Alrighty! Read on, my dears.
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The bars wouldn't move, no matter how hard I pulled. Tears ran down my cheeks as the scene changed...
"Her exact words were..." Moody disappeared, and I was back in the crib.
Voldemort's evil chuckle ringed through the room...
"She's better off living a life without me..."
"Stupid girl."
"...than she would be living a life of darkness..."
"What a surprise your parents will get tonight."
"...because that would be no life at all."
Green light filled the room as I screamed. Suddenly, the light twisted into the common room, and I saw Neville's face.
"It's your fault that you don't have a sister anymore!"
I felt someone yank my hands away from my ears as I screamed into my pillow.
"Shh...easy, Lacey!" It was Hermione. She looked at me with concern as I caught my breath. "Do you need McGonagall?" I shook my head.
"No, I'm fine. It'll pass."
"This is the third night in a row since we came back. They're not going to pass, Lacey." Deep down, I knew she was right.
"Alright. If it happens again tomorrow, I'll talk to her. I promise." Hermione seemed satisfied. After she went back to her bed, I rolled over onto my side, holding Belle close to me.
Then, I remembered Arabella's locket, which was hanging around my neck. I wrapped my fingers around it, praying for some measure of comfort. My eyes finally got a bit heavy as a few tears fell from my eyes.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
That morning, I was sitting on the common room sofa, eating my breakfast.
After my fight with Neville, I had made it a point to stay as far away from him as possible, including during mealtimes. Whenever he tried to catch my eye, I would look away. I didn't want to see him, hear him, or anything of the sort.
"Don't look at me like that," I said to Belle, who was sitting next to me. Since there wasn't anyone around, she was in her true form. "What would you be doing?" She cocked her head at me. I turned back to my bowl of wheaties and was about to take another bite when-
"Ravensdale!" Fred and George emerged from behind the couch and hopped over it, sitting on either side of me. My heart pounded in panic when I realized that Belle was in her dog form. However, before I could grab her, Fred had picked her up and moved to a chair.
"Don't worry, Lace," he said, chuckling softly. "We won't tell a soul."
"Well," George said, playfully putting an arm around me. "Who would've thought you'd be the naughty rule-breaker around here?" I rolled my eyes, throwing his arm away.
"Would you knock it off?" Over in the chair, Fred was having an awfully good time with Belle. She was licking his face, while he was playing around with her tail.
"You've officially got competition, Lace," he chuckled. "This dog is wonderful." I smiled, glad that they were getting along. Belle was sometimes weary of other students, even Gryffindors. But Fred Weasley was one person, besides Neville, that she absolutely adored.
"But let's get down to it," said George, turning his body towards me. "Why are you up here when you should be down there?" I shrugged, trying to think of something to say.
"Well, I just...wanted to see what it'd be like to eat breakfast on the couch."
"And lunch," said Fred.
"And dinner," George said in sync with Fred.
"For three whole days," they said together. I sighed, leaning back onto the sofa.
"I'm just taking some time to myself for a little while, alright?" Fred stood up and put Belle back onto the couch.
"Suit yourself," he said, looking at me with a smile of pity. "But Longbottom's been looking really sad for a few days. Did you two have a bit of a row?"
"It's none of your concern."
"Come along, Fred," said George, and his twin followed him to the door. "Best leave her alone. Hell hath no fury like..." The door shut. I looked back at my lap.
"Like a woman scorned," I finished. Setting my bowl onto the coffee table, I scooped up Belle and brought her to me. I buried my face into her fur as my eyes closed.
I heard the portrait swing open again, but I assumed it was one of the twins. But I heard only one pair of footsteps come in my direction and stop next to the couch. Belle jumped off of my lap and stared in the figure's direction, not looking happy or apprehensive. Lifting my head, I looked to see who it was. My heart skipped a beat.
"Lacey..."
Neville took a hesitant step towards me. Eyeing him, I didn't move. However, when he sat down next to me, I went to get up. Before I could, his hands shot out and grabbed hold of my upper arms. I turned my head away and tried to squirm out of his grasp, but he wouldn't let go.
"Shh, Lacey, stop. Please." I stopped struggling, but leaned as far away from him as I could. I still couldn't look at him. The enraged look on his face was still fresh in my mind.
A few seconds went by as I concentrated on the wall as hard as I could. Suddenly, I felt Neville's hand leave my right shoulder and rest gently against my cheek. He turned my face towards his. My resolve crumbling, I opened my eyes.
For a split second, I saw the exact same boy that I first encountered in the hallway. His eyes were as pure and gentle as they ever were, but instead of warmth, they were filled with regret.
"I'm so sorry, Lacey." Neville lowered his hands as he spoke. "I...there's no possible excuse that makes it alright that I said the things I said. But...I swear to you...I didn't mean one word of it." I looked at him. Oh, God. I really can't stay angry forever. I looked down and nodded.
"I'm sorry, too, Neville. I should have told you such a long time ago..." He shook his head.
"No, it's not your fault. I would've done the same thing that you did." He paused for a moment. "But, no. I overreacted." It killed me to see him so ashamed.
"Well, I don't blame you for doing so." Neville looked back at me.
"And you're not a liar. Neither are your parents. And...oh God, what I said about...about Arabella...that was completely out of line. Do you think you could ever forgive me?" Smiling, I looked at him and rubbed his arm.
"I think so." I lowered my arm and turned serious. "But listen, Neville. I want you to know that you can trust me. You don't have to keep secrets from me." He smiled at me and nodded.
"Absolutely. You can always talk to me, as well." I nodded. Then, I extended my hand.
"Deal?" Chuckling softly, Neville shook my hand. He then leaned forward and embraced me, which I returned.
Just then, I felt that weird tingly feeling rush through me again. It felt like a wave of heat. What is this? As we let go of each other, I looked at Neville. He didn't look any different.
"Want to go downstairs?" I nodded.
"Sure."
But the feeling still lingered as we left the common room.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Not long afterwards, I was very happy to learn that Hagrid was back. Care of Magical Creatures class was definitely a bit more interesting, but Umbridge came down pretty hard on him. That woman is going to drive everyone crazy!
However, the day after that, there was a horrible piece of news in the Daily Prophet.
"Mass Breakout at Azkaban?" The bold letters covered almost the entire front page of the paper that Neville was holding. "How many got out?" He opened the paper and we looked.
Ten high-security inmates had escaped. My eyes widened when I saw that one of them, a woman, was the cousin of Sirius Black. Suddenly, Neville tensed up, and his face contorted slightly.
"What is it?"
"It's her." I looked at the picture of Sirius's cousin, whose name was Bellatrix Lestrange.
"What?" I looked at the description underneath her picture, and my stomach flipped.
Bellatrix Lestrange
Life sentence in Azkaban for the torture (by means of the Cruciatus Curse) of Frank and Alice Longbottom (resulting in the permanent incarceration into St. Mungos for both parties)
Turning slowly, I looked at Neville. He put down the paper and looked at his lap. I saw an immense amount of loathing in his eyes. Hesitantly, I rubbed his arm. His expression didn't change, but I felt him relax slightly. My heart ached for him, as I couldn't have imagined what he must have been feeling.
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I hope you guys liked it. Please review! =D