𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬 | l. lovegood

xii

𝐇𝐎𝐆𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 a dreadful dystopian society like the ones Dorothea read about in her Muggle books. The Ministry had passed a bunch of what they were calling 'Educational Decrees', which restricted nearly everything they were allowed to do at school. She couldn't even stop to have a quick conversation with Neville in between classes because "boys and girls were not permitted to be within 8 inches of each other."

It was a relief when the first Hogsmeade trip of the year finally came around. Umbitch wouldn't be able to dictate anything they did while they were outside of the Hogwarts grounds.

Neville had informed Dorothea and Luna about a secret meeting in the Hog's Head, a shady pub. The younger of the two didn't want to go – she hated large social gatherings – but gave in when Neville bribed her with sweets.

"Hey there, Neville. Luna," Hermione greeted them when they walked in. Her eyes paused for a moment on Dorothea, who was hiding behind the Gryffindor boy eating a chocoball. "Hey, Dorothea...Wasn't expecting to see you here."

"I'm only here because my mummy told me to socialize–"

Neville cleared his throat.

"And because Nev bribed me," Dorothea added. "But, really though, if she asks, can you lie and tell her I interacted with people?"

"Uh, yeah. Sure." Hermione nodded slowly, her brows furrowing a little as the three friends went to sit down.

"How ya feeling, Thea?" Neville asked.

"I guess it's not too bad." Dorothea looked around the pub. Except for the Golden Trio, the only other people there were the bartender and a witch or wizard sitting at the bar with their cloak pulled over their head. "It's not as crowded as I thought it was gonna—"

But she spoke too soon. The door to the pub swung open, and a couple dozen Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs entered. The Weasley twins took a head count and ordered butterbeers for everyone, then told them to cough up since they didn't have enough sickles to pay for all of them.

Dorothea's knee began to bounce, and she had to fight the urge to cover her ears at the loud chatter that filled the small pub. She rubbed her thumb hard into the palm of her hand, her anxious mocha eyes darting around the overly crowded pub.

Luna took Dorothea's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You don't have to stay," she told her gently. "If it's too much, you can go somewhere quiet and we'll fill you in later."

"But...But...I-I'm already here, a-and I don't want to seem rude," Dorothea whispered.

"Thea, it's okay," Neville reassured her. "Really. We understand. I'm sorry. I should've listened when you said you didn't want to come."

"We'll stay and hear what Hermione has to say, and we'll come find you when it's over." Luna gave Dorothea a soft smile.

The brunette stood up and left the pub. The cold air outside filled her lungs, calming her down after the overstimulation. She took a deep breath and began walking down the snowy streets, naming in her head things that she could see, smell, touch, hear, and taste.

I can see snow. Lots of snow. Like a winter wonderland...I can smell smoke coming from the chimneys. I can hear a dog barking.

She stopped walking. "I can hear a dog barking," she repeated out loud, quietly. "I know that bark." She looked around and spotted a shaggy black dog trotting towards her, its tongue hanging out of its mouth as it panted happily. "Padfoot!"

She ran up to him, dropping to her knees so that she could hug him. He laid his head on her shoulder, lifting one of his paws up to hug her back.

"What are you doing here?" Dorothea asked.