A to Z drabbles
Argument and Apology:
The refreshing thing about the arguments are the apologies that follow. Hermione would yell, Neville would stand his ground, but then they stop. Sometimes there is a compromise. Sometimes one or the other admits defeat. But almost always they would be quiet for a brief time, then apologize. Apologies come easier for Neville-he doesn't have Hermione's pride, but sometimes Hermione would surprise him and apologize profusely. It is the apologies that mended things, apologies that stop the fights, and the apologies that keep the arguments from lasting. Hermione isn't Gran, and Neville isn't Ron, and that was refreshing for both.
Books:
If Hermione doesn't have a book near her, Neville gets concerned. Sometimes he gets jealous of the books, but then realizes that they make her happy and does something himself. If she's content, that's all that matters. Hermione loves to learn, and they visit the library together, bookstores together, and she can count on him buying her a book for her birthday. Sometimes she surprises him with a fiction book or a book on a muggle topic. He was the first to find out she likes to read romance novels in secret. With effort, he keeps the secret from Harry.
Children:
Hermione insisted that they wait to have children, not rush it. Neville wasn't as insistent, but her arguments were persuasive and he agreed. After all, they had to build careers, maintain friendships, and help rebuild the world. So when Hermione finally decided not to take her potion, little Minerva was well worth it. With parenting going off without a stitch, then came Auggie. Finally, there was Harry, named after his godfather. "I don't know how Molly did it" Hermione concluded, and for everyone's sanity, they stopped at three. Three turned out to be just right. Hermione had planned it well.
Dating
Dating started awkward. Hermione had just broken up with Ron in their last year at Hogwarts, and Neville wasn't sure how he could support her during this time. After they finished their studies, he sent her an owl for tea at Madam Puddifoot's. Their dates take them all over England now, usually on what Hermione reads. Neville prefers familiar places, but is always along for the ride. As long as he's with Hermione, it's worth it. There's double dates and movie dates and tea and dinner and late nights that end up steamy. As long as they're together, they're happy.
Experiments
They have a common love of discovery: Hermione learns from books, but won't resist a good experiment with magic. Neville spends hours in the greenhouse doing research, trying soil and light and fertilizer and breeding and charms and everything he can come up with to try to learn new things about his beloved plants. And they experiment with each other. In the kitchen, in social situations, at work, and in bed. While Hermione loves her rigid schedule and Neville his comfortable familiarity, they're Gryffindors at heart, and never grow out of their love of adventure. Together, they experiment with everything.
Fears
Fears change after school: no Snape, no bad grades. Hermione's still afraid of letting herself fail in anything. When she loses her first election, she has a breakdown. Neville's still afraid of letting himself fail from other's expectations. Hermione has high expectations of him, and he can't help but worry about letting her down. Neville keeps telling Hermione to keep trying, and that just because she deserved to win doesn't mean everyone's so. Hermione has patience with Neville when he says or does something stupid, and tells him that she still loves him not matter what happens. Fear is temporary.
Greenhouse
Neville insists on having a little greenhouse attached to their place, and uses the one at Longbottom house until he can afford his own place. Hermione's happy he's dedicated his life to research, learning and teaching, and can't help but satiate her own curiosity in Herbology. Her initial hesitation was undone immediately after entering. They learn a lot about Herbology in the greenhouse, but they learn about each other, too. Sometimes it's essential for Neville's job. Sometimes it's just a place for them to get away from the world. It's full of life and beauty, just like life should be.
Hogwarts
Hogwarts represents a lot of memories to Neville and Hermione. Good memories of friends, feats, fun, of people met and things learned and people who love them. There's bad memories: bullies, terror, stress, monsters, murderers, war, loss. There's Ginny and Harry and Ron and Lupin and Dumbledore, but there's also Snape and Umbridge and Malfoy. After the war, both the good and bad are gone forever. But Hagrid's still there. And Mc Gonagall and Sprout and Flitwick, and all the memories they've ever had and continue to make in both their jobs, years into the future. Hogwarts is still home.
Intelligence
Hermione's intelligence is her main point of pride. She's quite proud of her intelligence, gained from hard work and study. Neville fell madly in love with that intelligence, as it gives her amazing power and capabilities that he never dreamed of. Neville doesn't hold his intelligence in high regard, given his grandmother's chidings and Snape's bullying. Hermione tells him "I'm best friends with Harry and Ron; it doesn't matter as long as you make the effort". Sometimes he surprises her, or teaches her something new, or knows something she doesn't. Hermione loves when that happens, and loves him for it.
Justice
Social justice is something Neville and Hermione share. Neville makes sure students feel comfortable in his class and confronts bullies no matter their social stature, once even confronting another teacher for acting in a Snapish fashion. Hermione runs her platform on justice on the marginalized of the wizarding world: elves, merfolk, centaurs, goblins. Pureblood supremacists and other bigots have threatened their lives, but it hasn't been the first time. Neville's stared into the face of Voldemort, and Hermione has avoided death more narrowly than anyone else. They're Gryffindors: they're not afraid of standing up for what's right in the world.
Kiss
Their first kiss was at Hogwarts; Hermione kissed Neville on the cheek and he walked right into a wall. After the war, they kissed again. It takes a while for them to become comfortable with kissing, but they eventually become addicted to it. It's odd for students to see their absent minded but very supportive professor kissing his wife whenever they meet. Hermione sometimes forgets she's a professional when Neville's around her. They kiss for luck. They kiss for thankfulness. Sometimes they just kiss when they see each other. However long the kiss, wherever it is, it's addictive for them.
Life and Love
Neville can live without love. He has his gran and Trevor for a little while more. He owls with Seamus and Dean and Parvati and Lavender. Ron, Harry and Hermione are still his best friends. He has a lot of work to do if he wants to be a professor. Hermione can live without love; she has Ron and Harry and the other Weasleys. She has mum and dad and the family. She has Crookshanks. And she has her books and her work and her career. But both know living in love is the most amazing thing in the universe.
Memory
Hermione has the best memory of the two, of course. Neville keeps forgetting names and dates, times and numbers. He remembers the important things. He remembers what Hermione likes. He remembers the students in his class. He remembers Hermione's favorite foods, flowers, perfumes, kinks. He remembers to tell her every day that he loves her. He's just happy that Hermione remembers all of his preferences in everything. She has enough to remember; obligations, readings, meetings. She still remembers to make time for Neville, and makes time to remember everything about him. She always remembers to tell him she loves him.
Names
"What does the name Hermione mean?" Neville once asked her. "Well, it's Greek: it's the feminine form of Hermes, god of messengers, merchants, creativity and travels, " she explained, "It's also the name of the queen of Sicily in Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale'. My parents really love Shakespeare" She followed that up with a chuckle. "It's a pretty name. What does mine mean?" "Neville is French; it means new town. It's a Norman family from the 11th century that settled in Northumberland and Yorkshire. It's a pretty name too; the name of the bravest men in England" "Bravest?" "Like you"
Owl
"What's that owl doing on our porch? That's not the Prophet" "It's got something on it's leg;'Happy housewarming. Congratulations on your new flat together. I bought you two an owl so you can keep in touch. Love, gran.' I wish she was like your parents and just got us a cell phone. I guess it's the thought that counts" "Time to look up owl keeping. I know this will help us, but I wasn't sure if you were up for it" "If I can handle Crookshanks I can handle the owl" "I'm rubbing off on you" "Good, I need that"
Parents
Hermione loves her parents; they're supportive, understanding, patient, and caring. They were quite shocked to learn of her abilities but became proud of her because of it. Neville loves his parents; even though they never spoke a coherent word to him during his entire childhood, he still loves them with all his heart. After the war, the first thing Neville and Hermione do is cure their parents. They work together tirelessly, struggling to invent new spells, new potions, and do the unthinkable. It's all worth it, however, when, one by one, they open their eyes and say their child's name.
Questions
Neville is often confused by muggle things, but with Hermione explaining it, he can get through the situations. He surprises Hermione how fast he learns, thanks to having a lot of conversations with Dean and Seamus. He's outright flattered and turns pink when Hermione asks him something about wizards and magic. As soon as he gets his words in order, she understands and thanks him. Often he's asking the questions about both the wizarding and muggle worlds, but usually Hermione tells him what he needs to do regardless of him asking. Most people are annoyed by Hermione's lectures. He isn't.
Ron
"Is it too soon?" he asks her quietly, mindful of the breakup, "I mean you and Ron really…fell apart" "No, it's time for me to move on. Of course I'd love to go to the party with you" her tone changes from sad and wistful to her inspirational determination. "I mean, I don't want to ruin our friendship, or yours and Ron's, but…I'd r-really like to go" he says with his old hesitancy. "I think after what happened, I could use some comfort. I'm sure, Neville". And with that she smiles. And when she smiles, his heart leaps like Trevor.
Smell
They learn each other's smells. Neville smells like chocolate, fresh-cut grass and mint-toothpaste. Hermione smells like fresh parchment, shampoo and cinnamon. Their smells change: Neville sweats in the greenhouse. Hermione is sometimes stained from mud. Neville likes soap that smells like fruit. Hermione wears flower perfume. When Neville cooks he smells like what he's cooking. When Hermione comes back from the meeting she smells like wood soot from the floo. Sometimes Hermione smells like Crookshanks and Neville smells like fertilizer. But it's not the smell they love; it's the person behind that scent that they love so completely and utterly.
Tea
"Thank you for inviting me for tea, Hermione" "Well, as dates go, I decided to start small and comforting" "Nothing's more comforting than tea. Have you ever been to Madam Puddifoot's?" "Yes, went there third year for a few minutes. Ron got bored so we moved on." "I didn't get to go until the next year. I love the way it smells. What kind of tea did you make?" "Lemongrass and ginger. It's refreshing and really stimulating. Sugar? " "Yes please. So, refreshing, stimulating and sweet." Neville pauses "Perfect" "Really? I didn't know it was your favorite" "Sounds like you"
Umbrella
"Uh, thanks for the umbrella Hagrid" Hagrid turned around, looked for listeners, and crouched down to whisper. "It's yer dad's wand. I know it was broken at the battle. Thought you might want a keepsake, or maybe a backup. It still works." The half-giant gave him a wink. "Thanks…thank you" Neville whispered, taken aback. "Hermione'll be happy to hear it-oh, shouldn't have told ye that" "Was this her idea?" "Wand yes, umbrella no" . "Well, thanks Hagrid. It means a lot" he smiled back at his teacher. Hermione turned pink when Neville hugged her in the hallway, but grinned nonetheless.
Valentine
"Oh, thank you" Hermione blushes at the offered rose, "you didn't have to buy it for me" "I grew it myself. Remember the project the other week? I decided to go with a rose bush for the project. The rest can go on my project" "Is this why you asked if the flower count affected the final grade?" "Yes" It's Neville's turn to blush. "Yeah, I didn't want a bad grade" "So I'm a good influence on you" "More than just a good influence. Happy Valentine's Day, Hermione" "Happy Valentine's Day Neville" She grinned and it was more than enough.
Wedding
It wasn't at St. Paul's. It wasn't a massive party. But Harry was there. And Ron. And McGongall and Hagrid and Sprout and Flitiwick and all the Weasleys and all the parents and of course Grandmother Augusta. And of course, so was Neville. Hermione didn't really think about weddings until Neville proposed, and from then on spent days planning and scheduling. It was all worth it; the invitations, the decorations, the reservations, buying a new dress. But Neville lifting the veil, his eyes wide and his breath hot on her face, leaning down to kiss; it was all worth it.
X words
Neville studies Xenia and xylem in Xyloid bought a copy of a Xia Gui piece and a Xylograph for the sitting room. Hermione can turn Xanthan into rubber. Neville was stained yellow by Xanthein, going with his slightly xanthochromic hair. They once went to Xining for a conference. In Mexico they saw the floating gardens of Xochimilco. Hermione admitted to her xenophobia as part of her jealousy of Fleur, and Neville convinced her to apologize. They took a Xebec off Aegina. On Halloween Hermione dressed as Xena and Neville's mouth went xeric. On a date they watched the X-Men.
Yule Ball
"Hermione, Hogwarts is hosting the Triwizard Tournament this year" "Yes, I know. Viktor told me about the last one." "Well, would you like to go to the Yule Ball with me this time?" "Not going to let him beat you again?" "Never again" "Of course" She laughs. "Oh, if only Ginny knew what she gave up" "If only Viktor knew what he gave up" "Are you jealous of him?" "Not anymore. Not even Ron is now" "I'm so thankful about that. Now, we only have 10 months to get ready for it" "For you, love, I'm always ready for anything."
Zinnia
"Wow. It's a beautiful Zinnia. Is there any reason for this?" Neville turns bright pink. "I just thought you deserved it. I hope you knew about them growing next to the castle" "Zinnia? In Scotland? That's …..not ….possible" "I'll show you" Hermione takes him to where the flowers are. It's a long walk, but for both students it's well worth the trip. "You're better at this than I am" she explains as they go. "Coming from you, that means a lot" . The red crest of flowers glows over the clover. As he kneels to examine it, Hermione smiles. "Magical"
