In Hindsight - a gift for ceirdwenfc
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Title: In Hindsight
Author:ramie_k
Gift for: ceirdwenfc
Pairing: Neville/Hannah
Rating: G
Warnings: Absolutely none.
Word Count: 1352
Summary: Where Neville realizes when you want something done right, do it yourself
A/N: I hope you like this, ceirdwenfc. I tried to use your likes and I hope I don't kill you with the fluff! Major thanks to M, my savior beta.
Neville Longbottom had it all planned out. He would go surprise Hannah Abbott at the Leaky Cauldron, under the guise of celebrating her becoming the new landlady. Then, he would get down on one knee and propose to her, she would tearfully accept and then they would adjourn to one of the rooms upstairs to seal the deal with a great amount of post-engagement shagging.
Simple.
But hindsight is twenty-twenty.
And when Neville would look back, he would realize the one major flaw in his otherwise brilliant, romantic plan: he told Harry Potter and Ron Weasley about it.
Of course, being the supportive mates they were, Harry and Ron had immediately offered to help Neville in making the evening one Hannah would never forget. An offer that Neville had politely refused.
Neville found himself pounced on by his friends as soon as he entered the pub. He started as Ron clapped him on the back. "It's the Big Moment, mate! Are you ready?"
Neville nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be, I guess. What are you doing here?"
"We're here to help," Harry explained.
"We brought provisions," Ron added, holding up a bag with Weasley's Wizard Weezes printed on the side.
Neville sighed. Obviously, he'd underestimated his friends' tenacity. Or they just didn't know how to take 'thanks, but no thanks' for an answer. "That's nice of you, guys, but I really don't-"
Ron waved his concern away. "Don't worry, we went low key. This is just to spice things up. A girl only gets proposed to once, right? Why not do it in style?"
"What have you got in mind?" Neville asked warily.
"These are brilliant. These Fillabuster Fireworks will spell out Marry Me, Hannah," Ron said with barely concealed glee.
Neville could feel the colour drain from his face. "Um, no, guys. I mean, it's a nice idea, but, you know…Hannah doesn't really like to call attention to herself…" Neither did he.
"I told Ron that might be overkill," Harry said, ignoring the sputtering protest from Ron. "Look, you just grab Hannah and go to your table. We'll just stay out of the way here."
Nodding in thanks, Neville went over to the bar. The bartender looked up and smiled at him. "'Lo, Nev!"
"Hi, Jerry. Hannah around?"
"In the back, I'll get her." Jerry disappeared in the back room.
Hannah appeared a few minutes later. Her face broke out into a delighted smile upon seeing who was waiting for her. She hurried up to Neville. "This is a nice surprise, love!" she said, kissing him in greeting.
Neville returned her smile. "I hope so. Do you have a few minutes?"
She beamed up at him. "For you, always."
Taking her hand, he led her through the crowded pub until they reached 'their' table. The table where they'd had had their first dinner together at and, Neville was hoping, the table Hannah would agree to spend the rest of her life with him.
He pulled out her chair for her, and when she was seated, sat down across from her. "So what's the occasion?" she asked.
Neville wiped his sweaty palms on his trousers. Calm, old boy, stay calm. He reached across the table and took her hands in his. "Oh, I just wanted to come see you. Thought we could have a celebratory dinner, Miss Landlady."
She flashed him another dazzling smile. "That's so sweet. Did you bring me a present?" she said teasingly.
Neville nodded. But before he could say anything, to his horror, the table suddenly started to spring forth flowers. Dozens and dozens of flowers of every kind. Baskets, bouquets and bushels of them covering every available inch of the surface of the table, some spilling on the floor until Neville couldn't even see Hannah anymore.
Her hands suddenly parted the plants. "Um, thanks for the flowers, love. They're very beautiful, but um…a little much, though, don't you think?"
Neville smiled weakly at her. "Sorry, I guess I got carried away."
He glanced over at Harry and Ron. They were both grinning broadly, Harry giving Neville an enthusiastic thumbs up. Neville refrained from returning the gesture with a finger of his own. He wondered what else they could possibly come up with.
He was really going to have to stop wondering.
Love is in the air
Everywhere I look around.
Love is in the air
Every sight and every sound.
Hannah straightened, appearing to concentrate on the cheesy lyrics now being broadcast throughout the pub with the help of a Sonorous charm. "What is that?"
"I'll be right back," Neville ground out.
Rising from his seat, he stormed over to the other end of the pub. Harry and Ron were looking mighty pleased with themselves. Their expressions became more wary as they saw the murderous glare Neville was directed at them.
Neville stopped nearly toe to toe with the pair. "What the hell is this?" he hissed.
"Old Muggle song. Pretty romantic, eh?" Ron ventured.
"It's not romantic, it's nauseating!"
Harry and Ron exchanged glances before turning back to Neville. "We really were just trying to help, mate." Harry said quietly.
"Well, you're not!" Neville exclaimed before spinning on his heel and heading back to his table. He was too angry to feel guilty about snapping at his friends.
Hannah looked thoroughly confused, but before she could get any question out, Neville grabbed her hand and, pulling her to her feet, practically hauled her through the pub. They marched through the courtyard until they reached the brick wall. Neville grabbed his wand and struck the bricks with more force than was probably necessary.
When the wall opened, they stepped out into the frigid air amongst the crowd milling about Diagon Alley. Neville turned to Hannah. Working up the courage to look her in the eye, he slowly raised his head-
-to see her biting her lip, shoulders shaking with barely concealed laughter.
At his aghast expression, Hannah burst out into peals of laughter.
Neville's mouth dropped open and closed a few times. He was sure he looked like a fish. "You think this is funny?!" he sputtered.
Bringing herself somewhat under control, Hannah managed to get out through her giggles, "Oh, Nev, it's just so…so you!"
That brought a frown to Neville's face. "I'm sorry?"
Taking a deep breath, Hannah smiled at him. "Neville, this is just so classic Longbottom; you try so hard and it all goes to pot. But you never let that stop you. It's not a put-down, honest. It's so endearing and one of the things I love most about you."
Neville stood there, still trying to decide whether to be insulted or not, when Hannah suddenly placed her hands on either side of his head and drew him down to meet her mouth in a kiss. Wrapping his hands around her waist as the kiss grew deeper, he forgot exactly what it was that he was hacked off about in the first place.
Finally breaking the kiss, Hannah drew back. Looking into Neville's eyes and draping her arms around his neck, she smirked, "So, am I right in assuming that this whole debacle was so that you could ask me a question?"
He returned the smirk. "Maybe."
"So do it, then," she playfully demanded.
Neville slowly stepped back. Taking Hannah's hands in one of his, he dropped to one knee. Fumbling around in his pocket with his other hand, he pulled out the ring. Looking up at her, all traces of their previous teasing was gone. Instead, he poured every feeling of love and adoration for this woman in his gaze. "Hannah Abbott, you are, and always will be, the love of my life. Will you marry me?"
Her eyes shining with unshed tears, she nodded eagerly. "Yes, you daft idiot! Of course, yes!"
She pulled him to his feet, throwing her arms around his neck. He spun her around, delighting in her giddy laughter. And as their mouths met again in a tender, loving kiss, Neville decided that murdering Harry and Ron could wait.
At least for a while.
Title: In Hindsight
Author:ramie_k
Gift for: ceirdwenfc
Pairing: Neville/Hannah
Rating: G
Warnings: Absolutely none.
Word Count: 1352
Summary: Where Neville realizes when you want something done right, do it yourself
A/N: I hope you like this, ceirdwenfc. I tried to use your likes and I hope I don't kill you with the fluff! Major thanks to M, my savior beta.
Neville Longbottom had it all planned out. He would go surprise Hannah Abbott at the Leaky Cauldron, under the guise of celebrating her becoming the new landlady. Then, he would get down on one knee and propose to her, she would tearfully accept and then they would adjourn to one of the rooms upstairs to seal the deal with a great amount of post-engagement shagging.
Simple.
But hindsight is twenty-twenty.
And when Neville would look back, he would realize the one major flaw in his otherwise brilliant, romantic plan: he told Harry Potter and Ron Weasley about it.
Of course, being the supportive mates they were, Harry and Ron had immediately offered to help Neville in making the evening one Hannah would never forget. An offer that Neville had politely refused.
Neville found himself pounced on by his friends as soon as he entered the pub. He started as Ron clapped him on the back. "It's the Big Moment, mate! Are you ready?"
Neville nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be, I guess. What are you doing here?"
"We're here to help," Harry explained.
"We brought provisions," Ron added, holding up a bag with Weasley's Wizard Weezes printed on the side.
Neville sighed. Obviously, he'd underestimated his friends' tenacity. Or they just didn't know how to take 'thanks, but no thanks' for an answer. "That's nice of you, guys, but I really don't-"
Ron waved his concern away. "Don't worry, we went low key. This is just to spice things up. A girl only gets proposed to once, right? Why not do it in style?"
"What have you got in mind?" Neville asked warily.
"These are brilliant. These Fillabuster Fireworks will spell out Marry Me, Hannah," Ron said with barely concealed glee.
Neville could feel the colour drain from his face. "Um, no, guys. I mean, it's a nice idea, but, you know…Hannah doesn't really like to call attention to herself…" Neither did he.
"I told Ron that might be overkill," Harry said, ignoring the sputtering protest from Ron. "Look, you just grab Hannah and go to your table. We'll just stay out of the way here."
Nodding in thanks, Neville went over to the bar. The bartender looked up and smiled at him. "'Lo, Nev!"
"Hi, Jerry. Hannah around?"
"In the back, I'll get her." Jerry disappeared in the back room.
Hannah appeared a few minutes later. Her face broke out into a delighted smile upon seeing who was waiting for her. She hurried up to Neville. "This is a nice surprise, love!" she said, kissing him in greeting.
Neville returned her smile. "I hope so. Do you have a few minutes?"
She beamed up at him. "For you, always."
Taking her hand, he led her through the crowded pub until they reached 'their' table. The table where they'd had had their first dinner together at and, Neville was hoping, the table Hannah would agree to spend the rest of her life with him.
He pulled out her chair for her, and when she was seated, sat down across from her. "So what's the occasion?" she asked.
Neville wiped his sweaty palms on his trousers. Calm, old boy, stay calm. He reached across the table and took her hands in his. "Oh, I just wanted to come see you. Thought we could have a celebratory dinner, Miss Landlady."
She flashed him another dazzling smile. "That's so sweet. Did you bring me a present?" she said teasingly.
Neville nodded. But before he could say anything, to his horror, the table suddenly started to spring forth flowers. Dozens and dozens of flowers of every kind. Baskets, bouquets and bushels of them covering every available inch of the surface of the table, some spilling on the floor until Neville couldn't even see Hannah anymore.
Her hands suddenly parted the plants. "Um, thanks for the flowers, love. They're very beautiful, but um…a little much, though, don't you think?"
Neville smiled weakly at her. "Sorry, I guess I got carried away."
He glanced over at Harry and Ron. They were both grinning broadly, Harry giving Neville an enthusiastic thumbs up. Neville refrained from returning the gesture with a finger of his own. He wondered what else they could possibly come up with.
He was really going to have to stop wondering.
Love is in the air
Everywhere I look around.
Love is in the air
Every sight and every sound.
Hannah straightened, appearing to concentrate on the cheesy lyrics now being broadcast throughout the pub with the help of a Sonorous charm. "What is that?"
"I'll be right back," Neville ground out.
Rising from his seat, he stormed over to the other end of the pub. Harry and Ron were looking mighty pleased with themselves. Their expressions became more wary as they saw the murderous glare Neville was directed at them.
Neville stopped nearly toe to toe with the pair. "What the hell is this?" he hissed.
"Old Muggle song. Pretty romantic, eh?" Ron ventured.
"It's not romantic, it's nauseating!"
Harry and Ron exchanged glances before turning back to Neville. "We really were just trying to help, mate." Harry said quietly.
"Well, you're not!" Neville exclaimed before spinning on his heel and heading back to his table. He was too angry to feel guilty about snapping at his friends.
Hannah looked thoroughly confused, but before she could get any question out, Neville grabbed her hand and, pulling her to her feet, practically hauled her through the pub. They marched through the courtyard until they reached the brick wall. Neville grabbed his wand and struck the bricks with more force than was probably necessary.
When the wall opened, they stepped out into the frigid air amongst the crowd milling about Diagon Alley. Neville turned to Hannah. Working up the courage to look her in the eye, he slowly raised his head-
-to see her biting her lip, shoulders shaking with barely concealed laughter.
At his aghast expression, Hannah burst out into peals of laughter.
Neville's mouth dropped open and closed a few times. He was sure he looked like a fish. "You think this is funny?!" he sputtered.
Bringing herself somewhat under control, Hannah managed to get out through her giggles, "Oh, Nev, it's just so…so you!"
That brought a frown to Neville's face. "I'm sorry?"
Taking a deep breath, Hannah smiled at him. "Neville, this is just so classic Longbottom; you try so hard and it all goes to pot. But you never let that stop you. It's not a put-down, honest. It's so endearing and one of the things I love most about you."
Neville stood there, still trying to decide whether to be insulted or not, when Hannah suddenly placed her hands on either side of his head and drew him down to meet her mouth in a kiss. Wrapping his hands around her waist as the kiss grew deeper, he forgot exactly what it was that he was hacked off about in the first place.
Finally breaking the kiss, Hannah drew back. Looking into Neville's eyes and draping her arms around his neck, she smirked, "So, am I right in assuming that this whole debacle was so that you could ask me a question?"
He returned the smirk. "Maybe."
"So do it, then," she playfully demanded.
Neville slowly stepped back. Taking Hannah's hands in one of his, he dropped to one knee. Fumbling around in his pocket with his other hand, he pulled out the ring. Looking up at her, all traces of their previous teasing was gone. Instead, he poured every feeling of love and adoration for this woman in his gaze. "Hannah Abbott, you are, and always will be, the love of my life. Will you marry me?"
Her eyes shining with unshed tears, she nodded eagerly. "Yes, you daft idiot! Of course, yes!"
She pulled him to his feet, throwing her arms around his neck. He spun her around, delighting in her giddy laughter. And as their mouths met again in a tender, loving kiss, Neville decided that murdering Harry and Ron could wait.
At least for a while.