Something was burning a hole in her pocket. She slipped a hand into the pocket in her jeans, pulling out the old D.A. galleon that she always kept with her, and promptly dropping it on the stone ground. It was searing hot. She bent down to look at it, watching as the numbers changed. It was working like a clock. As she watched, the minutes and seconds changed in real-time. She pulled her sleeve over her hand and grabbed the galleon, shoving it into her robes and running for the stairs. She sprinted up to the Room of Requirement as quickly as she could, ready to slow down when she came across someone else in the halls, but there was no one. It was her night for patrols, and the castle was as quiet as it usually was, however, she doubted that would last much longer.
When she reached the Room, the door was already there, waiting. As if it knew she was coming. She thrust the door open and strode inside, shutting the door behind her a bit too hard. Several people turned to look at her.
She hadn't been inside the Room since before Easter. Where there had been the four banners of the houses on the wall, hand-painted lion, eagle, and badger remained. Neville and she had painted the snake of Slytherin a while ago, and it had been torn down. Likely following word that she'd switched sides. Everyone was sitting about on the cushion all over the floor, seemingly waiting for something.
"Go away, Alvers."
It was Fay. She was on her feet, marching towards her. She looked livid, her eyes burning in anger, and possibly even a bit of pain. "Get out of here."
"No." Rem said resolutely. "I'm part of Dumbledore's Army, whether-"
"No you're not." Fay snapped suddenly. "Get out!"
Remington stared at the girl, once her very best friend, her brows creased, "I won't."
The other girl opened her mouth to say something else, but was cut off by a wave of shouts and cheers. She whipped around, turning her back on Remington, who looked up to see that there were people descending from a ladder that lead up to a portrait.
"Harry!" Fay yelled along with everyone else.
Rem's hands came up to her mouth as she saw Neville leading Ron, Harry, and Hermione out of the portrait and into the room. When the galleon had heated up, she'd known that it was a big deal, but she certainly didn't think it would be something so massive as this. Harry Potter's return to Hogwarts.
Just then Fay turned to Rem again, seeming to realize something, and grabbed Remington's arm, simultaneously snatching the girl's wand from her. "I can't let you leave now." She hissed. Rem didn't argue or resist. When Neville saw her, things would be set right.
As it were, Fay began to lead Rem towards Neville, surely to turn her in for spying or something of the like, but Neville was too preoccupied with talking to Harry about what they were doing. Apparently, they were not there to overthrow the Carrows and Snape like everyone thought, but something else that they wouldn't tell about. And soon, Luna and Dean appeared from the portrait, then the twins, and Ginny, and Lee Jordan, then Cho Chang-
"Neville," Fay said finally as they reached the boy, standing behind him where he was watching everyone who had come through the portrait.
"Fay-" Neville began, turning to look where the voice had come from, sound a lot like he was going to tell her that it wasn't a good time, but he stopped when he caught sight of Rem and simply grinned, pulling the girl into a hug.
Remington hugged him back, to Fay's utter confusion. "I'm glad you came, Rems." Neville breathed into her hair.
"Thanks for everything, Neville." She responded, the side of her face pressed against his jaw, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
"You know I'd do anything for you, Rem." He said, releasing her only to hold both of her shoulders with his hands.
"Clearly. You lied to everybody for weeks for me." She said, tipping her head back towards Fay.
"Had to be done." He said with a smile. Relief engulfed him, knowing he didn't have to keep telling all of Remington's friends that she had gone bad. That now, he didn't have to pretend that he hated her, or vice versa.
"Thanks for trusting me." She said solemnly.
"Thanks for not making me regret it." He leaned towards her as he spoke, then stepped aside for Harry, Hermione, and Ron.
Rem shared a brief look with them, nodding in greeting as Harry continued, now announcing that they were looking for Ravenclaw's lost diadem. Before long, Harry and Luna had departed for the Ravenclaw common room. Everyone else remained in the Room of Requirement. Neville and Ginny were sending out messages with the galleons, Ron and Hermione were answering an onslaught of questions. Slowly, more people were trickling in through the portrait passageway.
"What- ?" Fay asked in disbelief, staring at Remington.
"I'm so sorry, Fay," She said, looking at her friend sadly. "I wanted to tell you, but it was too dangerous."
"You never really went bad?" Fay inquired, her eyebrows knitted, "What about Dark Arts- ?"
"Neville and I had an agreement about it." She explained. "I understand if you can't forgive-"
But the other girl threw her arms around her before she could finish. "I'm so happy, Rem! Oh, thank God you're still on our side." The girls held each other tightly. "I couldn't fight you, Rem."
"I couldn't fight you either, Fay." She said softly. They stood there for a couple moments, just glad to have each other back before the Room of Requirement seemed to fill up almost completely in a matter of minutes. There were so many people there, D.A., Order of the Phoenix, old Gryffindors-
"Rems!" She heard familiar voices before she caught a flash of red hair and felt engulfed for a moment. Sure enough, when they released her, it was the twins.
"You're still here," Fred said happily.
"We weren't sure what would happen to you," George added.
"With Malfoy and all." Fred finished, rubbing her hair.
"I- uh," She began to say, "It was rough." It looked like George was… missing an ear?
"Ginny said it was a little rocky with you," George began.
"Said you were a right prick sometimes." Fred tacked on.
She shrugged a bit bashfully, "Yeah, s'pose I was."
"At least she can admit it, yeah?" Fred remarked, elbowing Remington in the side.
"You know, George, it appears you forgot something." She arched her eyebrows and tipped her head towards his missing ear.
"Ah yeah," George began.
Fred cut across him before he could explain anything, "I thought it might even out his big head, but alas, it seems to have done no good."
"Don't lie to her, Fred," George argued, looking back at Rem, "I thought I looked a little too much like this ugly mug," He playfully shoved his twin, "So I lobbed it off hoping it would make it easier to tell I was the handsome twin." He grinned at Fred, who shoved him back.
Remington rolled her eyes.
"Nah, little incident with relocating Harry before the school year." Fred explained.
"And I'm alright," George added, "As a plus, it's easier to tell us apart now!"
"Tell us apart?" Fred remarked, "George, we look nothing alike!"
Just then, Rem felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Ginny there. The twins whispered something about 'girl talk' and getting out of there before they 'got in trouble'.
"Are you doing alright?" Rem asked, not really thinking about the words before they fell out of her mouth.
"Yeah, I'm okay." Ginny replied. "Are you?"
Rem nodded. She supposed she was about as okay as she could be with the war now knocking at their door. And the fact that she hadn't talked to Draco in well over a week, and he likely was still very upset with her and believed that she'd called off the engagement. Her stomach churned. She needed to find him.
"I missed you, Ginny." She said.
The redhead nodded, pursing her lips before throwing her arms around Remington. "You too, Rem." She murmured. When they pulled apart, they just looked at each other for a moment.
"I have to go." She said suddenly.
Ginny's eyebrows raised slightly. "Okay," She said, letting go of the brunette, "You can go. It's good to see you."
"You too, Gin." She said, turning and looking for Neville. He was standing by some Order of the Phoenix members. She wove her way through the crowd before grabbing his arm.
He turned to look down at her, "What's it, Rem?" He asked.
"I have to go…" She said again, "I have… unfinished business." She said, conscious that Kingsley and Remus Lupin were listening to their conversation.
Neville nodded, pulling her into a hug, "In case I don't see you before things get started." He said into her hair.
"Be good," She said as they separated and she headed towards the exit.
"You too, Rems!" He called after her.
Before she made it to the door, though, Fay found her. "Where are you going?" She asked.
Rem took a deep breath and turned to look at her friend. "To find Draco." She said, "We're- well," She began hesitantly. "I guess we're not really together right now, and I need to talk to him."
Fay regarded her for a short minute, "I'm coming with you." She announced decidedly. Remington's face took on a bewildered look. "I'm not letting you go wandering this place alone with a battle about to start." She said, "You're stuck with me now."
