stardust ⋮ george weasley

sixty-five :

S I X T Y - F I V E

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For several days, Harry struggled to find a space for the secret group to practice. However, thanks to Neville, the group had managed to find a room for Dumbledore's Army to have their meeting.

"What is this room?" Melanie asked, staring around at the room with wide eyes upon walking in for that very first meeting.

"Neville found it and told Hermione," Cedric explained. "It's called the Room of Requirement. Apparently it's a room that constantly shifts and changes depending on the occupants needs."

George and Adeline snuck a look and smiled embarrassedly to themselves as they realized they finally had an answer for the room they had escaped to on more than one occasion.

"And no one told me about this until now?" Ophelia complained as her, Melanie, Adeline and Cedric walked over to the other side of the room. "Do you know how many wicked parties we could've thrown in here?"

Fred, meanwhile, couldn't help but notice his twin brother's ever-reddening cheeks. "Getting a few ideas there, Georgie?" He teased, catching his attention.

George smacked his snickering brother in the shoulder, but he couldn't help but comment, "Who's to say we haven't already been here?"

As Fred attempted to sputter out a response, George was already walking away towards the other side of the room where Adeline was standing. She beamed at the sight of him, but then noticed Fred still staring at his brother with his mouth agape. "What did you say to Fred to make him look like that?"

Letting out a small laugh, George kissed the top of Adeline's head and let out a small sigh as he said, "Nothing important."

Adeline glanced at him skeptically, but choose not to question it as it looked like the meeting was about to start. The group of students stood in two lines, creating a clear path in the middle of the room that Harry stood in the middle of.

"Stunning is one of the most useful spells in your arsenal," Harry announced in a clear voice to the room. "It's a wizard's bread and butter, really. So, come on, Nigel, give me your best shot."

The blonde first-year boy eyes went wide with terror over having to Stun the famous Boy-Who-Lived. He lifted his arm and, in a small voice, yelled, "Stupefy!"

A red light flashed and while Harry went stumbling backwards, the force of the spell also caused Nigel to fly back as well. While Adeline winced at the two boys hitting the ground hard, the two managed to stand up quickly, much to her relief.

"Good. Not bad at all, Nigel," Harry complimented as the young boy went to stand back in line. "We can get some pairs to demonstrate the Stupefy spell. Even though it's a simple spell, it's really effective in winning a duel. Who wants to go next."

Nobody wanted to volunteer at first. Then, as he stepped forward, Neville mumbled. "I need all the help I can get practicing."

"Brilliant," Harry grinned. "Now, who else wants to volunteer?"

A hand shot in the air, and Neville's eyes went bug-eyed when he saw Adeline step forward. "I don't need to practice the spell, but I can totally act as a dummy so you can practice."

"No, can I hex someone else–"

"It's alright, Neville! You can totally hex me!"

Even though Adeline was standing across the room from him, smiling assuredly at him, Neville still didn't like the thought of cursing the girl who had always been so lovely and helpful to him over the past few years.