Redamancy (d.m)

Chapter eighty seven-lessons

MATURE CONTENT AHEAD

"Harry, get your arse up here or the train's leave without you!" I called from the entrance of the Hogwarts Express, waving Harry over from his conversation with Mr. Weasley on Platform nine and three-quarters
"Where's Ron and Hermione?" He asked as he headed down the rows of compartments in search of a vacant one
"Prefect carriage" I answered simply, breaking into a wide grin as I caught a glimpse of flowing blonde hair, "Luna!"
"Hello, (y/n), Harry" the wide eyed Ravenclaw greeted warmly as she and Neville joined us in search of a compartment
"They're all staring at us" Harry whispered in my ear as students shamelessly gawked at us as we passed, some even pressing their faces against the window to get a better look
"Lovely observation, Harry, couldn't have said it better myself" I mused as we slid into an empty compartment
"It's because we were at the ministry isn't it?" Neville said, "it was all over the paper"
"Are we still doing DA meetings this year?" Luna asked me in her usual airy tone
"I don't see a point now that Umbridge's gone" I answered, handing my luggage off to Harry so he could slide it onto the rack above

Harry made to speak as he took his seat beside me but was cut off by a swarm of giggling voices outside our compartment

"You ask him!"
"No, you!"
"I'll do it!"

Before long, the compartment door slid open and a girl with dark, wild, hair and a slanted chin emerged from behind a gaggle of girls

"Hi Harry, I'm Romilda, Romilda Vane" she said with brash confidence, "why don't you join us in our compartment? You don't have to sit with them" she cast Neville and Luna a look of half disgust half pity
"Listen here you-" I began furiously until Harry headed me off
"These are my friends" Harry said coldly, dropping an arm around my shoulder, "and I quite like sitting with them, thanks"
"Oh" Romilda said, looking rightfully abashed, "oh, okay then"
"What a bitch" I muttered under my breath as she slid the door closed and hurried off with her friends
"Who's a bitch?" Ron's voice emerged from the doorway as he entered, trailed by Hermione
"No one" Harry answered hurriedly
"Romilda Vane" I said nonetheless

I retold the disgruntling encounter as the weather shifted unpredictably outside, the cloudy gloom occasionally letting out brief flashes of sunlight.

"Get this-Malfoy's not doing prefect duty" Ron revealed, "he's just sitting in his compartment with the other Slytherins, we saw him when we passed
"What did he do when he saw you?" Harry asked, sitting up straighter at the topic
"The usual" Ron said, holding up his middle finger, "not like him though, is it? Well, I mean, that, is" he held up the finger again, "buy why isn't he out there bullying first years"
"Maybe he-" but before Harry could divulge his theory, the compartment door slid open once again

This time, it unveiled a meek third year with two scrolls of parchment tied together with ribbon

"I'm supposed to give these to Neville Longbottom and Harry P-Potter" her eyes went wide as she caught sight of his scar and I brushed a hand over his raven hair to cover it

Being the closest to the door, I extended a hand out to both parchments the timid girl running off as I handed them off to Harry and Neville

"What is it?" Ron asked as Harry unfurled the scroll

Harry,

I would be delighted if you would join me for a bite of lunch in compartment C

Sincerely,
Professor H. E. F. Slughorn