Talking to My Parents

Talking To No One

Neville Longbottom walked into the familiar hospital room at St. Mungo's. His mother was sitting in her wheelchair staring at a spot on the wall in front of her. A nurse walked past him and he grabbed her arm more forcefully than he had meant to.

"Didn't my grandmother tell you? My mother's to face the window."

The nurse wrenched her arm back from his grasp. "Not like she can tell, now can she?" she answered curtly. "Now, if you don't mind, I've got patients who know who they are to look after." She threw Neville a dirty look before leaving.

Neville shook with anger. "Of course you can tell," he said quietly to his mother as he wheeled her towards the open window. "You'll show them all one day, won't you, Mum?" He gave her a gentle kiss on the top of the head.

"You too, Dad." He turned to his father, who was sitting up in his bed, a trail of spittle falling slowly down his chin. Neville rolled his eyes in disgust at the hospital. "You know, I should tell Gran about this hospital and their fabulous care of its patients!"

He wiped his father's chin with a handkerchief and sat in a chair between his two parents. He sat quietly for a while and then said, "You're probably wondering where Gran is.... Well, as I'm sure you know, I turned sixteen last week." He paused as though expecting his parents to suddenly jump up and yell, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SON!"

"And well, I've passed my Apperating test. So, I'm completely legal." He paused again. "Thank you," he said imagining they'd just congratulated him. "It's really all thanks to Harry and Hermione. I mean, without their help last year, I'd be the only student at Hogwarts sixth year and up who couldn't Apperate.

"You remember... I told you about them last time, right?" Another pause. "Right, Dad, that Hermione. And no, I haven't asked her out. I think she likes Ron, Arthur Weasley's son. Besides, I don't think she'd ever really date me.... Not everyone thinks I'm adorable, Mum." He blushed turning to his mother who was still staring unfocused out of the window.

"Anyway... school starts in a few weeks. I'm looking forward to it actually. I know it is shocking." He grinned. "Harry's been writing a lot all summer, sending tips on Defensive Magic. I'm getting pretty good at it." He puffed out his chest in a smug way. "And I'm sure people won't keep looking at me like the same bumbling Neville after what happened at the Ministry." He paused again. "No, I am not getting a big head, Dad, I'm only saying..."

"Son, you've got to be careful," Mr. Longbottom said, looking at his son concerned.

"I know, but..." Neville started.

"I saw how you acted towards that nurse before," his mother said sternly as she turned to face him, "That's not my Neville. Manhandling her like that! Tisk!"

Neville blanched. "I wouldn't say I manhandled..."

"We're not saying don't be confident, Nev," Mr. Longbottom said putting a hand on his shoulder. "We're proud of you, and you should be as well. It's just don't go around like your some hero. Don't bring attention to yourself."

Neville cast his father an annoyed look. "I'm not going to be a pompous prat about it! It's just I think it might be nice if people didn't look at me as if I were a Squib anymore."

"Dear, we're just worried about you." His mother smiled at him warmly. "We don't want you to go off and fight."

"But I have! And I survived! I got off better than most at the Ministry!"

"Son," Mr. Longbottom said squeezing his shoulder. "Your mother and I are just worried about you, that's all. We don't want you to end up here." He gestured about the room, with its stark, sanitized walls and bedpans on worn out chairs.

Neville sat for a while in silence, then said, "But... but what if I haven't a choice? What if I had to fight? Wouldn't it be best for people to know I can... you know if I had to?"

His mother sighed deeply. "Poppet... would you want your enemies to know about your best and most powerful weapon?"

He looked at her with a sort of lop-sided grin and laughed. "What do you mean?"

"You, son."

"I'm a powerful weapon? ME?" He continued laughing.

"If an enemy thinks you're weak then yes you could be the most powerful weapon we have in this fight," his father said wisely.

Neville's laughter continued, but died away slowly as his parents' words took hold on his mind. "Me? Really?"

"Yes, son. Really," said his mother. "Think about it. The Death Eaters most likely have spies at Hogwarts, most likely than not a few of your fellow classmates are feeding information to their parents. So, if they tell them you are the weak link, they will not bother with you. They'll think you're nothing more than another simple student."

"But," his father continued, "you aren't. You'll surprise them all. Surprise, son, is the most effective war strategy."

"But... but..." Neville was finding this a bit hard to wrap his mind around. "But they saw me at the Ministry."

"They'll hear about your reputation at school and think the incident at the Ministry was nothing more than luck," his father said quickly.

"Or help from your friends," added his mother.

"You really think... I could be a real weapon for the side of good?" He looked scared, but also a bit proud.

"Yes, son, of course we do." His father smiled broadly at him. "But no one else must know. You must keep this tight under your hat. Keep up the bumbling façade in classes. But also keep studying with Harry; he's taught you well."

His mother looked at him with teary, proud eyes. "And above all else, Poppet, stay safe."

Neville gulped visibly. "I will, Mum...."

"And remember this too: We love you."

"I love you too, Mum." He hugged her tightly, and she kissed his cheek. "Dad." He turned and hugged his father as well.

"Ahem," a small noise invaded the moment; Neville looked up and saw Harry Potter standing at the doorway.

"Oh, urm." Neville looked from Harry to his parents, who resumed their staring into nothingness. "What're you doing here, Harry?"

"Um...." Harry looked thoroughly embarrassed to have interrupted Neville. "Fred and George are here, one of the sweets they've been testing got the best of them. They're covered in spots and turned a really foul shade of green. I've just been visiting them."

"Oh, didn't know." He noticed that Harry refused to look anywhere other than his face the entire time, as though trying not to see his parents. Neville gestured for him to come further into the room; Harry hesitated at first, but did as his friend asked. "You remember my parents? Saw them last Christmas holiday."

"Urr... yeah... yeah I do." Harry finally allowed himself to look at the Longbottoms and wondered if he should say 'Hello' or not.

"Dad? Mum?" Neville said standing. "This is Harry Potter. Harry, my parents, Frank and Alice Longbottom."

Harry was now sure he should say hello and trying to sound completely normal while doing so, said, "Hello, Mr. Longbottom... Mrs. Longbottom... Pleasure to meet you."

Neville smiled at Harry gratefully. "I know it's silly. But sometimes..." his voice trailed off, his eyes fixed on his mother.

Harry shook his head. "I understand, mate. Trust me."

"Do you ever... ya know?" He still stared at his mum.

"Yeah, sometimes. If I'm lucky I can imagine them right there. Sometimes I do the Patronus charm just to feel like my dad's really there. I know I'm just talking to no one... but it helps."

Neville turned to Harry; thankful he had a friend who could understand in some way how he felt.

"I should go... let you finish your visit," Harry said, looking up at the taller boy with the same thankful look. "It was nice to have met you, Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom." He waved to the unresponsive couple. "I'll see you on the train then, Neville?"

"Right." Neville nodded as Harry clapped him on the back. "Bye."

Harry waved and left the room.

"He's a right good bloke," Mr. Longbottom said, looking after Harry.

"Yeah, he is," Neville agreed.

"Shame about Lily and James though," his mother said shaking her head piteously.

"Yeah." Neville nodded his head. "I should go... Gran will be worried... or really, really angry...." He smiled and turned back to his parents. "I'll visit before school."

"Love you, son," his father said. "And remember what we told you."

"I will." He nodded again, thinking he was sure he wouldn't be able to think of anything else for quite a long time. "Love you." He kissed both of them and left the room waving as he did.

"We love you, too, Neville. Remember that!"

~The End~