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I brush a comb through my hair again and wander around my dorm, excited.

Finally, finally, finally, it gets to 5 o'clock, and, checking the corridors carefully, I slip out from the Common Room and hurry up to the seventh floor.

Quickly checking the corridor again, I half-walk, half-run past the door three times, whispering "I want to be able to see Neville."

When I open my eyes, there's a door in the space of wall that used to be blank, and I quickly hurry inside, shutting the door behind me.

"Hannah," says Neville, getting up and hurrying over. "Did you get here alright? Anyone see you?"

I shake my head. "No, I think we're OK."

"Good, good," says Neville, quickly clasping my hand.

We sit down cross-legged by the fireplace that the room has sprouted and start to talk.

***

When it gets to nine o'clock, we suddenly realise that we have to get back to the dormitories.

"You go first," says Neville, almost whispering as we stand by the door.

"Alright," I whisper back, and, poking my head out of the door, I quickly start to hurry down the corridor.

I'm just about to go down the stairs when I hear a barking voice behind me and freeze, flattening myself against the wall.

"Longbottom!" shouts the voice, sounding angrily amused.

My eyes widen, and I start to edge around the corner, my wand raised.

I see Neville glaring at Carrow, his eyes determinedly not looking at me.

"What are you doing out of bed?" asks the Death Eater, glaring right back at Neville.

"Walking," says Neville casually.

"And why would you be doing that, Longbottom, when you know you should be in your Common Room?" sneers Carrow, and I see a flicker of a smile pass over Neville's face, before the glare is back.

Neville doesn't answer, but continues to stare Carrow out.

"Not going to answer me?" laughs Carrow, drawing his wand. "We'll see."

Before I have time to do anything the Death Eater shouts a curse.

"Crucio!"

I can't bear to look as Neville falls to ground, writhing.

Glancing around my shoulder quickly, I point my own wand at Amycus Carrow and say a curse of my own.

"Stupefy!" I whisper, and as Carrow falls to the floor, Neville stops shouting.

I rush over to him, and hug him gently.

"Neville?" I whisper.

His face pale green, Neville looks up at me and smiles, standing up.

Taking my hand, Neville seems about to say something, but before he can open his mouth, we hear a bored voice come floating around the corner, and, giving each other one last look, we speed up to our separate dormitories.