The Light in the Dark | Neville Longbottom

Chapter 59: The Voices

*CW: Violence & Talk of Suicide*

December 28th, 1996

Christmas had ended days ago, but my joyful mood lasted throughout the rest of the week. The only thing that changed was that the burrow was a bit more empty now. Fred and George returned to their joke shop yesterday; Fred told me that him and George had enough of Molly's bantering. Charlie returned to Romania, and Bill and Fleur returned to their flats near Diagon Alley. Remus, Tonks, Andromeda, Ted, and Moody left the burrow Christmas night, and I made sure to have a long conversation with Tonks before we left. We mostly talked about her metamorphic abilities, I was truly amazed by them.

Most of the snow on the ground had melted, but it stayed just as cold. The burrow was freezing during the winter months, so I wore heavy wool-sweaters wherever I went. Arthur and Molly had already gone to bed, so the five of us (Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and I) were huddled in the living room, listening to music as the fire crackled a couple feet away from us.

"You know, with my whole secret being let out," I chuckled, "You would think that I'd be nervous to return to school, but honestly speaking, I'm kinda excited..."

"Excited about people finding out that you're Bellatrix Lestrange's daughter?" Harry asked hesitantly.

"Oh no, of course not," I protested jokingly, "I'm excited to test my new broom out and everything... I still can't believe Remus bought me that, it must have cost him a fortune!"

"Well, Tonks said she pitched in, and she comes from the wealthiest wizard family in all of Europe!" Ginny scoffed jokingly.

"Andromeda was disowned, so I doubt she received much of that fortune," I corrected, "But yeah, it's a possibility... Anyways, I'm just really excited to use my broom, that's all!"

Ginny shivered as she scooched herself closer to Harry on the sofa they were sitting on, "Merlin, it's freezing in this house!"

Hermione, Ron, and I stared at the two as they sat close to one another. Although, Hermione and I's energy was different compared to Ron. Ron just glared at them as Ginny laid her head on Harry's shoulder, staying close to him to keep herself warm.

"Are you two comfortable over there?" Ron spat, "Or should the rest of us leave, so you could get a snog on?"

Ginny narrowed her eyes at her brother as she moved away from Harry, causing Harry to purse his lips, obviously upset with his friend for mentioning anything. Hermione gave Ron a dirty look as she straightened her posture in her chair.

"Don't act like we don't see you and Lavender snogging every passing period," Hermione scoffed rudely, "Leave them alone, they were just getting close to keep warm, it's freezing, if you couldn't tell?"

That was the first time that Hermione had spoken to Ron all of break. She usually kept her distance, only talked to Ginny, Harry, and I. But eight days into winter break, and she had finally said something to Ron, although it wasn't anything nice. Hermione was just fed up with his behavior.

"Well... you wouldn't understand, 'Mione..." Ron hesitated, "It's a bit different-"

"Is it really though?" Hermione snapped, cutting off Ron. Everyone else in the room could sense the tension between the two, and we quickly realized that there was more to this than just Harry and Ginny.

"Yes... it is," Ron said coldly, "Ginny is my sister and Harry is my best friend, for one. So I apologize if I don't fancy the two getting all cuddly with one another!"

"Oh, Ronald, you have the wrong idea," Ginny scoffed, "I don't like Harry! Not like that anyways..."

Harry's grin dropped, and he pursed his lips, obviously trying to hide the pain Ginny's comment had just caused him. "Yeah, it was nothing, Ron..." he stammered awkwardly.