Neville walked into the room as quietly as he possibly could, clutching a bunch of flowers. Azalea Formosa or simply Azeleas, as they were called. The ones he had picked in his grandmother's garden had a beautiful pinkish hue to them - just like Hannah's cheeks. Neville blushed at the thought but thankfully it was dark inside the hospital room at St. Mungo's. Only a street lamp illuminated a few patches with its dim orange light. He had trouble finding his way through the room but Hannah's light blond hair was weakly standing out in the darkness to let him the way.

Stumbling over something he sat in the chair next to her bed. He conjured a vase and some water out of thin air and placed the flowers on her nightstand. There were a lot of other flowers lined up on the window sill next to her bed. She was so loved. Almost hesitatingly he took her right hand in both of his.

Hannah was asleep and she would be asleep for as long as he could stay. The healer, Bernie, who let him in a considerable time after visiting hours also told him she had been given a dreamless sleeping draught. She had a few minor injuries, a severe concussion and a deep cut from a curse that wouldn't stop bleeding for two days. They had finally managed to close the cut yesterday. On top of that she had terrible night terrors, reliving what she had seen during the battle. Neville's heart broke just thinking about it.

Of course Neville had no right in getting the information from a healer but it had its advantages spending so much time in St. Mungo's growing up. Bernie had once worked on the permanent ward where Neville's parents lived and took pity on him after Neville pleaded to see her. Also, and he blushed again, he told Bernie that he was Hannah's boyfriend to be able to see her. That was a blatant lie but it had done the trick.

What a great boyfriend he would be, Neville thought, turning up here after four days late at night.

He hadn't meant to be here so late of course but the past few days had been a whirl wind. He looked for Hannah everywhere right after the battle but hadn't found her. For a short while he thought she was among the dead. At that moment he felt as if the ground fell out underneath his feet. But then a list was hung outside the Hospital Wing of all the people transferred to St. Mungo's and Hannah's name was on that list. Neville never felt so relieved in his life.

At the same time there were masses of people congratulating him, wanting to talk to him, asking him question after question. He must have managed to sleep at some point because it was dark again when Kingsley offered him and a few other DA members Auror positions. He left it up to them if they wanted to join immediately or in a couple of months. But there was still a large amount of Death Eaters on the run after the battle; Rudolphus Lestrange among them. That fact alone made Neville want to join immediately. He had found his courage, he wasn't going to let it slip away again. Tomorrow morning he was off for training. His entire life Neville had never been so determined.

He had also been determined to never take his eyes off of Hannah if she was still alive but after the initial relief had worn off he wasn't so sure anymore. Whatever had been between them seemed like a lifetime away now. When Hannah woke up there was no guarantee she would still feel the same. Everything was different now. In a world of peace, Neville was only going to be one of many to a girl as pretty as Hannah. Sure, he now seemed to have the whole snake-killing-bit on his side which oddly made people treat him like a hero, but what did that mean in the end? He had only done what anyone in his situation would have. Merlin, what if she woke up and realized she had made a mistake and actually preferred Barnabas the Barmy over him?

And yet, the memories of her body next to him, keeping him warm in the Room of Requirements were so fresh. It almost felt as if she had been cuddled up in his arms only moments ago. And that kiss of course, that moment of bliss... – Neville's thoughts trailed off into the distance carried by the sound of Hannah's slow breathing.

Pulling his thoughts back from a corner of his brain that was filled with memories of her was a huge effort. Staring at Hannah's face through the darkness, attempting to make out her features, Neville tried to straighten out his thoughts.

He had so desperately hoped he could talk to her tonight, letting her know in person. A selfish part of him wanted her comfort even though she was the one that was in need of comfort clearly. So perhaps it was a good thing he couldn't talk to her. That way he wouldn't have to see the worry in her eyes. She had been through enough. He had no right to cause her any more pain. Now he had to come up with a different plan. His only option seemed to be writing a letter and explain what had happened in the past few days and why he left without talking to her. The mere thought gave him a headache. What in Merlin's name was he going to write? What if she didn't even care anymore? So much had happened between their kiss and now. At the fleeting thought of the kiss Neville's stomach made a little flip.

The whole world had shifted in the meantime. So he had to be quite cautious with what to write. He didn't want to scare her off in case things had changed for her. He couldn't sound like the lovesick fool he quite possibly was. Oh Merlin, he would worry about the details later. Maybe he shouldn't even write her that letter. But that would seem rude. Why in Merlin's name was all this just so confusing? He was completely lost.

Hannah shifted in her sleep and let out a deep sigh. For a moment Neville stiffened, scared he might have woken her. Thumping back into reality he realized he had lost track of time. For all he knew he could have been here for hours. With a heavy heart he gave her hand a tentative kiss, got up and left as quietly as possible.

Thank you so much to my betas bunny-mittens and bloodyhell-ronald.