Sorry it's been forever! My computer has been erring...
When I woke up the next morning, the first thing I saw was the Remembrall on the shelf at my feet, and I remembered Neville the night before and his fingers on my face and palm. I closed my eyes again, and then heard the bell above me. I slipped out of bed and into the bathroom, finger brushed my hair and raced downstairs, seeing that most of my comrades were already there.
Neville sat at the head of the table again, alone amidst the chatter from Seamus who was making omlettes at the stove, Michael, who was squeezing oranges for juice and Padma, who was toasting bread and butter. Lavender was sitting beside him, both quiet, almost chiseled in stone.
I settled down into a seat two away from him, and smiled as Susan slumped down into the seat next to me, groaning and yawning.
"Sleep well?" I grinned.
She glared. "Yes. Wonderful restful beautiful long beauty sleep last night, Han."
Neville chuckled from behind her and I looked down, but then the omlettes, juice and toast were on the table and everyone was eating and laughing and talking.
"So, um what do you normally do during the day?" I asked.
Seamus shrugged, "read the Daily Prophet and listen to the news, rescue anyone in trouble from the Carrows, practice spells and dueling, it depends on the day."
Lavender frowned, "no contact from Harry, Ron and Hermione?"
Neville shook his head. "We have no idea where they are. But this was what we expected wasn't it."
Susan laughed, "yep, those three running off and leaving us in crisis."
"You know Susan, that was what I thought at first, but now, I'm glad we're here and they're out there." Neville said quietly. Susan shrugged and sipped at her orange juice.
"Neville?" Seamus asked.
Neville sighed, "Aberforth says he isn't sure, but he was in contact with them the night of the last Potterwatch cast, and that he heard Harry say that they were in the Malfoy Manor."
A hush spread over the table.
"He isn't dead." I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "They'd flaunt it in our faces."
"You're saying he escaped?" Michael asked, his voice slightly hushed.
"I'm saying have some faith in our greatest hero, our only chance. If we can't believe him than who can we believe."
Neville nodded, "she's right. Have faith in him. He's the only hero we've got."
He looked down at the table, not seeing the look I was sending towards him.
False. We've got you.