"Hurry up, Neville!"
Augusta Longbottom tugged at her grandson's hand, but he dragged his small feet behind her.
"What on earth's the matter with you, child?"
"Remember this morning?" asked the little boy suddenly.
"What?"
"This morning, Gran. You said - you said I love you."
"Yes, well, I meant it. Come on!"
"What did you mean, Granny?"
Augusta stopped to look at him. His face was completely serious.
"Neville, dear, what are you on about?"
"When you said I love you, what did you mean?"
"Love is very hard to explain, Neville. It means I care very much about you and no matter what you do, I will never stop caring."
Neville was silent for the rest of the long walk to St. Mungo's.
The visit was much the same as usual. Frank Longbottom lay silent and unresponsive, while his wife stared with vacant eyes at Neville and Augusta. As usual, she stared more often at Neville.
He held her hand and told her about his breakfast, about how beautiful it was outside, about the new friend he had just made, but still she only stared.
When it was time to go, he lingered, his fingers still entwined with hers.
"Come, Neville," said his grandmother sharply. "We've plauged them far too long."
Neville kissed Alice's hand and whispered to her before he ran after his grandmother.
"I love you, Mummy."