A/N I apologize for how long I've neglected this story! I've been really busy and I considered dropping it, but I'd love to see where it leads. Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I know that Luna and Neville (I wanted to put on Ginny as well, but ff only allows two so...) isn't the most popular search, but it's nice to that some people care! Don't worry, I'm not one of those writers who will abandon a story if it doesn't get a lot of reviews (and don't really predict this one getting a lot) I'm writing this just as much for myself as my readers. Love you all! If you're reading please review! I beg you! Thanks for reading! I present chapter 2:
At first, the three students could in fact kid themselves that nothing had changed. At least the feast and the sorting remained the same.
"I was worried they would dissolve all the houses and just stick everyone in Slytherin," Ginny commented around a mouthful of food.
Neville nodded. He too had been nervous about the that. He honestly didn't know what he would do if he had been forced into Slytherin. He liked to think that he would refuse, stand up for Gryffindor and the other houses like his gran would want him to, like Harry would, but he couldn't stop thinking about all the times in the past years that he had been too cowardly to do anything to stop the terrible things that were happening around him. No, he had depended on Harry, Ron, and Hermione to do that for him. Well, they were gone this year, so it was up to him and the rest of the D.A.
Neville lost his train of thought as the entire room quieted. "What's going on?" He asked Ginny, feeling slightly stupid.
Ginny pointed to the teacher's table. "Snape's about to speak." She didn't even try to hide the contempt that her words were cooked in.
"Students, students," Snape addressed the crowd, clapping his hands to get everyone's attention even though the room was already so silent that you could hear the ghosts floating around.
A sly greasy smirk curled his lip, and in that moment, Neville hated Snape more than he'd ever hated someone before (except maybe Bellatrix Lestrange). That slimy git was probably thinking of how he had killed Dumbledore and taken his position as head master. Neville's fists clenched under the table. Oh if only he were alone in a room with that bastard! True, Snape would probably kill him, but at least he could be doing something instead of just sitting listening to Snape slap the faces of everyone who had supported Dumbledore.
"Now, as I'm sure you all know, Hogwarts has undergone a few... changes this year."
Snape paused for dramatic effect and Ginny took the opportunity to grasp Neville's hand under the table. It wasn't anything romantic; it was more of a sisterly action. This was the moment they had all been dreading. He squeezed her hand comfortingly. Looking around, Neville noticed that the entire Gryffindor table had tensed up, wait no, the entire school was frozen with dread. Except the Slytherin table. Of course; what would they have to worry about?
"First, we have some new teachers to introduce. First is Amycus Carrow. He will be teaching a new subject: 'The Dark Arts.' This will be replacing 'Defense Against the Dark Arts.'"
The school gasped. Could they possibly have correctly? The Dark Arts? They weren't even trying to hide it anymore. Muttering throughout the four tables rose up like a wispy breeze, but Snape soon put an end to it. "Silence! I will have students disrespect like me like that!" He cried.
The school fell deathly quiet. Neville got the feeling again that he should do something. He knew that if Fred or George had been here they would have loudly cracked some joke, Harry would have protested, even Ron and Hermione would have done something, but Neville just wasn't them! He was a coward, so he shamefully sat in his seat saying nothing.
"Next is Alecto Carrow, she will be teaching Muggle Studies, which is also a required course by decree of the Ministry of Magic."
"Aren't the Carrows death-" He started to whisper to Ginny, but he was cut off by her curt answer.
"Yes."
No need to be surprised there. If they had created a subject called 'The Dark Arts' for gods sake, what was the problem with making Death Eaters Professors?
"What happened to Professor Burbage?" A voice cried out, refering to the old teacher of Muggle Studies.
For once, Snape didn't smile, in fact he looked a little annoyed. "She has left Hogwarts."
"Yeah right, She was murdered by Voldemort!" Seamus Finnigan shouted from beside Neville, then quickly ducked his head as Snape searched for the speaker. The school started to murmur again.
Snape seemed to let this breach of his authority slide, but a cruel smile once again graced his mouth. "Also the Carrows are responsible for disciplinary measures. All other teachers are to report misbehavior to them, and students will go and see one of them for his or her punishment"
Well, Neville could guess types of 'punishments' they had in mind. Others around the school also shifted uncomfortably in their seats. For the first time, Neville started to think that they'd have trouble getting people, even previous D.A. members, to stand up to Snape's oppressive reign. How could he ask people to risk their physical well-being attacks that would probably be only perceived as 'annoying?'
Also, new rules have been put in place. There are too many for me to recite at the moment, however, all houses will have the full list posted in their common rooms. That is all, please follow your Houses prefects to your dormitories." As an afterthought, he added, "Welcome to another year of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
No one said anything when when Snape was done, and he seemed to prefer it that way. One by one the prefects led their houses away, but the Gryffindors were still a mess. No one seemed to know what was going on. The fifth and sixth year prefects appeared not to know what to do. With a jolt, Neville realized that the seventh year prefects were supposed to lead, but Gryffindor's seventh year prefects were Ron and Hermione, and since neither of them were there, chaos had ensued.
Thankfully Professor McGonagall was approaching her house. "Neville Longbottom. Lavender Brown. You are the two seventh year prefects since neither Mr. Weasly or Miss Granger returned to the school this year."
Neville nodded, dumbstruck. He looked to Lavender, she seemed equally as shocked.
"You will immediately assume all duties of a prefect. Including leading everyone to Gryffindor tower," she said, looking at the mess of a house. Her eyes softened slightly, and Neville had no doubts about who she was thinking of. "Good luck you two. You have big shoes to fill."
Both Neville and Lavender nodded. They understood that McGonagall had not meant to insult them; she had merely meant to subtly compliment Ron and Hermione. "Thank you Professor," Neville muttered.
Neville collapsed onto his large four poster bed. He looked around the room, and was surprised to see how empty it was. The only other person in it was Seamus and he was staring out a window. "Hey, where's Dean?" Neville asked, almost afraid for the answer.
Seamus turned. "He's on the run. I haven't heard from him in months." His fists clenched, obviously hating how he was helpless to help his best friend.
Neville was surprised at the answer. "I thought that he was a half-blood!" He said.
Seamus sighed. "I don't think he even knows for sure. He thinks his dad was a wizard, but the git ran out on his mom, and Dean doesn't have any way of proving that he has magical blood, so he thought it would be safest to get out while he could."
Neville nodded solemnly. There were too many stories just like Dean's going around nowadays.
"What about Ron and Harry?" Seamus asked.
Neville sighed. "They're on the run as well."
"Oh. Guess I expected that. So it's just you and me?"
"Yep." Neville stared at the boy in front of him. He was in the D.A., Seamus could help Luna, Ginny and him convince old (and hopefully new) members to rejoin the D.A. "Seamus, I was thinking, well Luna, Ginny, and I were thinking that it's about time to get the D.A. back in action. You up for it?"
A grin spread across Seamus' face. "Hell yes. Let's give these gits the shit they deserve!"
Neville was encouraged by the enthusiastic reply. "Well then, spread the word. We're meeting in the Room of Requirement after dinner tomorrow!" As Neville said it, he knew it was a good idea. They would show the Death Eaters that Dumbledore's Army was a force to be reckoned with. Hell, if they could get through Umbridge, they could get through anything. Neville didn't know how wrong he was.
A/N I know, not great or anything. I also apologize for the shortness and for the fact that nothing really happened. After months of waiting that's what you get.
Well if you have any extra time after reading this, please review, I'd love to hear your feedback! Tell me what you think, in this chapter I tried to capture how helpless Neville feels and also the fact that he's trying to be Harry for everyone's sake. In my mind Neville's still making the transition from follower to leader. Also, I've got some stuff in mind about things that could happen this year, but I'd love to hear your suggestions! So if you want anything specific you want to happen, just post it in a review, and I'll see if I can fit it in anywhere! Love you all!
P.S. I just reread the reviews from last chapter, and you guys are really sweet! I'd like to thank Princess Twila, LunaLongbottem7, and perfectlyODD for being my first reviewers! I'm doing this for you guys! Please review!
