[ah yes, a visit from last year's ella, a very awful writer who had a strong belief she could change her bad writing ways. not much has changed.]

A/N: You don't have to play the song above with the one shot, I just found it and it was absolutely PERFECT for this one shot. Also, I didn't edit this before publishing, so......you have been warned.

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{Post-war}

Social situations just weren't Cybele's thing. They were too fast paced, and stressful. She didn't understand how so many people around her could just coast through them, while she was left behind.

So in the situation of a muggle New Year's Eve party, where a bunch of girls were chatting, laughing, and having fun, Cybele was in her own kind of torture. The Hogwarts graduate had been convinced by her father to not spend the night with him, singing kareoke and making terrible puns like they always did. So here she was, in a muggle bar, attempting to talk to new, foreign people.

"So then he started to", the loudest girl talking, Faith, flipped her hair while telling a story, "do this weird dance on the table." All the girls laughed, except for Cybele, who had no idea what was going on. She began to slowly walk away, about to drive home to her Dad's house when a guy called out to her.

"Hey silent girl, wanna drink?" He yelled, obviously having had a few drinks himself. Cybele shook her head no, about to say so when the same guy shoved a beer into her hands. "I'm good, thank you." she quickly said, handing him back the drink.

"C'mon, blondie! It's just one drink.." he whined.

Yeah, one drink that'll turn into ten. Cybele thought, sighing. Finally relenting, she took one sip of the bitter drink, gagging right after. Firewhiskey was so much better than this crap.
—————

It was remarkable how someone could become basically drunk after two drinks. It was probably due to the fact that Cybele had had no experience with Muggle drinks whatsoever, so she had no tolerance to them.

Somehow she had landed on a rooftop, dancing with strangers. For the first time in a long time, the witch felt free, something she hadn't felt since...well, the last time she was with Elowen, Violet, and Neville....Neville....

His name kept echoing in Cybele's head, making a wave of guilt wash over her. She didn't know why he was making her guilty, since she wasn't doing anything wrong...was she?

Overrun with a sudden sadness most likely brought on by her intoxication, Cybele ran away from the dance floor, looking for an exit from the rooftop. And that was when the fireworks started.

The sudden explosions around Cybele made her jump, and scream even. It was like the rooftop party faded away, turning into a battlefield. A Hogwarts battlefield, to be exact. She was in the middle of the battle, frantically looking for Neville, Violet, Elowen, Cedric, George, Fred...anyone. Panic filled her, and tears began to spill. She got down on her knees, shaking. But then she saw a green light coming her way, and screamed.

In reality, that green light was a firework. Everyone else on the rooftop was cheering, drowning out Cybele's crying. Unfortunately, these panic attacks happened more and more often, ever since the Battle of Hogwarts. Only Neville, Elowen, or Violet could calm her down from these, as they had experienced the same things, and had a strong connection with her.

Cybele, finally coming back to reality, realized that she needed to get out of the party, and soon. She couldn't stay in a stressful environment with a panic attack, it was just common sense. She needed to get somewhere nice, somewhere safe, somewhere where she would be calmed down, and protected.

She knew where to go. As she stood up, the countdown began.

5!

She took a deep breath.

4!

She tried to convince herself she could do this.

3!

Doubt began to wash over her. The girl hadn't apparated since she got out of Hogwarts, especially not potentially in front of muggles.

2!

"Just do it!!" She yelled at herself.

1!

Cybele took out her wand and apparated.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
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She landed onto a street.

Cybele knew this street, obviously, since she had been to it 5 times before. Shaking, she curled up into a ball on the side of the road. She still wasn't ready to buzz in.

But she didn't have to.

After 5 minutes of flashbacks and whimpering, a taxi pulled up at the apartment complex. Cybele let out a squeal of fear, for she thought the car was going to run her over for a second. But then a familiar voice called her name.

"Cybele?"

It was Neville.

"Yes..." she whimpered, looking up. Looking at how horrible she must have looked, Neville's eyes widened. He kneeled down to her side. "What happened?" He asked softly .

"I just...I don't know." She said in between tears that for some reason were still coming in fresh supply. "It's stupid, I'm sorry."

"No, no, it's not stupid." He reassured her. "Why don't you get inside, then we can talk. Would that be good?" Cybele only nodded her head silently. She began to get up, only to have her legs give out. She was about to fall when Neville steadied her. Saying nothing, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her, bridal style, all the way to his apartment.

"You're too good to me..." Cybele muttered as they entered his apartment. Neville chuckled. "I might, but it's only because I love you so much." Cybele groaned at this sweet comment, smiling a bit. "This is what I'm talking about!"

Neville chuckled, gently setting Cybele down on the bed. "So, tell me what's wrong." Cybele let out a sigh, lying down. "Well...it was just...the Battle was happening again and I couldn't find you or anyone and then the killing curse came towards me and I just...." she began to hyperventilate, Neville pulling her into a silent hug. She closed her eyes, trying to breathe again.

"Don't leave me." Cybele whimpered.

Neville kissed her forehead. "I wouldn't dream of it." He whispered.

They fell asleep holding on to each other.
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Cybele woke up to a pounding headache, Asprin & water on the nightstand, and the smell of smoke. She quickly sat up in bed, wincing when her head pounded in response. "Neville, what's burning?" She called to her boyfriend.

"I-um..well I tried to make French toast..." Neville explained, fanning a smoking pan of syrupy bread. Cybele tried to hold in her laughter, smiling and shaking her head at him. She walked over and helped him get the smoke out, all the while trying not to laugh.

Once they finally got the bread to stop smoking, Cybele turned to Neville. "You wanna just get some breakfast from the café around the corner?" Neville was quick to agree, nodding as soon as she said 'order breakfast'.

"I'll just get ready then." She pecked him on the lips before going into the one room to change. Then she realized that she hadn't come with a change of clothes.

"Ummm...Neville? Can I ask you a favor..?" She called to him in a sing-song voice.

"Oh Merlin, what is it?" Neville mumbled.
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They entered the café, Neville in a button-up shirt and jeans, and Cybele in a grey t-shirt from Neville, and leggings that she had left at her boyfriends place just in case. The t-shirt practically swallowed Cybele up, and she loved it.

They were soon seated. Looking over at the menu, Neville knew what he wanted instantly, while. Cybele...not so much. She was very indecisive, especially when all of her favorites were on a menu. Eventually she decided on just Bacon and Eggs.

In about 15 minutes, they had their food and drinks. Cybele looked up at Neville, holding her glass up in a toast. "To a Happy New Year, with lots of love in it." She said. Neville agreed, holding his glass up as well. "To a Happy New Year."

Cybele fake pouted. "You didn't agree to lots of love!"

"That's because I already have lots of love." He tried to flirt. Cybele, only rolled her eyes, smiling. "That was so corny, Neville." He shrugged, "I try."
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"Are you sure you want to do this?" Cybele asked Neville quietly. They were waiting on a taxi on the corner of the street, since the Knight Bus was apparently 'on a holiday'. The two had one destination in mind, a place that both were worried about going to.

Neville sucked in a breath before answering. "I'm sure. I'm ready, 'bele. They'll be ready too."

Cybele gave him a small smile. "If you say so."

It was then that a taxi pulled up, answering Neville's now sore arm that had been sticking out, asking for a ride. Neville opened the door and looked at Cybele, smirking. "Ladies first!" He said in a posh accent.

"Oh, you're too kind sir." She chuckled, entering the car. Neville got in shortly afterward. "Please take us to the corner of Birmingham Avenue." He instructed the driver. From that street they could walk to a designated portkey spot, that would take them where they needed to go.

Cybele watched as Neville sent a muffliato spell towards the general direction of the driver. "What are you doing?" She whispered. "You don't have to whisper, the spell is working." Neville answered. He turned to Cybele finally.

"I wanted to talk about last night. Well actually, this morning" he let out an awkward laugh. Cybele stiffened. "What is there to talk about?" She evaded the question.

"Please, Cybele. I know about your panic attacks. You think I don't get them too? I ran into a taxi just before midnight to get away from the fireworks. They reminded me too much of the Battle." Neville said this very gently.

Cybele sighed, curling up a bit. "I...I just went back to the Battle. I was in the middle of the chaos, a-and no one we knew was around. I thought everyone was dead or something, then the killing curse..." she let out a breath. "I just..panicked." Her voice cracked in this emotional state.

Neville's face softened. He pulled his girlfriend into a tight hug. "Well, you're safe here. I promise." He kissed the top of her head.

Cybele's ever-tense body melted as she was held by her love. "Don't ever leave me..please. Don't just fade into the background." She whispered desperately. The girl felt extremely vulnerable at the moment, but with Neville, it just felt..right.

"Never, Cybele. I'll never leave you. I love you." He assured her. He then lifted her head to look at his, and softly kissed her. Cybele didn't protest, letting him do so, and kissing back. "I love you too."

It was then that the spell seemed to wear off, as the taxi driver sighed and smiled at them. "Ah, young love." The two blushed, pulling away. "We're almost at your stop, lovebirds. Should be there once this traffic unclogs." The woman said, honking her horn at some poor pedestrian.

Cybele nodded, before turning back to Neville. "Thank you. That little speech may not have cured every part of my condition," she chuckled softly, "but it helped. Thank you."

"No problem, 'bele. Just remember." He took her hand in his and whispered,

"I love you" he squeezed her hand three times, once for every word.
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They were at their destination. Outside of the door, in fact. Neville looked at Cybele, a mellow sadness on his face.

"Hey," She comforted, "it's going to be okay. I know it."

Neville let out a breath, nodding. He looked up at the St. Mungo's door. "You're right. Let's do this." He said shakily.

"And also," she took his hand, whispering,

"I love you." She squeezed his hand for every word.

They walked into the hospital room.

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{1989 words)