Bravery
The next few weeks passed by uneventfully. Hermione was acting strange. She avoided Ron and Harry, showed up to classes late, and never drew attention to herself in class.
One morning in the Great Hall, Fred and George came to set next to Harry.
�Harry,� Fred said, �we�re going to have a meeting of the Quidditch team tonight. We need to vote for a new captain. Tell as many people as you can. We need a new Keeper too.�
�Harry,� Sheila said, �can I tryout? I was a Beater at our last school.�
�Where did you go to school?� Harry asked.
�The Salem Witches� Institute,� Melissa said.
Ron�s eyes bugged out. �No way,� he said. �I�ve heard you guys have the best Quidditch team in America.�
�Wow!� Melissa said sarcastically. �So you�re not an idiot. See, we thought you were when you didn�t know what �y�all� means.�
�What does it mean?� Ron asked stupidly.
�It means �you all,�� Sheila said. �Don�t ask again.�
�I can see why she was a Beater,� Ron muttered to Harry.
�What did you say?� Sheila growled.
�Nothing,� Ron said quickly, backing his chair up as far as he could.
�Good,� Melissa said, getting up. �We have Care of Magical Creatures. Bye.�
The twins walked away.
�Mental,� Ron said, �both of �em. Let�s go. We have Defense Against the Dark Arts. I hope Wilson�s a good teacher.�
* * *
When they got to class, Ron and Harry sat in the front. They got out their books and waited for Wilson. When she arrived she took attendance. She winked at Harry when she got to his name.
�Now class,� Wilson said when she finished, �I have been informed that you learned about curses last year. However, you only learned about the illegal ones. You won�t believe what we�re allowed to do.
�For tomorrow, I would like you to read chapter one and be prepared to discuss the differences between the Cruciatus and Flagra curses. Neville, I would like to see you after class.�
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When the class was over everyone left except Neville. He walked up to the teacher�s desk nervously. Was he in trouble? He couldn�t be. He hadn�t had a chance to do anything wrong.
�Come on now,� Professor Wilson said. �Don�t be shy. Your grandmother has informed me of your current situation. We decided that if it might upset you too much, you can leave the room tomorrow during the discussion.�
Neville thought for a while. He hated when people reminded him about his parents. It would be easy to skip the class.
The he remembered the time he fought the Boggart. It would have been easy to run. But he�d stayed and conquered his fear. How was this any different?
�Well?� Wilson said.
�No,� Neville said quietly, �I�ll stay.�
Okay,� Wilson said. �I know this is hard for you. You�re very brave.�
Neville left the class and ran to catch up with Harry and Ron.
�What was that about?� Ron said.
�Nothing,� Neville said, then silently added, Maybe, I�ll tell them. Someday.
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