Chapter 23 (Ava)

I followed Neville out of the passageway into the Room of Requirement, and stopped short. It looked different to what I remembered, with tapestry hangings all over the walls and bookcases bulging with books. There was also a wireless radio in the corner of the room which piqued my interest. I took a step towards it, but stopped when someone suddenly shouted.

"Ava Potter! It's Ava Potter!"

I spun around, turning to look at the gathering crowd of students in front of me.

"Wasn't she a Slytherin?" Someone asked, "Why is she here?"

I turned to look at Michael Corner, "Oh, get your head out of your arse, Corner. I've come here to bloody help you, not sell you all off to You-Know-Who."

Neville snorted beside me, before clearing his throat, "Yes! This is Ava Potter! But just because she was in Slytherin doesn't mean anything now. She's here to help us! She'll stay in the Room of Requirement and ensure that everyone is healed properly, as well as collecting supplies from Aberforth regularly. If you've got a problem with her, feel free to say it now. I'm sure she'll have a few words for anyone who does."

I looked at everyone with a smile, and I recognised a few of the faces, including Seamus, Lavender and the Patil twins.

"What made you come here?" Seamus finally asked, "Why not join the Order instead?"

I raised an eyebrow, "I'm not allowed, thanks to Remus Lupin. So he let me come here instead."

Seamus nodded, seemingly pleased with my response. I cleared my throat.

"None of you must mention my name outside of these walls. I'm on the run. From Death Eaters." I ignored Neville's shocked glance in my direction, "And if they find out I'm here, it will most likely put most of your lives in jeopardy as well as mine. Just pretend I'm not here."

"Will you help me with my homework?" A young Gryffindor boy asked me. Everyone began to laugh, and any tension that had been in the room before dissipated. Neville reached out and squeezed my hand, pulling me down towards the students to show me around.

"These are the hammocks where some of us sleep at night if we end up staying here too late," He narrowed his eyes, "In fact... I think the Room of Requirement made another one for you."

I glanced at the multicoloured hammocks and smiled to myself, still amazed by what the Room of Requirement could do.

"And here we have a storage cupboard filled with healing potions and textbooks about healing." Neville told me quietly.

Seamus appeared on the other side of me, "You must be a good healer if they sent you here."

I turned to face him, "I'm not particularly... well trained in it. But I can learn fast. If I'm going to be in here all day while the rest of you are in lessons, looks like I'll have plenty of time to read."

A grin spread across Seamus' face, "Look forward to having you on the team."

I laughed, "Let's hope I live up to your expectations then, Seamus."

"I'm sorry," A voice spoke from behind me. I turned to look at Michael Corner as he shrugged, "I thought... I don't know. But I remember that you were in Dumbledore's Army a couple of years ago. It makes sense that you'd come back to us."

I smiled, surprised by his quick change in opinion, "It's alright, Michael. I understand there's a lot of stereotypes that people have in their heads. And in the current situation, I can see why anyone would be against a Slytherin. But I promise you, I'm nothing close to a Death Eater."

He nodded, appearing relieved that I had forgiven him so quickly. I recognised Ernie Macmillan rushing towards me with an eager expression on his face.

"Have you heard anything from Harry Potter?"

I shook my head, my thoughts briefly flickering to Aberforth's mirror, "No. I don't know where he is or what he's up to, I'm afraid."

Ernie looked slightly disappointed, and I tried to think of something to say. Nothing came to mind, so I kept my mouth closed.

"You lot should probably start making your way back to lessons!" Neville shouted, "Lunchtime's almost over, and we can't have you all leaving at the same time. Off you go."

Students started to filter out a few minutes apart, until only Seamus and Neville were left standing with me.

"Come on, Neville," Seamus murmured, "We've got the Carrows next, and I don't fancy being a minute late to their lesson."

I turned to Neville, "You should both go. Ginny told me what the Carrows do to students who misbehave in their eyes. I'm not having you tortured just because you wanted to talk to me. I'll see you later. You too, Seamus."

Neville smiled at me, his eyes sparkling, before turning away and leaving with Seamus. I walked over to the cabinet filled with potions and books about healing and picked a pile up, carrying them over to a hammock and flipping them open. If things were really as bad as Ginny had told me, I needed to learn how to heal fast.

* * *

A few hours later, Neville appeared at the door with some food in his pocket for me.

"I picked something up from the House Elves in the kitchens," He shrugged, "It's not much, but I didn't want to draw attention to-"

I shook my head, "It's wonderful, Neville. Thank you. Is everyone else back in their common rooms?"

He nodded, sitting down in the space beside me in the hammock, "We were only all in there this lunchtime because the Carrows had been on a rampage, clearly angry about something. We knew we were best hidden in the Room."

I took a bite out of a jam sandwich, nodding silently. I could feel Neville's eyes on me, and I knew that he wanted to ask me about where I'd been for the past six months, as well as why I was on the run from Death Eaters. I put the sandwich down on an open textbook beside me.

"I was taken at Bill and Fleur's wedding," I began to tell him, "To Malfoy Manor. They wanted me for information on Harry's whereabouts, but I also think they secretly hoped I would decide to become a Death Eater. Well, I refused to give them information - I had none anyway - and of course I would never become a Death Eater, whatever they did to me."

Neville's eyes shone in the dim light, "What did they do to you?"

I gulped, "The Cruciatus curse, mostly from Bellatrix."

I felt Neville tense beside me, and I realised instantly how close to home that was. His parents had experienced the same from Bellatrix, and had never been the same since. Silently, I reached over and squeezed his hand.

"What information did they think you'd have? Why would they do that to you?" Neville asked, his voice bitter. I sighed, dropping my head.

"I don't know. I think it was partly You-Know-Who's wishes to keep me locked up. There were worse times than the Cruciatus curse... when I truly thought that I was going to die. But I didn't. And then I escaped."

"How?" Neville's whispered. I finally looked up at him, inhaling deeply.

"Draco Malfoy. He helped me to escape."

The room was silent for a moment, and then Neville frowned, "Why would Malfoy do that?"

I shook my head, "Neville... I think, as much as you try to deny it in your mind... you already know why. Draco Malfoy isn't as two-dimensional as everyone seems to think."

"You've influenced him in many ways, Ava," Neville murmured, "The number of times you begged him to fight for our side rather that You-Know-Who's... It sounds like maybe he's beginning to realise what the right side is."

"Maybe," I paused, deciding to change the subject, "So when I escaped, I found my way back to Remus and the Weasleys."

"They're all fine?" Neville asked, "Ginny's coming back, isn't she?"

I nodded, "Of course she is. Fred convinced their mum to let her come back."

At the thought of Fred, my heart contracted. I paused, closing my eyes for a moment. I longed so much to be in his arms again, to feel his skin against mine...

"You'll see him again soon," Neville smiled, "You'll miss him while you're here, but you'll be back together in no time."

I surprised myself by laughing, "Neville Longbottom, since when did you become so wise and all-knowing?"

He chuckled, "I don't know. Maybe starting up Dumbledore's Army again gave me some sort of wise leader qualities."

I leant my head against his shoulder, taking in the Room of Requirement in all of its glory.

"You did a good job," I felt my lips twitch into a smile, "You're given all of these students hope again."

He relaxed against me, "I'm not so sure... Since Luna got dragged off of the train-"

"What?" I sat up sharply, "Luna? What happened?"

"Didn't Ginny tell you?" Neville asked in surprise, "I thought she was there."

I shook my head slowly, "I don't think she was, Neville. What happened?"

"The Death Eaters dragged her off of the train because her father was too outspoken in The Quibbler," He paused, "Ginny's going to be devastated, she probably hadn't got on the train yet..."

I felt bile rise in my throat at the thought of Luna being tortured, or even worse...

"She's a strong girl," Neville gulped, "Just like you, Ava. She'll survive whatever they do to her. We'll see her again soon."

I reached out and put my arm around Neville's shoulders, "You're right. I believe she can do it."

There was a pause in which Neville and I leant against each other, beginning to understand more and more about what the other had been through since we had last seen each other. It was terrifying to think that this war and the effects of it branched off in so many ways. Each person was individually being affected and unable to control it... all they could do was hope. And Neville Longbottom seemed to be a very hopeful person. His optimism provided a light in the darkness.

"Fancy a game of Exploding Snap?" He asked, and I found myself laughing, "The best way to forget about the war. Play Exploding Snap."

"Do you have a problem with that?" Neville asked with a grin, and I shook my head.

"I used the same tactic on Ginny the other day. But come on then, it's game on."

I picked up my jam sandwich and followed Neville to a cushioned area on the floor for us to sit. He laid the cards out on the floor in front of us, seemingly concentrating on dealing them before he looked up at me suddenly.

"I'm glad you're here, Ava. I think things are going to get worse. And we need someone like you here. You're the best thing that could have been sent to us."