Anyone But Me

Chapter Fifty-One

Early the next morning a smile played on Hermione's lips as she watched the sporadic snowflakes float from the darkening sky and land on the already blanketed ground. The warmth of Neville's accompanying body heat kept the chill in the air at bay enough to let their walk be a rather comfortable occasion. She had held herself to the meditative promise to find some time to spend with the most reserved of her friends.

A choice she didn't regret even as the clearly foolish chatter about them had started the moment they had left the Great Hall together. Not when there was an unorthodox lightness to his demeanor and a smile the size of an erumpent plastered on his face. They had been walking side by side in silence for over ten minutes. After exchanging the normal pleasantries and a few well-aimed complaints about the workload over the last week they had found a nostalgic sense of relaxation in the act of walking with no destination in mind.

There were no difficult expectations between them, which led to no awkwardness. Only a connected enjoyment of the beautiful morning as they waited for the time to pass before their next Apparition lesson. They continued on the well-worn path in front of them. The new dusting of snow crunched under their boots, breaking up the quiet.

Neville stopped walking about three-quarters of the way through the lengthy stroll and looked out over the castle and lake. Instead of continuing to stare at the magnificent view he peeked at her out of the corner of his eye, making sure she had stayed by his side before asking the routine question she had hoped to avoid. "You okay, Hermione?"

"Hmmm? Oh yes." She responded inattentively. It was a wretched feeling to know her act at being absorbed in the scenery was failing, based on the look he gave her.

"You sure?"

"Why wouldn't I be Neville? It is a warm morning with snow and good company to boot. Most would say I am rather privileged, don't you think?" She teased him, bumping his shoulder playfully.

He huffed. A cloud of white trailed behind on the exhaled air causing it to look like he was smoking. The annoyed tone was very unlike him but he persisted anyway. "Without a doubt. But... Considering it is one of your best friends' birthdays and you are hiding out in the hills around school, I would wager and say you are lying to me."

Slowly she inhaled a stabbing breath, sharp from just how quick the blow was. She wasn't sure if she should have been grateful or angry. So she settled for numbness... "I have no need to lie to you. We all make our choices and have to live with them. I am choosing to make the best of this morning."

"How mature of you." He said neutrally as he turned back to the path and waited for her. Once more they walked in silence for a few moments before he seemed to muster up enough courage and started again. "Look... I know you both think you are acting like adults here but deep down you know that isn't true right?"

"I... Neville..." The words got stuck in her throat and she clung desperately to the fading numbness. Somehow she was able to get in another breath around the stabbing pain and managed to keep it together. "Yes..."

"I'm not saying this to be a prat. You have to know that! I am saying it because I am a friend of you both. So..." Hesitation marred his features even as he continued to push forward. "Figure it out! Figure out how to deal with Lavender, no matter how horrid she is. Suck it up! At least for the foreseeable future. I've already told him to figure out how to restrain her and... Whatever it is nagging him where you are concerned, so that is taken care of. Hopefully, he reflects on it because one of you needs to cut Harry some slack. He is going to go bonkers one of these days."

Her cheeks flamed hot at the chiding as he broke through the crumbling walls around her. No matter how well-deserved it was, the experience was still humiliating. She wrapped her arms around herself for something to do while she tried to come up with an excuse that did not sound bogus to her own ears. It took her a while to come around and most of the journey passed before she acknowledged his tough love. "I know. I... I will talk to him after Apparition."