Just an Ordinary Day

Just an Ordinary Day

Neville awoke at two in the morning. Just an ordinary day. Just pull yourself out of bed, and get on with it. Try not to cry. Just get up. He slowly pushed himself out of bed and dressed. Don't cry... Just wake up... And go to breakfast. Neville had gone through this routine since the end of the war. His parents had recovered from their insanity, only to be killed by You-know-who himself. Apparently they were too dangerous to let live. But before they died, Frank Longbottom managed to say something that would change his son's life forever. Don't keep your emotions bottled up like I did. Neville could hardly bring himself to think about it, let alone decipher it. He slowly made his way out of the dorm, trying not to wake his roommate. Yes, roommate. Not plural. Harry, Dean, and Ron had died shortly after Voldemort was killed. But oddly enough, the prophecy was wrong. Neville killed Voldemort. He was mad and couldn't help it. Seamus let out a loud snore just as Neville entered the common room. Unfortunately, there weren't enough Gryffindors to have made it half full even if it was Two a.m. They had all been killed. Along with half the Slytherins, Filch, Dumbledore, and all the teachers excluding Mcgonnagal and Snape. The Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff houses were fine, but most of them went home. Neville had no home to go to. His family, all of them, were dead. He stayed at Hogwarts simply because he had no home, and this was his last year there. He only had a month left. When the year was over, he was going to be the new gamekeeper. Professor Snape, upon becoming the new Headmaster, was confronted by Neville, and pleaded to for a job. Mcgonnagal would have been Headmistress, but her brain had been somewhat lessened from what it had been. Hermione, half the Gryffindors, Harry, Ron, Dean, half the Slytherins, Filch, Dumbledore, and the teachers. Except Mcgonnagal and ::gulp:: Snape. Neville mentally ticked off the fatalities of the war. And... And... Stop crying!!! When they were alive, they didn't know who you were, and you lived with it!! STOP! But he couldn't. And he well knew it. Everyday. The same routine. Neville curled into a ball and slid to the floor. Breakfast can wait...Then he blacked out.

Where's Longbottom? He isn't here. Yes, 2:15 a.m. He should be here. He always comes at 2:15. Is he okay? Should I start a search party? What if some horrible monster has him!?!? Or worse... WHAT IF HE ATE HIS POTION INGREDIENTS!?!?!? Severus Snape jumped from his chair and ran out of the Great Hall. Where should I look? I know!! The Grand Staircase! Snape turned around and found Neville leaning against a banister, passed out. Potter's Boxers!!! He can't go to the hospital wing. Too many questions, and I don't have the answers. I'll take him to my office. He looks so cut... No!! Not the 'c' word!!! Snape rushed him to the dungeons, delivered the password to his snobby door and laid him on the desk. I really need a couch in here... Wow. Ne... NO! From now on, refer to him as Longbottom!! Other than that, think whatever you want. What if aliens have taken over his body? What if he never recovers!? Oh, the humanity!!!! How will I go on without him!?!?!? NOOO!! I never thought that. Never. Stop thinking. But what if aliens really did take over his beautiful body? What did I just think? No... Okay, so you like him. Control yourself. Stop with the thinking already. By this point, Snape had to practically sit on his hands so he didn't brush the hair out of Neville's face. He looks so peaceful. But not. I don't know. It's like he's content, but scared. How odd... Hmm... Well, I'd better wake him up. Or let him sleep. One or the other... But he is on my desk, and I need to work... With that thought, he conjured a couch out of thin air, picked up the unconscious boy, and laid him carefully down. He looks odd against the black fabric... Well, I have work to do...

Screaming. Falling. Fainting. Dying. Spells. Everything was chaotic.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!"

"NOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Neville woke with a start. Great. I fainted again. I must stop doing this. And I was heading to breakfast this time. Merlin knows who saw me. Wait. Where am I? Neville looked slowly around... And came face to face with his greatest fear. Snape. Well, so to speak. He obviously hadn't heard Neville, as he was staring at some parchment on his desk, writing furiously. Wow. He must be deaf. Neville pulled himself off the couch and slowly walked over to the desk.

"Ummm... Professor?" Neville timidly poked his potions professor on the shoulder. Surprisingly, he jumped, but did not pull away.

"What is it, Ne... Longbottom?" You almost called him Neville! Stop thinking about him this instant!! Severus quickly stopped himself from saying the boy's name, but not before Neville heard him.

"Neville? Professor? Have you taken leave of your senses?" Neville was thoroughly worried now. Sure, I've called him Severus, but in privacy. And just what is he playing at? Has he found out about my... you-know-what on him? Oh god. This cannot be good.

"Er... No. I'm er... Just fine... Umm... Here. Have this sandwich. It's bacon and egg." The embarrassed professor handed over the wondrous food. "You'll have to stay here, the nurse has gone on vacation, and to tell you the truth, you have slept way too long. I was beginning to think you were dead. But being unconscious for about a month hasn't seemed to bother you at all. And the N.E.W.T.s can be taken when you are ready. And we can fix up the hut within a few weeks. So, for the meantime, you will stay here. With ... me." Severus said this all quickly.

"Wait, I missed the rest of the school year, and you didn't see fit to wake me? Am I dreaming?"

"No. But if you do not believe me, pinch yourself. I can assure you, it will hurt."

But Neville didn't pinch himself. He simply sat down on the velvet couch and stared at the man before him. Wow. I slept that long? Wow. I'd beat Ron with that. Oh... Don't cry!! Not now, for Merlin's sake!! I forbid you to cry! But once again, his own command failed. He started to cry. A little at first. Then he was hyper-ventilating. Oh god, why did I have to think that?

Snape didn't know what to think. I can't stand this any longer. He stood and walked over to the couch. He slowly sat down. Being sure not to scare Neville, he carefully put his arm around the young man's shoulders. Neville slowly leaned against the man sitting next to him. Wow. This is weird. But nice...