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Neville watched as his best friend closed up. Over the last two years he had gotten to know Harry very well. His Great Uncle Algie, Aunt Enid and his Gran had always put down his choices and assumed because he preferred working with plants that he was clueless about people but he wasn't. He knew for example that Gran had feared he had completely suppressed his magic in response to the attack on his parents and on reflection that was true to a degree. Neville had realized late last year when he met the Ravenclaw firstie, Luna Lovegood, that he was an bit of an empath. Empathy was a rare gift, one he had suppressed. He had shut himself down to avoid being overwhelmed by the emotions of the others surrounding him at home and at school.

Luna had bumped into him. "I'm sorry. I didn't notice you; your walls are very good. I normally sense everyone before we touch. I didn't know an empath could build walls. How did you learn?"

Neville had been shocked. "I-" He'd wanted to deny he was an empath, but after being around Harry who instinctively contained himself on an almost constant basis he had become more aware of how he could sense the moods of people around him. It also explained why he preferred plants; plant don't shove their feeling in your face. Through the meditation during tai chi and through the steady encouragement and faith Harry gave him, Neville had learned him what was him versus what came at him from everyone else and how to block it rather than suppress his own magic.

"I wonder if I could learn it. I might have to get to know Harry more. But you might want to learn to make yours less like a stone wall and more like a benezoazian's membrane. That way you'll be less likely to be surprised and less likely to have it break down on you."

Then the girl had walked away. Neville had reflected on that encounter for weeks and over the summer he had consulted the family library and his ancestors.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6611208/40/