I stepped off the Hogwarts Express dragging my trunk behind me. Trevor was clutched in my hands a little more tightly than necessary, he croaked loudly in protest, but I held on. His already slick green flesh was slicker with my sweaty palms and it was becoming an effort to keep him from sliding from my grip. My trunk caught on something and I tugged it hard almost losing my balance.
"Need some help Neville?" Someone asked.
Looking up I found Seamus standing beside me. He smiled and I smiled back, but only a little.
"No I think I got it." I said.
Seamus nodded, but didn't move. He just stood there staring at me with a little frown, as though he were thinking very hard about something. I shifted uncomfortably, not wanting to be rude, but truly wishing I could get on with things.
"What happened with you and Harry and Ron and the rest? I mean near the end of school . . . " He trailed off blushing.
It was my turn to frown. I had not spoken to anyone about what happened in the Ministry of Magic, it seemed to difficult to put into words. For a moment my mouth hung open as though I were going to say something. By the time I decided on a response he was beginning to look as uncomfortable as I felt.
"It's taken care of. I can't really explain."
"S'alright. I understand." He said quickly.
I watched him back away with his hands held up as though to keep me at a distance. Shrugging a little I grabbed hold of my trunk and continued dragging it across the platform. Other people stared at me and a few pointed, I ignored them. None of it really mattered. In fact the only thing that seemed even a little important were the two pieces of my father's wand tucked into my belt for safe keeping. In the aftermath of the fight someone had the foresight to find and return them to my dorm. It seemed wrong to put them in the trunk, when not so long ago it had been my only protection, and one of the few remaining mementos of my father. So I stuck them in my belt and prayed that Gran would be merciful.
"Neville." Said a familiar voice.
A half smile on my face, I looked up at my grandmother. She didn't seem nearly as imposing as I remembered, in fact a certain happiness rose at the sight of her.
"Have you got all your things?" She asked briskly.
Her forehead furrowed and the large vulture on her hat seemed to be threatening to fall. I could smell her familiar patchouli perfume and for some reason it made me feel a little sad.
"Yeah." I said quietly.
"Are you sure?"
Then without really thinking I hugged her hard. The rough green dress she seemed to always be wearing scratched my cheek, but I didn't care. She was familiar and alive and I loved her for it. I expected her to detach me right away, angry I had shown such a display of emotion in such a public place, but I felt one gloved hand touch the top of my head and the other squeeze my shoulder. A few moments passed and I let go. The frown had been replaced by a strange sort of smile. Not really a smile, more the ghost of a smile.
We continued looking at each other for a moment and then I reached to my belt and pulled out the broken pieces of my wand. Reaching out I placed them in her hand, and waited for the frown to return followed by a thorough scolding. Instead she pressed her lips tightly together and placed the pieces in her red purse.
"We'll go next week and buy you a new wand." She said.
There was a strange softness in her voice.
"Lets get you home. You're sure you have all you things." This she said more out of habit than to be a real question.
I nodded and she turned to leave.
As she did though I heard her say very softly "You're father would be proud."
"Need some help Neville?" Someone asked.
Looking up I found Seamus standing beside me. He smiled and I smiled back, but only a little.
"No I think I got it." I said.
Seamus nodded, but didn't move. He just stood there staring at me with a little frown, as though he were thinking very hard about something. I shifted uncomfortably, not wanting to be rude, but truly wishing I could get on with things.
"What happened with you and Harry and Ron and the rest? I mean near the end of school . . . " He trailed off blushing.
It was my turn to frown. I had not spoken to anyone about what happened in the Ministry of Magic, it seemed to difficult to put into words. For a moment my mouth hung open as though I were going to say something. By the time I decided on a response he was beginning to look as uncomfortable as I felt.
"It's taken care of. I can't really explain."
"S'alright. I understand." He said quickly.
I watched him back away with his hands held up as though to keep me at a distance. Shrugging a little I grabbed hold of my trunk and continued dragging it across the platform. Other people stared at me and a few pointed, I ignored them. None of it really mattered. In fact the only thing that seemed even a little important were the two pieces of my father's wand tucked into my belt for safe keeping. In the aftermath of the fight someone had the foresight to find and return them to my dorm. It seemed wrong to put them in the trunk, when not so long ago it had been my only protection, and one of the few remaining mementos of my father. So I stuck them in my belt and prayed that Gran would be merciful.
"Neville." Said a familiar voice.
A half smile on my face, I looked up at my grandmother. She didn't seem nearly as imposing as I remembered, in fact a certain happiness rose at the sight of her.
"Have you got all your things?" She asked briskly.
Her forehead furrowed and the large vulture on her hat seemed to be threatening to fall. I could smell her familiar patchouli perfume and for some reason it made me feel a little sad.
"Yeah." I said quietly.
"Are you sure?"
Then without really thinking I hugged her hard. The rough green dress she seemed to always be wearing scratched my cheek, but I didn't care. She was familiar and alive and I loved her for it. I expected her to detach me right away, angry I had shown such a display of emotion in such a public place, but I felt one gloved hand touch the top of my head and the other squeeze my shoulder. A few moments passed and I let go. The frown had been replaced by a strange sort of smile. Not really a smile, more the ghost of a smile.
We continued looking at each other for a moment and then I reached to my belt and pulled out the broken pieces of my wand. Reaching out I placed them in her hand, and waited for the frown to return followed by a thorough scolding. Instead she pressed her lips tightly together and placed the pieces in her red purse.
"We'll go next week and buy you a new wand." She said.
There was a strange softness in her voice.
"Lets get you home. You're sure you have all you things." This she said more out of habit than to be a real question.
I nodded and she turned to leave.
As she did though I heard her say very softly "You're father would be proud."