This is it…this is what you said. That’s why I quit being a cop and came looking for you. I came here knowing this would happen.

you’ve worked so hard. congratulations. we are so proud of you #MonstaX1stwin

• seamus loudly offering his support for neville and his botany, even that darned mimbulus mimbletonia, praising its exotic beauty (?????) and utility (?????!!!)
• harry hurrying ahead when he sees a bunch of upperclassmen snickering after neville tripped on nothing but air, catching up to his friend and scooping up his books and offering a hand as neville smiles gratefully
• (before they leave, harry glares at the sixth and seventh years, who shrink back, suddenly remembering all the other places they have to be)
• dean painstakingly lettering neville’s name in his beautiful calligraphy onto the tags of his robes and miscellaneous items so he won’t lose them in the messy heap of gryffindor clothes
• ron spying neville sniffling in the corridors after reading a particularly scathing letter from his loving but sometimes harsh grandmother, and sidling beside neville to nonchalantly swing his arm around his mate 
• they fall into a deep conversation about self-worth and confess shyly to each other their insecurities (“i have five older brothers, mate, that’s a bit much to live up to, don’t’cha think?” neville, shining with sincerity, blurting, “but ron, your brothers haven’t done half the things you have, really…beating magical chess, winning the house cup, facing down lockhart….” ron blushes fiercely, but grins widely)
• the four boys forming an indignant shield around neville when snape tries to demean and belittle him as usual in potions, slipping him little hints and nudging him towards the right ingredients (courtesy of hermione’s plentiful assistance)
• growing older and increasingly busier, but always finding time to check in with the other gryffindor boys, catching up and complaining and sharing about their days (and also making sure no one’s been bothering neville)
• encouraging neville to be more outspoken about his wants/needs (“yeah, you tell ‘im, neville!!”), and doing their best to provide a supportive environment and a real home
• just four boys bonded by real friendship and bravery, demonstrating true courage by watching over their friend so he never feels helpless or oppressed, but rather supported and encouraged
• watching and waiting and helping until the day their friend–their friend whose remembrall got stolen, who got himself turned into a canary, who got caught singing to his plants in the greenhouse every night–stands up against voldemort himself, pledging loyalty until “when hell freezes over!”, and bringing the sword of gryffindor swinging down, down, down into voldemort’s very soul 
• and later, as a professor at hogwarts, when there are whispers of “kept the DA alive during the carrows’ reign at hogwarts!” and “refused to join them death eaters, right in front of voldemort himself!”, neville just smiles with his fluffy jumpers and achingly kind eyes, going right on tending to and protecting the puffs and the gryffs, the slyths and the claws, especially the ickle firsties who huddle together their first year away from home.

shy and smiley haneul