Neville Longbottom (nevforthewin) wrote in plagued_logs, @ 2015-08-01 20:37:00 |
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Neville was still buzzing a little from the excitement of Friday night. Although the entire night hadn't gone perfectly smoothly - his interaction with Parkinson stood out forefront in his mind - for the most part he'd had a great time, and been incredibly moved and grateful for all the attention despite how awkward and uncomfortable it made him. As much fun as it had been though, it was almost a relief to go back to normal. He'd gotten home late, and slept in late, until his Gran had woken him on the insistence that he get back to fixing the windows and the as-yet untouched nirvana of the torn-up back garden. They could have probably hired someone to do all the work, but he didn't mind doing it. He was getting quite good at magical DIY, though of course he rarely went half an hour without some kind of self-inflicted injury. He did wonder at his Gran's urgency. She seemed to be worried that they wouldn't finish everything before he went back to school, though surely it didn't matter if he came back at Christmas to do the rest? Sunday morning, however, was a ritual that would not be put aside for any amount of building work. Though of course it was a little different now than it used to be. He went alone, by Floo since he still didn't have his Apparition test, and spent half an hour with his parents instead of a full hour. They were both in unusually good spirits, he thought, though it was hard to tell. He tried to convince himself that they knew it was his birthday, but deep down he knew they wouldn't be able to tell it was Christmas if the room was draped in tinsel and holly. He didn't really mind. He knew he was lucky to still have them at all. After the Death Eaters had sent Dawlish after his Gran, he'd been terrified of what might happen. He said nothing to anyone, as he never had about his parents unless someone asked, but he was sure he'd hear any day that the Lestranges had gone to St Mungo's and finished the job they'd started all those years ago. But it seemed that even the Lestranges weren't that sadistic - that, or it simply hadn't occurred to them. He was privately leaning towards the latter. After saying goodbye to his parents for another week, he made another half-hearted attempt to see Lavender, who was on the first floor. He even knew what room she was in, but as usual when he asked he was turned away. She didn't want to see anyone. Stomach twisting guiltily, he sighed and started back towards where he was pretty sure he would be received, unless Susan had left already. Belatedly he remembered she'd said she might be home by the end of the week, so it was possible he might have missed her. Wondering if he was going to get to see any of his friends today at all, he went back up the elevator to Level Four. He'd gotten to know Susan a little better over the last year - he'd gotten closer to several of his classmates, almost out of necessity - and he found that they had quite a lot in common, even if none of it was very pleasant. It only made sense to visit her while he was at the hospital every week, anyway, but he thought that he would still have gone just to see her otherwise. She was his friend, now, and anyway he still felt a strong responsibility towards everyone who had been hurt in the battle. Finding the door to the ward ajar, he knocked with two knuckles and poked his head hesitantly around the door. "Er, everyone decent in here?" he called out. |