Wow…two years. I'm sorry I haven't updated for so long, but I'm back! Read on and enjoy.

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"Try again."

"Deprimo."

The rickety cabinet still didn't budge. Professor Flitwick knew I was losing my cool, so he carefully hopped down off the chair he was standing on.

"Maybe you should take a break." Despite my reluctance to give up, I lowered the wand as he approached. "Is something the matter, dear? Your concentration has been wavering lately."

It wasn't much of a shock to hear him say that. There was just a lot on my mind: Neville, Voldemort, the recent troubles of the Weasley family, my own family…

"I'm sorry, I don't know what's wrong."

"Oh, come now." After a few seconds of struggling, Flitwick climbed onto the desk next to me. "I'm bothered too. Half the students are scared to death; they think Death Eaters will jump through the windows at any moment!"

Well, who could blame them?

"But you know something?" I glanced at him, not knowing. "That's just what You-Know-Who wants. But we can't let that happen, can we?"

My head shook in agreement, even though I wasn't sure how things would turn out. Still, Flitwick was awfully upbeat.

"That having been said, improving your focus is vital. Should his followers choose to strike, you must catch them off-guard. Knock them on their bums, correct?" I couldn't help but chuckle. "Well then, shall we give it another go?"

"Okay, sure."

I approached the cabinet once again, with my wand at the ready; several more seconds ticked by before the words finally formulated.

"Deprimo."

When a large hole was blasted into the wood, I jumped back. However, Flitwick couldn't have been happier.

"Wonderful, Miss Ravensdale," he exclaimed, hopping up and down with excitement. "Splendid!"

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

The next few weeks went by with minimal issues. While things were improving with the Charms lessons, the skies seemed to get a bit darker with each passing day. I wasn't the only one who noticed; nobody else at Hogwarts was quite as upbeat as before. One day, after spending some time roaming the castle, I stopped at the bottom of a staircase to sit down. While it was dark and musty, that had become the new normal.

Voldemort has to be plotting something. But Flitwick is right…he wants to keep us on edge and afraid. I wish it wasn't working…

"Lacey…"

Someone was descending the stairs. My body tensed at first, relaxing at the sight of the fellow Gryffindor.

"Oh, hey."

Hermione paused one step up from where I was sitting.

"What're you doing down here?"

"Oh, just sitting."

Things were tensely quiet as she knelt down onto her perch.

"You've been doing that a lot. Everything alright?"

I almost giggled. Hermione really was the smartest sixth year; she was the first to notice if anything was off about anyone.

"I don't know…it's felt so dark lately. I'm just waiting for something bad to happen."

"We can't let it dampen our hope. I'm sure that's what Voldemort wants."

"Yeah, Flitwick said that too."

It was fairly silent for several more seconds.

"Talking to someone might help. I've been talking to Harry a lot, and Ron."

"Ron?" I probed, taken aback. "The two of you haven't spoken for most of the year."

"Well…can I tell you a secret?" she asked, leaning forward to rest a hand on my shoulder. "For quite some time, I've had…feelings for him. I don't know where he stands, so it's been hard."

Hermione lowered her gaze. Feeling the need to comfort her, I carefully allowed my fingers to sit over the hand she'd placed upon me.

"If it makes you feel any better, I'm dealing with something similar."

Upon hearing this, she looked at me with an interesting expression.

"With Neville?" My breath froze, astounded that she was able to guess correctly. "I wondered. Well, I think he'd be crazy not to like you."

"Thanks," I said with a smile. "Ron would be mental to not like you."

We sat like that for a few more moments…two growing women lost in the confusing world of love.

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