Chapter 21! Year 7. Their final year at Hogwarts isn't starting so well. Lauren, Luna, and Neville adress important things, can they really trust her?

Very short chapter between these three, though it's mostly Lauren and Neville talking. I think it touches on some things I needed to touch on and set up the scenario of the next chapter. I'll talk more at the end. ^^

As always thanks and smiles to PandaWong, SandyLovesKittens, XenaHades, nightworldangel, FonzFan, The Yoshinator, Isa'ralia Faradien, Lost Astronaut Of Apollo 11, Readergirl99, DrainaPurpurne2412, sara253xxx, XenaHades, innocentrini, FangScarlet, Beesy, Sevre and anonymous reviewer Bree.

Read and enjoy everyone~

Chapter 21 – Little Miss Trustworthy

They were the only three there right now, Lauren, Luna and Neville. It was very lonely and very quiet and no one knew what to say.

Two days in, just two, and already things were awful. The train's interception by Death Eaters had frightened everyone but to have them stalking about the castle kept everyone on edge.

Since Severus was headmaster now, and had someone in his office almost twenty four seven, she hadn't gotten to see him, but she wanted to desperately. She couldn't rightly say that she hadn't seen him in forever, she had spent several days in his company as Summer drew to a close, but it had been a few weeks at least. She missed him.

Luna could see that longing gaze in her eyes and Lauren suspected she knew. She hadn't told anyone but she knew Luna knew. The girl was perceptive, always had been, but she didn't mind. She was sure the whole school suspected something, had since last year or the year before. She was the only one who spent so much time around him and Hogwarts was like any other school. Rumors spread, just not always loudly.

She was sure they were going to spread this year if they hadn't already. She didn't know why, but something told her they would. As everyone readied for what would inevitably be some kind of conflict anyone who associated themselves with certain people, especially him, would be looked upon with distain. She would probably be one of the first singled out, besides the obvious Slytherins, and she could only hope that it didn't interfere with her helping the army and the Order.

She just wanted to help, she didn't care what they wanted to think anymore… She was trying not to anyway.

She looked down at her lap, her folded hands, her bracelet. She felt a little more secure in herself with that piece of silver around her wrist and managed a small smile. Even if everyone else thought ill of her, she'd have him.

"Ask him a question for me" Neville said suddenly and she jumped at his voice, echoing in the large room.

"Hm?" she blinked, not quite following.

"I want to know how he could let death eaters roam about. I want to know what the hell is wrong with him."

And she was surprised to hear his words. They came out in a level, conversational tone, maybe a little aggravated, and he kept looking at his hands too. He seemed calm but under the surface he was probably seething.

Luna stared at him, obviously surprised, and Lauren moved away a bit.

"I haven't seen him recently-"

"Well when you do" he practically spat and she fell silent. What more could she say really? It was odd for him to be like this, so angry, but she understood where it came from. The bastards were using crucio for detentions and the number of students who had already been subjected to it was staggering. Neville wasn't among them but he probably would be eventually and he had a special place of hatred in his heart for that curse. She could understand his feelings, if only a little bit.

Feeling dejected she moved down the bench they occupied a little more and nodded. "I'll be sure to do that."

He nodded too and looked her way.

"Be straight with me Lauren, can we trust you?"

She looked at him too feeling hurt but accepting his skepticism. "Yes."

"Can you prove it?"

"No."

They watched each other for a long moment after and then he nodded again. "Okay."

He reached out and patted her gently on the shoulder, coaxing her closer so he could give her a clumsy, one armed hug around the shoulders.

She smiled a little, glad he understood. She could swear up and down that she was loyal, she could do task after task for them, but it would never really prove anything. If she was going to betray them, which she wasn't, it would happen regardless of how many good things she did. She was just relieved he understood hat, relieved she had answered properly.

Luna leaned forward and smiled at her and Lauren held out a hand that the blond grasped tightly.

"It's up to us now." Neville said as they joined hands. "Us and whoever else we can get to stand with us till they get back."

Lauren nodded. "Should we start recruiting now? It seems early."

"The sooner the better." He nodded. "We need to start moving people in here. But not in mass. Just us members of the army first don't you think?"

She and Luna nodded. It seemed like a good idea.

"Then we can mull through the rest and see who we can really trust… Can you go through Slytherin? When the time comes I mean."

"Slytherin?" she was surprised he asked. She hadn't expected him to want anyone from that house anywhere near them.

"They're not all bad blokes" he said, recalling the few odd persons in that house who weren't under dark influences and who were in danger there. The half bloods and two Muggle-Borns that he knew of came to mind immediately. "You get on with them well enough anyway. It'll be less suspicious if you're down there talking to them and you're-"

He cut himself off but she could pretty well guess what he was going to say, something akin to 'immune'. It was no secret that students who had been caught in 'Dumbledore's Army' two years ago were an instant target for the new staff to torture. So far only a few had actually faced physical punishment but she was the only one who'd yet to get at least a verbal lashing. Truthfully it probably was intervention by Severus since she knew she'd seen at least one of them somewhere before. Her memory was funny when she tried to remember of course but she knew she'd seen him and she knew he recognized her.

She sighed. She supposed she should be grateful, and she was, but she didn't think it was fair her friends had to hurt and she was exempt.

"I'll do what I can" she told him, giving her most confident smile, trying to raise spirits.

He smiled weakly back and wrung his hands together nervously, looking down to his shoes. "Can I ask one more favor of you?"

His tone concerned her a touch but she nodded. "Go on."

"Talk to Malfoy… See if you can get any information out of him… About what they might be planning maybe?"

Her brow furrowed. "Why Draco?" she would've guessed he'd want her to interrogate Severus.

Neville sat up a little straighter. "Snape wouldn't tell you anything would he? He's too smart. Malfoy's smart too, and smug, but I think some of that confidence is fake… And he fancies you."

She blinked, partly startled, and thought on his words. The first part made sense but… "Draco doesn't-"

"Don't tell me you haven't noticed" he said, exasperated. "And people say we men are thick headed" he grumbled.

"H-Hey" she pouted. "I'm not… Okay sometimes I am, but Draco does not fancy me!" She held up her free hand to silence his next words. "Anyway, I'll probably feel bad about this later but I'll see what I can do. I need to talk to him anyway."

"Thanks" he said, patting her on the back. "And while you do that we'll start rounding up the others… It's gonna be a long year."

Lauren sighed and gave a slight smile. He had no idea.

Denial maybe? She doesn't vividly remember the whole confontation in that classroom though, to her credit. Her memory is funny.

Anyway, I thought these things might be issues and should be adressed. It's no secret that she spends unusual amounts of time with Professor Snape and people tend to talk when two students of opposite genders hang out too much. When it's the teacher no one likes minds are bound to wander. And with the death eaters roaming around and not targeting her, even though she was a known member of Dumbeldore's Army, could also hint that she's on their side so yeah. Neville is smart to be wary.

Never written for him before so I might've gotten him a touch out of character. Hope not though, i tried. Figured that at this point he was probably a little tougher than when he was a kid, ready to ask these questions even if he didn't want to.

Eh? I dunno. Questions, comments, suggestions? Send em my way! Or just mosey on by. Eitherway, thanks for reading! =3