Ernie listened as Frankie spoke about Neville. Sometimes it was still funny thinking that his friends had children...that Ernie had children.
Ernie grew up with Neville. In the months before they boarded the Hogwarts Express, Ernie suspected most of his mates would sort into Slytherin (it was all most talked about), but he held out hope that he and Neville might go to Hufflepuff together. It probably wasn't a kind wish. Ernie wanted Hufflepuff like his dad; surely Neville probably wanted Gryffindor for similar reasons. In the end? It didn't matter. The hat separated Ernie from most everyone familiar to him. He found Justin and Hannah, but that didn't mean Ernie stopped missing his other mates. Ernie couldn't help thinking about all that when Frankie talked about wanting to please his father. Most boys viewed their dads as heroes, didn't they? Ernie sure had even though his mother had been the Gryffindor. And didn't most children want to please their parents? Well, no. Not all. Ernie knew some didn't care. He just always had. For that reason, his heart went out to his young nephew.
"Life shapes us," Ernie said when it appeared Frankie was finished speaking. Ernie wanted to make sure Frankie got out what he needed. "He is not a husband and father yet, but he is still Neville." Ernie shot Frankie another small smile. "He is one of the fairest and kindest men I know." Ernie knew how important those qualities were to Neville. They were the reason Ernie and Neville got on. "He is brave, sure, very brave. I am not sure we would have gotten through our last year at Hogwarts without him, but...but he also just barely finished that time and now he is in this crazy village where he is faced with those he should never have to see again." Ernie grimaced. Whose fault was that? He cleared his throat. "But that doesn't mean he is disappointed to find you or your sister here. We've talked some and I know he wants you and AJ in his life. Don't you think he might be as scared of disappointing you and your sister as you are of disappointing him?"