him for a while before getting lost in her own thoughts. What were she and Neville? They were definitely friends by now, but was there anything more? Well, she liked it when he held her hand and he always knew how to comfort her. The witch thought back to Thursday when Neville practically shouted at her, inviting her to grab a butterbeer with him. She remembered the way his cheeks reddened and the way he averted her eyes. Had he been nervous about asking her? 'Does Neville Longbottom have feelings for me?'
.o.
Neville and Ginny were patrolling the streets, pretending to window shop together. In reality, they were keepings their minds alert and their eyes focused on anything that would seem out of the ordinary. Nielah ran into a shop with two other young Ravenclaw girls, making Neville think of her older sister. He loved Ginny, blimey she was his best friend, but he really wanted to be behind The Three Broomsticks with her, taking Seamus's spot. Ginny saw Nielah as well and decided to bring up the Ravenclaw beauty in conversation.
"So, how are you and Aubrielle? I saw you guys holding hands at the back of the group." The red head raised her eyebrows playfully.
"She was just nervous and I was comforting her," Neville said very matter-of-factly.
"Uh huh. I'm not buying it. I think she is starting to have feelings for you too."
Neville looked through a shop window and saw a gaggle of young Ravenclaws. He nodded to Ginny and the duo stepped inside the warm building. They casually walked around, picking things up and putting them down, keeping a look out for any suspicious Slytherins. When they decided that building was safe, they stepped out of the door and kept walking down the stone street.
"Don't get my hopes up Gin. Besides, this…this thing we may have, I'm taking it slow. Like, really slow."
"I know Neville, I'm just saying, it seems like she is more comfortable, happier, when she is around you."
The wizard thought back to his more one-on-one moments with Aubrielle. He remembered when she unexpectedly wrapped her arms around his waist in a hug after their meeting at the library. His body warmed with the thought of having his arms around her. Even just moments ago, when they were walking together, she let him hold her hand. She always let him hold her hand though; she never resisted or pulled away. Neville also liked how she confided in him and told him things that were personal to her. The Gryffindor had let his mind fantasize before about the possibility of Aubrielle liking him, but now, but now… 'Merlin, does Aubrielle Song have feelings for me?'
.o.
It was the weirdest thing; Harry had heard with his own ears that Malfoy was going to be luring Ravenclaw first years into the bathrooms of The Three Broomsticks with the help of Pansy, Blaise, and Astoria. Yet, nothing happened. When Professor Flitwick came around, rounding the students up to head back towards the castle, Harry and Ron just looked at each other with confusion. They had sat in the bathroom for 4 hours and there was absolutely no sign of Malfoy or his cronies. They slowly walked out and waited for Hermione and Luna to come out of the girl's bathroom. The two witches were just as surprised when they weren't visited by Pansy or Astoria.
"They never came in…at all."
Harry was nervously running his fingers through his hair, "Maybe Draco decided not to do it today. Maybe he knew he were on to him so he changed his plan."
Hermione shook her head as the four walked out of the pub to meet the others. While his words seemed reassuring, both teenagers knew that something else was going on; they just didn't know what it was yet.
"Yeah, that's got to be it."
The rest of the wizards and witches were waiting for them, all with the same perplexed looks on their faces. It was obvious that they didn't run into the nasty sixth years either. Harry noticed Aubrielle and Neville whispering off to the side and again caught himself thinking about the two's relationship. 'Ask Neville later, right.'
The students started walking back to Hogwarts and Ginny came and slipped her hand into Harry's. He smiled at her warm touch and turned to admire his girlfriend.
"So, you and Neville didn't see anything suspicious?"
"Nothing. It was weird Harry. I actually never saw Draco at all. Something's not right. I can, can feel it."
"Same. Hey, I don't mean to be nosy but is there something going on between Neville and Aubrielle Song? I just notice them talking a lot…"
Harry felt the witch's hand stiffen a tad in his own. He knew he was on to something now and he wanted to know more.
"Um, that's not really my place to say Harry."
"Gin I'm just curious! Besides, if something is going on between the two of them I would be really happy for Neville. He deserves a good girl."
Ginny looked over her shoulder to see the duo deep in conversation. Neville's forehead was scrunched in what looked like concern, while Aubrielle's eyes were glued to the ground.
"He does," she exhaled and looked back at her green-eyed boyfriend, "he asked her to get a butterbeer with him tomorrow since they weren't able to enjoy this trip like they should have. It's their first date-like thing, though, so I really don't want you pressuring him or teasing him."
A grin grew on Harry's face and he had that oddly familiar look of mischief. He turned back to look at the couple before putting his sights forward again.
"Oh this is gonna be fun."
The witch holding his hand suddenly let go and slapped him hard on his arm. As he let out a grunt of pain, Ginny walked in front of him, forcing him to look her in the eyes. Her face was red, almost blending with her long hair.
"Harry James! If you screw this up or make him feel bad, I will personally make your life miserable! You may be my boyfriend but he is my best friend and I want him to get this girl. Got it?"
Harry stopped walking and swallowed hard. The intensity in the girl's eyes were piercing through him. He shook his head at her, making her smile. She slipped her hand back into his and started walking again.
"Good."
.o.
"Neville nothing happened…at all! That worries me! Silence is more frightening to me than sounds of battle."
Neville sighed as the witch rambled on about her multiple concerns. Sure, he thought is bloody weird that nothing happened, but at the same time he knew that there was no point in stressing about it. Harry would be doing enough of that for all of them. And by the looks of it, Aubrielle would be too. 'Merlin this girl. This girl.' Neville changed the subject to one that was a Hell of a lot more important to him, their date for the following night.
"So about tomorrow-"
"We're still getting butterbeer, right?"
Neville chuckled at her quickness.
"Right. So I was just thinking that I could meet you outside the castle doors at…say… 7:45? And then we could walk to Hogsmeade together? Yeah?"
The Ravenclaw let a smile consume her face but tried to contain her eagerness as to not seem too excited. She really was anticipating their outing, but she wanted to play it cool.
"Sounds good Neville. Can't wait."
The witch gently reached over and took the wizard's hand in her own. This time, instead of holding handshake style, she interlaced her fingers with his. She felt Neville jump a little at the more intimate gesture, which caused her to chuckle.
'Oh yeah, Neville definitely has feelings for me.'
'Merlin it's true. Aubrielle has feelings for me.'
I'm sorry that this chapter is a little bit on the short side. The next one will be longer. Oh, and there is going to be more drama and a twist in the near future. Review please :)
