Essentially a Change for the Better

Hannah's mother had always considered an observant eye for obscurities around her in general shapes and forms was to be prized,which was why Hshe was very secretly proud of her appreciation for detail. More than once found her tilting her head in front of a disconcerted portrait, noticing the highlights in the skin below their eyes, and the tiny shadows between fingers in hands that were kept still at the request of the viewer. The portraits were always eager to oblige; to pose how they originally did when they were alive.

Her mind was active very often, even though it didn't seem so to those who her blank stare was directed towards. Neville Longbottom held her attention this time, thankfully without his awareness.

He was different than before. It wouldn't take an auror to figure that out. He was sitting at a large round table to the left of her, having an animated conversation with a group of Gryfindors. He wasn't talking much, but kept his chin up, and sat back in his chair comfortably without slouching. Neville always used to slouch, she thought affectionately. She suddenly missed her Herbology partner.

"Stare attack, Hannah," Ernie warned her.

"Sorry," she shook her head as if to toss the blush out of her cheeks.

She leaned her head back on the giant mirror she was leaning on. Looking straight up, there were moving pictures adorning the edges of the mirror. She gazed at the back of the picture with the curled corners that she knew was of Cedric. With a sudden flurry of rue in her chest, she dropped her head onto Ernie's shoulder next to her.

Ginny Weasley came in the room and went over to Neville. She tugged his sleeve and said something to him in a low tone and they walked to the other room. As they talked, Hannah began to watch Neville again. She saw how his eyes stayed bright, out of respect for what Ginny had to say. She saw sincerity peaking through the corners of his mouth, and concern in the wrinkle on his forehead. There was traces of insecurity hidden in his posture and how he kept his hands in his pockets. He reached his hands up clumsily and put them on her shoulders, looked at her through the tops of his eyes, and nodded his head. He patted her back as she left, and he caught Hannah's eye.

She didn't look away, but instead smiled smallishly and waved with the tips of her fingers. He smiled back and started over to her.

"Ernie, Susan Bones over there is calling you," she lied. He looked at her with a furrowed brow and walked away.

Neville sat down in Ernie's seat next to her.

"Ginny's parents are pulling her out of Hogwarts," he informed her.

"I can't help but feel jealous." He looked at Hannah apologetically for reasons beyond her, then dropped his eyes to has clasped hands

"He's gonna pay," he said with a sudden quiet malice, to Hannah's surprise. "That monster. He's ruining our lives, and I'm not going to let him get away with it. Not while I'm still alive anyway."

Hannah examined him for a little while. She admired his determination. His bravery may not have been apparent before, but Neville just needed a little push to reach his potential, she thought. He'll be a great man, she concluded, any girl would be lucky to have him.

She leaned over to him to place a kiss on his cheek, and looked down at her hands sheepishly while he watched her, red in the face.

"Th-thank you.." he trailed off awkwardly, after an unsure pause.

"Don't mention it." She smiled after a moment, and then dropped her head into her hands laughing. Neville leaned his head against the mirror with a grin on his face.

They sat there for the rest of ten minutes unsure, but content of each other's presence. Hannah decided that she intended to try to get close to Neville before the year came to a close, and if he were to know about her conclusion at that time, he would be entirely sympathetic to her cause.