Purebloods and Peppermints

Minutes to Hours

~Sophia's POV~

The first official meeting of the D.A was awkward at best. Harry started us off with sparing a practice dummy that we were meant to disarm. Some were better than others. Neville was one of the first to try his hand at disarming. He wielded his wand quite lively at the dummy; it seemed like he was trying to convince himself he was capable of performing the charm. This resulted in his wand flying backwards out of his hand and nearly removing the eye of everyone in line behind him. 

Neville didn't have much confidence in himself. I can see why he would think so little of himself. While myself and plenty of other students thought Neville was fantastic wizard and friend, Malfoy and his cronies made it their mission in life to make his a living hell. They tormented him everyday. Some days consisted offending nicknames. Others were full of hexes. 

One day during fourth year, Neville was walking by himself to take a potions exam. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were waiting for him by the staircases. They obliviated any recollection he had of the exam. It was three hours before Professor McGonagall found him wondering outside in the greenhouse, confused as to why he was even out of bed. Neville was almost withheld from promoting to fifth year. 

As Neville walked to the back of the line, shoulders slunk and eyes down, I gently grabbed his shoulder when he reached me. I didn't say anything, but instead gave a small smile that he returned. Sirius always told me that actions are always more valuable than words.

After everyone had run through sparing with the dummy twice, we moved onto sparing with one another. Harry started to pair everyone off and I realized I was the only one left standing alone. I looked around at the other pairs and to my left there was Fred and George together, two Gryffindors. To my right was Luna and Cho, two Ravenclaws. It didn't take long for me to realize that Harry had made the pairs based on both experience and what house they were in. I was the only Slytherin. 

It took Harry a minute to realize his mistake. Once he did, he became embarrassed and red in the face. 

"Oh-erm, Sophia. Why don't you work with Hermione and I'll partner with Ron?" Harry said, trying to cover up his mistake. 

I looked at Hermione and she tried to give me a sincere smile, but I could tell she was just as embarrassed as I was. Nevertheless I returned the smile and drew my wand. We both got into our dueling stances and waited for Harry's count. 

"Alright, remember that we're only focusing on disarming for now. Keep the hold on your wands tight and try to only move your wrist. Go ahead and start," Harry said. 

"Expelliarmus!" 

All Hermione needed to hear was the word "start" before my wand flew from my hand and landed 10 feet away from me, hitting Ron in the head on its way down. 

"Bloody hell, Hermione! Take it easy will you," Ron said while handing me back my wand. 

"Sorry, Ron." Hermione and I both replied. 

I turned back to Hermione and we both repeated our stances. Once again, I found myself wand-less. 

The cycle repeated itself over and over again. She managed to disarm me every time. After about five matches, Harry regrouped us back together. 

Hermione mouth curved upwards into a smile as she gave me back my wand and I took it sheepishly.

"Don't worry, Sophia. You'll get better. You already have great foundations. It's just putting it all together, " said Hermione. 

"Thanks, Hermione. I'll work on it," I replied. 

I wasn't only the outcast of the D.A, I was also was an inferior dualist. I told myself I would practice when I could. I saw first-hand what evils were out there. The type of things they were capable of doing.