my hotmail is down. fucking POS.

[hackthis_archive]

rosenho has single-handedly yanked me back into SV fandom. not only did she make me pretties, but then she went and wrote this. show the woman some love, people.



Better Living Through Learning: Neville Longbottom

There have to be smaller first steps than bouncing on your head and rolling down a hill into the street. Neville knows this for certain, but his nerves tell him he shouldn’t try and find out. Of course no one who was dropped out the window by someone who purportedly loved him could be blamed for having a nervous constitution. Not that Neville’s flying lesson sans broom was directly responsible for his bad nerves, but it certainly didn’t help matters. His gran said that eight-year olds couldn’t possibly have nerve issues, though. She also said the same thing at nine and eleven and fourteen.

He knows she’s given up the ghost at this point.

Neville has a nervous disposition, at least *he* can face facts; but for the record, he doesn’t blame it all on his Great Uncle Algie. He doesn’t mind that Algie pushed him off the Blackpool pier when he was seven or tossed him off a moving broom when he was four. For as long as Neville can remember he’s equated visits from Algie with pain, frustration and embarrassment, and he knows in the Longbottom family it’s just how the lot goes. In the long run, Algie was nothing to his gran holding him under water in the tub when he was five or shouting ‘boo’ every time he thought he was alone. There was his Uncle Nigel who never walked anywhere and insisted on apparating into every room of the house; and his cousin, James, who liked hiding in the closet. Any closet. James was rather obvious most of the time, but with a mother like Neville’s Aunt Emma, Neville’s not that surprised.

It’s taken Neville a while to realize that being surprised has nothing to do with his nerves. Neville’s nerves come from his family, and he highly suspects that there’s at least one person like him in every wizarding clan. In his family there just happens to be more than one, but he won’t end up in St. Mungo’s. He’s decided that already.

Neville may have wobbly nerves, but he can step to the line when required; he decided that a long time ago. That one member of the Longbottom family in the hospital was enough. Sometimes he can’t understand how his gran did it, but then he visits his mum and he understands – a little bit. He doubts that Muggles treat their children or nephews as poorly as wizards do. Point in fact, after spending a few years hiding behind Hermione’s robes he can pretty much vouch for it: Muggles raise nicer kids. Sometimes Neville wishes he had been born into a Muggle family.

It’s true that if he had been a Muggle there wouldn’t have been Quidditch matches or chocolate frogs. But there also wouldn’t have been Rememberalls and flying lessons. If Neville was a Muggle he would have a *television*. God, he really wants one of those, and when he finally gets his own flat he’s definitely buying one. It will be the second thing he does, right after he puts fifty wards on the place to prevent his family dropping in unannounced – he may not be able to brew a potion to save his life, but Neville’s done a lot of studying in Defense Against the Dark Arts – quite possibly because he expects Snape to become the professor at any point and Neville needs to protect his nerves.

Thoughts of Snape inevitably turn Neville towards school and potions and his innate lack of smoothness. Sometimes Neville wishes he could take a potion or something that would make him more suave. Not to the Malfoy point, but just so he can talk to girls and do those other things that everyone else does. He’d like to be able to talk to Hermione without blushing or staring at his ratty trainers. Of course, Neville would like a lot of things, but until he conquers his nerves he knows that they’re not going to happen.

All the same, Neville knows he’s changing, his Great Uncle Algie would never think to drop him out a window now that he’s in his fourth year at Hogwarts. And no, it’s not a huge step, but it’s a start.

Comments

WTF?

[ethrosdemon.livejournal.com]

Do people hate Neville or something?

This is so good. I adore it. I don't care if other people spurn Neville. You did him right.

Re: WTF?

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

you know we never do the popular shit. if you like it, i'm happy. i want seamus and ron icons. help?

[cyclogenesis.livejournal.com]

Awww, Neville. This is a great character study. Very plausible, and I'm all atwitter over the Hermione bit. Neville with a crush! Why does that get to me?

I loved the ending, too. It was very hopeful. Just thoroughly fabulous, darling, as usual.

neville needs love!

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

the next person up to bat is dean, and then percy and then ron. i suspect kass and i may roll through everybody before long. i'm writing you oliver/harry cos i really want a ron icon. PLEASE?!

[cyclogenesis.livejournal.com]

Eeee! Also, check your email.