A/N: So here's the second installment, as you'll be able to tell, its quite a few years later. Please review so I can see how you guys feel about it! Thanks, and enjoy!

"Now, you need to think of a happy memory, the happiest you've ever been." Harry Potter instructed the room full of Hogwarts students. "Focus on it and say the incantation."

"Expecto Patronum!" Ginny cast the spell and a silvery light in the shape of a hare burst out of her wand and bounded around the room.

"Excellent Ginny, really excellent!" Harry congratulated the redhead before continuing to walk around the room making sure everyone was getting the hang of the spell he was teaching Dumbledore's Army today. Poor Astrid was having a little difficulty producing a strong enough Patronus, and Harry took notice. "Here Astrid, what's your memory?"

"Getting my letter from Hogwarts…" They both knew it wasn't a strong enough memory. "But I suppose I do have a stronger one…" Astrid remembered the night of the Yule Ball during the past year at Hogwarts. Astrid had gone with Dean Thomas, a handsome boy she'd had a crush on since her second year at Hogwarts, however, what made that night so enjoyable was when she had switched dates with Ginny for one song. Astrid danced with her best friend Neville; it wasn't anything romantic in the least, simply two best friends dancing together to the Weird Sisters. "Expecto Patronum!" With a giant burst of dazzling white energy, Astrid's Patronus burst from her wand. Astrid's Patronus was in the form of a cheetah; Astrid immediately beamed at the form her Patronus had taken…her mother had been an animagus and would turn into a cheetah. As Astrid watched the cheetah run around the room playfully, she instantly felt a deep connection, as if she were in the presence of her mother.

"Well done Astrid, it's beautiful." Hermione said to her best friend as she gave her a knowing glance from the cheetah to the redheaded girl standing next to her. "Your mother would be proud." Hermione lowered her voice so only Astrid and Harry could hear.

"Thanks." Astrid had first found out about her mother being an animagus when Sirius Black had told her when he escaped from Azkaban. Sirius and Astrid's mother had been dear friends and had even dated during the majority of their years at Hogwarts; though Astrid went onto be with David Burby.

"Well, I believe we've done enough for today…I don't want to wear you all out too much." The group laughed, but in all honesty looked relieved to be ending today's trying lesson. "I'll see you all at our next lesson then." With Harry's final word, the group began to file out in small groups so as not to draw attention from Umbridge or her new Inquisitorial Squad. Eventually all that was left was Neville, Harry and Astrid. Harry and Astrid were just finishing a discussion about the Patronus Charm when they noticed Neville standing in front of the bulletin board of photos the D.A. had put up. There was a wide array of photos, all of family and friends; including Cedric Diggory, but Neville was looking at the largest photo that was in the center of the board. It was a photo of the Order of the Phoenix from the first Wizarding War. Astrid's parents were in the photo and smiled at Astrid as she and Harry made their way to stand on either side of Neville.

"My parents were aurors, you know?" Of all the years Astrid had known Neville, he had never spoken about his parents before. "During the first war, a death eater named Bellatrix Lestrange" Astrid felt her stomach drop as he said the name. "…used the Cruciatus curse on them to get information, but they never gave up. I'm real proud of them. I'm not quite ready for people to know yet though."

"We understand. You'll make them proud Neville, I know it." Harry spoke to the tall boy. "I'll see you two later, alright?" Harry smiled at the two and patted Neville on the back before heading out the door, leaving Astrid and Neville alone, both staring at the photo in silence. Eventually Astrid built up the courage to break that silence.

"My parents were in the Order, they're right there…next to your mum and dad." Astrid pointed to her parents. "...I've never told anyone this, not even Hermione."

"You don't have to tell me, you know?"

"I know." Astrid said sitting down on a two-seater cushion that had appeared below the collage of photos. "But I want to." Astrid patted the spot next to her and Neville sat down. "I had a twin sister…"

"What happened to her?"

"She was killed when we were just over a year old." Astrid paused momentarily before she continued. "My mum was best friends with Lily. You-Know-Who and his followers didn't yet know about the Fidelius Charm, so they searched for the closest friends of Lily and James Potter. My parents knew they were being hunted down and decided to pose as a muggle family until they could find their own Secret-Keeper for a Fidelius Charm. Once afternoon, my mother was at home alone with my sister. Some Death Eaters, includign the Lestrange's, found our home; they killed my sister and took my mother captive." Astrid paused to wipe away the tears that started to form. "My mother was tortured with the Cruciatus curse, and when she didn't give in…they...they raped her. They tortured my mother for months until she lost the will to live." Silent tears were slowly making their way down her face. "Neville…I must make my mother proud, I can't let her die in vain."

"And you won't Astrid…" Neville said as he put his arm around Astrid's shoulder and pulled her into his chest. "I know you well enough Astrid…you will make us all proud. I swear it." Astrid looked up at Neville before smiling and planting a kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you Neville, you really are my best friend." Astrid said as she rested her head once again on his chest, just missing the vivid red blush spread across the poor boys face.

XOXOXOXOX

"Now…you've all been horrid students and will be punished for your defiance." Umbridge spoke in her unnaturally chipper voice. "You knew that extracurricular activities were disbanded and prohibited on campus…and now you must pay for your insolence." The toad faced woman waved her wand and quills appeared on each of the desks that the students sat at. Astrid immediately recognized the quill as the same one both she and Harry were forced to use during previous detentions. "Now, you all must write the following line repeatedly until detention is over. You may begin." With another wave of her wand, a sentence formed in the air above the chair where she now perched.

I must follow the rules.

Astrid must have written this sentence well over several hundred times; her hand was aching horribly and was covered in blood…her own blood. All throughout the hall you could hear the quiet groans from the older students and the sniffling from the younger, crying students who could barely take the pain.

"Hem hem…" Umbridge caught the attention of the large group students after two and a half hours of torture. "That's all for today, I'll see you all here tomorrow; same time." The students all stood gingerly, Astrid's bottom was numb from sitting in such an uncomfortable wooden chair for so long, yet nothing could compare to the aching pain shooting through her throbbing hand. Astrid and the rest of the students shuffled out of the room, attempting to comfort each other. Poor Nigel Wespurt's hand looked particularly bad, and he was having some difficulty keeping back his tears as he sniffled. Astrid saw the boy she looked at as a little brother whom she had taken under her wing during the lessons with Dumbledore's Army.

"It's alright Nigel…" Astrid put her arm around Nigel's should to comfort him some. "That old hag will get what's coming to her, I promise. No one does such horrible things without karma finding them one day." Nigel smiled up at Astrid before they separated, Nigel following his friends to go up to their room, while Astrid joined Hermione, Ron, Harry and Neville in the common room.

"Honestly, how could anyone be so evil to children…it's barbaric!" Hermione angrily voiced as she sat next to Ron on the floor in front of the fireplace.

"I don't believe she's human." Astrid laughed as Neville spoke his own opinion. Neville simply shook his head and plopped down beside Astrid on the couch.

"You know, even when she had me do lines for backtalk last month…my hand didn't hurt nearly as bad…or bleed as much." Astrid spoke while inspecting her hand that was covered in drying blood.

"Here, let's go clean you up Astrid." Neville grabbed Astrid's non injured hand and lead her up to his dormitory.

"I swear…when will those two realize how bad they've got it for each other?" Hermione sighed after the two had left.

"What?" Ron was clearly confused by Hermione's statement.

"Come on Ron, it's obvious the two fancy each other like mad."

"But I thought she fancied Dean?"

"Well, she did…but she never loved him. Astrid loves Neville and he loves her."

"Honesty Ron, it's been obvious to everyone but them…well, and you." Harry agreed with Hermione.

Meanwhile, Neville had just finished filling up a small bowl with warm water and gave it to Astrid so she could soak her hand.

"You know that the quills are made so you can only heal it naturally, and that magic won't work, right Neville?"

"Yeah, but I still want to help you clean it."

"You don't have to, I mean all we can do is clean off the blood and bandage it…and I could do that myself…"

"I know Astrid., but I want to do it...so let me. Okay?" With that Neville gently grabbed Astrid's hand and slowly began wiping off the dried blood. Her hand was soft, petite and warm in his own large and less graceful hands. Yet Neville took extra care in cleaning her wound, just as much care he took when working with his beloved plants. However, when he hit a rather nasty part of her wound, Astrid let out a hiss in pain. "Sorry!"

"It's fine Neville, just stings a bit." Once Neville finished, he wrapped her hand tightly in a bandage before patting it softly.

"All done."

"Thank you Neville." Astrid leaned forward and hugged Neville before placing a quick kiss on his cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow in potions. Good night." Astrid left Neville still sitting on the end of his bed, Neville could feel his face burn from blushing… he reached up and touched his own cheek where she had just innocently kissed him.