She belongs to him

Neville's pov

Paring: Hermione/Neville,

Challenge: to break up a canon paring and make it fannon.

One cool grey morning I came out of Knockturn Alley. I needed plant food for some flesh eating slug repellents I was raising, when all of a sudden I heard an explosion from around the corner. My heart raced as I ran towards the site. 'Merlin's beard,' I thought as Weasley's Wizard Wheezes was engulfed in purple and orange flames. George ran out as I wondered where Ron was. Dropping the plant food I raced to find my friend.

"Where's Ron?" I exclaimed panting as at the crowd around us. George's clothes had holes in them from where the fire burned him. Thankfully he wasn't hurt.

"He didn't make it, Neville. He was experimenting with something. I told him that Dragon's blood and fireworks wouldn't work. He was trying to make a new product," George said excitedly.

"I think you need to see a medi-witch" I looked at my old friend as he nodded slowly in agreement. I knew someone had to tell Hermione that Ron didn't make it. Hermione! She'd go insane without Ron by her side.

"Harry's here now. I'm going to talk to him for a minute. As top Auror, he has to make sure this was an accident and not something on purpose. " As I left George, others came running to him to make sure he was okay. Harry ran to us panicking.

"Where's Ron?" Harry demanded, trying to catch his breath, in shock that his best friend had just died in an explosion. "Oh, sweet Merlin. What about Hermione? Does she know?"

"I'm afraid not, it just happened. There are still flames coming from the building," I replied, pointing as Harry looked at the building.

Harry did not care that he was crying in front of everyone, he took of his glasses as the tears came and rubbed his eyes. Watching him I couldn't help but cry myself knowing that we had just lost a friend and the first person Harry had met in this world. We had to stay strong and try to figure out what to do now.

"George said it was an accident. Ron was making a new product and the two ingredients did not mix well together. They caused the explosion," I informed the Auror.

"Someone has to tell Hermione and the rest of the family," Harry said.

"I can do that. You have to stay here and make sure everything gets cleaned up." My heart flipped. Hermione was going to be devastated. Her whole world had changed and she did not even know it yet. "Where is she?"

"She's at the Ministry. She might be in a meeting, but I think they will let her go for this. " Harry replied.

As soon as Harry had said this Hermione appeared. She was frantic, panicking, and tried to race towards the fire. Harry and I held her back.

"Ron, where is he? Where is Ron?" She Harry and I looked at each other. I decided to let Harry tell Hermione. He knew her better.

"Hermione, sit down next to me," Harry said.

"I'm not going to sit on the wet ground. Why is it wet?"

I had not noticed the ground, and could only assume the pipes broke from underneath the building with the explosion making it pour water everywhere. I realized now that my clothes were soaked from sitting on the ground.

"Hermione, please," I pleaded. I stood up and forced her gently to sit down. Harry sat down with us and placed his arms around Hermione as she looked at Harry and my glum faces.

"No, please. Tell me this isn't true?" She automatically knew something was wrong because Ron was not sitting out there with them.

"Hermione, there's no easy way to tell you. Ron didn't make it out," Harry said gently.

"Hermione, he's gone. He's not coming back," I said softly to her as she turned to look at me.

"You're lying," she said clearly.

"I'm not. I wish I were, but I'm not. I've been here for ten minutes now, and he hasn't come out. George said he tried to get to Ron but didn't make it," I said as she lowered her head.

More Aurors came to talk to Harry. While Harry was talking, Hermione held onto me crying. She needed someone right now. I knew I couldn't go back to the school. She had always been there for me and I wanted to be there for her. I did not care that my robes were wet from Hermione's tears. She hid her face from the onlookers. She did not want to be seen crying.

"Neville, take Hermione to my house, to Grimmauld place. You remember how to get there? Don't take her to the Burrow, by now someone from the Ministry has contacted Molly and the rest of the family. Hermione needs to be alone to think," Harry said. I nodded in agreement, thankful Harry took charge.

"I will take her. I've never been to your house. What about Kreacher? " I asked, I not wanting to disturbed the house elf.

"I will give you the address. Kreacher will be fine he knows how to handle things like this. He took care of me when the war was over. When she is calmer have Kreacher make her some tea. She will need to eat to gather her strength." Harry took out a piece of paper from his pocket and wrote down the address then handed it to. I accepted it with my hands shaking.

"I agree. She needs to be away from all the attention. I will help out."

I nodded slowly as I picked Hermione up and Apparated to Grimmauld place knowing she was too weak to apparate herself. Once inside Harry's home Hermione lost it. Her eyes were red from crying. Kreacher appeared right away knowing something was wrong.

"What is wrong with Master's friend?" He asked, and then showed me where to put Hermione. I laid her down on the bed and started to walk away.

"Ron died in an explosion this morning," I managed to tell the elf in a whisper.

" I'll go make her favorite tea," Kreacher said and was gone in an instant. I started after him to go to the kitchen when Hermione spoke softly.

"Neville, don't leave. I need someone here." Hermione sat up in bed, looking horrible but beautiful at the same time. She had always been beautiful. I remembered the crush I had on her when we had went to Hogwarts, but pushed the thought out of my mind. She was one of the few who was nice to me. My friend had just lost her husband. She would not be interested in anyone else for a very long time.

"Alright." I sat down on the chair next to the bed. She held out her hand for me to grab. I took it and laced her fingers through mine. My heart started to leap. I still felt the same as I did in Hogwarts. I tried pushing the thoughts away as she held onto my hand.

"tea is ready," Kreacher said quietly as he placed two cups of tea next to the table near the bed. He then lit a fire in the fireplace.

"Thank you, Kreacher," I said quietly. Hermione was now asleep and wouldn't need it.

"If you need anything, sir, I'll be down in the kitchen," Kreacher said and popped out of the room.

I don't know how long I stayed there with Hermione, but I know by the time I remembered the tea was there it was cold. I pushed her brown hair out of her face gently. She looked so peaceful sleeping.

I let go of her hand, grabbed my wand from the table and warmed the tea with a little charm. I put back my wand and picked up my tea. I wasn't really thirsty so I put it back down, and stared at Hermione. She looked so peaceful asleep. I don't know where it came from, but I leaned in, and kissed her gently on her forehead. It was then when she opened her eyes.

"Neville?" She whispered quietly. Her eyes still red from all the crying. I put my hand in her fingers again to let her know I was still there. She sat up from the bed and looked at me.

"Thank you for staying with me. You have no idea how much I need company right now. Thankfully the children are at the school and I don't have to worry about them."

"I just wanted you to know you still had someone here with you," I stammered, embarrassed that I had woken her when I kissed her forehead. Now I wished I could take the kiss back. It had woken her up, and she needed sleep.

"Neville, I don't know what I am going to do. For the first time in my life, I feel lost. I want him back." Hermione picked up the tea with her free hand and took a sip.

"We will figure it all out Hermione. You're a strong woman," I said nervously as I released her hand and reached for my tea.

"Will you help me? I need someone other than family right now. Harry is family because he married Ginny."

"I will help you," I said, putting my cup of tea down without drinking it. "You should get some sleep,"

"I don't want to sleep. I'm afraid I will see him in my dreams." Hermione started crying again.

"You need to sleep. Sleep will help heal you, and make you stronger." I whispered, sitting on the bed and gathering her into my arms. She looked up at me and kissed me softly on the cheek. Little did she know that the kiss tore me a part. I knew she'd never be mine. That was something I learned already.

"I know. Thank you so much for staying with me," Hermione whispered.

"You need to sleep now," I said again feeling uncomfortable as I got up from the bed and stood at the footboard. I wanted to kiss her again, to let her know everything was going to be alright. But with my feelings, that would make things worse for me. I had to leave. I couldn't be around her right now with my thoughts. Let alone me wanting to kiss her on the lips.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

"To the kitchen. I'm going to tell Kreacher to start making lunch," I said to her, needing to leave the room.

"All right," Hermione said as she put her cup down and laid on the bed once more. "Neville?"

"Yes, Hermione?" I stopped and turned around.

"Thank you," she said before she fell asleep again.

"You're welcome," I whispered, and left her alone to sleep.

Authors note: Special thanks to FirstYear and SlytherinHead for betaing this for me. it was really hard to write.