Chapter Four

September 15th, 2006

"Neville?" Harry asked for the third time as he and Hermione sat on either end of her sofa, each with a butterbeer in hand.

He'd Floo'd over the second that she'd opened the gate, letting him know that she'd made it home. He, himself, had spent the day getting to know Hannah outside of a bartender and drinker who used to be schoolmates kind of relationship. Harry had stepped through her fireplace with a goofy grin on his face and Hermione hated to take it away but she needed to talk to someone.

"How bright was the charm around Hannah?"

Harry smiled again. "Pretty bright. A few other witches were close. None that I knew, though," he said with a small frown. "I'd rather go into this with someone I know. You get what I mean, right?"

She chuckled. "I do. Neville was bright, Harry. I couldn't even see beyond him. I tripped and he caught me and the charm took forever to fade. It should have faded instantly. Or maybe I didn't want it to," she admitted quietly. "I wish I could put a calculation to it. A number that would tell me something."

"It sounds like he's perfect for you."

"Neville, though?" she asked. "Our magic should have drawn us to one another, especially if it's as strong as the charm indicated." She began picking at the label on her bottle in frustration. "Why not before? Why only now?"

Harry frowned and sat up. "Are you regretting marrying Ron?" When she didn't answer right away, his mouth fell open. "You are," he accused, eyes wide. "You're thinking that if you and Neville had gotten together back at Hogwarts, you'd have never married Ron."

She wiped away a traitorous tear. "Like you're not thinking that had you maybe been Sorted into Hufflepuff, you might have ended up with Hannah and not Ginny?"

"I was thinking more along the lines of had I not been the bloody Boy Who Lived, maybe I might have found Hannah earlier. Had there not been a war or . . . Hermione, what's done is done," he said, putting his empty bottle down on the table and reaching out to take hers away from her. "We're still on good terms with Ron and Ginny, at least as good as can be, and now we have a chance. A fresh start. You were the one who did the work on this charm. You said it was a proper match, right? Magically sympathetic."

Hermione nodded.

"Then why are you so focused on what could have been?"

She shrugged. "I just don't understand."

Harry sighed. "Maybe you were drawn to each other but you didn't even notice. I mean," he paused and then laughed. "Hermione, who was your first friend at Hogwarts?"

She looked up, confused. "You and Ron. After the troll."

He raised an eyebrow and grinned at her. "Oh really? What was the first thing that you said to either of us?"

Pausing, she thought back to the train. She remembered meeting them and being excited to see Harry Potter, having just read about him in several books. Ron had been a prat at the time, though she hadn't acted much better, having tried to overcompensate for being Muggle-born by acting like the know-it-all that Professor Snape would later call her. "I think I came into your carriage and proceeded to tease Ron about that silly spell that Fred and George convinced him was real," she finally said.

Harry shook his head. "Why did you come into our carriage?"

"I don't know, Harry," she snapped in frustration. "I was eleven and excited about going to Hogwarts. I can hardly remember sitting down much that first train ride. I could barely sit still. The people who were in my own compartment kept rolling their eyes at me because I was going on about Hogwarts, A History, and then—" She abruptly stopped talking and her eyes widened.

Harry's grin widened. "And then?"

"Neville," she whispered. "He asked if there was any room and the other kids said no, but I told him he could sit beside me. Then he lost his toad—"

"And you walked up and down the aisles helping him look for it," Harry said with a happy grin.

"Neville was my first friend," she whispered, emotion building up inside of her. "We got in the boat with you and Ron and he held my hand so I didn't fall over."

While Hermione sat, dumbstruck, Harry stood and walked to the kitchen to fetch another butterbeer for each of them. He popped the cap off of Hermione's and stuck it in her hands, though she appeared to not notice it. "You know, now that I think about it, you were often paired with Neville in class. Potions, especially. You were always trying to help him out. And then you were both terrified of flying. I always thought it strange that you didn't like Quidditch as much, but always seemed to date Quidditch players. But you always did sit next to Neville in the stands during games."

Almost as though she felt she needed to defend herself, Hermione blurted out, "Well, you and Ron were usually playing and . . ."

"'Course, the war happened and you were always running around with me and Ron, getting into trouble. Neville wasn't always much up for trouble. Remember first year when we ran off to find the stone and—"

"And I petrified him!" Hermione bellowed miserably, putting down her butterbeer and covering her face. "Gods, I still feel bad about that. Harry, I petrified my future husband when I was twelve!"

He laughed and patted her on the shoulder. "Hermione, you did much worse things to Ron and you married him as well. So," he said, sitting back. "You're going to do it then? You're going to marry Neville?"

She sighed and shrugged. "I don't know. If we have to go along with this insane plan to prevent a full law going into place . . . Neville doesn't seem so interested. He was . . . He says we should take a week to get to know one another." She paused, remembering Neville's suspicious request for discretion. She remained silent, reaching out to take a long sip of her butterbeer.

Harry sat up. "How about we all go out for drinks tomorrow?" he suggested. "It'll be casual and we'll maybe hit the Three Broomsticks instead of the Leaky so Hannah doesn't feel like she's just at work."

Hermione raised a brow. "Define: all?"

"Ron and Mandy, too," he said. "Ginny can't come because Harpies have a training session tomorrow. But Mandy and Neville will both need to get used to the fact that you and Ron are still friends, right? This is a perfect chance for everyone to get to know one another, break the ice a bit, and feel out the situation. Better than one on one, right?"

Hesitantly, Hermione nodded.

September 16th, 2006

One on one, Hermione was thinking, might have been a better idea.

Mandy, Ron's match, was perfectly friendly to Hermione. Unlike the other couples, Ron hadn't waited very long before putting a ring on the Ravenclaw's finger, stating that since they didn't really have much of a choice in whether or not to get married if the Ministry had their way, there was no point in just waiting around. Hermione had smiled politely, grateful that Ron had enough tact to not use the same ring that he'd given Hermione years earlier.

Hannah and Harry showed up soon after and Hermione hugged her friends tightly, stating how pleased she was that Hannah was a match for Harry. "He's not looked this happy in so long."

Hannah laughed. "Oh, that's just because he thinks he's now got discounts on butterbeer and firewhisky," she teased. "And I may have let him think that I'm the one who does all the fry ups at work. Maybe his real magical match is Tom," she teased.

Harry laughed and Ron hugged his friend in congratulations. "Good pairing," he said. "I was sad that you and my sister couldn't make it work, but you're my best mate, and you happy is all that matters. All right, first round is on me while we wait for Hermione's mystery bloke!"

Neville walked through the door while Hermione was still nursing her first mug of butterbeer, though Ron and Harry had both moved onto a third round with a firewhisky shot in between to celebrate friendship and new beginnings.

"Bloody hell!" Ron said, standing up to greet Neville. "When'd you get back in, mate?"

Neville chuckled and embraced his slightly inebriated friend. "Just yesterday. Finished everything with the Lestrange case and, well, you know my gran. Wanted me back in as quick as possible to deal with this Ministry program."

"Come have a drink with us," Ron said. "Did you get your charm done already? Who's the lucky girl?"

Neville turned and smiled at Hermione, who blushed in response before scooting in further into the booth, offering him a space beside her. "We're still deciding," Neville said. "But, if I'm very, very lucky, Hermione will say yes when I ask her to marry me next week."

Hannah choked on her drink. "Nev—Neville is your . . .?" she asked wide-eyed, looking back and forth between Hermione and Neville. "I mean that's . . . That's great?" she said. "Not a question. Sorry. That's great. That's . . . I did not see . . ."

Hermione and Harry both raised a brow at Hannah, who turned her attention back to her mug of butterbeer. Neville let out a sigh. "Hannah and I dated, briefly," he said. "I think she's trying to avoid anything awkward." He pinned the Hufflepuff with a pleading look and she blushed under his gaze. "That's not going to be weird, is it?" he asked, looking at Harry and Hermione.

Hermione shook her head. "Considering Harry and I were each married to other people before this, I doubt either of us would have any right to have a problem with the fact that the two of you dated," she said, reaching out and taking Neville's hand.

Harry nodded his head and put an arm around Hannah's shoulders. "Hermione's right. We're all adults here."

Everyone smiled, except Ron. "You're going to marry Hermione?" he asked, eyes narrowed.

The witch in question huffed and offered an apologetic look to Mandy. "As Neville just said, Ronald, we're taking the week to discuss things. But yes, Neville was my match."

"Neville?" he asked sceptically. "I would've figured bloody Nott or some other swot like Boot or Macmillan."

Neville laughed. "Well, I'll admit I wasn't exactly in the race to keep up with Hermione in school. You calling me stupid, mate?" he asked in a friendly tone, trying to keep things jovial.

"No; just didn't think it was going to be one of my friends marrying my ex-wife," he said bitterly and then stood up, making his way to the bar for a refill.

Harry and Hermione both sighed. "Mandy," Hermione said. "Please don't take anything he says today very seriously. Well, he's not thinking clearly and our past is a bit . . . complicated." She reached out, taking Mandy's hand in a friendly gesture, completely missing the way that Neville and Hannah's eyes briefly met before looking away again.

The other witch shook her head. "It's fine, Hermione. My parents split and remarried other people when I was six. I know that things can be complicated with exes, and I don't foresee a problem. This is all new and not exactly a normal situation. We'll all make the best of it," she said with a smile and Hermione visibly relaxed.

Mandy lasted another hour before she had to leave for work at St. Mungo's where she was Healer in the children's ward. Suddenly the fifth wheel, Ron ordered up another round of firewhisky despite Hermione's attempts to stop him which only ended with him muttering, "Not my wife anymore. Can't boss me about."

"Maybe we should call it a night," Neville suggested when Ron accidentally knocked his water—that Hermione had ordered for him—over. "Mate, I know this is awkward, but we'll all get through this."

Ron scoffed. "If yer wantin' to call it early so you can sneak off with 'Mione to . . .Yer in fer a shocker. She don't exactly kiss on the first date if you know what I mean."

Eyes wide, Hermione reached for her wand in anger but Neville grabbed her hand. He leant in and whispered, "He doesn't have a very good excuse for his behaviour, but he's not in his right mind just now. You're still friends. Let me take care of this?" he asked.

Frowning, she simply nodded, knowing that Neville was right and if Hermione was left to deal with Ronald, she'd be sending him home injured.

Neville stood and reached over, grabbing Ron by the arm. "Come have a walk with me, mate. Get some fresh air." They made it near the door before Ron was fully leaning on Neville for support. Neville propped Ron up against the wall. "Look, I get it, this is awkward," he said. "But you can't say things like that about Hermione. Not now. Not ever again."

Ron scoffed. "You her defender now? Bloody charm said you were a match and now . . . I was her husband for years and I got nothing. All we did was row because our magic wasn't right or some shit. But you're going to just . . . You were my friend, Neville. Friends don't marry their friend's ex-wives."

Neville sighed in frustration and put a hand on Ron's shoulder, gripping it a little harder than normal, drawing the redhead's attention. "Look, you are my friend. Which is why in fourth year when I was in love with Hermione, I stood back and waited for weeks giving you the chance to ask her before I did. It was why when I figured out that she was in love with you, I didn't do anything about it. For years. And now I'm going to ask you to respect me and Hermione. You had your chance, and it didn't work out. It was no one's fault."

Ron swallowed down and looked at the ground bitterly. "Sure felt like my fault."

"It wasn't. But you're still friends and you can keep being friends if you sober up and walk back to that table and apologise to Hermione," Neville said. "I can see if Rosmerta has some Sober Up if you need it. If not, I'll expect you to do without. But you will apologise to her. Hermione's your friend, and she deserves better than that."

Slowly, Ron nodded his head. "Sorry, Nev . . . I . . . I don't know why I got like that. Just . . . I'm sorry."

"It's okay. It's weird, I know. But, and I'm saying this because you're my friend, you will not ever," Neville began, his eyes narrowing and his shoulders squaring as he spoke quietly to Ron, "ever speak about Hermione like that again. She doesn't need me fighting her battles for her, but I will because she doesn't deserve that. Not from you. Not from anyone. She may be your ex-wife, but she'll likely be my wife very soon. I won't stand for that."

Ron and Neville returned and the redhead apologised profusely. Hermione, shocked with how quickly her ex-husband had calmed down, swallowed down her own anger and forgave him. Harry escorted Ron home through the Floo after kissing Hannah on the cheek and making plans to meet up the following day.

"Well, that was . . . interesting," Hermione said, still a bit embarrassed.

Hannah smiled at her. "We've all got histories," she said. "Everything will work out right in the end. Nothing to be worried about."

With a sigh of relief, Hermione hugged Hannah in gratitude and then turned her attention to Neville. "So, umm, lunch tomorrow?"

"How about dinner?" he countered. "I'd like to take you someplace nice."

Grinning, she teasingly punched him in the arm. "If I didn't know any better Neville Longbottom, I would think you were trying to seduce me."

"Trying," he muttered with a small grin of his own. "Goodnight, Hermione."

The brunette vanished through the Floo and Neville let out a long sigh of relief. Hannah approached and put a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you," he said. "For being—"

"Discrete?" she said with a soft laugh. "You and Hermione . . . She doesn't know, I take it?"

He shook his head. "We just found out yesterday and I . . . It's not exactly something you tell someone up front."

She turned a stern look on him. "You are going to tell her, right? I mean, it's not exactly something you spring on a girl on her wedding night. Til death do us part and oh, by the way, your new husband would really like it if you bent over and let him—"

"Thanks, Hannah!" Neville said, turning around to stare at her. After a split second, they both laughed and then Neville groaned and leant his head on a nearby wall. "Of course I'm going to tell her. That's why I suggested waiting a week until we decide anything."

"We?" Hannah asked. "Unless you plan on changing for her then—" Her mouth fell open in shock. "You are. You're considering it, aren't you?"

He shrugged. "I like her, Hannah. Always have."

She frowned. "Don't change who you are for anyone, Neville. If she wants you, she'll accept every part of you. I just wanted something a little less . . . intense," she said and then slapped his arm when he had the nerve to chuckle at her. "Something calm and—"

"Normal?"

She rolled her eyes. "You're perfectly normal. If anyone can handle it, it'll be Hermione," she said encouragingly.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I hope so."

"Rip it off," she advised him. "Like a plaster. Don't spend the week letting her fall for you only to spring it on her just before she needs to choose."