Neville:
Neville had always been a bit lonely growing up. He lived in a big Manor with his elderly grandmother who had always expected the best from him. To be more like his father.
That was what he had heard all through his childhood, be more like your father. Why can't you be more like your father. Your father had already done this at your age. It always came up no matter what Neville did.
People really shouldn't have been surprised at his self image issues. All his life Neville had never been good enough for his own family. Mostly it was his uncle Algie who told him that but Gran did it too every so often. It had hurt.
His uncle Algie was one of the only people in his childhood who had been there for him. Gran was always busy with the Family so it was mostly uncle Algie and Neville in the big manor. He didn't live with them but he did visit almost every day. Uncle Algie was the brother of Neville's grandfather and the one in charge of his lessons.
His Gran was disappointed in him, Neville knew that but she did love him. She was just to busy to bother with him.
So uncle Algie was in charge when Gran was away on Family Business. But uncle Algie scared him sometimes. He was kind to Neville and yet his actions didn't seem kind at all when he thought about it. Neville learned to fear his uncle's anger. The time that his uncle had pushed him out of the second floor window had been the worst time yet. He and his uncle had been taking a walk and Neville had finally gathered up the nerve to ask his uncle about how he could be a good Lord of the Family.
His uncle had gotten thight around his mouth and Neville knew he had done something wrong. It was never a good thing when he did something that made uncle Algie tight around the mouth like that. It meant uncle Algie was angry.
And he had been right. His uncle had taken him up to one of the higher floors and made him stand in front of the open window. Neville had hoped this would just be another lecture about his future and how he was disappointing the family with how weak he was. But it wasn't. He felt the push.
Afterwards his uncle's anger had been gone and he had been so proud of Neville. He wasn't a squib after all! Neville didn't feel quite as safe anymore with his uncle but he was so happy that he wasn't a squib that he almost forgot about it. Almost.
Neville had been glad to see his grandmother that evening so he could tell her all about his accidental magic.
She had been so proud of him, finally. But there had been a strange moment between her and Uncle Algie that Neville never quite forgot. After that she never left him alone with him again. Neville was kinda glad about that even if he didn't quite understand why. Did it matter that uncle Algie had pushed him? He had shown he was a wizard because of it. Nobody had as of yet said or done anything to show that Uncle Algie had been wrong to do that.
Still, he was glad Gran was around more often. He was glad he didn't have to spent as much time with Uncle Algie alone anymore.
Until the accident happen anyway. After that there was no uncle Algie anymore. The only thing Neville had left of him was his toad Trevor. He still didn't know if he was sad about that or not.
He was glad that his Gran was around more often since the accident. She seemed to make more of an effort to be there for him after his first accidental magic showing. It was strange but also kinda nice. Gran still scared him sometimes but in a different way than uncle Algie used to scare him.
Gran was just so sure of herself and what she wanted him to be. Neville was afraid he never could be what she wanted for him. Neville wasn't like his father. He wasn't strong, powerful or social like his dad had been. Neville was just Neville.
Neville had grown up without friends. He knew some other children from other wealthy families but he wasn't allowed a lot of time with kids his age. His Gran was overprotective after what happened with his parents and Uncle Algie had never liked taking him outside the family grounds. So it had been a bit lonely growing up.
Hogwarts hadn't been much better. He had been friendly with the other boys in his dorm but both Seamus and Dean and Ron and Harry had already met and paired of on the train. He was the odd man out between two sets of best friends. It was fine, Neville was used to it.
Still, he had hoped...
It was only in the fourth year after he had gotten closer to Harry that he finally didn't feel lonely anymore. He finally made a friend, he finally belonged somewhere. And if that meant some dangerous adventures every now and then, then he didn't mind.
Harry became his best friend and soon Hermione became a very good friend too. It was nice. Hermione was the one noticing that his wand didn't work right for him. She went to Professor McGonagall for him after the Battle at Ministry of Magic and she contacted his grandmother.
His Gran had been horrified to find out he had still been using the wrong wand.
Soon he had a new wand and with it his grades clearly shot up in the little time they had before the year ended. His grandmother was proud of him. When his Gran had found out that she made him carry a wand that wasn't a good fit she felt so ashamed. She felt that she should have known earlier. Done better.
Neville had a long and good talk with his Gran when he got home that summer. While his Gran had been trying more in the last few years, they still had a lot of work to do to become closer.
She'd noticed how she had treated her grandson and was determent to do better. They truly bonded that summer. He finally felt confident around his Gran. Enough to truly talk with her and be the Heir she needed. He felt finally brave enough to talk about his dream. His dream of getting his Master in Herbology. About the offer of Professor Sprout to become her Apprentice after he finished Hogwarts. Gran was so proud of him.
Neville's green thump was a clear sign of the Longbottom Family Magic emerging. It had skipped his father though his mother had been very good with plants. His grandfather, Gran's husband had been great. It were his greenhouses Neville loved to work in. His plants. Neville hadn't known that.
They decided he'd start to have some more responsibilities in their Family matters. Neville'd started to become more confident and it was all because of the friendship with Harry and Hermione.
Then that Summer Harry finally escaped from his relatives. Neville would have been worried if he hadn't expected something like this happening. His friend had to snap sometime. One could only take so much.
Harry had clearly loved his godfather very much and to be witness to his death before being sent to those horrible muggles, well Neville wasn't surprised his friend ran away. Luckily it didn't take long before he got a letter from Harry. He was alright and wanted to come by to see him and his Gran. Why anyone would want to see his Gran Neville didn't know. They might be closer than ever before but she was still a scary lady.
His Gran was a scary old lady and very much proud of it. She took a lot of joy in crushing the hopes of the arrogant purebloods around her. It was a very nice and respectable hobby to have, she had told him once. It came at handy at the Wizengamot meetings. Lots of people who needed their hopes crushed there.
Harry looked so different when Neville saw him but he was still the same Harry as always. Just with a new parent and a new plan. Harry was desperate yet strangely hopeful. He came to Neville asking for help so help he would get. Always.
Neville vowed he'd always help Harry when he needed it. They stand together. House Longbottom would always support the House of Potter as long as they lived.
Harry'd come by every day and soon Susan and Hermione joined them too. Neville could see the change in his friend. He become more grounded. He had decided a path for himself and he'd do anything to succeed. To survive.
Hermione spent most time with her parents but still tried to come and train with them. She too was a fierce lady. Her curses were something else and Neville was glad she was on their side. Come to think of it, Neville knew a lot of fierce ladies and they all seemed to like Harry. And Harry liked them back. Just look at his reaction to Neville's grandmother, he wasn't afraid at all!
Neville could also see the budding attraction between Hermione and his friend. He was glad. They would make a good couple and his friend could really use a girlfriend like Hermione. A strong girl with her own hopes and dreams that didn't depend on marrying the Boy-Who-Lived.
Someone with ambition yet a wish for family.
Hermione and Harry just fit together if you asked Neville. Now they just had to get their shit together and actually see what the other felt. It was obvious that both felt the same.
But it was clear they both saw what they wanted to see. Harry was clearly thinking she would never like him back and Hermione was probably thinking among the same lines. Harry also had the tendency of self sacrificing his own happiness for the greater good. Not to mention the giant dent the muggles had left in his friends self-confidence. Well, Neville didn't like the greater good and those muggles were clearly raving mad.
His friends deserved to be happy together. And if they wouldn't get together soon, Neville would have to take some drastic measures, Susan had already told him she'd help.
It still surprised him sometimes that he had friends now. He had Harry, Hermione, Susan and also Hannah when she was finally able to join them. Hannah was so nice. And pretty. And smart. Very smart and so good with people.
… Neville might have a bit of a crush.
He had friends and family now that were interested in him, cared about him. Who wanted to do stuff with him and didn't mind it if he took a bit longer with some things or talked about his plants.
It was nice.