Et Serpens album

Part 11

      A few days later was Halloween Neville was still in the hospital wing since it was a severe wound, Ron and Vivienne have become closer, they were occasionally seen talking in the halls. 

The morning they woke to the delicious smell of baking pumpkin wafting through the corridors. Even better, Professor Flitwick announced in Charms that he thought they were ready to start making objects fly, something they had all been dying to try since they'd seen him make Neville's toad zoom around the classroom. Professor Flitwick put the class into pairs to practice.  Harriet's partner was Jean D'costa a half-blood Slytherin from Jamacia. Ron, however, was to be working with Hermione Granger. It was hard to tell whether Ron or Hermione was angrier about this.  Vivienne was sad her ship isn't sailing yet. 

"Now, don't forget that nice wrist movement we've been practising!" squeaked Professor Flitwick, perched on top of his pile of books as usual. "Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the magic words properly is very important, too, never forget Wizard Baruffio, who said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his chest. "

"Sound like experience," Jean mumbled to Vivienne. 

Jean and Vivienne had theirs in the air the others marvelled at their abilities. "Good job Slytherin gets 20 marks," Flitwick said. 

Ron, at the next table, wasn't having much more luck.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" he shouted, waving his long arms like a windmill.

"You're saying it wrong," Vivienne heard Hermione snap. "It's Wing- gar -dium Levi- o -sa, make the 'gar' nice and long. "

"You do it, then, if you're so clever," Ron snarled.

Hermione rolled up the sleeves of her gown, flicked her wand, and said, "Wingardium Leviosa!"

Their feather rose off the desk and hovered above their heads.

 Professor Flitwick, clapping. "Everyone sees here, Miss Granger's done it too!"

Ron was in a very bad mood by the end of the class.

"It's no wonder no one can stand her," he said to Vivienne as they pushed their way into the crowded corridor, "she's a nightmare, honestly. " they were going to the hospital wing to see Neville.

 Someone knocked into Vivienne as they hurried past him. It was from Hermione. Harry caught a glimpse of her face -- and was startled to see that she was in tears.

"I think she heard you. "

"So?" said Ron, but he looked a bit uncomfortable. "She must've noticed she's got no friends. " 

Vivienne shook her head and walked into the room. 

"Vivienne, Ron," Neville said. They walked over he was sitting down without his bandaids. 

"Where is your head band-aid?" Vivienne asked. Neville smiled and said "No I am fine Miss Pomfrey said I would be out by dinner,"

"Really can I sit with you for my Birthday?" Vivienne asked smiling. 

"Yes Viv you didn't tell us today is your birthday," Ron asked. Neville was happy the two became close it is usually Vivienne hoarding Neville to herself and Ron getting pissed. 

"So, who can't wait for Holloween dinner," Ron said 

Vivienne rolled her eyes and asked jokingly "Don't you ever not think about food,"

"Don't you ever," he retorted. 

"Yes, to get out of this room," Neville said, they saw Madam Pomfrey walked over.

"You two should leave you will have to go to class, Neville needs to get ready for a diagnostic test," she said as they left for class.

Hermione didn't turn up for the next class and wasn't seen all afternoon. On their way down to the Great Hall for the Halloween feast, Harry and Ron overheard Parvati Patil telling her friend Lavender that Hermione was crying in the girls' bathroom and wanted to be left alone. Ron looked still more awkward at this, but a moment later they had entered the Great Hall, where the Halloween decorations put Hermione out of their minds.