Just a little one shot drabble done for the Scrivenshaft challenge over at The Great Break, on LJ. Yes, I know I said I wouldn't write anymore. Feh. I got inspiration.

Summary: Woot. Rumble. Roar. As the Hogwarts Express rolls on, one Neville Longbottom can't help but contemplate on how it all fell to pieces.

The 1656th Time

Woot. Rumble. Roar.

The wheels of the Hogwarts Express train rumbled along the metal tracks that were slightly worn with rust from the many uses and exposes to nature that no spell could wipe away. The 1656th trip taken to Hogwarts so far.

Neville Longbottom sat in a compartment in a seat closest to the window, resting his forehead against the cool glass; a welcome change from the sweltering heat that had plagued England that summer.

Watching the scenery roll on by, he could not help but feel a profound sense of loss. Dumbledore was gone, leaving many families scared and causing them to pull their children out of Hogwarts by the dozens.

Among these were the Weasleys'; Ron's mother turning over her protective mother side and withdrawing her two remaining children to be "home schooled". Nevile had returned on the wishes of his grandmother, to show that " we Longbottoms will continue to stand strong in the face of evil".

Neville didn't mind. But the absence of the Weasleys', along with Dean, Seamus, Parvati and countless others gave the train a hollow feel; it was true that more compartments were empty than in all the years of Hogwarts.

Of the once large group of friends, only Luna, Hermione, and himself had stayed.

Harry, following his promise, had not returned. He had not been seen all summer; no letters exchanged. God only knows where he was now.

The three-person compartment remained in an uncomfortable silence, contemplations and worries no doubt flitting in and out; wistful plastered over the endless amount of sorrow and regret.

And although the Hogwarts express made its 1656th journey lighter than ever before, it was also heavier than ever before as well.

End.

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