Neville turned to Hermione, glad he was wedged between she and Zach (well, not really on the second part) but glad, at least, that he didn't have to sit beside the happy couple. It was making him weary every time he saw their happy faces. He was grateful for Hermione just then, and her hushed voice and concerned words. He leaned closer to her and further from Zach.
"I'm alright," he said, but Hermione knew well enough that it was for show. "Christmas was actually really good," and that wasn't a lie and he sort of hoped Zach heard that part and that it hurt him somehow, to know that Neville had enjoyed Christmas, that Neville liked him and still wanted him, but Neville couldn't be mean for long because he wished, more than anything, that he could take it all back and that he and Zach could have been somewhere else, alone together, or that he could have at least let Zach enjoy McLaggen's party in peace.
"I'll be better next year," Neville reassured, giving Hermione a quirky grin - and it was true, Neville always stuck to the belief that tomorrow was a new day, fresh with no mistakes in it... yet. If he'd messed anything up, he always had the chance to make it better the next day, and letting his gaze dart briefly to Zach, he wondered if that could apply in the current situation. It never hurt to try - well, it might actually hurt to try, but Neville thought it was worth it.
"How are you though? How was everything in Australia? You still haven't told me all about it."