ficlet: lionhearted. harry/neville

[marginalia]

for 15minuteficlets

Lionhearted - Harry/Neville


Harry's not really brave. People think he is because he does big brave things. But he does big brave things because he's afraid of what will happen if he doesn't. And he does big brave things alone because he's afraid to ask for help.

Neville's not really afraid. People think he is, because he's slow and forgetful. But he's slow because he likes to take his time about things, to understand them properly so he won't forget them. And if he takes things slowly enough, people will forget that he's there and he can try to understand them properly.

Harry's afraid to get to know people, because they go away and then he's lost. Neville knows that if he takes his time with people, even when they go away he'll have something to hold onto.

Neville's brave when it matters, and so when he turns back from reshelving books after the DA meeting and nearly crashes into Harry hovering behind him he lays his palm on Harry's chest to steady himself. Harry's afraid to back away and afraid to step forward, so Neville, slowly as always, cups Harry's chin and kisses him gently. And since he has watched Harry carefully all along, he is unsurprised when Harry leans in and kisses him back.

Comments

brave

[dacro.livejournal.com]

wow. *hugs*
thanks for this. the three sections worked so well together. simple and perfect.
I am really smitten with this pair now...
~J~

[willysunny.livejournal.com]

awww, sweetie. i was just about to close up shop for the night, but so glad i waited. this is a beautiful, really thoughtful ficlit. you write neville so well. i have really fallen for him through your eyes.

[belovedsnail.livejournal.com]

oh wow. this is just beautiful. something about your tone (i want to say that it's "quiet," i've no idea if that's even the right word?) here really gets to me, and the last sentence is PERFECT.

Neville's Brave When it Matters.

[hullabaloo.livejournal.com]

Harry and Neville captured so beautifully in just over 200 words? Jaci takes the impossible and smites it over the head. I love the rhythm of this piece - the ideas take on more meaning and depth when you choose to write "Harry's not really..." or "Neville's not really..." This phrasing speaks volumes.

[electricandroid.livejournal.com]

Lovely - darling frulie pimped it on her LJ - really worth the read. I love neville personally - and could just see that happening. Thanks.

[dorrie6.livejournal.com]

I love this. Lovelovelove. I love Neville's strengths and Harry's weaknesses... I think those are what make them interesting. You put it so simply here. The last paragraph had my heart doing a little dance.

On a side note... I think Harry is brave. I think you can only be brave if you are afraid first. If it isn't scary to you, than you aren't brave for facing it... you are fearless, but not brave. I don't think most people agree with me, but there you have it. :)

[msilverstar]

And he does big brave things alone because he's afraid to ask for help.

My major issue with HP books, and you do such a clever job of incorporating it in the ficlet. And strong Neville rocks my socks ;-)

[trakkie.livejournal.com]

This is gorgeous - so much meaning conveyed in so few words. I love the pacing of the writing, it seems almost slow and gentle, it takes its time just the way Neville does.

[iolanthe-rosa.livejournal.com]

Oh, good stuff! That was like a prose poem. Thank you for doing justice to Neville. He's my favorite, too (Herbology, people!) He does have a certain quiet strength that you magnify here nicely.

[marginalia.livejournal.com]

no, that's true. and i do agree with you. but i also do think he's afraid of little things. and snape ;) and asking for help. there's lots of levels of bravery, and he's not a gryffindor for nothing. but i only had 15 minutes :D

(the prompt word was "chicken")

shoot. i had something else to say but i'm forgetting. i think it had something to do with him being brave on a different level than most people understand, because he knows what he's facing and he calls him by his true name.

but you know the point of any of these things with me is to get across the neville love ;)

Re: brave

[marginalia.livejournal.com]

success! thank you :)

[dorrie6.livejournal.com]

Oh, and please know that my comments weren't meant at all as a criticism of your fic... just thoughts that it brought forward in my mind. :) I think you're right... I think Harry is afraid of small things, and extremely afraid of asking for help. Actually I think he's getting more and more afraid of that all the time, since lately when he isn't working alone, people die. Plus he's afraid to trust people, which isn't entirely unfounded either. Harry is a conflicted bundle of angst. :)

Yes... I completely agree with his being brave on a different level than most people. He is one of the few who really knows what it is he faces.

And dood... the Neville love... mine is big big big lately, and mostly due to you. :)

[marginalia.livejournal.com]

thank you! i'm so glad to be spreading the neville love :)

[marginalia.livejournal.com]

the last sentence surprised me. these 15 minute things - i never know where they're going to go :)

thank you!

Re: Neville's Brave When it Matters.

[marginalia.livejournal.com]

thank you! *cuddles her OTP*

[marginalia.livejournal.com]

yay! thank you :) i am a huge neville fan myself :)

[marginalia.livejournal.com]

yeah, it's definitely an issue for me, too.

and i have such neville love, so there you go. thank you!

[marginalia.livejournal.com]

thank you!

[marginalia.livejournal.com]

*victory dance*

(one of my interests on my writing journal is "prose as poetry" :) )

i have to do -something- to lure people away from melinda & julie's advocating of the harry/draco. neville, people, neville! :) thank you!

[willysunny.livejournal.com]

you do it so well. :)

[dorrie6.livejournal.com]

*narrows eyes*

hmph.

[marginalia.livejournal.com]

neville! neville!

0:D

[dorrie6.livejournal.com]

draco.

[marginalia.livejournal.com]

das right. keep that draco lovin' small and to yourself :P

[dorrie6.livejournal.com]

DRACO!

[starfishchick]

This is ... wow. That last sentence is wonderful.

[marginalia.livejournal.com]

*weeps*

[dorrie6.livejournal.com]

*cackles*

[marginalia.livejournal.com]

OTP bay-bee.

thank you!

[donnagirl.livejournal.com]

awwwwwwwwww. /me hugs this fic

this is so heartwarming! awwww. Now *I* love Neville! aww.

[marginalia.livejournal.com]

woohoo! *does the neville-love victory dance* (and boy are you glad you didn't have to see -that- ;) )

thank you, m'dear!