Disclaimer: I don't own it, no matter how much I wish I did.

Summary: A very short story in which Neville tries to tell his parents about his life and receives another gum wrapper.

Gum Wrapper

"Hey, mum, dad. It's me again—your son, Neville. You don't remember me, but I just thought I should let you know that You-Know… No, that V-Voldemort is finally gone. You two fought him in the first war, and it might bring back some memories to hear about him. No? Oh well. Harry Potter was the one who defeated him, and Harry says that… Voldemort is gone for good this time. The ones who put you in here—the Lestranges; do you recognize that name? Guess not—are all back in Azkaban, and they won't be able to break out again.

"I just recently graduated from Hogwarts, and I was offered the position to teach Herbology. Professor Sprout retired after the war, and Headmistress McGonagall personally sought me out, so I accepted right away. Gran wishes I amounted to more, but I like to think that you two would be proud of me if you weren't, well… You know?

"People have been telling me lately that I'm a lot like you two, especially with my involvement in the war. I learned more about all those great deeds you did while you were Aurors, and I'm proud to be compared to you two… but I have to admit, sometimes I wish you two hadn't been so brave and wonderful—then you might have been able to actually raise me. I know that's selfish, and that you two would never have been able to live watching from the sidelines, but it hurts so much when you don't even recognize me. My life might've been completely different if you weren't... if you hadn't been... never mind.

"I can't complain about how things turned out, and I don't want to; I've got a much better life than most. My friends are the best in the world, and I'm teaching students who admire me for my knowledge of Herbology. What more could a guy ask for?

"But is it really so much to ask for your own parents to recognize you? I don't blame you, of course…

"You still don't recognize me at all, do you? This is going to sound very stupid, but I always hope before I come that if I give you enough information or talk to you for a while, you might remember who I am. It didn't work, obviously—it never does—so I think I'm going to leave now. I love you both so much, and I'll come visit you during the holidays, to tell you about my first year of teaching. So, er… goodbye…"

As Neville turned to leave, a flash of recognition crossed Alice's eyes. For one moment—one clear, lucid moment—Alice had a vague sense that she knew this man before her. The harder that she tried to grasp the remembrance, the faster it slipped away, until her moment of sanity passed. All she knew was that she liked this man, and she looked around quickly for something to show her affection. A gum wrapper lay on her bedside table, and Alice snatched it up and caught up with the man. Wordlessly, she held out the gum wrapper, which Neville took sadly.

"Thanks," Neville whispered as he pocketed it, a single tear trailing its salty way down his cheek. 'Another gum wrapper for the collection.'