Hermione silently ran up the staircase she mustn't get caught tonight she thought to herself. But as she looked behind her to check if there were any prefects or Filch were following her, and ran straight into somebody. Squinting into the darkness she whispered "who's that?"

"Neville, Hermione, what are you doing here?" Neville whispered in the darkness.

"I was, just- wait, what are YOU doing out this late?" Hermione asked curiously.

"I- I was in the astronomy tower, you can't tell anybody though, it's somewhere where I can get away from it all, do my homework, get away from all the comments, not that anybody even notices I'm gone" Neville says plainly.

Hermione frowned, concerned for her friend. "Well of course they don't notice you're gone Neville, it's the middle of the night."

"I go straight from dinner to the common room, grab my homework and run to the tower and stay up there until- what are YOU Hermione Granger, doing up this late?" Neville persisted.

She turned bright red, looking at her feet. "I started reading in the library and lost track of time. I don't know why I wasn't caught."

"Maybe they knew you was there and decided not to get you in trouble because, I don't know why" Neville said angrily, pent up rage spilling out.

Sitting down Hermione motioned for him to join her.

Neville sat down near Hermione, he didn't feel comfortable sitting too close "Hermione, can I tell you something about my parents?" Neville asked sadly.

"Of course you can" she said softly.

"The Cruciartus Curse." He said "Bellatrix Lestrange used the Cruciartus Curse on my Mum and Dad to get them to tell her where the Potters were hiding" Neville started to cry, but wiped away the tears "They didn't have to, they could of just told her where they are, and then you-know-who probably would have killed Harry there and then, but now, I hardly have any parents and he hasn't said anything to me about it, it may be that he hasn't been told but I'd appreciate it if he knew that he's not the only one been left without parents."

"Oh gosh, Neville you poor thing!" Hermione threw her arms around him, wanting to make it better but knowing she never could "I swear if he knew he would 100% understand, I wish I had known I wish you never had to go through this Neville. I'm sure, if they were here today they would be so proud of you."

"They are here, kinda, they're in Saint Mungos, but they're too ill, they can't speak, my dads paralysed, neither of them can remember anything, my mother put the most powerful mind lock curse on herself, Dumbledore gave it to her in case of desperate measures, and seeing as she was about to murder them, it was perfect, I know they remember Gran and I, deep down, but the curse is too big, if it was unbreakable the ministry would of taken it off them by now, but it's too powerful"

Neville didn't try and hold back his tears anymore; he knew he could trust Hermione.

Hermione started to cry also, she just couldn't stand the thought of Neville knowing his parents were still alive, but unable to recognize him. She couldn't find the words to console him, so instead hugged him again.

Together they sat for about 15 minutes, silently crying into each other's shoulders, Hermione started to speak

"Neville, who do you consider being your friend? I rarely ever seeing you with people, I never thought about it until now."

"Seamus and Dean, I suppose, I think they're my friends, but I can't decide if I want friends or not, there is this one girl, Ravenclaw, Luna Lovegood, she helps me through it, you know, when there's nobody else to talk to, I take my work up to the tower but we just sit there, we don't talk but when we do it's me telling her my problems and I listen to her beautiful voi- advice" Neville blushed as he talked about the mysterious Luna.

Hermione smiled slightly and said, "Luna talks about you sometimes. She likes it when you come and see her."

Neville's cheeks turned a scarlet red, "Really?" He said probably a little too quickly

Smiling brighter Hermione nodded.

"Merlin Hermione!" Neville smiled brightly "Do you think I should ask her out?"

I'm nearly sure she would agree."

"How do I ask her out?" Neville said uncertainly "I've never you know..."

"Just ask her!" Hermione giggled "Here, let's go to bed and we can practice tomorrow night, straight after dinner grab your things from the common room and head up to the astronomy tower"

"But what if Luna's there?" Neville asked

"I'll clear off and you'll have to skip practice" Hermione laughed

The next evening was a blur, Snape had given Neville detention in potions because his went horribly wrong, but that's what you get for partnering Seamus and Neville together in potions, so he was late to dinner, in fact, he missed dinner completely. Luna and Hermione were up in the tower already when Neville arrived, but just before he went through the door leading into the topmost room he heard part of their conversation

"So Luna, do you really like Neville in that way?" Hermiones voice said

"More than like him" said the unmistakable voice of Luna lovegood "I love him"

Neville decided he'd play the innocent card and just walk through the door