Hannah Abbott remembers her mother.

Character(s): Hannah abbott, her father, Neville Longbottom. (Hint of future Hannah/Neville)

Hannah Abbott kept her hand in her fathers, and with a stiff upper lip, led her father to visit her mother's grave. Her eyes were watery, but face dry, and she felt proud that she could be her father's rock as she led him to his wife's headstone. He was a mess, and shook with his grief as if she had just passed, but she had been gone for almost three years now. No matter how it hurt, she'd been dead and cold for many long days now...

When they reached the grave he collapsed before it, and Hannah reached out squeezing her father's shoulder, not quite able to look at him.

Sniffing, the man withdrew a wand from his pocket and muttered a spell, causing foxgloves to begin to sprout around the headstone standing tall and stiff before them.

Mr. Abbot snickered with disappointment, "I was always ruddy with making flowers. I amazed your mother with magic, but she never really understood how clumsy I actually was with it!"

Hannah smiled at her father, despite the wretchedness she felt, "You wanted honeysuckle didn't you?"

"Your mother's favorite. She said it was delightful to be able to eat something that smelled and looked so pretty," Mr. Abbot wheezed looking sadly at the foxgloves he'd accidentally conjured.

"That was mum's magic. Every spell...every moving photo...every nasty jellybean was a gift to her... everything was magic for her. She could make a rainbow out of a bin of garbage! " Hannah whispered remembering her mother's round face, and shining eyes.

Hannah's mother had been a muggle, and found all magic to be charming, even the simplest of spells delighted her. She used to say her father's magic was the best, but in truth her father had always been quite clumsy with his casting. She used to say his clumsiness won her over, and would laugh loud as she recalled, "I don't know how he managed to keep the fact he was a wizard hidden so long! He'd trip all over himself and then suddenly there would be bubbles everywhere, or some other oddity! When he told me what he was, I believed him right away. It made the most sense you know!"

Hannah could see her now in her mind's eye, sitting at the chair crocheting. It was something she liked to do to keep her hands busy. Hannah's throat got tight, as she wondered what her poor mother must have thought to have her door kicked in by death eater's. There had been no real reason for the attack... Hannah's family had been attacked for the simple reason that it was well known that her father was married to a muggle, and they lived together in a little house near Gringotts Wizarding bank.

Hannah swallowed painfully hard, supposing that even if there had been a better reason, her mother's murder wouldn't have ever brought her any comfort.

"I used to fall arse over tit in front of your mum! I was always trying to impress her. And she loved flowers the best. But I never could make her favorites with ease..." Mr. Abbott sniffled.

"Maybe...Maybe I can try to make the honeysuckle," Hannah whispered, her tears finally falling. Her hand trembled as she withdrew her wand, but she couldn't think of the right words.

As her eyes fell down to the headstone, they flew wide as the foxgloves stretched and twisted around the cold dull stone. They curled and grew thick and lush, transforming into the most beautiful honeysuckle she'd ever seen. The flowers overflowed and the vines burst forth across her mother's plot and even invaded other gravestones. Mr. Abbott looked to his daughter, and then just behind her, surprise and delight written all over his face.

Hannah turned sharply, wiping her weeping eyes and was surprised to see Neville Longbottom just behind her.

He was dressed in black robes, and his wand was pointed at the grave. He looked surprised at the spell's strength, and hastily stuffed his wand away. His face blotched with color making the many cuts and healing wounds on his face stand out. Hannah suddenly recalled hearing that Neville had become an Auror in order to round up the last of the Voldemort's supporters.

"I'm sorry," He blurted, "I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I only... I wanted to help."

Neville ducked away from Hannah's gaze, and gestured behind him, "I'm just waiting. There will be a funeral for another Auror in a bit, and I saw you both. I thought I recognized you, and thought I'd say hello. I forgot where we were! I didn't mean to intrude-"

"No harm done," Hannah managed weakly, and offered a real smile to him, "Truly. Thank you."

"Yes... Yes thank you!" Mr. Abbott wheezed stumbling to his feet and shaking Neville's hand. Neville clasped her father's hand and supported the man graciously, gently smiling at her father.

"The honeysuckle is lovely! Thank you!" Mr. Abbott said again, still vigorously shaking Neville's hand.

Hannah couldn't help but think her father and Neville seemed to be alike in clumsiness. She had never noticed before.

Remembering what Neville had said, Hannah cleared her throat, "I'm sorry about the Auror. Were you friends?"

"Oh...no. No, not really," Neville answered awkwardly, "But I was there, and I didn't want the family to be alone. I thought I might offer some comfort, as little as there is to give."

Hannah was moved by Neville's kindness, and took her classmate by the shoulder. She could see he was anxious in what he was doing, and with true gratitude said, "You brought comfort to us. The smallest gestures make the biggest and most lasting impressions. Thank you. Thank you. You're doing right by being here for them Neville. You are incredibly kind."

Neville blushed under her stare, and smiled at her, grateful for her encouragement. He clapped her father on the shoulder, and then politely tipped his head to Hannah, "I'll leave you two now..." He finished off awkwardly not sure what else to say, and then stumbled away, half tripping as he went.

Hannah watched him, heart warmed, and truly grateful for the small little wonder he had done for them.

"Marvelous lad," Mr. Abbott sniffed, "These flowers are perfect. That was Neville Longbottom right? He stood up to you-know-who at the end of it all right? At your school?"

"Yes," Hannah said, eyes following after her old classmate, "He was always good at herbology...but shoddy at transfiguration. But he did great with those flowers didn't he?"

Mr. Abbott smiled, "Yes, yes he did. Marvelous lad..." Her father turned back to look at her mother's headstone, clearly overwhelmed with gratitude.

Her heart warmed and swelled as she watched Neville go, and an odd thought struck her that she would like to bring him back here to her mother's grave, and introduce him to her.

Her mother would have liked him very much.

End