Dreams

Neville Longbottom looked out one of the windows of Gryffindor Tower, trying to see if it was snowing yet. It hadn't snowed yet this season, and it was already Christmas Eve. This was also his first year away from home during the holidays and he was feeling very alone. At difficult and frightening times like this past year, Harry Potter was usually around to save the day and protect everybody, but he wasn't here now. The professors could only do so much against the Death Eaters to protect the students, and Neville felt it was his turn to give back to the school that had given so much to him. So, he had chosen to stay at school. He couldn't leave when there were other students stuck there with nowhere to go. He had to look out for them. He wasn't going anywhere.

He'd tried to make dinner that night special for the kids. He'd snuck out one day to Hogsmeade and used all the money he had to buy sweets and presents for them. He'd brought them back to the school and gave them out at the Christmas Eve meal. It had been a particularly tough year so far, and all of the children were grateful to receive a gift. Even the Slytherin students had smiled, though being careful to not show too much appreciation.

After dinner, Neville had returned to Gryffindor Tower with the other Gryffindors who were staying at the school. They settled into the chairs and pillows in front of the warm, cheery fire. Neville glanced out the windows again to see if it was snowing yet, but there was still nothing. Just a dark cloudless night. He sighed before turning his attention back to the children. "Do you think Father Christmas will be able to make it through all the magical wards?" one student, a first year, asked.

Neville patted him on the back. "I'm sure he will," he replied. "Nothing can keep him away on Christmas." He'd kept a few extra gifts up in his dormitory to give to them later on in the night. They'd wake up to presents, no matter what.

"Do you think there will be a Christmas dinner tomorrow?" a fourth year girl asked with a worried look on her face.

"I hope so," Neville replied with a shrug. He'd stashed away bottles of Butterbeer and more sweets to supplement their meal in case it turned out to be less than desirable.

Neville sat in silence and thought about the Christmas he could be having at home. Gran would have made a turkey with all the trimmings. They'd visit his parents. His throat began to tighten at the thought of missing that precious time with his parents. He reached into his robe pocket and touched the gum wrapper he always kept there for safe-keeping. Would his parents even notice that he wouldn't be there this year? It hurt him to think they might not even notice, but it hurt even more to think that they might. Not being there for his parents was torture…but he was needed here more.

After a while, the students began to play Exploding Snap and chatted happily together. Time passed quickly, and the next thing they knew, it was time for bed. The first year boy began to sniffle quietly as he walked towards the stairs to his dormitory. "I've never been away from home at Christmas before," he confessed tearfully.

"We'll have a good time, don't worry," Neville assured him before patting him on the shoulder and watching as he went into his room. When the others had all returned to their dormitories, he walked back towards the window and stood there.

There was no sign of snow, but the sound of wind whipping through the trees filled his ears. He'd almost always had a white Christmas, but he supposed it couldn't be snowy every year. It would make the day much more bearable, though, if it did. He sighed while thinking of the Christmases he used to know. Before he could get too wistful and sad, however, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to see Professor McGonagall standing in front of him with an armful of brightly-wrapped presents.

"I was hoping you would be awake still," she said in greeting while dumping half of the presents into his hands. "I'm going to put these in the girls' dormitories, and I'd like you to deliver these to the boys, if you don't mind. I want to make sure they wake up to gifts this year. There's no telling what will happen to the presents their families try to send them. I have no doubt they'll probably end up in Snape's office where he'll dole them out to all his cronies. That's just like him, isn't it?"

Neville frowned and nodded his head. "Just like him, yes. I have some gifts to add too. I hid the ones for the girls under the sofa," he replied as he took out his wand and summoned the hidden presents over to the professor. "I also have Butterbeer and sweets for tomorrow in case dinner's no good."

Minerva smiled. "I just might join all of you for that. It hasn't exactly been a cheery Christmas so far, has it?"

"I keep looking outside for snow, but…I don't think it's going to this year."

"Nothing's working out this year like it should. Hopefully this will all be over by next year." Minerva looked out the window for a minute too before turning back to Neville. "Well, come on, let's get these presents delivered, shall we?"

After delivering the presents to the dormitories, Neville returned to his own room and took out a sheet of parchment. He dipped his quill in ink and began to write.

Dear Gran,

I miss you and hope this Christmas finds you well. Please give my love to mum and dad. I don't know what we're having for Christmas dinner tomorrow, but I doubt it'll be as good as your turkey. I hope it snows down there, and that I'll be able to be there next year. I'm going to send this off to you tonight, and with any luck, it'll reach you by the morning.

I love you,

Neville

Neville sent the letter off with an owl and climbed into bed. As he fell asleep, the wind continued to howl.