At this specific moment, the friendly air circling around the walls of the hospital wing was beyond welcoming and empowering, more than Hogwarts had ever witnessed this year.

Just then, the creak of the door fell on their ears, as they were joined by an anxious Neville, shuffling his feet forward.

"Hello, guys," Neville said, his gaze moving in a small circle studying their expressions.

"Hey, Neville," they all chorused in one tone.

"How are you now, Harry?" asked Neville, watering his lips.

"I am fine, thanks," Harry replied, with a small smile, before switching his attention back to Ron and Hermione.

"How are you, Neville?" Remus asked, switching his gaze from Harry -who had always been the center of attention, whether he liked it or not- to Neville, who wasn't as much privileged in being acknowledged.

***
Neville was taken aback by the concern ringing through the voice of his old professor. It wasn't everyday someone would ask him -with genuine care- how he was.

Neville had spent years believing that he wasn't good enough, which made him -what he seemed to be- the clumsy and self-conscious outcast.

His self-worth had always been on the edge, on the verge of crumbling down from the already low hill.

Although Neville came from a pure-blood family, no one thought he had enough magic to be a wizard, let alone a powerful one. His strict grandmother, the closest thing he had for a family, couldn't help but see him as a disappointment.

Throughout his fifteen years of life and up till now, he still couldn't find a best mate, a close friend, who he could pour his heart to... he was just desperate for someone to be his ears and him theirs, but all he had was Trevor, his pet frog, who was more often lost than sticking up with him.

Neville was just a boy who fell victim to bullying, most often ridiculed than praised or even -at the very least- addressed in a civil manner.

The slytherins never ignored the chance to make fun of him, at every possible occasion. But, what stung him even more was a certain professor, with black robes swinging behind him. A chill would dance up Neville's spine whenever he came face-to-face with the sneering hatred that rose on the sharp dead eyes in which he always dreaded.

Despite of all what he came across or perhaps because of all what he'd been through, Neville Longbottom possessed bravery at the dwell of his heart that always empowered him to face his fears, let alone his worst fear, every single day.

All what he had to do, all what was left, was learning how to stand up for himself and to defend what's right.

Up until mid-this-year, he had never felt belonging or fitting in. It wasn't until he joined the DA, did he feel the determination of stopping himself from being a nobody.

***
"Me? I am fine, I guess," Neville mumbled, the words seemed novel to his lips.

"Thank you," Neville said -truly meaning it- flashing a wide grin. Remus gave his ex-student a warm smile, and Neville's eyes reflected gratitude.

Neville sat down opposite to Ginny across Harry's bed and started an easy-flowing conversation with Hagrid around a new Herbology plant.

Madame Pomfrey stormed into the room and nearly had a panic attack from the crowd circling around her patient. She rushed forward, shooing them away, "give him room, please."

"Oh, you certainly came quickly, Poppy," Sirius exclaimed, sarcasm oozing from his voice. With a smirk plastered on his face, he continued, "you ought to be careful- making the lightening speed jealous now."

"Mr. Black, I would appreciate it if you kept your remarks to a minimum," she replied, shooting him a glare.

"I hardly think that would be possible," Remus cut in with a chuckle booming in light sarcasm. "Poor Harry is destined to have a godfather whose middle name is irritating."

Madame Pomfrey didn't bother to reply or look up from Harry who was being checked over. Sirius' smirk grew wider, his mental wheels effortfully circling around the best comeback if it weren't interrupted by Neville's voice, breaking the smooth tension.

"Hang on... Harry, that's your- godfather?" Neville asked in surprise, his brow sweating when all eyes landed on him.

"Oh, you didn't know?" asked Ron, with a funny expression on his face, to which Neville shook his head. Ron found it a bit odd for someone to not know who Sirius Black was to Harry.

"Then, why? why did you come along to the Department of Mysteries- when, you know.." asked Harry, confusion spilling out from his lips, a frown etched on his face.

"Erm, I just couldn't leave you guys rush over to danger all alone. And you, Harry, seemed desperate to be there," Neville spoke sincerely, an anxious smile lingering on his lips.

"Neville, that's very considerate of you," Ginny spoke in awe, a smile colouring her features.

"It's nothing, really... I bet that's what Luna had in mind as well," Neville said, shuffling his feet in discomfort, as he felt itchy under the novel spotlight.

"I don't think I was even of... any use to you in the fighting, anyway," Neville said with a gulp, dropping his gaze to the floor.

"Neville!" Remus exploded, before holding himself back and continuing more softly, "Don't say that about yourself."

Remus knew, first hand, what it meant to be and feel like an outcast, someone who wasn't good enough... and he couldn't bear see anyone else going through what he was forced to uphold against.

Neville glanced upward to meet Remus' eyes, and a weak smile played on his lips. Hagrid patted Neville on the back with his giant hand, and Neville gave him a slight nod. The silence was unnerving that Neville felt his heartbeat pounding in his ears.

When it seemed that Neville wasn't going to say anything else, anytime soon, Harry broke the tense silence.

"Excuse me, when can I leave the hospital wing?" Harry asked Madame Pomfrey with hopeful eyes.

"Don't you worry, dear. You'll be having this little tea party outside," Poppy replied, with a wide grin washing over her face, resulting in giggles to ring out from Ginny and Hermione.

"Quite soon, probably this afternoon," she added upon seeing Harry's even more hopeful expression to finally be free from the bounds of the hospital wing.

Ron and Hermione groaned, having their hopes down of spending time with Harry by the lake before the moonlight broke the day.

"B-ut.." Ron and Hermione mumbled at the same time and stopped together, glancing at each other. Hermione shook her head, sighing. Ron arched his eyebrow, giving her an awkward smile.

"He overused a significant amount of his magical energy yesterday... dying and returning to the land of living, not to mention being mentally attacked by he-who-must-not-be-named, would leave anyone physically and mentally burnt out," Madame Pomfrey lectured in a serious tone.

"Even if it doesn't seem necessary, his mind needs to rest enough," Poppy's unusually sharp gaze crossed them all in a small circle, daring anyone to argue.

"Fine," said Ginny with a sigh, -slightly irritated but mostly understanding- brushing backward a strand of her loose hair to stop it from falling across her face.

"Good.. now, where is that potion?" She asked herself in mild frustration, before her eyes settled on the bottle sitting on the nightstand beside Neville. "Mr. Longbottom, hand me this potion, will you?" Poppy said gently, pointing at the bottle.

"Longbottom?" Sirius asked in a low amazed voice, watching Neville do as told. Sirius shook his head, the thoughtful look transforming to slight doubt. He drew in a sharp breath, his face hardening in concentration.

Sirius' pain-reflecting eyes popped with a dozen of questions, when his gaze travelled to Remus, his old friend. Remus nodded with a heavy sigh, agony flickering across his tired face.

"Neville, mind having a word?" Sirius asked in caution, glancing toward Remus to follow them. Neville was, put simply, shocked and fearful.

Neville's frantic footfalls raced after them, trying to keep up... but his heartbeats were racing much more. To Neville, it felt like infinity till they stopped in their tracks and glanced back at him with remorseful expressions. Neville hesitantly met their eyes, and his insides clenched like a fist.

"Neville, we knew your parents... very well," Sirius began, getting straight to the point, in a forced calm voice and a neutral expression.

Neville was startled, his mouth agape and eyes wide like saucers. Whatever he expected, it definitely wasn't that.

"My... parents--?" Neville stuttered in confusion, fearful shock etched on his face.

**
The chamber of secrets has been opened, Neville thought to himself.

His biggest secret, in which he had been always desperate to keep protectively hidden from everyone, was revealed... again. He had failed once, when his friends not only knew but also saw with their bare eyes the bitter truth.

Neville's beloved parents, who were tortured to insanity because they refused to give in, couldn't even recognize their own son... and that was a fate worse than death to the family of three.

**
"They were, are, very close friends to us," Sirius continued in a hoarse voice. He tried to dive as far away from the nostalgic waves that threatened to roll over him.

"Great friends... just like you are, Neville," Sirius continued, his voice on edge, a small smile sliding on his face.

Neville said nothing, at all. The only thing proving that he was actually listening was the emotion reflected in the depth of his eyes.

"And, great aurors, they were... just like you are meant to be, Neville," Remus cut in softly and fell silent for a heartbeat waiting for any reaction.

"Yes, Neville, listen to our newly admitted seer over here," Sirius said, a smirk playing on his lips, as he patted Remus on the back. Sirius was trying to make Neville crack a smile, but his intention wasn't given the full chance.

The look in Remus' eyes rendered Sirius speechless.

"He has great potential-- I've seen it," said Remus, breaking his exasperated glare on Sirius, before flashing a warm smile at Neville.

**
Granted the praise and acknowledgement he had been deprived of since forever, Neville felt a rush of gratitude toward them.

Neville couldn't believe the prospect that someone, who barely knew him, wore a special lens to perceive what a good friend he really was. The man, who turned out to be Harry's godfather, saw through him... and the extensive value he gave to friendship.

As for Professor Lupin, Neville always had a unique place within saved just for him. He was the one who gave Neville a hand to face his fear and, by extension, empowered him to overcome such an obstacle to what could turn out to be his pursuit of content success.

Neville would be forever grateful to the men who saw in him hope, and he was willing to wait -forever, no matter how long it turned out to be- for the chance to pay them back.

"Thank you," said Neville, gratitude exploding from his barely audible voice.

**
"I just want you to know that... your parents- loved you, more than anything," Sirius spoke in desperate determination.

Sirius Black had first hand experience of the intense pain a teenager would feel, thinking his parents held no love for him.

And, Sirius felt obliged to flourish the image of Frank and Alice Longbottom, his old friends, in the eyes of their only son.

The air drove back in silence, and the marauders eyed Neville carefully. Guilt weighed on their shoulders upon seeing Neville's eyes clouding with remarkable pain.

A bundle of intense emotions all mixed together was consuming Neville from every side.

His parents didn't possess the ability to tell or show Neville how much he meant to them. They were just there, with dead minds... yes, present in their bodies, but absent in any demonstration of intimacy.

But Neville just knew it, always felt their affection without it being shown. Being born to such brave and caring parents, pride would blossom in his chest with strong resemblance to lilies in an early Spring.

**
"Everything they didn't have the chance to say, I already know," Neville said, without looking at them, the tears welling up at the corner of his eyes.

Emotion choking him, Neville bit back a sob that had threatened to break free. His remarkable effort to hide his overwhelming despair was abortive.

"They probably don't know who I am, but I do- I know who they are. And, I know what they suffered for, out of the goodness of their hearts," Neville said, his voice bursting with emotion that had been constrained for so long.

"Neville, I am sure they're proud of you... deep within," Remus spoke as calmly as he could master.

"Really?" Neville asked, hating himself for sounding too small.

The marauders nearly cried from being hit with the desperation that rang in Neville's shaking voice and swirled in his tearful gaze.

What they didn't know was how much making his parents proud meant to Neville... it was the deepest and most desperate desire of his heart.

Sirius and Remus nodded with much eagerness, with similar smiles, which held immense pain, washing over them.

Neville's eyes twinkled against the shinning tears, and his face relaxed with relief, eliciting the biggest smile ever.

**
The door of the hospital wing swung open, and the giant figure of Hagrid came into view.

"Is everything alright, Hagrid?" Sirius asked in a heartbeat, worry ringing in his voice.

Sirius was frantic, not looking forward to re-experience anything similar to what happened when he left Harry in the hospital wing.

"Relax, Sirius! Ma'am Pomfr'y said all to leave," said Hagrid, circling a wide grin to the three faces.

Sirius nodded, breathing a sigh of relief, and watched Hagrid walking away toward the authentic Hogwarts gates.

"It was great talking to you, Neville," said Sirius, flashing a warm smile.

"Thanks, sir," replied Neville, a wide grin washing over his face.

"I am not that old, you know," Sirius said a bit more lively, smirking.

Sirius spun around and asked with sincere anxiety, "Remus, do I look that old?" He flipped and brushed his hair in front of an invisible mirror, searching for any grey strands.

And, Sirius was positive of predicting Moony's never-changing reply: "ancient."

Sirius succeeded in his intention, just now, as Neville couldn't hold himself from flashing a genuine grin. The mischievous marauder -Sirius Black, who couldn't leave any room for failure- smirked in remarkable triumph.

Sirius was thankful for the end result and had nothing more to say. As Sirius started walking away toward the hospital wing, he heard Neville's voice calling for Moony, who just happened to be Professor Lupin as well.

**
"Professor, I have- a question. Is it normal... I mean, does everyone face difficulty in casting a full corpeal Patronus, for the first time?" Neville asked genuinely, but he couldn't stop the hesitation from taking over.

"Yes, of course," Remus replied, at once, in his most reassuring voice.

"It's among the most challenging incantations to not just think of a happy memory -if not the happiest ever- but, more importantly, to free yourself to feel its after-taste without any bounds... allow it to fill you up," Remus explained in his professor tone.

"That's quite similar to what Harry said, during the DA practice," Neville commented, chuckling.

"Really, Harry said that?" Remus asked, feeling a rush of affection toward his Harry.

Pride blossomed in Remus' chest as he now knew that Harry truly took the words at heart, those very same words he tried to instill in Harry during the private lessons against the dementors.

Regardless of the cruel title of Professor Lupin -fired from none other than Harry, his Prongslet- Remus was beyond thankful for being the one who helped Harry when needed. He was grateful to destiny for the twisted chance he was given.

The echo of silence rang out, as Neville studied his professor's frozen and dreamy expression.

"Erm, yes... He very well did," Neville said, with an awkward expression.

Snatched from his thoughts, Remus pulled himself to focus on Neville again.

"If you don't mind me asking, Neville, what's the memory you chose?" Remus asked, concerned.

Neville mouthed a few words silently, inaudible. Remus had a small nostalgic smile washing over him, before he moved a bit closer and said "sorry?"

"Talking to them," said Neville, trying to stop his lower lip from wobbling.

The smile vanished from Remus' face as if it never even existed. Remus felt a mountain-like wave of dejavu taking over him, reminiscing about what Harry had once opened up to him.

Here was another boy -just like Harry- who was denied of all parental love, despite of being born to the most caring parents ever. It was as if Harry and Neville were born to the same prophecy, having so much in common but still being very different.

"But I guess the memory wasn't that powerful... because they never answered back," Neville spoke in a heavy voice, and a single tear slipped down his cheek.

The bitter truth -that his parents couldn't listen to him or at least feel him- never ceased pinching Neville with depth, leaving behind a scarred heart. It stung him... very much, more than he could ever explain.

For long moments, the heavy air spun in a circle around the suffocating silence. Painful agony was etched on both of their faces... Neither Neville nor Remus had anything else to say, just lost for words and overridden by emotions.

"I solemnly swear that I'll help you through it," said Remus, but this time he couldn't find it in himself to smirk.

Remus Lupin gave Neville Longbottom a promise, a Marauders' oath that -by simple definition- was bound to be unbreakable.

And, that was the moment Neville found for himself a new mentor.. the only mentor in his life, who would give him a hand to help him stand upright, chin held high.

***
Sirius had only opened the door to the hospital wing before having to answer up to a curious Harry.

"Sirius, what took you so long?" asked Harry, breaking his conversation with Ginny.

"Later, Harry- I'll tell you... everything," said Sirius, with hopeful eyes and a content expression.

Sirius elaborated on the few words spoken with his train of thoughts that were never meant to fuel down.

I'll tell you everything, all what you need -and want- to know. About, all the people who were always around me... the secrets of what made the marauders who they were... All the stories that gave me golden years to look back to...

We'll have plenty of time together to dive in all the memories that are still -and will always remain- carved inside me.

Yes, old friendships never die hard. Sirius believed such bitter-sweet quality of his character acted as both a blessing and a curse... a blessing in disguise, it was.

Hope you enjoyed it ^_^

I am just trying to give everything and everyone justice through this long journey!

Oh and, I am soo sorry for the long wait for this update... trust me, as soon as I was done with my exams, I've been working on this chapter.. for the past few days now!

Please, don't forget to vote and comment... as you know, that's my oxygen!

Stay tuned for the next update..

Also, do you personally think we all have the ability to transform from Zero to Hero? If so, what should we do to help ourselves?

Not really a Harry Potter related question, but then again, Harry Potter taught us LIFE.