“beyond wandpoint” 048 by gingerbred

[beyondwandpoint]

“11 10k Monday - Stirring the Leaves in the Teapot”

Lavender, Ginny, Sybill, Harry, Ron

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Originally Published: 2018-01-08 on AO3
Chapter: 048

Pairing: Hermione Granger / Severus Snape
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Major Character Death, Rape/Non-Con

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---

Lavender is brighter than people give her credit for, she's sure of it. Maybe even a lot brighter, although that might be because they think she's so dim. But just because her interests lie in Beauty Charms, doesn't mean she doesn't know plenty of spells. She thinks she could easily hold her ground against Ron in that regard, well, not in a duel, obviously, Hair-setting Charms aren't very useful for that, but certainly in terms of numbers of Charms in her repertoire, and he got to be a prefect. It's not like he ever learnt a single thing that wasn't demanded of him for class, and not even then much of the time.

Well, or for the DA, but then she'd done that, too, hadn't she?

Fine, alright, and Quidditch, but that was quite possibly the most boring and thoroughly useless thing on the planet. Next to Flobberworms. No, actually, giving it some thought, it might just be more useless than Flobberworms. She's heard rumours to that effect.

Well, except for the shape Quidditch left Ron in. He did have nice abs.

And he looked smashing flying about on a broom above the crowds like that. And it was rather a thrill to hear the people cheering...


But that wasn't the point.

No. The point was that it's hardly fair that Lav's competition for the prefect position is Hermione Granger. Not fair at all. Who is Ron up against? Right. Like that's a challenge. Lav's taking six N.E.W.T.s. Not one of the boys is. Although courses like Divination, Astronomy, and History of Magic might be less rigorous than maybe Potions... But then it's not like Ron even had the required O.W.L. score for the class. He'd practically cheated.

Sure, Lav might only be taking History because Parvati had really wanted to, but still... Vati's got it worse, naturally, always compared to her sister, the Head Girl. It's not like they could both be Head Girl. And there again, it's the competition that counts. How could her parents expect Vati to be a prefect under these circumstances?

The obvious flaw in that thinking, that Hermione hadn't been made Head Girl, that Padma had thereby outperformed her by whatever measure counted, eludes Lavender. Of course, that's not actually the reason Hermione wasn't made Head Girl, but it's not like Lavender had any way of knowing it.


Admittedly, Hermione is rather a sore spot for the blonde, ever since her roommate threw herself shamelessly at Lav's boyfriend last year. That's just not on. Maybe Rita Skeeter had had it right about the girl back during the TriWiz.

Scarlet witch indeed.

That Lav should probably blame her ex-boyfriend, the handsy ginger rat, for anything that may have transpired, but probably didn't, between him and her roommate doesn't occur to her. And given she doesn't believe for a moment Hermione has ever had anything of that sort with Harry, and still discounts almost all of the rumours about Krum, bizarrely even despite some photographic evidence to the contrary, it's a little puzzling how she arrives at that verdict. But then logic really isn't Lavender's forte. And scorned witches can be bitches, as the saying goes.

Lavender's quite comfortable in that role.


Her character aside, Lav's had an interesting day. She had Divination with Parvati and her sister after lunch, and today Professor Trelawney had had a vision. An actual vision. She made a prophecy, right there in front of the entire seventh year N.E.W.T.s class. What were the chances? And Lavender is quite sure, this one must hit close to home. Even the twins were inclined to agree.

She's still trying to decide what exactly to do with the information when Ginny enters from the boys' dorms, apparently continuing an argument with Harry, or maybe Ron, shouting over her shoulder, "Whatever. If you want me to go, you'll have to tell me why first," as she appears.

That's probably exactly what Lavender was waiting for. "Ginny," she calls out to the redhead cheerfully, "you won't believe what happened in Divination today..."

---

Ginny finds herself in an odd sort of position this year, and she couldn't say she enjoys it. Having harboured a crush on Harry long before she ever met him, effectively since early childhood, Ginny had been over the moon when their stars finally aligned last year, as Lav had put it. To have him end things only a month and a half later... Oddly somehow even Lav's precious Professor Trelawney hadn't foreseen that.

Lav claimed she had other priorities.


Harry had gotten a horrible fright when Tonks was so seriously injured by that terrifying potion last June, and had up and called things quits. Naturally. Because of course he did. That was all about Harry after all. It was particularly annoying, as the same event somehow acted as a catalyst for Tonks and Remus to get their acts together; and they got married just weeks later. But no, Harry was different. And not even involved in the skirmish, but that hadn't stopped him from disposing of Ginny like last week's 'Sunday Prophet'. No, not Harry.

Ginny may still be a bit bitter about their break up...


Then Moody's and Hedwig's deaths during the Battle of the Seven Potters only seemed to confirm Harry's worst fears. That at least was relevant. Well, and sad, of course. It was as though Moody represented the severity of the threat, if it could happen to him, if he could be bested, it could happen to anyone. Ginny couldn't really argue with that.

Hedwig represented the pain of losing someone Harry cared about deeply. Ginny isn't exactly tickled to somehow be in the same category as his owl, but then she's never had more than a Pygmy Puff as a pet, and Arnold wasn't all that... interactive. Frankly, he could probably be switched for another Puff of similar colour and she wouldn't notice. It might be fair to say she isn't too attached, so she's trying to reserve judgment on that count.

But after that night, Harry was more certain than ever that he and Ginny couldn't be a couple until the war was over.

She's really not pleased with any of that, but she could almost accept it. Almost, except for one thing. Harry wants to be an Auror, so she's having a little trouble seeing how that will somehow magically change their situation. It's not like there's a Charm for it. The arguments against a relationship should be as valid then as they are now. It makes it really hard to see a future for them in this.

Maybe she should ask Lav to check one of those blasted crystal balls...


Either way, no matter how noble Harry's reasons may have been, it still hurt.

And it was embarrassing. Excruciatingly so.

But at the time, Harry hadn't even been certain he'd return for this school year. He'd spoken of possibly going on some kind of mission for the Headmaster. He had his ideas about how things would play out. Ginny had hers.

The truth is, it's a whole different pot of Plimpies having him there at Hogwarts. Were he absent? Honestly? She could have artfully positioned herself as his girlfriend, so heroic and terribly loyal in his absence. Swooning about for effect and clutching her pearls. Not that she could afford pearls... She could always Transfigure something. And when it became inopportune, say in the face of overly close perusal by supporters of You-Know-Who, then naturally she'd want nothing whatsoever to do with him. She knew the deal. She could manage it.

It would have been the best of both worlds, and she'd have straddled them as masterfully as she does a broom.

It would have been just like the Kneazle in the box uncertainty thing Hermione had told her about, where the Kneazle is both alive and dead... Actually, that was morbid and didn't make much sense and sure sounded a lot like magic for a bunch of Muggles; her father hadn't been able to make any sense of it either. But if Harry weren't there at school, she'd either be his girlfriend or not, as was convenient.

Now she's just... not.

But she can't move on, either. It doesn't help that people like Romilda and her gaggle of silly geese are throwing themselves at him every chance they get. He's not interested, that's not the problem, but still.

And it really doesn't help that Ginny gets teased sometimes that maybe Harry is more interested in Hermione.

Or Gwenog Jones. That grated. He hadn't even known who she was until Ginny had introduced him to her. Well, not in person obviously.

No. That had been Professor Slughorn. And now she's thinking about how Harry had actually met Gwenog last year. She must have impressed him more than he let on at the time going by the things he said in that interview...


Additionally, and Ginny doesn't feel it's quite fair, but given she'd been to the Yule Ball with Neville, some tongues had gotten to wagging, and the story goes she dated pretty much everyone in that class but her brother. She tried pointing out she hadn't dated Seamus, but then someone said she'd swapped him for Michael Corner, everyone agreed he was less likely to blow anyone up, and he actually made N.E.W.T.s Potions unlike their Housemate. It's possible her 'turnover rate' is higher than average, and the situation with Harry is making that worse somehow.

Alright, fine. She was a year younger than Harry and had dated more people, and maybe hadn't waited all that long between Michael and Dean and Dean and Harry, although it really isn't right to count Neville. But by that thinking, Parvati wouldn't count, and that thing with Cho was hardly dating, either. And now Harry's some kind of chaste heroic martyr, pining after Hermione or Gwenog depending on who tells the tale, and she's... she's becoming a witch of questionable repute.

Fred had tried to warn her.

She hadn't appreciated it.


Ginny knows there were jokes about the seventh year boys having pretty good chances with her, and Kevin, a fifth year Muggle-born boy had thrown around terms like 'bicycle' or 'mattress' to much snickering. She has a sneaking suspicion that's the Muggle version of 'broom'. She'd hexed him on spec, just to be safe.

Half an hour later, bats were still coming out of his nose. She got a detention from McGonagall with Hagrid, but it was so worth it. And Hagrid had just given her Rock Cakes when he heard why she was there.


She's trying to decide if comments like that are sexist, or if it even matters when people are making fun of you why exactly they are. She has a gut feeling that the intention to hurt must be there first, and given that, people will probably find a reason to tease. To mock. To harm.

That it really doesn't matter if you've even done anything they might perceive as... wrong.

It's up to her to try not to let it get to her. That's not always easy.


And how about Ron, that filthy little hypocrite, who by similar logic had sort of dated three girls from that class, assuming Ravenclaw substitutions were allowed? Except there again, he's a year and a half older than she was, three was less than four, and he hadn't actually managed to get around to dating Hermione, so that's more like two. And Padma probably counted even less than Neville, when you consider Ron's unwillingness to even dance with her.


Part of the problem is it's only the beginning of her sixth year, and she's the youngest in her class. But she's always spent a lot of time with people who were older. That's a natural side effect of being the youngest of seven siblings. Hermione, who was only a grade ahead of her was almost two years older. Or apparently more if the Ministry can be trusted. Big 'if'. Ginny's still not sure how they can just reassign you a different age.

This is probably all Hermione's fault for telling her to date other boys, marking time and getting experience until Harry pulled his head out of his arse. And then what had Hermione done? Had she taken her own advice? No, she'd never more than kissed Krum, and that almost three years ago. Although that might have been Ron's fault for treating her as so thoroughly undesirable once he found out she had.

That the reason he'd found out about it at all was because Ginny had betrayed Hermione's confidence in the heat of an argument with him doesn't occur to her.


Still casting about for others to compare herself to, Ginny keeps coming up with contrasts instead. It's not helping things any.

Cho had dated three wizards. But then you could hardly blame her for not seeing Cedric longer. He died after all. And that thing with Harry two years ago barely counted, that's just as true for her as it was for Harry. So more like two... And there again, Cho was more than two years older than Ginny and that had been the sum of her experience by the end of her seventh year...

The only other Gryffindors in Ginny's year who had anywhere near as much dating experience as she had were Kiera Kilkenny and Dhanesh Devi; they'd been dating each other for over two years now. So while they may have been dating almost as long as she had, they'd still only had the one partner each, and they were both almost a year older than she was...


Regardless of the question of gender, Ginny is beginning to see where the numbers alone are against her. Fred may have had a point. She'll need to give some thought to how she manages this more judiciously from here on.

She doesn't appreciate people looking at her like she might be the kind of witch not to pursue further qualifications. Like all she'd achieve are her N.E.W.T.s. at best. Like she might throw a promising career over after only a couple of years to start squeezing out little witches and wizards. Like she doesn't aspire to more than being a house witch. Nothing against her mum, but still...

Thinking about it, she decides that Fred and George being such notorious Leavers hadn't helped raise people's expectations of her. And it's not like Ron was terribly ambitious. Or particularly gifted. From what Harry had told her, Ron's apparently only a prefect because Dumbledore hadn't wanted to overburden Harry with that job, too. Neither Fred nor George had managed to become prefects, either. People have forgotten all about Bill's, Charlie's and Percy's achievements. When they think of the Weasleys these days, they really don't seem to expect much beyond maybe Quidditch.

It's disappointing.


But she can't help thinking if she were still seeing Harry, how this, any of this, wouldn't be a topic at all right now.

And yes, she holds it against him.


Realistically, she decides the opinions probably aren't entirely sexist, and again, she isn't even sure how much that matters either way, unlike the situation with the Order where everyone keeps excluding her. If she were being more rational, not exactly her strong suit, she would notice they didn't exclude Hermione, so it's not simply a question of gender roles. If she lives to be - what had Hermione said? - one hundred and thirty something, she'll still be the baby of the family, and they seem intent on keeping her there.

Speaking of, today was another fine example. The Headmaster had taken aside the boys, just them, not her, and told them... something. They're both extremely agitated, no question about it. And neither one of them is willing to tell her a thing. She's spitting mad. And then Harry has the nerve to just stand there asking her to go keep Hermione company for dinner.

Sure, because that's all she's good for, to be a lady-in-waiting. He was lucky she hadn't hexed him. Well, again.

If they want her cooperation, they're going to have to start including her more. This is just rubbish, and she's tired of rubbish.

She's in this rather turbulent frame of mind as she enters the Common Room, and Lavender calls out to her.

"Yeah, Lav, what's up?"

---

Sybill had laid it on rather thickly. She's... accomplished at that. One had to make the best of what one had, and one gets handed such momentous opportunities so rarely. That it would come at the expense of certain other parties... So be it.

She isn't particularly fond of Snape, hasn't been since he took what may have been her one and only moment of clear sight, no, wait, there had been a second, and ran with it to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Name. Bastard.

And she's even less fond of the bushy-haired little Granger chit. Everyone seems to think the sun shines out of her arse. The bint had had the unmitigated nerve to disrespect her in her own classroom in front a room full of other students. That's not how one treats a Seer of her pedigree.

And Sybill hadn't come up with something adequately debilitating in response. That made it worse, naturally.

So should her little panto makes things more difficult for either of them, she's quite comfortable with that. If her predictive powers remain true, a sherry driven smile spreads across her face at the thought, then Miss Brown should have spread the word by now. Sybill can hardly wait for the show when Albus makes the announcement.

Tonight she'll forgo her usual solitary meal. It will be worth the clouding of her Inner Eye that facing the masses tends to bring on just to see it with her own two... Ah, the glasses, hard to overlook those, well then, four... Oh, and her Inner Eye, of course, five... Her own five eyes. Yes, she wouldn't miss it for the world.

---

The Prophecy had been dramatic. Professor Trelawney had practically parked herself on Lav's table as she related it.

The reasoning for that was simple. Firstly, Miss Brown was a fairly staunch supporter, unlike certain others, predominantly of her own House, worse yet, who seemed to have taken her course primarily to pad their N.E.W.T.s statistics. Not that she hadn't done the same as a student, which is why she recognised the tactic so readily. Secondly, because Miss Brown was more closely connected to the individuals involved, the relevant Gryffindors, than any other student in Sybill's claw-like grasp, and she's relying heavily on the blonde spreading the word of her vision and her prophetic talents.

Professor Trelawney had waved her hands emphatically as her scarves swirled about her, there's a scarcely known Charm for that, and intoning deeply in a strange sounding chant told all present how she foresaw, "Ginger lion's heartbreak, strivings thwarted, goals unreached. Betrayal," she'd paused significantly there, looking deep into Lav's eyes, "to have chosen that partner over you..."

For a moment, Lav felt herself transported back to late last April when she'd caught Hermione emerging from the boys' dorms with Ron. The moment it had ended. Betrayal indeed. She only barely managed not to sob right there in class, trying desperately to preserve her dignity in front of the others. It was one thing for Vati to see her cry. Quite another in front of all the rest.

And then the words sank in. This wasn't her heartbreak.

This was Ron's.


The malicious smirk that spread all too obviously across her face reassured Sybill that the girl had taken her meaning. Job done. There was that sorted. It was just a question of hours now.

---

Lavender has had a few hours to think this through. She had spent all of DADA meditating on it, in fact, thank you so kindly, Professor Taylor. She finds all that time to reflect rather helpful after Professor Trelawney's course. It's balancing, grounding, and certainly far more pleasant than Professor Moody's, Umbridge's or Snape's DADA classes had been. She really doesn't know what the others are on about...

Having reflected, Lav is now certain about a handful of things. The prophecy was about Ron, the ginger lion. He and Hermione kept circling each other and have been for some time now. If he were going to break his heart any time in the near future, and one can only hope, not that she's vindictive, it would be over... her. Ron and Hermione will never work, the very idea is absurd, that much she is sure of, no second sight required. But Ron's not capable of giving it a try without making the kind of spectacle out of it that Lavender has no desire whatsoever to be subjected to. The teasing alone she'll have to endure...

For her own sanity, she needs to do something to see to it they never make a go of it.

And given it was only going to end in his heartbreak anyway, she's not even being particularly mean to do so.

Supremely satisfied with herself, and feeling quite justified, she tests her thinking. She really is so much more clever than people think.

She is positive the prophecy was about Ron. The ginger lion? Who else would it be?

She's lived with Hermione too long not to know that those two aren't suited, and she learnt some things about the boy from dating Ron last year. She'd had a young witch's hopes for romance, maybe more than normal, but nothing too ridiculous, and Ron had definitely not been the wizard to make them come true. Hermione can claim to be above stuff like that just as long and loudly as she wants, but everyone saw how floaty her Yule dress robes were. Never mind how smart and driven she is, somewhere in that swotty chest beats the heart of a hopeful romantic.

One thing is clear, Ron will disappoint her, and Hermione will eventually move on. If she had any sense of worth she'd have already done so. Secretly, Lav wishes she herself had had the strength to do so when he'd disappointed her. She decides to frame her behaviour more in terms of 'loyalty', 'persistence' and 'dedication', or the 'courage to keep trying' and less as 'desperation', and promptly likes herself a little more.


Lav sees Ron much more clearly now, for what that's worth, with time and some emotional distance, such as she can manage anyway, to their relationship.

Parvati had introduced her to Gaston, a very nice wizard from Beauxbatons, last summer. Naturally, dating him had helped. Quite a bit. Did wonders for her confidence.

Now there was a man who new his way around a nice wine instead of just throwing back the Butterbeers. He knew how to flatter, to speak, to kiss, to caress... The words he found to charm his way into her affections. And further... Merlin. And English wasn't even his first language.

A certain ginger could take lessons.

Maybe she should take up French?

Gaston had been absolutely splendid, and she'd had a simply marvellous summer. She smiles just thinking about him...


But that's neither here nor there. Unless 'there' is France. Pity he'd had to return... Well, there's always next summer. She sighs.


The problem, returning to the task at hand, is Ron's here. And an eventual heartbreak, no matter how reliably guaranteed... although she's extremely gratified to know Professor Trelawney is of a mind with her on this, but that still won't make her feel any better if she has to watch Ron snogging Hermione all over the castle. And all the while Gaston is back in France and half the people she knows would probably question if he even exists... Lav knows better than anyone that Ron is overly fond of a very public show, he always has something to prove, and that's just not something she needs to see.


Although she doesn't think Hermione is quite the witch for it either.

Still...


She's dead certain the prophecy was about Ron. Ron and Hermione. She won't pretend otherwise, not to herself. There isn't a shred of doubt in her mind. But. The wording is just as applicable to Ginny. Ginny and Harry, if Harry fell for someone else...

Or, and this is where Lav's quite certain she might be brilliant, Ron and Ginny both having their hearts broken, if Harry and Hermione came together. It could have been 'lions'' and not 'lion's', who's to say? It's not like these things are printed.

And Lav is quite sure, with the way Ginny's been storming around the Tower, the looks she's thrown, sometimes at Harry, sometimes at Hermione... Lav is pretty sure if she spins her story just so, she can get Ginny to start lobbying against Hermione.

That will carry over to Ron, one way or the other, and with just a bit of luck, no 'Romione'. She lives in hope.

There was a chance, a very slim chance, that Ginny could then try for all she's worth to match Hermione up with Ron, but if she's convinced Hermione would break his heart... And Lavender thinks she's got Ginny pegged, she won't be able to fake being friendly when she's angry. And since Hermione and Ron have had difficulties since the Registration Act, and Hermione pretty much sided with Harry on his breakup with Ginny... Lav is certain she's got it locked. Alohomora proof.

It's brilliant. She should have been in Ravenclaw.

Or Slytherin.

And so as soon as Ginny begins to listen, Lav lets loose, the fact she spots Ron eavesdropping just around the corner suddenly makes this so much better. She layers even more fake trappings on top of the already fake prophecy, not that she knows that. As Ginny's eyes begin to widen, and her face goes a very deep red, Lav knows she has the girl hooked.

She's fairly certain she can see Ron's ears going red where he's lurking, too. It takes some effort on her part to resist the urge to smirk.

It occurs to her that there's a real chance that Ron and Harry's relationship will suffer for this. She doesn't care. It isn't like Harry had done anything to support her relationship with Ron. Provided her insights, given her advice... On the contrary, he'd sat there consoling Hermione. Did he tell her to give up on Ron? To move on? It sure didn't seem like it. And her own roommate had chased after Lavender's boyfriend every chance she got. No, Lav doesn't really care if this causes any of them problems or not.


Of course, it's not long at all before Lavender realises that the prophecy was apparently about Hermione and Professor Snape. Within an hour, everything's changed. She really couldn't have foreseen that. And then she also comes to understand that there was never any danger whatsoever of 'Romione' or 'Heron' or whatever they'd have been, particularly in light of Hermione's bond and Vows. Naturally it followed that the ginger lion's heartbreak was currently in full force... Poor Wonwon. If only she'd known.

About then she'll be a little sorry she dragged Ginny and by extension Harry into things. At least Ginny shouldn't have to worry about Harry too much now. Gwenog Jones seems a highly unlikely threat.

Lav fails to take into consideration the difference it makes that Ginny wasn't there for Hermione, wasn't supportive when her friend needed her. In the weeks to come, Lav and quite a few other lions will have occasion to regret this decision on her part, not that she'll ever fully understand the connection to her own actions. That's what comes of her shit stirring.


Well, not even she can be all knowing.

---

By the time Ron enters the Common Room, not long thereafter, Lav has Ginny worked up to a fevered pitch. Any vestigial desire she might have had to check on Hermione evaporates as she pictures her clenched in a tight embrace, snogging Harry till his glasses fog over; it's unlikely either of them know the Charm to stop it. It's more than she can take on top of everything else just now.

When Ron begins whinging about... She has no idea what he wants, she's not listening. She tears into him about the second class membership in the Order she has. He points out she's only sixteen, not even of age, and she proceeds to detail how much more accomplished she is in every regard that matters. He feels just inches tall mere minutes into her haranguing. Gin's got absolutely deadly aim, with and without her wand, and she's taking no prisoners.

---

By the time Harry makes it to the Common Room, Ginny and Ron are going at it hammer and tongs; it borders on a wonder no one has been hexed yet, at least not irreparably. Ron seems to be listing to one side, and his right cheek is a deep red. Probably a Stinging Hex. There's no sign of Lav, she's left for dinner, and Harry has no idea what caused things to escalate like this. Any question in his mind as to whether Ron should go down to the Great Hall for the meal or not evaporates, and now he's just worried Ginny is going to get there too late.

"You know what? I don't care if you go or not!" Ron's screaming at her. "In fact, stay here why don't you? Yeah, that sounds like a brilliant idea! You won't regret that at all."

Harry can't believe she's still there. He casts a Tempus and swears. Dinner's already starting. Hermione's probably there alone.

"Merlin, Gin, you haven't left yet? What are you still doing here?"

"All you have to do is tell me what's going on," she snits back at Harry resentfully. "But I'm not going until you do."

"Please, Gin. Can you get down there now? Please? I just asked you for one favour."

"Oh, yes, to go hold Hermione's hand during dinner." The sarcasm just drips from her response.

"You don't have to hold her hand," he replies, his exasperation clear, but his frustration is beginning to get the overhand. Dinner is starting, now, Dumbledore will be making his announcement, and Harry's pretty sure Hermione shouldn't be there on her own for it.

He's right, but it's a poorly considered plan. That's hardly surprising because it's completely his, and he's not exactly firing on all cylinders at the moment. Ron definitely shouldn't be there for the announcement. He's right about that. It won't help matters, quite the contrary.

Well, unless someone applies a Full-body Bind. And a Langlock. And probably a Stunner, Harry thinks looking at the still furious redhead.

He also shouldn't be left alone.


That it might be better to have someone provide support for Hermione who doesn't also have to process the news... But the problem is Ron really needs someone he could talk to, not that he seems inclined to do so... No, he seems kind of shouty at the moment, and isn't exactly communicating much. He hadn't been, really, since Dumbledore gave them the news. But Ginny doesn't understand what's going on with him. All of which is why Harry is quite sure he should stay with Ron instead.

There again, that his other friend will be facing the entire school's reactions very publicly should cross his mind, but... Truthfully, Harry is still exceptionally put out by the whole thing and finding it difficult to want to be there for her. But he did arrange for Ginny to be. He's not a completely horrible person. It's just that despite his best intentions, somehow Ginny's still there.


Maybe he should have spoken to Neville.

Of course, once the announcement is made, Neville will probably be worse off than Ginny. Well it's too late now, either way.

"You want to know what this is about, Gin? Get down there! You're far more likely to find out what's going on there than here, and I can guarantee you, if you wait much longer, you'll probably be the only one left in the castle not to know. Now get going!"

She doesn't like his tone, she hates being bossed about. That's a fairly normal response to being the youngest of so many children. But there's something in Harry's voice, more than a little desperate, and Ginny finally feels convinced.

With a "Fine," and a glare thrown backwards over her shoulder at the two boys, she walks towards the portrait hole.

As she steps through to head for the Great Hall, Ron calls after her, "Hey! Bring me back something to eat will you?"

He's grumbling as the door falls shut, not sure she heard him or if she agreed. Harry just goggles. "What?" Ron whinges. "I'm hungry."

Harry's briefly kind of disgusted that that is Ron's priority here, but he knows his friend, and how he deals with trouble, and giving him the benefit of the doubt decides he's repressing the actual issue. He claps his hand on Ron's shoulder and reassures him, "We can always sneak out later and get something using the map if she doesn't bring anything back."

The smile Ron gives him in return is anything but convinced.