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Chapter 1 - Neville's backbone
Hermione woke the next morning and promptly consigned number ten to the farthest reaches of her conscious mind. That would have to wait further analysis; namely: was she totally bonkers?! She scrambled out of bed and into the bathroom before Lavender and Parvati got there. Good job she was an early riser, it often paid to have a quiet half hour to prepare for the day ahead. Today she would need that extra time to come up with a plan for Neville.
Poor Neville; the bane of Snape's existence. Neville didn't have a problem in other classes, especially in Herbology where he even outdid herself. The other teachers understood him, and Snape didn't. Simple, really. Who was she kidding? Snape hated everyone, particularly Neville. Now it was a matter of instilling in Neville the self-confidence that should have been part of every Gryffindor's nature. And as Hermione had self-confidence in abundance, surely she could pass a little bit onto Neville.
Bouncing out of the bathroom she grabbed her timetable and books. She was in luck, no Potions today. Time to get started. A few students had made their way to the common room, and Neville was one of them. He looked up, smiled as she came into the room, and made room for her on the sofa. She looked hard at him. He'd changed quite a lot over the summer. The nervous tic had left his eye (and hopefully would be gone for good by the time she'd finished with him) after a Snape-free summer, and she'd heard that there was some hope for his parents. After Voldemort had been defeated a few of the patients in St Mungo's had had brief moments of sanity. It seems his existence had kept them under some sort of spell, and with him gone there was hope for them.
He had grown a bit, and also, she noted with approval, lost a fair bit of weight. Living with his grandmother kept him sheltered, as she was a bit of a dragon, so he was a disaster with girls too. Time to change that.
Did she feel guilty? No. It would do him good. No point backing down now - full Hermione ahead.
"Neville, did you have a good summer?"
"Yes, thanks, Hermione. Looking forward to the NEWTS?" Neville smiled
"You know me, Neville, always looking forward to something. Now, I have something to ask you. Can you meet me in the Astronomy tower after dinner tonight?"
"What for?"
"You'll find out tonight. This is just between you and me, Neville. It's about Snape."
Neville lost whatever colour he'd gained over the summer, and gulped. Hermione rolled her eyes and punched him lightly of the arm. Wow, he's got muscles, she thought. Body of a Baywatch lifeguard; backbone of a jellyfish.
"Don't worry Neville. I've got a plan!"
"That's what I'm afraid of!"
"No, it's Snape you're afraid of."
"Okay. I..I'll be there. About 8 o'clock?"
"Fine. Don't worry, Neville, I don't bite... much!" and with a grin, hauled him off the sofa and down to the great hall for breakfast.
Ron and Harry joined them a few minutes later, Ron scowling a little at their linked arms. His face cleared when he spotted food though. Another reason for getting number eight out of the way, thought Hermione.
The day proceeded, homework was finished, and her stack of books grew on her study area. She had already spoken to McGonegall about her schedule, and her extra lessons would take place while the others had Divination.
At 7.45pm, Hermione gathered her supplies and headed towards the Astronomy tower. She wanted to prepare everything before her appointment with Mr Jellyfish-for-a-backbone.
As Neville entered the tower he spotted flickering lights at the very top. Usually, no one went that far up; it wasn't the best spot for viewing the heavens. It was also too far up for courting couples to make a quick getaway should Filch decide to come looking for "lewd behaviour". Pervert. Obviously, Hermione had decided this was the best spot to be in. He wondered what she had in mind. It wasn't like her to be coy about anything. She was well known in the know-it-all, bossy department, and never usually hesitated to dish out her extensive knowledge or advice. He hoped (no, prayed) there wasn't anything romantic on her mind. He gulped when he saw the candles. Hundreds of them, and they were surrounding a cross-legged Hermione.
"Err...err... Hi H..Hermione?" croaked Neville (gaping like his now-dead toad)
"Come on, Neville. I haven't got all night!" Hermione looked up from her pile of notes she had in her lap. Good, he was here at last.
"Err.. what's the plan?" squeaked Neville, sitting down opposite her.
"We, Neville, are going to overcome your terror of Snape."
"Ooohhh, is that all?" he sighed, before reality hit him between the eyes and he fell backwards.
"Neville! Why on earth did I ask you up here if not for that?" Hermione's eyebrows shot up.
"Err.. Astronomy tower... candles.... We're alone...." Neville tapered off, blushing red to the tips of his ears while Hermione gaped.
"Neville, this is not a joke - or romantic interlude. You'll be happy to know I don't think of you that way." She smiled at his obvious relief.
"Now, back to business. You have a real problem with a certain teacher." She thought it best not to say his name in case Neville hyperventilated. "I am going to help you, because I cannot keep you out of trouble forever. And to be honest, Neville, it's time to stand on your own two feet and stop melting cauldrons."
Neville smiled weakly. He had no idea how sitting in the top of the Astronomy tower surrounded by candles were going to help him overcome his fear of Snape. There, he'd thought about him. And felt his pulse rate double in fear.
"There, do you see, Neville? You only have to think about him to start having a panic attack. This is where the candles and I come in. We are going to start meditating." She shook her notes at him. "I have been studying the various methods of meditation, and I want you to as well. I think deep breathing and calmness are the key to your fear. As long as you keep calm, and concentrate on breathing, you should be able to overcome anything."
"Overcome anything? You have no idea how S..S..Snape makes me feel!" Neville jumped up and started pacing. "A bumbling idiot doesn't even cover it! I only have to think about him and I start to shake.. see?" he held his hand out and Hermione saw how it was trembling. She stood up, realising that this could take a bit longer than she'd initially thought. Walking up to him, she gripping his upper arms, noting again how tall he'd got.
"Look, Neville." She said gently "I know this is hard to believe, but I have confidence in you. Who tops me in Herbology? You. Who's a better flyer than me? You. Okay, anybody is a better flyer than me, but it still boils down to the fact that you are just as good as anyone in this school. How many potions would there be if it wasn't for Herbology? You know you have the answers inside you. You never fail on your homework, do you? It's just confidence that you need, and I am here to help. Plus, we can work on our homework assignments together." She shrugged and grinned at him.
"Either that, Neville, or we go to Madam Pomfrey and get a Skelegro potion to give you a backbone."
He straightened up and grinned back at her. Hermione blinked.
"You have a nice smile, Neville."
"Thank you, Hermione. So do you." He smiled again at her. Get a grip, girl. Remember number ten; on second thoughts, bury that thought.
"Okay then. Let's get started." They both sat down again and Hermione explained what she wanted him to do.
For two hours they concentrated on breathing exercises while they went over nearly every potions lesson they'd ever had. Hermione reminded him too about the Boggart in their third year, and how Snape had looked in Neville's grandmother's dress. As they extinguished the candles and gathered their notes Neville grasped Hermione's hand and squeezed gently. She glanced up.
"Thanks for this, Hermione. I really am grateful. And actually, very relaxed."
"No problem, Neville. I'm doing this for me as well. I have plans, and if I can help me, as well as you, it's no skin off my nose. Plus, I like you Neville. You have great potential. The meditation will help with concentration, which in turn helps memory, which means you shouldn't have a problem in class. No problem in class means less worry. See? You're already standing taller. Girls will notice you, especially if they think I see something worth seeing. Are you getting my drift?" she linked arms with him as they walked down the spiral stairs.
"How often do we come up here then?" Neville spoke quietly, knowing it was near curfew.
"How about next week? You can do the exercises before you go to sleep and when you wake up. Cast a silencing charm around your bed so you're not disturbed. Let me know how you get on. And when you see Snape, just remember to breathe. Remember the Boggart." She squeezed his arm.
"A little far from Gryffindor tower, Miss Granger and ...Mr Longbottom?" a quiet, silky voice came from the shadows. They stopped. Hermione elbowed Neville in the side, who then remembered to breathe.
"W..we were just on our way back, Professor." Stammered Neville, standing straighter as he felt Hermione willing him to answer.
"The Astronomy tower? Not your usual haunt, Miss Granger. Isn't that the library?" Snape emerged from the shadows and the pale moonlight lit one side of his face.
Her breath hitched in the back of her throat. He had put on a little weight over the summer and the dark shadows had gone from under his eyes. He was still pale, but not unhealthily so. Perhaps she should make number ten, number one. Down girl! Neville looked down at her, noticing the glazed look in her eyes. Uh oh! He stood taller and took a deep breath. Let it out. Took a breath. Let it out. Hey, it works!
"We were just doing our homework, Sir. It's hard to find a quiet place the first day back. If you'll excuse us, we'll be getting back to Gryffindor." He avoided Snape's gaze and tugged on Hermione's hand. She shook herself out of whatever daze she was in and flashed a smile at Snape.
"Yes, Professor. Goodnight." And they took off, walking rather quickly. As soon as they were out of sight, they started giggling and ran the rest of the way.
"An interesting pairing. Not one I would have thought possible." Snape could hear the twinkle in Dumbledore's eye and voice behind him. He snorted.
"Hmmph. It isn't. Idiot Longbottom and Perfect Herm..Granger? Don't make me laugh." Snape gathered his robes around him and swept away down the corridor, the lingering image of Hermione's smile in front of him. Dumbledore followed sedately but still managed to keep up, which irritated Severus immensely.
"Wouldn't dream of it Severus. That would imply that you had a sense of humour! Jelly Bean, dear boy?"
"Hmmph!" snorted Snape again, and promptly deducted ten points from an unfortunate Hufflepuff first year who had forgotten the password to his common room.
"You did it, Neville! You did it!" Hermione hugged him after they had climbed back through the Fat Lady's portrait hole. Neville swung her round in glee, startling quite a few people, including Ron and Harry who were playing chess. Ron frowned. Where had Hermione and Neville been? And why were they hugging? And when did Neville get that big?
A few others were asking themselves the same questions, but they were female. They looked at Hermione being swung round. She was a tall girl, at five eight, and she'd filled out in all the right places over the last two years. Neville towered over her. Eyes narrowed speculatively. That meant Neville was fairly strong. Must have been all that digging in his grandmother's garden over the summer.
Hermione noticed the looks, and hugged Neville again.
"Don't look now, but we're being watched." She whispered. He started, and she tightened her grip.
"Just take it slowly Neville, and don't be afraid to wait for the right one." She slid out of his arms and went over to Harry and Ron. Harry raised his eyebrows, but didn't say anything as she shook her head slightly. Tell you later, she mouthed. Then she looked at Ron, who was frowning so fiercely at his chess set that the knight was in danger of defending himself instead of attacking his opponant.
Hermione sighed. It looked like she'd have to bring number eight on the list forward as soon as possible......
TBC
Chapter 1 - Neville's backbone
Hermione woke the next morning and promptly consigned number ten to the farthest reaches of her conscious mind. That would have to wait further analysis; namely: was she totally bonkers?! She scrambled out of bed and into the bathroom before Lavender and Parvati got there. Good job she was an early riser, it often paid to have a quiet half hour to prepare for the day ahead. Today she would need that extra time to come up with a plan for Neville.
Poor Neville; the bane of Snape's existence. Neville didn't have a problem in other classes, especially in Herbology where he even outdid herself. The other teachers understood him, and Snape didn't. Simple, really. Who was she kidding? Snape hated everyone, particularly Neville. Now it was a matter of instilling in Neville the self-confidence that should have been part of every Gryffindor's nature. And as Hermione had self-confidence in abundance, surely she could pass a little bit onto Neville.
Bouncing out of the bathroom she grabbed her timetable and books. She was in luck, no Potions today. Time to get started. A few students had made their way to the common room, and Neville was one of them. He looked up, smiled as she came into the room, and made room for her on the sofa. She looked hard at him. He'd changed quite a lot over the summer. The nervous tic had left his eye (and hopefully would be gone for good by the time she'd finished with him) after a Snape-free summer, and she'd heard that there was some hope for his parents. After Voldemort had been defeated a few of the patients in St Mungo's had had brief moments of sanity. It seems his existence had kept them under some sort of spell, and with him gone there was hope for them.
He had grown a bit, and also, she noted with approval, lost a fair bit of weight. Living with his grandmother kept him sheltered, as she was a bit of a dragon, so he was a disaster with girls too. Time to change that.
Did she feel guilty? No. It would do him good. No point backing down now - full Hermione ahead.
"Neville, did you have a good summer?"
"Yes, thanks, Hermione. Looking forward to the NEWTS?" Neville smiled
"You know me, Neville, always looking forward to something. Now, I have something to ask you. Can you meet me in the Astronomy tower after dinner tonight?"
"What for?"
"You'll find out tonight. This is just between you and me, Neville. It's about Snape."
Neville lost whatever colour he'd gained over the summer, and gulped. Hermione rolled her eyes and punched him lightly of the arm. Wow, he's got muscles, she thought. Body of a Baywatch lifeguard; backbone of a jellyfish.
"Don't worry Neville. I've got a plan!"
"That's what I'm afraid of!"
"No, it's Snape you're afraid of."
"Okay. I..I'll be there. About 8 o'clock?"
"Fine. Don't worry, Neville, I don't bite... much!" and with a grin, hauled him off the sofa and down to the great hall for breakfast.
Ron and Harry joined them a few minutes later, Ron scowling a little at their linked arms. His face cleared when he spotted food though. Another reason for getting number eight out of the way, thought Hermione.
The day proceeded, homework was finished, and her stack of books grew on her study area. She had already spoken to McGonegall about her schedule, and her extra lessons would take place while the others had Divination.
At 7.45pm, Hermione gathered her supplies and headed towards the Astronomy tower. She wanted to prepare everything before her appointment with Mr Jellyfish-for-a-backbone.
As Neville entered the tower he spotted flickering lights at the very top. Usually, no one went that far up; it wasn't the best spot for viewing the heavens. It was also too far up for courting couples to make a quick getaway should Filch decide to come looking for "lewd behaviour". Pervert. Obviously, Hermione had decided this was the best spot to be in. He wondered what she had in mind. It wasn't like her to be coy about anything. She was well known in the know-it-all, bossy department, and never usually hesitated to dish out her extensive knowledge or advice. He hoped (no, prayed) there wasn't anything romantic on her mind. He gulped when he saw the candles. Hundreds of them, and they were surrounding a cross-legged Hermione.
"Err...err... Hi H..Hermione?" croaked Neville (gaping like his now-dead toad)
"Come on, Neville. I haven't got all night!" Hermione looked up from her pile of notes she had in her lap. Good, he was here at last.
"Err.. what's the plan?" squeaked Neville, sitting down opposite her.
"We, Neville, are going to overcome your terror of Snape."
"Ooohhh, is that all?" he sighed, before reality hit him between the eyes and he fell backwards.
"Neville! Why on earth did I ask you up here if not for that?" Hermione's eyebrows shot up.
"Err.. Astronomy tower... candles.... We're alone...." Neville tapered off, blushing red to the tips of his ears while Hermione gaped.
"Neville, this is not a joke - or romantic interlude. You'll be happy to know I don't think of you that way." She smiled at his obvious relief.
"Now, back to business. You have a real problem with a certain teacher." She thought it best not to say his name in case Neville hyperventilated. "I am going to help you, because I cannot keep you out of trouble forever. And to be honest, Neville, it's time to stand on your own two feet and stop melting cauldrons."
Neville smiled weakly. He had no idea how sitting in the top of the Astronomy tower surrounded by candles were going to help him overcome his fear of Snape. There, he'd thought about him. And felt his pulse rate double in fear.
"There, do you see, Neville? You only have to think about him to start having a panic attack. This is where the candles and I come in. We are going to start meditating." She shook her notes at him. "I have been studying the various methods of meditation, and I want you to as well. I think deep breathing and calmness are the key to your fear. As long as you keep calm, and concentrate on breathing, you should be able to overcome anything."
"Overcome anything? You have no idea how S..S..Snape makes me feel!" Neville jumped up and started pacing. "A bumbling idiot doesn't even cover it! I only have to think about him and I start to shake.. see?" he held his hand out and Hermione saw how it was trembling. She stood up, realising that this could take a bit longer than she'd initially thought. Walking up to him, she gripping his upper arms, noting again how tall he'd got.
"Look, Neville." She said gently "I know this is hard to believe, but I have confidence in you. Who tops me in Herbology? You. Who's a better flyer than me? You. Okay, anybody is a better flyer than me, but it still boils down to the fact that you are just as good as anyone in this school. How many potions would there be if it wasn't for Herbology? You know you have the answers inside you. You never fail on your homework, do you? It's just confidence that you need, and I am here to help. Plus, we can work on our homework assignments together." She shrugged and grinned at him.
"Either that, Neville, or we go to Madam Pomfrey and get a Skelegro potion to give you a backbone."
He straightened up and grinned back at her. Hermione blinked.
"You have a nice smile, Neville."
"Thank you, Hermione. So do you." He smiled again at her. Get a grip, girl. Remember number ten; on second thoughts, bury that thought.
"Okay then. Let's get started." They both sat down again and Hermione explained what she wanted him to do.
For two hours they concentrated on breathing exercises while they went over nearly every potions lesson they'd ever had. Hermione reminded him too about the Boggart in their third year, and how Snape had looked in Neville's grandmother's dress. As they extinguished the candles and gathered their notes Neville grasped Hermione's hand and squeezed gently. She glanced up.
"Thanks for this, Hermione. I really am grateful. And actually, very relaxed."
"No problem, Neville. I'm doing this for me as well. I have plans, and if I can help me, as well as you, it's no skin off my nose. Plus, I like you Neville. You have great potential. The meditation will help with concentration, which in turn helps memory, which means you shouldn't have a problem in class. No problem in class means less worry. See? You're already standing taller. Girls will notice you, especially if they think I see something worth seeing. Are you getting my drift?" she linked arms with him as they walked down the spiral stairs.
"How often do we come up here then?" Neville spoke quietly, knowing it was near curfew.
"How about next week? You can do the exercises before you go to sleep and when you wake up. Cast a silencing charm around your bed so you're not disturbed. Let me know how you get on. And when you see Snape, just remember to breathe. Remember the Boggart." She squeezed his arm.
"A little far from Gryffindor tower, Miss Granger and ...Mr Longbottom?" a quiet, silky voice came from the shadows. They stopped. Hermione elbowed Neville in the side, who then remembered to breathe.
"W..we were just on our way back, Professor." Stammered Neville, standing straighter as he felt Hermione willing him to answer.
"The Astronomy tower? Not your usual haunt, Miss Granger. Isn't that the library?" Snape emerged from the shadows and the pale moonlight lit one side of his face.
Her breath hitched in the back of her throat. He had put on a little weight over the summer and the dark shadows had gone from under his eyes. He was still pale, but not unhealthily so. Perhaps she should make number ten, number one. Down girl! Neville looked down at her, noticing the glazed look in her eyes. Uh oh! He stood taller and took a deep breath. Let it out. Took a breath. Let it out. Hey, it works!
"We were just doing our homework, Sir. It's hard to find a quiet place the first day back. If you'll excuse us, we'll be getting back to Gryffindor." He avoided Snape's gaze and tugged on Hermione's hand. She shook herself out of whatever daze she was in and flashed a smile at Snape.
"Yes, Professor. Goodnight." And they took off, walking rather quickly. As soon as they were out of sight, they started giggling and ran the rest of the way.
"An interesting pairing. Not one I would have thought possible." Snape could hear the twinkle in Dumbledore's eye and voice behind him. He snorted.
"Hmmph. It isn't. Idiot Longbottom and Perfect Herm..Granger? Don't make me laugh." Snape gathered his robes around him and swept away down the corridor, the lingering image of Hermione's smile in front of him. Dumbledore followed sedately but still managed to keep up, which irritated Severus immensely.
"Wouldn't dream of it Severus. That would imply that you had a sense of humour! Jelly Bean, dear boy?"
"Hmmph!" snorted Snape again, and promptly deducted ten points from an unfortunate Hufflepuff first year who had forgotten the password to his common room.
"You did it, Neville! You did it!" Hermione hugged him after they had climbed back through the Fat Lady's portrait hole. Neville swung her round in glee, startling quite a few people, including Ron and Harry who were playing chess. Ron frowned. Where had Hermione and Neville been? And why were they hugging? And when did Neville get that big?
A few others were asking themselves the same questions, but they were female. They looked at Hermione being swung round. She was a tall girl, at five eight, and she'd filled out in all the right places over the last two years. Neville towered over her. Eyes narrowed speculatively. That meant Neville was fairly strong. Must have been all that digging in his grandmother's garden over the summer.
Hermione noticed the looks, and hugged Neville again.
"Don't look now, but we're being watched." She whispered. He started, and she tightened her grip.
"Just take it slowly Neville, and don't be afraid to wait for the right one." She slid out of his arms and went over to Harry and Ron. Harry raised his eyebrows, but didn't say anything as she shook her head slightly. Tell you later, she mouthed. Then she looked at Ron, who was frowning so fiercely at his chess set that the knight was in danger of defending himself instead of attacking his opponant.
Hermione sighed. It looked like she'd have to bring number eight on the list forward as soon as possible......
TBC