Longbottom's Army

Chapter Three - Recruiting Begins

"So what do you think?" Neville asked.

"I'm in," Ernie Macmillan said quietly. "When do we start?"

Neville paused. That's the one thing he wasn't sure of. More than a week had passed since classes had started, and he and Luna were still in the process of informing people.

It was a laborious process, trying to get each invitee on their own. They only had been able to speak to half of the ones they wanted to invite. The last thing he wanted to do was set a firm date that was too soon. What if couldn't get to everyone in time? But on the other hand, a firm date could force them to work more quickly.

Neville made a quick decision. "First Hogsmeade visit."

"That's forever away," Ernie said. Neville was pleased to hear disappointment in his voice.

"First weekend in October," Neville told him. "That's only three and a half weeks away. We'll meet at the Three Broomsticks."

"Great!"

"One thing, Ernie," Neville started. Ernie leaned in, eager to hear what was to be said next. "This is invite only. We don't want the news getting around. Is that okay?"

"Certainly," Ernie answered, somewhat pompously. "You can trust me, you know that."

Neville nodded. "I know," he said with a smile. The warning bell rang, telling Neville that he and Ernie only had a few minutes to get to Herbology. As they walked, Neville told him who else they had spoken to. He didn't tell him who they still needed to talk to, in case, like Megan Jones, they didn't want to join, citing too many outside commitments. Luna and Neville had finally settled on Rose Zeller, who once seen wearing a pair of Spectrespecs from the Quibbler, according to Luna, to take her place.

As he and Ernie stepped into the Greenhouse, Neville felt his leg stiffen up on him. "Are you alright?" asked Ernie.

"Go on ahead, I'll be fine," Neville answered, heading towards a stool. The Healers warned him this would happen. Ever since he came back to Hogwarts, his leg hurt more and more. Madam Pomfrey told him that it was simply because his leg wasn't used to being used so much. Neville had had physical therapy during the summer, but nothing as vigorous as walking around the castle to get to his classes. He hoped that he became used to all the exercise soon.

Neville let his mind wander as Professor Sprout gave a lecture on the use of Mooncalf Dung as a fertilizer. Neither he nor Luna had talked to any Slytherins yet. There hadn't been a chance. The majority of Slytherin seemed to want to be invisible, a feeling that Neville knew far too well. But he promised himself that he would stop Millicent Bulstrode after class and ask her join. No matter how much her scowl intimidated him.

Finally, the bell rang and Neville stood up. The one good thing about his leg hurting was that he was right by the door. Millicent couldn't sneak out without him seeing. As she passed, Neville said, "Millicent, could I speak to you, please?"

Millicent put her hands on her hips and glared down at him. "What do you want, Longbottom?" she demanded.

"In private?"

To say Millicent looked surprised was an understatement. Her eyes narrowed and there was still a look of suspicion on her face. "Alright."

Neville followed her down the hall. He had hoped to speak to her in a place more private, but considering she had the longer legs and he had the limp, Neville really didn't have much choice in the matter.

"What do you want?" she repeated, crossing her arms over her chest.

Neville wondered where he should start. "Remember in fifth year? Dumbledore's Army? You knew about that, right?"

"Everyone did, because you lot were stupid enough to get caught," Millicent said with a snort.

Feeling a bit unsettled, Neville ignored the comment and continued, "Well, we want to start it up again."

"What's that have to do with me?" Millicent asked.

"We'd like you to join," Neville said simply.

"So I get to be the token Slytherin. How magnanimous of you." Millicent rolled her eyes and started to walk away.

"We're having the same number from each House, so everyone is equal." His voice was a little louder than he meant it to be.

Millicent turned around and stared at him hard for a moment. "This isn't a joke, Longbottom?"

"I get the pranks played on me, Millicent," Neville said, trying to convince her. "I don't play pranks on people. I know what that's like."

"You really want to invite me?" she asked, suddenly looking a little uncertain as she chewed her bottom lip. "I'm never invited to anything."

At that moment, Neville saw her a bit differently. For just a second, a wall dropped around her and she looked almost vulnerable. They were more alike than he had realised, both outcasts from their respective Houses. Somehow, he had never realised that Slytherins might be able to feel just as insecure as students from other Houses. He certainly knew that feeling of insecurity. Armed with new knowledge, Neville wondered if they could maybe they could even be friends. "I know the feeling," he told her.

"How's it work?" she asked.

And just like that, Neville knew that he had uncovered an alley in the Slytherin House. Maybe reaching out to them wouldn't be nearly as difficult as he thought.

Neville gave her all the details of when they would be first meeting. He also stressed the need for secrecy. That last thing that was needed was for this to get out and then everyone clamoring to join.

"Okay, then," Millicent said, almost looking pleased. She turned and started to walk away, but then stopped and looked at him once more. "Thanks, Longbottom."

Neville nodded. "You're welcome."

~~~~~

"Oi! Neville!" a voice shouted behind him. Neville turned around and saw Seamus walking towards him. "Quidditch try-outs are starting. Do you want to watch? I want to see if Dean makes the team."

"Dean was on the team last year, wasn't he?" Neville asked. "He's got to try out again?"

"He was technically a reserve last year. Princess Weasley is making him try-out again. I don't know why she's bitter. She dumped him, not the other way around," Seamus said sourly.

Neville decided he couldn't let that comment pass. "Ginny is not a princess, Seamus," he said seriously.

Seamus rolled his eyes. "What would you call her? She sat around, breaking boys hearts until Prince Potter came to call."

"That's not fair," Neville said. "Besides, I heard they aren't even together anymore."

The smile on Seamus' face was far too vindictive and Neville wondered just how hurt Dean had been because of their break-up. Seamus must know all the gritty details.

Deciding to change the subject, Neville asked, "Why aren't you trying out?"

"Have you ever seen me on a broom?" Seamus laughed. "As much as I love Quidditch, it's really not a pretty sight. I'm much better off on the ground."

Neville said nothing, thinking of his own unpleasant experiences trying to become a better flyer.

"So are we watching try-outs?"

"Sure," Neville said easily, pleased that Seamus wasn't upset that Neville tried to defend Ginny. He switched his school bag to his other shoulder and they started walking towards the field. Once outside, he saw Luna by the lagoon, lying on her back, staring up at the sky. "Can Luna watch, too?"

"Luna?" Seamus' eyebrows shot up. "Are you two-"

"No," Neville said quickly, feeling his cheeks redden. It wouldn't be good to leave the wrong impression. "We're friends, that's all."

Seamus shrugged. "Sure, if she wants to watch Gryffindors on brooms."

"Go ahead," Neville told him. "We'll catch up."

Seamus kept walking towards the Quidditch pitch while Neville headed towards Luna. It was the second Saturday of term, and the weather was absolutely beautiful. As he walked closer to Luna, he saw that her eyes were tightly closed and Neville almost wondered if she was asleep.

If she was, he certainly didn't want to wake her. He chewed his bottom lip for a moment, wondering what he should do. But then Luna said, without even opening her eyes, "Hello, Neville Longbottom."

Surprised to say the least, Neville knelt down next to her. "How did you know it was me?"

Eyes still closed, she said, "Because it's you."

Having no argument to that, Neville asked, "Seamus and I are going to watch the Quidditch try-outs. It's Gryffindors, so it might bore you, but I thought I'd ask if wanted to watch with us."

Her eyes opened slowly and she seemed to study his face. Neville was about to worry if he offended her somehow when she asked, "Is watching Quidditch try-outs something that friends do together?"

"Sure," Neville said, pleased that she hadn't rejected the invitation as Luna sat up. There was some grass in the back of her hair and without thinking Neville reached out and brushed it off. She looked at him with her unblinking eyes and Neville felt his face redden once again. "Sorry," Neville muttered.

They walked towards the pitch, Neville doing most of the talking about who was trying out. When he asked if Luna knew who would be on the Ravenclaw team, he wasn't surprised when she said she didn't know.

As they took their seats next to Seamus, Neville saw that the warm-ups were just ending. Ginny, the captain, was sitting side saddle on her broom, high in the air. A whistle blew and all of Quidditch hopefuls lined up.

Ginny had quite a job ahead of her; a number of Gryffindors secretly thought that this might be a rebuilding year for the team. They needed a Keeper and a Chaser, not to mention a Seeker. Hard to believe that they needed a new Seeker at all, Harry had been their Seeker for so long. Neville felt sorry for the person taking his place. It was assumed that Robins, Coote and Peakes were all going to return, leaving a fairly inexperienced team. Only Ginny would have been on the team for more than a year.

Once try-outs started, it was obvious to see who could fly and who couldn't. There seemed to be a second year whose name Neville couldn't remember (Melinda? Matilda?) who seemed to be a shoo-in the Chaser spot.

He glanced over at Luna at one point, and she was staring down at her feet, not watching the action at all. Neville realised that he hadn't been paying her a lot of attention, his mind focused on the try-outs.

Just as Neville was thinking of something to say to her, Seamus leaned over and asked, "So it's still on?"

Luna looked up hearing that. "The DA?" she said quietly.

Seamus nodded. "First Hogsmeade visit," Neville reminded him. It took two weeks, but Neville and Luna were able to speak to everyone they planned on inviting. Neville had been right in thinking that a firm gathering date would motivate him and Luna to speak to the remaining student. There was only the one rejection; everyone else couldn't wait for the first weekend in October.

"We can't do it sooner?" asked Seamus.

Neville was pleased to know that Seamus was looking forward to the meeting. "Not for the first one."

"Excellent," Seamus grinned. "Who's going to run it?"

"I'm not sure," Neville answered. Thinking of their previous conversation, Seamus might not like who he had in mind. "I was thinking Ginny might."

"Of course," Seamus said, shaking his head. "You've a crush on Weasley, too?"

Neville realised that there were two sets of eyes on him, waiting for his answer. "No, I don't," Neville said simply. "But Ginny's been right in the thick of everything when it comes to You-Know-Who. She was even possessed by him, for goodness' sake. And she knows how to be a leader."

"If you say so," Seamus said, rolling his eyes. He did that far too much, in Neville's opinion. "I just thought that since it was your idea, you'd be in charge."

"Me?" Neville practically squeaked.

Seamus leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "Why not? You've fought just as much as Ginny has."

"I don't think I'd be any good," Neville said, feeling a bit heady at the very thought.

"Just an idea," Seamus said casually, focusing back on the try-outs, which seemed to be winding down.

Neville looked over at Luna, wanting to get her thoughts, but then Ginny was flying towards the small crowd that had gathered in the stand. Behind her, a number of students were either flying around happily or landing and walking away dejectedly.

"Here's the team," Ginny said loudly. "Beaters are Coote and Peaks, Keeper is Darren Wood, Chasers are Robins, Dean Thomas and Melanie Johnson. I'm going to be Seeker."

Seamus' grin took almost took up his entire face. "Told you you'd make it, Dean!" he shouted towards the crowd on the pitch. Dean waved back with a smile.

"Why is Ginny Seeker?" Neville asked as he, Luna and Seamus started walking back to the castle.

"Didn't you watch the try-out? There was no one half way decent that could be Seeker. At least Ginny's played the position before and had some success," Seamus answered.

"But she likes being a Chaser," Neville said.

"She's doing what's best for the team, I'll give her that," Seamus said begrudgingly.

Neville decided to change the subject. "I didn't know Oliver and Angelina had siblings."

"Darren is a third year, I think," Seamus said thoughtfully. "I'm pretty sure that Melanie is only a second year. Ginny must be trying to get the team younger. Fly together for a couple of years and they'll be pretty good."

"Of course, we'll be long gone by then," Neville laughed.

"There's Dean," Seamus said. "See ya, Neville!"

He ran off, leaving Neville and Luna by themselves. Suddenly, Neville felt horrible. He had asked her to watch the try-outs and he practically ignored her, being too caught up in everything.

"I'm sorry."

Luna looked alarmed. "What for? Did you do something that you need to apologize for?"

"Maybe?" Neville said, feeling distinctly off-footed. "I didn't mean to ignore you."

"When?"

"During the try-outs," Neville said awkwardly.

"But you invited me to watch the try-outs," Luna said, titling her head, causing her radish earnings to shake slightly. "And you watched them."

"That's true." Neville realised she left herself out of those who 'watched.' "I thought you liked Quidditch," he said. "You know enough to have been a commentator last year."

Her eyes grew wide. "Are you making fun of me?"

Neville's jaw dropped. "Of course not," he said. "Why would you think that?"

"No reason," Luna said and she started walking towards the castle again. Neville simply shook his head and hurried to catch up.

When they entered the castle, there seemed to be a buzz in the hallway. Something was wrong. He wasn't quite sure how he knew that, but something was most definitely wrong.

"Do you think a Bedridden Azia slipped into the castle?" Luna asked quietly.

"What's that?" He was grateful for something to take his mind off of the scene in front of him. Student were all talking to each other in low voices and some looked either scared or upset. Neville couldn't quite tell which.

"An Azia is a type of insect that makes people unhappy," Luna told him. "A bedridden one is ever worse."

"How does it get around if it's bedridden?" Neville asked.

"That's why it's so unhappy." Luna looked towards the ceiling, her eyes going back and forth quickly.

Neville saw Professor Sprout hurrying down the hallway. Walking up to her quickly, he asked, "Has something happened, Professor?"

"You haven't heard the news?" she asked, a somewhat frantic twinge in her voice. "You-Know-Who was spotted at The Daily Prophet's Diagon Alley office. Death Eaters then destroyed the entire building."

"Was anyone-"

"The office was fully staffed. At least ten people were killed, perhaps more," she said, shaking her head. "Excuse me, Neville, the entire staff is meeting..."

Professor Sprout turned down the hall towards the staffroom. Neville looked at Luna, whose face was white. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"There are a few Quibbler reporters that work at The Daily Prophet," Luna said, her eyes filling with tears. Neville had never seen her so upset. "Daddy can't afford to pay anyone, so they still have to work a day job, and some want to work in journalism... Even the Daily Prophet's type of journalism..."

"Could you send your father an owl?" Neville suggested, pleased he came up with an idea so quickly.

She nodded and walked off before Neville had a chance to say that he'd go with her. It took him a bit to catch up because she was walking so fast. "I'll walk with you," he said quietly.

"Thank you." Luna crossed her arms over her chest so it almost looked like she was hugging herself. Her pace didn't slow and they made what must have been record time to the Owlery.

Putting two fingers between her lips and whistling, a beautiful tawny owl flew down from the rafters and perched itself on Luna's shoulder.

"You have an owl?" asked Neville, reaching out and stroking the feathers.

"Neville, meet Beyla," Luna said, with a hint of fondness coming through. "I've had her since first year."

"She's beautiful," Neville said. He always wanted an owl, though he was perfectly happy with Trevor.

"Thank you," Luna said absently as she rummaged through her bag, finally bringing out a quill and piece of parchment.

But just at that moment, an owl flew through one of the windows and landed gently on Luna's other shoulder. Luna looked relieved. "This is Grani," she told him, working to get the piece of parchment untied from the owl's leg. "Daddy's owl."

It obviously took Luna longer than she wanted to untie the parchment, because she actually stamped her foot in frustration.

Neville thought about the emotions she had displayed over the last two week, something that she really never had done before. He wondered if she was showing frustration or fear or any other emotion because she trusted him enough to show those feelings. Neville found himself hoping so. He had meant it when he said there were friends, after all.

"Everyone is safe," Luna said, relief pouring through face. She wrote a quick note and sent her father's owl off again. Luna stared after the owl for so long that Neville was about to become worried when she said, "I'm a horrible person."

"What?" Neville asked in surprise. "Why would you say that?"

Luna shrugged one shoulder, and her owl flew upwards, towards the top of the Owlery. "I hoped that no one I knew was killed," she said finally, not looking at him. "That's the same as hoping that someone I didn't know was killed. It's not very nice to wish death on anyone."

Neville was silent, trying to reason an argument. He certainly didn't believe what she said. But Luna did, and he could tell that she was upset.

"I don't think that's true, Luna," Neville said slowly. He could give her an easy example, but Neville found himself debating how much to share. "When I was a baby, something bad happened to my parents. Something that I wish hadn't happened to them. That doesn't mean I wished for it to happen to someone else's parents. I wish it hadn't happened at all."

Luna looked unconvinced so Neville continued, "Just because you hoped it wasn't someone you knew was killed, doesn't mean you hoped that someone would be killed. It means that you didn't want it to happen at all."

She stared out the window, and Neville followed her gaze into the Forbidden Forest. As far away as they were from the forest, Neville could still see the white, shining eyes of the Thestrals.

"More and more people will be able to see the Thestrals soon," Luna said quietly.

"That's not a pleasant thought," Neville said.

"At first I thought it was exciting to see something that other people couldn't." She turned her back to the forest and looked at him. "I thought I was special. Now I would give anything not to be able to see them."

"Me, too," Neville said in practically a whisper.

"We're right to bring back the D.A.," Luna said, her voice stronger now. "If You-Know-Who can get into Diagon Alley, eventually he might be able to attack Hogwarts. We can't just expect the teachers to protect us. We'll have to protect ourselves."

"I can't imagine that he'd be able to into Hogwarts," Neville said, then immediately realised how foolish that sounded, seeing as Death Eaters were able to get into the castle last year. "I mean-"

"I understand what you mean, Neville," said Luna. "Sometimes, it's just it feels like that summer when the Migrating Biloko were supposed to appear."

"What's a-"

"Mother was still alive then, so the three of us spent practically the entire spring preparing. Biloko like nothing better than treasure. So we buried all of the jewelry and money in the backyard. Mother still wanted to wear jewelry, so we made our own using vegetables. She made me these earrings." Luna paused and pushed a bit hair back behind her ear so that Neville could get a look. "We had everything ready and the Migrating Biloko never appeared."

Neville decided this wouldn't be the most appropriate time to ask what in the world a Biloko was, so he said, "But what if they did come? Your family would have been ready. I bet a lot of other families wouldn't have been. My gran certainly wouldn't have been ready. It's like the D.A. You-Know-Who might never attack Hogwarts. But if he does, we'll be ready."

Luna smiled slightly, and Neville hoped that he helped ease the worries of his friend, even just a little bit. "Yes, we will," she said seriously. "We'll be ready."