Through All the Pain // N. Longbottom

Fifth Year // Chapter 4

"Lori?" I felt a soft pair of hands shake my shoulders. I turned over, thinking it was just Hermione waking me up early like normal. However, after I got a face full of a sofa I jolted upright and realized I never made it up to my dorm last night. I looked to see who was waking me up and saw it was Neville.

"Whoa! Hey, it's alright!" Neville said smoothening out my hair. "Did you fall asleep down here last night?" 

"No, I woke up very early, put on the same clothes from yesterday, and passed out on the sofa." I snapped back sarcastically. 

"No need to get snappy with me, Lorrinda," Neville responded patting my cheek. "Now, when exactly did you come back from your detention last night?"

"I don't know ... midnight? One ... maybe?" I said rubbing some sleep out of my eyes. 

"Midnight?! No wonder Harry barely moved when I banged my shin on his bed." Neville said. "Are you sure you're able to focus in classes today?"

"Yeah. Yeah. I will be f-f-f-fine!" I winced very hard as I started to get up and put weight on my right hand. I instantly sat back down and grasped my hand, rocking back and forth as I muttered curse words underneath my breath. 

"Lori? Lori, what's wrong?!" Neville's eyes grew frantic as he watched me. 

"Nothing! I-it's fine, Nevy." I lied very badly. Neville sighed and reached over to look at my hands. I slowly uncovered my right hand, showing Neville the words that were cut into my skin. He held my hand, slowly rubbed his thumb up and down my cut when he suddenly got up pulled me up with him.

"C'mon! We're going to see Dumbledore, NOW!" Neville spoke sternly. 

"What?! No, Nev ... it's not that bad!" I said fighting his grip, however, when Neville was angry he was like a strong man almost. I couldn't get loose unless I bit him. 

"Not that bad?! Lori, that is basically torture!"

"Neville STOP!" I yanked very hard and winced as my cut rubbed very hard against his hand. "You'd only make matters worse if you went to Dumbledore! Besides, it's not permanent."

"That doesn't matter Lori!" Neville shouted. "That old toad of a woman has crossed a line, she's gone and hurt my best friend whos already been hurt enough! I won't let this go unknown, Lori!" Neville shouted. The tips of his ears were turning bright red and his breathing was getting more labored as his anger level was rising.

I reached over and grabbed his shoulders. As my hands wrapped around the back of them, my fingers began to rub them. As they rubbed, I slowly noticed his ears were changing back to normal and his breathing was getting less labored.

"Nevy, please. You'll only make things worse!" I pleaded with him. "It was a one-time thing! I will watch my temper and I won't do anything to make her give me detention. Okay?" Neville slowly nodded his head. I hugged him quickly before hugging him tightly and rushing up to my dorm to change into clean clothes and get a proper shower. 

***

The rest of the week went by fairly quickly, and it was mainly uneventful. As the day to Keeper tryouts got closer, the more stressed I became. I was the only one who knew Ron was trying out for the team. 

Why only me? Well, I was his twin, and welp ... he had no reason to not be getting his school work done. So now with knowing he was trying out, I was nervous for him. If he didn't make the team it would totally crush him. I mean, Charlie, Fred, George, and me were all on the Quidditch team, it would be awful if he tried and didn't make the team.

However, today was tryouts and we all were gathered down on the pitch. I was standing with Fred and George while Alicia was standing next to Angelina. Angie explained how the tryouts were going to go, while Fred and George were busy whispering back and forth behind me.

"Ickle Ronniekins thinks he has a chance, doesn't he?" Fred muttered.

"Indeed he does, Freddie. Indeed he does," George replied. I sighed and slapped the brooms from their hands.

"Could you both shut up?!" Both of them went wide-eyed as I glared at them. "For your information, Ron has been working his arse off since we got here. He's been flying around the pitch, enchanting Quaffles to block them. Give him a fucking chance!"

"Whoa!" George said backing up.

"Since when did you curse at us?" Fred whined.

"Since you guys started being gits to Ron. He didn't choose to be Prefect you know." I slapped them both one last time before walking over to Angelina and Alicia. Angelina was just finishing up when I got over there. 

"Lori, Alicia, you two need to get up there and start warming up. Do a few laps and maybe do a few tricks, ONLY if you're capable of them, Lorrinda." Angelina said pointedly at me.

"Oi! I don't do the tricks I can't handle! That's all those two bozos over there!" I pointed at Fred and George who then proceeded to start dancing like complete and utter idiots.

"I know, but who knows ..." Angelina said looking between the three of us. "It could be genetic." We all shared a small laugh before starting the tryout process. It was a long and drawn-out process but eventually, we narrowed it down to two people. 

"So, who do you think would fit into the team the best?" Angelina asked as we had a small meeting in the changing rooms. 

"Ron was okay," Alicia started. "he just needs to train some more and he should be a good choice."

"Well, young Mr. Thomas comma Dean was very good. In fact, I think he was better than -" George said.

"However, Ron is more available." Fred interrupted. "Dean told us that he would put his course work above Quidditch if the time would come. Ron, we all know would put Quidditch over coursework."

"True, but you've got to remember, he is now a Prefect with Hermione. She's not going to let him slack off, even if his life depended on it." I said. "Trust me on that one."

"Well, out of those two ... which would you all rather have on the team?" Angelina said, trying her hardest not to snap at us while we argued like children. We all agreed that Ron was the best fit for the team, which made me a happy twin. 

Ron's face when he got announced to be the new Keeper, was fantastic. A smile from ear to ear lit up his face and he bounded over and crashed into me with a hug. 

"I did it! I made it! Lori, I made it!" he kept saying over and over into my shoulder. I slowly rubbed his back and swayed with him, letting him be truly happy. Once he wasn't talking I pulled him out of a hug and smiled widely at him. 

"Congrats, Ronnie." I laid a small kiss on his forehead and walked with him back into the castle. Nothing could ruin the happiness between us twins that night. Not one thing at all.