As We Stumble Along

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Summary: Everyone knows what happened to Harry in Deathly Hallows, but not much is known about the occurrences at Hogwarts. What really went down at Hogwarts while Harry was off Horcrux hunting?

A/n: So… I'll give a special present to whomever figures out which minor plot detail from the seventh book I have omitted (not counting Ginny). Heehee.

To get an idea for around what time it is in Harry Potter land, it is late January or early February. Easter fell on March 30th in 1997, so that is when Ginny will leave. And then things'll get bad…

As for the answers to your Susie questions… tis a plot bunny for the sequel… if ya'll are interested in one ;).

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine. Besides, if it was… it wouldn't be about Harry…

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Chapter 20: Walk Like A Man

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It was not long after his conversation with Susan that Neville had the first DA meeting. Apparently Ginny had tried to have a meeting, but it flopped. It just wasn't the same without Neville running things. People apparently had a lot of faith in him.

He looked around, his mind quickly reeling about what to teach. Normally he planned these sort of things out, but he had so much homework lately, he didn't have time to do much besides that. He looked around at everyone as things began calming down. He took a deep breath and looked at Susan for a moment. A small smile formed on her face and it made him relax just a bit.

"Okay guys…" he said, looking around, but constantly going back for that needed eye contact with Susie. "We… I know we haven't met for a while… and I apologize for that…" His voice was forced just like it had been for his first DA meeting with him leading. He knew why he was nervous. He had let this fall to the wayside when the school needed it the most.

"But we're… we're gonna step it up now. Partner up."

People just looked at him for a moment before realizing that he was serious. He wasn't wasting any time. They gave him a few looks as they all began pairing off. And he waited until everyone had a partner.

"Now… duel…"

And that was the only command that Neville gave. It took a few moments, and people looked at him like he grew a second head. He had an idea. When no one did anything he pulled out his own wand and shot a particularly nasty curse into the group. That got them started and soon the curses were flying. They needed practice in dueling, especially if this battle came to Hogwarts. They needed to be half decent at dueling. No, they needed to be very good at dueling. Being half decent would get them all killed.

He walked around slowly knowing he too should be practicing, but there was an even number tonight. Ernie landed himself in detention. Other than that, everyone showed up. He'd give some tips here and there, or tell people to take a break. But it was an easy DA meeting on the young Longbottom. His mind kept drifting off elsewhere. He needed a mental break right now.

A lot of people could tell it just by looking at him that the poor kid was running on fumes, but he was running none the less. He was doing homework into the wee hours of the morning and then falling asleep and being plagued by nightmares that woke him up not too long later. It was a vicious and never ending cycle.

The DA meeting lasted for a good amount of time and soon everyone left through that cabinet that lead them to random places throughout the school.

Soon it was just him and Susan in the Room of Requirement. Ginny would've stayed if she didn't have a Dark Arts essay due the next day. Neville sighed as he sat down in a chair that magically made itself present. "Thanks Neville," she said with a smile. It seemed genuine, but it was difficult for him to tell.

"Welcome…" he said with the same smile on his face. He kept his eyes on her even if he wanted to pass out right in the chair. It was a very comfortable chair. This was why he loved the Room of Requirement. All you had to do was ask nicely for something, and the room gave it to you. Heck, you didn't even have to ask nicely sometimes.

He sighed gently as his eyes shut. "You need to get some sleep Neville…"

He just nodded in response as he felt Susan put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm serious Neville, you're running yourself into the ground…"

No he wasn't. He was fine. He was fine going on a few hours of sleep. "I'll be fine. Promise…" He opened his eyes and looked at her, trying to hide the lie in his face.

Susan sighed and nodded.

"Let's get out of here, before we get in trouble."

Slowly, Neville nodded in agreement as he got up out of the chair. She squeezed his shoulder again before disappearing through the cabinet. Neville followed suit with a soft yawn.

The nightmares still wouldn't leave him alone.

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The next day, Neville was asleep in Herbology again, making Susan angry and worried. Professor Sprout let him sleep. She knew it wasn't a good idea, but the kid was looking worse and worse as more time passed. She wasn't sure what he was doing, but he knew he had gotten himself quite a few detentions. Poor child.

Susan gently shook him at the end of Herbology. "Neville… you gotta get up," she whispered. Everyone else had already left. Today was an easy day for Neville, and he didn't even realize he fell asleep.

"Hmmm?" he asked groggily. He liked sleeping in class. While he missed a lot of information, normally he didn't have the horrid nightmares that he would have in his dorm.

"You fell asleep in Herbology Neville. But we need to get back to school…" She was so nice to him.

A soft yawn escaped Neville as he opened his eyes and looked at her. Her words finally sunk in and he nodded. "Yeah…"

But he didn't want to leave the classroom. Within the entire school, this was the only place that he felt safe. This was the only place he felt that they couldn't get him. Nothing could get him in the green house.

Slowly the Gryffindor stood up. "You need to sleep Neville," Susan repeated.

"I just did," Neville said, trying to joke, but Susan didn't laugh. "Susie. I'm fine. I just… couldn't fall asleep last night."

Susan just gave him that look. "You know I don't want to, but if I have to I'll sic Ernie on you…"

"Ernie?"

"Yes. We're all worried about you Neville…"

He blinked a few times before shaking his head. "I'll be fine…."

Sure he would. Even Neville himself wasn't sure if he could back that statement up. He wasn't fine. He was getting worse and worse. But he needed to do something or the Carrows would just get worse and worse. He realized that there were other people willing to help. But they all looked up to him, and he didn't know what to do.

Susan sighed and walked away, leaving Neville standing there with his thoughts.

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They met up in the Kitchens later that evening like they always did. Neville rarely went to dinner, and when he did, he'd see the Carrows or Snape and immediately lose his appetite. But he'd always make it to the kitchens later that evening. He found a shortcut from the Gryffindor common room there so he wouldn't get in trouble for being out after hours.

The house elves seemed to hero worship the young Longbottom (although Neville was sure they hero worshipped nearly everyone that walked through the kitchen doors). They got him whatever he wanted to eat and gave him more than anyone could possibly eat. Dobby always told him that he needed to eat more or he was going to get sick.

Neville thought that he ate plenty.

Fifteen minutes in and a good deal of his spaghetti later Susan walked in. She had tried to conceal her tears when she entered, but she did anyways. Instead of sitting down across from Neville like she usually did she sat down right next to him.

Neville was confused, she seemed so upset and he didn't know what. He had no idea what could possibly make her this upset. The house elves came up with a big slice of chocolate cake for her and she burst into tears again, burying her head in Neville's shoulder as the poor girl clung onto him for dear life.

"Susie…" Neville whispered, feeling a little awkward, but if she needed a shoulder to cry on, she knew she could come to him. This happened before.

She just sobbed uncontrollably into his shoulder, the large slice of chocolate cake long forgotten as he pulled her into a hug and rubbed her back, her hands clenching into Neville's shirt as she cried.

"Susie?" he repeated.

The Hufflepuff just cried. Neville didn't like this. But he didn't push her. If she needed to cry, let her cry. Her tears soon stopped and she simply clung to the Gryffindor. It was as if all her tears were spent. Every once in a while she'd hold back a sob.

Neville never asked her what happened. He felt he was better off not knowing. But there was still a part of him that was curious. Curious was to why the beautiful Hufflepuff had cried on his shoulder for what felt like hours that night.

Susan Bones never told him.

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A/n: Bah. Sorry about that. School has taken over my life. And I'm trying to get this to a certain point and having issues with it.

So two things... one I'm changing the name of the story to "As We Stumble Along" and who out there in interested in a sequel from the end of book 7 through to the Epilogue?

Leave some love. The more reviews I get, the sooner I update. :D