Short.

Voice of a Siren

A Neville Longbottom love story

It was impossible to argue with Maddie. "But I don't play Quiddatch!" Brooke argued again. In an attempt to escape her friends terribly bad idea. "Neither do I, but he wants to teach me. And I don't want to be the only one looking like an idiot...at least come and watch? Please! Brooke I neeeeed you there! Moral support." Maddie argued. Brooke opened her mouth to let out another argumentative point but she drew a blank. Where was her older sister when she needed her?

With a great, dramatic sigh Brooke only nodded. Maddie let out a small girly squeal and grabbed Brookes arms and dragged her towards the Quiddatch field. Brooke rolled her eyes and held tightly to her book-bag and her book. This was a terrible idea. Hanging out with Draco Malfoy? Brooke had nothing against the bloke, but the years of torturing he costed her older sister, was enough to make her detest him. Even if he was being a kind person and teaching her friend how to play Quiddatch.

But, she was in the same house as Draco, Brooke, however, wasn't. She was as Gryffindor as they came, but like her sister, she was torn between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. But Brooke loved her house, the amount of friends she had, in ever house just showed how much she loved the school. She was shy, but in her Herbology class, her friend Shannon from Hufflepuff had said hi, and it was all history. She loved her small group of friends that were her age, but she also loved hanging out with her older sister and her friends.

Maddie was suddenly snapping her fingers in front of Brooke's face. "What?" Brooke asked innocently. Maddie laughed lightly. "We're here, go sit and be a book worm. I'll try not to fall on you as I fly and fail." Maddie said with a smile, Brooke laughed lightly and nodded. "Good luck." She called out as she walked out into the middle of the field, sat down and pulled out her book.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was one of Brooke's favorite books and had been so worn, the book binding was always being magically repaired. Brooke had contemplated getting a brand new copy, but she loved this copy because her crush had given it to her for a Christmas gift, and she just couldn't let it go.

Though Neville had wanted to give her the more herbologic book; Fantastic Plants and Herbs and Where to Find Them, he had given her the one that she just wouldn't shush up about. She had been obsessing over the book for years, and she wanted her own little copy that she could make notes in without getting scolded, so he had gotten her a small pocket sized book, with a bold green cover and dark green binding with golden writing as the title.

She sighed and hugged her book before crossing her legs and opened the book. Flipping her hair back she bit her lip as she went to read on about Unicorns and where they are usually inhabiting. She found herself humming the Sorting Hats song, smiling she found herself swaying to the sound of her own, sweet voice.

Her sister had accused her of being a Siren once, because Brooke had been singing to herself at the Bureau and the boys of the house all listened to her sing and stopped paying attention to Molly, Ginny and Hermione. And Hermione was joking, but Brooke could tell she was slightly annoyed because Hermione was talking about School and the boys zoned out. But that was a given, so Brooke never gave it any though, plus she wasn't a siren, she had no amphibious features.

"Wow, you're rather fantastic." She heard from behind her, suddenly coming back to reality, she dropped her book and gasped, her fingers lingering over her own lips as she sat shocked. She turned to see who it was and started to laugh softly. "Oh, hey Neville." She whispered softly as she took a seat next to her. "Hey." He laughed. "I think you sing that song better then the Sorting Hat does, but don't tell him I said that." He winked and nudged her over.

She blushed lightly and smiled. "Thanks." A moment of silence came before they heard from high above them "Wrong way!! That's our ring! No! Stop! Are you-" Draco's aggravated yelling made Brooke flinch as she watched Maddie score on the wrong side. Maddie turned to smile proudly at him but when she found he was red in the face she made a very terribly fake innocent face. "At least I got the flying part down." Maddie reasoned.

Brooke smiled and laughed at her friend. "oh Maddie" Brooke whispered to herself. Neville laughed along with her. "So, you're here to watch Malfoy tear apart your friends confidence?" He asked. Brooke smiled softly and shrugged. "Apparently. He offered to teach her to play when he caught her studying Quiddatch Through The Ages, and she was all for it. I guess this is just proving to her that it wasn't a very good idea." Brooke mumbled, laughing at her friends misfortune of being taught by one of the biggest short-tempered gits of their whole school.

Neville chuckled softly, nodding slowly. "I see you still have that book I gave you....what...last Christmas?" He asked, scratching his stubble sprinkled cheek. Brooke blushed lightly and nodded slowly, hugging the book tightly to her chest. "Y-Yeah...I really do love it." She whispered to him as her hair fail to hide her face.

Her stomach seemed to flip as he smirked at her. "I still think I should've gotten you the other one." He mumbled softly. She returned the smirk. "There's always this Christmas." She said with a small smile. Neville's eyes seemed to light up as she spoke. She bit the inside of her cheek and found herself tearing her eyes away from his.

Attempting to keep the conversation rolling he inched himself closer, brushing his fingers across her cheek to move her hair from hiding her from him. "I thought we were at the point where you would stop hiding from me?" He asked with a small smirk, that small childish grin that she knew too well seemed to shine through his small smirk.

The feeling of his fingertips on her cheek made her cheek tingle. She felt as if a small bird was rubbing its wings on her cheek, and she loved it. She glanced down at his smirk and found her mouth going dry. Taking a gulp of what little spit she had in her mouth she felt his hot breathe on her lips, he was moving closer!

This realization made her insides churn both painfully and delightfully. Right before his lips had even the chance of brushing hers, Maddies voice rang through the air. "Hey Brooke! Draco and I are-" Maddie had stopped talking when Neville had jumped and rolled away from Brooke, Brooke turned to glare at her friend as she walked closer.

"You're what?" Brooke asked in a voice a little too cruel. She softened her features as she noticed Maddie's new glow, and a hint of confidence as well as a bounce in her step. "Um...Draco and I were just going to head over to Hogsmeade for a bit...I was just wondering if you could inform the Head Mistress for us..." Maddie said, her confidence fading as she seemed to look hurt by Brookes tone.

Brooke stood quickly and took a few steps to meet Maddie, grabbing her friends upper arms she moved her head to meet Maddies silver gaze. "Of course I will. You two have fun! And plus, there's no way Professor McGonnigal can say no to me." Brooke said with an air of confidence, her chocolate brown eyes shining with a new air of happiness.

Maddie seemed to lighten up, her confidence bouncing back as her back straightened. "Thank you so much! Also...I saw that thing with Neville" Maddie said wiggling her eyebrows. Brooke rolled her eyes. "Oh hush." Maddie giggled. "I don't know if it's smart Missy. I'd talk to Shannon. She knows all about Neville. And I know you guys are close and all but Shannon is extremely protective over you, she'd be pretty angry if you didn't talk to her first.." Maddie warned.

Brooke sighed, rolling her eyes, looking annoyed but inwardly she did need the help. She had no experience with boys and if Shannon could guide her on the right road with Neville she needed all the help she could get. But that reminded her. She looked up at Maddie. "Do you know where she would be?" She asked.

Maddie shook her head, her face turning to confusion. "The last we both saw her was after Arithmacy. She said the Professor had gotten angry with her for doodling on her parchment and for not doing any of the work. She seemed pretty upset. She did say she wanted to be alone.." Maddie said silently. Brooke's eyes widened. "But that's 'I don't want to be alone' in Shannon speak." Brooke said, raising her hand to cradle her forehead as she stared at the ground wide-eyed, how could she have missed it?

They both sighed. Brooke shook her head. "I'll go talk to the Head Mistress and then go find Shannon. You go have fun, okay?" Brooke said with a small smile. Maddie shook her head. "But-" she started.

Brooke raised her hand. "Nope. What I say goes. Now go." Brooke demanded. Maddie stuck out her tongue and rolled her eyes. "Alright. Good luck" She called as she walked quickly to meet up with Draco.

Brooke sighed and rubbed her eyes, walking back over to Neville she collected her books. "Care to make a trip up to the Head Mistresses office with me?" She asked innocently as she stood. Neville stood quickly. "You kidding? Not like I have anything better to do!" He said with a smile. Brooke blushed and started to walk towards the school. "Let's go then!"

Neville rushed to catch up with her surprisingly fast pace. He smirked watching her, she always kept her head down when walking, always watching her feet, her hands always at her sides, everything in her bag. But she walked with a spring in her step, an air of confidence and it was so intriguing and interesting to watch.

Brooke just kept walking, unaware of the person watching her, who was purposely walking behind her. Watching the way she walked. She smiled as she lifted her head to see the way the castle looked in the spring air. Another year at Hogwarts, it was nearly over and it saddened her greatly. Her sixth, and second last year at Hogwarts, where as it was merely Neville, Harry's and her Sisters and the others last year at Hogwarts, and it was sad for her. Granted, she has her friends, but without her sister, it would be weird.

"You alright?" Neville asked, catching up with her to walk a steady pace beside her. Brooke looked over at him and she shrugged. "Just really shocked at how quickly the year went by." Brooke said with a sad smile. Neville smiled at her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder as they walked. "Think about it this way; One more year and you can go do whatever you want to. You could run the Ministry of Magic if you really wanted to. Hell, you could start your own business, or even go travelling! You're smart enough to do anything you want to. And it'd be a pleasure to sit back and say that I knew you back in the day" Neville said with a smile.

Poking her side lightly as she smiled, blushing lightly. He smirked and squeezed his arm around her shoulders. She smiled smally and stared at her feet for a moment before stopping where she was walking, turning towards Neville he did the same as she looked up at him. "Thanks. You're truly a really good friend.." She said softly, smiling but inside her stomach churned.

She'd never wanted a boyfriend before, but when it came to Neville, she wished that she could have one. Neville brought her back to reality as he answered her gratefulness. "Honestly? I just speak my mind." He said with a smile. "Now, let's get to the Headmistress, shall we?" He gestured his hand forward, indicating for her to go first.

She nodded and walked into the school, she sighed softly before turning the correct corners to her favorite Professor/Headmistress, she knew the route so well she might as well be blind as she walked. Walking up to the large statue, she leaned in and whispered the password softly. Neville attempted to hear it but failed as Brooke turned to glare at him.

As the statue turned, Brooke jumped onto the very first step and smiled up at the ceiling as she seemed to spin all the way up. Neville was a few steps lower, but watched in awe as Brooke smiled wider then he'd ever seen as she spun along with the steps. He smirked, a small smirk as he watched her come back to reality as the stairs came to a stop from spinning, and she stepped off to knock ever so lightly on the door, a soft pattern of knocks that seemed to sound almost musical.

A soft voice called from the inside of the room and Brooke opened the door slowly, smiling as she found the familiar face of an elderly woman in dark green robes and her one of a kind hat. Her spectacles lay on her nose as she seemed to be reading a small letter written in dark green ink.

"Headmistress?" Brooke asked softly, hanging onto the door as if for support. The Professor looked up and a look of delight lit up her face as she saw Brooke. "Brooke. What a pleasure. Please, come in!" McGonnigal said with a smile, waving her arm to encourage Brooke into her office.

McGonnigal set down the letter and stood slowly, smiling as she walked around her desk to meet Brooke halfway across the office to hug her gently. "To what do I owe such a pleasure?" McGonnigal asked softly as she let her arms drop to her sides, stepping back to allow Brooke to take a seat in one of the chairs by her desk.

"I just that I'd let you know that Draco Malfoy and Maddie Lewis went to Hogsmeade for the remainder of the day.." Brooke said with a look of uncertainty to the Headmistresses reaction. And she seemed to shock Brooke by nodding as she took her seat behind her desk. "Anything else, my child?" The Professor asked softly as she placed her spectacles back onto her nose, lifting the letter she had been reading earlier. Brooke shook her head, glancing at Neville as if asking if he had any questions, he shook his head and Brooke shrugged.

"Not that I can think of." Brooke said with a soft smile. The Professor looked up and gave Brooke a warm smile. "Alright, Ms. Smith. I'll see you later then. You have fun, and do be sure that Ms. Lewis and Mr. Malfoy are back before 8:30 tonight, will you?" The Professor asked as she went back to reading.

Brooke nodded. "Yes ma'am, thank you!" Brooke called as she left the office with Neville, a feeling of warmth rising within her, she had that feeling every time she visited McGonnigal, she was like a Grandmother figure to Brooke, but one that could help her with her magical studies, and always had time for her. Her relationship with McGonnigal was like the relationship Harry had once had with Professor Dumbledore, but somehow closer.

With a smile she descended the staircase gracefully, her hand always up as if she were to fall, Neville close behind her."What to do now?" Neville asked. Brooke shrugged. "Um, oh I know. Would you mind going to write the smallest of letters to Maddie letting her know to be back before 8:30 while I go look for Shannon? We'll meet up in the Great Hall in ten minutes. If I can't find Shannon on my own, I'll wait there for you, alright?" Brooke asked softly, staring up at Neville's dark green/hazel eyes.

Neville seemed to not be paying attention as he listened to her talk, but he was paying more attention then he let on to the way the words rolled off her tongue, the way her voice sounded, the way her lips moved when she talked. He damn near pulled her close there and kissed her. But he didn't, and he couldn't, the reason why, he couldn't figure out or recall at that moment.

Brooke tilted her head as she waited for a response. Neville cleared his throat, blushing lightly underneath his stubbled cheek, and nodded slowly as he shoved his hands into his pant pockets. "I'll see you in ten then." They both said with a small smile as they turned two different ways, Brooke going towards the outdoors, Neville towards the common room.