A/N: GinnyHarryP, I would like to say whether or not I will do your request, but revaling that information would ruin it, wouldn't it? And it seems not many people have really heard of MST. anonyMOUSELL says it stands for Mystery Science Theater. Is that what you were refering to, GinnyHarryP?
ONLY HOPE by Lina Shay
Chapter Seven: The Manly Way
Hope awoke to whispered voices. Not being able to understand them and being curious, Hope sat up, put on her glasses, and looked over at her roommates all seated on Seamus's bed. They were leaned in and whispering secretively.
"What are you guys doing?" Hope asked.
"Plotting," Dean announced mischievously.
"Harry, get over here," Ron practically ordered. "We've got the most brill idea."
Wanting to be a part of things, Hope jumped out of bed and ran up to them. Ron scooted aside and made room for her. She sat on her feet and leaned in, excited to hear what had interested them so.
"All right," Dean began, "yesterday I overheard Lavender and Parvati talking about summoning spirits from the Netherworld tonight."
All the boys started laughing. Hope thought it was vaguely silly of Parvati and Lavender to believe in such things, but she didn't see how it was as funny as the boys made it out to be.
"Yeah, so?" Hope finally asked.
"Well, those girls are going to actually summon some," Seamus blurted.
The boys laughed again.
"How are they going to go about doing a thing like that?" Hope asked, still confused.
"Don't you get it?" Ron poked her in the side, which made her almost squeal. Luckily, she held it in. "We're going to be the spirits."
"When those two go down to the main hall to do their summoning," Dean explain, "we're going to show and scare the bloomers off 'em."
"That isn't very nice," Hope muttered.
"That means you aren't going to help?" Ron posed, looking over at her.
"I don't think so, no," Hope told him. "I hope you won't either, Ron. It isn't a very nice thing to do."
"Who cares?" Dean threw his arms up.
"I think Harry's right," Neville, who had been silent until then, spoke up.
"Fine!" Ron exclaimed. "You two can sit here and braid each others hair and miss out on the fun."
Ron, Dean and Seamus got up from the bed and left the dormitory. Hope glanced across the bed at Neville. He was the only decent boy Gryffindor? That couldn't be so. Hope just had to hope that Ron was doing this on a foolish whim and would regret it in the morning.
"I don't think they'll talk to us much for a bit, Harry," Neville muttered.
"You're probably right," Hope shrugged. "But at least we have a clear conscious."
Hope had a feeling that Neville was a little remorseful that he had chosen the right way. Hope knew how he felt. Wasn't it more important to do what's right than to have fun or get close to the most beautiful redhead in the world?
Neville had happened to be right. Seamus, Dean and Ron hadn't gone out of their way to talk to the two of them. Hope and Neville sat with Hermione and Ginny for lunch. Ginny was gazing across the table at Hope, which made her very uncomfortable.
"Those three are up to something," Hermione observed, looking down the table at Ron, Dean and Seamus chuckling. "But if they were, wouldn't you two be involved as well?"
"You would think," Neville muttered.
Hope half smiled, just trying to avoid looking at Ginny.
"So, Harry," Ginny began suddenly. "Are you planning on going to Hogsmeade this weekend?"
"What?" Hope asked in confusion.
"The Hogsmeade trip," Ginny clarified. "The first one is coming this weekend. I was just wondering if you had gotten your permission slip from those rotten Dursley's."
"Oh, no," Hope bit her lip. "I must have forgot."
"Oh dear!" Ginny exclaimed. "I so wanted to see you there."
"I'll be there, Ginny," Neville insisted as if that would make up for it.
Ginny half smiled in his direction, then dismally looked down at her food. Hope honestly wished she could go, even if it meant having to date Ginny to be allowed to be there. Hope rarely got to go out into town. And when she did, she wasn't allowed to do anything that would draw attention to herself. Dumbledore's orders.
As if summoned, Dumbeldore instantly came up to her.
"Mr. Potter," Dumbeldore began with a twinkle in his eye, "I believe you left something with me when we first arrived."
"I did?" Hope asked in surprise.
Dumbeldore took a slip of paper from his pocket and handed it to Hope. She took it and read it over. It was a signed note from the Dursley's saying she could go to Hogsmeade. Dumbeldore winked and walked away.
"What is it?" Hermione asked.
"It's my permission slip," Hope said in awe.
"Great!" Ginny exclaimed. "Now we can go to Hogmeade together."
Hope was roused in the middle of the night by the boys hustling out of the room. She looked across the beds and saw that Neville had gone as well. She was a bit disappointed that he had decided to go. Maybe there were no good boys after all.
