Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters and settings from the Harry Potter world, which is trademarked by J. K. Rowling. I do not claim any ownership over them or the world of Harry Potter and will not receive any money or other financial profit for presenting the work on this site. The story I tell here as well as certain original characters are my own invention, and are not purported or believed to be part of J.K. Rowling's story canon.
・゚: *・゚*・゚: *・゚*・゚: *・゚:
Chapter 46
Sage chuckled at the sight of Neville, a big dumb grin spread across his face. She reached for it once again, resting both of her hands on his cheeks. As her thumbs ran over each side of his jawline, she felt an unfamiliar stubble of beard tickle against her skin. Letting her thoughts wander around her mind for a bit, she wondered what Neville would look like with a proper beard. She genuinely liked the idea of it. Maybe when all of this was over, he could grow it out and Sage could come around every now and then to tell him about her life and marvel at his face. And maybe, just maybe.. they could finally pick up where they had left off all those years ago.
Feeling guilty about allowing herself to daydream like this, Sage sat up, resting most of her weight on her elbows. Neville withdrew his hands, giving her a questioning look.
"Though I greatly admire the comfort of your lap, the floor is giving my back a rather hard time. Would you mind helping me up?" Sage asked, extending her right arm towards him.
"If you feel confident enough about getting back on your feet?" Neville wondered, apparently not fully trusting into her regained composure just yet.
"I'm fine, Neville. Just need a proper dose of sleep and I'll be as good as new," she reassured him.
"Alright," he reluctantly agreed, before reaching for her hand and pulling her up with him.
"Thank you," she said just loud enough for him to hear.
With the entire hut's attention centred on Neville and Sage, they both stepped back a bit. Sage knew it was wrong to be thinking about her feelings towards Neville when there were much more important things going on. She had other things to do.
Hagrid sighed once again, burying his face inside his hands. Though Sage was more than relieved about how well he had responded to her being somewhat of a double-agent, she was frustrated with how little he seemed to think Neville, Ginny and Luna were capable of. She might have come up with the basics of the plan, but had it not been for those three, none of their secret lessons would have been possible.
"Feeling any better?" Ginny asked her, once she was done lecturing Hagrid.
"Yes, thank you very much. I'm sorry I caused you so much trouble," Sage explained in response, leaning against the table, just in case she would get dizzy again.
"No biggie. We'd be lost without our favourite teacher."
"You flatter me, Weasley. I'm hardly any competition to McGonagall."
"She has her bad days."
Hagrid chuckled at their exchange, though worry was still filling his eyes visibly.
"Are yeh really sure yeh should be the one ter teach 'em?" he asked her.
"I don't know," Sage admitted honestly, "But would it really make a difference if I weren't? I'm the only one who is here."
Hagrid didn't respond, he just nodded and settled for staring at the floor. She didn't blame him. He cared deeply for these kids, and Sage was little else but a stranger to him. Of course he didn't like to see them put their life on the line, especially if their lessons weren't even worth the risk. But Sage knew better. She had seen all the progress the entire DA had made so far. She had seen their faces light up whenever they managed to disarm their opponent, sincere hope growing at the back of their mind that they might actually live to see a world free from war again.
"We should probably get you back to the castle," Neville suggested, "If you actually threatened him, both of the Carrows will be out there looking for you."
"What did you even say to him?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Well.. It's kind of all in a blur, I can hardly remember anything.." Sage lied in hopes of not having to answer this question. Telling them about it would only make her cringe at her potion-induced self.
"Neville told us before that you were a bad liar," Luna noted rather indifferently, "But I never expected it to be this obvious."
Sometimes Luna could be downright brutal, though Sage was sure she had never actually meant to be.
"Alright, you caught me," she admitted.
"So?" Ginny demanded.
"Well, as you all know now, I was feeling rather reckless, and.. dizzy. And when I felt my knees get weak, I was holding onto his desk for dear life.. and I guess he wanted to sit me down on a chair, but I wasn't having it.. and may or may not have told him that I would make him regret the day he first stepped foot into Hogwarts for the rest of his life if he dared to touch me. He just stared at me in shock, so I stormed off," Sage eventually explained, avoiding to meet eyes with anyone present in the hut.
"You savage!" Ginny cried out in laughter.
"He's going to rip me in half, isn't he?"
"Nah, he knows as well as we do that it was his potion speaking out of you."
"Let's hope you are right."
・゚: *・゚*・゚: *・゚*・゚: *・゚:
Author's note: A longer chapter again!!
I honestly don't have the words to tell you how honoured I feel about the kind words you always find about my writing. I'm so glad you like it. It truly means the world to me.
Hopefully this chapter was equally to your liking and you leave me some of your thoughts again. Wishing you all the best!! :-)
