-113-
After I made the quick visit in the chamber and shoved some food down, I rushed to the Room of Requirement with Muffin. Need to take her to her walk after this meeting. Couldn't look directly Remus in the eyes when I walked in. Just the fact he was able to tell what Severus and I did earlier today gives me the second hand embarrassment. But Remus didn't have any sings that he'd like to tease me about it. At least, not right now. We got other - more important things going on here. The niffler keeps playing with some shiny coins under the table as 'the leaders' of Dumbledore's Army are gathered around the long table to have this meeting. Minus Luna, who's still missing. I'm really worried for her. Neville keeps his head down as Remus and I speak about today's events. I told everyone in the room how I was able to get in touch with Harry and how I saw him and all the others on the dragon's back.
Others got worried and started to ask more details about Harry and the others, but as expected, I couldn't tell them more than I already know so far. None of us know where and how far they went with that dragon. They can be anywhere at this point. The Two-way mirror hasn't helped either... Which is now in middle of the table for others to see and investigate. "Maybe it's broken?" Cedric wonders out loud after trying it. Shooking my head a bit:"Doubt it. It worked perfectly well last time I used it.". "Maybe you were too rough on it." Remus smites with the slightest grin corner of his mouth. My head snaps at him, sending deathly daggers thru my eyes to keep his mouth shut. Luckily, none of the students payed any attention to Remus's words and kept talking to each other about the mirror and what can we do now.
During all of this, my attention once again goes to Neville - who hasn't said a word this whole time. He has basically kept his head down the whole time. Eyes resting on his hands that are neatly placed on the table. Clearly his thoughts being else where. Don't need to be genius to figure out what's on his mind. Or rather whom. "Seems that You-Know-Who and his little helpers has become more sensitive to anyone they feel irritated or threatened by. We can't risk there will be more people missing." Remus's voice brings me back from my thoughts and my attention goes back to him. His words visibly hurt Neville, who tightens the grip around his shaky hands. Neville... There is serious look on Remus's face as he continues:"I'd suggest we'll gather students here anytime the classes are over. Therefor, none of the Carrows will be able to catch them and put a ridiculous blame on them.". "But, what about Mr. Filch?" Cho ask, slightly worried about him and his precious cat that keeps sneaking around the castle - hoping to catch us all red handed. "(Y/N) and I will take care of him, no need to worry." Remus reassures calmly.
We talked another thirty minutes before the students got up and left the room. It's really late at this point. Right after I put the chair back to its place and took Muffin into my arms, I notice how the Gryffindor is still sitting there. "Neville." my voice is soft and I release the niffler on the table to wander around it. Remus hears my voice and turns to look at us over his shoulder as he was about to leave the room. But he stops and without a word, he walks beside me. The boy starts shaking as the tears quickly raise in his eyes. My heart immediately breaks and I rush to him:"Ouhw...". He lets out a sharp gasp, and as soon as I come near him, he holds onto me while still sitting on the chair. Hugging by the waist so tightly like a lost child. Poor Neville. I want to tell him it's alright, but... Is it? The fact that the girl he's in love with is missing - probably taken by the Death Eaters. And... I don't even want to imagine the rest. Really don't know what to say or what else to do here order to take his pain away. So I place a hand on top of his fluffy hair and wrap the other arm around his shoulders. Muffin also comes close to Neville and starts rubbing herself against him.
Remus stands at the end of the table, watching us and wonders what he can do to help. Guess there's nothing else we can do at this second, but be there for Neville and let him let it all out. These are the moments when it really hits me. The reality these are young children we are dealing with. Not that I would be any braver if Severus would be missing like Luna is now... But still. Wish there was something I could do. "(Y/N), I'm s-scared for her." Neville's voice breaks thru the tears. "I know, Neville. I know." I keep gently stroking his hair. We all are. Can only imagine all of the things that he has thought about what has happened to her. From the hope she's alright, to the worst scenario. Severus must know something about this. I will demand for the answer from him. Remus is about to say something, but Neville then breaks down even more and yells while holding onto me ever so tight:"I MUST SEE HER!!!". His loud cry echoes around the room. Muffin lets out a small squeak and quickly jumps down the table to hide behind my leg.
Then... We hear this pattering sound coming from the wall that is right above the fireplace on our right. "Hm?" Remus and I both turn our heads towards the sound. It's the sound the room makes whenever it creates something new. What? For a quick moment it looked like it's creating a new door, but it eventually turned out to be this big painting on the wall. As soon as the painting of a landscape of the castle appeared, it made a small 'click' - sound and it opened just a tiny bit. "Neville." I gently push him away from the embrace to take a look what we just witness. "Huh?" he sniffs and leans away. My eyes are glued on the new painting:"Is that..-", "A secret passageway." Remus breaths out as amazed as I am. Neville's and mine heads snaps right at him:"Really?!". "Seems that way." he nods without taking his own eyes off the painting. "...W-where does it lead to?" I ask. "That's what we are about to find out." Remus reply and went to get the ladder we have in one corner.
Soon enough, all three of us started to climb up the ladder one at the time to get on top of the fireplace. I went first while carrying the little niffler in my hand. Can't leave her all alone in here... As soon as I got to the painting, I was able to open it like a door. And lord be hold - it really is a secret passageway! This small of cold breeze goes thru me when I opened it more. It's nothing like the Vanishing Cabinet that could just transfer you to one place to another. No. This is an actual tunnel! Very dark one too. "Lumos." I raise the wand and walk deeper into the tunnel. Remus comes next and draw his wand too. Without any hesitation, Neville follows right behind us. The tunnel doesn't seem to end any time soon. Remus and I share this look if we should continue and walk all the way to the other side, to see what's in there. Then, without a word, we both nod and I put Muffin down, and all four of us start to walk along the long tunnel. Even my heart is beating fast inside my chest, I feel quite calm while walking this cold, wet, stony walled, narrow path. Maybe it's because I got Remus and Neville with me? Or maybe because I trust Hogwarts it won't lead us to any danger? Who knows.
After walking what felt like fifteen to twenty minutes, we come across to the end of the tunnel. Instead of it being just a stone wall, it's a canvas with brown sticks going across it. Wait a minute... With very careful, gentle touch, I place my fingers on it and give it a push. Immediately, it opens like a door. Revealing a small of a room I've never seen before. My face lights up when I see this. It indeed is a painting's back! We have arrived somewhere else, away from the castle. All this time, Remus and Neville has kept their wands steady, ready for someone to jump on us. But as soon as they see there's no one there, they lower the wands and we all jump out of the painting to investigate the dim room. While holding the niffler in my arms, I keep turning my gaze from where I stand and the boys began to wander around the place. There is a small of wooden table near the window with four chairs around it. A self in one corner that has all kinds of books and bottles. Some pictures of goats are hanging on every wall caught my attention. There's only a few of them - not like in Umbridge's office who had her cat pictures all over the place. From floors all the way up to the ceiling.
I place Muffin onto my right shoulder, and she keeps looking around too. Sniffing away. Her soft fur keeps tickling the side of my neck time to time. Are we in a farm of somekind? A goat farm, perhaps? Remus goes to the window and carefully peeks out behind the laced curtains to see if he'll recognize where we are. There is a stone stairs going up to the other floor on my right. Wonder where that leads to? "(Y/N)." Neville suddenly calls while looking behind me where the painting is we just came thru. "Hm?" I turn around to take a look. Right away when I see the person standing there, I jump a little and take a step back:"Oh..-!". It's a young girl. She doesn't seem to be older than fifteen years old. The girl keeps gazing out at the room with a kind of vacant sweetness which shows us she isn't a threat. Who is she? Just when I'm about to open my mouth and ask who she is and where are we, we hear this fade thud coming from the above. Huh?
Immediately, all of us turn our heads and draw our wands towards the sound. Then, a familiar blond haired girl walks down the stairs. "Neville?" the sweet and gentle voice calls, looking slightly surprised to see us. The look on Neville's face falls and his shoulders goes down:"Luna..!!". It is her! Happiness raises inside all of us when we see the girl is alright. From outsides perspective, she looks perfectly fine. Thank Merlin! Luna managed to come to the bottom of the stairs when Neville already scoops her into his arms. "Oh, my Merlin! I can't believe this!! Oh...- Wh-what happened to you? Are you hurt?! Please tell me you are alright!!" Neville panics and began tracing his gaze all over her. Remus comes to stand next to me to watch as Neville keeps hugging, then leaning away from his girlfriend to take a look at her to make sure she's actually alright. Again and again. "Don't worry, Luna - we are here to rescue you!" Neville gently caress side of her face to remove a sting of hair behind her ear.
When he said the word 'rescue', Luna's eyebrows raise a bit. Like she's confused by the word. "Let the girl speak - and breath, Neville." Remus breaks their little, cute bubble. Both of them turn their heads to us, almost like they now realized and remembered we are in the room too. "What happened to you, Luna? What is this place?" I take a step closer to them. Neville then lower his gaze to the girl in his arms with questioning look, ready to hear her out. Luna is about open her mouth to tell us what happened, when we hear the sound of a wooden door opening on our left side. All three of us jump a little, and Remus and I draw our wands when another person walks in. It's a tall and thin man with a long, stingy grey hair and beard. Who's that?!
It's like all three of us are thinking the same thing; this person who just walked in is the kidnapper of poor-Luna. I'm quick to step in front of the couple to protect, while at the same time Remus steps in front of me. Neville tightens his embrace around his girlfriend, forcing them to take couple steps back. The old man looks surprised to see us and frowns:"What the bloody Merlin's name are you doing back here?!". Remus and I are holding our wands steady at the man, little bit hesitant what to do here. I keep glaring at the old man, wand pointing right at him:"Luna is coming with us. Whether you like it or not.". Muffin's fur has perked up as she growls on my shoulder. "Put those away." the man hisses back to us all annoyed.
"You would like that, now wouldn't you?!" Neville smites back. Luna looks up to her boyfriend as she's pressed up against him:"Nevil..-", "Kidnapping an innocent girl just because her father writes truth about Harry Potter is pretty low. Even from people like you." Remus keeps his wand steady. "What are you talking about?" the old man frowns even more. Seems that we got him off guard, since he doesn't have his wand with him. Even so... We need to get the children out of here. Without taking my eyes off the enemy, I reach my arm towards the couple behind us and wave it as a sing to them go to the painting. "Come." Neville starts leading Luna, but she's a bit hesitant for some reason. The old man doesn't seem to be impressed by any of this. He's rather annoyed. "Albus did mention you have a damaged brain, but I didn't think it was this bad, Miss (Y/N) (Y/L)." his soul-piercing shade of blue eyes are narrowed right at me. What?!