The Light in the Dark | Neville Longbottom

Chapter 9: Nargles

September 1st, 1995 - 6:00pm

The four of us walked until we came upon the last two carriages. Harry took notice of Cho in the first one, and ran to meet her. But to his disadvantage, the carriage left before he ever got the chance to join her.

"You'll get 'em next time, Harry." Ron chuckled as he comforted his best friend.

Harry gave Ron a dirty look before pushing away from him. Just like during the summer, I didn't understand Harry's sudden with attitude, especially with me. And Hermione (sort of) gave me an answer for their neglect this summer, but it still didn't make sense.

Why were they at 12 Grimmauld Place, and who let them in?

What did Dumbledore have to do with all of this, and why weren't they allowed to contact anyone?

Why didn't Harry stop Hermione from telling me all of this "secret information"? Well... they didn't tell me much. Ron and Hermione's summer consisted of cleaning a house that was about a century old. I may have been stuck in my room for a month, but at least I wasn't forced to clean.

"Hi guys!" an approaching voice beamed, "We figured we'd find you lot again!"

I turned around and saw Neville and Ginny Weasley approaching us. Ginny had grown significantly compared to when I saw her last; she looked a lot older. Her ginger hair was worn in a ponytail, and she carried a bag about the size of the mimbulus mimbletonia plant Neville was still lugging around.

"Where've you been?" Ron asked harshly, speaking directly to Ginny.

"With Michael Corner and his friends?" Ginny shrugged, "Why? What does it concern you?"

"Because you went missing!" Ron scoffed, "And what business do you have hanging out with Michael Corner?"

Ginny shrugged once more, "Again, Ron, what does it concern you?"

While the pair of Weasleys bickered with one another, I took notice of Harry's current mood. For some odd reason, he looked... upset, jealous maybe? His eye twitched, which was unordinary for Harry. Ginny used to have the biggest crush on Harry, so I assumed that the mention of Michael Corner touched a nerve. But it didn't make much sense considering Harry was also heads-over-heels in love with Cho Chang.

"Odd..." I whispered, catching Harry's attention.

"What did you say?" Harry asked.

"Oh erm.... nothing!" I chuckled awkwardly before quickly changing the conversation, "So, Nev, how was the rest of the ride? Where's Trevor?"

Neville pointed to his pocket as he laughed, "He's in there sleeping at the moment, figured it'd be safer than having him rest on my head again! And the ride was quite awkward until Ginny arrived, it definitely loosened the tension!"

"I'm sorry I left, I just-" I began before Neville waved the rest of my apology off.

"Don't worry about it," Neville assured quietly, "I figured there was something going on, just wish that I wasn't left in the compartment with Loony.... Luna Lovegood... she's scares me a bit..."

"Well, she kinda has it out for you, doesn't she?" I laughed, "You insulted her father's newspaper!"

"I didn't know!" Neville protested, "I just said what my gran told me! Honestly, no newspaper is trust worthy at the moment! Take a look at the Daily Prophet nowadays!"

I looked sideways at him. Hearing that the Daily Prophet was releasing fake articles again was news to nobody. Rita Skeeter, one of the writers for the Daily Prophet, wrote plenty during the Triwizard Tournament; she disappeared though, nobody knew what happened to her. But the question was, what were they writing?