Harry Potter Short Stories

Cautious (Neville x Hannah)

Neville was always cautious. That was certain and very much the opposite of all his fellow Gryffindors. But he wasn't sure how to be cautious when falling in love.

He supposed it might be because Hannah was the sweetest person he had ever met that made it so easy to let go and throw caution to the wind. Hannah always told him the truth and said it with such care to say it kindly, Neville liked that about her. He had grown up with friends constantly lying to him, his Hogwarts room mates, and a grandmother who did love him but when it came to telling the truth it was always harsh. So Hannah's kind of honesty was refreshing. Intoxicating actually.

And Hannah was just so loyal. If someone says something rude about the people she cared about she'd do whatever it takes to stop it and stay true to her loved ones. Which he supposed included him now.

That's why it came at no shock to him that a month or two into dating Hannah on one of the few occasions that the Gryffindors shared a potions class with Hufflepuff she was quick to defend him against Professor Snape. Snape had been sitting back watching them brew their potions almost as if he were waiting for Neville or possibly Seamus or Harry to completely botch the potion. So when Neville's let out a loud belch and turned a dark purple color instead of the desired silver, Snape was quick to jump down Neville's throat.

"Mr. Longbottom, how do you manage to get worse and worse every time class meets?" Snape drawls in his usual monotone.

Just as Neville was about to open his mouth to speak, he heard Hannah pipe up,"Professor, with all due respect, perhaps it's because you don't actually take the time to teach him or anyone else better."

Neville looked back at her with a grin as he noticed the pink flush of her cheeks. She noticed his gaze and sent a tender smile back his way. Neville then turned back to a glowering Professor Snape who looked every bit as shocked as he did angry.

Snape then retorted," Ms. Abbott, Mr. Longbottom, if the two of you would be so kind as to follow me to the Headmaster's office. And Potter, clean up this mess this instant!" Before escorting him and Hannah out of the class room in a flourish of robes.

Once in the Headmaster's office, Snape retold his version of the story to Dumbledore. After Snape was finished, the ancient Headmaster turned his attention to Neville and Hannah. "Ms. Abbott I wouldn't usually expect this sort of behavior out of you, care to explain please?"

" Professor Snape is a bully and a terrible teacher, sir. I don't wish to be rude but the truth deserves to be told. He made fun of Neville in front of all of us for something Neville could hardly help. I stand by my statement that if Professor Snape actually taught us instead of bullying us, this would no longer be an issue."

" Mrs. Abbott, I believe you but how do you justify speaking to a professor in such a way," Dumbledore replied as Snape leaned snarkily in the corner.

"Well sir," she started with a blush," it is in my nature to defend those I care about even if it is a Professor I'm defending against. Because I do care so greatly for Neville I couldn't just stand by."

"Mrs. Abbott, considering it is the first offense, I shall let you off with a warning, but I trust you will not speak that way to a Professor again?"

"No sir, I won't," she replied earning a dismissing nod from the Headmaster.

Having left the office, Neville and Hannah began to walk back to class before Neville stopped abruptly.

"What is it Nev?"

"Hannah, you must be more cautious," Neville said quietly to the girl.

"Neville, I can't be cautious of standing up for the people I love," she smiled and squeezed his hand gently.

"You love me?"

"Of course, you mean the world to me and I will continue to defend you and remain loyal. That is unless you plan on being rid of me?" She replied.

"Be rid of you? I will never want that Hannah, I love you," he shyly said in return. They then proceeded to walk hand in hand back to potions to await the return of their professor.