Thanks to Flowers
Hermione always thought of herself as quite logical. Ever since she was a kid she preferred nonfiction books to fictional novels, she was never a big fantasy fan. Not to mention she was baffled by so-called ‘crushes’. Her classmates would talk to one another about their crush which Hermione thought was absurd. They’re all in primary school for goodness sake! Hermione once told her mother about her classmates making fun of her for not having a crush and that it was weird not to, while talking Hermione had done the fake quotes with her fingers around crush. Because really children their age don't really know what a crush is. Or at least that's what Hermione thought for a long time.
“What are you doing?” Neville had asked suddenly appearing from behind an armchair in the common room.
“Nothing Neville nothing." Harry quickly said and moved to hide his invisible cloak.
Neville argued back and forth with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Hermione watched Neville, trying to silently communicate to him to just go to bed. She briefly thought about the science fiction shows she’d watched with her father where they could telepathically communicate. She should learn how to do that. But anyway Neville should see what she’s trying to say with her expression and actually just listen to the trio!
Neville hurried to stand in front of the portrait hole, “I won't let you do it. I’ll - I’ll fight you!”
Hermione’s eyes had widened at Neville’s actions before Ron began to yell at him and they went back and forth until Hermione stepped forward. She looked Neville in the eyes hoping he could see her regret and that she didn't want to do this, “Neville, I’m really sorry about this.” And with that, she flicked her wand and said the full body binding curse and with that Neville had toppled over and the trio quickly left.
After all was said and done Hermione had profusely apologized to Neville and they both cried a little, after all, they were each other's first friends at Hogwarts. But Hermione noticed something odd after that day, when she was around Neville she found her heart fluttering and was impressed that he stood up against them, against her.
When the second year had rolled around she found herself listening more to Neville as he spoke instead of somewhat tuning him out like she had been doing a bit last year but she wasn't the only one, she thought as she glanced at Ron and Harry.
She found herself incredibly scared for both herself and Neville.
“I don't want you going off on your own.” Hermione had whispered to him in the common room one evening after Neville had said he was going to go to the greenhouses.
“Thank you, Hermione," He murmured smiling shyly, “but I’ll be ok, you should be more concerned with yourself. Whoever it seems to be targeting muggle-borns.”
“Yes I know,” She sternly stated, “but you aren't that strong so I worry about you. Your family did almost think you were a squib after all, who's to say that person won't target you!”
For the first time, Hermione saw an expression she had never seen directed at her,
“Hermione," He curtly argued, “Do you even know what you're saying?” Hermione had opened her mouth to say, yes yes she did, but Neville continued; “I’m disappointed, I didn't think you thought that lowly about me. I don't need your protection. Just because I’m not as powerful as Harry or as smart as you doesn't mean anything less about me.” Neville’s expression had continued to sour as he spoke and once finished he had quickly turned on his heel.
Hermione watched as he stepped out of the portrait doorway and felt tears well up. Neville had never been upset with her before, both Ron and Harry had, but never Neville. She really had messed up! She quickly sped walked to the portrait and stepped out. What way did he take Hermione asked herself as she began doing an odd mix of jogging and walking. Before she got too far though she felt a tickle in her throat and coughed into her elbow. Once her brief coughing fit was done she felt a little lightheaded and like something was stuck in her throat. She swallowed trying to force whatever mucus further down and quickly began her journey again to find Neville.
They had briefly talked and Neville had forgiven her but he had still been a bit icy towards her, “I know you meant well and forgive you but I’m still a bit upset.” He sighed before slipping into class and sitting beside Seamus. Hermione had huffed because really was what she said that bad?
Before they had fully got back into their friendship Hermione was paralyzed. Her mind was fuzzy as she lay in the infirmary paralyzed but she thought she heard a consistent voice. When she woke up her body was sore from staying in the same position for months and she could barely grasp that it had been months.
Harry and Ron had been happy to see her awake and had been there when she woke up and caught her up with what had occurred. She was shocked to hear that Ginny had been possessed and that they had seen a version of You-Know-Who. She was relieved they were all ok.
But as they left her anxiety began to fester. She had missed a year of school, and she’d be so behind on coursework and education! She frantically began to flip through her textbooks in the infirmary bed as the lights dimmed and curfew came and went. She didn’t want to sleep! She had practically already been sleeping this whole time! Her body was tired and sore but despite that, she continued to read as the others slept.
“Hermione,” A soft voice broke the silence, and Hermione snapped her head up to see Neville standing by the end of her bed. His face was a mix of emotions and he was wringing his hands, “Neville!” She exclaimed before she could stop herself and covered her mouth; she looked back and forth at the other beds but no one seemed to stir.
He took another step closer, “Professor Sprout said the mandrakes were ready and that everyone would be waking up today and I thought I’d wait till later after Harry and Ron stopped by.” Neville prattled still fidgeting.
“I’m happy you came Neville but aren’t you worried about being out after curfew?”
He had smiled. one side of his lips quirked up higher, “I didn’t want to wait till tomorrow. And I didn’t think you’d be able to sleep.” He gestured to her textbooks laid out and Hermione chuckled. “I wanted to make sure you were awake and ok, well, as ok as you can be. And to give you this.” Before Hermione could react Neville thrust three notebooks into her hands, “These are the notes I took this year, I know they aren’t as good as yours but I thought they’d maybe help. I don’t know. I’m being stupid.” He mumbled looking down and shuffling his feet.
“Thank you,” Hermione beamed at him, stumbling to get up as Neville’s eyes widened, “No, no don’t get up.” He said waving his hands to stop her.
“Oh, I’m fine,” She haughtidly said before launching and hugging Neville. “Thank you Neville, I really appreciate this!”
Neville chuckled and hugged her back, before he took a step back, “You really should get back in bed and try to rest.”
Hermione huffed and crossed her arms, “I’ve been in bed for six months!” Her voice was shrill and scratchy.
Neville only shook his head and smiled at her, “Goodnight Hermione.”
As Hermione sat alone on her bed and read over Neville’s notes, she was pleasantly surprised that he had good handwriting unlike Harry and Ron’s so-called chicken scratch. Hermione’s eyes widened in disbelief when she began to read some notes from Neville’s herbology notebook, the detail in his notes was astounding, not that she would admit it to anyone else but perhaps equal or even more detailed then her own. Her face broke out in a grin before she even realized it. She was really proud of Neville’s note-taking skills. Her throat began to itch and she found herself harshly hacking into her elbow. She felt something come up with throat, she reached and grabbed a tissue before grossly cough spitting into it.
There on the tissue was a long thin periwrinkle petal.