Dear Jessie,
Today while we were working in the kitchen, I sort of randomly brought up the subject of Hogsmeade. I said that I had gotten permission to go. When they didn't reply, a part of me wanted to run away again. But another part of me wanted to press harder. Maybe they're just really dense and don't understand that I wanted to ask them to go with me?
So I blurted it out, 'Will you come to Hogsmeade with me I don't want to go alone'.
Luna laughed. 'Of course we'll go. I almost forgot how exciting it was to visit for our first time. It'll be fun'. And I couldn't stop the sigh of relief that escaped me. Luna just laughed again. She glanced at Neville, and he nodded his agreement. I wonder if she would still want to go even if he didn't. They seem really close, and it's possible that they're dating or something. But it's really none of my business, it's not my place to ask. Well, now I only have to wait three more days to get out of here.
After we were done with the dishes, Neville pulled me aside, and nodded for Luna to go on without him. She left, and I swear he could hear my heart, it was beating so loudly. Maybe he had changed his mind and didn't want to go out on Saturday after all?
Instead, he took a deep breath. 'I want to talk to you about the other day'. I blushed. I was pretty sure he was referring to me randomly running away when Hermione didn't even say anything that sounded particularly offensive. 'Hermione feels really sorry for upsetting you. She was wondering if you want to hang out, not today, but sometime. What should I tell her?'
I gulped. Hermione actually wanted to talk to me. I wonder what she would apologize for, since she never did anything wrong. And maybe she'll treat me like a baby since I'm two years younger, but hopefully that won't happen. Luna and Neville are the same age as her, and they both treat me like equals. I thought that my voice wasn't going to work for a moment. I had to clear my throat before I could say anything.
'Yeah, sure. Whenever is fine. And um… you can mention that she didn't do anything wrong'.
Neville nodded. 'Of course. See you tomorrow'. And he walked away, in the same direction that Luna had been heading. Maybe they had plans for a date or something? I don't know. But it would be cool to see Hermione again. I wish you were here. You would tell me funny things that I could say to make her smile and laugh. I'm not really a funny person on my own (or at all).
Something else that happened today, not as important as that first stuff, but still worth mentioning. Remember that girl that I said was staring at me last week? Well I forget to ask Neville about her, and she stopped staring, so it kind of slipped my mind. But today during potions class (the professor is a really crazy guy called Slughorn) I felt her staring again.
I turned to look at her (she sits in the back row like I do, but several tables away from me) and she didn't even blink. Just kept staring. I'm pretty sure that she was staring at my robes. They're just some ratty old hand-me-downs that were dug up out of some storage or another, and they're a little too big on me. Maybe she's staring at me because she thinks I'm poor (which I am right now).
After class, I went to talk to her. I'm not sure what I was planning to say. Maybe ask her to stop staring, or maybe ask her why she was staring at all. But she managed to slip out before I could say anything, and I don't know her name so I couldn't call out for her. Well, at least I don't think she's being mean or anything. I'll try to remember to ask Neville tomorrow, I swear (though I do feel bad for asking from so much from him).
Yours always,
Sophie