Summary: It is the seventh year at Hogwarts for the golden trio, whose friendship is tighter than ever (at least for now). Hermione decides she wants to help her friend Neville get a date for the Valentine's Ball. While doing so, she manages to arouse envy in the heart of a certain black-haired, green-eyed Gryffindor. Pairings include H/Hr, R/L, and N/??? You'll have to read the story to find out who Neville ends up with. *winks*
Disclaimer: Much to my dismay, Harry Potter and the entire magical Hogwarts world are still not mine. Rats. Perhaps in another dimension or parallel universe they could belong to me? In this one, however, JK Rowling still holds that honour.
A/N: Neville has long been one of my favourite characters in the wonderful Harry Potter universe and there has always been a soft spot in my heart for him. There is just something incredibly endearing about him, and this is only reinforced by the excellent portrayal of his character by the actor who plays him in the films. I know I should be working on my story-in-progress, "Waking Up Harry"; however, this plot bunny has been harassing me for the past while and refuses to go away. Sigh. A birthday card I received from my best friend says it well: "The voices!! Oh, my . . . those hideous voices made me . . . They MADE me . . . They're driving me mad, MAD, I tell you! Please . . . help me . . ." Writing this story was the only way to silence the, er, "voices."
(And for those of you who are patiently waiting for an update to "Waking Up Harry," I promise to have it up by Friday. So please forgive me! *smiles* As I already whined to Lady Jane, I was on holiday, then my kids got sick, then I got sick, then . . . etc., etc., whine, whine, yadda, yadda, yadda. That's why it's taken me so long.)
HELPING NEVILLE
Chapter One
Hermione Granger was the smartest witch at Hogwarts; however, more than that, she was generous to a fault and loyal to any and all who were lucky enough to call her their friend. Her first loyalty, of course, was given to her two best friends, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. But several other Hogwarts students were also included in her circle of friendship.
Neville Longbottom was the first wizard of her own age whom Hermione had ever met. That being said, her first impression of his wizarding abilities had not been a good one. Hermione met Neville on that very first ride on the Hogwarts Express, where Neville had lost his toad (and only friend), Trevor. Hermione, being the kind-hearted girl she was, offered to help him find his lost pet. In doing so, she gained a firm place in Neville's heart; coincidentally, because of Neville and the missing Trevor, she had met the boys who were to be her closest friends in the world.
If truth be told, Neville had just a smidgen of a crush on Hermione Granger from that day forward. As the years went by, his admiration for her intellect and appreciation for her kindness and bravery grew. His crush, however, gradually gave way to a hopeless understanding that she was not for him and that one day the most powerful student-wizard at school would wake up and smell the pumpkin juice. When that day came, he knew that Hermione would be forever lost to anyone else.
Even though the majority of students at Hogwarts perceived Neville as dull-witted and the feeblest wizard in attendance at the school, those who truly knew Neville knew differently. They saw a boy who was willing to stand up for what was right, even if doing so cost him everything. They saw that his shy and diffident manner was merely a screen for a sensitive and affectionate heart. Neville Longbottom did not have a malicious or unkind bone in his body; his lack of witty repartee was due to his gentle nature, rather than an absence of intellect; his poor performance in such subjects as transfiguration and potions was due to a lack of confidence, rather than a dearth of magical ability.
Nobody knew this better than Hermione Granger.
Over the years Hermione had watched Neville endure humiliation (usually at the hands of greasy-haired Snape or that other horrible Slytherin, Draco Malfoy) and disappointment without retaliation. But yesterday's events had just been too much.
Dumbledore had announced at last night's dinner that this year there was to be a Valentine's Ball for all Hogwart's students in fourth year and up. The last time such an event had occurred, Hermione, Harry, Ron, and Neville had been in fourth year. Neville had asked Hermione to go with him to the Yule ball, but since she was already going with Krum, she had refused. Finally, Ginny had agreed to go with Neville, as that was the only way Ginny, as a third year, would have had the chance to attend the ball at all. Things were different now, though. Neville and the golden trio were in their seventh year, and this would probably be the last Hogwarts dance any of them would ever go to as students. Desperate times meant desperate measures, and Hermione was determined that THIS time Neville would go with the girl of his first choice. But who was his first choice, and how could she bring this to pass?
Sitting in the library with Ron and Harry, unconsciously grabbing a handful of hair and twirling it around her fingers, Hermione scowled in concentration at the parchment in front of her. This did not go unnoticed by Harry.
"Hey, Hermione. What's wrong? You haven't even started your essay."
Ron let out a bray of laughter. "Yeah, Hermione. What's up? Fretting over that 'E+' you got from Snape yesterday? That must be the first potion of yours that didn't get an "O," he continued, chuckling at his own joke. "Better get cracking on that essay. After all, it's due in only THREE weeks! Heh, heh, heh!" A glare from Hermione cut his laughter off in mid-stream.
"Honestly, Ron," she said shortly. "Not everything is about school."
Ron and Harry gaped at her in astonishment.
"It's not?" asked Ron uncertainly.
His only answer was an irritated grunt, as Hermione resumed her hair-twirling and parchment-scowling.
Harry and Ron exchanged puzzled looks. Ron rolled his eyes heavenwards. "She's mental," he mouthed to Harry, grinning. Harry didn't grin back. He frowned at Ron and resumed his study of defensive spells, darting the occasional concerned glance at Hermione.
Ron resigned himself to another hour's torture in the library. With Hermione in one of those moods, he didn't want to risk doing anything to set her off.
Hermione was finding herself at a total impasse and she didn't like that feeling; not at all. Generally speaking, Hermione was always able to use her intellect to figure out a solution to any and all situations. But last night when Malfoy made that cutting remark about everybody in seventh year but the biggest loser-with pointed malicious glances at Neville-being able to find a date for the ball, Hermione's heart had been pierced by the look of sheer misery on Neville's face. She knew better than anyone how Neville saw himself. Because of his lack of self-esteem, most of the other Hogwart's students saw him as a failure. Hermione knew that if she could only find some way to boost Neville's confidence in himself, the rest of the student body would finally see the person she knew: a person who was loyal, compassionate, and fearless (when necessary). But how to do this? Hermione was stumped--thus, the scowling.
* * * * * * *
The following morning found a bleary-eyed but considerably happier Hermione at breakfast in the great hall. During the night she had conjured up what she thought was a truly brilliant plan for helping her friend. At first she had considered asking Harry and Ron to help out, but then decided that the fewer people who knew about this, the better. No self-respecting boy would like it to get around that he needed help to get a date, and even though Hermione knew neither Harry nor Ron would ever do anything to deliberately hurt Neville, subtlety was not a quality either boy possessed in any great quantity-Ron especially had a hard time hiding his feelings.
No, she was going to have to do this by herself. The whole thing was quite simple really: she would start spending more time with Neville, a lot more time. Studying with him in the library, going for walks around the school grounds, eating meals together in the Great Hall-spending more time with Neville would allow her to find out the type of girl he liked, and maybe offer an opportunity for noticing which girl fancied Neville. Hermione was sure that someone must, but whom? The chances were that any girl liking Neville would be shy herself and unable to get things going without a little help. Heaven knew that Neville would never start anything. Yes, this was definitely a brilliant plan. She, Hermione Granger, would not only be helping Neville, she would also be giving a helping hand to the unknown girl or girls who fancied him.
Hermione couldn't wait to get started.
"Feeling better, Hermione?" Harry asked somewhat timidly. He had noticed Hermione's improved mood this morning, but was still smarting a little from her display of moodiness the night before.
"Much, thanks," she answered, smiling. "Oh no, you don't," she said cheerily, smacking Ron's hand with the flat side of her knife as he made to grab the last of the sausages. "You've had quite enough this morning, Mister Weasley. Leave some for the rest of us."
Ron looked on in disbelief and dismay as Hermione speared the last three sausages with her fork and tucked into her breakfast with every evidence of delight.
"Hmmff," he said grumpily. "Someone's had a good night's sleep then!" He watched somewhat sadly as Hermione polished off the sausages with a flourish. "Finish that Potions essay I guess?"
"No," was the happy reply. "Really Ron, we have three full weeks before it's due. You need to lighten up." And on that note, Hermione jumped to her feet and almost ran for the door.
Harry and Ron stared after her in shock.
"Blimey, mate," Ron sputtered, "what's gotten into her?"
Harry didn't answer right away, but chewed his toast thoughtfully for a moment. "I don't know, Ron, but something's definitely off when Hermione tells you to lighten up."
"Isn't that the bloody truth."
* * * * * * *
Hermione was gasping for air by the time she reached the common room and threw herself into a chair for a moment to catch her breath. Then, using her last bit of energy, she leapt up, ran up the stairs to her dormitory, snatched up her bookbag, and began rummaging frantically until she found an unused piece of parchment and a quill. After a minute of frenzied scribbling, she was finished and hurried off to DADA class. She managed to fling herself into her seat between Harry and Ron just as the professor entered the room.
"Cutting it a bit close, aren't you, Hermione?" Harry asked, smiling at her flustered appearance.
"Yes," was the breathless reply. Hermione's cheeks were flushed a bright pink and her mouth was slightly open as she gulped in great quantities of air.
"What?" she whispered, noticing Harry's intent gaze.
"Nothing," he answered hastily, his own cheeks pinking up.
'Stop it, Potter,' Harry thought in embarrassment. Flustered Hermione was a rare sight; she looked so pretty, all rosy cheeks and lips . . . Harry had never noticed how full and well-shaped Hermione's lips really were. And her pink tongue was peeking out as she attempted to catch her breath . . .
'Hagrid in a ball gown, dancing with Dumbledore.' Nope. Wasn't working. 'Hagrid in a FRILLY PINK ball gown, dancing with SNAPE.' Yep. That worked. Ewwww. Harry folded his hands and turned expectantly to the front of the classroom, where their professor was preparing to start the lesson. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hermione turn around and slip what looked like a note to Neville. Neville blushed and took the note, hastily placing it under his desk. Luckily the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was not possessed of a magical eye that could see through wooden desks, and Neville was able to read Hermione's note without detection.
Still surreptitiously watching Neville, Harry was startled to see the absent-minded boy flush a violent shade of crimson and tentatively poke Hermione in the shoulder. When she turned around, Harry was even more surprised to see Neville, still blushing furiously, give her a timid nod. Hermione smiled happily and patted Neville's hand reassuringly, before turning her attention back to the front of the classroom.
Harry's eyes met Ron's in astonishment. Ron had also been following the little interlude with interest.
"What the . . ." Ron mouthed at Harry. Harry shrugged, frowning slightly. What was Hermione doing? Hermione never passed notes in class. And if she was going to do any note-passing, it ought to be to him or to Ron, ought it not? Passing notes to Neville was just . . . well, it was just so . . . Harry wasn't quite sure what it was "just"; he only knew that the whole episode was very unsettling, to say the least.
"Pssst, Hermione" he whispered. "What was that all about?"
"Shhhh," she said, giving him a stern look. "Pay attention!"
No, the whole thing was very unsettling indeed.