Welcome to my Neville collection. This will contain het and slash pairings, cross-gen and so on. As always, the latest chapter pairing will be the one marked, and I'll try and fit pairings into the chapter names where possible.

Enjoy! :)

Written for:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - Herbology Write about someone/something deadly helping a person out with a difficult situation. (dialogue) "I'm trying to help you!" (word) Damp

What Does This Remind You Of? Challenge - AU where one of the characters is a mermaid and gets caught in a fishing net

July Event: Hogwarts Forum: The Chosen one. Competition: Write about Harry or Neville. Prompt: Ocean

August Event: Hogwarts Forum: Quadruple Sculls: Character chosen: Neville. Prompt: First Love

Emotion Challenge: Nervous

Bad Movie Tuesdays: Sharknado - [animal] Shark

Acrostic-y Challenge - M=Mermaid!AU

The Valentine Making Station - Wax Lips: These make you look like you have major lip injections. Write about a character who changes his/her appearance.

Lucky-Duck Challenge - Mermaid!AU

Chocolate Frog Challenge: (Silver) Neville Longbottom - Challenge: Write about Neville Longbottom.

Mermaids and Mortals

Moving her tail carefully, Hermione tried to dislodge the net from it, but the blasted thing was caught in her scales and around her tail. Try as she might, she just couldn't escape.

Hermione pushed her hair from her eyes, frowning at the net as she tried to find a way out. She hadn't access to a sharp stone or tool. She considered calling for help, but she had been warned time and time again about the cruel humans that lived on land. How they'd take her away, treat her like an oddity and put her behind glass walls like a pet fish, so they can all stare at her.

It wasn't her fault that she was curious, or that the sun looked so beautiful through the water, making her want a closer look.

She wasn't to know that the nets were under the dock.

...oOo…

Neville walked slowly along the docks, lost in thought. He was tired out, having worked long hours that week, and was looking forward to going out in the boat.

It was a small and basic thing, but boat had once belonged to his dad. Though that was before the accident which left his parents hospitalised. His dad hadn't used the boat since Neville was a young boy, and Neville didn't use it for almost ten years, scared at the memories that would surface.

As he got older, Neville realised that the memories, though sad, were something to cherish, rather than forget. He made sure to take the boat out as often as possible: as long as the weather was good.

He didn't really find much time for anything else. Between his parents, looking after his Grandmother (though she would never admit to needing looking after) and working at the hospital, Neville's free time was spent sailing out in the boat. Sometimes he'd bring a book or reports that he'd have to read. The sea air made it a lot easier to concentrate.

Neville walked slowly up the docks, enjoying the sun against his arms. His cardigan was thrown over his arm, and his satchel across his shoulder, when he heard a splash and a muttered curse.

He froze, looking around him, his gaze moving to the water, but nothing.

He continued on. There was a louder curse this time and Neville headed in the direction of the voice, coming to a standstill at the edge of the dock.

"Oh, damn you to Poseidon," the voice came, and Neville looked down at the water. He slowly knelt down.

"Hello? Is someone down there?"

There was no reply, but Neville knew he hadn't imagined the voice. "Are you okay, miss?"

"I… I'm fine. You may leave now," came the stilted, nervous.

Neville frowned to himself. "What are you doing under there?"

"I'm just taking a swim before I go back onto the land. I wish to do this in private. You may leave. Please go!"

Neville hesitated for a long moment. The girl was adamant that she wanted him to leave, but he got the impression that she was in some sort of trouble. After a moment of thought, he wondered if she had lost her swimming top - it happened quite a lot - which would have her hiding from men.

It made sense, so Neville leaned down once more. "I'll come around in my boat and assist you," he assured her. He ignored her protests as he headed to the boat.

As he climbed in, he gave the cardigan a sniff. It buttoned high enough, and though it wasn't perfect, it would be enough to cover her up until she could call someone to collect her.

...oOo…

Neville pulled the boat to the edge of the long dock, searching the water for the girl. He frowned as he moved closer, not seeing anyone. Surely she wouldn't be back as far as the fishing nets?

He grabbed the flashlight to help him get a better look, his eyes moving across one net and then another, until they stopped on a beautiful, tear-stained face. The girl in question was glaring at him.

"Don't worry, if you've lost your clothing, I'm not going to take a peek. I have a cardigan you can wear." He turned the torch off, put the cardigan on the edge of the boat and turned around.

After a minute, he realised she wasn't coming over, so he turned back, squinting over at her. "Miss? I promise you that you're safe with me. Just put the cardigan on and you can use my phone to—"

"Safe?" she screeched. "With your type? I think not!"

Neville ignored her. "Well, I'm not moving until I know you're out of there and safe." He wasn't sure what the problem was, but he was happy to show her that he wouldn't hurt her. Plus, he had a book and some medical notes to look over.

He sat down and pulled out the book.

...oOo…

Hermione waited, thinking the human would go away. He sounded friendly and kind, but then again, so did the sharks.

And then the sharks would attempt to bite off the mermaid's tails, so she couldn't trust a soft, kind voice.

She watched in horror as he sat down on his boat with a book. He really wasn't going to leave, but thankfully he hadn't seen what she was, as her tail was below the water.

She /had/ hoped the merfolk would have found her first, but if she allowed the human to stay there, he would see more of her kind.

By revealing herself, she could be saving whatever search-party would come looking for her. She'd give it one last try to get him to leave, before giving herself up to the life of cages and tanks.

...oOo...

It was twenty minutes before he heard her sigh loudly.

"I'm not like you, you know."

"That makes no difference. I'm trying to help you, even if you don't trust 'my type', whatever that means."

"I'm… I'm stuck."

"Stuck? How?"

"The net," she mumbled. "I've attempted to free myself."

Neville pulled off his t-shirt and threw it onto the deck, with his shorts. "Uh, close your eyes please."

He tried to crouch down whilst stripping so she couldn't see, and pulled on the swimming trunks.

"Can I open them yet?"

"Y-yeah," he replied. "I'm coming over to help you."

"No, I'm properly stuck. The net needs to be cut," she said, her voice shaking heavily now.

Neville fished around in his bag, coming out with a penknife. He only really used the attachments like the screwdriver, but he was thankful that he had it with him. He climbed over the side of the boat and slipped into the water.

"Okay, I'm coming under. Don't worry, I won't hurt you." He swam slowly towards her, stopping when he reached her. His hand gripped the net next to her, and frowned at the sight of her tears, though it was clear she was fighting to keep them at bay.

"Which leg is stuck?" he asked, wondering which side of her he needed to be.

Neville noticed she was trembling.

"I don't want to just… grab at your legs. I just want to help, it'd be better is I knew which one so I know which side to go."

He looked at where her body met the water, hoping to get an idea, but his eyes found her breasts, covered in what looked like seaweed.

"You have.." he gestured to her chest, whilst diverting her gaze.

"All of my lower body is caught. I… this was an accident."

"Right, I'll… I think I need to just cut the net all the way across," Neville said, unable to think of an alternative option. "Then we can get you to the boat and cut it off you?"

"That would be… a sensible idea," she whispered.

Neville headed to the side, making slow work of the net.

Once it had been cut, Neville took the girl's hands, pulling her along and to the boat. She gripped the side of it as he climbed in. He reached out his arms.

She hesitantly took his hand as her eyes scanned the water. Neville pulled her up.

And dropped her again. "What…"

"I'm not like you," she repeated, not looking at him. "So cut me out, send me to the glass tanks, whatever you humans do with us. Just… just be quick about it. The net is tearing at me and it hurts."

Neville shook his head, looking up at the docks. "Just wait a minute," he muttered. "This is… can you keep a hold on the boat?"

She nodded curiously as he looked at the engine, ruling it out. "It'll take a while, just hold on."

She did as requested, as Neville began to row them out to sea.

...oOo…

"Right, no-one can see us now," Neville said, offering his hands again. This time he didn't drop Hermione back into the water. With some difficulty, he managed to get an arm under her tail and carefully lifted her into the boat.

He pulled out the knife once more.

"This thing is really tangled in you, isn't it?" he muttered, bringing the knife to the net and carefully cutting through a bit. "So, what were you doing out there?"

"I was trying to look around," she admitted. "Though Father said not to come up here."

"You shouldn't," Neville replied. "Imagine if someone else found you? You'd be locked away. Not just in a tank—they'd cut you up to see exactly how you work."

She paled at the thought. "You're not… going to, right?"

Neville smiled softly. "Believe it or not, some of us aren't so bad up there. I said I was going to help you, and that's all I want to do. I promise. When you're out of the net, you're free to go."

...oOo..

"What is that?" Hermione asked, pointing at the book. Neville began to roll-up the net, shoving it under the seat, before turning to look where Hermione was pointing.

"Hmm? Oh, it's a book," he replied.

"A book. I don't believe I've seen one before. Can I examine it?"

Neville nodded, picking it up and handing it over. Hermione took it carefully. "This is unusual. What are these markings?" she asked, not pausing in her examination.

"Words," Neville explained. "The book, it tells a story, though some are textbooks with information."

She glanced at the cover. "What is this book about?"

Neville grinned. "It was my mum's book," he said. "I've read it so many times, it's beginning to fall apart, but I can't bring myself to replace her copy. It's called The Hobbit."

"I've never heard of this story. Will you share it with me?"

Neville's eyes widened. "Sure. Do you have time, I can read you some now?"

Hermione nodded slowly. "I trust you not to harm me," she said. "I would like to hear this tale."

"My name is Neville," Neville offered, reaching his hand out.

"Hermione," she replied softly, her eyes moving from him, to the book.

...oOo…

Neville sat at the same spot as the previous day, nervous. Hermione had left the day before, but had expressed interest in hearing more about the tale in the book. He had mentioned returning the next day.

Eyes peeked up at him from over the edge of the boat, and his heart began to beat heavily. "Neville," she whispered. "Can I come up?"

He nodded, extending his hands and pulling her on-board, his arm wrapping under the royal blue tail. He gently put her on the deck once more, before reaching for the towel and drying his hands.

"I wasn't sure whether to return," she admitted. "But this morning, I found I couldn't stay away. You're not what I expected. I apologise for my previous assumption."

He blushed. "You're not what I expected either—before this, I thought Mermaids were just stories.."

"You have stories of mermaids?" Hermione asked eagerly. "I'm sorry, I love hearing new tales, though my father thinks I'm too curious for my own good."

"No, I'll find some books for you," he insisted. "I won't be able to come here tomorrow as I'll be back at work, but I'll come next weekend."

...oOo…

It was three weeks before she returned, her eyes darted around nervously.

"Neville, what if I said that I had to leave the ocean?"

"You have to leave?" he asked, panicked. "But… don't leave! I like this, sitting with you, talking to you and getting to know you." His hand took hers. "I thought you weren't coming back; it's been killing me!"

She turned her hand over, letting their fingers slot together. "If I left the ocean, if I had to… run away. Would you help me?"

"Anything," he said, reaching and cupping her jaw. "I'd do anything for you." He meant it, and it was clear in his eyes. Even with those words, he didn't anticipate Hermione's next move.

She leaned up, her damp lips touching his, sending a spark through his body. When she pulled away, Neville followed, wanting more of the kiss.

"I think I love you," she whispered. "Will you… tomorrow?"

He nodded shyly. "Yeah… I… Hermione, I'm falling in love with you too."

She lowered herself back into the water, and, with a small wave, disappeared.

...oOo…

"Neville!" He jumped as a bag fell onto the deck next to him. "Hermione, what is all this?"

"Help me up and I'll show you!"

He reached down, ready to pull her up, but dropped her. "What—"

She smiled nervously. "Surprise?"

"Your tail is… where's your tail?" Neville reached down to help her, trying to avert his gaze upon realising Hermione was naked.. He lowered her into the boat and quickly grabbed a blanket, throwing it over her.

Nevile's gaze fixed on the feet at the bottom of the blanket. "Where—"

"The sea witch is an old friend of mine," Hermione offered. "I told Luna about you and she helped me, since I wanted…" Hermione trailed off, her smile fading completely. "You do want me, don't you?"

Neville nodded quickly. "Of course I do! I just didn't think you'd give up your… I would never have asked you to do this for me!"

"I know. It's not just for you, look at this world I could explore, books to read, and stories to learn. Though I'd have never even considered it if I didn't fall for you. I want to be in this world… but only if I can do this with you."

"And if it's not what you expect? If I'm not what you want?"

"If I blow into this shell whilst in the ocean, it'll fix my legs into a tail," Hermione said. "But I can't see myself ever going back down there. I want to be with you."

Neville shifted closer, taking her hand in his. "I want to be with you too. Let's get you home!"

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