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NOOOOOOOOOOO NOT MINE

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I hope you like chapter seventeen!!

Just let me know what you think of it.

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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Unreal.

That was the word that described Hermione's feelings best. She had never lost someone that was so close to her, someone her age, a friend. True, Sirius had died when she was fifteen, but that was nothing compared to this. She just couldn't understand it. For a week it felt as if the whole world stopped. Classes were cancelled, a remembrance service was held and there was even a memorial plaque made. Professor Dumbledore had placed it in front of the greenhouses, since it was Neville's favorite place to work. It was the second time in the history of Hogwarts that a student had died, the first one was Moaning Myrtle but that had been under different circumstances.

The memorial service had been beautiful, weird as it may seem. Professor Sprout had brought hundreds of flowers, which were set up in the Great Hall. She had used roses, red and black ones. Apparently they were Neville's favorite flowers. Some of the students, including Harry and Ginny, had made small speeches. Hermione was asked by Professor McGonagall to make one as well, but she declined.

A day after the memorial service, Harry, Hermione and Ron were invited to the funeral. It was even harder then Hermione could have imagined. She felt sorry for Neville's grandmother who, after losing her son and daughter-in-law, had also lost her only grandchild. Neville's parents hadn't attended the funeral; they were still in St. Mungo's.

Only a week later most people had picked up their lives again. Students were laughing, joking, and fighting, as if nothing had happened. Even most of the Gryffindors had started to live their lives again as if he hadn't died. Who could blame them? To them Neville was nothing more then just a student, just a boy who had died due to an accident. Hermione and her friends didn't speak about Neville. Bringing up memories of him was too painful, too soon.

Professor Price stopped teaching Potions, to the student's relief. A lot of students had had accidents in his classroom and Neville's death was the final straw. Professor Harper took over his lessons as a temporary substitute when classes started again, while Professor Price started to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. Rumors were going around Hogwarts that Price was about to be fired, but they didn't have a replacement for him yet. Somehow Professor Dumbledore had managed to keep the whole thing out of the papers. Everybody had expected an article in The Daily Prophet, but there wasn't even an obituary.

Before Hermione knew it, the time for the Christmas Ball had arrived. She wore light purple dress robes; her hair tied up in a ponytail. She didn't sleek her hair like she had in her fourth year.

The Great Hall was beautiful. Professor Flitwick had decorated it. A large Christmas tree was standing in the place where the staff table used to be, and the many tables were decorated with red and green. Professor Dumbledore had also arranged for the Weird Sisters to play at the ball.

Hermione was standing next to the Christmas tree that was decorated with at least a thousand small candles. The candles were enchanted so that the tree wouldn't catch fire. She had gotten herself some pumpkin juice. However, instead of drinking, she just held the goblet in her hands, playing with it.

"Hello," she heard a soft voice behind her. Hermione turned around.

"Hello Damien," she replied.

"So, how is everything going?" he asked carefully.

"Fine," Hermione answered, "thank you for asking."

"I'm really sorry for what happened to Longbottom," Damien said.

Hermione nodded, but didn't say a word. After a short silence, Damien went to visit a few of his friends, leaving Hermione alone with her thoughts.

After standing next to the Christmas tree for another few minutes, Hermione went over to the table where Harry and Ron were sitting. Ginny and Simone were trying to get the two boys to dance with them, but the two friends were refusing.

"Hi 'Moine," Ron greeted Hermione as she sat down next do them, placing her goblet of pumpkin juice on the decorated table.

"Hi," she replied.

"So, having fun?" Simone asked amiably.

Hermione nodded again, forcing a smile. Ron and Harry were discussing Quidditch again; this time about which team was best in the league. Parvati, who was looking for Lavender, interrupted their discussion. After reassuring Parvati that they really hadn't seen her friend, Hermione excused herself.

The Head Girl walked towards the girl's bathroom. The minute she was inside she heard a soft sniffing noise coming from one of the stalls.

"Is everything alright?" she asked softly.

There was no reply. After Hermione had used the bathroom herself, there was still someone sniffing in the stall. Hermione knocked on the door.

"Go away!" the girl in the stall yelled.

"Lavender? Is that you?" Hermione asked, recognizing the voice.

After a few seconds of silence, Lavender flushed the toilet before coming out of the stall. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying. Oh no, I completely forgot, Hermione thought, Lavender was Neville's girlfriend…well sort of. She must feel awful.

"I'm fine," Lavender said, "really I am."

"I knew about Neville and you," Hermione began. Lavender's eyes widened. "I'm really sorry," was all Hermione could say.

Tears started to fall down Lavenders cheeks. Hermione couldn't stand seeing her classmate cry, and started to cry too. The two girls hugged each other, still shedding tears. Before they returned to the Great Hall, they washed their faces, hoping that people wouldn't notice that they had been crying.

Instead of returning to her friends immediately, Hermione decided to take a little walk outside. After she had gotten her cloak, she told Harry and Ron that she was going outside to check on the students.

Once she was outside, the fresh air calmed her down a bit. She walked for a while, enjoying the silence.

The silence didn't last too long.

"20 points from Ravenclaw. Go back into the castle!" she heard a familiar voice behind her yell.

Two fifth year students moved from their spot behind the bushes and ran towards the castle. Hermione started walking again, ignoring them. Before she knew it, she found herself standing in front of Neville's memorial plaque, over at the greenhouses. Hermione sighed, not noticing someone standing next to her.

How did I end up here? she asked herself.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Miss Granger," the person next to her said.

Startled, Hermione looked to her left. Professor Snape was standing next to her.

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Armor:
I'm not telling if it does or not ….
Thanks for reviewing!

A perfect lie:
Hm … you do know that deaths are usually sad, don't you :-p

Sweetytweety013:
Have who come back? Neville or Snape??

Lady Spear:
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Don't kill me.
Looks like I need to get a good bodyguard.
And I hereby promise that I won't harm one hair of Luna's weird little head.

Ashes Kittyhawk:
No, you didn't spell professor wrong. It's the right spelling according to my spell check! LOL

Lana Manckir:
Thank you so much for your review.
Well it seems like Snape is back!

Silversnakesss:
I'm glad to hear that you like it.

Larthawyn:
No, Neville and Hermione were no partners. But she did helped Neville as usual.
I'm sorry, I know that it was a short chapter, this one isn't long either.
But the following chapters will be longer again.

BlondNconfused:
Thank you, nice to hear that you like my fic.
I hope that you liked this chapter too.

Moepi:
You're wish is my command, LOL.
Cool nickname by the way!

Midntie:
Thank you so much for reviewing.
I'm glad to hear (or read) that you like it.