Two Sisters, Two Loves

Next Morning

*Kenzie’s Point of View*
  I awoke to a violent snowstorm blowing outside the stain glass window of the dormitory. I guess it was a good thing for me and Draco to decide to not stay at the shrieking shack overnight. Having gone missing won’t exactly help our situation any. I sat up in my bed, trying to wipe the sleep from my eyes. Hermione was lying in bed as well, reading a book.
  “Morning, Hermione,” I yawned.
  Without looking up, “Morning.”
  She seemed to be a bit bothered about something. I decided to find out.
  “Is something wrong?” I asked her.
  She looked up at me, then back to her book, “No.”
  I could tell she was lying, “Are you sure?”
  “Yes. Nothing is wrong…” she paused, “But I am a little disappointed.”
  “About what?”
  She sighed, placing her bookmark inside her book and shutting it with a clap, “About last night.”
  That’s weird, “Did something go wrong?”
  She shook her head, leaving me unable to understand why she’s disappointed. The party was fun, the music was upbeat, and Ron noticed her for sure. So what was it? I waited for her to say something, watching her set her book down and look at me.
  “I’m disappointed because I just saw one of my closest friends snog Malfoy in the center of the great hall.”
  My heart stopped beating and guilt came over me. Hermione and I share everything, so I bet she feels a bit out of the loop now.
  “Hermione, I can explain…” I stuttered.
  She sighed, “Kenzie, why didn’t you just tell me you liked him? We tell each other everything, remember?”
  I looked down in shame, “I… I thought you would think I was crazy. You and the others would not want to be friends anymore.”
  She looked guilty too, “I’m sorry if you thought that. Okay, yes. None of us like him, but it’s not us. It’s you who does. If he takes care of you, is a gentleman to you, and you care about him, then I support you the whole way.”
  I single guilt-ridden tear trickled down my face, “Thanks, Hermione. I’m so sorry.”
  She climbed out of her bed and walked over to mine, giving me a warm hug, “Don’t be. I know where you’re coming from. As a matter of fact, I’ll share something with you that I haven’t yet.”
  I raised an eyebrow at her, “Let me guess. You have a crush on Ron, right?”
  Her face became flushed, “How… How did you know?”
  “Hermione, it couldn’t be any more obvious,” I laughed.
  She pushed her hair back behind her ear, “Promise you won’t tell?”
  I laughed again, “Hermione, I’ve been dating Draco Malfoy for almost two months. Of course I can keep a secret.”
  Her mouth dropped, “Almost two months?! How?”
  “We just kept it a secret.”
  She still seemed shocked, “And nobody knew?”
  I shrugged, “Well, Krista and Neville found out at the one month mark. They sort of, caught us.”
  “Doing what?”
  I smiled a little, “Kissing.”
  She seemed disturbed by the thought of me with Draco. Especially after everything.
  She thought for a moment, “Wait… So, you were already together that evening when you were with me and the guys? The night you called them inconsiderate pricks?”
  I nodded, laughing about it now. It’s ancient history that no longer matters.
  She shook her head, “Explains why you got so angry with us for speaking badly about him.”
  “Yeah, it was.”
  Her smile widened, “Well, then… I’m curious now.”
  I looked at her a bit confused, “About?”
  “Well…” she started, moving her hands in the ‘you know’ gesture, “What is he like when he’s with you? Is he anything like how we know him?”
  This was my chance to reveal the truth, “Of course not! He’s nothing but sweet and respectful to me. He’s always doing romantic things for me and being protective when needed. I love him. I really do.”
  Hermione’s hand covered her mouth and moved down over her heart in awe, “That’s so sweet.”
  I smiled with pure loving happiness, fingering the pendant still around my neck as I looked her in the eye, “A first love will always be one of most special of people.”
  She gasped, “Wait, Malfoy gave you that necklace? He’s your first love?”
  I almost began to cry with joy, “Yes.”
  We sat in silence for a few minutes. Hermione’s expression told me that she felt a bit bad for badmouthing Draco. Everything I had said had shined a whole new light on her perspective, allowing her to see the joy that brimmed inside of me. I knew she would have never expected something like this to happen, but here we are. Fate changing our lives and thoughts as it has from the beginning of time.
  After recollecting ourselves, we got dressed and headed downstairs to breakfast. Hermione kept asking me question after question about my and Draco’s relationship. It feels so wonderful to be able to discuss this with her normally. We can just talk about it. No longer with the concern of who it is. Just what they do. I explained how it got started between us. How he knew intuitively that I cared for him and how he planned getting me alone.
  “That’s so romantic!” She sighed.
  I laughed, “I’ll be sure to tell Ron to trap you in a supply closet then.”
  “There is no way he’d be able to pull that off,” she giggled.
  We pranced into the great hall, still laughing. Neville and Krista were cuddling with their eyes closed at the far end of the Gryffindor table. Huge smiles on their faces.
  “Let’s go sit with them,” I suggested.
  We wandered over to the two. Obviously they were too absorbed to sense us approach.
  “Morning, lovebirds,” I grinned, reaching for a goblet of juice.
  Both of their eyes flashed open in fear. I guess they really didn’t notice us.
  “Morning,” Neville said without looking me in the eye. A huge grin still plastered to his face.
  Hermione smirked, picking up an orange, “Well, you two seem exceedingly happy this morning.”
  Krista smiled even wider, “Yeah, we are.”
  “And why is that?” I asked, getting her under my thumb.
  Neville kissed her hand, “We just are. We just feel so close to each other.”
  Hermione and I looked at each other with raised eyebrows. We both know that’s not the whole story, but we figured now wasn’t the time to ask.
  Out of nowhere, Harry and Ron approached us, seemingly thrilled.
  “Hermione, Kenzie. Did these two tell you?” Harry asked.
  We shook our heads and he continued, “These two found the perfect place for practices. I did a callout for people to meet after lunch.”
  “That’s great, Harry!” I grinned.
  He smiled back, ‘Can we count on all of you to be there?”
  “Yes!”
  Finally! The plan is now in motion and I’m beyond thrilled, “This is going to be great!”
*Krista’s Point of View*
  I awoke feeling a bit disoriented. Not fully remembering what happened, until it hit me.
  “Was that a dream?” I asked myself.
  I patted the bed and looked around me, realizing I wasn’t in my dorm. Turning over, I saw Neville still slumbering peacefully next to me and I couldn’t help but smile. I guess it wasn’t a dream.
  “Neville?” I asked, stroking his face.
  He stirred, raising his hand to cover mine, “Yes, babe?”
  I snuggled against him smiling, “Nothing. Just wanted to see if you were awake.”
  “I am now,” he chuckled drowsily.
  “I’m sorry.”
  He chuckled again, “Don’t be. We should probably get up soon anyway.”
  “Do we have to?” I asked jokingly.
  He held me closer to him, “Sadly, yes.”
  I gave him a light kiss before climbing out of the bed and putting regular clothes on. I still can’t believe it really happened. I still feel as though it was a dream, yet here we are. Very real as anything. I just listened silently as Neville got out of bed as well. Hearing him slip on a pair of jeans and the clink of him buckling his belt.
  “Krista, are you feeling okay?”
  I turned around to see him watching me worriedly, “I’m fine. I’m just processing everything.”
  He came up and sat next to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder, “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
  “Oh, it’s just awful!” I laughed using extreme sarcasm.
  He shook his head at me, a large grin on his face, “Good thing. Got it.”
  I giggled and stood up, finishing up getting dressed. Neville doing the same.
  He grabbed my hand, “Ready to go?”
  “Yeah,” I smiled.
  We left the room of requirement as two completely different people. No longer our old selves, we sashayed downstairs to the great hall, running into Harry and Ron on the way.
  “There you two are,” Ron joked, “We thought you got lost.”
  “Far from it,” I said, hugging Neville’s arm. “Speaking of, Harry, we found the perfect place for the practices.”
  Harry stood up straight, “Really, where?”
  I pointed upstairs, “The room of requirement on the seventh floor. Umbridge won’t be able to find us there.”
  Harry nudged Ron, “Let’s check it out. Thanks, guys.”
  We watched them vanish upstairs before we started towards the great hall again. We walked inside, only to find a small handful of people. Justin being one of them. He looked at me just as Neville and I walked in, smiling at me and glaring at Neville. I guess Neville noticed Justin, because he suddenly asked me to come sit with him at the Gryffindor table. I didn’t mind it at all. We walked to the farthest end of the table, Neville gesturing for me to sit before sitting beside me. He wrapped his arm around me again, resting his head on mine and I cuddled into his shoulder. I don’t know how long we were there. I was just enjoying being with him. 
  “Morning, lovebirds,” came Kenzie’s voice.
  I jumped in surprise. I didn’t hear them approach.
  “Morning,” Neville said without looking them in the eye. A huge grin still plastered to his face.
  Hermione smirked, picking up an orange, “Well, you two seem exceedingly happy this morning.”
  I smiled even wider, “Yeah, we are.”
  “And why is that?” Kenzie asked, trying to get me to admit to something.
  Neville kissed my hand, “We just are. We just feel so close to each other.”
  Now wasn’t exactly the best time in the world to explain what happened last night. I knew Kenzie was about to ask something else when Harry and Ron showed up.
 “Hermione, Kenzie. Did these two tell you?” Harry asked then gesturing to me and Neville.
  They shook our heads and he continued, “These two found the perfect place for practices. I did a callout for people to meet after lunch.”
  “That’s great, Harry!” Kenzie grinned.
  He smiled back, ‘Can we count on all of you to be there?”
  “Yes!”
  I’ve never seen Kenzie so excited, “This is going to be great!”
  After breakfast the four of them took off to get things ready, leaving me and Neville alone.
  “Are you ready to break some rules?” I asked Neville with a devious grin.
  He kissed my forehead, “We already have.”
  “Not like that. I mean go against Umbridge.”
  He hugged me, “More than ever.”
  “Then let’s go help out.”
  We got up from the table and all the way back to the seventh floor. Dumbledore’s Army has finally banded and it’s time to fight back.