Lorelai || Neville Longbottom

Chapter 11

December 1st, 1995

Right now, me, Hermione, and Ginny were in Hogsmeade, at a dress shop, browsing their wide variety. I had recently heard that this had been a new addition during my second year, adding it thinking it would be helpful for dances and balls. It remains successful in my opinion.

Since that day in the library, I started to feel a little better. Why should I let that bother me, when like I thought before, I'm not thinking rationally?

We decided to go on our free period, hoping we'd be able to have enough time to look, try on, pay, and walk back.

Ginny was currently in the dressing room, while me and Hermione were looking at the racks. Suddenly, I hear the dressing room door open.

"What do you think?" I hear a voice ask. I turn around, to see Ginny posing in a dark blue dress. It was made of all silk, and and had little decals along the sleeves, forming into a sweetheart shape along the top. She looked stunning.

"Ginny, you look beautiful!" I exclaim, causing Hermione to nod aggressively, noting she agreed.

"I think I might get this," she bites her lip, to hold back her screaming out of excitement in the middle of the store.

"You definitely should," Hermione backs up.

I continue to look at the racks, for what seems like a while, until something catches my eye. I know, it sounds like something out of a movie, but I couldn't take my eyes off of it. It was beautiful.

It was a long, dark red dress, with a velvety feel to it. It had thin straps, forming into a sweetheart neckline, much like Ginny's new dress.

I instantly snatched it up, rushing towards the dressing room.

As I pull it on my body, I instantly fall in love. The way it hugs my curves, the way it sits just below my ankles, but not too long to be dragging on the floor, the way it felt as I ran my hand along the fabric, everything about it.

I look at myself in the mirror once more, running my finger along the mirror, tracing my curves reflecting off of it. I then hesitantly open the dressing room door, earning looks of shock.

"D-do you guys like it?" I ask, suddenly feeling insecure. It felt like all eyes in the store were on me.

"YOU LOOK AMAZING!" Ginny yells, rushing towards me. Hermione smiles, and looks for the tag.

"You look so beautiful," Hermione gushes, then pauses. She must have seen the tag. "How are we going to afford these dresses?" She asks, with a hint of worry.

"Don't worry, I have some money leftover from babysitting, so we can use that."

"Oh, Lo we really don't have to, seriously." Hermione almost pleads.

"It's fine, really!" I convince.

After I officially decide on my dress, Hermione picks out a long periwinkle dress with frills sewn on either side.

We go up to the register, and pay the fee, leaving almost immediately after. The weather was almost unbearably cold, so we were dressed extra warm with gloves, coats, and earmuffs.

It seemed like a long walk back to Hogwarts, when in reality, it was only a mere 6 minutes. We stomped our shoes on the floor to remove excess snow on them before we went inside, it making a low echoey noise throughout the corridors. We then made our way to the common room, noting we had classes soon.

~~

Once in a while, I'll see Umbridge roaming the halls, spelling kids who weren't following her rules, but it seems like recently, she wasn't around as much. Not that I was complaining, but I've just noticed it.

Her class, though, wasn't the same idea. It had become way more stressful. Piles upon piles of homework almost every night, it seemed.

It was so difficult to keep up, I was about to pay a 6th year for their homework.

This was the class I was in now, pretending to take notes, but instead, doodling. I realized I liked doing this to pass time in my classes.

Harry, still sitting next to me, took notice of it. He flicked my quill.

"Hey, what was that for?" I whisper-yell.

"Pay attention. You don't want Umbridge to give you another detention, do you?"

He had a good point. I decided to pay attention from then on. She wouldn't stop rambling about pointless things, it seemed. It felt like we weren't learning anything useful, especially since we weren't using our wands. If only we were able to practice these spells.

"This is so not useful," I whisper, causing Harry to nod in agreement.

"Hey, I've been thinking," Harry whispers to me. "I have an idea. Meet me out in the hallway after?"

I nod, eager to hear his words.

Once the class was over, I quickly gathered my supplies, shoved them into my bag, and walked out into the hallway, following Harry.

"So? What did you want to talk to me about?" I ask with a sense of anxiousness.

"I've been talking with Ron and Hermione, and I wanted to gather a group of people, a larger group of people, so where we can practice defense spells with our wands."

I look at him with amazement. "Harry, that's amazing! Funny thing is, I was just thinking about that. So, where do you think we could meet up to practice?"

"See, that's where I got stuck. Hermione told me about a room called the "room of requirements," that isn't visible ordinarily, but appears when someone needs it."

"That sounds fascinating, do you know where It could be located?"

"That's the thing," Harry starts, "I have no idea where it could be. I guess we'll have to wander around in hopes we will stumble upon it. But, I'm assuming that we could start gathering people in the late December, after the Yule Ball."

I nod in agreement. "That's a clever idea, the Yule Ball has pretty much been on everyone's minds."

Harry smiles, and starts walking towards the Gryffindor common room, with me following closely behind.

"So, where do you reckon we'll be able to gather enough people, and explain to them our plan?" I question.

"I didn't even think of that," he confesses, looking deep in thought. "I mean, we could try the three broomsticks, but I'm guessing that place will be way to crowded to discuss something like that."

"What about the shrieking shack?" I ask, hoping that's not a stupid idea.

"Thats...actually a really good idea. I'll make sure to tell the others if they're okay with it!" Harry responds.

"Do you have an official name for it yet?" I ask.

"Dumbledore's Army."