For the Can You Make It To the End Challenge (an important moment in Neville's life) and the Most in a Month Competition.
When Neville sees Gran waiting for him on the platform, he swallows, trembling. There's no doubt in his mind that he has heard the news about his excursions in the Ministry.
His mind begins to race. Will it do any good to lie or at least stretch the truth a bit? His grandmother has always been so stern, so he knows that will only lead to a much worse lecture.
Neville hangs his head as he approaches.
"Don't slouch, boy," Gran scolds. "It looks sloppy."
"S-sorry," he mumbles, correcting his posture.
He meets her eyes, unsure of what he'll find there. Disappointment? Anger? Disgust?
Instead, her eyes are lighter, and Neville doesn't quite understand.
"We have a lot to talk about when we get home," she says.
"Yes ma'am."
…
Neville takes his time unpacking his trunk. Normally, he would wait a few days before doing so. Now, however, he'll do anything to delay the inevitable.
The door opens, and Gran steps inside. "You ran away from Hogwarts, broke into a government building, damaged government property, and got into multiple fights?"
Neville places his broken wand beside the framed photograph of his parents like a keepsake. Reluctantly, he turns to his grandmother. "I can explain-"
"I don't want any explanations," she says. "What you did was incredibly foolish."
Neville bites his lip. Foolish. At least she's putting it kindly.
"And incredibly brave."
"I'm sorry. I- Wait. Brave?"
Neville rubs his ears. He isn't sure that he's heard her correctly. Gran has never called him brave in his entire life. When he'd been Sorted into Gryffindor, she'd called it a fluke.
"Yes, brave. The way you stood by your friends was noble, Neville," she says. "Sometimes courage is funny. Sometimes it means breaking rules to do the right thing."
Neville lets this sink in. Slowly, he nods. "I had to do it. Harry needed me."
Gran puts an arm around him, pulling him into a tight hug. "You did the right thing. I'm proud of you, Neville."
His eyes widen. He doesn't think she's ever told him that she's proud of him. His cheeks burn, and he can't help but to smile. "You are?"
She pulls away, keeping her hands on his shoulders. "So very proud. Your parents would be, too."
"Dad's wand…"
"We can get you a new one. Once you've finished unpacking, we'll go to Diagon Alley. New wand. A nice ice cream cone. Now. Finish up and come down. Don't dawdle, boy."
When she leaves, Neville stands before the photo of his parents. Gran always talks about how amazing they were. The best of the best, she always called them. Neville always believed that he would be a disappointment in their eyes.
But now his grandmother is proud of him. Now, he's proven himself. He wonders, if things were different, if his parents would be happy for him.
Neville touches the frame, smiling to himself. "I'll make you guys proud."