The Light in the Dark | Neville Longbottom

Chapter 43: Knockturn Alley

I couldn't believe it... Neville didn't believe me.

It took every ounce of courage I had to tell Neville the truth, even though I knew that he was going to view me differently. But it didn't matter... he didn't believe me anyways. Now he was gone, and here I was... having a panic attack in the middle of Diagon Alley.

"FUCK!" I cried, slamming my fists into the concrete over and over again, causing them to bleed.

If the bloody hands weren't already enough, I couldn't breathe. I was too panicked to calm myself down - I was hyperventilating. If I kept it up long enough, I would have probably passed out from the lack of oxygen I was receiving.

My cries were interrupted by an array of whispers from behind me. I turned around to see Hermione, Harry, and Ron running towards me from the joke shop.

"Oh no... oh no..." Hermione muttered, wrapping her arms around me.

"What are you doing?" Harry whispered harshly, trying to pry me off of the ground.

"Harry, stop!" Hermione spat, "She's hyperventilating! You're making it worse!"

"Bloody hell..." Ron stammered, "What was she doing out here? She was supposed to stay in the shop!"

"Talking to Neville." Harry said quickly, causing me to wail even louder. The trio went quiet when they heard my cries, giving each other nervous looks.

"Oh my... erm..." Hermione stammered, hugging me, "I'll deal with this, but we have to take her somewhere... she can't be out in the open."

"Ron, pick her up." Harry ordered.

"No! You do it!" Ron protested.

"But you're taller!" Harry scoffed.

"Could you two stop bickering!" Hermione spat, "I don't care who does it, just one of you help her off of the ground!"

Harry rolled his eyes, stepping in front of me. He wrapped his arms under mine, forcing me to stand up, and then wrapped his arms under my legs, lifting me up to sit just above his waist. I wrapped my arms around his neck as I laid my head on his shoulder, continuing to cry.

"Oh no..." Hermione sighed, facing one of the shops, "Everyone got their wands from Ollivanders!"

Hermione started walking towards the shop as the two boys shot each other concerned looks.

"I reckon we're going in there then?" Ron questioned. Harry nodded, proceeding to carry me over to the shop.

"I'm guessing that it didn't go well?" Harry asked quietly. I shook my head, sniffling and trying to hold back tears.

"I'm sorry." Harry stammered.

Hermione opened the door to Ollivander's wand shop, the three of us following behind her. Ron closed the door behind him, leaving the four of us in the destroyed building.

"Harry, set her down over there..." Hermione suggested. 

Harry nodded, walking over to a pile of boxes and placing me on top of one. I instantly placed my head in my hand, looking out the window of Ollivanders, as the tears I cried in the alley dried on my face.

Hermione hesitantly kneeled beside me. I gave her a quick look before looking out the window again. My heart hurt. I felt drained and dizzy. I've never experienced heartbreak, not like this. Cedric's death was a different kind of heartbreak, considering we never truly broke things off. Neville truly broke things off with me... and in three weeks I was going to have to face him again and act like everything was fine... when it wasn't.