1.3
Standing in the empty room , which only 5 minutes earlier had been full of the strangest group of people Harry had ever seen, the trio tried to make sense of what they had just seen.
"Did anyone understand any of that?" Harry asked Hermione and Ron who were both looking as shocked as Harry felt.
"Why... I don't-" Ron seemed to be struggling to form sentences, " Should we follow them?"
"Of course not." Hermione said firmly, "We have already trespassed over their privacy more than enough today."
"But we still don't understand anything!" Ron exclaimed, who seemed to have gone from shocked to angry in the space of ten seconds.
An idea struck Harry - one he seriously hoped was wrong.
"There was an awful lot of Slytherins in that group- you don't think they've gotten in to trouble do you?"
"Why would any of the Gryffindors have helped though?" Hermione reasoned, " And they seemed far too comfortable with each other for it to be a blackmailing situation or for anyone to be there against their will."
"Well, we have to go ask them then," Ron decided, " See what they can say to defend themselves this time."
"I suppose that's the best option - just in case they are involved with something shady. Don't you think Harry?"
"I guess, yeah." Harry wasn't particularly looking forward to the idea that they would have to confess to spying on them.
"Well , we better hurry up then, shouldn't we?" Hermione said, and at the confused looks she was given continued, "They're leaving in an hour!"
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They found Neville in the dorm , clearly packing his bags.
"What are you doing Neville?" Hermione asked, gesturing towards his bags.
"My...um... Grandmother's sick , yeah, and I have to go help her... for the weekend. Yeah." He stammered, looking extremely nervous.
"We saw you!" Ron blurted.
"Saw what?" Neville was definitely panicking now.
"We followed you in to that weird room Neville, " Harry explained , guilt lacing his words. "We heard everything."
"You...You Did?"
"What's going on , Neville?" Hermione asked, taking a step towards him," Do you need help?"
"Wait- " Neville paused, " What do you know?"
"That you and a bunch of others, including Malfoy have some weird group thing going on and we think you're in danger Neville!" Ron yelled, looking sheepish after.
"I'm not in danger, okay!" Neville shouted, " Also, do you not even hear what a big invasion of privacy it was to follow me like that? You had no right to do that." He took a deep breath. " I assume you already know I'm leaving for the weekend so - see you when I get back , I guess."
With that Neville shouldered his bag and just...left.
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"Was Neville right, do you think?" Ron whispered, his shoulders hunched over, " Were we invading his privacy?"
"I think so." Harry said, "We should've trusted him to mind his own business. Though I am still worried about him."
"Me too, " Hermione agreed, " I don't know what he's involved in but I think it's all connected."
What do we all do then? Harry could feel that the question was on all of their minds- they had messed up but it didn't change the fact they had done it because they were worried. For the most part anyway. Harry looked up and saw an expression of determination on Hermione's face.
"Come on, " She ordered, "This way."
"Where are we going?" Ron asked, clearly as confused as Harry was.
"To apologize to Neville of course. We invaded his privacy and made a lot of mistakes as his friends so we have to at least try to make up before we leave."
Harry actually thought this was a good idea , but Ron clearly disagreed.
"Come off it Hermione, he was furious at us- he's not going to want to talk to us is he?"
"I'm not letting him leave without trying to make it right. " She said, and started jogging towards the entrance. "I saw Malfoy and Zabini walk through here a few seconds ago - it's clearly the right place."
As they arrived Harry was suddenly struck by the thought that this was all a very bad idea- just as Hermione opened the door. Inside were all of the people who had been in the room earlier- but this time they could all see them.
"Hi." Hermione managed to squeak out. "Neville, can we talk to you please?"
Neville himself was standing to the far right and seemed to be trying very hard not to make eye contact. Fred and George on the other hand seemed to have the opposite problem and were staring openly at them, clearly shocked to see them.
"Right, I don't know what the hell you're doing here but you better-" Flint was cut off by Penelope slamming her hand over his mouth.
"Ignore him, he has some attitude problems." She flashed them a charming smile, " Just, quick question, what are you doing here?"
Just as Harry moved to answer, a sleek black car drove up, and a tall balding man came out. He had a curly moustache, and a goatee and was dressed as though he was going to a ball in the 19th century. Everyone else seemed to be struck in to silence by the arrival of this man, and he assessed them all before barking - "Get in to the car then ! We haven't got all day!"
"But Sir," Flint started, "What about them? " He gestured towards Harry ,Ron and Hermione.
"What are your names, children ?" The man asked with a harsh expression on his face, "Hurry up!"
"Hermione Granger ."
At this he nodded.
"Ron Weasley."
"Weasley, you say? Hmm, and you boy?" He said gesturing to Harry.
"Harry Potter, Sir."
"Harry Potter , you say? Is this true?" At the nods he received from everyone (however reluctantly) he continued, "Well get in then, children "
Once they had all climbed in to the car , the man turned to fully face Hermione, Ron and Harry.
"You three get in as well." He said, gesturing towards the trio.
"Hold on a second, why would we go anywhere with you?" Ron asked incredulously.
"You three are interested in fighting Lord Voldemort aren't you?" And with that he turned on his heel and headed to the car, he paused just before he reached the door- " You should hurry up if you are coming - we're leaving in 30 seconds"
The three of them exchanged looks before running to the car door, jumping in and slamming it behind them.
It was roomier on the inside than it expected (magic presumably ), and seats went all along the edges of the walls, putting them in a circle, and the windows were tinted. There was also 11 people staring at them with horror on their faces.
"What in the bloody hell do you think you are doing? "
Harry looked around but couldn't tell who had asked the question but answered anyway-
"You know what- I really don't know."