"Ah! Miss Smith, how are you?" Hagrid says when I gently push open the oversized door to his small oversized hut.

"Okay. I guess." I answer not looking at him.

He stares at me skeptically. "What's wrong? Did it involve Ron and Harry?" He seems to get defensive at Harry's name.

"More Ron than Harry." I answer.

"What happened?"

"Ron yelled at me because he though I liked Harry instead of him after I told him I liked him instead of Harry. It's complicated." I sigh.

"Don't fear to much. I mean, love is complicated, but you're young and you have plenty of time for you to pick who you want. You have plenty of time to pick what you want whether it be to stay at Hogwarts or go home. Your life is up to you." Hagrid says. I swear he's wiser than he looks.

I smile at him. "Thanks Hagrid. Say, what time do we have to leave by?"

"You starting to regret leaving?" He smiles slyly.

"No. I just want to know." I shrug.

"We have to leave by 8."

"Do you think I could come back at 8? I mean, I want to spend some time with everybody before I leave."

"You can do that, just be back by 8 with your decision."

I jump up into the air cheering. "Yeah! You rock Hagrid! Thanks." By the time I shout 'thanks' I'm already out his door.

RON'S PERSPECTIVE

"I can't believe she just left." I say glumly. Katie just walked away from me this morning and Katie's not the one to walk away from a person.

Malfoy walks over to the Gryffindor table and sits down across from me with the stupidest, smuggest smile on his stupid face. "So, where's your mudblood girlfriend?"

I stand up to defend Katie when I hear, "Tarantallegra!" Malfoy suddenly stands up and starts dancing. I turn to see who the castor was when I see Fred. For some reason I thought it was her.

"No one disses Katie like that!" He says through gritted teeth.

Malfoy is released from the spell. "Why? She is a mudblood and, oh, she's not his girlfriend. My mistake. I wonder why she would even want to be near you! You're worse than a filthy mudblood!"

"I don't care if I'm worse than a Muggle-born! You can't just go and diss Katie however you want! In fact, you can't just go and diss any Muggle-born any way you want!"

"You know he's right, Malfoy." It sounds like Katie and I don't believe it is until Malfoy's face changes from smug to surprised. It was bliss.

"Katie!" I cheer. I almost hug her but then I realize our current situation and pull back. She just rolls her eyes and hugs me anyway.

She laughs and Malfoy of course has to ruin it. "Why would you want to be near that blood traitor?"

"You know Malfoy, unlike you I think blood status is the corruption of modern magical life. It's pointless and to tell you, even Muggles have magic." I turn to Hermione who smiles at what I just said. (Remember? She was talking to Hermione in Chapter 15 when the troll came in.)"

"Blood status is the most important thing in the wizarding world! My father said so!" He claims.

"Did you ever think your father might be wrong?" I ask.

"He's never wrong!"

"Sure."

"He's never wrong and I'll prove it to you someday!" Malfoy turns his back to us and storms back to the Slytherin table.

"So…" Ron says awkwardly. "Are you back for good?"

"Maybe. I'm still thinking about it, but I have until 8 to make my decision."

"Wait, you were planning on leaving?" Fred asks.

"Uh, yeah." I say sheepishly.

"Why?" He asks, still confused.

"I don't know. I felt so down in the mud I really didn't think of anything other than leaving." I answer.

NEVILLE'S PERSPECTIVE

I sat about five seats down from Ron, Harry, Fred, Hermione, and now Katie who has just returned for the time being. She seems happy with these people and I really do hope she stays.

Katie notices me now. Apparently she felt my eyes on her and looked up. I didn't turn my head away fast enough because our eyes meet for the briefest of moments. "Hey, Neville." She says shyly. She's acting like me. "You didn't tell anybody did you? They would totally have found me sooner if you had."

"I didn't. I didn't think you would want me to because you somehow made that clear when you said you were leaving."

She smiles. "I didn't really intend to. I would have been fine if you did and sent them searching but now that I think about it, I really wouldn't have wanted you to tell them. Thanks."

"Uh, yo-your welcome." I stutter. She giggles slightly.

"I like you Neville. You're a cool kid, you just need to get some confidence." She smiles sweetly then walks to where Ron waits.

I like that girl and for some reason I wish I had got to her first.


READERS! Sorry for the wait. I added some Neville action which was fun; Neville's perspective is always fun to write, not as fun as Ron's quirky view or Fred's overprotective view, but still fun. –wolfhound22