She stumbles across the shoebox full of old gum wrappers when she is cleaning. It's sat in the farthest corner of the closet, and for a moment, Hannah considers throwing it away. Then the oddity of it strikes her and she sets it aside instead, intending to ask Neville about it later. It's not until hours later, when they are both curled up in bed, and she hovers on the blurry edge between sleep and wakefulness that her eyes fall on the shoebox and she recalls it.
"Nev?" she asks, gently prodding his shoulder. He rolls over, looking at her with sleepy grey eyes.
"Yeah?"
"I was cleaning earlier and I found a shoebox full of gum wrappers," she starts. The effect on Neville is instant. He sits bolt upright, panic rolling off him in waves.
"You didn't toss it, did you? Oh, Merlin, please tell me you didn't do anything," he says, voice shaky.
"It's-it's fine, Neville," Hannah blinks in surprise. "It's right there." She points at the shoebox, set out by the closet. Neville stumbles out of bed, gathering the shoebox close to him as he clambers back under the covers. Hannah is surprised to see tears in his eyes.
"Nev?" she says, alarmed. "Nev, what's wrong?"
"You know my parents?" he says thickly, a strange non-sequitur. She nods slowly.
"Of-course, Neville, they're in St. Mungo's, they're fine, what is..."
"They don't remember me," Neville says, still shaky. His fingers constantly smooth the top of the shoebox. "You know that. You know I visit them."
"Yes, but what about erm, those?" Hannah asks, pointing at the box filled with gum wrappers.
"My mum," Neville says simply, a tear spilling down his cheek. "On her good days, she always gives me a gum wrapper. Like she remembers me. Somewhere...like somewhere deep inside, she remembers that she's got a son. That she's got me."
"Oh, Neville," Hannah says, and wraps her arms around him, feeling his tears splash down against her arm, but not caring. "Of course she remembers. They both do. I know they do."
"I know it's stupid," Neville admits, hefting the shoebox a little. "But the wrappers are-all I've got to remember her, really."
"It's not stupid at all," Hannah whispers, staring into his eyes, her own misted over as well. "I promise it's not. I'll put them back, all right?"
"All right," Neville agrees, nodding. "Only-not tonight?" He puts the box on his night table, and she smiles in understanding.
"Not tonight," Hannah whispers, and curls back up next to him.