It Started With a Kiss

A/n1: Okay peoples here is the debut of my Hannah/Neville fic. I've meant to get it on AFF longe before now but was for a period struggling for inspiration. Thanks to Lady_Voldemort87 for helping me to gt this out there. I plan on adding more chappies to this fic so if you like this and wish to be informed of updates please email me at ratscentral@optusnet.com.au or ratscentral@hotmail.com.
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In one swift fluid motion Neville broke free of the Body Bind Curse upon him; the flaming Hat fell off him and he drew from its depth something Sliver, with a glittering rubied handle…

The slash of the silver blade could not be heard over the roar of the oncoming crowd, or the sounds of the clashing giants, or of the stamping centaurs, and yet it seemed to draw every eye. With a single stroke, Neville sliced off the great snake’s head, which spun high into the air, gleaming in the light streaming from the Entrance Hall, and Voldemort’s mouth was open in a scream of fury nobody could hear, and the snake’s body thudded to the ground at his feet

PG 587, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, UK edition.

For a nanosecond time seemed to stop for Neville, he stared incredulously at the sword in his hand to the dead body of Nagini and back again amazed at his own actions before he was snapped out of his reverie buy the buffeting hoards that seemed to be heading for the Great Hall.

‘NEVILLE COME ON!’ Seamus bellowed over the deafening din beckoning madly from across the Entrance Hall where he was with Hannah Abbott ‘WE NEED YOU IN HERE!’

Still gripping the rubied handle of the sword Neville leapt over the headless body of Nagini and raced into the Great Hall with Seamus and Hannah his wand drawn. Almost immediately the intimidating cloaked figure of a Death Eater loomed in his wake his wand drawn menacingly.

‘AVADA KE-…’

‘EXPELLIARMUSPETRIFICUSTOTALUS!’ Neville screamed bringing his wand down in a whip like manner.

Instantly the death eater’s wand flew out of his hand disappearing into the crowd and his tall muscular figure snapped together in the Full Body Bind. He fell backwards hitting his head on the wall of the Great Hall with a sickening thud.

Neville winced at the sound but Hannah leapt forward and bellowed...
‘INCARCEROUS!

Thick ropes appeared out of thin air and wrapped themselves around the death eater’s body ensuring there was no possible way he could inflict any more damage.

‘Nice job Hannah he’s not going anywhere’ Neville said admiringly ducking as a curse flew over their heads.

Hannah pulled Neville down with her.
‘Can’t t-take any c-chances’ She puffed as a piebald centaur went galloping past his bow and arrow raised in combat.

‘Shall I cut off his nuts while we’re at it?” Neville suggested jiggling the Gryffindor sword.

Hannah rolled her eyes as they edged though the pandemonium dodging curses and hexes.
‘Ha bloody ha Neville that was hilarious’ She replied dryly ‘I don’t think now is the time to crack jokes...JELLEXIO!’

Another Death Eater stopped midstride as Hannah hit him with the Jelly Legs Curse Neville leapt forward narrowly avoiding a black centaur and cried ‘EXPELLIARMUS!’

As the wand flew through the air Hannah jabbed her wand at it and bellowed ‘BOMBARDA!. The thin piece of wood exploded into splinters the explosion barely heard over the crash and bangs.

Despite being knocked stupid by the Jelly Legs Curse the death eater advanced on Hannah his massive hands wrapping around her neck. Neville ran forward totally forgetting his wand and sank his fist into the man’s face. He surprised him enough to loosen his grip on Hannah’s neck which gave her the opportunity to jab her wand into his face and bellow...’LEVICORPUS!

‘Nice job now let’s get out of here!’ Neville yelled grabbing Hannah’s hand and yanking her forward as the disarmed Death Eater was hoisted into the air by his ankle his black robes obscuring his face.

Neville and Hannah raced through the deafening bustle barely avoiding the spells hexes and curses soaring between the dark side and light side.

‘ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGHHHHHHH!’ Came a guttural scream that Neville knew was Seamus. A short squat Death Eater was twisting his wand at Seamus executing what was clearly an excruciating Crucio Curse. Neville and Hannah drew their wands and simultaneously cried ‘PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!

The force of two Full Body Bind Curses hit the Death Eater with a deafening bang. His wand flew out of his hand and he fell back knocked unconscious. Seamus his muscles still twitching from the Crucio leaped up with a wince and sank the toe of his boot into the Death Eaters testicles and conjured ropes from thin air to wrap them around his body.

‘Take that you son of a bitch!’

‘NEVILLE, LOOK OUUUUUUUUUUT!’ Ron bellowed pointing behind him.

Neville whipped around and ducked just in time as Fenrir Greyback sent forward a ferocious curse. Ron and Neville dodged out of the way and with him Neville raised his wand and bellowed...’EXPELLIARMUS!’ Just as Ron yelled ‘PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!’

Greyback’s wand flew into the flighting mass and his arms and legs snapped together as he was hit by a Body Bind Curse. Out of the corner of his eye Neville saw the werewolf’s wand roll away and get crushed under the hoof of a rampaging centaur.

‘Great work Neville!’ Ron exclaimed rushing with himself and Hannah further into the Great Hall.

Suddenly the attention of everyone in the room was drawn to Mrs Weasley who had swept off her cloak and screamed ‘NOT MY DAUGHTER YOU BITCH!’ pushing Ginny aside to battle Bellatrix LeStrange

Neville grabbed Hannah by the hand yanked her from the commotion as Mrs Weasley infuriated one of her children had been attacked leapt forward her face contorted in fury. The pair with Ron watched in fascination as the usually mild mannered Mrs Weasley swelled like a bullfrog.

‘Wow remind me never to piss off your Mum Ron’ Hannah said in dry admiration as the two witches duelled.

Ron just stared incredulously.

‘OUT OF MY WAY!’ Mrs Weasley bellowed at Hermione Ginny and Luna as the girls tried to help out the older woman.

‘We’ve got to help them!’ Neville said to Hannah.

‘Neville are you mental?’ Hannah exclaimed her round face flushed from the effort of ducking and weaving out of danger.

‘HERMIONE, LUNA GINNY!’ Neville yelled standing up and waving his arms above his head ‘OVER HE-...’

Suddenly Neville felt a sharp pain in the back of his head as Hannah smacked him upside with the palm of her hand then a yank on his collar as she pulled him down.

‘Neville don’t be so fucking stupid!’ She exclaimed as the flash of a killing curse soared over their head and hit a nearby bust of some long forgotten magical luminary causing it to explode with the force of a neutron bomb.

The attention of everyone in the great hall was now divided between two battles. Voldemort who was fighting McGonagall, Slughorn and Kingsley Shacklebolt and Mrs Weasley who was fighting Bellatrix. The floor between the two witches was white hot and cracking like as ice shelf as second by second the ferocity of the fight increased.

‘Oh maaaaaaan this is going to end badly’ Neville groaned as a small group of students rushed forward in attempt to assist Mrs Weasley.
Hannah and Neville crouched on the floor with dozens of other people who sat mesmerized by the goings fights currently going on in front of them. A collective hiss of the intake of breath rose as without taking her eyes off Bellatrix Mrs Weasley bellowed...

‘NO! GET BACK GET BACK SHE IS MINE!’

‘What will happen to your children when I’ve killed you?’ Bellatrix taunted her dark eyes alive with homicidal malice ducking and weaving as Mrs Weasley’s curses and hexes flew around her ‘When Mummy’s gone the same way as Freddie?’

‘Not smart Bellatrix not smart’ Hannah muttered as Mrs Weasley drew herself up to full height.

‘You-will-never-touch-our-children-again!’ She screamed.

Bellatrix laughed manically and to Neville and Hannah along with their fellow’s time seemed to suspend itself for a moment the lull before a violent storm.

‘AVADA KEDAVRA!’

The brightest green flash erupted from the end of Mrs Weasley’s wand and accelerated forward with ferocity Neville had never seen, it swept under Bellatrix's arm and hit her squarely in the chest directly over her heart.

Neville and Hannah winced as the gloating smile on Bellatrix LeStrange’s face froze as death rushed up to meet her. Her dark eyes bulged as if for the minutest space of time she knew what had happened to her. Then she toppled the closest ally of Lord Voldemort finished. The gathered crowd roared and then Voldemort realising the gravity screamed the piercing tone sending chills up and down the spines of all watching.

McGonagall, Slughorn and Kingsley Shacklebolt were blasted back from the end of his wand the fury of losing his deputy his closest ally exploded like a bomb filling the room with frightening intensity. He raised his wand and directed it at Mrs Weasley...

‘PROTEGO!’

The previously thought of dead Harry Potter one of Neville’s best friends had materialised in front of the gathered crowd. His wand raised.

The crowd gathered in the Great Hall incredulous at their hero’s appearance.

‘HE’S ALIVE!’ Neville bellowed as a great cheer rose from the crowd their morale rising instantly.

‘I don’t want anyone else to try and help,’ Harry said loudly his voice clearly heard over the total silence. ‘It’s got to be like this. It’s got to be me’

‘This is fucking insane’ Hannah whispered as Harry and Voldemort began circling like each other like to two caged lions trading words ‘Harry’s dead I saw Hagrid carry him into the entrance hall! How the hell did he re-appear like that?’

‘You tell me and we’ll both know’ Neville whispered back as Ron stared dumbfounded at his best mate’s sudden re-appearance ‘You okay Ron?’

‘Huh? Oh yeah uhm sure’ Ron replied his attention torn between Harry and Voldemort who were trading acidic conversation and Neville ‘Where’s Hermione and Ginny?’

‘Behind Harry and Voldemort but don’t go over there and try and be a Hero’ Hannah whispered grasping Ron’s arm firmly ‘They wouldn’t want you to play the hero and get your butt hexed into the second hereafter’

‘But...’

‘No buts Ron, geez I thought you lot from Gryffindor were supposed to brave and sensible with stupidity like that you ought to be in Hufflepuff’ Hannah said dryly holding Ron down with the strength of someone twice her size ‘We’re not exactly renowned for sense and sensibility’

‘Oh alright’ Ron huffed.

Even though both Harry and Voldemort were speaking in normal tones silence reigned around them causing he conversation to carry and echo slightly in the enormous hall. They all jumped collectively when Voldemort screamed...

‘Accidents!’

‘You won’t be killing anyone else tonight’ Harry said with calmness that Neville himself certainly didn’t feel ‘You won’t be able to kill any of them ever again. Don’t you get it? I was ready to die to stop you hurting these people-‘

‘Well he did...sort of’ Ron said under his breath.

‘Yes I dare,’ Harry said, ‘I know things you don’t know, Tom Riddle. I know lots of important things that you don’t. Want to hear some, before you make another big mistake?’

‘This is weird!’ Neville whispered to no one in particular ‘Harry what are you doing?’

‘Hopefully preparing to kill that son of as bitch’ Seamus groaned from next to them where he was still twitching from the Crucio Curse that had been applied to him.

‘Seamus how the hell did you get here?’ Neville hissed incredulously pulling his friend into a sitting position.

‘I crawled over here’ Seamus said with a wince leaning on his friend before taking a deep breath and steadying himself ‘I didn’t want to stay next to LeStrange’s body’

‘You’re metal Finnigan that’s the other side of the Hall!’ Hannah whispered grabbing Seamus’s arm and steadying him

Minute by minute the atmosphere in the Great Hall thickened with excruciating tension as everyone watched Harry and Voldemort with morbid fascination. Neville, Hannah, Ron and Seamus sat not fifty yards away where the High Table normally stood, now just a pile of chips and splinters.

‘So it all comes down to this, doesn’t it?’ Harry whispered his voice carrying like it had been magically amplified ‘Does the wand in your hand know its last master was disarmed? Because if it does...I am the true master of the Elder Wand’

‘The Elder Wand?’ Hannah whispered ‘The Elder Wand what the hell is Harry going on about? The Elder Wand is a fairy story!’

‘Wait’ Ron said ‘You’ll se...’

Ron was cut off by the sudden appearance of the sun over the horizon. It dazzled all gathered in the Great Hall and a moment later the crescendo of the battle came as at the same time Harry and Voldemort raised their wands.

‘AVADA KEDAVRA!’

‘EXPELLIARMUS!’

The bomb like blast rippled over everyone gathered in the hall with deafening ferocity. Neville grabbed Hannah’s hand and pushed her down squeezing his eyes shut.

There was a split second of silence before Neville dared to open his eyes. Then it all happened at once. The agonizing tense atmosphere broke when it became apparent Voldemort was dead, gone...never to exist again. Ron leapt to his feet and ran at Harry meeting him as the same time as Hermione. The three friends embraced then everyone rushed at Harry. Neville grabbed Hannah’s hand and pulled her to her feet. They met Ginny and Luna and the four of them engulfed Harry in a crushing hug

Then suddenly Neville full of the elation of the end of the battle and a touch of Gryffindor bravery did something he and no one else at Hogwarts ever guessed he’d do...he grabbed Hannah dipped her like a ballroom dancer at the end of a Tango and planted a full on open mouthed kiss on her lips. He grinned at her then flounced off where he blended into the group surrounding Harry. Hannah just stood there dumbfounded her fingers on her lips not entirely sure what just happened.

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Once things had calmed down and all the remaining live Death Eaters had been carted off to Azkaban. Neville along with Harry, Ron and Hermione began moving the dead and mobilising the injured.

‘Poor bastard he didn’t deserve this’ Ron said to Neville and Harry his voice catching in his throat ‘He taught us everything. The best defence teacher ever to walk through the gates of Hogwarts’

Neville gripped Ron’s shoulder.
‘He’d be proud of you mate’ He said ‘You know that, we all fought so that his kid doesn’t have to grow up in a world of fear like we did’

There was a moment where Neville thought he heard Harry choke back a sob then he vigourously rubbed his face but with Neville’s reassuring pat on the shoulder he drew in a rattling breath.

‘Let’s just get everyone moved yeah?’ He said drawing himself up.

‘Yeah right you are’

Neville helped Harry carry Lupin into an old disused classroom off the entrance hall that was serving as a temporary morgue. Staff from St Mungos had been dispatched and they were recording the names of the dead as the bodies were being brought in.

‘Name?’ A friendly old witch wearing a white lab coat asked them kindly.

When Harry couldn’t seem to answer Neville stepped in.

‘Remus John Lupin’ He said conjuring a rosemary sprig and rose bouquet out of thin air and laying it on Lupin’s wrapped form ‘The Light Side and an absolute fucking legend’

‘Do you know if he has any family?’

‘No he doesn’t’ Harry said regaining his composure ‘He’s married to Nymphadora Tonks. We’ll bring her in next. You’ll want to contact Andromeda Tonks her mother for her burial details. But I’d imagine they’d want to be buried together’

‘Of course I understand’

‘You can take a rest you know Harry’ Neville said as they headed back to the Great Hall ‘No one would begrudge you sitting down for a bit’

‘I can’t’ Harry said ‘I want to make sure everyone is dealt with properly. They don’t deserve to stay in the Great Hall. They deserve dignity’

‘I know that but you look exhausted’

‘I’ll get some Revitalising Draught then’ Harry said ‘Please Neville you’re one of my best mates be with me on this I need your help’

‘Of course’ Neville said ‘Have you seen Seamus? He copped a Crucio and was looking pretty delicate’

‘Yeah he’s in the temporary infirmary over there’ Harry said pointing to the far end of the Entrance Hall where another old room was being used for treating the maimed and injured ‘He wanted to help deal with moving the d-ead but the twitching of his muscles was too bad and your Gran threatened to put the Full Body Bind Curse on him if he didn’t go and see Pomfrey. He agreed and she followed him in there to make sure he was doing as he was told’

Neville snorted.
‘That sounds like Gran’ He said with a grin.

Just then Oliver Wood exited the Great Hall carrying a small wrapped form that Neville and Harry knew to be Colin Creevy. Harry went to help but Oliver shook his head.

‘No Harry I’m fine you and Neville go to Tonks she’s still in the Great Hall’ He said.

‘Has anyone let Colin’s parents know?’ Neville asked.

‘I dunno’ Oliver said ‘I doubt it, He snuck back in here and no doubt someone would’ve noticed him missing at the roll call at the gathering point for the youngest students. I don’t think anyone would’ve let his parents know what the situation is yet, we don’t know all the names of the dead yet and even I wouldn’t go running to his parents until I knew how he was’

‘That’s going to be a fucker of a job for whoever lets his parents know’ Neville said ‘They’re muggles’

‘Anyway thanks for your help Oliver’ Harry said.

‘No worries Harry I’m glad to do my bit’ Oliver replied with a sad smile ‘Thanks for what you did too’

Harry could only nod.

‘Erm Harry I don’t know how to put this but uhm who is dealing with…erm…’ Neville said uncertainly stumbling over his words.

‘The rest of the order’ Harry said standing aside as yet another body was carried out of the Great Hall ‘I don’t want to deal with him I’ve been doing that for seven fucking years that’s enough don’t you think?’

Neville couldn’t help but laugh.

Even thought Neville was exhausted from the battle he along with the other members of Dumbledore’s Army that stood behind to fight in the battle stayed to help record the names of the dead. That took most of the morning. Eventually the last of the dead were taken to the temporary morgue and the clean up of the Great Hall began. He was just repairing a huge crack in what was the Hufflepuff house table with one of the Ravenclaw prefects when a stern sharp voice carried across the packed hall.

‘Neville Frank Longbottom! Where thehell have you been?’ Augusta Longbottom demanded striding up to him ‘I’d thought you’d been killed!’

Augusta then threw her arms around Neville enveloping him in a crushing hug.
‘Ooooff Gran I’m fine!’ Neville groaned returning the hug ‘Gran you’re suffocating me!’

Just when Neville thought he was going to pass out from the lack of oxygen Augusta pulled back her eyes full of tears.

‘I am so proud of you!’ She said in a barely audible voice ‘You fought so bravely your parents would be so proud of you!’

Neville felt his face flush with heat.
‘Awww Gran you’re embarrassing me!’ He hissed staring at his feet and fidgeting.

‘Neville you shouldn’t be embarrassed about your efforts!’ Augusta declared ‘You fought very bravely, Harry Potter himself told me himself you were instrumental in the downfall of You-Know-Who...though he wouldn’t elaborate on how’ she added in a puzzled tone.

There was a long silence between the two.

‘Gran I-I-I don’t want to rude...but I-I-I really ought to help get the hall back to some sort of normality’ Neville said.

‘I’ll allow you to help once you have been checked over by one of the healers’ Augusta replied.

‘Gran I don’t need a healer I’m fine!’ Neville said in exasperation ‘Hogwarts needs to get back to normal as soon as possible and if I help that’ll happen quicker than if I lay in a bed that could be taken up by someone who is actually injured’

‘Neville look at yourself you’re bleeding! You have a great big gash across your shoulder and a lump the size of an orange on your forehead! You are going to a healer no arguments’

‘But Gran I...’

‘No arguments!’

Augusta Longbottom grabbed Neville’s arm and pulled him up the main aisle of the Great Hall and into the Entrance Hall.

‘GRAN!’ Neville bellowed once they had cleared the bulk of the crowd ‘I am quite capable of walking on my own! And you’re gripping my arm hard enough to cause an injury!’

‘I’m sorry dear’

Augusta let go of Neville’s arm and chivvied him into the temporary infirmary. Madam Pomfrey the school matron immediately seized him.

‘Mr Longbottom come this way!’ She said pointing to a nearby bed.

‘Madam Pomfrey I’m fine!’ Neville exclaimed.

‘I’ll be the judge of that’ Madam Pomfrey said pushing him onto the bed.

Neville glared at his Grandmother as with a flick of her wand Madam Pomfrey vanished Neville’s shirt to inspect the cut on his shoulder.

‘What are you doing?’ He yelped getting to his feet.

‘Mr Longbottom I had to take off your shirt to inspect your cut and as it was it was nothing more than a few threads hanging off you’ Madam Pomfrey replied gently pushing him back on the bed ‘Please let me do my job the sooner you get fixed up the sooner you can go’

‘I could’ve just taken it off you know’ Neville said crossing his arms across his chest.

‘I don’t want you risking any more injury’ Madam Pomfrey replied summoning a pot of bright purple goo and unscrewing the lid.

‘What injury?’ Neville exclaimed ‘I’ve got a lump on my head and a cut on my shoulder. I’m lucky; I didn’t get a Crucio like Seamus. Madam Pomfrey please!’

‘Mr Longbottom this will only take a few minutes’ The Matron replied patiently spreading the purple goo on the gash ‘You do not want to get an infection. If you get septicaemia you might need to spend time in hospital!’

‘How likely is that?’ Neville said dryly as the cut on his shoulder hissed and fizzed knitting itself so no mark was present

‘Unlikely now it’s healed up’ Madam Pomfrey returned tilting his chin up and shining a light in his eyes ‘How’s your vision?’

‘Great, it’s perfect everything’s dandy’ Neville said barely hiding the sarcasm in his voice.

Madam Pomfrey summoned a pot of orange goo this time and applied some of its contents to the haematoma on Neville’s forehead. He winced slightly as her fingers worked the ointment into his skin.

‘When can I get my shirt back?’ Neville asked as Madam Pomfrey capped the pot of ointment.

With a flick of her wand Madam Pomfrey transfigured a pillowcase into an exact replica of Neville’s shirt.

‘There you go’ She said.

Neville hastily re-dressed.
‘Can I go now?’ He asked with more patience than he felt.

‘In a minute I want to be a hundred percent sure you’re okay. You don’t have any more strains or sprains or dizziness?’

‘No I’m healthy as a horse’ Neville announced ‘If I were any healthier it’d be indecent’

Augusta laughed.

‘Well I’d prefer you laid down for a bit but if you insist of leaving I suppose I can’t stop you’ Madam Pomfrey said wrinkling her nose.

‘Great how’s Seamus?’

‘Sore and exhausted but he’ll be fine with no long term damage. He’s been given a mild muscle relaxant to aid in his recovery’

‘Can I visit him?’

‘You may but not for too long he needs rest’ Madam Pomfrey said firmly pointing to the other end of the enlarged room ‘He’s in the fourteenth bed down.

‘Thanks’

Neville made his way down between the aisles of beds till he came to where Seamus was resting. His friend bore all the signs of the recent battle. His face was covered with many half healed cuts and despite the muscle relaxant potion his limbs still occasionally twitched uncontrollably.

‘Lazing about are ya?’ He said with a grin ‘That is so Slytherin’

Seamus opened his eyes.
‘Bugger off Neville’ He said dryly.

Neville laughed.
‘How are you feeling?’ He asked conjuring a chair and flopping down into it ‘Harry told me Gran threatened to put the full body bind on you if you didn’t come in here’

Seamus went red and rolled his eyes as Neville snorted.
‘Yeah she did’ He said dryly ‘She’s a scary woman your Gran. In fact all you Longbottoms are scary. what the hell was it with you cutting the head off that snake? And where did you get that sword?’

‘I cut the snakes head off because Harry asked me to’ Neville said furrowing his brow slightly ‘He said to me while I was helping clean up the Great Hall he would tell me why later. At the time it seemed a peculiar thing to do but I trust Harry and he wouldn’t have asked me to do it just for fun. There would’ve been a reason behind it. I think it had something to do with You Know Who’

‘And what about the sword? It’s Gryffindor’s innit? I thought it was in the head’s office’

‘It usually is’ Neville said the events of the early hours playing through his mind ‘I don’t know how it got in the Sorting Hat but it did. I grabbed it and decapitated the snake’

‘Sounds like something out of one of the muggle movies my Dad likes watchin’ Seamus said ‘Oy there’s another thing too’

‘Yeah what?’

What is it with you snogging Hannah Abbott right in the middle of the Great Hall?’ Seamus said with a wide grin ‘Everyone in here’s talking about it. Lavender hasn’t been able to stop banging on about it’

Neville burnt scarlet.
‘Lavender can’t keep her mouth shut’ He said purposely avoiding looking at Seamus and fixing his gaze on his friends bedside table upon which rested his folded clothes and his wand ‘Lavender would spontaneously combust if required to keep her mouth shut for longer than a nano second’

Seamus cackled and rubbed his hands together.
‘You fancy her!’ He exclaimed with a hearty snigger ‘You’ve got a way of picking them mate Hannah’s a fox’

Neville beyond anything that had happened to him during a potions lesson mortified by his best friends teasing covered his flaming face with his hands and rested his elbows on his knees.

‘Don’t bloody embarrass me!” He groaned peeking through the tiniest gap in his fingers.

‘Neville and Hannah sittin’ in a tree...’

‘Finish that and I will hex you a new orifice’ Neville threatened half heartedly flourishing his wand ‘And I can’t do that I promised Madam Pomfrey I wouldn’t disturb you’

Seamus could only snort like a pig.

Neville visited with Seamus for another half an hour during which time Seamus teased Neville about snogging Hannah. Neville then left the temporary infirmary and started going back to the Great Hall. Various people congratulating him on his efforts as he strolled.

‘Neville!’ Called a familiar voice.

Neville turned around to see Hermione Granger running toward him her face flushed with relieved exhilaration. She laughed and flung her arms around him squeezing him as hard as his Gran had done three quarters of an hour earlier.

‘Oooof Hermione you’re suffocating me!’ He mumbled his face obscured by her bushy hair.

Hermione loosened her hold on him. Only then did Neville notice Harry and Ron were behind her Harry carrying the sword of Gryffindor still with the smear of Nagini’s blood on it.

‘We’ve been looking for you everywhere!’ Hermione rushed ‘We’ve been all over the castle, the Gryffindor Common room, the kitchens, the Hufflepuff common room. Everywhere!’

‘Why would I be in the Hufflepuff common room?’ Neville asked.

‘Maybe so you could shag Hannah’ Ron said with a great snorting laugh ‘Everyone saw you two snog you know. Right in the middle of the Great Hall? Good on ya’

‘I have to say mate I didn’t peg you as an exhibitionist’ Harry said with a laugh handing him the Gryffindor sword.

‘Oh sod off the pair of ya’ Neville said once again burning scarlet.

‘Oh leave him alone’ Hermione scolded ‘Neville I should add I only went with these two numbskulls because they thought you’d be shagging Hannah in the Hufflepuff common room. I wanted to find you to see how you’re holding up not to see what you might or might not have been doing’

‘Thanks...I suppose’ Neville said with an embarrassed grin ‘I was in the Great Hall helping fix up the Hufflepuff house table when Gran dragged me off to the infirmary. I didn’t want to go but she forced me to and Madam Pomfrey patched up my cuts and bruises. After that I checked in on Seamus. He’s still having some residual effects from that Crucio Curse’

‘Will he be okay?’ Hermione asked a look of worry crossing her face.

‘Yeah he’ll be fine’ Neville said ‘He’s been given a muscle relaxant draught to help with the muscle spasms but other than that he has no outward signs of trauma. Madam Pomfrey told me he should be up and about in a couple of days. I tell ya he’s not too happy about that. He wants to help fix this place up’

‘Speaking of fixing things up do you want to come with us and help fix what we can?’ Harry asked ‘Before we went off looking for you all the windows were being repaired and I saw McGonagall and Kingsley trying to fix the High Table’

‘Yeah now worries, has anyone seen Dean?’ He’s the only one from out dorm that I haven’t seen’

‘I saw him about an hour and a half ago helping Sprout round up the stray Mandrakes in the Entrance Hall and out on the green’ Hermione said with a grin.

‘Did they work?’ Neville asked in interest as they entered the Great Hall which resembled a construction site ‘After Gran, Sprout, I and a load of Ravenclaw students dropped them where the Death Eaters were concentrated we scarpered’

‘Yeah they did’ Ron said with a grin ‘Cleared them like a great bomb. It was rather effective, who’s idea were they?’

‘Mine’ Neville said blushing furiously.

Ron, Hermione and Harry clapped him on the back congratulating him enthusiastically.
‘Thanks mate it helped a lot’ Ron said gratefully.

‘Thanks, hey I’m sorry about Fred’ Neville said ‘I don’t know what to say’

‘You don’t have to say anything’ Ron said soberly ‘He fought for the light side contributing to the eventual downfall of Voldemort. As Bill says Fred wouldn’t want anyone to mope about and be down. Charlie even joked that he’d be kicking us all up the bum to get on with the re-building. I’ve decided not to mope about. I know he wouldn’t want me to slouch about. There’s nothing to be gained from it’

‘How are your folks and George?’

‘W-e-ell of course they’re taking it the hardest, especially George but I think in time they’ll be okay. I’m really worried about Katie though she saw what happened and went nuts. She’s up in the Hospital Wing in an induced sleep’

‘Well I don’t know exactly what is going to happen in the future but I think eventually everyone will be okay and carry on, though not in the way we would like’ Neville said ‘I tell ya things happened tonight that I never thought would happen’

‘Like you sucking face with the hottest bird in Hufflepuff?’ Ron joked.

Hermione clipped Ron around the ear and Harry muttered ‘Oh you are so crass’

‘Ow! What was that for?’ Ron exclaimed rubbing his ear.

‘Leave Neville alone’ Hermione said firmly as Neville once again felt his face flush with a burning blush.

‘Have you two quite finished?’ He said to Harry and Ron not quite meeting their amused looks.

‘Mate we haven’t started’ Ron said with a hearty snigger.

‘If you say one more word about Neville and Hannah I will hex you two wankers a new arsehole!’ Hermione threatened drawing her wand in a threatening manner ‘Now move your arses into the Great Hall and help fix things up!’

‘Gawd you sound like Mum’ Ron muttered as they made their way through the Great Hall.

‘Ronald Weasley annoy Neville about his love life again and I’ll make what your Mum did to Bellatrix LeStrange look like a fluffy bunny hopping through a meadow of Buttercups!’ Hermione threatened poking her wand in Ron’s direction.

‘Thanks Her’miny’ Neville mumbled as Ron and Harry went to a nearby group that was repairing the windows of the west side of the Great Hall.

‘No problem Neville’ Hermione said brightly pocketing her wand and patting his back ‘Don’t worry about those two nuts friends make fun of friends they don’t mean anything by it’

‘I know that’

‘But can I ask you a question?’

‘Yeah sure’

‘Do you like Hannah?’

‘Sure who doesn’t? Everyone likes Hannah’

‘Neville don’t be stupid you know what I mean’ Hermione said rolling her eyes good naturedly ‘I mean like as in romantically not like as in friends’

‘Hermione I don’t know, to be honest I don’t know what to feel about Hannah’ Neville replied honestly ‘I snogged her in the heat of the moment. I’m not sure it’s something I’d do again’

‘I see’

‘But then I’m not sure it’s something I wouldn’t do again’ Neville said with a wide grin.

Hermione giggled.
‘Okay I’ll leave it there’ She said giving him a quick hug’ But whatever happens I’m still your friend Neville and you can tell me anything you know that don’t you?’

Neville returned the hug.
‘Thanks Hermione’ He said ‘Let’s get fixing this place up eh?’

‘Wands at the ready’

‘Wands at the ready’

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That morning Neville discovered the true meaning of running on empty. As every minute passed he struggled to keep his eyes open but every alternative minute he saw something that needed fixing, or someone that needed help. He didn’t stop till Mrs Weasley pushed him down onto one of the repaired school house tables.

‘Neville you’re dead on your feet!’ She exclaimed ‘You must rest!’

‘But Mrs Weasley there’s so much to do!’ He exclaimed ‘I can’t just sit here!’

‘You’ll do as you’re told!’ Mrs Weasley said in a stern maternal tone ‘Neville dear if you keep going you’ll drop dead from exhaustion and we don’t need another from the light side gone that’s happened more than enough today’

Neville felt extremely stupid.
‘I-I-I’m sorry’ He said in a small voice ‘I’m sorry about Fred Mrs Weasley I-I-I don’t know what to say...’

‘Oh dear you don’t have to say anything’ Mrs Weasley sitting down next to him ‘I take comfort in the fact he passed on fighting for the light side. He more than anyone would want us to carry on to recuperate and repair what is left behind. I know he wouldn’t want us to mope about’

‘You’re being stronger than anyone would expect you too Mrs Weasley’ Neville said in surprise as slowly the people in the Great Hall began taking seats at the tables (For food began appearing on them like for a feast) ‘I wouldn’t expect you to be as strong as you have been’

‘There’s no guarantee I’ll be stronger later on Neville we all have coping mechanisms’ Mrs Weasley said patting his shoulder in a maternal way ‘Now you have a decent meal and go and get some sleep okay? You can help with the rebuilding process tomorrow when you’ve had some rest’

‘Have you been talking to Gran?’ Neville asked dryly as Mrs Weasley got to her feet ‘Or are you channelling her spirit? Because what you just said sounds awfully like her’

Mrs Weasley laughed softly.
‘No dear it was all me’ She said getting to her feet and patting his shoulder ‘You rest up now’

‘Yes Ma’am’

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Neville was never one to dawdle over his meals but he found himself doing just that over the next two hours. Gradually those who had stayed at Hogwarts to fight the good fight left to go back to their homes or in the case of the students returned to their house dormitories. It wasn’t long before Neville was the only one on the table reading a special edition copy of the Evening Prophet.

‘Neville you haven’t gone to bed yet!’ Augusta exclaimed taking a seat beside her grandson.

‘Nah I’m not tired’ Neville said immediately yawning.

Augusta rolled her eyes.
‘Neville dear you were never a good liar’ She said dryly ‘You’re dead on your feet’

‘I might head up to the dormitory after I’ve finished reading this’ Neville said rustling the paper ‘Have you read it yet? Kingsley Shacklebolt is the new Minister!’

‘And about time too’ Augusta said peering down at the picture of a solemn Kingsley speaking at a press conference ‘There’s no better man for the job’

‘I agree’ Neville said ‘He doesn’t look too bad for someone who was blasted off his feet’

‘He’s an Auror they’re made of tough stuff it’d take more than a blast from a wand to fell him’ Augusta said ‘Have you eaten?’

‘Yeah like a horse’ Neville replied ‘And had enough Firewhiskey to get Hagrid drunk five times over’

‘Well I can’t really condone you getting inebriated but I suppose under the circumstances a little tipple wouldn’t hurt’ Augusta said a smile dancing in her eyes.

‘Well Gran you’ll be pleased to know that I haven’t been getting drunk everyone who stayed behind to fight has’ Neville said with a grin ‘Seriously everyone I’ve talked to tonight has charged a toast to me’

‘And so they should you did magnificently’ Augusta said getting to his feet ‘When can I expect you to be back at the Manor?’

‘Give me a couple of days at least Gran I really am needed here’ Neville said ‘There’s loads to do if the school is to open up for the next school year’

‘I wonder if any parents would let their children come back here after all that has gone on?’ Augusta mused.

‘I reckon now that Voldemort has gone they’ll be more likely to send their kids than before’ Neville said ‘If I were a parent I’d send my kids here’

‘I agree, well dear I must be off send me an owl if you decide to stay longer than two days’

Neville got up and hugged his grandmother.
‘I love you Gran’ He said ‘Thanks for coming tonight’

Augusta returned the hug fiercely.
‘I am proud of you Neville’ She said in a wavery voice ‘You did your parents proud’

Neville blushed a shade of red Ron would’ve been proud of.
‘Thanks Gran’ He said ‘I’ll see you soon huh?’

Augusta gave Neville another hug then turned and left the Great Hall. Neville sat by himself for a while and was just contemplating going to bed when Hannah clutching a bottle of Firewhiskey approached the table her round face a distinct shade of pink.

‘Care for a Firewhiskey Neville?’ She squeaked.

Neville grinned.
‘Hannah if I have another Firewhiskey I’m not going to be able to make it back to Gryffindor Tower’ He said.

Hannah’s face fell.

‘But that’s a risk I’m willing to take’ Neville said gesturing to the bench on the other side of the table ‘Have a seat’

‘Have you drunk that much?’ Hannah asked in amusement placing two shot glasses on the table and unscrewing the cap on the Firewhiskey bottle.

‘I’ve drunk a fair bit’ Neville said with a grin ‘But Slughorn started on a huge batch of Hangover Draught at the end of the battle and as it’s finished brewing sent it to each house common room and here to the Great Hall I’ve been drinking a bit of that too’

‘Ah well that figures why you can speak coherently then’ Hannah said pushing one of the shot glasses over to him ‘I can reliably inform you the whole of Hufflepuff House is ripped off their tits’

Neville choked on the marshmallow he was eating. He hacked the obstruction from his airway before taking a deep swig of water.

Hannah laughed.
‘What never hear the term ‘Ripped of your tits’ before?’ She said with a grin.

‘Not from you’ Neville said as his breathing returned to normal ‘Who’s leading the festivities in Hufflepuff?’

‘Ernie and Justin’ Hannah said with a roll of her eyes ‘With help from Seamus’

‘He’s okay?’ Neville exclaimed ‘How the hell did he get away from Madam Pomfrey?’

‘He’s fine now whatever potion he was given enables him to move about’ Hannah said ‘Plus Hermione distracted Madam Pomfrey enough for him to escape’

Neville laughed.
‘That is so Slytherin’ He said dryly ‘So Hufflepuff and Gryffindor are celebrating together?’

‘Yeah all the houses are, everyone is going from common room to common room to party’ Hannah said ‘One of Hufflepuffs seventh years is dating a girl from Slytherin and she’s spent most of the time in Hufflepuffs common room. Then when I was helping Susan take a carton of Firewhiskey to Slytherin’s common room I saw what seemed to be half of the remaining Ravenclaws going in the same direction. I think everyone is beyond the point of caring who’s in what house; I mean it doesn’t really matter does it? When it comes down to tin tacks the thing that matters is what you’re fighting for not who you’re fighting with’

‘I agree’ Neville said ‘Have you managed to read the Evening Prophet yet? Kingsley Shacklebolt is the new Minister!’

‘I haven’t read it yet but I had heard that yeah’ Hannah said peering eagerly at the front page of the paper that screamed ‘SHACKLEBOLT TO REFORM BATTERED MINISTRY’ ‘I don’t know much about him except he used to head up the Auror office’

‘He’s one of us one of the really good people out there’ Neville said ‘He’ll weed out any crap left in the Ministry I bet ya. In twelve months time things will be totally different’

‘I hope so because the last year has been really really crap’ Hannah said seizing her shot glass ‘But I propose a toast’

‘To who and what?’ Neville said seizing his own glass.

‘To Harry for vanquishing that son of a bitch, To Ron and Hermione for sticking by him and to everyone that stayed behind to fight. Today is the first day of a quieter and hopefully more peaceful magical world…to the future!’

‘To the future’ Neville echoed clinking glasses with Hannah and bolting down his drink. He winced then slammed his glass down on the table.

‘Gotta follow that one up with another’ Hannah said with a grin.

After a second and third shot of Firewhiskey an awkward silence fell.

‘Sooooooooooooo’ Hannah began charming her shot glass to zoom about the table ‘What’s next?’

‘Sleep’ Neville said with a grin ‘I’ve been up a good twenty four hours and I’ve had it’

‘Me too’ Hannah said getting up ‘Well I better head back to the Hufflepuff common roo...’

Neville grabbed her hand.
‘Hannah...’He said ‘Stay for a bit, I need a friendly face for company’

Hannah’s face lit up.
‘Okay then!’ She said flopping back into her seat ‘So what are you going to do now?’

‘Right this second?’

Hannah laughed.
‘No in the future’ She said ‘In the days weeks months years etcetera’

‘Well I’m not thinking about the weeks months and years ahead but as for the next couple of days I’ll stay here help tidy things up then go back to Yorkshire to spend some time with Gran. She’ll send me a Howler if I don’t go back for a rest after all that had happened tonight’

‘Same here’ Hannah said ‘I’ll stick around for a few days then go home to Dad in Wolverhampton. He sent me an Owl making me promise I’d come home soon. After losing Mum he’s been a bit worried about me being the eldest of the four kids’

‘That’s understandable’ Neville said ‘You didn’t get a Howler? Seamus got one from his Mum demanding him to go home to Dublin. I didn’t see it but apparently he sent her one basically telling her to sod off’

Hannah sniggered.
‘Speaking of Seamus I noticed him and Lavender getting cosy in the temporary infirmary a few hours ago’ She said.

Neville laughed.
‘Well good luck to them’ He said ‘I have a feeling a lot of people will be hooking up in the near future. Look at Ron and Hermione they’ve finally hooked up’

‘That’s only taken them seven years’ Hannah said dryly ‘Anyone with half a brain would know they have secretly fancied each other since they started at Hogwarts’

‘Well according to Harry after Ron and Hermione came out of the Chamber of Secrets Ron said something about thinking about House Elves and Hermione pretty much leapt into his arms and stuck her tongue down his throat’

‘Hermione did that?’ Hannah exclaimed in surprise ‘Are we talking about the same Hermione Granger here?’

‘Uh huh right in the middle of the battle too if you don’t mind’ Neville said with a laugh ‘I can’t say it’s the first thing I’d imagine Hermione doing’

‘Maybe kissing people randomly is a Gryffindor thing’ Hannah said promptly going tomato red.

Neville felt his own face warm.
‘I think it is’ He said with more bravery than he felt.

There was a long and awkward silence during which Neville and Hannah looked everywhere but at each other.

‘Neville?’ Hannah ventured.

‘Hmm?’

‘Why did you kiss me?’

Neville dragged his vision from a nearby pair of Ravenclaws playing a spirited game of Gobstones and looked Hannah straight in the eyes.

‘Because I wanted to’ He said in barely a whisper.

‘Pardon?’

‘Because I wanted to’ Neville said a little more audibly.

Hannah’s eyebrows disappeared into her fringe.
‘But why?’ She said ‘I mean you’ve never indicated in the past you wanted to, Neville we’ve shared classes at Hogwarts for seven years and not once did I have any idea...’

‘Well maybe I should’ve said something before now’ Neville said picking up the bottle of Firewhiskey ad pouring a glass ‘But I never had the balls to say anything. And I suppose at the end of the battle when I and everyone else knew everything was going to be okay I did grow the balls to do something about my feelings’

‘So why did you disappear? Just now is the first time I’ve been able to track you down since he battle finished. It’s not nice to kiss a girl then not stay back to at least talk about it’

‘I know and I’m sorry’ Neville said reaching for Hannah’s hand and squeezing it ‘But it was in the thrill of post battle euphoria...forgive me?’

Hannah’s face split into a wide grin.
‘Just this once’ She chided ‘But do it again and I’ll hex off those balls you grew’

Neville laughed.

‘Did you like it?’ Hannah asked a moment later as Neville slid another shotty of Firewhiskey across the table toward her’

‘What?’

‘Kissing me’

Neville blushed.
‘Yeah I did’ He said drawing once again on the trademark Gryffindor bravery ‘And I would do it again’

Hannah’s features lit up like a Christmas tree.
‘You would?’

‘Of course, Hannah I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future but it’d be nice to have a friend alongside to go through whatever might come along. Will you be that friend?’

Hannah’s blue eyes sparkled.
‘I will be’ She said.

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A/N2: Well folks here is the first installment of my third fic. I dunno could it be left as a one shot or do you think it could be extended into a multi chaptered fic? I have to say I have a few ideas floating about and would like to write a bit more. My thanks go to Lady_Voldemort87 who inspired me and started BETA-ing this peice. She hasn't returned the finished product to me yet but I'm impatient and couldn't wait to post this here. But kudos to you Big V you're a riot!

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