Cliffhanger
When Luna and Neville enter the treasure room, they see Hermione and Fred secluded in a corner. She is sitting on a rigorously clean old table and he is standing next to her, one hand resting a few inches from her thigh. They are, Neville thinks blushing on his cheeks, in a very intimate position, about the same distance that for a moment has parted him from Pansy Parkinson. He wonders, coughing to announce their presence, what his problem is: why can't he forget her lavender scent? He does not have time to find the answer, because someone knocks on his shoulder.
"I see there are so many of us already," George exclaims with a wide smile on his face.
Fred casts a glance at his twin and turns away from Hermione, slipping a hand into his pants pocket, "Two Weasleys and a Potter are missing."
"Hagrid must have entertained them with some amusing stories." Lee hypothesizes, bending his neck in one direction to tense his muscles. George's eyes rest on the mole painted on the dark skin, on the jaw line accentuated by the window light, on the lips that open in a smile when Jordan notices the attention. What a pity, they think, to be no longer alone.
"No longer than usual, actually." The calm atmosphere is soon interrupted by Ginny's arrival, quickly followed by Harry and Ron.
Hermione gets down from the table, approaches the desk and looks at the others with a serious expression, "I hope you had better luck than Fred and I."
George shakes his head and takes a long breath, "We found an empty box, which is something."
"Lots of Nargles, but no matches in the Potions classroom either," Luna notes, and Neville is lost in considering that Pansy had, in that context, somewhat the appearance of a glowing flame. He blushes but says nothing and listens with apparent interest as Harry decrees yet another defeat.
Ron scrunches his cheek and passes his gaze over all his companions, who have suddenly gone mousy: he understands that feeling, for it is the same feeling that has gripped his chest at hearing only bad news. "Have any of us tried looking in here?"
The first to pick up his wand is George, who is about to use the appeal spell. In just two seconds a small cardboard box lands in his left palm. "Well, this is awkward."
"We won't tell anyone." Lee suggests, observing Hermione fumbling with matches. When the prefect manages to light the flame, the companions hold their breath. Clack.
"What the hell is that?" Neville twists his lips.
"What a pretty thing, it looks like a Nargle!" Luna smiles and leans forward to get a better look.
Harry and Hermione look at each other in disbelief, the Weasley brothers do likewise.
"After this, it's safe to say we won't tell anyone." Lee reiterates, holding back laughter.