(A/N: Well I'm back! I'm very happy to get back to writing, it killed me
not to for two weeks! And of course I'm very thankful to you all, the
response to the other chapter fourteen was wonderful and I thank you all
for being so understanding. Seeing as the last chapter was just a rough
draft, I've made a few changes. Nothing different to the plot, just a few
grammatical mistakes that I've fixed and different ways to describe the
same thing. So it's no big deal if you don't read this new version and skip
on ahead to Chapter fifteen, it's a thing I just had to do for me. After
all, I want only the best for you all! Seeing that I'm trying to write
Chapter Fifteen, I hope if you all excuse me for not doing personal reviews
for Chapter Thirteen, I will do Chapter fourteen's like usual in Chapter
fifteen. Sorry if that's confusing! Well I'm going to stop talking, you can
either read this or go on ahead. Thanks for your patience!!)
Usual Disclaimer
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
It didn't matter that the only one's outside the Great Hall at lunch that day were Hermione and Draco; by breakfast the next day there wasn't a single student or faculty member who hadn't heard what had occurred. By dinner that night, Draco had broken up with Pansy... but she hadn't gone down without a fight.
"WHAT?!!"
"Pansy shh..."
"DRACO?! I THOUGHT YOU LOVED ME!!"
"Loved you?"
"That's why you agreed to go out with me!" She said tears swelling in her eyes and her fat lip protruding even more than usual.
"No, I agreed to go out with you because I thought that Hermione had cheated on me, which was a lie." He said calmly
"If I were your girlfriend I'd never kiss another guy" She pouted
"I'm sure Pansy...I'm sure," Draco said idly, smiling at the idea, while picking at his plate
"Draco? You there?" Hermione asked looking up at him. They were sprawled out by the lake; attempting to finish their homework and she was lying between his legs, back against his chest.
"Hmm...yeah"
"What were you thinking about?" she asked curiously
"Just how ironic it was that Weasley here let his kid sister date again" Draco said, motioning his head towards Ginny and Seamus walking towards the castle holding hands. Ron simply shrugged.
"You mean Seamus and Ginny?" Neville asked, rather suddenly, snapping to attention
"Yeah"
Hermione sighed, "It wasn't really a big deal to Ron as much as it was for Ginny"
"What do you mean?"
"She and Harry were so in love that she couldn't fathom dating anyone else. Thought it would be disrespectful to his memory."
"But Neville here, has worked with her and we hope she's back to normal" Ron said brightly, clapping Neville on the back while he talked.
"yeah...yeah" Neville said distantly as if caught up in some intriguing world
"Neville are you okay?" Hermione asked concerned at the far away look he was expressing
"Who me? I-I'm fine, don't worry about me. I'm just...I'm going to go finish some homework"
"Neville mate, that's what we've been doing for the past hour!" Ron exclaimed
"Oh yeah...I knew that. I'm going to go um...research something in the library," He said, face still flushed as he walked away.
Hermione turned to the other and asked concerned, not at all buying Neville's act, "What do you think is bothering him?"
Neville shuffled his feet along as he went. Now that he thought about it, he really didn't know where he was going! All that mattered was that he was away from all views of HER.
He couldn't really put his finger on why exactly he was avoiding Ginny. He suspected it had something to do with Seamus but why in Merlin's name should that bother him?
Ginny had come bursting into the common room, red hair flying behind her, freckled face aglow, and eyes shining when she told him.
"Neville! Neville!"
"What is it Ginny?" He had responded smiling at her happiness and placing his book he was reading over on its back.
"Seamus! He asked me out!"
"Oh...that's great!" He tried to conjure a big smile for his friend, but for some reason was failing miserably.
"I was about to...you-know slap him...but then I remembered what you'd said about it not insulting Harry or anything and how I should move on and be happy. So I just said yes!"
"You deserve to be happy Gin. And if Seamus is what'll make you happy, then...good."
"Thanks for being so great about this!" She said sincerely, giving him a hug, but not letting go.
"I'd do anything for you Ginny" He whispered in her hair, holding her a bit closer. "Anything"
Neville shook his head, riding himself of the memory. So what if Seamus got to hold her hand now? So what if he got to hug her? Let her sit on his lap? Wrap his arms around her? Protect her? Kiss her? At this Neville couldn't stop his hands from forming a fist. What was happening to him...Ginny wasn't some object to claim; and even if she was, she wasn't his! She never had been, and never would be.
Merlin who was he kidding? He wanted her...he loved her, and he knew it. And if there was nothing worse than loosing your loved one, than it was loving them and not being able to have them.
"I assume you're going with Draco right Hermione?"
"Yes I am...but we can meet up later. How about in the Three Broomsticks?"
"Alright. How about three?"
"That sounds good. Ron, are you going with anyone?"
"Yeah I-um...I'm going with Lavender" At this Ron's face turned a deep magenta shade and he tried desperately to look anywhere in the Great Hall except at the faces of those in front of him.
"Since when?!!"
"I just asked her this morning and she said yes"
"That's great Ron!"
"I guess"
"Ginny...you're going with Seamus then?"
"I-I suppose I am...yes," She said, trying not to look at Ron or Neville
"Neville?"
"huh?" He asked, breaking out of his thoughts
"Are you taking anyone to Hogsmeade?"
"No...I...um...don't think I'm going"
"WHY NOT?" The table chorused
"I just--well you see---"
"Neville, c'mon mate, you've got to come!"
"It's alright. I mean you all are all going to be off on your dates..."
"You can come with us, Neville!" Ginny said suddenly
"No Gin, I couldn't. Three's a crowd."
"Oh don't be silly"
"How about I'll meet you all in the Three Broomsticks at three?" He compromised
"Neville, please, I'm sure Seamus won't mind!"
"No really, it's okay. I'll see you all then!" Neville said defiantly, getting up from the table, and exiting the Great Hall. After a few moments in which the friends watched Neville leave, Ginny got up and started walking after him.
Catching up with him and walking in step, she turned to him and said, "You didn't have to do that you know"
"I know," He said quietly
"Neville, what's wrong? I've been noticing it lately...something's bothering you. What is it?"
Neville's heart pounded in his chest, he couldn't tell her!! What was he to say? "It-It's nothing. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."
"Then there is something bothering you!" She declared triumphantly "What is it?"
"I-I can't tell you," He mumbled staring at the floor as they walked. Ginny's eyes widened with hurt as she grabbed Neville's arm, making him stop.
"You can tell me anything," She said softly
"N-Not this"
"Why not? Neville, after Harry died, you've been the one I've depended on. You've been my best friend. You've gotten me through the worst time period of my life! Let me help you!"
"This isn't like that, Gin. Besides, if you did help me, it would only cause you pain. And that's the last thing I want" Neville said gently, touching her arm, and continuing walking. But not before he looked back. And when he did he saw tears swelling in Ginny's eyes. Inwardly cursing himself, he turned back around. "Don't cry Ginny. Please don't cry."
"I'm sorry" Ginny said, trying desperately to wipe away her tears. "I just can't help it. I can't sit here and watch my best friend suffer and hurt, and have him not accept my help."
"This isn't about me not accepting or wanting your help. This is about what it would do to you! And I refuse to put you through more turmoil"
"NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM! YOU THINK I COULD MAKE IT THROUGH THE WAR AND HARRY'S DEATH AND BREAK LIKE A PIECE OF GLASS AT SOME BIT OF NEWS?! STOP TREATING ME LIKE A CHILD! I CAN HANDLE WHATEVER IT IS!!"
"Fine! FINE! YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S BEEN BOTHERING ME??! I LOVE YOU GINNY! I LOVE YOU!" He screamed
Ginny's eyes widened and her breath was coming in little gasps but she refused to say anything. Already worked up, Neville just continued.
"WASN'T EXPECTING THAT HUH?! WELL IT'S TRUE! AND IT'S BEEN KILLING ME SLOWLY ALL YEAR LONG! FIRST IT WAS HARRY...NOW IT'S SEAMUS. BUT I DON'T REALLY CARE ANYMORE BECAUSE IT'S NOT WORTH IT! YOU'VE NEVER THOUGHT OF ME THAT WAY, AND YOU NEVER WILL!!!!"
He paused to look at Ginny's reaction. The only thing that had changed was that her mouth was slightly open and her hand was covering it. "See Gin? This is exactly why I didn't want to tell you! I thought that maybe if enough time went by it would disappear. But it hasn't! And now our friendship is probably ruined. I'm sorry" And for what felt like the umpteenth time Neville turned around, with every intention of crawling into his four-poster bed and sleeping forever.
"Wait!" He spun around. "Look Neville, I can't say that I love you back. And I can't say that I've ever thought of you and me as more than friends. But I can say that of all the people in this bloody school, I'd rather be with you than anyone else." She smiled, extending her hand. "So what do you say? You want to go to Hogsmeade with me?"
Neville didn't know how to respond. He didn't know if he should be embarrassed, upset, happy, angry, or surprised. But before he could say anything, his body seemed to react without his brain telling it to, and it grabbed Ginny's hand in his own.
There was only one way to describe Hogsmeade, the neighboring Wizarding village near Hogwarts, it looked as if it had directly jumped out of a Christmas Card, it was that perfect. The thatched buildings and stone paved streets all added to the quaint, almost country look of it all.
The student's had already had a few Hogsmeade visits this year, but none of them had even come close to the one today. The sky was bright blue, only a few puffy angelic white clouds dotting it, and the sun was shining brightly, almost in a way that beckoned the children to the village. After the bitter winter they'd had, weather like this was rare, especially in England.
Hermione sighed and smiled, face uplifted to the sun's rays "It's gorgeous today isn't it?"
"Definitely. But then again, my dear, so are you!" Draco said playfully placing his forehead against hers.
"Oh stop it!" Hermione scolded, taking his hand into hers, but grinning broadly all the same, "C'mon let's go to Honeyducks!"
"So um...where do you want to go?" Ron asked nervously
"I don't really care. What about you?" Lavender asked uncomfortably
Tempted to shout Honeyducks and Zonko's, Ron shrugged. "It doesn't matter. You can pick"
"No really, I don't care! Where do you normally go?"
"I...um...well...Zonko's and Honeyduck are okay. But we don't have to go there!" He added quickly.
Lavender smiled "I love Zonko's! And Honeyducks too for that matter!" She reassured him
Ron grinned, "Well in that case let's go!"
"I still think you should have gone with Seamus. You owed it to him."
"Neville would you please shut up about it! He was fine!"
"Still..."
"C'mon let's just enjoy our time together okay?"
"Alright" He said reluctantly
"Hey...what's that?"
"What?"
"That sign. Over there!"
The two approached the beige sign, posted on the frame of an unknown building. The picture (that was, of course, moving) showed what appeared to be a man, decked out in its black robe. It was advancing quickly towards the camera and when it reached the point where you smell his breath and feel the hate by simply looking through his eyes, he laughed. One of those low, dark and menacing laughs that chills your bones, and makes you wish for the sunlight. Shivering at the picture Ginny's eyes darted down to the text:
DEATH EATERS SIGHTED AGAIN!
LAST SEEN IN BRISTOL, THESE DEATH EATER ATTACKS KEEP BECOMING MORE AND MORE FREQUENT. MINISTRY MEMBERS CAN ONLY GUESS THAT THEY'RE TAKING A LAST STAND
FOR THEIR DECEASED MASTER AGAINST THOSE WHO FOUGHT AGAINST THEM. "MOST FINGERS POINT TO HOGWARTS" MINISTER OF MAGIC, CORNELIUS FUDGE SAID FRIDAY,
"WHERE POTTER'S FRIENDS ARE"
IF YOU SPOT A DEATH EATER YOU SHOULD...
Hermione stopped reading, seeing as the sign only continued about proper ways to defend yourself and contact a Ministry Member in the event of a Death Eater attack.
Draco stole a glance at Hermione. She was pale, paler than he'd seen her since the funeral. She was shaking a bit, obviously trying to stop, but failing. "Come Here" he said gently
She looked up into Draco's eyes and saw the understanding and sympathy there. She walked into his embrace, one that soothed her and put her mind at ease. "They're coming for us," she whispered.
Usual Disclaimer
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
It didn't matter that the only one's outside the Great Hall at lunch that day were Hermione and Draco; by breakfast the next day there wasn't a single student or faculty member who hadn't heard what had occurred. By dinner that night, Draco had broken up with Pansy... but she hadn't gone down without a fight.
"WHAT?!!"
"Pansy shh..."
"DRACO?! I THOUGHT YOU LOVED ME!!"
"Loved you?"
"That's why you agreed to go out with me!" She said tears swelling in her eyes and her fat lip protruding even more than usual.
"No, I agreed to go out with you because I thought that Hermione had cheated on me, which was a lie." He said calmly
"If I were your girlfriend I'd never kiss another guy" She pouted
"I'm sure Pansy...I'm sure," Draco said idly, smiling at the idea, while picking at his plate
"Draco? You there?" Hermione asked looking up at him. They were sprawled out by the lake; attempting to finish their homework and she was lying between his legs, back against his chest.
"Hmm...yeah"
"What were you thinking about?" she asked curiously
"Just how ironic it was that Weasley here let his kid sister date again" Draco said, motioning his head towards Ginny and Seamus walking towards the castle holding hands. Ron simply shrugged.
"You mean Seamus and Ginny?" Neville asked, rather suddenly, snapping to attention
"Yeah"
Hermione sighed, "It wasn't really a big deal to Ron as much as it was for Ginny"
"What do you mean?"
"She and Harry were so in love that she couldn't fathom dating anyone else. Thought it would be disrespectful to his memory."
"But Neville here, has worked with her and we hope she's back to normal" Ron said brightly, clapping Neville on the back while he talked.
"yeah...yeah" Neville said distantly as if caught up in some intriguing world
"Neville are you okay?" Hermione asked concerned at the far away look he was expressing
"Who me? I-I'm fine, don't worry about me. I'm just...I'm going to go finish some homework"
"Neville mate, that's what we've been doing for the past hour!" Ron exclaimed
"Oh yeah...I knew that. I'm going to go um...research something in the library," He said, face still flushed as he walked away.
Hermione turned to the other and asked concerned, not at all buying Neville's act, "What do you think is bothering him?"
Neville shuffled his feet along as he went. Now that he thought about it, he really didn't know where he was going! All that mattered was that he was away from all views of HER.
He couldn't really put his finger on why exactly he was avoiding Ginny. He suspected it had something to do with Seamus but why in Merlin's name should that bother him?
Ginny had come bursting into the common room, red hair flying behind her, freckled face aglow, and eyes shining when she told him.
"Neville! Neville!"
"What is it Ginny?" He had responded smiling at her happiness and placing his book he was reading over on its back.
"Seamus! He asked me out!"
"Oh...that's great!" He tried to conjure a big smile for his friend, but for some reason was failing miserably.
"I was about to...you-know slap him...but then I remembered what you'd said about it not insulting Harry or anything and how I should move on and be happy. So I just said yes!"
"You deserve to be happy Gin. And if Seamus is what'll make you happy, then...good."
"Thanks for being so great about this!" She said sincerely, giving him a hug, but not letting go.
"I'd do anything for you Ginny" He whispered in her hair, holding her a bit closer. "Anything"
Neville shook his head, riding himself of the memory. So what if Seamus got to hold her hand now? So what if he got to hug her? Let her sit on his lap? Wrap his arms around her? Protect her? Kiss her? At this Neville couldn't stop his hands from forming a fist. What was happening to him...Ginny wasn't some object to claim; and even if she was, she wasn't his! She never had been, and never would be.
Merlin who was he kidding? He wanted her...he loved her, and he knew it. And if there was nothing worse than loosing your loved one, than it was loving them and not being able to have them.
"I assume you're going with Draco right Hermione?"
"Yes I am...but we can meet up later. How about in the Three Broomsticks?"
"Alright. How about three?"
"That sounds good. Ron, are you going with anyone?"
"Yeah I-um...I'm going with Lavender" At this Ron's face turned a deep magenta shade and he tried desperately to look anywhere in the Great Hall except at the faces of those in front of him.
"Since when?!!"
"I just asked her this morning and she said yes"
"That's great Ron!"
"I guess"
"Ginny...you're going with Seamus then?"
"I-I suppose I am...yes," She said, trying not to look at Ron or Neville
"Neville?"
"huh?" He asked, breaking out of his thoughts
"Are you taking anyone to Hogsmeade?"
"No...I...um...don't think I'm going"
"WHY NOT?" The table chorused
"I just--well you see---"
"Neville, c'mon mate, you've got to come!"
"It's alright. I mean you all are all going to be off on your dates..."
"You can come with us, Neville!" Ginny said suddenly
"No Gin, I couldn't. Three's a crowd."
"Oh don't be silly"
"How about I'll meet you all in the Three Broomsticks at three?" He compromised
"Neville, please, I'm sure Seamus won't mind!"
"No really, it's okay. I'll see you all then!" Neville said defiantly, getting up from the table, and exiting the Great Hall. After a few moments in which the friends watched Neville leave, Ginny got up and started walking after him.
Catching up with him and walking in step, she turned to him and said, "You didn't have to do that you know"
"I know," He said quietly
"Neville, what's wrong? I've been noticing it lately...something's bothering you. What is it?"
Neville's heart pounded in his chest, he couldn't tell her!! What was he to say? "It-It's nothing. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."
"Then there is something bothering you!" She declared triumphantly "What is it?"
"I-I can't tell you," He mumbled staring at the floor as they walked. Ginny's eyes widened with hurt as she grabbed Neville's arm, making him stop.
"You can tell me anything," She said softly
"N-Not this"
"Why not? Neville, after Harry died, you've been the one I've depended on. You've been my best friend. You've gotten me through the worst time period of my life! Let me help you!"
"This isn't like that, Gin. Besides, if you did help me, it would only cause you pain. And that's the last thing I want" Neville said gently, touching her arm, and continuing walking. But not before he looked back. And when he did he saw tears swelling in Ginny's eyes. Inwardly cursing himself, he turned back around. "Don't cry Ginny. Please don't cry."
"I'm sorry" Ginny said, trying desperately to wipe away her tears. "I just can't help it. I can't sit here and watch my best friend suffer and hurt, and have him not accept my help."
"This isn't about me not accepting or wanting your help. This is about what it would do to you! And I refuse to put you through more turmoil"
"NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM! YOU THINK I COULD MAKE IT THROUGH THE WAR AND HARRY'S DEATH AND BREAK LIKE A PIECE OF GLASS AT SOME BIT OF NEWS?! STOP TREATING ME LIKE A CHILD! I CAN HANDLE WHATEVER IT IS!!"
"Fine! FINE! YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S BEEN BOTHERING ME??! I LOVE YOU GINNY! I LOVE YOU!" He screamed
Ginny's eyes widened and her breath was coming in little gasps but she refused to say anything. Already worked up, Neville just continued.
"WASN'T EXPECTING THAT HUH?! WELL IT'S TRUE! AND IT'S BEEN KILLING ME SLOWLY ALL YEAR LONG! FIRST IT WAS HARRY...NOW IT'S SEAMUS. BUT I DON'T REALLY CARE ANYMORE BECAUSE IT'S NOT WORTH IT! YOU'VE NEVER THOUGHT OF ME THAT WAY, AND YOU NEVER WILL!!!!"
He paused to look at Ginny's reaction. The only thing that had changed was that her mouth was slightly open and her hand was covering it. "See Gin? This is exactly why I didn't want to tell you! I thought that maybe if enough time went by it would disappear. But it hasn't! And now our friendship is probably ruined. I'm sorry" And for what felt like the umpteenth time Neville turned around, with every intention of crawling into his four-poster bed and sleeping forever.
"Wait!" He spun around. "Look Neville, I can't say that I love you back. And I can't say that I've ever thought of you and me as more than friends. But I can say that of all the people in this bloody school, I'd rather be with you than anyone else." She smiled, extending her hand. "So what do you say? You want to go to Hogsmeade with me?"
Neville didn't know how to respond. He didn't know if he should be embarrassed, upset, happy, angry, or surprised. But before he could say anything, his body seemed to react without his brain telling it to, and it grabbed Ginny's hand in his own.
There was only one way to describe Hogsmeade, the neighboring Wizarding village near Hogwarts, it looked as if it had directly jumped out of a Christmas Card, it was that perfect. The thatched buildings and stone paved streets all added to the quaint, almost country look of it all.
The student's had already had a few Hogsmeade visits this year, but none of them had even come close to the one today. The sky was bright blue, only a few puffy angelic white clouds dotting it, and the sun was shining brightly, almost in a way that beckoned the children to the village. After the bitter winter they'd had, weather like this was rare, especially in England.
Hermione sighed and smiled, face uplifted to the sun's rays "It's gorgeous today isn't it?"
"Definitely. But then again, my dear, so are you!" Draco said playfully placing his forehead against hers.
"Oh stop it!" Hermione scolded, taking his hand into hers, but grinning broadly all the same, "C'mon let's go to Honeyducks!"
"So um...where do you want to go?" Ron asked nervously
"I don't really care. What about you?" Lavender asked uncomfortably
Tempted to shout Honeyducks and Zonko's, Ron shrugged. "It doesn't matter. You can pick"
"No really, I don't care! Where do you normally go?"
"I...um...well...Zonko's and Honeyduck are okay. But we don't have to go there!" He added quickly.
Lavender smiled "I love Zonko's! And Honeyducks too for that matter!" She reassured him
Ron grinned, "Well in that case let's go!"
"I still think you should have gone with Seamus. You owed it to him."
"Neville would you please shut up about it! He was fine!"
"Still..."
"C'mon let's just enjoy our time together okay?"
"Alright" He said reluctantly
"Hey...what's that?"
"What?"
"That sign. Over there!"
The two approached the beige sign, posted on the frame of an unknown building. The picture (that was, of course, moving) showed what appeared to be a man, decked out in its black robe. It was advancing quickly towards the camera and when it reached the point where you smell his breath and feel the hate by simply looking through his eyes, he laughed. One of those low, dark and menacing laughs that chills your bones, and makes you wish for the sunlight. Shivering at the picture Ginny's eyes darted down to the text:
DEATH EATERS SIGHTED AGAIN!
LAST SEEN IN BRISTOL, THESE DEATH EATER ATTACKS KEEP BECOMING MORE AND MORE FREQUENT. MINISTRY MEMBERS CAN ONLY GUESS THAT THEY'RE TAKING A LAST STAND
FOR THEIR DECEASED MASTER AGAINST THOSE WHO FOUGHT AGAINST THEM. "MOST FINGERS POINT TO HOGWARTS" MINISTER OF MAGIC, CORNELIUS FUDGE SAID FRIDAY,
"WHERE POTTER'S FRIENDS ARE"
IF YOU SPOT A DEATH EATER YOU SHOULD...
Hermione stopped reading, seeing as the sign only continued about proper ways to defend yourself and contact a Ministry Member in the event of a Death Eater attack.
Draco stole a glance at Hermione. She was pale, paler than he'd seen her since the funeral. She was shaking a bit, obviously trying to stop, but failing. "Come Here" he said gently
She looked up into Draco's eyes and saw the understanding and sympathy there. She walked into his embrace, one that soothed her and put her mind at ease. "They're coming for us," she whispered.