As far as late entrances go, this year takes the cake.
Harry has a habit of getting into scrapes every year before the term even starts, but he’s never been this late before.
Neville pokes one foot out of the blankets. Seamus is making noises from Dean’s bed. Neville wishes he’d learned Harry’s silencing charm. It would be useful now.
It’s nearing midnight, and Ron’s not in his bed either, though he had been on the train, doing Prefect stuff. He might be spending the night with Hermione. Pretty much everyone’s paired off these days.
As he falls asleep, Neville tries to keep an ear out for when Harry or Ron get in.
By morning, Dean and Seamus have noticed the suspiciously empty beds. Neville’s the only one who regularly makes his, so he knows Harry and Ron have not come and gone.
“Do you know where they are?” Seamus asks. Neville shrugs.
“No idea. I haven’t spoken to either of them, other than to say hi to Ron in passing.”
“Huh.” Dean says, but he’s quickly distracted by snogging Seamus. Neville grabs a change of clothes and moves to the bathroom.
At breakfast, Lavender and Parvati sit with Neville.
“Hey, what’s going on with Ron?” Parvati asks without preamble.
“No idea. He didn’t go to bed last night.” Neville says, dunking his toast into his tea. Lavender watches distractedly.
“He slept in our room with Hermione. We thought we heard him sniffling.”
“Sniffling? Is he sick?”
“Sniffling like crying sniffling.” Parvati says. “Please take your bread out of your teacup.”
Neville looks down to see that his toast is so sodden, it’s come off in doughy clumps. He grimaces, ditching the whole thing and grabbing himself a fresh cup of tea.
“So why do you think he’d be crying? He clearly didn’t break up with Hermione, if he was in bed with her.” Neville says.
“We don’t know. Where’s Harry? He was staying with Ron over the summer. We were going to ask him, but he hasn’t gotten up yet.”
Shaking his head, Neville looks around the Gryffindor table, then at Slytherin.
“I haven’t seen him at all. Not since his birthday. He didn’t go to bed either.”
“That’s strange.” Parvati says.
“Not really. Draco’s gone too, they probably slept in the Room of Requirement. Not a lot of room at Ron’s house for fooling around, right?” Lavender suggests. “I’m surprised Draco hasn’t shown up, though. He’s a Prefect too. He… sort of took his role seriously, at least in Fifth.”
“Hermione said he got replaced by Blaise Zabini.” Parvati says. “Although… I did see Blaise in the Slytherin compartment. Pansy Parkinson wasn’t there, she must’ve been in the Prefects’ compartment.”
Neville frowns at the table.
“I’m sure they’ll be in class. We can ask right after.” He shrugs.
The girls look at each other, letting out a sigh.
“Right.” Parvati says quietly.
“So.” Lavender says, bouncing slightly as she plops onto the foot of her bed. “What’s going on? You missed all our classes.”
Ron looks up at her with bleary eyes. Hermione continues staring at the ceiling. Parvati moves slowly to Lavender’s side, watching the couple with a frown.
