Aw, Jess, my birthday just keeps on giving! :D I adored this, and I think it is so cool that you chose Neville/Hannah. Honestly, they have become my second OTP over the last year or so, and I love thinking about how they might have got together.

What a clever idea to have him help save her business--its exactly the kind of thing he would do for someone, especially a friend. I like your characterization of them both: Hannah is so hard working and has sort of lost herself in her exhaustion. ;( And Neville... dear heavens, girl, he is swoon-worthy!! Loved the elf gazing up into his eyes and all the things he said. And the best bit of that first scene was when the knight in shining armor walked out and stumbled over the furniture. How delightfully Neville!

"The sheer amount of worry in his voice as he said her name was her undoing."

... and mine as well, I assure you. :) Thanks so much for this, Jess. I knew it already, but you've reinforced the fact that you write canon very well.

Author's Response:

I've actually been sitting on this fic for a while. I had the first 800 or so words done but no chance to finish it. But then in lurking every introduction thread known to man that you've ever posted and some stalkery assistance from our f-list, I found that you liked Neville/Hannah. It made me overjoyed, I will admit. I really wanted to finish this story, and gifting it to you was the perfect push I needed.

I will admit it freely -- I have been where Hannah was in the beginning of the story. I remember a number of nights of sitting on the floor in my restaurant and wishing the place would burn down so I could go home. I wanted someone to rescue me. Had BAMF Neville been my saviour, I would've died in ecstasy, lol.

Anywho, happy *very* belated birthday, and I'm glad I could extend the fun for you. :)

~Jess

Hi Jess,

I really can't believe how quickly you write new stories... I just checked, this is your fourth story on the most recent page... 4 stories in 7 days... you're insane lol.

This was a lovely story. I loved Hannah, particularly the way you wrote her exhaustion at the beginning and compared her to how she used to be (as in with her nails and that sort of thing). I had a really clear picture of her.

Neville was great, too. I liked how their relationship was lovely and innocent for most of the fic - Hannah's excitement to show Neville what she'd done around the place and Neville's excitement to see her, and the way he absent-mindedly touched her cheek or her hair... it just had this lovely youthful innocence to it, which just really suited these characters. Plus it was juxtaposed nicely with Hannah looking at her reflection and seeing an old woman.

I loved the idea that Hannah would set up business in Hogsmeade, and that's how she would get around the problem of Neville being in Scotland for most of the year, and her in London.

Lovely story, once again, Jess.

~Katrina

P.S. Happy Birthday Lori!

Author's Response:

Hehe, I think I had five on the Most Recent last week. :D

I like me a bit of awkward advances. I think Neville was subconsciously doing that when he was unintentionally feeling her up -- thinking about doing it and not realising that his hands sort of went there on their own, lol.

And in my brain universe, since Hannah left before the end of her sixth-year, she doesn't know how to Apparate properly yet. She will learn later, but at this point, she hadn't had the time yet. It would've required that she Floo to Hogsmeade to see Neville, but if she was there all the time, he could sneak out at the weekend and see her. 

Glad you liked it, and I shall make sure Lori gets your message. :)

~Jess