Days passed and though they had their own private dorms, it was almost an unspoken rule to speak to one and another before being in the eye of the public. They discussed not but perfect duties, never straying. Alisha and Albus, as Head Boy and Girl, had to patrol together, but they decided that they could walk individually only to meet up and exchange silent acknowledgement that nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

Donny didn't want to just come right out and ask about what had happened two years ago. Merlin know that he couldn't talk to the other member of the ex-couple in question. It didn't take long for Donny to figure out what his next move needed to be.

"Do you consider yourself a good friend?" Donny asked the two fellow Gryffindors as they did their homework in the corner of the common room.

"Excuse me?" Rose Weasley asked confused.

"Do you consider yourselves to be good friends?" Donny repeated his question.

"Of course, I would do anything for my friends." Rose replied, confident in her response. However it was the boy who didn't answer that caught Donny's attention. Scorpius sat next to Rose nervously avoiding any kind of eye contact.

"I'm sure you would. That's why Alisha sat alone at every meal, isn't it Malfoy?" Donny effectively turned the conversation to the blonde, Rose also looked at her friend.

When he paused in his answer, Rose replied for him. "Our loyalties lie with Al, Alisha was like a sister to me, but when she broke up with him, she made her choice."

"Is that really what you think?" Donny found himself shocked at how little she knew. "Scorpius know the truth don't you? That's why you feel so guilty all the time." He didn't say anything else, instead he went up the stairs to the seventh year's boy dorm. However he did stay within earshot for how Weasley would respond.

"Who does he think he is? You can't just walk in here and assume you know everything about everyone after being here for a few weeks. Ugh, I can't believe him!" If only she could see the smirk on his face, he knew more than one might think.

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Alisha was glad to be home, even after the first few days of havoc. Slowly she was able to breath truly again, smiling had become rare for her. That is a true smile was rare, her lips would quirk up at something her teachers said, or just Hagrid being Hagrid. Nowadays the only true smile came from the thought, I have a friend.

Herbology had always been her favorite, she enjoyed how everything seemed to start with plants and animals, after that everything gets progressively more complicated, but not this. Neville also happened to be her favorite teacher, not because her ex, believe it or not he doesn't completely rule everything in her life. Neville was different, Mcgonagall was wise and sarcastic, but too strict. Slughorn had amazing stories, but was way too full of himself. It went like this for all of the teachers. Except the herbology teacher, Neville wasn't the quiet shy little boy he had rumor to once have been. He was strong and wise, but always humble. He enjoyed nothing more than tending to his plants and spending time with his wife. It had been in the midst of the War at Hogwarts that Neville had confessed his love for Luny-Luna Lovegood. She simply asked him why he hadn't told her sooner. If you were to ever meet Luna Longbottom you wouldn't be able to understand how a woman who believes in nargles could also be so observant to actual reality.

Alisha had actually meet Neville on her own despite him being Al's godfather. She had been dropped off early for the train in her first year. No, early isn't a good word, early is an hour before the train leaves. Eight o'clock in the morning is unreasonable. Not that her father ever cared, she was simply lucky to be given a ride. To make matters worse Platform 9 ¾ didn't appear to exist. Now legend tells that Harry Potter himself couldn't find the train on his first day. Neville had made a habit of arriving before most inorder to help anyone who might not be able to find their way. Alisha was sitting against the barrier between 7 and 8 watching and waiting, hoping to believe that magic was as real as she had always believed. Neville had found her, he told her is she wanted to go to Hogwarts all she had to do was believe in it and walk into the barrier. Of course she knew it could be part of a hox, but she needed to be sure that it was true.

At the time she hadn't known who he was, but when she saw her in class the following day she passed by him and said a quiet thank you. They hadn't become friends until Al had officially introduced the two. Even after the break-up, Neville remained the only human to not ignore her or turn their back. Sure the other teachers didn't cease communication, but they did withhold communication during class or in public places.

Friday afternoons were sacred, after classes Neville would take a walk around campus as he waited for his wife to arrive from Hogsmeade, most afternoons Alisha would join him on this walk and they would talk about anything muggle or wizard. They conversed about history, talked of the future and complained about the present. Alisha had debated for days on whether to bring her new friend with him but in the end didn't have to decide. Neville sent a letter, he said he wanted to meet her new friend in greater detail, he's a brave man, the letter read.

So the two friends made their way across the grass to the greenhouses to meet their professor.

"So tell me what do I need to know." Donny said.

"Need to know about what?" Alisha looked confused as her voice portrayed.

"Well of course I know about the public version of your relationship. I also know that Professor Longbottom is the godfather of your ex. Before I enter I need to know how it is that you are still friends with this man while you and the family seem to have severed ties." Alisha took time to deliberate exactly how to respond. The problem with Donny was that he wasn't here during the good days and therefore has no idea how things have made such a drastic change since then.

"Neville refused to ignore me in public unlike the other teachers, he asked me questions, he showed his disappointment in my lack of participation and withdrawal from ordinary life. I don't like talking about my life." She concluded.

"Lovely, I know this isn't what you want to here, but you're going to have to tell him sooner or later." The students turned around to find Neville standing in a pair of jeans and a button up shirt. Alisha gave him a hug before stepping back again.

"You know it's rude to listen in on a conversation." she mock reprimanded.

"Yeah, yeah." He waved her off.

"On that note, I have to thank you for agreeing with me sir." Donny brought himself back into the conversation.

"School isn't in session right now, I hate being called sir." Neville began to walk, not waiting for them to follow.

They talked for hours, eventually Donny had to leave, he needed to use the little wizard's room. Neville volunteered to walk Alisha back to her dorm. When they were alone they finally spoke of what had been hanging over her head since their evening began.

"I can't tell him," She didn't have to specify who him was or what she was talking about. "I haven't told anyone, I opened up once, look where that left me." She was on the verge of tears, something that very few people have seen. "He can't know, he can't know how pathetic I really am."

"Stop it, you are anything but pathetic, you have been through too much to ever think that." Neville grab her by the shoulders, trying to make her see sense. "You fought your way through the death of your mother, and your father's abuse, you stayed happy and optimistic and you have healed."

"But I didn't do any of that." The tear pouring down her face. "It was all-all him, he saved me from my father. I didn't fight him off . . . I was hiding in a closet. He held me, quite literally together after the death of mum. It was always him. Then he - he went and bloody walked out on me." She took several deep breaths. "I loved him . . . hell I still love him, why did he leave?"

"Nothing is as it seems love." Neville couldn't tell her the reason why Al had broken up with her, he had been sworn to secrecy by his godson. "But who sent the letter to Al?" He saw her about interupt but stopped her. "No you didn't come out and ask for help, but your cry for help was obvious. You were strong enough to ask for help. There was no way to fight the bastard on your own, it was your strength to realize you couldn't do it all by yourself." Her tears calmed and her breathing returned to normal. She hugged the man who was like an older brother. Sure he was a much, much, older brother, but the feelings were still the same. Harry Potter would always remain her surrogate father.

Nobody saw him, actually they never saw him when they went on their walks. He never stood close enough to hear what they were saying and he didn't know why he did this time. Even now he wasn't sure if it was a good idea or not. Did he really want to hear that? Sure he knew the dangers of what he did, but was it truly that bad? Alisha was the strongest person he knew, aside from his parents, and that was hard to do. He loved her, and was now positive that whatever it took, he would make it right.

Albus swung off his invisibility cloak and waited for the password at the entrance.

"The only people who are really hurting are the ones who never show it, and, You were given this life because you are strong enough to live it." The voice of the painting spoke. "How do these quotes connect to each other?" Oh the irony. Did the painting somehow know exactly what was going on.

"Alisha," Albus said under his breath, thinking of how to word his response. Before he got the chance however, the portrait door swung open.

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Hello all,
It has been a while, but not too long. School sucks, what else is new, right? Anyway, let me know what you think. I don't want to have to start requireing a certain number of reviews. I know it's against site policy, however everyone does it. It makes me mad, but I need feedback.
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