Chapter 9:
A.N:) Wow. You know, it's been a while since I've done this. Typing that is. I write everything in pen and then type it. I'm really sorry for how long it took me to write this chapter but it's the last one and I really didn't want to finish it. I'm going to miss writing this story so much. One day, I hope to be an author and this story has just helped me develop my writing skills and has furthered my imagination. It's a hard thing, to let go. This was really the first story I ever wrote. I've been working on it for five months. Around 50 hours of my life went to this. Listen to me, you'd think I'd won the Nobel Prize for literature. Yeah, like that's ever going to happen. Well, who knows? That is one of the morals of this story. Reach for the sky- everything's possible...
Disclaimer: All characters and places belong to J.K. Rowling. Neville does too, but funnily, he's got a lot of me in there...
"Stupid Giant Squid!" Neville muttered to himself as he stormed up to Gryffindor Tower three hours later. Though he was soaking wet, you could practically see the fumes coming out of his ears. "Why does everything have to happen to me?" He was incredibly annoyed and it wasn't hard to understand why.
Hannah had met him, as planned, 2 1/2 hours later at the lake. She had found Neville sitting on a patch of grass next to a non-magic willow, staring out over the tranquil waters, deep in thought. He had been absentmindedly picking at the grass and Hannah thought that he looked much more mature than he had before he'd gotten sick.
Neville, on his part, had been deep in thought. He'd been trying to find the courage to do what he was about to do.
Truth be told, he'd been furious and greatly annoyed each time someone had interrupted them, but deep down, he'd always been just a little bit grateful. He'd never kissed a girl before and he was worried. Very worried. He didn't exactly know what to do. But this time, he wasn't as nervous as usual. He knew that Hannah didn't care that he didn't know what to do. Chances were (or at least Neville hoped so) that didn't know what to do either...
Suddenly, someone covered his eyes from behind and he smiled.
"Hi Hannah!" he said.
"Oh!" Hannah cried in disappointment, "I'd been hoping that you wouldn't guess it was me."
"Yes, I see what you mean," he began sarcastically, "I know at least a dozen other people that would sneak up on me the same way!" He laughed as Hannah pretended to be very offended.
They had talked then, about everything and anything. He hadn't had a good talk like that with Hannah in a long time. She was still his beat friend and she listened to everything he had to say with patience and understanding.
All those dreams in the hospital wing had brought his thoughts back to Voldemort. He had completely (or mostly) forgotten about him during the first month of school, in the stupor of being back and of trying to be with Hannah. His dreams had reminded him that the Dark Lord was still out there, getting stronger each day. Hannah knew that Neville understood the threat of Voldemort better than most people did. He was
probably the reason that Neville was so closed up and shy.
Throughout their talk Hannah comforted Neville as he opened himself up to her. She was the only person he could really talk to.
"I don't know, Hannah." He concluded, "What's going to happen to us? To Everyone? Everything's just been getting worse and worse."
Hannah moved closer to Neville and rested her head on his shoulder. "Neville, I wish I had answers for you, but I think you know more about this than I do."
Neville put his left arm around Hannah and looked down at her. "What bothers me most is that we know he's planning something terrible, but we don't know when he'll strike. It could be a year from now but then again it could be tomorrow. I'm so scared Hannah." Indeed, Hannah glanced at Neville at that moment and saw the fear in his eyes. Neville continued, "What if something happened to you? I couldn't live anymore! I... I..." Neville's voice faltered.
"What is it?" Hannah asked, sitting up, alarmed.
"I, I just don't want to think of the fact that I could lose you like I've lost everyone else."
Hannah's eyes shone with tears as she answered. "Neville, You'll never lose me, I promise!" she cried and hugged him. "I promise." She whispered in his ear.
What happened next, Neville recalled as he accidentally sank into one of the trick stairs on his way back, could only be described as a cruel twist of fate.
Hannah had back away from her hug and began to lean towards Neville, who had done the same. They had been so close that he could feel Hannah's shallow breathing on his lips. He swallowed and closed his eyes...
Of course, the Giant Squid had had to choose that moment to go splashing around the lake!
Neville reached and stomped his foot in frustration, dripping water all over the floor. He looked around, eyes narrowed, catching his breath.
It was the worst luck in the world, he decided, his luck. No. Wait. He'd promised himself that he'd stop being helpless.
He turned back to go through the Portrait Hole... and slammed right into the Fat Lady!
"Owww!!!" Two voices cried out simultaneously.
Neville staggered away clutching his head and the Fat Lady looked at him darkly.
"You need a password to get in. No matter how much you try, you're NOT a Hogwarts ghost!" she said dryly.
"I'm so sorry!" Neville apologized. "I thought I'd already given you the password."
"No. I'm afraid you have to open your mouth and speak for that!"
And so, a very disgruntled Neville opened his mouth and spoke and entered Gryffindor Tower without banging into and annoying anything further.
The common room was practically empty, being as the quidditch match was still on. There were only a few students scattered about, taking a break from the excitement.
Neville took a quick look around. Needless to say, Harry and Ron were not there.
He climbed the stairs to his room and went and flopped down on his bed, ignoring the fact that he was still quite wet. He heard a croak next to his ear and turned on his side.
"Trevor!" Neville exclaimed, finding his toad sitting inches from his nose.
Trevor, terrified by Neville's shout, jumped a foot in the air and landed on Neville's pillow. He gave an angry "croak."
"Sorry." Neville said apologetically.
"Ribbit."
Neville looked at his pet toad thoughtfully. "You know Trevor," he said, "You're really great to talk to, and I know you won't tell anyone my secrets..."
Trevor croaked.
"And I know you understand me even though you're a toad."
"Ribbit."
Neville chuckled. "Yes, and I understand you even though I'm not." He sighed audibly.
"Ribbit, croooaak?"
"What's wrong?!" Neville got up and laughed mirthlessly. "Well, everything for a start! Don't get me wrong, I'm feeling better and there hasn't been any mail about Gran so she must be alright, but everything seems so, I don't know, distant, out of place. Do you know what I'm on about?"
"Croak."
"Good. You see, the thing is, every time I try to find time alone with Hannah something always goes wrong." Neville put his face in his hands and groaned. "This time was a nightmare. Just look at me!"
Trevor tilted his head to the side. "Croak."
"What do you mean, I look fine to you!" Neville said looking up suddenly. "I'm all wet! The Giant Squid simply decided to take a swim at the exact moment that I... Arghhh!!!" Neville flopped onto his bed yet again causing Trevor to make his highest jump yet and plop down again next to him.
"Ribbit!"
"Sorry again." Neville replied. He gave a sigh and looked down at his hands. "Do you think it might be fate?"
Trevor croaked and then bounced.
"I mean, Professor Trelawney was talking about it the other day. She said that the course of everyone's life is written in the stars at their birth, and you can't defy what's been foretold. Normally, I believe her in class, look at the amount of teacups I've broken, but Gran always told me that life was what you made of it." He paused and took Trevor in his hands. "Now I'm not so sure."
Trevor stayed where he was for a moment and then jumped into Neville's lap. He then bounced to the floor and scuttled under the bed.
"Trevor! Don't run away!" Neville cried.
Trevor might be a good listener but he was terrible at staying still for any period of time exceeding five minutes.
"Trevor!" Neville called again, annoyed. He got down on his knees and reached under his bed.
Neville rarely cleaned down there and even though the house-elves cleaned the dorms every day, believe it or not, they often neglected to tidy under beds. Oh they swept and dusted but anything that fell down there stayed down there. Period.
Neville's hand fell upon something flat made of paper. He pulled it out. His calendar! He'd wondered where he'd put that.
He got ready to go completely under but stopped when he suddenly remembered something. He grabbed the calendar and turned the pages quickly to October. What was the date today? It had been the twenty fourth of September when he'd heard about Gran. So today, today...
Neville gasped excitedly.
His birthday was in two days!
Trevor forgotten, Neville stood up and paced the room. His birthday was in two days! Two days and he hadn't even remembered! Well that was no surprise, considering all that happened recently.
A plan began to form in Neville's head. The excitement of his birthday having sent an adrenaline rush through his body.
Perhaps fate was on his side after all.
The next morning at breakfast, Neville knew what he was going to do.
The Ravenclaw-Slytherin match was still on so half of the school wasn't at breakfast. Harry and Ron, however, were taking a break.
Neville walked into the Great Hall, spotted them and headed towards them to take a seat. But as he approached, he saw Harry quickly silence Ron and nod in his direction. Ron turned around and saw him coming. He turned back to the table, pretending to have been looking at someone else. Neville's suspicions arose as he sat down opposite them and he had a feeling that something wasn't right.
"Good morning!" he said cheerfully, trying to break the awkward silence that had come with his joining the table.
"Hi." Harry said, not meeting Neville's gaze.
"Morning." Said Ron.
Harry glanced at Neville. "You look much better. How do you feel?" Harry was obviously trying to take Neville's mind off of whatever he and Ron had been talking about before. Neville let him.
"I'm feeling much better, thank you." He replied. Harry opened his mouth to say something more but was interrupted by the arrival of the mail.
Dozens of owls streamed into the Great Hall bringing packages, letters and newspapers to their owners.
Neville applied himself to his toast. He wasn't expecting any letters.
That's why he was so surprised when a Great Grey owl landed in his porridge with a letter in its beak.
"Hey Neville, you got a letter." Ron exclaimed.
With a shaking hand Neville reached out and took the letter from the owl, who, having concluded his job, plucked a rind of bacon from Neville's plate and flew away.
Neville looked at the letter and his heart sank when he saw it was from his grandmother. He hoped she was alright.
"It's from my Gran." He said, his voice raspy.
Ron looked up from the letter his mother had sent and Harry put down his copy of the Daily Prophet and eyed the envelope worriedly.
"Go on, open it." He said trying to encourage him.
Neville slowly opened the envelope and took out the letter. He unfolded the parchment and read:
~~*~~
'Dearest Neville,
I'm writing to tell you that I'm going to be alright.-'
"Gran's ok!" Neville cried, insurmountable relief welling up inside him.
Harry smile, really smiled, and Ron 'whooped!'.
Neville turned back yo the letter.
'The doctors at St. Mungo's have informed me that from now on, I'm going to have to be a little more careful. It was quite a serious attack. They told me that it was caused mostly by stress. The truth is, I've been very worried about you lately, going to school where I know I can't watch over you. Everything is changing and we are as well. All things as we have known them are now coming to an end and for good or the opposite, our way of life is reshaping itself into something we haven't yet encountered.
But still, always remember what I told you. Life is what you make of it.'
Neville looked up, dumbstruck.
How did she know? How could she know that that was just what he'd needed now?! Perhaps they were both right. His Gran and Trelawney. Life is written in the stars but fate can be rewritten. What's been foretold can be wrong and what is supposed to be can be changed. Our actions are always held in the balance between good and evil. Only we can decide which way they'll go.
Fate is what you make of it.
'I want you to know something. I know I scold more than I praise and I know I'm a bit harsh sometimes, but you should know how proud I love you and how proud I am to have you as a grandson. I was ill, but I pulled through for and because of you. My thoughts were ever with you and ever will be. You are my light, you are my heart, you are my world.
Live.
All my love and Happy Birthday,
Gran
P.S. Great Uncle Algie sends his regards.'
~~*~~
Neville stared at the letter in his hands, not knowing exactly what to do. He had tears in his eyes but didn't bother to wipe them away. What was one supposed to feel after something like that? He knew his grandmother loved him but she didn't often tell him and she had never once told him she was proud of him. He felt love and warmth and joy and almost at once felt an even greater fear for her health than he had before. His emotions were overwhelming. A tear rolled down his cheek.
"Neville?" A tentative voice called him back from his trance-like state. He looked up, completely disoriented, to find Harry and Ron looking at him with worried expressions. "Are you alright?" Ron asked.
"What? Oh, yes, I'm fine. I... It's just..." Neville wiped his eyes. "I'll, I'm fine." He smiled. "Great, as a matter of fact."
Harry and Ron exchanged concerned glances, but went back to their breakfasts.
They day passed without any surprises besides for the sudden end of the quidditch game thanks to a spectacular catch of the golden snitch by the Ravenclaw captain and seeker, Cho Chang.
Neville was in a good mood all day and was fully confident that he'd be able to catch Hannah alone the next day.
In order to do so, Neville went up to the owlry that night to send her a note, which she would receive the following morning. It was short and to the point.
-Hannah-
Meet me at the library tonight at 6:00.
I need to talk to you.
Love, Neville
He left the note with one of the school owl along with explicit instructions not to deliver it until breakfast. He then went down to Gryffindor Tower to do a nasty Potions essay on Cordovian Carris Seeds for Snape.
Neville couldn't be more thrilled.
The morning dawned bright and clear. Outside the birds were greeting the sun and the dew was glimmering in the grass and trees.
Neville couldn't have asked for a nicer day. He woke up refreshed and excited, his dreams had been calm and soothing. He felt different, somehow, being 15. It was funny, he thought, he was barely older than he'd been the day before and yet it seemed as if he'd grown so much in the short time between yesterday and today. It' the feeling everyone gets, knowing that you can finally call yourself one year older officially.
He awoke enveloped in the warmth of his covers with the sun shining through the window onto his face. He didn't want to get out of bed but the sound of movement in the room told him that he'd better get up and go down to breakfast.
Breakfast. There was something important about breakfast.
Suddenly, Neville leaped out of bed with a yell and started putting his socks on.
"Arghhh!!!!" Ron jumped and fell out of his four-poster. Neville's shout had managed to wake up the only boy who'd still been sleeping.
Harry, still dressed in his boxers and t-shirt (A.N:) That's for all you Harry lovers out there, including me!) burst out laughing as a very disgruntled Ron untangled himself from his blankets and got up. His hair was sticking up in all directions and so when he glared in Neville's direction, to give him a piece of his mind, he looked remarkably like a mad scientist. This caused Harry to laugh even harder.
Ron shot Harry a look that would have quailed a hippogriff and once again turned to Neville.
"What in bloody hell are you yelling about?!!" he shouted louder than Neville had before, "You want to scare me to death?!"
Neville blushed and smiled apologetically. "I'm terribly sorry." He said.
"Yeah Ron. Give him a break, we all know what today is." Harry said slyly.
Neville's eyes widened.
"Happy birthday Neville." Harry said, smiling and still snickering about Ron's hair.
Dean and Seamus also gave Neville their congratulations. While Seamus was shaking his hand, he saw Harry give Ron a meaningful look and saw Ron smile conspiratorially. Neville furrowed his brow. Something was definitely up...
Ron came up and gave him and gave him a slap on the back causing him to sputter and cough. "Happy birthday Neville." He said, grinning, looking all the more like a mad scientist. "No hard feelings I suppose." He added still slightly disgruntled, earning him Harry's elbow in his ribs.
"Oww!" Ron rubbed his side but joined in the other boy's laughter. "Well, in any case, congratulations." He said smiling.
"Thank you." Neville replied happily to them all and then began searching under his bed for his missing shoe.
Breakfast that morning was a tense affair for Neville. He kept alternating his glance from the ceiling, waiting for the mail, to Fred and George who'd been giving him strange looks and snickering all morning. They were making him extremely nervous. And he still couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. He served himself toast and eggs but barely touched it out of nerves.
He looked towards the Hufflepuff table and saw Hannah talking with her friend Susan Bones. The rest of the Great Hall suddenly ceased to exist and there was only her, rosy cheeked and smiling. She glanced over in his direction only to find him doing the same and gave him a wave.
Neville's stomach disappeared, no, wait, it was still there, it was just spinning around so fast that it seemed like it wasn't.
He was suddenly very nervous and was just contemplating going up to the owlry to stop his note when he was distracted by the sound of hundreds of flapping wings.
Now his stomach had disappeared.
He looked up, turning pale and spotted the school owl he'd used soaring down towards Hannah. He watched her take the note quizzically and read it. She looked up towards Neville and nodded, blushing slightly. Neville forgot his dread and became completely unfocused again, sighing happily as he watched he return to her toast and juice, smiling to herself. He didn't notice Fred and George exchange knowing glances as their faces lit up with the same unnerving grin...
Fred and George might have been planning something exceptionally nasty but being as Neville didn't know about it, his only worries that day were connected to meeting Hannah at 6:oo. Time seemed to pass by agonizingly slow and lessons seemed so much more boring than usual. Even Herbology didn't interest him today.
"Longbottom! Pay attention!" Professor Sprout called for about the third time that day.
Neville tried to concentrate on the Cat-whiskered Cactus that he was supposed to be repotting. He couldn't see what was so interesting or magical about a cactus that said 'meow' whenever it was thirsty (which, of course, wasn't very often) and nothing more.
"What's the matter, Shortbottom? Your Gran die? Or did she just finally realize that she had a total squib for a grandson?!" Malfoy laughed and Crabbe and Goyle joined in stupidly.
Neville's hands shook with hurt and anger as he pulled over a bag of dragon manure. He ignored Malfoy, or at least he tried to. He kept reminding himself what Harry, Ron and Hermione had told him in his first year... "You're worth twelve of Malfoy, Neville."
The memory made him smile even though it also reminded him of the fateful quidditch match of the same year where he'd tried to take on both Crabbe and Goyle single-handedly. He'd been out cold for two days afterwards...
That day, McGonnagal gave him one detention and yelled at him four times for not paying attention, he broke three more of Professor Trelawney's teacups, fell asleep in Professor Binn's class (well, that wasn't really out of the ordinary) and stepped in several different trick stairs.
The day was going wonderfully.
Dinner was at 5:00 that evening, and Neville couldn't eat a bite. He was utterly distracted and kept looking over at the Hufflepuff table. Harry and Ron were discussing something in hushed voices, so Neville couldn't hear them. Not that he was paying them any attention any way.
He was going to do it. He was going to kiss Hannah. Well, he hoped he'd kiss Hannah. And if anyone interrupted them this time, they could expect to be cursed into next week!
This thought gave him back some appetite and he served himself a generous portion of shepherd's pie and mashed potatoes.
As he ate, Neville noticed something odd. First of all, even though it wasn't really that odd, Fred and George were whispering and had that look on their faces that always meant no good again. Second, throughout dinner he could feel people looking at him but each time he turned to the direction it was coming from, people suddenly became very interested in their food or a knife or the tablecloth.
It was that feeling again. He couldn't quite put his finger on it. It was kind of like everyone knew something that he didn't but what it was, Neville didn't know.
He would figure it out later, he decided. He had more pressing matters to deal with.
Neville returned to his food (though he had quite lost his appetite again) and paid
attention to nothing but his thoughts for the rest of meal.
Dinner finished at 5:45, so Neville had just enough time to rush upstairs to the library. He entered the large room quietly, careful not to disturb Madame Pince's beloved peace and quiet and made his way to a table near the back. The library smelled dusty as always but what Neville always noticed was that it smelled of secrets as well. He didn't know how it could smell of secrets, he just knew that it did.
Secrets and dust. A good enough mixture to make anyone's skin tingle, Neville thought. And good enough to make anyone extremely nervous. And that, Neville was.
He looked at his watch. It read 5:56. Neville suddenly recalled that summer when he'd waited for Hannah to show up in Diagon Alley and she hadn't come. He still winced at the memory but for some reason he knew that she'd be here today.
Neville sat back and relaxed (well, sort of) and waited.
Not five minutes had gone by when he spotted a familiar figure come through the door. He got up and walked towards Hannah and as he approached her she smiled at him and his heart did a somersault in his chest. He smiled.
"Hi, Hannah." He said.
"Hi, Neville." She answered.
They stood there nervously, an awkward silence hanging between them.
Neville racked his brain for something to say but didn't come up with anything.
The silence was just becoming unbearable when Hannah said, "Do you want to go for a walk?"
Neville looked at her gratefully. "I'd love to."
So they left the library and headed off down the Charms corridor. They were quiet as they walked, but know it was a different silence. They were both deep in thought, simply enjoying the presence of the person next to them.
After about ten minutes, Neville stopped Hannah and nodded towards an empty classroom to his right.
"Come on." He said.
She followed him into the abandoned room and sat down on one of the front desks. Laughing, she said, "Well, Professor Longbottom, I suggest you begin the lesson!"
Neville smiled but didn't laugh. Ha was too nervous. What he really wanted to do was simply hold her and kiss her, without any awkwardness, without having to have a mile long discussion beforehand. Why couldn't life be simpler? But that was a question no one knew the answer to.
Neville suddenly remembered the letter his grandmother had sent him the day before.
"Hey, my Gran sent me a letter yesterday!" he began brightly. He got up from the desk he'd been sitting on and pulled the envelope from his pocket.
Hannah looked surprised. "She did? Oh, Neville, did something happen? I hope nothing's wrong! Is something wro-" Neville had walked over to her while she'd been rambling and daringly put his finger to her lips to quiet her. Hannah's eyes widened in surprise.
"Shhh..." he said. "Gran's fine, or she's going to be."
Neville realized suddenly where his finger was and quickly removed it. He cleared his throat.
But Hannah had been temporarily distracted by Neville's good news. She looked ecstatic. "Oh! I'm so happy for you Neville! And relieved. I know how important she is for you. This is wonderful!" She hugged Neville, sharing his relief and joy while giving him some of her own.
"Yeah." Neville said, his knees slightly weak from being so close to Hannah. "It is." He pulled away. "Do you want to read it?" he asked her.
"The letter? Are you sure? I mean, you don't mind?"
"Hannah, I love you." He said earnestly. "You are the only person that I would ever dream of sharing all of my secrets with. And myself." He paused and looked at her intently. "Everything that I am is yours. Forever."
Hannah gave a small gasp and looked as though she would cry.
He handed her the letter and as it passed from his hand to hers, they both felt a sudden jolt, like a shock throughout their entire bodies. They looked up at eachother quickly, wonder imminent in their faces. They knew, somehow, that what they'd felt had not been a fluke.
Hannah looked down at the letter in her hand as if Neville had literally just given his whole self to her in that envelope.
It was the gesture that sealed their fate in the stare for eternity and it was a fate that neither of them would ever want to change.
She slowly took out the parchment, unfolded it and read. Neville watched her expression soften and a tear roll down her cheek as she reached the end and then, having finished, look up at him with shining eyes.
"My G-d, Neville. I know how much this must mean to you. And for you to have gotten this now, just when you probably needed it most."
'There she goes again.' Thought Neville. 'Understanding parts of me I haven't even told her about.' She really was extraordinary.
"You know," he said aloud, "she's right. Times are changing, and even though we still have the present. For as long as we do, you'll have me."
"Oh, Neville." Hannah whispered.
And so, he kissed her.
It was nothing at all like he'd expected it. Hannah's lips were soft and sweet and fit his perfectly at every angle, but that wasn't what he meant. He'd thought he'd feel exhilarated or happy, but he hadn't expected everything that had come with kissing her. He felt overwhelmed. There was love and need, there was joy and grief, fear but confidence. There were memories and dreams, hopes, desires.
There was the past, there was the present and there was the future.
Neville was completely lost, yet he knew exactly where he was and what to do. He held Hannah by her waist, though, whether to bring her closer or to keep himself from falling down, he didn't know. Indeed, he felt that if he ever let go he would lose half of himself and collapse. His breathing had become shallow and he found that he'd have to stop soon to breath.
Drat. Lungs were such a bother.
He pulled away and leaned his forehead against Hannah's. She was also breathing unevenly and her cheeks were flushed.
"Wow." Was all that Neville could whisper. His voice had become completely useless.
They stood there for a few minutes in eachother's arms, neither one moving.
Neville felt entirely at peace with himself just holding Hannah, breathing in the smell of her hair- peaches and cinnamon. He sighed.
"For a while I thought fate was against us." He said, having recovered the use of his voice. He looked over Hannah's head out the window.
"Why?" she asked.
"You know." he chuckled. "Somehow, someone or something always managed to bother us. I thought I'd go crazy. But during the last few days I realized that if you believe something is possible, then it is." He looked down at Hannah to find her smiling up at him.
"Trevor agrees with me."
"Oh, really?" Hannah said, amused.
"Yes." Neville grinned and kissed her again.
And again he was lost... that is, he was lost until-
"Neville?!"
Hannah and Neville broke apart faster than Harry could catch the golden snitch and turned to find none other than Harry himself standing there, looking at them incredulously. But that wasn't all. Oh, no.
Neville and Hannah's faces blushed crimson when they saw that half of Gryffindor was standing behind him.
All was silent until Fred or George called out from behind Harry, "Way to go Neville!"
Neville thought he'd die of embarrassment.
Harry smiled and the rest of the Gryffindors laughed good-naturedly and then cried-
"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY NEVILLE!"
Everyone entered the classroom, many holding cakes and candies and bottles of butterbeer. Harry came up to him, bemused.
"Sorry Neville. Did we interrupt something?"
"Harry! What is this?!" he asked, exasperated.
"Isn't it obvious? Happy birthday Neville. Ron, Hermione and I planned the party, although I did most of the work considering Ron and Hermione were usually "preoccupied"." He snickered.
"But Harry," Neville began, still blushing, Hannah standing beside him rosy-cheeked, "couldn't you have done this in Gryffindor Tower?" He looked at Harry expectantly.
"Oh, well, Fred and George had an idea to bring the party to you. Now I know why. I think they probably knew you two were going to meet, though I have no idea how."
At that moment, the twins in question came up to Neville. Fred (or he assumed that it was Fred) punched him in the arm. "We knew you had it in you all along, Neville!" he laughed.
Neville was by nature a peaceful boy but at that moment he thought that he would strangle Fred and George. They were smaller than Crabbe and Goyle. He could take them.
George turned to Hannah and bowed in (what he must have thought was) a graceful manner. "Neville, if anything can be said about you, it is that you have excellent taste in women." He took Hannah's hand and kissed it.
Fred snorted. "Yeah, my brother, the gentleman. Watch out, you'll be replacing Percy as Mum's favorite next, George."
Harry, Neville and Hannah burst out laughing.
George pretended to be mortally offended while Fred grabbed some potato chips.
"Crisp, Neville?" he offered.
Neville took it without thinking and popped it into his mouth.
"No! Neville!" Hannah yelled. But it was too late. Neville had turned into a rather large purple toad.
Everyone laughed, including Hannah. Neville gave a loud croak, bounced once and turned back into himself.
"Fred and George!" He yelled.
"Sorry Neville!" said George grinning. "We needed someone to test them on!"
"Come and get 'em!" called Fred to the other party members. "Croaking Crisps! Brought to you exclusively by Weasley's Wizard Wheezes! The larger the crunch, the larger the toad!"
Neville couldn't help it. He laughed too and as he looked around he felt that he really had friends.
Harry was cracking up, holding Ginny's hand. Ron and Hermione were off in a corner, slightly oblivious to anything else that existed and Hannah, well Hannah was next to him and she loved him. That was all he needed. His grandmother was going to be fine, life was moving on. True, no one knew what tomorrow would hold but somehow, Neville knew that tomorrow wouldn't be all that bad, or the rest of life, for that matter.
And suddenly, Neville understood-
Everything was going to be ok.
The End.
A.N:) That's it. Finito! I'm really going to miss this story.
I might write an epilogue. We'll see.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed this story and I hope you enjoy my next one, which I've already begun to plan...
Bye ~ RosieG
A.N:) Wow. You know, it's been a while since I've done this. Typing that is. I write everything in pen and then type it. I'm really sorry for how long it took me to write this chapter but it's the last one and I really didn't want to finish it. I'm going to miss writing this story so much. One day, I hope to be an author and this story has just helped me develop my writing skills and has furthered my imagination. It's a hard thing, to let go. This was really the first story I ever wrote. I've been working on it for five months. Around 50 hours of my life went to this. Listen to me, you'd think I'd won the Nobel Prize for literature. Yeah, like that's ever going to happen. Well, who knows? That is one of the morals of this story. Reach for the sky- everything's possible...
Disclaimer: All characters and places belong to J.K. Rowling. Neville does too, but funnily, he's got a lot of me in there...
"Stupid Giant Squid!" Neville muttered to himself as he stormed up to Gryffindor Tower three hours later. Though he was soaking wet, you could practically see the fumes coming out of his ears. "Why does everything have to happen to me?" He was incredibly annoyed and it wasn't hard to understand why.
Hannah had met him, as planned, 2 1/2 hours later at the lake. She had found Neville sitting on a patch of grass next to a non-magic willow, staring out over the tranquil waters, deep in thought. He had been absentmindedly picking at the grass and Hannah thought that he looked much more mature than he had before he'd gotten sick.
Neville, on his part, had been deep in thought. He'd been trying to find the courage to do what he was about to do.
Truth be told, he'd been furious and greatly annoyed each time someone had interrupted them, but deep down, he'd always been just a little bit grateful. He'd never kissed a girl before and he was worried. Very worried. He didn't exactly know what to do. But this time, he wasn't as nervous as usual. He knew that Hannah didn't care that he didn't know what to do. Chances were (or at least Neville hoped so) that didn't know what to do either...
Suddenly, someone covered his eyes from behind and he smiled.
"Hi Hannah!" he said.
"Oh!" Hannah cried in disappointment, "I'd been hoping that you wouldn't guess it was me."
"Yes, I see what you mean," he began sarcastically, "I know at least a dozen other people that would sneak up on me the same way!" He laughed as Hannah pretended to be very offended.
They had talked then, about everything and anything. He hadn't had a good talk like that with Hannah in a long time. She was still his beat friend and she listened to everything he had to say with patience and understanding.
All those dreams in the hospital wing had brought his thoughts back to Voldemort. He had completely (or mostly) forgotten about him during the first month of school, in the stupor of being back and of trying to be with Hannah. His dreams had reminded him that the Dark Lord was still out there, getting stronger each day. Hannah knew that Neville understood the threat of Voldemort better than most people did. He was
probably the reason that Neville was so closed up and shy.
Throughout their talk Hannah comforted Neville as he opened himself up to her. She was the only person he could really talk to.
"I don't know, Hannah." He concluded, "What's going to happen to us? To Everyone? Everything's just been getting worse and worse."
Hannah moved closer to Neville and rested her head on his shoulder. "Neville, I wish I had answers for you, but I think you know more about this than I do."
Neville put his left arm around Hannah and looked down at her. "What bothers me most is that we know he's planning something terrible, but we don't know when he'll strike. It could be a year from now but then again it could be tomorrow. I'm so scared Hannah." Indeed, Hannah glanced at Neville at that moment and saw the fear in his eyes. Neville continued, "What if something happened to you? I couldn't live anymore! I... I..." Neville's voice faltered.
"What is it?" Hannah asked, sitting up, alarmed.
"I, I just don't want to think of the fact that I could lose you like I've lost everyone else."
Hannah's eyes shone with tears as she answered. "Neville, You'll never lose me, I promise!" she cried and hugged him. "I promise." She whispered in his ear.
What happened next, Neville recalled as he accidentally sank into one of the trick stairs on his way back, could only be described as a cruel twist of fate.
Hannah had back away from her hug and began to lean towards Neville, who had done the same. They had been so close that he could feel Hannah's shallow breathing on his lips. He swallowed and closed his eyes...
Of course, the Giant Squid had had to choose that moment to go splashing around the lake!
Neville reached and stomped his foot in frustration, dripping water all over the floor. He looked around, eyes narrowed, catching his breath.
It was the worst luck in the world, he decided, his luck. No. Wait. He'd promised himself that he'd stop being helpless.
He turned back to go through the Portrait Hole... and slammed right into the Fat Lady!
"Owww!!!" Two voices cried out simultaneously.
Neville staggered away clutching his head and the Fat Lady looked at him darkly.
"You need a password to get in. No matter how much you try, you're NOT a Hogwarts ghost!" she said dryly.
"I'm so sorry!" Neville apologized. "I thought I'd already given you the password."
"No. I'm afraid you have to open your mouth and speak for that!"
And so, a very disgruntled Neville opened his mouth and spoke and entered Gryffindor Tower without banging into and annoying anything further.
The common room was practically empty, being as the quidditch match was still on. There were only a few students scattered about, taking a break from the excitement.
Neville took a quick look around. Needless to say, Harry and Ron were not there.
He climbed the stairs to his room and went and flopped down on his bed, ignoring the fact that he was still quite wet. He heard a croak next to his ear and turned on his side.
"Trevor!" Neville exclaimed, finding his toad sitting inches from his nose.
Trevor, terrified by Neville's shout, jumped a foot in the air and landed on Neville's pillow. He gave an angry "croak."
"Sorry." Neville said apologetically.
"Ribbit."
Neville looked at his pet toad thoughtfully. "You know Trevor," he said, "You're really great to talk to, and I know you won't tell anyone my secrets..."
Trevor croaked.
"And I know you understand me even though you're a toad."
"Ribbit."
Neville chuckled. "Yes, and I understand you even though I'm not." He sighed audibly.
"Ribbit, croooaak?"
"What's wrong?!" Neville got up and laughed mirthlessly. "Well, everything for a start! Don't get me wrong, I'm feeling better and there hasn't been any mail about Gran so she must be alright, but everything seems so, I don't know, distant, out of place. Do you know what I'm on about?"
"Croak."
"Good. You see, the thing is, every time I try to find time alone with Hannah something always goes wrong." Neville put his face in his hands and groaned. "This time was a nightmare. Just look at me!"
Trevor tilted his head to the side. "Croak."
"What do you mean, I look fine to you!" Neville said looking up suddenly. "I'm all wet! The Giant Squid simply decided to take a swim at the exact moment that I... Arghhh!!!" Neville flopped onto his bed yet again causing Trevor to make his highest jump yet and plop down again next to him.
"Ribbit!"
"Sorry again." Neville replied. He gave a sigh and looked down at his hands. "Do you think it might be fate?"
Trevor croaked and then bounced.
"I mean, Professor Trelawney was talking about it the other day. She said that the course of everyone's life is written in the stars at their birth, and you can't defy what's been foretold. Normally, I believe her in class, look at the amount of teacups I've broken, but Gran always told me that life was what you made of it." He paused and took Trevor in his hands. "Now I'm not so sure."
Trevor stayed where he was for a moment and then jumped into Neville's lap. He then bounced to the floor and scuttled under the bed.
"Trevor! Don't run away!" Neville cried.
Trevor might be a good listener but he was terrible at staying still for any period of time exceeding five minutes.
"Trevor!" Neville called again, annoyed. He got down on his knees and reached under his bed.
Neville rarely cleaned down there and even though the house-elves cleaned the dorms every day, believe it or not, they often neglected to tidy under beds. Oh they swept and dusted but anything that fell down there stayed down there. Period.
Neville's hand fell upon something flat made of paper. He pulled it out. His calendar! He'd wondered where he'd put that.
He got ready to go completely under but stopped when he suddenly remembered something. He grabbed the calendar and turned the pages quickly to October. What was the date today? It had been the twenty fourth of September when he'd heard about Gran. So today, today...
Neville gasped excitedly.
His birthday was in two days!
Trevor forgotten, Neville stood up and paced the room. His birthday was in two days! Two days and he hadn't even remembered! Well that was no surprise, considering all that happened recently.
A plan began to form in Neville's head. The excitement of his birthday having sent an adrenaline rush through his body.
Perhaps fate was on his side after all.
The next morning at breakfast, Neville knew what he was going to do.
The Ravenclaw-Slytherin match was still on so half of the school wasn't at breakfast. Harry and Ron, however, were taking a break.
Neville walked into the Great Hall, spotted them and headed towards them to take a seat. But as he approached, he saw Harry quickly silence Ron and nod in his direction. Ron turned around and saw him coming. He turned back to the table, pretending to have been looking at someone else. Neville's suspicions arose as he sat down opposite them and he had a feeling that something wasn't right.
"Good morning!" he said cheerfully, trying to break the awkward silence that had come with his joining the table.
"Hi." Harry said, not meeting Neville's gaze.
"Morning." Said Ron.
Harry glanced at Neville. "You look much better. How do you feel?" Harry was obviously trying to take Neville's mind off of whatever he and Ron had been talking about before. Neville let him.
"I'm feeling much better, thank you." He replied. Harry opened his mouth to say something more but was interrupted by the arrival of the mail.
Dozens of owls streamed into the Great Hall bringing packages, letters and newspapers to their owners.
Neville applied himself to his toast. He wasn't expecting any letters.
That's why he was so surprised when a Great Grey owl landed in his porridge with a letter in its beak.
"Hey Neville, you got a letter." Ron exclaimed.
With a shaking hand Neville reached out and took the letter from the owl, who, having concluded his job, plucked a rind of bacon from Neville's plate and flew away.
Neville looked at the letter and his heart sank when he saw it was from his grandmother. He hoped she was alright.
"It's from my Gran." He said, his voice raspy.
Ron looked up from the letter his mother had sent and Harry put down his copy of the Daily Prophet and eyed the envelope worriedly.
"Go on, open it." He said trying to encourage him.
Neville slowly opened the envelope and took out the letter. He unfolded the parchment and read:
~~*~~
'Dearest Neville,
I'm writing to tell you that I'm going to be alright.-'
"Gran's ok!" Neville cried, insurmountable relief welling up inside him.
Harry smile, really smiled, and Ron 'whooped!'.
Neville turned back yo the letter.
'The doctors at St. Mungo's have informed me that from now on, I'm going to have to be a little more careful. It was quite a serious attack. They told me that it was caused mostly by stress. The truth is, I've been very worried about you lately, going to school where I know I can't watch over you. Everything is changing and we are as well. All things as we have known them are now coming to an end and for good or the opposite, our way of life is reshaping itself into something we haven't yet encountered.
But still, always remember what I told you. Life is what you make of it.'
Neville looked up, dumbstruck.
How did she know? How could she know that that was just what he'd needed now?! Perhaps they were both right. His Gran and Trelawney. Life is written in the stars but fate can be rewritten. What's been foretold can be wrong and what is supposed to be can be changed. Our actions are always held in the balance between good and evil. Only we can decide which way they'll go.
Fate is what you make of it.
'I want you to know something. I know I scold more than I praise and I know I'm a bit harsh sometimes, but you should know how proud I love you and how proud I am to have you as a grandson. I was ill, but I pulled through for and because of you. My thoughts were ever with you and ever will be. You are my light, you are my heart, you are my world.
Live.
All my love and Happy Birthday,
Gran
P.S. Great Uncle Algie sends his regards.'
~~*~~
Neville stared at the letter in his hands, not knowing exactly what to do. He had tears in his eyes but didn't bother to wipe them away. What was one supposed to feel after something like that? He knew his grandmother loved him but she didn't often tell him and she had never once told him she was proud of him. He felt love and warmth and joy and almost at once felt an even greater fear for her health than he had before. His emotions were overwhelming. A tear rolled down his cheek.
"Neville?" A tentative voice called him back from his trance-like state. He looked up, completely disoriented, to find Harry and Ron looking at him with worried expressions. "Are you alright?" Ron asked.
"What? Oh, yes, I'm fine. I... It's just..." Neville wiped his eyes. "I'll, I'm fine." He smiled. "Great, as a matter of fact."
Harry and Ron exchanged concerned glances, but went back to their breakfasts.
They day passed without any surprises besides for the sudden end of the quidditch game thanks to a spectacular catch of the golden snitch by the Ravenclaw captain and seeker, Cho Chang.
Neville was in a good mood all day and was fully confident that he'd be able to catch Hannah alone the next day.
In order to do so, Neville went up to the owlry that night to send her a note, which she would receive the following morning. It was short and to the point.
-Hannah-
Meet me at the library tonight at 6:00.
I need to talk to you.
Love, Neville
He left the note with one of the school owl along with explicit instructions not to deliver it until breakfast. He then went down to Gryffindor Tower to do a nasty Potions essay on Cordovian Carris Seeds for Snape.
Neville couldn't be more thrilled.
The morning dawned bright and clear. Outside the birds were greeting the sun and the dew was glimmering in the grass and trees.
Neville couldn't have asked for a nicer day. He woke up refreshed and excited, his dreams had been calm and soothing. He felt different, somehow, being 15. It was funny, he thought, he was barely older than he'd been the day before and yet it seemed as if he'd grown so much in the short time between yesterday and today. It' the feeling everyone gets, knowing that you can finally call yourself one year older officially.
He awoke enveloped in the warmth of his covers with the sun shining through the window onto his face. He didn't want to get out of bed but the sound of movement in the room told him that he'd better get up and go down to breakfast.
Breakfast. There was something important about breakfast.
Suddenly, Neville leaped out of bed with a yell and started putting his socks on.
"Arghhh!!!!" Ron jumped and fell out of his four-poster. Neville's shout had managed to wake up the only boy who'd still been sleeping.
Harry, still dressed in his boxers and t-shirt (A.N:) That's for all you Harry lovers out there, including me!) burst out laughing as a very disgruntled Ron untangled himself from his blankets and got up. His hair was sticking up in all directions and so when he glared in Neville's direction, to give him a piece of his mind, he looked remarkably like a mad scientist. This caused Harry to laugh even harder.
Ron shot Harry a look that would have quailed a hippogriff and once again turned to Neville.
"What in bloody hell are you yelling about?!!" he shouted louder than Neville had before, "You want to scare me to death?!"
Neville blushed and smiled apologetically. "I'm terribly sorry." He said.
"Yeah Ron. Give him a break, we all know what today is." Harry said slyly.
Neville's eyes widened.
"Happy birthday Neville." Harry said, smiling and still snickering about Ron's hair.
Dean and Seamus also gave Neville their congratulations. While Seamus was shaking his hand, he saw Harry give Ron a meaningful look and saw Ron smile conspiratorially. Neville furrowed his brow. Something was definitely up...
Ron came up and gave him and gave him a slap on the back causing him to sputter and cough. "Happy birthday Neville." He said, grinning, looking all the more like a mad scientist. "No hard feelings I suppose." He added still slightly disgruntled, earning him Harry's elbow in his ribs.
"Oww!" Ron rubbed his side but joined in the other boy's laughter. "Well, in any case, congratulations." He said smiling.
"Thank you." Neville replied happily to them all and then began searching under his bed for his missing shoe.
Breakfast that morning was a tense affair for Neville. He kept alternating his glance from the ceiling, waiting for the mail, to Fred and George who'd been giving him strange looks and snickering all morning. They were making him extremely nervous. And he still couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. He served himself toast and eggs but barely touched it out of nerves.
He looked towards the Hufflepuff table and saw Hannah talking with her friend Susan Bones. The rest of the Great Hall suddenly ceased to exist and there was only her, rosy cheeked and smiling. She glanced over in his direction only to find him doing the same and gave him a wave.
Neville's stomach disappeared, no, wait, it was still there, it was just spinning around so fast that it seemed like it wasn't.
He was suddenly very nervous and was just contemplating going up to the owlry to stop his note when he was distracted by the sound of hundreds of flapping wings.
Now his stomach had disappeared.
He looked up, turning pale and spotted the school owl he'd used soaring down towards Hannah. He watched her take the note quizzically and read it. She looked up towards Neville and nodded, blushing slightly. Neville forgot his dread and became completely unfocused again, sighing happily as he watched he return to her toast and juice, smiling to herself. He didn't notice Fred and George exchange knowing glances as their faces lit up with the same unnerving grin...
Fred and George might have been planning something exceptionally nasty but being as Neville didn't know about it, his only worries that day were connected to meeting Hannah at 6:oo. Time seemed to pass by agonizingly slow and lessons seemed so much more boring than usual. Even Herbology didn't interest him today.
"Longbottom! Pay attention!" Professor Sprout called for about the third time that day.
Neville tried to concentrate on the Cat-whiskered Cactus that he was supposed to be repotting. He couldn't see what was so interesting or magical about a cactus that said 'meow' whenever it was thirsty (which, of course, wasn't very often) and nothing more.
"What's the matter, Shortbottom? Your Gran die? Or did she just finally realize that she had a total squib for a grandson?!" Malfoy laughed and Crabbe and Goyle joined in stupidly.
Neville's hands shook with hurt and anger as he pulled over a bag of dragon manure. He ignored Malfoy, or at least he tried to. He kept reminding himself what Harry, Ron and Hermione had told him in his first year... "You're worth twelve of Malfoy, Neville."
The memory made him smile even though it also reminded him of the fateful quidditch match of the same year where he'd tried to take on both Crabbe and Goyle single-handedly. He'd been out cold for two days afterwards...
That day, McGonnagal gave him one detention and yelled at him four times for not paying attention, he broke three more of Professor Trelawney's teacups, fell asleep in Professor Binn's class (well, that wasn't really out of the ordinary) and stepped in several different trick stairs.
The day was going wonderfully.
Dinner was at 5:00 that evening, and Neville couldn't eat a bite. He was utterly distracted and kept looking over at the Hufflepuff table. Harry and Ron were discussing something in hushed voices, so Neville couldn't hear them. Not that he was paying them any attention any way.
He was going to do it. He was going to kiss Hannah. Well, he hoped he'd kiss Hannah. And if anyone interrupted them this time, they could expect to be cursed into next week!
This thought gave him back some appetite and he served himself a generous portion of shepherd's pie and mashed potatoes.
As he ate, Neville noticed something odd. First of all, even though it wasn't really that odd, Fred and George were whispering and had that look on their faces that always meant no good again. Second, throughout dinner he could feel people looking at him but each time he turned to the direction it was coming from, people suddenly became very interested in their food or a knife or the tablecloth.
It was that feeling again. He couldn't quite put his finger on it. It was kind of like everyone knew something that he didn't but what it was, Neville didn't know.
He would figure it out later, he decided. He had more pressing matters to deal with.
Neville returned to his food (though he had quite lost his appetite again) and paid
attention to nothing but his thoughts for the rest of meal.
Dinner finished at 5:45, so Neville had just enough time to rush upstairs to the library. He entered the large room quietly, careful not to disturb Madame Pince's beloved peace and quiet and made his way to a table near the back. The library smelled dusty as always but what Neville always noticed was that it smelled of secrets as well. He didn't know how it could smell of secrets, he just knew that it did.
Secrets and dust. A good enough mixture to make anyone's skin tingle, Neville thought. And good enough to make anyone extremely nervous. And that, Neville was.
He looked at his watch. It read 5:56. Neville suddenly recalled that summer when he'd waited for Hannah to show up in Diagon Alley and she hadn't come. He still winced at the memory but for some reason he knew that she'd be here today.
Neville sat back and relaxed (well, sort of) and waited.
Not five minutes had gone by when he spotted a familiar figure come through the door. He got up and walked towards Hannah and as he approached her she smiled at him and his heart did a somersault in his chest. He smiled.
"Hi, Hannah." He said.
"Hi, Neville." She answered.
They stood there nervously, an awkward silence hanging between them.
Neville racked his brain for something to say but didn't come up with anything.
The silence was just becoming unbearable when Hannah said, "Do you want to go for a walk?"
Neville looked at her gratefully. "I'd love to."
So they left the library and headed off down the Charms corridor. They were quiet as they walked, but know it was a different silence. They were both deep in thought, simply enjoying the presence of the person next to them.
After about ten minutes, Neville stopped Hannah and nodded towards an empty classroom to his right.
"Come on." He said.
She followed him into the abandoned room and sat down on one of the front desks. Laughing, she said, "Well, Professor Longbottom, I suggest you begin the lesson!"
Neville smiled but didn't laugh. Ha was too nervous. What he really wanted to do was simply hold her and kiss her, without any awkwardness, without having to have a mile long discussion beforehand. Why couldn't life be simpler? But that was a question no one knew the answer to.
Neville suddenly remembered the letter his grandmother had sent him the day before.
"Hey, my Gran sent me a letter yesterday!" he began brightly. He got up from the desk he'd been sitting on and pulled the envelope from his pocket.
Hannah looked surprised. "She did? Oh, Neville, did something happen? I hope nothing's wrong! Is something wro-" Neville had walked over to her while she'd been rambling and daringly put his finger to her lips to quiet her. Hannah's eyes widened in surprise.
"Shhh..." he said. "Gran's fine, or she's going to be."
Neville realized suddenly where his finger was and quickly removed it. He cleared his throat.
But Hannah had been temporarily distracted by Neville's good news. She looked ecstatic. "Oh! I'm so happy for you Neville! And relieved. I know how important she is for you. This is wonderful!" She hugged Neville, sharing his relief and joy while giving him some of her own.
"Yeah." Neville said, his knees slightly weak from being so close to Hannah. "It is." He pulled away. "Do you want to read it?" he asked her.
"The letter? Are you sure? I mean, you don't mind?"
"Hannah, I love you." He said earnestly. "You are the only person that I would ever dream of sharing all of my secrets with. And myself." He paused and looked at her intently. "Everything that I am is yours. Forever."
Hannah gave a small gasp and looked as though she would cry.
He handed her the letter and as it passed from his hand to hers, they both felt a sudden jolt, like a shock throughout their entire bodies. They looked up at eachother quickly, wonder imminent in their faces. They knew, somehow, that what they'd felt had not been a fluke.
Hannah looked down at the letter in her hand as if Neville had literally just given his whole self to her in that envelope.
It was the gesture that sealed their fate in the stare for eternity and it was a fate that neither of them would ever want to change.
She slowly took out the parchment, unfolded it and read. Neville watched her expression soften and a tear roll down her cheek as she reached the end and then, having finished, look up at him with shining eyes.
"My G-d, Neville. I know how much this must mean to you. And for you to have gotten this now, just when you probably needed it most."
'There she goes again.' Thought Neville. 'Understanding parts of me I haven't even told her about.' She really was extraordinary.
"You know," he said aloud, "she's right. Times are changing, and even though we still have the present. For as long as we do, you'll have me."
"Oh, Neville." Hannah whispered.
And so, he kissed her.
It was nothing at all like he'd expected it. Hannah's lips were soft and sweet and fit his perfectly at every angle, but that wasn't what he meant. He'd thought he'd feel exhilarated or happy, but he hadn't expected everything that had come with kissing her. He felt overwhelmed. There was love and need, there was joy and grief, fear but confidence. There were memories and dreams, hopes, desires.
There was the past, there was the present and there was the future.
Neville was completely lost, yet he knew exactly where he was and what to do. He held Hannah by her waist, though, whether to bring her closer or to keep himself from falling down, he didn't know. Indeed, he felt that if he ever let go he would lose half of himself and collapse. His breathing had become shallow and he found that he'd have to stop soon to breath.
Drat. Lungs were such a bother.
He pulled away and leaned his forehead against Hannah's. She was also breathing unevenly and her cheeks were flushed.
"Wow." Was all that Neville could whisper. His voice had become completely useless.
They stood there for a few minutes in eachother's arms, neither one moving.
Neville felt entirely at peace with himself just holding Hannah, breathing in the smell of her hair- peaches and cinnamon. He sighed.
"For a while I thought fate was against us." He said, having recovered the use of his voice. He looked over Hannah's head out the window.
"Why?" she asked.
"You know." he chuckled. "Somehow, someone or something always managed to bother us. I thought I'd go crazy. But during the last few days I realized that if you believe something is possible, then it is." He looked down at Hannah to find her smiling up at him.
"Trevor agrees with me."
"Oh, really?" Hannah said, amused.
"Yes." Neville grinned and kissed her again.
And again he was lost... that is, he was lost until-
"Neville?!"
Hannah and Neville broke apart faster than Harry could catch the golden snitch and turned to find none other than Harry himself standing there, looking at them incredulously. But that wasn't all. Oh, no.
Neville and Hannah's faces blushed crimson when they saw that half of Gryffindor was standing behind him.
All was silent until Fred or George called out from behind Harry, "Way to go Neville!"
Neville thought he'd die of embarrassment.
Harry smiled and the rest of the Gryffindors laughed good-naturedly and then cried-
"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY NEVILLE!"
Everyone entered the classroom, many holding cakes and candies and bottles of butterbeer. Harry came up to him, bemused.
"Sorry Neville. Did we interrupt something?"
"Harry! What is this?!" he asked, exasperated.
"Isn't it obvious? Happy birthday Neville. Ron, Hermione and I planned the party, although I did most of the work considering Ron and Hermione were usually "preoccupied"." He snickered.
"But Harry," Neville began, still blushing, Hannah standing beside him rosy-cheeked, "couldn't you have done this in Gryffindor Tower?" He looked at Harry expectantly.
"Oh, well, Fred and George had an idea to bring the party to you. Now I know why. I think they probably knew you two were going to meet, though I have no idea how."
At that moment, the twins in question came up to Neville. Fred (or he assumed that it was Fred) punched him in the arm. "We knew you had it in you all along, Neville!" he laughed.
Neville was by nature a peaceful boy but at that moment he thought that he would strangle Fred and George. They were smaller than Crabbe and Goyle. He could take them.
George turned to Hannah and bowed in (what he must have thought was) a graceful manner. "Neville, if anything can be said about you, it is that you have excellent taste in women." He took Hannah's hand and kissed it.
Fred snorted. "Yeah, my brother, the gentleman. Watch out, you'll be replacing Percy as Mum's favorite next, George."
Harry, Neville and Hannah burst out laughing.
George pretended to be mortally offended while Fred grabbed some potato chips.
"Crisp, Neville?" he offered.
Neville took it without thinking and popped it into his mouth.
"No! Neville!" Hannah yelled. But it was too late. Neville had turned into a rather large purple toad.
Everyone laughed, including Hannah. Neville gave a loud croak, bounced once and turned back into himself.
"Fred and George!" He yelled.
"Sorry Neville!" said George grinning. "We needed someone to test them on!"
"Come and get 'em!" called Fred to the other party members. "Croaking Crisps! Brought to you exclusively by Weasley's Wizard Wheezes! The larger the crunch, the larger the toad!"
Neville couldn't help it. He laughed too and as he looked around he felt that he really had friends.
Harry was cracking up, holding Ginny's hand. Ron and Hermione were off in a corner, slightly oblivious to anything else that existed and Hannah, well Hannah was next to him and she loved him. That was all he needed. His grandmother was going to be fine, life was moving on. True, no one knew what tomorrow would hold but somehow, Neville knew that tomorrow wouldn't be all that bad, or the rest of life, for that matter.
And suddenly, Neville understood-
Everything was going to be ok.
The End.
A.N:) That's it. Finito! I'm really going to miss this story.
I might write an epilogue. We'll see.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed this story and I hope you enjoy my next one, which I've already begun to plan...
Bye ~ RosieG
