A/N Thank you to everyone that is reading, reviewing, following and adding to favourites. We are now moving into fourth year.
Year Four Chapter One
Neville was in a state of complete and utter rapture listening attentively as Ron and Harry spoke animatedly, providing zealous descriptions of the Quidditch World Cup Final they had attended over the summer. He was sure he had never been so envious of anyone before. He couldn't believe Hermione had gone, she hated Quidditch. His Gran hadn't wanted to go so they never got tickets it was so unfair.
Ron showed him his miniature Viktor Krum and Neville was awestruck by the tiny figure, the amazing seats Mr Weasley had obtained, the rows and rows of tents, the mascots, and the spectacle, everything sounded incredible.
Everything accept what had happened after. He had known Hermione was going to be there from her letters over the summer so when Death Eaters had attacked the campsite he had almost sent her a Howler, she hadn't mentioned anything untoward had happened in her last correspondence. When he opened the Daily Prophet to see the spectral image of the Dark Mark blazing in the sky above the campsite he had been livid.
Once he had calmed enough to write to her he decided against a Howler but only because he knew she could incinerate them. The letter he did send could at best be described as incandescent, determined to get his point across he demanded an explanation and sought permission to use his Gran's owl Lyssa who was the worst tempered creature he had ever had the misfortune of meeting. There would be no way the bird would have left without response from Hermione.
In the letter that he received shortly after she had apologized profusely for keeping it from him explaining that she hadn't wanted him to worry and had planned on telling him everything when he saw her next. Over time he calmed down and was now at peace with the whole event, enough to enjoy talking about it again.
Ron was in the middle of his fourth re-enactment of one of Viktor Krum's better moves from the game without the tiniest complaint from Neville when the sound of muffled girlish giggling caught his attention. Turning he noticed Hermione, Ginny and Luna all huddled up together, Ginny was animatedly explaining something in her typical fashion, tiny arms flailing everywhere, and at regular junctures all the girls would laugh.
He had been surprised when they first entered the carriage and Hermione hadn't sat next to him, since the very first year they always sat next to each other on The Express. When the boys had launched into their descriptions of the match he had assumed she had moved away because knowing her she had probably reached her limit with Quidditch talk by now, he doubted she had heard much else of the summer. But Ginny was even more Quidditch mad than he was so what could they possibly be talking about that seemed to require so much diligent attention?
He wasn't sure he had ever heard Hermione giggle like that, when the girls carried on he turned his attention back to Harry and Ron, who had not noticed his distraction. He couldn't help keeping half an ear on the girls though unfortunately he could only pick up bits of what was said, it was mainly Ginny speaking.
"Those Irish players were so so hot… I know he has the dreamiest smile...do you think the new DADA might be a woman this year... Luna we got the treat of our lives didn't we Mione?"
He shuffled slightly towards them in order to hear.
"Going for the portkey… out of nowhere… jumped down... right from a tree...can you believe it... he's adorable… very sweet… he chatted to Mione didn't he?"
He turned to look at Hermione, forgetting he was supposed to be pretending he wasn't listening, her cheeks had flushed pink, his pink... No… not his pink, but well just pink.
"Yes, but only about classes for next year Gin"
"Is he as lovely as everyone says he is?" Luna asked her dreamy voice floating to his end of the compartment.
Desperate to hear the response Neville inched forward till he was in danger of falling off the bench.
"Well yes… actually Cedric was perfectly lovely"
Cedric as in Cedric Diggory? As in the Prince Charming of Hufflepuff. He didn't take Hermione for a girl that would be affected by someone like that, sure he was nice and everything but really Hermione? He didn't think she had ever even liked a boy, like that, apart from a silly crush on Lockhart in second year.
He stood abruptly and moved to sit as far away as possible dropping inelegantly into the seat and crossing his arms in front of himself, he didn't want to hear any more of their conversation.
Neville's attitude still hadn't improved by the time the train pulled into Hogsmeade Station, he was sure he would be in a foul mood for the rest of the evening ruining one of his favourite nights of the year, The Sorting Feast, which made him even more irritated. Everyone began moving out of the carriage leaving him behind as he was having some issues dislodging his trunk that had got caught on the rack. Channelling some of his frustration he yanked at the handle hard forcing it to fall to the floor of the compartment. When he turned around only Hermione was left, she was struggling to remove her own trunk, hers hadn't got caught, her issue was her size, despite being nearly fifteen she was only a little taller than Ginny and Luna and they were almost a year and a half younger than her.
"Neville" she sighed exasperatedly "could you just...Neville?" she turned abruptly and walked straight into his chest.
He had a bit of a growth spurt over the summer, about four inches in total taking him to just below six foot. He wasn't used to it yet feeling at times like he was trying to learn to walk in someone else's body, incidents of clumsiness had reached a level not seen since first year but it seemed his Uncle Algie had been right, the men in the Longbottom family definitely did even out. He couldn't have been called chubby anymore though he maintained some fleshier areas, especially in his cheeks.
"Hermione are you ok?" he stared down at her.
"Err... yes...yes...I'm fine, I just wasn't expecting… you've got so...so very tall"
Neville smiled "Yeah, grown a bit over the summer… let me help you"
He pulled down her trunk with relative ease and watched as she dove on top of it before opening the clasps and riffling through the contents.
"Come on Hermione we'll miss the carriages"
"Wait a second… there" she triumphantly held a small bag aloft and then handed it to Neville "I knew you were disappointed you couldn't come so I got you a souvenir"
He gently opened the bag, inside was a programme from the match and an Ireland scarf, he beamed at her.
"Thank you Hermione, you really didn't have to"
"I know, I just thought… well I don't know… I missed you… it would have been nice if you had been there" she finished resolutely staring at the floor.
Neville felt himself brighten for the first time in hours, he wasn't sure if he liked flustered Hermione more than pink Hermione but as long as he was the cause he would take either. He could now spend his evening more agreeably trying to decide his favourite version after he had steered her to sit facing away from the Hufflepuff table.
The group of Gryffindor's plus Luna attempted to find the best possible spot outside the front entrance to await the arrival of the other schools competing in the TriWizard Tournament.
Neville was hugely excited and gasped along with the rest of those present when an enormous glittering coach and horses landed outside the castle. The Headmistress of the Beauxbatons Academy, Madam Maxine got out first that woman was definitely a giant, she completely dwarfed Dumbledore. The Students that got out afterwards were all impeccably dressed to a level that made Neville instantly feel scruffy, though the lack of coats was a definite oversight. As they moved closer he noticed that the girls in their party were all completely beautiful and he was aware that most of the boys in the older years suddenly straightened themselves up, himself included, before the blue clad students moved past the assembled masses into The Great Hall.
"Just what we need more competition" Ginny grumbled.
"I don't really think anyone is much competition for you Ginny" Hermione soothed kindly hugging the girl towards her.
The group turned as the Black Lake began to bubble and churn until suddenly a ship appeared in the middle of it, a huge ship. Well he had no reference for the relative size of a sea bound vessel but that had to be a big one.
In the distance they could see students disembarking all dressed in furs looking pretty severe none more so than their Headmaster. His latest letter from his Gran had warned him to stay away from Igor Karkaroff and one look at the man in question assured him that he would have no issue complying with her wish.
As the figures got closer Ron started to jump up and down "Look, look, it's KRUM, Viktor bloody KRUM!"
Neville stood up on his tiptoes putting his hands automatically on Hermione's shoulders for support as he leant round the other students to see. He heard her tsk slightly but he just squeezed her tighter until she laughed at his antics.
The boys watched on in awe as the Durmstrang students walked past, the whispers regarding Krum had reached fever pitch. The much loved Quidditch star reached their place in the crowds as Hermione had begun chastising Ron who had been beside himself with excitement and babbling nonsense for the last two minutes.
"He's just a person Ron, like everyone else"
Neville wasn't sure whether Krum had heard her or if it was something else but as he walked past, a face that Neville had only ever seen set in a grim line broke into a tiny smile and it was directed at Hermione. His hands on her shoulders tightened unconsciously.
"Neville, ow!"
"Sorry, sorry" he replied letting go quickly resulting in her stumbling forward in an attempt to avoid one of their usual comedy routines he stepped forward to catch her and pulled her into his body, immediately flushing to his roots as he realised what he had done. Not wanting to acknowledge the close contact he simply stood back from her, slower this time and pulled her through the chattering students to get back inside the warmth of the castle.
"What did you think...of you know the Durmstrang...err...boys"
Hermione looked a little perplexed by the question "well they seemed more appropriately dressed than our French guests" she answered finally "Neville do you have time before classes tomorrow to go back over the next Potions chapter with me? I know you hate doing it but I always feel better when I have covered it off with someone else before going to the lesson"
Neville wasn't fooled, he knew her too well. She always found a way of covering off any Potions work with him in advance it was her way of helping. Assuring herself that Snape would have nothing to pick on him over.
"Yes of course, we can do it at breakfast if you like?"
"Great thank you"
"You're welcome" he replied.
Everything was going to be fine.