𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐲 | 𝐝.𝐦.

sixty five

The inner interrogating trance whirling around Betty's head is broken when Hermione takes her hand in hers, luring her past the throng of watchful students, towards Harry.

"Betty's back! Isn't this just wonderful!" the Gryffindor girl gushes once again, eyes flickering between the girl and boy.

Harry's brows furrow in mild awkwardness. Like many of the other students, he has found the time to festoon himself with his old school robes.

"I-I can see that," he stammers, clearly not as exhilarated as Hermione, but still as grateful. "Listen, we wanted to come back for you - "

Betty waves her hand, dismissing the topic eagerly. "You would've been silly to do so. Look, I'm alright - I'm just glad you guys got away in time."

She speaks with a deceiving affection but on the inside, she feels a bit remorseful standing amongst these students; like she is an impostor who is impossibly out of place.

"Right, guys - I hate to break this up. It's been very merry reuniting us all but we've got some crucial things we have to get back to. Remember, Snape's requested us all to assemble in the Great Hall," Neville announces, his voice resonating through the entire room.

She cannot remember the last time she has seen the boy this way. It wasn't only his looks that have changed, his personality has made a drastic turn, too. Rather than the timid, anxiety-stricken boy he used to be, the Neville she is looking at now appears the complete parallel - assertive and courageous.

"Betty," he calls, catching her left forearm, making her wince and tear it away quickly. Vividly, he notices this and whispers, "Oh, sorry. Are you injured?"

Frightened, the girl shakes her head and trails after him as he saunters his way through the crowd of sluggish students. People separated a path for them wordlessly. "Just a little sore. I've been in shackles for weeks. It's a long story..."

Neville's bulging front teeth leak through his pink lips, as though wanting to probe her further but he decides against it. "Alright, we'll talk about it later. In the mean time, Luna'll get you updated on what's been going on. I have a little thing to get to - "

Without waiting for a response from his friend, he makes a beeline back to the portrait where Betty recognises a rugged-looking Hufflepuff boy, waiting for him.

"Hi, Betts," a dream-like voice engulfs her in her distraught.

Betty jumps before turning around and her eyes meet a pair of light, pastel blue eyes. She offers an overjoyed smile to the girl, utterly relieved that she has returned to the school unscathed.

But Luna holds out her hands warily in front of her before Betty can engulf her in a hug. "No, don't get me wrong. I'd love to dally for a hug but unfortunately we just don't have the time now. We have to move along," the blonde girl tries to garner a serious voice which only makes Betty chuckle.

"The Order's on their way. Neville's gone to get them through the secret passage from Hog's Head - well, you already know, it's the same way you arrived."

A scanty part of her feels tattered by the idea of confronting the army against Voldemort; a skimping feeling of intimidation. But she brushes aside that sensation with disdain, questioning herself for its appearance actually.

Nevertheless, she cannot stop the way her heartbeat races with an uncanny mixture of that, the dread, as well as anticipation. The sensible part of her reminds herself that she is quite friendly with most of the Order's members and there are more than few whom she is eager to reunite with.

"Do you want to join us for the assembly?" Luna asks, snapping her out of the throbbing headache beginning to weigh in her head.

"What?"