adjunct | Predictably, Neville was left partnerless.

[ Hermione does see and she just smiles fondly; oh, Neville, she missed you something terrible. She goes into the kitchen straight away and starts to make some tea for them, dogs running around their ankles - one bulldog and one mutt desperate for attention. ]

Um, no, he isn't. He's from a few years before me, I think. [ A pause, then she turns and offers a soft little smile. ] It's good, Neville. Everything is getting better. Kingsley is Minster and the school has been rebuilt and - we're all working on making it good again.

[Neville smiles back, a sort of almost-confidence in the expression that had never been there before. His gran would be pleased: she quite liked Kingsley, and Neville had learned that her judgement was pretty bang on most of the time.] We never lost hope, you know. The D.A. [Well, Neville hadn't, and he'd refused to hear otherwise from anyone else. No one really pushed him on it, anyway, because close to the end he was about the only thing holding them all together.] Knew if anything could figure things out, it'd be you three.

I know you didn't. That - it's what helped us keep going, knowing you were all there waiting for us.

[ She turns back to him and offers an even brighter smile. ]

We couldn't have finished everything without all of you - you, Ginny and Luna. We'd have been completely lost when we got back to school. You all saved the day, Neville.

[Neville turns a bit pink and waves the compliment off.]

We helped, anyway. [They wouldn't have saved any day if Harry, Ron and Hermione hadn't been out busting their butts all year finding Voldemort's secrets, that's for darn sure. Neville doesn't want to tell her what the D.A.'s contingency plan had been if they never returned. It was quite grim.] I'm just glad it's over. Really glad.

You were wonderful, Neville. All of you were.

[ She makes the tea quickly, putting it on the table before she offers him a seat, shooing away the dogs. ]

I am too. I know we're fighting a war here, too, but... I'm really glad that everyone is safe at home. It stops me from feeling like I'm doing something wrong by being here.

[ A pause, then a slightly brighter smile. ]

When would you like to move in?

[Neville tries to look casual and lighthearted about that, to it's clear he's a bit worried about this new war.]

I suppose I wouldn't really know what to do with a holiday, anyway.

[But then he accidentally slops milk over his fingers and the side of the teacup at her question, where (luckily) it only pools down into the saucer instead of getting all over the table.]

I-- really? [He looks immensely pleased by the idea, but he hadn't wanted to presume.] Well, I suppose, whenever you'd be ready. I haven't got much stuff to move, yet.

Neither would I, honestly. Even during the breaks from school at home I did so much reading - a holiday now just sees a little useless.

[ Hermione, far too used to Neville's clumsiness, simply grabs a nearby teatowel and passes it over, letting him clean up the milk in his own time. She's reminded, sharply, of Potions class and it's all she can do to bite back her little smile.

At least until he perks up and she brightens in turn. ]

Of course! This has become Gryffindor house, almost, and I'm sure no one would mind if you joined us. We've still got a couple of spare rooms so you can take your pick.

[Neville gratefully takes the towel and starts to dab the mess up, barely letting it break the stride in their conversation.]

It's quite odd there are so many Gryffindors here, isn't it? Not that I'm complaining, of course. [It's just that there's not a single Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, and he'd gotten so used to living with the three houses all thrown together in the Room of Requirement lately.] Is Professor Lupin young like the others? Or does he remember teaching?

It is a little strange - Professor Snape, Draco and Barty Crouch Jr. are here too but there's an overwhelming majority when it comes to Gryffindors, present and past. Maybe they just needed a brave lot to fight in this war for them?

[ Finally, she sits down and settles properly, reaching for her own cup of tea and preparing it slowly, letting her mind think through the things she wants to talk about. ]

He's young, like Sirius, James and Lily. He doesn't remember anything about being our teacher, though he has asked me a few questions about his future, here and there. They all have, really, and I've done my best to tell them whatever I can.

Predictably, Neville was left partnerless.

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