Epilogue
"Hi, Mum. Hi, Dad," Neville said, leaning forward in the uncomfortable chair to get a better look at them. "I know it's been a while since I visited. I guess I just had a lot to work through."
It still hurt, seeing them like this. Neville almost cried, but then took a deep breath. It wasn't that he had anything against crying, but he needed to see this through.
"I broke Dad's wand. It wasn't on purpose, and it was for a good reason, but… I'm still sorry. I know you did some great things with that wand, Dad.
"I wish I'd gotten to know you. Sometimes it really makes me angry that I didn't get to know my parents. Everyone else grew up knowing what their parents were like, but I've always had to imagine things. It's harder than I want it to be."
His grandmother sat primly in a chair, not wanting to interrupt Neville when he had finally agreed to come back. Neville knew she didn't understand, really, but it was okay. She didn't have to understand for it to be valid.
"I didn't ever think about how hard fighting must have been for you. How scary every moment is, when you don't know if you'll live or die. I understand, now. I only had the Cruciatus Curse put on me once, and I feel like it was enough to drive me insane. But it was important to try. I understand why you did it now."
His mother got up out of bed and handed him a chewing gum wrapper.
"I'm still angry that you left me. I know I shouldn't be, but I don't understand why you kept fighting when you had a baby. Wasn't it your responsibility to look after me above anything? I know someone had to save the world, but I don't understand why it had to be you, or then."
His mother looked like she could almost understand him. Then she toddled back into bed and pulled up the covers.
Neville turned to his grandmother. "I think I'm ready to go now."
On his way out, he dropped the wrapper in the rubbish bin. No matter how many wrappers he got, they would never take the place of a mother to him. It was time to stop assigning meaning to things, and to start paying attention to life.