A/N: Standard written for The Houses Competition Year 10 round 5.

Summary: ONE-SHOT. When Harry arrives home from Hermione's birthday party, he hears someone move about in his house. When Harry sends Ron and Hermione an emergency message with the emergency coin, Hermione gets the best birthday gift.

House: Gryffindor

Class: Charms

Category: Standard

Word Count: 2467

Prompt(s):

[Spell] Stupefy

[Time] Midnight

Warnings: None

Disclaimers: I do not own the Harry Potter universe.

Hermione Is Always Right

It was already pitch black outside when Harry made his way back to Grimmauld Place after Hermione's twenty-sixth birthday party. In the years after the war, Harry worked part-time as an auror for the Ministry of Magic. In his spare time, he had completely renovated the old Black family home. It had given him a purpose after helping restore Hogwarts to its original glory. He'd enjoyed learning so many new and useful spells that he had decided to do his inherited house credit, by giving it a complete make-over and updating it with the newest safety measures and the most comfortable and homely-looking furniture.

Since Kreacher had helped him find the locket, their bond was one of mutual respect, and he was very appreciative of Harry's input to restore it to the high standard it had once known. He had removed the wall on which Walburga Black had permanently stuck her portrait and had put in a new wall to overcome the obstacle of being shouted at any time he entered his house. All the family paintings were placed in an acceptable way (Kreacher's words) in the room with the complete Black family tree on the wall. Harry rarely stepped foot in there, even though everything had been renovated in that room too, except for the family tree. Harry knew that it was Kreacher's favourite room now, with all the family heirlooms and portraits of his old masters.

The new front door was a friendly, dark blue colour and was matched with the new paint that covered 12 Grimmauld Place on the outside. The silver knocker in the shape of a twisted serpent was completely polished and put on the new door as well. This front door also did not have a keyhole as it could still only be opened by using magic. The front door had previously opened into a long, dark hallway with a thin-worn carpet. Nowadays, a pleasant, warm light shone through the hallway upon entering, and a high-quality, hardwood floor was visible now. At the end of the long hallway, the door to the stairs that led to the basement and gigantic kitchen was all brightened. Harry had not changed much in the kitchen since Kreacher had worked his magic on it, and in Harry's opinion, it was more homely looking than it ever had been. Whenever he arrived home, he was proud to look at his work and the glory that had been restored.

Unexpectantly, when Harry entered his home at 12 Grimmauld Place, he heard a noise coming from inside. Knowing that no one was supposed to be in his house, as Kreacher was at a conference for the rights of house elves, he raised his wand reflexively. To be safe, he put his other hand back into his robes and, with his thumb, pressed the coin that was linked to the one Hermione and Ron had. Hermione had made these coins for the three of them and she'd put a protean charm on them, so that whenever one of the Golden Trio was in serious trouble, they could just press it, and the other two would come as quickly as possible.

The front door opened again behind Harry, and Ron arrived, shirtless, at his side with his wand raised high.

"What's the matter, Harry?" Ron whispered, but the adrenaline in his voice was so loud.

Harry brought his finger to his lips and whilst looking through the hallway into the already lit dining room, he saw a flash of a figure. The flash was gone the same second he'd seen it. Acting like he hadn't seen anything, he instantly moved his wand around the corner, pointing it inside the dining room, and yelled, "Stupefy!"

Without waiting for a reaction if it was a hit, he brightened the lights in the hallway and drew his wand even higher. When he heard the sound of someone crashing into the dining table, he stepped forward slowly.

Whilst the front door opened again, with Hermione in the doorway this time, Harry moved forward with Ron right behind him. Together, they looked down at the floor.

It appeared to be Neville Longbottom.

"Harry, were you expecting Neville to be here?" Ron asked softly whilst walking further into the hallway to check if any one else was there.

Hermione made a difficult wand movement and said softly, "Homenum revelio."

She immediately continued, saying, "We're alone. It's just us four."

"Let's see if this really is Neville Longbottom. Are you guys ready?" Harry asked when Ron arrived back in the dining room.

Hermione and Ron pointed their wands to the Neville-like man on the floor and nodded. "We're ready."

Harry lifted the stunning spell and immediately asked, "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

"Guys, it's me. I just came to ask for some advice."

"Okay, but why break into my house? At this time of night? And why not just floo call me or send me an owl?" Harry asked suspiciously.

This question seemed to surprise Neville. He looked as if he genuinely didn't know why Harry would ask this.

"Because you told me?" Neville answered with raised eyebrows.

"What are you talking about, Neville? I have never told you to come here." Harry replied, suspecting a lie.

Neville sighed. "I should've known you wouldn't remember." His face stood sad, and Hermione opened her mouth to speak but then frowned and shut it again. The funny thing about this situation was that Hermione was still perfectly dressed, her hair and make-up as the gracious hostess of her birthday party, Ron was shirtless and apparently in the state of undressing when Harry contacted him, and Harry felt the slight buzz whilst being dressed in his casual fancy robes, and in sharp contrast to all three of them, Neville seemed like a homeless person, his hair wild and dressed in his oldest clothes that he really just shouldn't ever wear again.

Realising that Neville might have had a hard time today if it really was him, Harry softened the look on his face.

"Neville, I'm sorry if I have forgotten anything, but please, explain?" Harry's tone had changed upon seeing the hurt building in Neville's eyes.

"Last week, we met at the Dragon Bar. Do you remember that?" Neville asked.

Harry racked his brain. He had remembered going out to get some drinks by himself, his loneliness had hit him hard, and he'd decided to go out and just live a little, by getting himself some drinks when he ran into Neville.

Neville had been down as well, Harry remembered, but that had been about all he could remember. The next day all Harry knew was that he'd swear never to drink so much again.

"Vaguely, go on."

"You don't remember what we talked about?" Neville's voice sounded fragile, and Harry again realised that Neville was not in his right state of mind. Instead, Harry felt that there was something very wrong with Neville's mental state.

Still, honesty was the only way Harry could interact with people nowadays and so he shook his head, "I'm afraid not. Can you tell me?"

Neville looked at Hermione and Ron and clearly debated in his mind what he was going to do.

In the meantime, everyone of the Golden Trio had lowered their wands and Harry extended his hand to help Neville up.

Hermione flicked her wand at Neville's slightly bleeding eyebrow, which stopped almost at once, and sent him a warm smile. "Neville, if you need help in any way, you can always floo call, or owl me, you know that right?"

"Thanks, Hermione but I feel like it is more of a guy thing. You see," he gathered up his courage by inhaling loudly and said, "I am in love with someone. I can't eat, sleep, work. I just can't stop thinking about her."

Hermione made an excited squeal and clapped her hands with so much enthusiasm that she had not displayed when receiving any of her birthday gifts. Ron just stood there, feeling more awkward by his nudity every second that passed and Harry racked his memories to see if anything resonated with them.

Hermione said, "Neville, that is completely normal though! And I am happy for you! This is good news!"

Neville made a face and shook his head. "The stupid thing is, I accidentally stunned her! She'll never want to speak with me again, I'm sure of it! And when I told Harry, he told me he was going to help me so he said that I should stop by tonight and gave me the password to his house and I've been waiting ever since. He'd warned me that he might be home late, so I've just been waiting here, not knowing what to do."

Harry nodded and figured that he would say that, as it was completely in his character that it was most likely true.

Then Neville continued, "Harry said that whoever I was in love with would probably be impressed if he told them that I was a good guy, so we would go over how to handle that tonight and...-"

"Harry Potter!" Hermione scolded before Neville could finish his sentence, and Harry gulped, that did not sound right.

But before Harry could defend himself, Hermione continued, "Where is your humility?! Do you think she will be very impressed when you tell her Neville is a good guy? Honestly, Harry that just sounds rather stuck-up. I don't know you like this!"

Hermione's words stung Harry, but he knew Hermione was right. Then again, he would never say these words sober and mean them. And to be honest, Harry really thought that it might've been a joke when he said that because it didn't truly sound like him.

"Who is it?" Ron asked, clearing Harry of the hot seat. Hermione looked at Neville awaiting his answer and Harry sent Ron a grateful look.

"Hannah Abbott," Neville answered softly after a few seconds.

Harry raised his eyebrows.

"What?" Harry exclaimed.

"You mean to say that the girl who visits you every day, asks you questions about your plants every day, and joins you on your plant-collecting trips is the one you fell in love with?" Harry asked, a clear tone of sarcastic disbelief sounding through.

But Neville missed the sarcasm completely and nodded vigorously, "Yes! And I don't know what to do! I haven't seen her since I accidentally stunned her, and I don't want to lose her friendship. It is so nice to talk to someone who is so interested in plants and who is so nice to me always. Also, she is so funny! The stories she tells and the jokes she makes…"

Neville trailed off into memories of her and Hermione slowly started giggling which made all the men look at her in surprise.

"Neville, I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that she is in love with you, too."

Neville looked as if she told him there was no gravity and blinked a few times fast. "What!?" he shouted, nearly sounding angry.

"Neville, I have talked to Hannah a fair share, and let me tell you this: she doesn't like herbology."

"But why…" Neville's voice was filled with disbelief and incomprehension.

Hermione smiled and shook her head.

"No worries, Neville, I will spell it out, because men can be quite dense in this department. Hannah likes you. A few weeks ago, she told me that she admires your passion and to see the light shine in your eyes when you talk about it."

"How did that come about?" Neville asked.

"Hannah and I met up a few weeks ago, she looked tired but happy and I asked what the matter was, she told me what I just told you and she asked me if I knew if there was any chance if you liked her. I told her that I had not seen you in a while and could not judge the situation properly. But I told her that if you did not like her, you would make that very clear, and you would not invite her on any of your trips."

"So, when I stunned her and did not invite her again, even though I did apologise…" Neville didn't finish his sentence.

"She might've taken it like you didn't, but I can hardly think Hannah would be so oblivious," Hermione said thinking.

Ron yawned and started shivering. "Listen, I should get back to Lavender. She'll be worried sick and it seems that Hermione has everything under control here," Ron said grinning whilst pointing to everyone in the dining room.

Hermione gave him an amused smile and Harry laughed a little.

"Thanks for coming, Ron. See you later," Harry said, clapping Ron's shoulder.

Ron nodded to Harry and then kissed Hermione's cheek. "Happy birthday, Mione. And Neville, congratulations. I'm sure it'll all work out." And with those words, he left Harry's dining room.

"So, you should just tell her, Neville. Be the Gryffindor that you are and tell her. I am sure that she will reply very kindly either way," Hermione urged.

Harry kept silent as he listened to Hermione's advice and realised that his plan might've been disastrous if they actually had gone on with it.

"Are you sure?" Neville asked whilst also looking at Harry for confirmation.

Harry nodded and Hermione said, "Yes. It is the best way, trust me."

"Alright, I'll go right now! I'll get her the most gorgeous air-cleaning plant that I own and tell her," Neville said, standing up and clearly feeling empowered to make that gesture.

"Uh, Neville," Harry said whilst lifting his finger, "You realise it is past midnight? You might want to wait until tomorrow." Neville made his way to the front door and Harry followed.

Hermione nodded agreeing and walked with the men to the front door. "The first thing tomorrow, around ten," she added quickly, knowing Neville would be at her doorstep at six in the morning.

"Thanks, Hermione and Harry. I really appreciate this."

"You're welcome, and I'm sorry," Harry said before hugging Neville goodbye.

"No worries. I'll let you guys know how it turns out," he said with hope sounding so loud in his voice.

"Good," Hermione said with a smile.

When Neville left, Harry turned to Hermione and said, "I'm sorry I had to call you away from your birthday party."

"This was the perfect gift for me, Harry. Mark my words, within a few years they will be Mr. and Mrs. Neville Longbottom. She is completely in love with him."

Harry laughed and made a gesture as if to write it down in a notebook. He didn't doubt her words as he knew she was right because she always was.