Coven-Over-Bridgewater

After dinner Hermione suggested that she and Jenna finish up the last of their tour of the school. Jenna agreed that it sounded like a good idea, so the two of them set off, leaving to a chorus of friendly good-byes. The rest of them returned to the Gryffindor Common Room, where a wide variety of activities awaited them. Ron and Ginny started a game of Wizard's Chess, a skill at which Ginny was rapidly improving: she had nearly-beat Ron over ten times; Dean sat with them and practiced drawing, using the angry chessmen as his subjects; and Seamus, Harry and Neville sat together at table of their own, Seamus finishing up his Divination homework and Harry and Neville both reading.

"The stars tell me," Seamus said outloud as he wrote, "that a close friend will find love in a new and unexpected place."

Neville looked up from his book. A pinkish hue crept into his face, starting at his ears and crawling into his cheeks. "Shut up, Seamus," he said quietly, which was probably as loudly as he could manage given the degree to which he was embarrassed.

"Sorry," Seamus said, and he honestly meant it; it seemed to have just occurred to him how serious Neville was regarding the matter. "I didn't mean to offend you -- I just thought it was cute, that's all." Then he added, "But if you don't then I'll stop."

"Thanks," Neville said, and he even managed to smile a bit. Seamus smiled back, totally forgiven.

"Wait now, what's going on?" asked Harry, suddenly aware of the conversation going on around him. "What did I miss? This isn't about the new girl, Jenna, is it?"

"Afraid so," said Neville, turning back to his book.

Harry, though intelligent, looked confused. "You and her? But I thought --"

Neville finished his sentence by nodding. "Yeah, yeah, Seamus was just kidding. Forget about it. Get back to your Quidditch book or whatever it is," he said jokingly. Seamus looked at him, surprised at the sarcasm, and Harry pouted good-naturedly as Seamus and Neville shared a laugh.

* * *

The next morning the sky was blue, the air was fresh, and autumn was alive at Hogwarts. After a delicious breakfast of pancakes, French toast and fresh fruit, Muggle Studies was first on Ginny, Dean, Neville and Jenna's agenda. The four of them headed down the corridor together after having eaten, their spirits elevated by the wonderful weather.

"Excited about your first class at Hogwarts?" Ginny asked Jenna.

"Excited, yes, and nervous," she said, smiling almost giddily.

Ginny smiled back. "You needn't be. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. The professors are great here, and so are most of the students."

"Excluding the Slytherins, of course," Dean added.

"They're not all bad," Neville interjected, trying to be the Voice of Reason.

"Right, forget the fact that they've bullied you mercilessly since day one and they're as gentle as kittens," Dean scoffed, half in jest and half in contempt for the Slytherins.

"Oh, are they really that bad?" asked Jenna, surprised.

"Well, some of them tend to be a bit prickly at times, but I don't think it's fair to say that they're bad people," Neville said carefully as they continued down the corridor.

Dean looked shocked. "'A bit prickly'? If that isn't the understatement of the century I don't know what is," he said resentfully.

"Look, all I'm trying to say," Neville explained, "is that some of the Slytherins just need to be given a chance, that's all. I'm sure plenty of them are really quite nice on the inside. They just have trouble showing it," he said brightly.

Ginny and Dean looked dumbfounded.

"What, you don't think so?" Neville asked earnestly.

Ginny looked torn. "Listen, Neville," she said somewhat apologetically. "You're one of my best, best friends. Really, you truly are. But if you're trying to tell me that beneath all the slime Draco Malfoy has a heart of gold -- well, I'm afraid I'm going to have to disagree with you."

Ginny admitted to herself that she hadn't known Neville for as long as his other friends had -- only about two years -- but she didn't think it was possible that she could have overlooked his totally unbiased acceptance of anyone and everyone he came across, including the Slytherins, who had given him virtual hell since he first stepped foot onto the grounds. Was it a new development? Perhaps; maybe he had come to some sort of revelation during the summer, Ginny thought to herself. Or had he always been this way, so open and willing to see the inner good inside of everyone?

She would have contemplated the issue further, but her thoughts were interrupted by Neville himself.

"Yes, I really do believe that, Dean," Neville persisted, and it was literally the first time that anyone had ever seen him so defensive. "If you're not willing to look for the better person inside of Malfoy -- or any of the Slytherins for that matter -- then it's your loss," he finished passionately.

And it was then obvious to everyone that that argument had come to a close.