The Light in the Dark | Neville Longbottom

Chapter 77: Telephone Bills

July 27th, 1997

"DID I MAKE IT IN?" Tonks shouted, "IS THAT A GOAL?"

"Did the quaffle go between the two trees?" I asked. 

Tonks shrugged, "It's supposed to go between the trees? I've been aiming for the rubbish bin this entire time..."

I raised my eyebrows confusedly, "The rubbish bin... on the ground?"

Tonks rolled her eyes, scoffing, "You're really gullible, you know that right?"

"My apologies... and yes, I've been told that once or twice." I chuckled, sighing in relief.

"Alright well, I actually have no clue if the quaffle went between the trees or not," Tonks laughed, "But I'm going to assume that they didn't. What's the score again, Remus?"

The two of us glanced down at the table where Remus sat reading a book while he tallied the points for Tonks and I's quidditch game. I've spent the last three weeks with them, and even though each day was practically the same, it wasn't all too bad.

Tonks and Remus quickly eloped after Dumbledore's funeral, so there was no wedding. But the two did buy a small house out in the countryside, I even have my very own bedroom. I decorated my walls with pictures of muggle pop icons like Mariah Carey, Winona Ryder, and Leonardo DiCaprio. I even hung up some plants that reminded me of Neville. I spent a lot of time in my room either listening to music on the CD player that Tonks bought me or reading books.

The time I didn't spend in my room, I spent playing quidditch. Believe it or not, some interesting things have happened over these past few weeks. For one, Neville figured out how to use a muggle telephone. That was... an experience.

⏃ ⚯͛ ➒¾

Three weeks ago..... July 5th, 1997

BRIIINNNGGGG

Nobody came for the phone.

BRIIIIINNNGGGGGG

Again, nobody answered the phone.

I sighed loudly, pushing myself off the sofa, "NO, IT'S FINE. I'VE GOT IT! I'm not even supposed to answer the damn telephone...."

Usually, Remus and Tonks answered the telephone. I wasn't allowed to answer it just in case somebody intercepted it and found out that I was hiding at their house; apparently, it was really easy to track telephone numbers. I wasn't sure if a wizard would have been able to do it, but Remus was keen on the fact that they could.

I walked over to where the telephone laid, picking it up. Annoyed, I held the phone to my mouth, "Hello?"

"DAWN? DAWN, IS THIS YOU?" a familiar voice screamed.

My heart stopped as I quickly recognized the voice: Neville. It was then I remembered that I gave him a piece of paper containing both Remus and Tonk's telephone numbers. A smile quickly replaced my annoyed frown as I chuckled excitedly to myself.

"NEVILLE, IS THAT YOU?" I scream-asked, holding the telephone up to my mouth; I wasn't super familiar with muggle technology.

"YEAH, IT'S ME!" Neville screamed excitedly, "CAN YOU HEAR ME ALRIGHT? I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THIS THING WORKS! DO I NEED TO TALK LOUDER? I'M ALREADY SCREAMING PRETTY LOUDLY. THANKFULLY, GRAN IS OUT GETTING GROCERIES AT THE MOMENT."

"NO, NO, I CAN HEAR YOU JUST FINE?" I screamed, "CAN YOU HEAR ME?"

"WHAT?" Neville asked.