Disclaimer: I do not own any of the HP characters, obviously. Also, any opinions or prejudices expressed in this chapter are not mine!

Overlooked

Story by StormDancer

Chapter 2

It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.

"Mate! Mate, wake up," Neville yelled at Ron. He and Harry were doing their second day of the school year ritual with Ron: forcing him to wake up.

Harry ran to the bathroom, than came running back with a bucket of water. The two boys grinned at each other, than threw it on the prone form in the bed. The sleeping boy merely twitched.

Harry stared at Ron.

"That water was ice cold. How does he sleep like that? He'll never be up in time for breakfast now."

Neville grinned mischievously. "I have an idea," he said. Creeping toward the bed to stand next to Ron, he whispered a few words Harry didn't hear. Ron sat bolt upright.

"What do you mean Hermione is coming up here in 5 minutes? I look like hell!" Ron yelled. Harry and Neville doubled over in laughter.

"What in Bloody hell-Neville, you lied?" Ron said, amazed. At this, Neville stood up straight.

"Why is that such a surprise?" he said coldly.

"I dunno. You just never lie. I wouldn't think you had the backbone."

The last comment was the last straw. "I DON'T HAVE BACKBONE! I LIE ALL THE TIME, BUT YOU JUST NEVER LISTEN TO ME LONG OR HARD ENOUGH TO HEAR IT!" Neville yelled. He stormed out of the door, heading down to the common room.

Harry and Ron stared after him.

"What do you think that was all about?" Harry asked, "I've never seen Neville blow like that before."

Ron shrugged. "Dunno. Maybe the stress of second day. Do you really think Hermione is coming up?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Man, you're whipped."

Ron glared as he got ready hurriedly, just in case.

o0O0o0O0o

"Hermione, did you get the-" Neville was cut off from his dinner conversation by a hiss from Harry.

"Dumbledore's going to talk. Shut up."

"Students, I have an announcement to make. This year's Halloween dance will have a special twist. It will be a masquerade. All students and faculty must come masked to enter the dance. Thank you."

Dumbledore sat down amid rumbles of low talking from the students.

"Oooh," Lavender cooed from down the table, "That's so romantic!"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "What's so romantic about everyone going in masks that won't conceal their faces? Everybody will act even more like idiots, and no one will know who they are. SO they can't even be punished."

Neville cut into Hermione's tirade. "It's romantic because you could meet someone regardless of prior knowledge. You might be able to get a fresh start. And you can act without worrying what people think of you, because they don't know it's you."

Hermione and Harry stared at Neville in awe. "How do you know that?" Hermione asked.

"That was deep!" Harry said in surprise.

Neville glared at Harry. "So I can't be deep?"

Harry shook his head slowly, "no, that's not it. Just, I don't know," Harry trailed off.

"No, I get it. You think because I'm quiet I don't think. Fine. I won't stay and bring the intellectual level of this conversation down," Neville said through clenched teeth before stalking out of the Hall.

Harry looked quizzically at Hermione. "What's up with him today? First, he yells at Ron for calling him honest, now at me because I was surprised any guy knew what a girl was thinking."

Hermione looked after the boy. "I don't know, Harry, but that just makes me feel worse."

Ron also looked after the retreating figure. He, however, got up and followed after; ignoring Harry and Hermione's questioning shouts. He caught up with Neville in the Entrance Hall.

"Mate, wait up." Ron yelled.

Neville turned to face him. "Why?" he said, calmly but coldly.

"will that really happen, at this dance. Will people be able to make a new start?"

Neville's face softened. "If you get a good mask, Hermione will have made no assumptions about you. You might have better luck with her then."

Ron glowered at the other boy. "Who said I was talking about Hermione?"

Neville held back a grin. "Nobody said it. You've just been showing it for the last 6 years."

Ron slumped. "Is it that obvious?"

Neville moved to comfort the other boy. "No, I don't think many pother people know. I just like to watch people. After doing that for years, you get good at interpreting body language." With that, Neville walked off towards the Library, leaving Ron with plans to make.

o0O0o0O0o

"Nev! Nev! Guess what! Guess what!" Sophia squealed, plopping down next to him on the grass in front of the lake.

Neville grinned. "I don't know. Tell me before you explode."

"I got a date to the dance!" She bounced up and down in excitement.

Neville felt his heart drop. One more obstacle to be overcome, that was all this was.

"Really? Who?"

"Derek!"

Neville frowned in confusion. "The one from over the summer?"

"Yeah! Isn't it great! He's coming up just for that!"

"Is he allowed to do that?" Neville asked.

"You don't sound very excited." Sophia pouted. "You could at least act thrilled."

Neville smirked. "Okay, how's this?" he put on a high pitched voice, "Oh. My God! You got a date! That is, like, soo cool! You have got to tell me everything! Is he hot?"

Sophia frowned, "Noo, don't do that. You sound gay."

Neville shook his head. She was so cute when she was clueless. "That was kinda the point."

Sophia burst out laughing. "Now I get it!" she said between breaths.

Neville rolled his eyes.

"Anyways… What do you think about this masquerade idea?" Neville asked, trying to keep her there a least moment longer.

"It seems kinda pointless. I mean, I already have a date. It might be good if I had to find a guy, but, I don't know, it would be easier if I could act like myself even if I was trying to get a boyfriend."

Neville couldn't help but compare Hermione's and Sophia's responses. Hermione couldn't see the logic in the idea, and Sophia couldn't find a point. They were alike, yet so different.

"So, what are you going as?" Neville asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

"Don't know," Sophia thought hard for a moment, "Maybe a fairy princess. Yeah! That is so, like, classic yet cool. What are you going as?"

Neville was about to answer when she caught sight of someone else.

"See Ya Nev. Coming, Zach!" She scampered off to her group of Ravenclaw friends.

'How am I ever going to get her to see me?' Neville thought, as he wandered up to the common room. He sat down next to Hermione, Harry and Ron with a sigh.

"What's up, Neville?" Hermione asked, peering into his face.

"NOth- actually, Hermione, you know what girls think like, right?" he asked, cutting himself off before his customary lie came out.

"I pride myself I do," Hermione responded, "Why?"

Neville sighed deeply. "How do you get a girl to see you? Like really see you, not just as a friend?"

Ron sat up quickly. "Yes, Hermione, please tell us."

Despite his depression, Neville could hardly keep from grinning at Ron's attempted concealing of his affections.

Hermione smirked. "Trying to win the heart of your little Ravenclaw girlfriend?"

Neville glared at her. " If she was my girlfriend, I would hardly be trying to win her affections," he retorted.

"Fair enough," Hermione frowned, deep in thought, " Girls like a hero. Can you save her from something?"

Neville shook his head. "If you provide a villain, maybe. Even then, she would probably just hug me and go back to her friends."

Hermione nodded, agreeing. "Fine. Comfort her after a boyfriend dumps her?"

Harry grinned at this. "Come on Hermione. I doubt Neville wants to be the back-"

Neville interrupted him. "Already tried it."

Harry bit back a guffaw.

Hermione glared at Harry. "Well… Girls like mystery. Can you be mysterious?"

Neville began to shake his head, than froze. A idea was coming, one that would win Sophia's heart. His whole face lit up. He jumped up and, hugging Hermione quickly, ran up the stairs to his dorm.

Hermione looked after him in bemusement. "Glad I could be that much help. Ron, were you taking notes!"

Ron tried to hide the sheet of parchment he had been scribbling on. Hermione grabbed one corner and they had a short tug-of-war, Harry chortling next to them. Ron hid the paper quickly after he had wrenched it out of Hermione's hand, ears bright red.

o0O0o0O0o

'It's got to be a good mask, one that's impenetrable.' Neville thought, rummaging through the rack at the Halloween store in Hogsmede. He rejected a Mardi Gras mask with feathers, a mask with "real bleeding action", and a magical mask that made whoever wore it's face invisible, before finding the perfect mask. It was a half mask, covering only his eyes and part of his nose, and was black. He tried it on, and it obscured his face completely.

"I'll take this one," Neville told the shopkeeper

The shopkeeper smiled kindly. "Trying to hide? We can sell you these self tied strings as well. Only you will be able to untie them, and they will not be cut by mundane means."

Neville gladly paid the extra 3 sickles. That had been the one part of his plan he had been worried about, that the mask would fall off. Now, with that worry alleviated, he could enjoy Hogsmede with a happy heart.

'Sophia will never know what hit her! It's foolproof' Neville thought, whistling his way through the streets of Hogsmede. Several shopkeepers smiled as he walked by. Seeing a purely happy boy was rare nowadays.