Flower Petals

-38-

Snow was falling for the first time in the year. Both at the manor and at the tent where Ron, Harry and Hermione were staying.

And also, if you believed it, at Hogwarts.

Neville was at the edge of the forest on his knees, his hair was wet and stuck to his forehead. He'd grown over the summer, over the years he'd become less chubby, and his face slimmed, but this summer was different.

He'd grown into his teeth, and his eyes were wider and the almond shape became clearer because he also grew into his forehead. He was slightly taller than Ron but shorter then the twins, he started growing a beard that he hated, shaving it weekly so he on had stubble. Facial hair made him look too much like his father.

The snow was cold and soaked into his pants, he dug his hands into the inches, his hands were red and veins flared up in his arms because the blood wanted to go somewhere warmer, his cheeks flushed and he rubbed his runny nose against his shoulder.

He ripped out some violet flowers from underneath the snow and a smile grew wide on his face.

"Ginny!!!" He screamed running back to the castle.

Neville had grown into a man this summer, while Harry, Hermione, and Ron were searching for horcruxes, and Luna, Draco, Paula, and Alli were imprisoned, Neville did one thing:

He took care of Ginny Weasley.

That's all Neville did. That's all Neville knew. He knew about taking care of people. He took care of his parents, he took care of plants, and he took care of Ginny.

Arthur, Molly, and the twins were in unknown places serving Dumbledore's memory, Ginny insisted to go with, but Molly insisted harder that she would be going back to school, though they weren't aware of the state that 'school' would be in.

Snape had taken control of Hogwarts as headmaster, though there were rumors a wardrobe between his office and Malfoy Manor was frequently in use.

The houses had been disbanded, the banners burned, they were all one in imprisonment and suffering.

Neville tripped up a bit on the way up the stairs, he was aiming to be quiet but he was still getting used to the new length of his legs and strength. His jaw was sharper and his arms more defined, but his eyes remained soft and sweet like hot chocolate on the snowy day.

"Ginny!!" He whispered wandering into Dumbledore's Army's old room, still a secret and now filled with sleeping bags for kids who dares to defy orders within the inescapable walls.

"Gin?" He whispered quieter, it was still to early in the morning for any of the kids to be up, and normally he'd be sleeping, but the opportunity for Habiscus Albuquer was slim! Only growing at sunrise under the snow, December nights sprouting, and December mornings blooming.

"Weasley?" He looked around, but her sleeping bag, next to his in the corner was empty. He stashed his flowers in his bag over his shoulder and journeyed outside.

He avoided storming death eaters and crowds of students marching like armies into foreign battles.

A scream bounced off of walls and against the stairs until it was even louder then before, and instinctively Neville ran in that direction.

"Longbottom!" Ginny shrieked. Neville drew his wand,

"Plodosion!" He yelled and the door broke open.