Sep 12 2008
Making Promises
Title: Making Promises
Author: dorrie6
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Neville, Dean (Neville/Remus implied)
Rating: G
Disclaimer: The characters and universe presented in this story belong to JK Rowling.
Notes: Originally posted 4/7/07 for Kaalee Appreciation Day. Set in my slowly-growing “Pocket”-verse, sometime after In Your Pocket You Carry Devotion. Very short. 253 words.
*****
Making Promises
The bundle’s brown paper was tattered in places, as though its journey had been especially rough, and from the look of the owl who’d left it, that seemed a fair assumption. Neville unwrapped it slowly, drawing out the moment, finally holding a worn, old book entitled The Dower House Mystery, and a smooth bit of parchment that fluttered to his feet.
From my mum’s old collection–hope you like it!Dean
Neville smiled, fingers playing over the faded black print on the cover, considering how and when he might sit down to read it. Any token from a friend was a treasure these days, and Neville was not fool enough to squander it.
The faint chime of Remus’ clock inside pulled Neville from his thoughts, and he stood quickly, as a gust of sooty air picked up a scrap of the brown paper and carried it off the small balcony before Neville could catch it. He stepped inside, hair rumpled from the breeze, and hurried to the dressing table that held his wand and a few other magical items he often carried into battle. Neville placed the book carefully on the table, memorizing the feel of its rough corners with his hands.
“Are you ready, Neville?” Remus’ gentle voice called from just outside the door.
“Yes, coming,” Neville replied, shoving the last of the items into the pockets of his robes. Tonight, he thought, giving the book a final glance. Tonight, when we’ve returned.
Sometimes making promises was more important than keeping them.