Starlight |Neville Longbottom|

~Chapter Six~

I reached into my bag to yank out a piece of parchment and a quill and sloppily scribbled down the words "Meet me in the common room after everybody else is gone. This is important!" I underlined the last sentence and folded the crumpled parchment before I quickly snuck into the boys' dorm and tucked it in between his sheets and blanket so he would be sure to see it.

After that I made my way down to the common room where I just surveyed the room and then went back to my bed where I waited it out until all of the girls were in bed. After that I crept downstairs and checked again. This time, the room that was normally bouncing and full of life had dwindled down to three people, none of which were Neville but I stayed hopeful that he would show up.

My gaze fell upon a familiar sight and I decided that since every conversation we'd ever had up until this point was at that same circular wooden table in the corner, to sit there.

As I was approaching the table, I noticed a small folded parchment similar to mine except for the fact it was neatly folded and had my name written on the outside. I quickly flipped open the note and read, "We agreed not to talk for a week. I'll meet you after midnight."

My smile faded as I looked at the clock and noticed that I still had nearly two hours until I was due to meet with Neville. What did he expect me to do for the time being? For once I was caught upon my homework, I didn't have a book to finish reading, and I knew that if I took a nap I wouldn't wake up until it was time for classes. So I scribbled on the back of the parchment "you are annoying" and folded it into the shape of a paper airplane and used my wand to float it into the boys dorm.

I didn't expect him to reply again but to my surprise, I saw the paper airplane float back in the common room. As it glided by me, I reached up and grasped the plane. Once I unfolded it I held back a laugh as I read, "I know."

I didn't even bother to reply, since I knew we would be running out of space on the parchment soon and I didn't have another piece with me. Instead I folded my arms and laid my head down on top of the wooden table. I told myself I was just resting my eyes for a little bit, but I ended up waking when I felt something rub against my back.

"Hey, it's just me," Neville soothed. I must've jumped because he did scare the life out of me, "What did you want to see me about?"

My eyes darted around the room to make sure we were in fact the last ones awake and then I answered, "I heard from Ginny Weasley that during the first Hogsmeade trip there is going to be a meeting for extra defense against the dark arts lessons. It's all organized by students though so I was told to keep it quiet."

"But who would be teaching?" Neville asked.

"I don't know, but I am assuming Harry Potter or Hermione Granger." I answered, "You are closer to their circle than I am."

"Are you going?" He questioned me with his eyes meeting mine for the first time since we started our conversation.

"Yes," I replied after hesitating for a few seconds.

"Right, then I'll go."

"Alright then," I smiled, "I'm going to bed."

"Er, right," he said, "Me too."

"Goodnight Neville."

"Night Starla."

I turned away from the brown haired boy and began to make my way upstairs when he called out for me, "Wait, Starla!"

I stopped on the third stair from the top and called back, "Yes Neville."

"Can you come back here?"

"Sure."

Once I was back downstairs he spoke again, "There is something about you Starla. Ever since I first saw you I knew there was something special about you. I can't really describe it but..."

I had heard this speech a few dozen times in Liverpool from older boys who were just wanting to get lucky and it took me by surprised hear the same words from Neville's mouth. "No, Neville we can't do this," I cut him off.

"Why not? We have a sort of magnetism, no matter how far we pull we always come back to each other."

"It's late, you don't mean what you are saying."

"But Starla, I do."

"No, Neville, you really don't. We barely know each other," I began to pace bath and forth as he stayed as still as a statue.

"But I know that I can trust my gut. I know there is some reason we've met."

I know how to trust my gut too but my brain was screaming at me, "Neville, people come into each other's lives all the time and people leave all the time. I am going to bed now."

"Tell me that I mean nothing to you and then I will let you leave. I'll never speak to you again."

"It's not that simple," I winced. I had stopped from my pacing and faced him again.

"Well you said it yourself. People come and go all of the time."

"I just need more time. Please?"

Neville let out a shaky breath and he nodded his head, "Yes. Of course. I'm so sorry."

"Right, erm. I'll see you in another week yeah?"

"Yeah, that sounds great."

"Goodnight Neville."

"Goodnight Starla."

I made my way back to my bed as I assume Neville did too but no matter how hard I tried to I just couldn't fall asleep until it was nearing time for everybody to start waking up. Instead I just sat staring at the red curtains of my four poster.

Normally on nights like these I would just climb in bed with Stephen, but I just couldn't get myself to sneak into the boys' dorm. I wanted to be far away from Neville and his stupid hair, and his stupid eyes, and his stupid smile.