Somehow, Neville managed to survive that first night, though he was still in critical care at St. Mungos. Hunter was only able to see him for a few minutes after demanding to see him and fighting with one of the Healers. He was staying at his grandparent's house in London in order to keep his grandmother company and to be closer to St. Mungos.

This did not do much good. After arriving there he did nothing but mope around the house and lay on the couch. After two days of Neville not doing any better Hunter lay curled up in a ball on the couch watching a fly buzz around the window as the rain fell from the sky outside.

"I'm going out for a little bit. I'll be back soon, sweetheart," his grandmother said. She was as greatly affected as Hunter was, though she showed it in a different way. Hunter groaned his acknowledgement. She was gone no longer than twenty minutes.

"Hunter, there's someone here to see you," she said as she went upstairs. Hunter looked up and saw a cute girl of about seventeen with shoulder length, curly, brown hair and what looked to be brown eyes. He immediately covered his face. She couldn't see him this way.

Tentatively, she walked over to the couch and sat on the edge. Hunter pushed his face deeper into the cushion. "Hunter... Hunter come on. Hunter please look at me." After several minutes she coaxed him out of the cushion. She lay down next to him and he wrapped his arm around her. They didn't move for over an hour. Hunter had his face buried into Hallie's long, wavy hair. She smelled distinctly of vanilla.

Finally, she sat up. "Come on. Talk to me," she said pulling him up. Hallie scooted closer causing a small smile to appear on Hunter's lips.

"Why are you even here?" he asked.

"Your grandmother came over and said that you were feeling down. It's weird. I've seen your grandparents more times than I've seen you."

"Lucky them. And I told you we would probably see each other sooner rather than later." Hunter felt more comfortable with Hallie than he did anywhere else. He went on to explain how depressed he was about his grandfather; how he had been his best friend for a long time. He wouldn't be able to stand it if he died. Hallie mostly listened but made the appropriate comment at the right time.

"You know I'll be here with you the whole time," Hallie said with a smile. She rested her head on his shoulder, and he wrapped his arm around her. "Hey, I have an idea! How about we go visit your grandpa in the hospital?"

"Great," Hunter thought. "I can't take her there. She can't know about magic. Besides, he's barely responsive." He looked over at her and frowned.

"Oh, Hunter, please! I really want to go see him," she quivered her bottom lip. This sent Hunter over the edge. There was no way he could resist her anymore.

Hunter took a deep breath. "Hallie, there's something I need to tell you." Now was the time to come clean. "Hallie, I've been lying to you about some stuff." Hallie burst into tears and pushed Hunter away from her. "Let me explain! I only did it because there was no way you would believe me." She kept pushing him away, but he held on tight. "Listen, when I told you that I was home schooled I lied. There's really no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to say it. Hallie, I'm a wizard."

She managed a laugh through her tears. "Don't lie to me, Hunter! I thought you said that I was special! What's the real reason?"

"You are very special to me! Please, I'm telling the truth. Let me prove it to you! Just sit here and I'll be right back. I swear." Hunter went into the spare room to retrieve his wand.

"I suppose that's your magic wand."

"Yeah, actually it is," he replied sheepishly. "Orchideous!" A bouquet of flowers came out of the end of the wand. Hunter handed them to Hallie, which she reluctantly took. "I know it's weird, but please believe me. I don't even know if it's legal for me to tell you this. You can't tell anyone."

Hallie was quiet now. She stared into the flowers, not knowing exactly what to say. "Show me something else," she muttered.

Hunter pointed his wand at the chair on the other side of the room and said, "Wingardium Leviosa!" The chair rose off the ground and then settled back where it was. "So, do you believe me?" he asked.

"Yeah, I believe you. But this is just way too strange. Hunter, you need to tell me the truth; the whole truth." They sat on the couch as Hunter told her the whole story; about Hogwarts, and magic, and even Quidditch.

"So, are you going to get in trouble for telling me this?" she asked at the end.

"I don't know. And I don't care either. I had to tell you. You're too important to me." He smiled, making her smile. Hallie moved closer to him and kissed his cheek sweetly. "And think about it this way. We got through our first fight."

They got up and got their coats on and walked out the door. Hallie wrapped her arm through Hunter's and they kept close to fight off the cold. They arrived at Purge and Dowse, Ltd, and Hallie asked, "What are we doing here? This place is always under renovation."

"Don't worry. It's magic, remember." He pulled her through the glass and into St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Hallie looked around, clearly amazed. The two walked up to the front desk and were directed to the second floor, room 213.

Neville was the only occupant of the room. He opened his eyes slightly and smiled when Hunter touched his arm and said "Hey, Grandpa. I brought Hallie with me." This was all he could handle and went back under. The Healers still could not find out what was wrong. There was only one other chair in the room, but Hallie and Hunter could easily fit into it. They cuddled up next to each other and sat for a while.

"Hunter?" Hallie asked.

"Hmm?" he replied playing with the curls in her hair.

"When you said that I was special to you; how special did you mean?"

"Very special."

"How special is that?" Her eyes started to droop; sleep falling upon her.

"More special than anyone I know." His eyes started to close as well. "Hallie... I love you."

"I love you too." They both drifted off to sleep. Neville Longbottom looked down on his grandson and his friend and smiled. He suddenly felt better. No matter what happened he would be happy because his grandson had found true love.

THE END