I'm sorry beyond words for the delay, but I've thankfully snagged some free time at last. Read on and enjoy!
MLC- Thanks, I'm so glad you like it! And I get the thing about Moody's OOC-ness; I felt shocked writing it! But the reason for him being so open will be revealed soon enough…Anyways, thanks again!
Timbers number1 girl- Will do!
Curly Queen Swirl- I shall!
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"D'you need any help unpacking?"
"No thanks, I'm fine."
"Alright, then. Want to have some lunch after you're done?"
"Okay, I'd like that."
After unpacking the trunk and settling into the cozy guest room, I wandered down the hallway to join Neville in the kitchen. He was putting some plates on the wooden table; some sandwiches were giving off a very pleasant aroma near the stove.
"You like BLTs, right?"
"Yeah," I said, glancing at my surroundings. "It's so quiet here, must be peaceful."
"Not usually. Gran's gone to the market, but it's rarely this quiet when she's here." I felt a smile stretch across my face.
"Al, okay."
Not a moment later, Augusta Longbottom appeared in the kitchen with a crack. Poor Neville let out a small yelp of surprise.
"I'm back," She turned to face me. "Hello, dear. Did you get here safely?"
"Uh-huh."
"And have you been a good host, boy?"
"Yes, Gran. I'm making lunch and everything." Augusta eyed the stove before approaching the stairs.
"Alright," she muttered. "But try not to burn the drapes again."
"One time," my friend muttered. "It happened one time!"
I giggled at this, and after a few moments, Neville smiled back.
OOOOOOOOOOOOO
We decided to take a stroll outside after supper. The temperature hadn't dropped too much yet, and there was a big patch of woods behind the house that my fellow Gryffindor was anxious to show me.
"I spent loads of time out here as a kid," Neville said as we went into the trees. "Gran always said I should've spent more time with other kids, but they didn't like me very much." I nodded empathetically.
"I know the feeling."
"Plus, this place is completely quiet all the time."
Before long, we made it to a large fallen tree in a small clearing. When Neville waved me over, I settled onto the bark next to him. Though it was getting colder, the scent of the wood was still very enticing.
"What're you thinking about?"
"Uh…snow, and Christmas. You?"
"How long it'll take before Gran hexes us back to the house." I laughed out loud as he spoke again. "And how wicked it is that you're here."
"Well, I'm glad to be here too."
We smiled at each other for a long while, but that voice in my head started screaming at me yet again; it was the perfect setting, the perfect time, with nobody was around to interrupt. While I was still afraid of rejection, when would I get another moment like this?
"Neville…"
"Neville Longbottom!" We were nearly thrown off of the log by Augusta's amplified voice echoing through the woods. "It's time for bed! Come back inside this instant!"
"Okay!" Neville shouted back upon catching his breath. "Come on." As we approached the house for the night, my friend glanced at me. "Sorry, what were you going to say before?"
I couldn't help but e the loud interruption as being a sign, so I acted quickly.
"You know, I really can't remember."
"Story of my life."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
That night provided me with the longest rest I'd gotten in a while. This made it easy to get up without an alarm the next morning. After slipping on my robe and slippers, I started down the stairs. Though my ears picked up on some faint whispers, eavesdropping certainly wouldn't have been polite. Trying to act casual, I wandered into the kitchen.
"Morning, dear," Augusta said. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah, thanks." Neville gestured to a nearby cereal box.
"Want some?"
"Sure."
I sat down to eat with them, but after another minute or two, Augusta got to her feet.
"I'll be upstairs if anyone needs me." With that, she was gone.
"Does she have plans today?"
"Yeah, we both do. Actually…" He leaned in closer. "I was going to ask you about it."
"Alright."
"You know how me and Gran visit my parents during the holidays?" I nodded. "We were wondering if you'd like to come along." I didn't know what to say to this for a while. Does he really want me there? "You don't have to. It might be uncomfortable…"
"No," I affirmed. "I'd love to go, if you're sure it's okay."
"Yeah, of course."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
It seemed like we'd weaved through the halls at St. Mungo's for hours when we finally arrived at the right door, with a sign that read: Spell Damage. There were many people doing random things; some were giggling, while others were pacing around or sitting still in their chairs. Upon passing a curtain on the other side of the room, two figures came into view. The woman was pacing around her bed, while her male companion was lying on his cot and staring up at the ceiling. Neville gently turned me towards the man.
"Lacey, this is Frank, my dad." I smiled, but he didn't act as if anyone was there. "And my mum, Alice." The older woman gave me a peculiar look with her head cocked to the side. She also had this interesting grin, as though she knew something that I didn't.
"Yes," Augusta said. "That's good, Alice."
Alice fiddled with something in her hands as she approached us. Ever so slowly, Neville stepped a bit closer to his mother as she dropped the object into his awaiting palm.
"Thanks," he said quietly, smiling at his mother. Though her gaze seemed to focus for a second, she eventually walked away.
Oh, Neville. I can't imagine…
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Dinner was quiet that night, even Augusta barely spoke. Then again, I could hardly blame anyone for the somber mood.
It must bring back plenty of bad memories.
"Well," Neville muttered, "I think I'll just go upstairs."
"He always feels down during this time of year," his grandmother said once he was gone.
"I understand."
"I do, too. Frank is my son, after all. But I'm proud of their bravery. Although, it seems to me that Neville focuses on the negative side too much. That's what makes him so jumpy all the time."
Though I tried to listen, I disagreed with her opinion about Neville. I would've been just as upset if my parents couldn't recognize me.
"But I must say, he is starting to show some of that courage."
I smiled and nodded.
"Thanks again for dinner. I'm getting a little tired too."
"All right, dear."
Though my body was anxious to retreat to the guest room's warm sheets, a noise from Neville's room distracted me before I could touch the doorknob. It was sort of a crinkling sound, like wrapping paper. After waiting a few seconds, I gently knocked.
"Neville?"
"Oh, come in."
My eyes went wide at the sight of him standing on a chair by one wall. It was covered in Drooble's Best Blowing Gum wrappers, minus the new one Alice had gifted her son with earlier.
"Messy, isn't it?"
"No," I answered truthfully as he attached his gift to the collection. "It's really interesting."
"Gran thinks I'm bonkers to keep these around. But…it makes me feel better." He stepped down and moved the chair back to his desk before continuing. "They're all from her."
"Really?"
"Yep, she's given me one every time I've visited her." I nodded, gazing at the nearly covered wall.
"And you kept them all?"
"It's the only thing I have of my parents that I can hold on to."
"That's really sweet," I said, staying put as he sat on his mattress. "Does it comfort you?"
"It helps the most out of everything I've tried, Bran says the wrappers doesn't mean a thing. It's not like I think she's trying to show her love, because I know neither of them see me. Still…I want to believe they remember me a little bit."
After tentatively sitting down next to him, I gathered my words.
"I'm sure you know this already, but…even if they don't see you, it has nothing to do with how their hearts cared for you. Maybe their recollections are still there. I don't think any spell can take that away."
Neville turned towards me with a soft expression.
"Thanks, Lacey. That's nice to hear."
My hand impulsively reached out to rub his shoulder. It was meant to comfort him, but my heart sunk upon hearing a very quiet sniffle.
"I want them to know me," he whispered.
"I know. I'm so sorry."
My friend let me see his tears for the first time that night. The sight moved me to embrace him, which he reciprocated as a result. And as the minutes passed, his tears became mine too.
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Again, I'm sorry for the wait. I hope you liked this chapter!