Sign up for role playing and creative writing with friends

A pink rose in her cheeks when it had been suggested that maybe she should be the one to make the pep talks. People were not really her thing and it was a known fact that she still preferred her books and studies over human company...well aside from Harry and Ron. Her words had more or less been meant to try and give Harry the confidence she was sure he needed. The confidence she knew that he lacked after years with his horrific family. And she wanted him to know in her own way that she could NEVER be disappointed in him and she was right there for him.

Breakfast had been silent for them as to not accidentally give any notions away that they were indeed up to something. And the carriage ride had been a little more talkative. Or at least there had been some ideas bounced around of what points they wanted to make and what explanation they wanted to give for starting the underground class. It was in the village did Ron leave them so he could venture to the joke shop with Seamus and Dean. [b "You know I think we are in luck that we've not seen her. It would most likely be you and me that she would be trying get ahold of. Maybe she got held up with her actual work and won't even be in Hogsmead this weekend."] Came soft and hopeful words.

A smile crossed her lips as Harry mentioned them needing something to help give them courage. And he was right because her own nerves were on edge too. [b "I think ice cream would be better. I mean the last thing we need is to feel too giddy."] She said as they went to get the ice creams.

Others passed them and half of them even she didn't know. It truly did look like Neville had been busy. Which was good because they wanted and needed as many of the other students involved as they could get. Dark times had fallen and they needed to know how to defend themselves and to NOT fall pray to the lies of the Ministry of Magic.

By the time Harry led her and Ron into the pub, it was nearly one and it was half filled of Hogwarts' students. Her hand gave his a squeeze to try and offer some comfort. [b "I know..and I don't either. But this is a good thing. Because more are willing to at least hear what we've got to say...and we can help more people try and keep safe in all of this."] She whispered as Neville finally came forward to them.

[i "We're all waiting to hear what you have in mind."] The boy said and offeres a smile. It was quiet clear he was proud of the turnout.

The boys looked at her with pure admiration. [i "Maybe Hermione should be making the pep talks,"] Ron clapped Harry on the shoulder.

If there was anyone that was going to motivate Harry to ensure this group succeeded, it would be her. Growing up with the Dursleys meant nothing he did was right, and it was ingrained him at this point to be terrified of disappointing people. Even if she'd told him a hundred times over that he couldn't disappoint her, that fear was still there. Even last year's dispute with Ron during the Tri-Wizard Tournament made him sick to his stomach. Failing at this was not an option.

A quick breakfast and carriage ride later, and the bustling town of Hogsmead was at their fingertips. They still had an hour to kill before they had to meet at the pub. Ron said a quick goodbye to meet up with Seamus and Dean on their excursion to the joke shop, leaving them alone. [b "Haven't spotted Umbridge yet, that's got to be a good sign,"] Harry noted, keeping an eye out for the walking nightmare. [b "Something tells me if she saw a group of Gryffindors crowded together in a pub, she'd shut the whole place down just for letting us in."]

Madam Rosemerta wouldn't care about the group of students taking over her pub, so long as they were paying customers. She was also less likely to rat them out to any nosy teachers sniffing around for reasons to punish students. Neville had picked the perfect location. [b "I think we're going to need something to bolster our courage before we talk with everyone. Maybe Felix Felicis,"] Harry mused, taking her hand as they walked through the crowded streets. [b "Or ice cream,"] he gestured to the shop. [b "That'll work just as well."]

More than once throughout the hour, students passing by had given them each a slight nod or excited smile. Once or twice there'd even been a quick, [i "See you soon!"]

It was nearing one o'clock when he led them to the pub, opening the door to find it was already half-full with familiar faces and eager newcomers. [b "That's a lot more than what was on the list,"] Harry's hand unconsciously tightened around hers, panic setting in as he sought out Neville's face in the crowd. [b "I don't even know half of them."]

If she said she wasn't nervous, it would be a lie. But she had to keep those sort of things to herself. She needed to be the one strong enough for Harry. Because she did believe in him and much more than he knew. He in a way had saved her from herself and she owed him everything. Of course he didn't know that, but it was something that she was aware of. That and the fact that she was completely crazy about him and he was her boyfriend. [b "It will work and we will be able to handle this. If at eleven we could handle the Sorcerer's Stone, twelve The Chamber of Secrets...Just everything we have over the years, this should be the easiest yet."] Okay, so maybe she didn't fully believe that herself, but it did ALMOST sound like it would be easier.

The time between meeting Neville for him to show them the Room of Requirements and the weekend Hogsmeade visit seemed to pass like magic, which was funny as they literally were in a magic school. But that morning, the girl was filled with both anticipation and nerves. She was greeted by Harry at the bottom of the stairs, which was a surprise as he was usually NEVER up before her voluntarily. And the hug and spin had the girl squeak, [b "We made it happen. This never would have if you two hadn't been willing to work with me to get it started. And we REALLY need to thank Neville too."] The girl said as her hand moved into Harry's.

A glare was shot at Ron and she rolled her eyes. She had been more afraid to lose a place that she felt she belonged and going back to a place where she was almost completely alone. That was what that phrase used to mean. But she didn't even open her mouth there. It was WAY too early to get into it with the Weasley boy and they really did need to think of what they could say.

[b "For starters...explain the real reason we are doing this. To take back what power we can and to make sure we are actually learning something and IF we need to can defend ourselves..."] The words had slipped out before she could stop them.

[i Girlfriend.] Just the word made a dopey grin appear on his face. She believed in him more than anyone else ever had, and if she said it was going to be a success then he wasn't going to doubt her. [b "We'll handle it just fine,"] he assured himself as well as her.

It turned out that Neville was clever enough to spread the word to just about everyone in their inner circle of friends, as well as friends of friends. By the morning of the Hogsmead trip, he'd already given Harry the list of names they could expect at the meet-up in Madam Rosmerta's pub. The list was nearly a full foot of parchment. Buzzing with excitement and nerves, Harry waited at the bottom of the girls' staircase for Hermione to join him. It wasn't often that he was awake before her - willingly, anyway - but he'd barely slept all night and was too jittery to stay in bed.

[b "There are fifteen people on this list,"] he greeted her with a smile and shaky hands as he held out the papers. [b "Who knows if this will get bigger? Fifteen people want to hear about this, just based on whatever Neville has said to them."]

He wasn't worried about keeping his voice down since half the names on the list belonged to residents of Gryffindor but he stepped closer to her. [b "You did this,"] he grabbed her in a hug and spun her around. [b "Hermione Granger, rebel extraordinaire!"]

[i "Rebel?"] Ron's yawning voice led his sleepy steps to them. [i "We're talking about Hermione, right? The witch who deemed expulsion worse than death?"]

Harry rolled his eyes, setting her back on her feet. [b "Neville's instructed everyone to be at the pub by one o'clock. That'll give us plenty of time to figure out what the bloody hell we're going to say."]

Neville was the last anyone would suspect to get involved in something like this which made him the perfect first person to join. He had also been the one to find the Room of Requirements and show it to them. Had even offered it as a safe place to practice and to learn. Those were her thoughts when the shy or in this case formerly shy Gryffindor boy had spoken up. [b "Actually, Neville. We would be happy to have you join us. As you said no one would suspect you to have a hand in this sort of thing.. And you did offer this place to us when we needed it...But can I ask one more favour? That you be the one who can get word out to others?"]Hermione asked and gave a pleading look. IF he was willing to do that too, then they would know just how serious he was in getting a proper defense against the dark arts class off the ground.

It turned out that Neville was more than willing to help. He had actually hoped that they would trust him more than just telling him what they had in mind and having him show them to The Room of Requirements.

Ron and Neville almost immediately went to the couch in front of the fireplace that had first appeared when the four had entered and both began to scribble down names. Some of which they became quite loud about. Hermione ALMOST wanted to join them and ALMOST wanted to have a hand in choosing those who would join them. But before she could, Harry's fingers laced with hers and he was leading her to a more secluded area so they could speak more privately.

Brown eyes met green and that boyish grin had her heart fluttering. It was nice to see that he was genuinely happy and relieved. Her eyes pulled slowly away from his and she did loom around the room for a moment. [b "I think this place will be perfect. It's amazing that we can get this started and it won't just be a 'silly whim' of ours."] She said, her own smile brightening and brown eyes sparkling.

[b "Of course I will help you. I would be the worst girlfriend in history if I didn't. I was the one to talk you into this after all."] The girl said and gave his hand a squeeze. She was both excited and nervous that thier plans were going to work out. All they needed were other students willing to join them.

[i "Are you kidding?"] Ron scoffed. [i "You just showed me a hidden napping place that I can totally use to my advantage. Of course this was worth it!"]

The nervousness Harry was feeling turned to a buzz of excitement. It felt real now. Their talks weren't going to fizzle out into nothingness; they were going to move forward with their planning. [b "Neville, we can't thank you enough for this,"] Harry's eyes shone with gratitude.

The other boy smiled and shrugged. [i "No one suspects me to get involved in something like this. I'd like to prove them wrong. As a fellow Gryffindor, I'd like to be the first one to sign up for training."]

The plan was finally off the ground. With Hogsmead weekend coming up, it would be perfect to get a rough idea of possible recruitment numbers without worrying about prying eyes or ears finding out. If they could figure out a way to announce a meeting without drawing unwanted attention, they could begin training within the week.

As Ron and Neville sat to comprise a list of potential recruits, Harry laced his fingers with Hermione's and tugged her to a more secluded area of the room. [b "What do you think?"] he looked around at the mirrors and practice dummies. [b "This could actually work. We hadn't expected anything like this when we were planning."]

Harry's boyish grin was firmly in place, meeting her eye. [b "Will you teach with me?"]

Brown eyes did stare after Neville as he walked into the room ahead of them and she did look to Harry. She knew that there had NEVER been a door here before and to see one now, well even in a magical school such as Hogwarts it was amazing. But then she did remember that the school had many spells and enchantments placed upon it and so some of the shock did start to wear off or at least it did a little.

When she and Ron had been motioned into the room ahead of their friend, Hermione dragged Ron in because he still was staring. And inside, Neville it seemed had taken a seat and looked all relaxed. It almost seemed as if he were at home and more than excited to be telling them about the room. Which, Hermione had to admit was nice to see as he was usually much more mousy about things. And she listened with interest, even when Ron and Harry both broke into the third Gryffindor boy's explanations.

[b "Actually, he's right. It was placed here ironically...I think by Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw. Both of them were more open to those who were being taught and believed that knowledge and needs should be met by the students...So Neville calling this the 'Room of Requirements'...isn't that far off. Especially with the details he's just given us."] Her words were soft as she was trying to remember something she read. Or at least thought that she had. It was hard to tell sometimes because she had gone through so many books over the years. A lot of them giving secrets away and others leading to more questions than there happened to be answers.

But then she fell silent again and was watching as the room changed to what Harry had in mind for their training. And she could see that 'Boy Who Lived' happened to be excited and more hopeful than he had been in...well she would have to say months. It was so good to see the glimpse of her best friend and the boy she had fallen for again.

Hermione then turned to Neville with a bright smile. [b "Harry's right, Neville! This place is brilliant and will help so much. Thank you!"] Even she couldn't help her own excitement as it looked like they were finally able to get their plan off the ground.

Neville smiled to them, seeming pleased with them being pleased.[i "So does this make up for dragging the lot of you out of bed?"] The boy asked them. It was mostly shot at the still grumpy Ron and Harry who was still taking the room in

That couldn't be right. Harry stuffed the cloak into his bag, scowling at the door that most certainly had not been there moments before. [b "You're joking, right?"] he openly doubted. [b "There's never been a classroom here before."]

Neville only smirked in response. [i "I didn't say it was a classroom. Now come on!"]

The door was real enough for the boy to open and step inside, leaving the trio baffled in the corridor. Harry gestured for the other to two go inside first, being carefully to quietly close the door behind him. Turning around, his jaw dropped at the warmly lit space that stretched out before them. Neville was sat on a plush couch facing a fireplace, feet up on the coffee table. [i "Welcome to the Room of Requirement."]

[i "The what?"] Ron spoke.

[i "Well, I'm not entirely sure if that's the real name but it certainly fits the description. It's kind of hard to explain but it'll do whatever we need it to."]

[b "What do you mean? And how does no one know about this place?"] Harry took in the mirrored walls along the far side, with a platform stage and - was that a practice dummy? [b "Neville, I'm going to need more information here."]

The boy jumped up from the couch and gestured for them to stand still. [i "Okay so I found this place when I was trying to hide from Malfoy and his idiots, right? So they're chasing me down the hall and I turned the corner but there was no nook for me to hide in. I started panicking and the next thing I knew, the door appeared behind me. I went inside and I thought for sure they'd be next through but no one ever came in. The door actually disappeared after I was inside. At the time I needed to just wait for them to leave so a chair and some tea appeared by the fire for me to cozy up with."]

[b "So it doesn't appear to anyone else?"]

[i "Only those in need of it. I've come back a few times and each time, it appears differently. It's looked like a library once, a bedroom for me to take a nap. It even looked like my living room back home once!"]

So it could transform to suit their needs. That was already more helpful than anything they had come up with so far. Harry looked to Hermione with excitement. [b "This is it!"]

[i "What will you need for practice?'] Neville questioned.

[b "Oddly enough, I was thinking dueling stages with practice dummies like that,"] Harry gestured to the platform behind them. [b "Will it make more of them?"]

Before Neville could answer, the room began to alter itself into something resembling a combat training room. [b "This is incredible,"] Harry breathed out, touching one of the dummies to ensure it wasn't just a hallucination. [b "It's perfect!"]

To say she was surprised to hear that both Harry and Ron were normally the last up and out of the dormitory would be a boldfaced lie. She knew from experience that the two boys were not at all morning people, but it was almost funny to hear it come from someone else as she was always complaining at them for it. [b "I'm sorry... I should have warned you last night that trying this would be...for want of better words a 'tall order'. So thank you for agreeing to help us, Neville. We owe you."] The bushy haired girl said as she gently shook both Harry and Ron.

It was almost a shame to wake at least Harry because he looked too adorable asleep. And that sleep smile made her cheeks flush slightly. [b "Morning to you too..but time to wake up."] She said as she gave an apologetic smile, moving to shake Ron harder and shaking her head at his complaints. [b "Because this is the only time we can. And Neville was nice enough to help us with all this."] Her words were barely uttered before Neville's own words had been said.

Once the "sleeping beauties" were awake, Hermione grabbed her bag and pulled it over her shoulder and she and Ron were helping Harry and Neville with the cloak, it being harder to make sure they were fully covered. [b "This should be easy enough... We could claim either an early morning patrol or a trip to the library. I am notorious for being in there early in the mornings and studying."] Hermione wanted the other lie just in case it wasn't fully believed of her and Ron patrolling.

Soon, the four were walking and Neville was whispering the ways for them to go. Both Ron and Hermione stayed just ahead of the other two, which proved to be slightly challenging as they had to listen to the soft echoes to make sure they had not lost them or gotten too far ahead. [b "This feels just like old times. Trouble and mischief."] Came soft words and a laugh as they came to a wall and brown eyes went to where she assumed Harry and Neville were.

[b "Neville..are you sure this is where the room is?"] She hissed softly.

Neville by now had stopped beside Harry and was looking at the wall. The hissed words barely phased the boy as he had not expected for them to get it. And since it was only the four as they had been watching the map as well, the shier boy pulled the cloak off. [i "Oh it's here."] He said and then pointed to the wall again where a door had now appeared. [i "Shall we?"]

[i "Hardly,"] Neville snorted. [i "These two are always the last to get out of bed in the mornings. Not early risers at all."]

Groggily opening his eyes to find Hermione's face looking down at him was probably the best way he'd ever woken up. Harry flashed a sleepy smile, arms stretching out as he sat up. [b "Morning, you,"] he greeted her, hair sticking out in all directions.

[i "Remind me again why we chose an early morning meeting time?"] Ron was more grumpy about the wake-up call. [i "All of our shenanigans usually take place at night."]

Neville rolled his eyes and pulled the invisibility cloak off them. [i "Because I'm in charge today, and I do my best thinking bright and early."]

With all present and accounted for, Harry and Neville were forced to get up close and personal as they struggled to cover both of them with the cloak. The shier boy must have hit another growth spurt over the summer, as he had to crouch slightly to ensure their shoes weren't poking out the bottom. [i "Alright, the two of you go about as if you're just patrolling. It wouldn't be that uncommon for two prefects of the same House to be on schedule together so there shouldn't be trouble if a teacher or other prefect bump into us. I'll whisper the directions to you, and we'll be right behind you,"] Neville instructed Ron and Hermione.

It was quite possibly the most awkward walk Harry had ever had the experience of. Neville's knees bumped into his every other step until they found a rhythm that kept them from tripping over one another. [i "It's the first corridor on the left once we get up the stairs to the right,"] the other boy whispered to their friends in front of them.

[b "Can we not use engorgio to make the cloak bigger,"] Harry grumbled at the warm breath in his ear.

[i "The cloak is already full of magic. I'm not entirely sure trying to make it bigger won't affect the spell it's already under,"] Neville was apologetic.

[i "Isn't this better than patrolling with Malfoy,"] Ron teased Hermione with a nudge to her arm. [i "Breaking rules to find a hidden room no one knows about but us?"]

She had more faith in the boy than he obviously had in himself. But such was usually the case. Others saw what we ourselves couldn't. Both the good and the bad. Though in this case and when it came to his talents and capabilities Hermione wished that Harry could see himself as she did. The last four years had proved he was much better off than he thought himself to be. Braver and more clever. [b "You are amazing in and of yourself Harry. I help you but you are the one who has taken the risks and made the moves. We won't fail if we work together and you learn to believe in your own talents and skills. Remember what I said to you in our first year..? About you being a great wizard? I meant it then just as I do now.."] Came her soft words as he kissed her palm. She wanted him to know that IF need be he could do this.

The girl let her words sink in as a comfotable silence fell between them and the crackling of the fire was the only sound in the common room. She even relaxed more to let herself enjoy the few extra moments alone that they had. Though as seemed to be law, all good things must come to an end and their time did too. Harry was reminding her that they had an early morning and that the needed to at least get a few hours of sleep.

[b "We know I am hardly Cinderella. But you are very sweet and thank you for tonight and spending it with me like this. I will see you in the morning along with the others to 'be up to no good'.."] Hermione said with a small smile, eyes sparkling and cheeks turning a bright pink as she had returned the quick kiss before she scampered up the stairs and into the girls' dormitories.

It had not been easy for her to get to sleep and she had laid awake only god knew how long. But before she knew it, the dawn was upon them and she was getting up and out from under her blanket and dressed into her uniform and robes. She had been as quiet as she could be and THANKFULLY none of the other girls had woken. If they had, she would have never been able to escape them and the questions that would come her way.

Slowly she walked down the stairs and came upon the three boys sitting and waiting. Neville appeared to be the only one awake. [b "Did I keep the three of you waiting that long?"] She asked their new ally as she was moving to gently shake both Harry and Ron to wake them.

He glanced up from where he had been toying with her hand. It practically made him ache, how thoroughly she believed in him. Even now in the glow of the fireplace, she held nothing but admiration and trust in her eyes. Harry carefully placed a kiss to her palm. [b "I can't lose, can I? Not if I have you with me."]

It was a peaceful few moments they had there, alone with only the crackling fire. Still, as relaxing as it was they had an early start the next day. [b "I think I've kept Cinderella to myself long enough. Come on, we'd best be off to bed."]

Given that he couldn't quite walk her to her door without going for an unwanted slide down the stone stairs, Harry made do with bidding her goodnight at the base of the girls' dormitory. [b "See you in a few hours,"] he grinned, forcing himself to walk away after only a brief kiss, lest he stand there and keep her awake all night.

In his own dorm, he wasn't surprised to find a scrap of parchment stuck to his bed that simply read [i Loverboy Sleeps Here], in Ron's scrawl. [b "Hilarious,"] Harry crumpled the page and chucked it at the boy's head, not missing the shaking of the blankets as Ron laughed to himself.

Both boys must have been exhausted because Neville was the one to force them up only five hours later. Even though he'd properly agreed to the plans, an early morning Harry Potter was groggy and unhappy to be getting up before the sun. [i "Why did we agree to do this so early?"] Ron grumbled as he pulled on a fresh uniform.

[i "Because if we did it during the day, it'd be hard to keep the room a secret if everyone is around to see us go inside,"] Neville answered.

Harry barely opened his eyes as he shuffled into his own clothes, listening to the two boys banter quietly to ensure Seamus and Dean weren't woken up. [b "Shh,"] he held a finger to his lips and then pointed at the door. [b "Too early for snark."]

The two managed to follow Neville down to the common room but promptly made the mistake of sitting on the plush sofa while they waited for Hermione. They fought for a moment over spreading out the invisibility cloak to cover them both but Harry and Ron were softly snoring seconds later. Neville rolled his eyes and kept watch on the map Harry had brought to use, ensuring that no one was making patrols down the corridors they'd need to take.

She couldn't say that Harry was wrong. Honestly, in her mind they needed more people that they could trust. If there was one person other than Harry and Ron, it was a tie between Ginny and Neville. But even she could admit that Neville seemed more a likely ally in what they had planned.

[b "You know he is a lot braver than we give him credit for. If he wasn't brave and loyal, he would have never been placed here in Gryffindor. You know what they are always saying about our house."] The prefect girl said with a smile. It was her way to say that she was trusting Harry's judgement in trusting Neville in helping them. Besides, it wasn't like they happened to have very many places to turn to and needed all the help they could get.

Her cheeks became a rosier pink at Ron's words as he teased them about being rule breakers and the reason he wasn't in bed. Hermione had to bite her tongue as to not remind their dear friend that he was JUST as bad as they were if not worse. And she also had to refrain from throwing anything at him as she did have the pillows in reach if she was really wanting to throw one and hit him.

Her eyes stayed on Ron's retreating figure for a moment longer before her gaze came back to Harry. She had to admit that he was cute and she liked having him as relaxed as he was using her lap as the pillow as he was. [b "You're a great leader Harry and if anyone can do this, I know you can. I would have never told you anything about this if I didn't believe in you.."] She said with a smile, brushing some of his hair away from his face.

Harry exhaled quietly. [b "If there's anyone in Gryffindor that I would trust more than anyone, not including the two of you, it would be Neville. He was sorted into this house for a reason. His loyalties are strong, and he's brave in his own way. I think we can trust him with anything."]

Besides, the boy was coming more and more out of his shell every year that they'd known him. If he was openly willing to defy not only school rules but also Ministry legislation, he was proving himself to be a strong ally. [b "He's right though, we should get some sleep. Won't be long before we have to meet up with him to find this place."]

[i "Would have been in bed hours ago if I wasn't friends with such rule-breaking hooligans,"] Ron teased, stretching as he stood up. [i "I'll let you two lovebirds say goodnight. I'd rather not witness it."]

Harry blushed, wishing he was closer to the couch pillows so he could chuck one at their friend's retreating back. Though as his eyes strayed back to Hermione, he had to admit that the glow of the fire light dancing across her features was enough to turn him into a lovesick puppy all over again. [b "Thank you for tonight,"] he reached for her hand, placing a kiss on her knuckles. [b "It was a nice distraction from everything that's been going on."]

The stubborn part of him didn't want to move. He was quite content where he was, head cushioned on her lap. [b "I hope I don't screw this whole thing up. It's a great idea you've had. I don't want to disappoint you, or ruin what you're trying to create. It's important that we're all prepared."]