The Blood of Ronald Weasley
The second installment in my fast paced saga. Just kidding. It's just a work-in-progress by an insane HP fan. I'm defiantly NOT JKR, even though I wish I was. I wish I was rich and famous too, but that's also a pipe dream…
CHAPTER TWO: WE CAN'T KEEP MEETING LIKE THIS
Neville thought of little besides the meeting with Dumbledore for the rest of the day. What was it about? Surely Voldemort wasn't…back? No, he didn't think so. It had to be something like that though, otherwise why all the secrecy? Whatever it was, whatever Dumbledore wanted of him, he would do it.
He was tired of his reputation, even though he had long since outgrown the clumsy persona he was famous for. He had grown into a young man, a man who wasn't afraid of anything anymore. Last year he had seen Voldemort face to face for the first time. He had never felt such hatred in his life. His biggest fear had always been something like going to Potions. Now he was seventeen; about to graduate in a few months. He would help Dumbledore in whatever way he could. Damn it, he was Frank Longbottom's son. He should have done more. He should have done more.
He was so busy thinking about these things that he ran right into Parvati Patil on the way to Care of Magical Creatures.
"Oh, I'm sorry Neville. I wasn't paying attention," Parvati said.
"It's all right, neither was I." He bent down to pick up his books and papers, and met Parvati's eyes. He had always thought she was rather pretty, but why would she like someone like him?
"Want to walk with me to class?" Parvati ventured.
Neville was so surprised, he almost dropped his books again. No one had ever asked him to walk to class. No girl, let alone a pretty one.
"Yeah, I'd like that," he said.
***
On the way to Care of Magical Creatures, someone grabbed Hermione and pulled her into the bushes.
"Ron, what are you doing?"
"You know, for such a big castle, there aren't many places for a bloke to be alone with his girlfriend." Ron smiled and kissed her. He found he really enjoyed pulling Hermione into bushes and broom closets for a sparse minute alone.
"We can't keep meeting like this," Hermione said when he pulled away.
"Why? It's rather exciting, don't you think?" Ron grinned. He looked like a toddler whose mother had bought him a large lollipop.
"What if someone finds us?"
"Would you be upset?"
"No." Hermione sighed. "I rather enjoy it too. But if we don't go now, we'll be late to class."
"What if we skipped class? We'll tell Hagrid we had an emergency. I'll bet the common room is deserted."
"That is absolutely out of the question--"
Ron ran a hand down her back and nipped at her earlobe.
"Well, it is just one class after all. C'mon, before I change my mind."
Harry watched as Ron and Hermione walked hand in hand up to the castle. If they think they're being discreet, they've got another thing coming. They were probably going back to the common room to snog.
He decided to take advantage of their absence. He'd tell Hagrid that they went to see Dumbledore and then go there himself. He couldn't wait until seven to find out what was wrong.
Ten minutes later, Harry found himself standing in front of the stone gargoyle that marked the entrance to Dumbledore's office. Now he just needed to figure out the password.
He took the Marauder's Map out of his pocket and studied it. He saw the small dot labeled "Albus Dumbledore" in his office, and the one marked "Harry Potter" standing where he was. He squinted and saw a tiny speech bubble coming from his dot.
"Pumpkin juice," Harry said to the stone gargoyle, and it jumped aside. Harry cleared the map and replaced it in his pocket.
He stepped onto the moving spiral staircase that led to the office door. When he got there, he knocked.
He heard the headmaster say, "Come in."
He opened the door cautiously and stepped inside. "Professor?"
"Ah, Harry. I was wondering when I'd see you. I knew you wouldn't wait until seven."
Harry merely nodded. He wasn't sure how to begin.
"Harry, as much as I would like to tell you what is going on, I'm afraid I cannot. Let me assure you that it is nothing dire, nor anything to get upset about. I wish I could have put that in the letter and saved you all the worry, but I wanted to keep it as brief as possible in case it was intercepted. And I didn't want any harm to come to you before I could speak to you."
At Harry's horror stricken look, Dumbledore continued. "If someone thought you knew something, they might try and hurt you today. But I doubt there will be a problem. Do not worry. Worry is an interest paid on trouble before it falls due, Harry. Now, I suggest that you return to class."
"That's the second time I've heard that today, that saying about worry. Hermione told me the same thing this morning."
"I'm not surprised. It is a famous quote from Hogwarts, A History."
Haha, sorry about the worry saying showing up again. I love it! I just couldn't resist. Hoped you liked Chapter 2. For those H/G fans out there, don't WORRY. There will be fluff coming! Please review, I THRIVE ON REVIEWS.