Who: Ernie and Neville
What: Discussing giiiiiirls...or at least, one in particular
When: During the carnival
Where: Wandering around
Status: Complete!



Neville had been enjoying himself at the carnival. He hadn't even minded working his shift at a food stand, handing out franks and popcorn and candied apples to the other students. It was nice seeing everyone having fun. Everyone needed it, he knew, and he was grateful to be a part of it. He only wished everyone could be that happy all the time. It was rough, just then, but he knew most of them would get past it all. It was war. War had an aftermath, and they'd have to ride it out. Even Harry.

Pushing the thought of his friend--well, most of the time Neville thought they were still friends--out of his mind, he began a second trip around. He stopped to admire the sandcastles being built and watch a game with a flying disc that looked somewhat intriguing but promised him a broken nose, he was sure. On passing the kissing booth, he tried to look away for Hermione's sake, instead of looking on enviously. And he rather desperately wanted to dunk Michael Cockier-Than-Thou Corner, but he was relatively sure he'd miss and just look foolish. He ought to meet up with someone, see if anyone wanted to try the cooster or the ride that spun you around in circles. But he wasn't looking forward to revisiting any of the rich carnival foods, and really, Neville was quite content to keep exploring.

When he stopped to get a drink and saw a familiar blond working the booth, however, he felt the need to stop and chat. "What, don't you serve firewhiskey here?" Neville teased, even though he'd only let the drink cross his lips once on a dare and probably wouldn't be much of a drinker on leaving school, either.

Ernie didn't mind helping out with the booths one bit. It distracted him from his not so gracious appearance at the volleyball game. Bad enough that he wasn't a sportsman by nature, but he had to go and look a fool in front of Hermione? Not to mention all the other students who had witnessed him tripping over his own two feet! He'd have to yell at Hannah. Or at least speak sternly. However, humiliation aside, Ernie beamed when he heard Neville. Though in different houses, Ernie had always liked Neville. He might not have remembered Frank Longbottom, but Ernie's father did and had encouraged Ernie to try and get to know the boy. Moreover, Ernie had been far from disappointed. "Sorry, mate, too hard to convince the Headmistress!" He gestured to the sign of available drinks. "Your wish? My command."

Neville gave the rather intimidating list of drinks a onceover before shrugging. "I don't know, a lemonade, I guess. I don't really care!" Which meant he, of course, didn't care that Ernie wasn't handing over a firewhiskey. "Too hot for butterbeer in here. I wish we had heating charms in this place all the time, it's ingenious." He'd miss the natural temperature of the Great Hall, though. Especially once he was gone from it for good, but he didn't want to think about that. It wasn't only Ginny who got upset at the idea of them all leaving. "How much longer are you back there for, anyway?"

Ernie knew Neville was only joking and, in truth, felt much the same way toward alcohol. He might drink it once in awhile, but he had no desire to become inebriated. He nodded as his friend's choice and grabbed a cold bottle from behind him. He whispered something to his younger co-worker before turning back to Neville with a sly smile. "Seems I've some time off."

"Oi, I don't need you getting in trouble just to spend time with me!" Neville protested, but he wasn't really complaining. Ernie was one of the closest things Neville had to a best friend. It was hard when your closest friends were girls. Ginny and Luna and even Hermione were all great, but they weren't in-the-know when it came to bloke-like things. Ron and Harry had each other and Dean and Seamus had each other and Neville had often felt the odd man out. It made him slightly bitter with Augusta Longbottom for keeping him away from the other wizards his age when he was younger, but he knew in his heart she'd only been trying to do her best by him. Even if it had kept him from making friends before ever getting on the Hogwarts Express. Even Ernie, his father's best mate's son, had only been a casual acquaintance. Now, though, things were much different.

Things were different indeed. For one, they had fought alongside each other in a war neither had asked to be part of, but knew they couldn't ignore. More importantly, they had helped win a war and were still in tact. Neville had faced horrors Ernie couldn't imagine, but all that seemed to be gradually moving into the past. Granted, the new regime had its own injustices to be fought, but, just then, the pair could act like the two teenage boys they were meant to be. Which is why Ernie shoved Neville playfully and rolled his eyes. "Oy, if I get in trouble for my first real break, I quit!"


"You can't quit," Neville began smugly, pretending to rub his shoulder as if it'd really hurt. "Lavender would kill you, and it'll take me too long to break in a new mate. And then like, Ron would be Head Boy or something and nothing against him, but I'm not really feeling it." That and he was pretty sure Hermione might snap. Things between the two of them felt pretty...well, tense. Neville wouldn't want to do anything that would push Hermione towards being hurt.

Ernie didn't have any problems with Ron other than the natural rivalry between Houses and the little mishap with Ernie thinking Harry the heir of Slytherin. Things had improved since then, but Ernie was largely avoiding the boy lest he pick up on the fact that Ernie adored Hermione as more than just a friend. "He'd be...he's been through enough without that pressure." There. That was polite and non-committing.

A bit too polite, if one asked Neville. He'd grown to know Ernie fairly well over the last few years. The voice his friend had just used sounded much more like what Neville had dubbed his 'diplomat' voice, as opposed to his real one. "Well, yeah. Plus Quidditch captain and all. Might be too much. Not a whole lot of other choices, either, really. Looks like you're stuck just not getting killed by Lavender." And yet, despite the agreeable attitude, Neville turned to look at Ernie quizzically.

Ernie caught the look and actually had to avert his gaze. He was honest by nature and seeing Neville looking at him like he had two heads didn't help secrets. It had been fine when Ernie hadn't told anyone, but the old truth that once one opened his mouth, it had trouble staying closed? Was completely true since Ernie told Derek. "Anthony. He'd be good."

Neville nodded a bit absently, also noticing how Ernie had turned away. Spending a good portion of his life looking in from the outside had taught him a lot about body language, and Ernie's reeked of suspicion. "Come on," he said simply, nodding in the direction he'd just come from. "Walk with me, since you've weasled yourself a break and all."

"I did not weasel my way out of anything," Ernie argued, "But if you insist on my company..." He smirked, walking where Neville indicated. "So...I haven't really thanked you."


Blinking his surprise, Neville turned to look at Ernie curiously before shoving his hands in the pockets of his robes. "Thank me? Whatever for?" he asked.

"For talking sense into me." Ernie stopped for a minute, resting a hand upon Neville's shoulder. "What you said? Before the hols? It...you were right. And it helped." He shrugged while a sheepish expression crossed his face. He withdrew his hand and started walking again.

Neville almost missed a step due to Ernie's words and had to rush to catch up. "I... Well, it was time someone put some sense into you." He tried to sound nonchalant, but he was so grateful for Ernie's words that his cheeks flushed pink. "You don't need to thank me for being a friend, Ernie, it's what we do."

"I wonder if our dads did that for each other." Ernie dared to speak of Frank and Ernest though he was usually hesitant. He never wanted to upset Neville if he could avoid it. "Can you imagine them in school?"

Once, Neville might have flinched at the mention. Few dared to speak of his parents around him. Most people assumed he was too fragile, at least, those that knew. But Neville liked thinking of his parents. Especially now. He knew he'd done his duty in making them proud. No matter what Gran said, Neville thought sure his parents were listening when he talked to them, even if they didn't understand every word. They knew, and he was pleased. "Probably," he began carefully, working himself into the subject as best he could. "I mean, they were people just like we were, even if we think people their age are practically relics now."

"Don't let Dad hear you calling him an antique," Ernie warned through his snickers. "You should come over and see all the photos one day. I bet we might have some you don't. It could be..." Fun wasn't exactly the right word. "Nice to look at, you know?"

Neville bit his bottom lip again before nodding. "You probably have lots I don't. I only have two," he admitted, swallowing hard and looking down at the ground. That he didn't like to admit to. Most families had plenty of photos lying around. Neville had the picture of his parents from their wedding day that he kept safely by his bed, and he had the portrait of his parents with him the day he was born that Gran kept in the sitting room. And that was it. Gran may have had a few others put away somewhere, but he'd never had the guts to ask.

At that, Ernie looked closely at Neville. "Really, mate? Your grandmother...she doesn't...I'm sorry. I don't mean to..." He shook his head. "I'm being terribly rude here."

"No," Neville protested, shaking his head. "You're not, you're just curious." At least Ernie was honest with him, unlike some people who simply ignored the subject entirely. "Gran...well, I think it hurts her to look at them, you know? There may be more, somewhere around the house. I'll probably ask for a few before I move out." He attempted to sound confident when he spoke the words, but he couldn't ignore the pang of hurt.

Ernie had no desire to be anything less than real with Neville; the boy deserved that much. Ignoring the past didn't help anything. Ernie had learned that much at least. "You are planning on getting your own place, hm?"

"Well eventually, of course!" Neville declared, grateful for the subject change. "Maybe not right away. I'll miss all the land at Gran's place, and I know she'll miss me, too. But soon enough. I need to figure out what I'm going to do first, though. What about you? I mean, I know we've all got you pegged as a Ministry man, but...where are you planning on starting?"

A small smile played on Ernie's lips but then quickly faltered. "Dad will be disappointed if I...I mean he says he won't be, but..." If there was one person Ernie fretted about it was his father. "I mean Darcy's doing brilliantly with him, but..." He kept trailing off which was quite unlike him. "Besides with their new laws, who wants to be one of them anyway?"

Ernie looked so miserable Neville had to reach out and give his shoulder a squeeze. "Your dad only wants the best for you, you know that. I'll bet if anyone could be proud of his son the waste collector, it'd be Ernest Macmillan." Still, there was something off about what Ernie had said. "But you know, someone's got to be working to change those laws. Someone from the inside."

"Dad is brilliant, isn't he?" For all Ernest and Jean could embarrass him, Ernie felt he was very, very lucky to have that particular set as parents. Still, at Neville's later comment, he swallowed hard. "I've thought about that," he confessed.

"Someone's got to do it, mate." Neville didn't want to be pushy, but he also didn't want Ernie to shy away from his dream job because some Ministry officials were being complete dipwads. "With enough influence, these laws could be changed. And why not you? Former Head Boy, good with words. Hermione'd help, I bet, I always sort of pictured her doing the same sorts of things. You know, the whole house elf deal."

"She'd be brilliant," Ernie agreed quickly. "She doesn't always realize how great she is at getting those sort of things worked out, but..." Oh, Helga, he was babbling. "I bet she would" he finished finally.

Neville smiled, rather obliviously. "She is brilliant, isn't she? She's so incredibly smart and I don't even think she knows it sometimes." He stopped to admire the sandcastles again, pausing a moment over the one he was pretty sure was Ginny's, before glancing back at Ernie. "She tries so hard to get everyone involved in her causes, you know? And we sometimes ignore her, I know, but it's not for lack of her trying. She's really good at it."

"She doesn't deserve to be ignored. Ever. Oh, I know she can run away with things, but that's how it starts...with a single voice, you know?" He looked over the castles since Neville was. "I wonder who will win the contest?"

"Don't know," Neville replied with a shrug. "Probably one of the artsier students, I guess." But Ernie wasn't getting off the hook that easily. Neville had caught on to something he was almost certain Hermione hadn't wanted him to. He needed to know if it was worth it. "It isn't that we mean to ignore her. At least, I don't. I bought one of the SPEW buttons and all, mostly because she was so persuasive. I had a thing for her first year, did you know?" It was random and it was nearly well blurted, but it got the subject out there, at least.

Ernie actually choked over the words he had been about to speak. "S-sorry. Something caught in my throat." He took a breath and tried to quit the coughing fit Neville caused.

Reaching out, Neville carefully patted Ernie's back repeatedly, until he was breathing normally again. "Alright there, mate? Don't need you choking, everyone would blame me!"

"You? Why you?" Ernie held a hand up. "You didn't do anything. No, not at all." He turned away, wincing when Neville couldn't see him. Damn.

"Because I'm the one walking with you?" Neville replied simply. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Ernie forced a big smile. "See? Fine!"

Neville lifted his eyebrows, watching his friend. "Right. Of course you are." If he was right about his theory, Ernie had just started choking at a completely opportune time. "You acted like fancying Hermione would be a bad thing," he continued, trudging on despite the part of his brain screaming to leave it alone and let the two of them do this themselves.

"I didn't say that!" Ernie grew defensive and tossed Neville an annoyed look. "Don't let anyone hear that! She'd be so upset if she..." If she what? Thought Ernie didn't fancy her? Likely, she'd hate that he did!

Taking a deep breath, Neville nodded. Oi, he was so close on this one. "She probably would. Well, I think she'd be more upset if she thought that I did fancy her, but that's okay, I don't anymore. She's still pretty and all, though, don't you think?"

That was it. Ernie fully faced Neville again. "If you don't like her, why are you going on and on about her then?"

Busted. So completely busted. The tips of Neville's ears turned pink as he faced Ernie sheepishly. "She's my friend," he said defensively, shrugging. "I'm not... I mean... Merlin, what's the problem? If you don't want to talk about her, we won't, fine." He'd tried, and Hermione would have to forgive him for not making any headway. Not that he'd ever tell her he'd been attempting to.

"My problem is that you're going on and on about her like you fancy her and if you do, you might as well tell me!" The irony of his words wasn't lost on Ernie, but he pushed that aside. After all, he wasn't bending Neville's ear about Hermione!

"I don't!" Neville protested, feeling completely stupid now. "I was just commenting on her, why are you being so defensive? All I said was I used to."

"I'm not defensive!" Ernie felt badly for flying off the handle, but something wasn't letting him stop. "I just don't understand why you are talking about her being pretty and smart and sweet and..." He clamped his mouth shut and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"You are defensive," Neville shot back, and then it hit him. Of course! Oh, Merlin, let him be right. If he was reading his signs correctly, he was doing the right thing. But if he wasn't, he could ruin two of his closest friends. "And I think it's because you're afraid of me liking her." He held his breath, then. If Ernie punched him or hexed him on the spot, Neville wouldn't blame him in the slightest.

However, hexing or punching Neville was the last thing on Ernie's mind. Actually, the only thing floating through his brain at all was saving face. Oh, sweet Helga. He was completely obvious wasn't he? "Shhhhhh!" Ernie held a finger to his lips and looked around frantically. "SHHHHHHH! SHHHHH! Someone could --- they might ---- just SHHHH!"

Neville, however, only crossed his arms in front of him and stared Ernie down. "So what if they did?" Which was a ridiculous argument. If Ginny had overheard Ernie saying something similar about him, he'd be mortified. But that was completely different, Hermione wasn't madly in love with the Boy Who Lived.

"So I don't need the entire school running to tell her I fancy her!" His faced reddened, part in anger and part in embarrassment. "I mean even if I did...or didn't...she'd....she'd think...arg, Neville!"

And despite himself, a smug, rather satisfied smile crossed Neville's face. "So you do. You do, don't you? I knew you did!"

"Shhhhh!" Ernie tried to hush his friend again. "What does it matter? And why are you...please, you can't tell!"

"Why not?" Neville asked, as if it wasn't completely obvious. "And quit shushing me, you sound like my gran, and no one can hear us over here anyway."

"Why not what?" Ernie glared at Neville over the gran comment. "Remind me to yell about girls you fancy!"

Neville sighed. "First of all, I don't fancy anyone." Automatically, he crossed his fingers behind his back at the lie. "And secondly, why shouldn't I tell anyone? Who would I tell? And why haven't you told her." No more naming names, it just got him yelled at.

Ernie didn't really mean to yell; he was just flustered. Very, very flustered. "No one? Come on, not even Luna?" Ernie pulled her name since he knew they were friendly. "You know why I haven't told her!"

"Definitely not Luna," Neville replied, a slight smile on his face. "Just friends. One of my best friends. I wouldn't." But he couldn't let Ernie change the subject on him. "No, I really don't. Why?"

Shaking his head, Ernie groaned. "You do to know why!"

Heaving a slightly frustrated sigh, Neville shook his head. "No, I really don't. Why not? You said it yourself, she's pretty, she's smart, she's got a huge heart. And clearly, you fancy her. So why not tell her?" It wasn't as if Ernie had the obstacles in his way that Neville did. He was good-looking, smart, and obviously going somewhere in life. And wasn't up against a celebrity.

"Ron! Ron! Remember him? Red-headed bloke in your House?"

Well, then. That should've been obvious. Only not. "What about him?" Neville scoffed. "He's had what, six years to do something? How many times have there been chances to do something and he hasn't? He didn't even ask her to the Yule Ball! I asked her before he did, tell me how that's right? And this year, who went with her? Not Ron, Ernie, you."

It all made sense in theory. Still..."I...I'm not her type." It was the most feeble of excuses, but he tried to pretend he just wasn't scared as shite.

Giving him a 'look', Neville rolled his eyes. "Her type? Brilliant isn't her type? I mean, don't take this the wrong way, Ernie, but I imagine girls think you're pretty easy on the eyes. And you two have a lot in common and all, and..." And it was everything Neville could do not to blurt out 'and I think she likes you, too!' "And you spend a lot of time together anyway."

"Aw, you think I'm fit then?" Ernie tried to lighten the situation with a joke, but his heart was still pounding. It was unlike him to be so unsure of himself, but when it came to birds, the rules were just different.

"Oh, always," Neville replied, though he was still giving Ernie that sarcastic expression. "Seriously, mate, what are you waiting for? Isn't there a Hogsmeade weekend coming up soon or something?"

"Yes there is and no I have no plans on asking her ANYTHING about it." Ernie fixed his friend with his best haughty look and puffed out his chest.

And his best haughty look was quite good, really. But it didn't quite compete with Neville's exasperated look. "You're impossible. Don't make me act on this, Ernie, I will, I swear I will."

"Act on...oh, no. You won't! You can't!" Ernie grabbed his mate's shoulder and shook. "Neville! Please! She'll hate me!"

It was definitely not like Ernie to get so violent. And yet, if their situations were reversed, Neville knew he'd do the same thing. But--well, how else was he supposed to get Ernie to do something about something Neville knew to be right without betraying Hermione's trust? "Ask her to Hogsmeade and I won't," he bargained. "It can be just as friends, I don't care, see what she's doing that weekend, just ask."

"Wait...what? Are you blackmailing me? Neville!" Ernie actually whined. It was terribly unlike him, yes, but even he knew Neville was driving a hard bargain only because he cared. "You...come on! You don't exactly go asking girls out either! Why should I?"

"Because..." Because Hermione liked him back, obviously! But how could he say that? He couldn't, that's how, Hermione would just die! "Because I think it would be really really stupid if you let it pass you by, that's why."

Growing even more frustrated, Ernie turned away and took several calming breaths. Turning back, he looked Neville up and down. "I don't understand, mate. You think...she'd say yes?"

"Yes!" Neville said desperately, feeling like he was facing the victory in an almost lost battle. "Of course she would, why wouldn't she? It's not as if anyone else has asked her!" At least, he was pretty sure. That was mostly an assumption, and if he was wrong, Merlin forgive him because Ernie likely wouldn't, but it was a start, at least.

Ernie bit his lip as he weighed his options. "I suppose...maybe...I...why don't you ask her what she'd say?"

Neville had to fight not to burst out laughing at that. "Ernie, do you trust me?"

"What? Of course! What does that have to do with anything?" Ernie looked at Neville quizzically and crossed his arms over his chest in an almost protective stance.

But Neville only smiled knowingly. "Then ask her. Just trust me. Ask Hermione to Hogsmeade and you won't regret it, okay? That's all I can say, but you won't."

Ernie dared to hope at Neville's words. He had never really let himself imagine it, but with Neville, one of her good friends, telling him to go for it...well, how wrong could he be? "I..." Ernie licked his lips. "I'll consider it."

"No," Neville answered with a smirk, "you'll do it. Or I may be forced to take drastic measures. Wouldn't you much rather just ask her to walk around Hogsmeade with you?" Oh, Merlin, he really was blackmailing his friend. How very Slytherin of him!

"Neville, I will sic my father on you." Ernie shot his own smirk, but his eyes held a hope that betrayed his true emotions.

At that, Neville grinned. "I look forward to it. I can tell him all about how his son is too chicken to ask a girl who's really quite brilliant on a simple trip to Hogsmeade, even if only as friends."

Ernie's mouth dropped open. War really HAD changed his friend. "You are lucky I like you," he huffed.

Maybe Ernie was right. Maybe Neville really had changed thanks to the war. At least something good would come out of it. Something other than defeating You Know Who, of course. "You are lucky I know best," he teased. "Come on. For me?"

Ernie might not have known Neville very well until coming to Hogwarts, but knowing all about Ernest and Frank's close friendship as well as meeting the sweet tempered young Longbottom had ascertained that Ernie would never be able to say no to that. "Fine. For you. But if she laughs, you SO owe me."