Heroes of Hogwarts: Being Brave is Believing in Yourself

Chapter 43

They quickly realized they shouldn't be there.

Walking arm-in-arm throughout the streets of LA, trying any location spell Hermione could think of, Paisley could only think one thing- Ginny is not here. Paisley would've felt the buzz of magic emitting from her veins and spreading throughout the entire city.

Finally, after another hour of silent walking, Paisley piled everyone into an abandoned fitness shop. The cashier was nowhere in sight.

"She's not here!" Paisley said, rolling her eyes.

"Well, not here- here, but here somewhere," Hermione said slowly, but it didn't take a genius to see the defeat in her eyes.

"No," Neville said. His eyes were downcast and his arms wrapped around himself.

"Don't be sad, guys! Remember how cute Paisley was as a pink bunny!" Luna exclaimed feverishly. Her hands were fluttering throughout the air- she was nervous. Paisley grumbled.

"Thank the gods that that went away," she muttered. Hermione cracked a small smile.

"What now?" Neville said, after a short silence.

"We go back to Camp Jupiter?" Paisley suggested.

Hermione locked eyes with her. Paisley saw panic and fear. Her heart tore in two.

"No! Definitely not! What if she's here somewhere!" she said, her voice raising with every word. Paisley shook her head, but Luna caught her eye with a severe look.

I've got this, Luna mouthed, and Paisley subtly nodded.

"Let's look around," she offered. Paisley nudged Neville's arm.

"What? Why?" he asked. His head was tilted in curiosity.

Paisley glared at him.

"Come on," she said through gritted teeth. Neville nodded quickly, and he let her drag him away. Paisley looked back as they browsed through some options of fitness leggings, and saw Luna talking to Hermione.

"You got lucky," Paisley said to Neville. He locked eyes with her. She gestured to Luna. His gaze slid over to her, and she saw a shadow of a smile appear on his face.

"We've been through so much, with -"

He suddenly stopped talking. Paisley frowned and saw that he was staring right at her with an embarrassed expression.

A thought clicked in her head.

She had driven them apart at Hogwarts when she controlled Neville. She was the one who was making this moment awkward.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. Her eyes fell to the floor. "For everything. I- I manipulated you- All of you. For nothing."

Tears welled up in her eyes, but Paisley clenched her jaw and refused to let them fall.

"That's what second chances are for," he whispered. Paisley immediately looked up, only to be enveloped in warmth. A hug.

When he pulled away, she smiled.

"Thank you," she said. When Neville nodded, she knew she was forgiven.

"Guys! Let's go!"

Paisley jumped at the voice. Behind her, Hermione was standing with her arm crossed- her eyes a swirling storm and the air around her electric.

"Um . . . Go where?" Paisley said, noting the way Luna was cowering beside Hermione.

"Back to Camp Jupiter. We've got to get some sort of lead to Ginny. Now. We're leaving," the angry witch said, tapping her foot in annoyance. Paisley exchanged a look with Neville, then they both raced to their friends.

"Are you okay?" Paisley heard Neville murmur to Luna, and she saw a slight nod in response.

Hermione stuck out her hand.

"We're Apparating," she said simply.

Paisley hesitantly reached out and clasped her friend's hand. Neville held hers, and Luna closed the circle.

"Back to Camp Jupiter," Hermione said quietly.

Colors swirled and blurred before Paisley as the world around her was replaced with a much different scene.