3 AM
You know where.
Remington held the paper up, touching her wand to it and watching as it started to burn, flames moving up to the corner where she held it before flicking it idly and letting it burn up completely. She didn't need anyone finding the note, especially not in her possession, especially not in that handwriting.
She was in enough trouble as it was. It'd been a few days since her disagreement with Draco, and he hadn't spoken to her since. She had strung the engagement ring on the chain that usually held the Malfoy ring and left them on the table beside her bed in the Gryffindor dorms. No one had really noticed yet, other than Blaise. With his observant nature, he'd picked up quickly on the fact that Remington and Draco weren't talking, and that his dorm mate had been more brooding and quiet than usual in the past days. Not long after that he'd sat beside Rem in Potions and noticed that she was no longer wearing the engagement ring. He'd given her a look, but she just shook her head and told him she didn't want to talk about it.
She certainly did not want to talk about how badly her chest ached, sitting in classes with the Slytherins, Draco usually within an arm's reach, but so ungodly distant from her. No, she didn't want to talk about how she laid in her bunk in the Gryffindor dormitory and cursed herself for taking off the engagement ring, even though she knew she would probably do it again. No, she really didn't want to talk about the fact that she hadn't spoken more than a word or two to anyone in days.
The Carrows hadn't bothered her since she'd used the Cruciatus Curse on Neville, seeming to be satisfied with her for the time being, likely assuming that her spirit had finally been broken. It bothered her some, but she was mostly just relieved to no longer be the focus of their attention. That way she also didn't have to try to explain to anyone what was going on between her and Draco.
She wasn't sure how much longer she could handle this situation, but she still wasn't sure what she wanted to do about it, either. Whether she wanted to give in and keep playing pretend with Draco, or if she wanted to fight for her friends. She almost felt like she'd be stuck in this horrible, painful limbo forever if something didn't happen soon.
Her eyes snapped up to the door as it opened and a figure slipped in, heading towards her. "I didn't know if you'd come." The person said in a familiar voice. Probably more familiar than it should be.
"Of course I came," She replied softly as Neville approached her, where she was leaned against a sink. "I wouldn't miss a chance to break the rules." She could see him roll his eyes at her in the dim light as he leaned a shoulder against the wall a couple feet from her. "Draco would throw a fit if he knew I was talking to you, though." She remarked.
"I'm sure he would." He said, looking somewhere past her, "I thought you'd like to know, though-" He started, his eyes focusing back on her, "I'm going to be staying in the Room from now on." He said.
"You mean," She said, eyeing him, "All the time?"
He nodded, "So you won't see me in classes or anything." He paused, looking at her as she gazed thoughtfully at the ground.
"What brought this on?" She asked, still not looking up at him.
"They tried to take my Gran," He started, "To get to me. She got away, of course, but… I don't think it'll be long before they decide they really don't need me around." He said. Her eyes finally flicked up to meet his.
She nodded slowly, then looked away again, "Probably for the best." She commented quietly.
They were both silent for a moment before Neville spoke up, "Rem," She looked up at him, meeting his eyes before he glanced at her hand where it was resting on her crossed arm. She knew he was looking at the empty spot where her ring should have been. "Do you want to talk about it?"
She seemed to melt, her previously composed demeanor turning weary and pained. "I just don't know what I'm doing right now." She said softly. "I feel like I'm trapped."
Neville eyed her for a long moment. "Does it have anything to do with what happened in Dark Arts?" He asked lowly. She was chewing her bottom lip and half-shrugged. He exhaled heavily. "Rem, I told you-"
"I know you told me it's okay." She said, "But I'm having a personal struggle trying to figure out why I'm doing what I'm doing and whether it's what I want to be doing."
Once again, they both stood there for a few seconds, quiet and contemplative.
"Whatever you decide to do, Rem," Neville finally began, "You need to understand that there is bad and good in every choice. It's never black and white. Especially right now. The important thing is your intentions." He said, looking at her seriously. "And I think I know you well enough to know that you have good intentions." She rubbed her nose, not meeting his eyes. "And don't you start crying on me." She gave a strangled laugh, blinking a couple times and looking at him with a half-hearted smile.
"I just want this all to be over already." She said. "I'm so sick of sitting around waiting for something to happen."
"Harry will come back." Neville assured her, "I promise you."
When she went back to her dormitory, she picked up the chain that sat on her bedside table, unclasped it and slid the engagement ring off. She turned it over in her hands a couple times. Bad and good in every choice… She slid the ring back onto her finger.
