Don't own HP or Death Cab for Cutie. Based on their song "Steadier Footing", but, if you can, you should listen to the song they play in the credits of the new version of Pride and Prejudice—kind of sets the mood.
.x. Steadier Footing .x.
Neville sat alone that night, staring up at the blanket of stars that hung like a mobile above the black Hogwarts lake. If he were to glance behind him, he would see the lights of the castle slowly extinguishing as students went to bed at long last. A few, those who had consumed to much of Ogden's Old Firewhiskey, still stumbled around the grounds, but he paid them no notice. At the moment, he just wanted to be alone.
He perched on a boulder, which stood on the marshy shores of the lake that had been home to his continued fascination throughout his school years. Sighing, he hung his head in his hands. It was all over now. The next morning, the students would all board the Hogwarts Express, and he, like his friends, would never return. There he stood, in the final hours of his final day of his final year at Hogwarts, the only place he had ever known acceptance, praise…and friends. Friends who had not returned for a seventh year at Hogwarts. Friends who had risked their lives to narrowly defeat Voldemort while he had stayed behind, tending to his studies. Friends he had lost in the final battle, just like every person he had ever cared about…
He heard the soft rustle of grass compressing as someone stepped towards him, carefully and quietly.
"Neville?" Her voice was soft; it betrayed her concern, as did her amber eyes when he turned to face her. Her pale, freckled skin glowed faintly in the waning moon.
"I thought you would have gone to bed?" he asked, unable to take his eyes off of her. Even in her demure Weasley sweater and simple jeans she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen.
"I was worried about you." Unconsciously, he slid over, allowing her room to sit beside him. As she did, he became engulfed in her scent. Her long, red hair was falling out of her half-hearted ponytail in fragments as she stared down at her hands, which were clasped together on her knees. "Are you alright?"
He looked at her for a moment. Six years' feelings sat beside him, and yet she couldn't know. Now was not the time to make romantic propositions—after all, she would not leave Hogwarts for another year. More importantly, however, he knew her feelings for him were nothing more than platonic. "Fine," he said finally, forcing a half smile.
Her eyes looked down, catching interest in the moist sand. "Everything will fix itself, eventually," she whispered. Her eyes looked glassy, shining in the faint light, and she breathed in, closing her eyes and looking away. Neville knew she was thinking of Ron.
"He would be graduating today, wouldn't he?" he asked quietly. She nodded, biting her lip to keep back the tears. "Its okay, Ginny," he whispered.
Wordlessly, Ginny rested her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her, wishing that he could protect her from the world they would both be entering soon. As he felt the warmth of her cheek through the material of his t-shirt, however, he decided he could worry about the world later. For now, just holding her in his arms was enough…