Second chapter up right away! I know the first chapter wasn't super exciting, but I'm just setting the stage, I promise!
Again, reviews make my day! Good OR bad! Honestly, criticism works just as well as compliments, it makes me want to write better so that those people that didn't like it, will end up liking it! Of course saying good things about the story doesn't hurt either!
Still looking for a beta person…lemme know if you would like to beta!
CHAPTER 2
Lending a Helping Hand
Classes began along with our usual routine as well. The classes I were taking this year were; Herbology with professor Sprout, Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid, Divination with Professor Trelawney, 4th year Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Moody and 4th year potions with Professor Snape.
Snape was as charming as usual, constantly yelling at Harry and Ron, and when Neville melted a pot while brewing a potion, Professor Snape gave him detention and apparently made him disembowel a barrel full of horned toads. I learned this after I found Neville huddled in a back corner of the Gryffindor tower, silently staring out a window.
"Neville is that you?" I asked.
"Yes . . . erm I hello." Neville quietly replied.
"Neville what's the matter?" I asked, walking towards him.
"Nothing." He quickly replied.
"Oh come Neville, you can tell me. Cross my heart I won't use the information to later humiliate and disgrace you in the middle of the great hall." I joked as I sat next to him.
He smiled and let out a gently laugh.
I gently nudged him, "It'll help you to tell someone."
"It's just, well I'm sure you heard what Snape made me do after potions." He said quietly.
"No, I haven't heard anything." I answered.
"He…he made me disembowel toads." He ashamedly replied.
"He did what? He's such an ass! I'm so sorry he made you do that, it sounds just awful."
"I just, I can't seem to do anything right." He sighed.
"What? Neville you can't think that. You're good at plenty of things!"
"Like what, I can't even brew a bloody potion without melting the pot." He sighed.
"Oh Neville! You can't possibly be this upset over something that happened in Snape's class! He's such a monster!" I exclaimed with a slight nudge.
"Hanna you're a 3rd year in a 4th year potions class, you're great at it all."
"I most certainly am not! I can't cook, my spelling is horrible and I snore in my sleep!" My final revelation made him laugh. "Besides, you know which class I do horribly in . . . Herbology, and I happen to know that you excel at it and have become Professor Sprout's favorite student."
He smiled, "Well, I do love it down there. When there are no students around, and I can just sit and listen to the plants, hear them grow."
"Hell I hope you don't try and listen to the Mandrake! I'll never forget when she asked us to replant them. I thought my ears would never stop ringing!" I explained in disgust.
Neville laughed, "That lesson is a favorite of the Professor's. She has quite the interesting sense of humor."
We both laughed loudly at the thought of the Professor laughing while first years screamed at the plant's horrible screeching.
"Thanks for cheering me up." Neville said.
"Anytime Neville." I smiled as I placed my hand against his leg. I felt him instinctively flinch away, which both made us feel instantly awkward. Hoping to ease the tension I swung my arm around his shoulders and exclaimed, "Now come on! Let's get out of this dusty old tower!"
"Dusty old tower! You are the one that came up here to . . . actually what were you doing up here?" he asked as we both stood up.
"Oh I come up here to study sometimes. It's nice and quiet so I can concentrate. Hey maybe next time we're up here at the same time you could help me with some Herbology homework! It couldn't hurt get some help from the Professors favorite student!" I teased.
"No sorry, I can't help lost causes." He replied.
Shocked at his bluntness I slapped him on the shoulder and said, "Oh no, now you're DEFINATAELY helping me!"
We both laughed and continued our trek back to the common rooms.