It Started With a Kiss

CHAPTER 13:

Neville awoke at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning with the swooping feeling of nervous anticipation in his belly. Try as he might he could no fall asleep so he rose quickly dressed and with his gym bag apparated to The Burrow just as the sun rose over the hills. To his surprise Harry and Ron were up and exiting the shed with Mr Weasley when he arrived.

‘You two out of bed before the sun is properly up bugger me!’ he greeted them ‘morning Mr Weasley’

Mr Weasley laughed and shook his hand as Harry and Ron rolled their eyes.
‘Morning Neville’ he said ‘will you come in for breakfast? Molly has bacon and eggs on’

‘Love to’

‘So what are you two doing up so early?’ Neville asked as they made their way into the house ‘you two don’t get up til it’s nearly lunchtime given half the chance’

Mr Weasley snorted.

‘Oh shut up’ Ron said ‘today is one of the rare occasions that I fancied getting up early and maybe it’s habit I’ve always woke up ealy on the Saturday before Hogwarts term starts again. Ever since Bill was there. See Saturday was always the day Mum and Dad would gather us up to go in for our school supplies and over the years waking up early has become habit. Ginny’s up too’

‘Hermione’s not here?’ Neville asked in surprise.

‘Nah she’s spent the last week with her parents holidaying in France. She figured since this is the last time they’ll see her off to school she ought to spend some time with them. She said to me in an owl two days ago she’s hardly spent any time with them since we brought them back from Australia and feels she ought to spend some one on one time with them seeing she’ll be away in school all year and in the future at the Ministry. But she’s coming back today and we’ll be meeting her and her parents in front of the Leaky Cauldron at eleven’

‘Oh she’s changed her mind about going into the Ministry then?’

‘Oh yeah she’s hell bent on going into the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures and carry on her cause for creating a better existence for magical creatures’ Ron said ‘an extension of spew’

‘She’s still going on about spew then?’ Neville said in mild surprise ‘I thought that was a fourth year thing’’

‘No way that’s when the seed was planted you know Hermione when she gets an idea in her head nothing can make it budge’

‘She would hex you if she were here you know’ Harry said taking a seat.

‘Yeah probably’

‘So what are you doing here early?’ Ron asked sitting in his usual chair next to Harry.

‘I facied going to the Ministry to use the gym and wondered if you two lads wanted to come with me’ Neville said ‘if we leave straight after breakfast you can be back here by the time you need to go and meet Hermione’

‘Yeah I’ll come’ Harry said as footsteps sounded down the steps ‘got nothing else on’

‘Yeah count me in’ Ron said ‘I want to try the pool haven’t had a chance to use it yet with everything else that’s been going on in our first week’

‘Hey Archie said often the girls in the various ministry departments take ballet classes in the group fitness room maybe you can join them’ Neville said with a grin as Mrs Weasley made her appearance’

‘Sod off Neville’

‘Morning Neville!’ Mrs Weasley piped brightly going to the cook top to monitor the bacon and eggs sizzling away on the hotplate ‘didn’t expect to see you here today’

‘I didn’t expect to be here either I hope you don’t mind me droppng in Mrs Weasley’ Neville said politely ‘I couldn’t get back to sleep and thought I’d drop by to try and convince Hary and Ron to join me in using the Ministry gym facilities. There’s loads of time before you have to meet Hermione and her parents’

‘Did you manage to convinve them?’

‘Oh yeah and without bribery too, dunno what I’m going to do with all the galleons in my bag a little will pay for lunch but the rest may as well go back in my vault’

‘Oh ha ha’ Harry and Ron chorused.

‘Fucking smart arse’ Ron mumbled out of his mothers earshot.

**************************************************************************************************************************

Harry, Ron and Neville disapparated form The Burrow an hour arriving in a next to empty Atrium. The only people present were magical maintenance staff and a few witches and wizards they recognized from the Magical Law Enforcement Department.

‘Great no press to gawk at us’ Harry muttered as they headed to the lift bay at the end of the Atrium.

‘It’s not going to stay like that though especially when we head out to lunch later’ Ron said.

‘Put your disguises on then’ Neville said.

‘It’s a pain in the arse to cast all those concealment and glamour charms’ Harry said making a face as they waited for a lifts to arrive ‘fourteen different charms to totally change my appearance’

‘Fourteen?’ Neville exclaimed ‘hell I don’t have to cast half that many’

‘He doesn’t need to cast that many he just insists upon it’ Ron said dryly as a lift arrived with a clatter ‘I can get away with three one to change the colour of my hair one to add facial hair and one to change the colour of my eyes. If I wear a pair of sunglasses I don’t have to change my eyecolour’

‘I’d rather brew a batch of Polyjuice than fart arse about with glamour spells’ Harry said stepping into the lift ‘It’s easy enough to summon some hairs from a muggle’

‘Yeah but Polyjuice takes a month to brew’ Neville said as the doors slid shut behind them ‘what are you going to do in the interim? Stay inside all day every day?’

‘Yeah sounds a great idea’ Harry said pushing the ‘1’ button.

‘No Neville what he meant to say was until the Polyjuice is brewed he’s going to continue on casting the glamour charms’ Ron said giving Harry a hard stare ‘he’d never leave the house at all if it wasn’t for Gin and Mum nagging him all the time’

‘What’s the point in leaving the Burrow?’ Harry moaned ‘I get mobbed every time I do’

‘Harry that was one time’ Ron said in exasperation ‘No one inside the Ministry bothers you and when we’ve gone into Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade for lunch your disguises have held therefore people have left you alone. You have nothing to worry about you know that’

Harry only grunted.

Minutes later the boys reached the Ministry training facilities to find it much busier than the atrium. Several employees were on treadmills and steppers and over in the corner Olivier the Auror Department deputy was belting the shit out of a boxing bag swearing in a mix of French and English each time his fists came into contact with the bag. He paused to wipe his brow and tak in several deep breaths when he loked up through his sweat soaked fringe and saw them.

‘Ah gentlemen good morning ‘ow are you?’ he greeted them in his thick accent waving them over ‘good so see you all ‘ere’

‘Last time I was in here Archie made me do so many sit up my guts involuntarily twitched when I walked thorugh the door’ Neville said dryly ‘I’m hoping that this visit won’t be so bad’

‘Zey never are when you come on you own’ Olivier said with a grin ‘would you three like to box wiz me? ‘Ave you done boxing yet?’

‘Only a little’ Ron said in interest ‘during our evaluation Archie had us going through each piece of equipment’

‘Well you know where ze changerooms are I shall wait here’

‘I suppose I can try the pool afterwards’ Ron said.

‘Oui’

‘Great now my arms are going to drop off’ Harry moaned as they headed for the mens changeroom ‘when Archie got me on the bags for my evaluation I got cramps something awful’

‘Do some sit ups then’ Neville suggested pushing the changerom door open ‘evenly distribute the pain’

‘Oh gee thanks Neville that’s a great comfort....not’ Harry said dryly as Neville snorted heartily ‘prat’

The trio changed and then went back out into the room where Olivier was waiting for them a wide grin spread across his face.

‘You know if I ‘ave a word to Archie on Monday you three may get extra credit for being ‘ere on a weekend’ he said with a chuckle ‘it shows ‘ow he says? Oh yes intestinal fortitude’

‘Yeah well he can shove intestinal fortitude up his arse’ Harry said making a face (Neville and Ron laughed) ‘my arms hurt for two days after boxing with that bastard’

Olivier pulled his wand from the holster on his leg and duplicated three pairs of gloves.

‘Put these on and make sure zey are comfortable’ Olivier said ‘zey are charmed to fit to your ‘ands’

‘So do you usually come her on the weekends?’ Neville asked slippng the gloves on and feeling them adust to his hands.

‘Oui only on my weekends off zis eez my first weekend off in a month and I haven’t ‘ad a proper box in a long time, eets been so busy wiz all ze Death Eater trials no one in the department ‘as ‘ad much time to use ze gym, not even in ze lunch breaks, I ‘ave only used ze pool’

‘But surely as the department deputy you can take time off when you like?’ Ron said shaking his hands slightly’

‘Normally yes but in ze weeks and months since ze Battle of ‘Ogwarts ze Ministry ‘as needed all ‘ands on deck. Even ze junior ‘urors ‘ave had zair workload doubled and usually zey don’t ‘ave as much because ze senior Aurors deal wiz all ze complicated matters. But as you all know we lost three colleagues in ze Battle and we ‘are understaffed. You three may find zat you will be dealing with more than ze average first year trainee because we are so short staffed’

‘Do we get credit for helping out as witnesses during he Death Eater trials?’ Ron said hopefully ‘all three of us have been posecution witnesses in at least two a week since they began’

‘I don’t know Archie eez your trainer not me you would ‘ave to ask heem’ Olivier said thoughtfully ‘but I would say so yes. I would give you credit if you were my trainees’

‘Great because to get nothing out of them would be a bit pants’

‘What zis pants?’ Olivier asked in confusion.

The three boys laughed.
‘It means bad or shit’ Neville said and on seeing Olivier’s confused exression went on ‘erm, Merde maybe?’

Oliviers lit up.
‘Oh yes I know what you mean now, You know I ‘ave been in England for five years but I ‘ave still to work out all you funny sayings’

‘You need to go out on the piss one night with a group of Natives then you’ll be educated’ Harry said with a grin ‘you’re not our trainer would you be allowed to fraternize with students?’

‘I think so’ Olivier said with a grin ‘I don’t think zair eez any rule zat senior Aurors cannot socialise wiz trainees. You are considered employees of ze Ministry and I know it is encouraged that workmates regularly socialise’

‘Well let’s get this boxing over with’ Ron said making a face ‘the sooner we start the sooner I can go jump in the pool’

‘People tell you to go jump all the time’ Neville said with a grin

‘Oh shut up Neville’ Ron said rolling his eyes.

**************************************************************************************************************************
An hour later Neville, Harry and Ron had collapsed on the padded floor of the boxing area totally exhausted. Olivier had worked them relentlessly and each of them were cramping.

‘Olivier you’re our superior but I have no problem whatsoever in calling you and right and proper arsehole!’ Ron declared heaving for breath from his position on the floor ‘I hate you, you ought to go up in front of the Wizengamot for what you have just done to us!’

Olivier couldn’t help it and burst into laughter.
‘Well I ‘ad to make sure you wouldn’t slack off’ he said cheerfully ‘you will benefit from working so ‘ard now’

‘Doesn’t bloody feel like it!’ Neville declaired sitting up and resting his head in his hands ‘I don’t quite hate you but you’re definitely off my Christmas card list’

‘There are no words in the english language to describe how I feel right now’ Harry moaned rubbing his arms ‘I hurt less after the Lockinge Valley Riots’

‘Oh I theenk that is a minor exaggeration’ Olivier said with a grin bending down and holding out a hand to Ron to help him to his feet ‘I ‘ave not sent you straight to ze ‘ospital. I can if you like though’

‘Ha ha’ came the collective reply.

After cooling down under Oliviers supervision Neville, Harry and Ron headed toward the wet area. The large white marble adorned room contaned a muggle olympics sized pool two hot tubs a plunge pool and a sauna and steam room. A row of showers were dotted along the far wall. The roof of the room was much like the Great Hall at Hogwarts and today showed a bright blue summer sky with wispy clouds floating by.

‘Damn actually swimming I’m heading straight for the hot tubs’ Ron declared ‘I haven’t got the energy to actually swim laps anymore. My arms feel like fecking lead weights’

‘So it’s not just me then’ Neville said as they headed toward the nearest hot tub banishing their towels to a row of nearby hooks.

‘No’

The boys climbled into the tub and for several long moments there was silence as the heat went to work on their aching muscles.

‘So what’s up with you today mate?’ Ron asked Neville moments later ‘you’re not being really talkative today’

‘Am I normally?’ Neville asked in surprise.

‘Yeah compared to today you are’ Harry said sliding down into the water til only his head was above the water line.

‘After I’ve taken Hannah shopping for her Hogwarts stuff I’m going to take her to St Mungos and introduce her to Mum and Dad’ Neville said after a long pause.

Ron’s eyebrows disapeared into his fringe and Harry slid further down into the water in shock and resurfaced spluttering.

‘You’re kidding?’ Ron exclaimed.

‘Seriously?’ Harry said wiping his eyes and coughing.

‘Yeah, I have to do it eventually even if Mum and Dad won’t understand’ Neville said ‘it took me months to tell Hannah what happened to them and if I’m going to show Hannah how serious I am about her I need to introduce her to them’

‘It’s up to you mate but I don’t think Hannah is going to think you’re not serious about her if you don’t introduce her to your folks’ Ron said ‘or even put it off for a while’

‘Yeah she’s better than that’ Harry said.

‘I now but if I put it off now I’ll never do it’ Neville said ‘Carpe Diem sieze the day as Gran says. I couldn’t put it off now that I’ve decided to do it, I couldn’t forgive myself’

‘Well if you need your mates around you let us know and we’ll be there for you mate’ Harry said ‘we’d know how much this means to you, you know’

‘Yeah I know mate, I’ll let you know how things go yeah?’ Neville said ‘we’re going just after lunch’

‘Just you and Hannah or is your Gran going along too?’

‘Nah just Hannah and I’ Neville said ‘this is something I need to do with Hannah alone, we’ll go again together another time. Because Mum and Dad are so bad we tend to only go on their birthdays, My birthday, Christmas and Easter’

‘Well didn’t you say your folks seemed to recognize what you were saying when you went to visit them after the battle?’ Ron said ‘maybe another visit when help break the charm. I reckon the effects of dark magic lessens of disappears once the caster of the spell or spells dies. And since Bellatrix is no longer in the land of the living it’ll help things along a bit’

‘Dunno I suppose we’ll have to wait and see’ Neville said ‘But it’s been nearly four months since the battle and I can’t really notice anything different. And neither have the healers. They would’ve let us know had anything changed’

‘Doesn’t mean something deep inside the recesses of their soul isn’t being affected’ Harry said ‘something must be happening somewhere otherwise you wouldn’t have noticed anything in the first place’

‘Hmm maybe we’ll wait and see I suppose’ Neville said ‘I just want them well enough to leave St Mungos, don’t get me wrong the healers there do great work and I love them for what they do but no one deserves to be in St Mungos all their life even pompous twats like Lockhart. In fact I’ve seriously been considering using the money I got from the Ministry to employ two private healers and bringing Mum and Dad home. I think being in their old home would help things along’

‘Really?’ Ron and Harry chorused.

‘Yeah well what else am I going to do with the money?’ Neville said ‘I don’t need it, hell my training salary is more than enough to exist. And if I do go broke for whatever reason I can access my trust fund. But that’s not likely to happen anytime soon. I’ve been of age for over a year and not acessed it once. I live off the interest’

‘Well whatever happens things’ll turn out for the best mate’ Ron said confidently ‘your Gran is right seize the day and all that stuff. I did that and now Hermione and I are together’

‘Yeah but if you’d seized the day on the first day of Hogwarts you two would be married by now’ Harry interjected with a grin.

Neville collapsed in a fit of hysterical laughter and Harry followed the noise of their hilarity echoing off the marbled walls. Ron just rolled his eyes theatrically.

‘W-well it’s t-true!’ Harry hiccupped with a grin ‘at the very least fourth year’

‘Oh Merlins pants don’t remind me of that year’ Ron groaned ‘that whole Yule Ball thing would have to be the singularly most embarassing event in all of my years at Hogwarts’

‘Aww I dunno I reckon that slug vomiting incident after you tried to hex Malfoy with a busted wand in second year might rival it’ Neville said with a grin making vomiting noises.

‘Oh both of ya shut up’ Ron groaned the tips of his ears a magnificnt shade of scarlet.

Neville, Harry and Ron spent an hour in the spa then got out, cleaned up and made their way back up into the atrium.

‘Okay I’ll see you two in the Leaky Cauldron at half eleven yeah?’ Neville said to Harry and Ron shaking their hands.

‘Yeah no worries mate see you there’ Harry said slinging his rucksack over his shoulder.

Harry and Ron headed off to the row of flo grates and Neville made his way up to the apparition departure point, He gripped his bag more securely then disapparated to the Manor. He arrived just as Algie, Enid and his Gran were finishing up their own breakfast.

‘You’re up and about early lad’ Algie said as he withdrew his pipe from his coat pocket and began packing it with tobacco must to Augusta’s disgust.

‘Yeah I disapparated to the Burrow had breakfast with the Weasley’s the Harry, Ron and I went to the Ministry gym and did some boxing with Olivier the Auror Office deputy, my arms are killing me’ Neville said going to the refridgerator and taking out the orange juice ‘Hannah and I are going to have lunch with Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny at the Leaky Cauldron at half eleven. Then I’m helping Hannah with her Hogwarts shopping then we’re off to St Mungos’

‘You be sure to tell us all about St Mungos won’t you Neville?’ Enid said kindly.

‘Of course that goes without saying’ Neville said pouring himself a glass of orange juice ‘dunno how long it’s going to take, visits to Mum and Dad never do seem to last very long’

‘It might be different this time’ Algie said sealing his tobacco pouch with a poke from his wand.

‘You never know’

**************************************************************************************************************************

At ten thirty Neville apparated to Wolverhampton and walked down the driveway of Hannah’ house just as the front door opened and Mick emerged with Zac, Jake and Louise.

‘She’s down in the barn with Magic’ Mick said as Neville opened his mouth to greet the group.

‘Good morning to you too’ Neville said with a grin walking past them into the house ‘might bump into you in Diagon Alley later yeah?’

Mick laughed.
‘Yeah may do’ he said ‘see ya later gator’

‘After while ‘dile’

Neville closed the door behind him and walked through the house and out into the yard. It was deserted and quiet save for the occasional whinny from a horse out in it’s yard. He broke into a trot and made his way down to the barn where Magic was housed. The radio was tuned to the Wizarding Wireless Network and turned up to maximum volume. And over the rendition of ‘Hell Bound Hippogriffs’ by the Weird Sisters Hannah was loudly sining along as she plaited Magic’s mane with her wand.

Neville hid behind one of the topiareid shrubs next to the barn door and withdrew his wand from his jeans pocket. He pointed it at Hannah and whispered ‘Diffindo! soundlessly her clothes fell off and dropped in a puddle at her feet causing her to squeal.

‘Arrrrgh!’ she exclaimed her arms crossing in front of her covering her breasts and spinning slightly on the spot.

Neville stepped out from the shrub and chuckled as her pocketed his wand. Hannah caught sight of him and scowled.

‘Neville you bastard what’s wrong with just saying hello?’ she exclaimed furiously trying not to laugh ‘you son of a bitch!’

Neville grinned and slung his arms around her waist.
‘Just thought I might start your day with a quirk’ he said with a grin.

‘And you thought the best way to do that was to hex my clothes off?’ Hannah exclaimed kissing him on the lips.

‘Uh huh I was feeling frisky’

‘So the bulge in your pants tell me’ Hannah said dryly ribbing up against his groin ‘but can you put my clothes back on at least until I finish plaiting Magic’s mane? After that we can go inside and you can hex them off again’

‘Is that a promise?’ Neville replied cheekily withdrawing his wand again.

‘Of course, though no one would blame me if I refused to ever take my clothes off fo you ever again you know’

Neville laughed and with a flick from his wand Hannah’s clothes appeard back on her body.

‘Thankyou’ Hannah said in mock clipped tones ‘you know is Ron did that to Hermione or Harry did that to Ginny they would both be unable to have kids’

Neville laughed.
‘Yeah probably but I know you wouldn’t hex my balls off’

‘How do you know?’ Hannah asked combing a fingerfull of Magic’s mane then flicking her wand at it so it plaited itself then tucked itself into a neat ball.

‘I’m a seer, well one in training. I’m doing a Divination elective as part of my Auror studies’

‘Oh bullshit, what a load of crap. Divination is as useful is tits on a rooster’ Hannah said dryly spelling Magic’s mane into another neat little plait.

‘Nuts I knew you would find me out’ Neville said with a grin summoning an apple from the feed room and hexing it into quarters ‘apple?’

‘Nah I’m right just give it to Magic’

Neville bit into the quarter of apple then gradually fed the rest to Magic piece by piece.

‘There what do you think?’ Hannah said a moment later spelling white tape around each plait and standing back.

‘Very neat job, how come you’re dolling him up like you do for a show? Are you competing tomorrow?’

‘Nah we’ve just got some Muggle clients coming to look at him for next season for their sport horses’ Hannah said ‘I always tart him up when he has people come to look at him. Especially the people who come to look at him for the the purpose of breeding a showhorse’

‘Will you be riding him tomorrow?’

‘Yeah tonight I’ll be setting up some jumps in the jumping coraal later today and when he gets back from Diagon Alley Dad is going to rake over the dressage arena’

‘So do you have to do much to the property when Muggles come around?’

‘Nah not much we just stall the Charms on the feed rooms and get the magical staff who work for us to go about their chores when any muggle customers are within eyeshot the muggle way. See usually our magical staff muck out with their wands and stack the hay the same way we can’t have muggles see any magic unless they are immediate relatives of a witch or wizard. One of our returning customers has three kids at Hogwarts so we can perform magic in front of him but so far he’s the only one of our clients whom we can do that with’

‘So Magic behaves himself when you show him off for customers?’

‘Oh yeah always he always behaves himself under saddle. He can get a bit fresh when he’s on the lead as you’ve seen but he’s never cracked the shits under tack’

The great stallion dribbled apple juice down Neville’s shirt and nudged him hard looking for another treat.

‘No mate you know I only ever give you one at a time’ Neville said pushing the stallion away firmly. Hannah put a light stable rug on him and returned the horse to his stall. She then packed away her grooming kit and banished it to the tack room with a flick from her wand.

‘Great now that’s all done and dusted’ she said wiping her hands on the seat of her pants ‘I have to have a shower before we go out I smell like a wet horse’

‘Care if I join you?’ Neville said cheekily slipping a hand around her waist.

‘What for?’ Hannah asked in surprise you look and smell like you’ve just had one’

‘I have’ Neville admitted ‘Harry, Ron and I went to the Ministry gym this morning to work up a sweat and I pretty much came straight here. But it wouldn’t hurt me to join you purely to make sure you won’t slip on the tiles’

Hannah let out an amused snort.
‘Do you really expect me to believe that?’ she said with a giggle ‘you are such a crawler Neville’

‘I don’t hear you complaining’

Hannah just rolled her eyes.
‘come on’

Hannah grasped Neville’s hand and led him up the path and into the house she hexed the dirt and manure off her boots then kicked them off and left them in the corner of the laundry.

‘I think I have to get another pair of paddock boots’ she said leading Neville out of the laundry and into the hallway ‘those ones have had it. They’ve been resized and repaired since my first year I don’t think they’ll take another working over. I stepped on a pebble today and could feel it through the soles’

‘Get a pair today then’ Neville said ‘while you’re getting your Hogwarts things’

‘Nah I’ll leave it til the Christmas Holidays’ Hannah said ‘I’m going back to Hogwarts in two days and won’t ride for three months. There’s not much point in spending the Galleons on a new pair of boots of I’m not going to wear them straight away. I’d rather get a pair of heels. There’s going to be a Christmas Eve Ball this year and I want to really tart up, will you come with me? We’re allowed to invite outside patners’

‘Of course, be glad to you can then travel home that night if McGonagall will let you. I can always stay in Hogsmeade and apparate you home in the morning. That’ll save you spending six hours on the Hogwarts Express. Don’t most of the older students apparate home for the Holidays anyway?’

‘Apparently’ Hannah said as they climbed the stairs to the second landing ‘and sometimes the younger ones go home side along. I side alonged to school and home with Dad or Uncle David after Mum died. Though this time I’ll be taking the Hogwarts Express. I want to do it at least once this being my last year and all’

They reached Hannah’s bedrom and she pushed open the door. Neville closed the door behind him locked it then pointed it at Hannah and once again hexed her clothes off. This time the clothes disappeared and the laundry basket wobbled slightly a moment later when the clothes appeared in it.

‘Did you intend on doing two spells in one?’ Hannah asked stopping in her tracks surprised by the complexity of his disappearing and banishing spell.

‘Nah I thought about it but it wasan’t my primary intent when I cast the spell’

‘Hmm interesting, if it wasn’t concerning you taking my clothes off I’d talk to Professor McGonagall about it’

Neville felt his face warm.
‘Oh don’t do that!’ he groaned ‘that woman caught us within five minutes of me hexing your clothes off and it still hurts me mentally to remember it. She does not need to know why I did it’

‘I wouldn’t actually tell her’ Hannah said walking into her magically enlarged ensuite.

‘You wouldn’t have to she would guess’ Neville said dryly ‘she’s not stupid’

‘Well no one’s going to find out about your prestigeous magical skill don’t worry’ Hannah said with a giggle leaning into the shower recess and turning on the water.

Neville began getting undressed and slung his clothes over the edge of the bath his cock was at full mast now and jutting out proudly. Hannah grinned and eyed him greedily.

‘Can’t wait to suck on that’ she said purposely dropping a face washer and beinding down to pick it up. Neville got a full view of her pussy and grasped his length pumping it slowly as a fresh flow of blood headed to his groin.

‘Don’t do that too much or there won’t be anything left for me to work on’ Hannah said with a grin sidling up to him and kissing him on the lips.

‘Had to have a bit of a tug it was such a good view’ Neville said huskily slipping a hand between her legs and rubbing her mound.

‘Would you wank for me if I asked you?’ Hannah asked grasping his balls and rolling them in her fingers.

‘Of course if you asked me to’ Neville said.

‘Would you do it for me now?’ Hannah asked brightly ‘to be honest I’ve always wanted you to do it for me’

‘Really?’

‘Yeah and we...’ Hannah blushed.

‘And what?’

‘Well I’ve always had this fantasy of sitting on a chair with my legs open and touching myself while you wank then shoot your gunk all over my pussy’ Hannah said going bright red ‘I often touch myself to that vision when you’re not here’

‘Girl do you have any idea how much that turns me on?’ Neville murmmured in her ear and gringing his arousal on her.

Neville picked his wand up ff the vanity and conjured a chair.
‘Sit’ he said ‘just like in your vision’

Hannah sat down on the chair and spread her legs. Neville gave her pussy one long languid lick before standing up and grasping his length. Hannah spread her lips and began touching herself as Neville tugged on his length.

‘God this is better than the fantasy’ Hannah squeaked as a drop of precum began forming at the tip of Neville’s cock ‘I mightn’t last long like this you know’

‘Same h-here’ Neville breathed his voice hitching in his throat ‘dunno how I’m going to manage without you for three whole months’

‘You’ll have a permanent hard on’ Hannah said with a giggle reaching up to grasp his arousal and rub the precum into it’s skin.

‘Yeah I know that’s what I thought’ Neville said with a grunt feeling pressure build in his pelvis and pumping his length harder ‘Might have to buy myself some baggier robes or cast and Illusionment Charm on my groin’

‘Nah don’t do that you might hex your cock off’ Hannah said ‘and if you do that this will be the last time we do anything remotely sexual’

Neville leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on Hannah’s lips.
‘Shut up’ he murmurred in her ear ‘you talk far too much’

‘Oh cr-AAAAAAAAAAAAP!’ Hannah squealed as Neville reached down and pressed hard on her clit ‘ah shit Neville!’

With one hand Neville pumped his own arousal and with the other circled Hannah’s clit with a thumb. She closed her eyes and let her head fall back groaning as her own moment of completion neared.

‘Awww shit Han I’m gonna finish real s-oon’ Neville grunted his breathing becoming short and ragged.

‘Don’t hold back’ Hannah breathed looking up at him through heavily lidded eyes ‘scream if you have to’

‘Oh-I-I definitely think I-I’ll be d-o-oing that!’ Neville said in a stutter and exhaling with a rush ‘Oh ‘Meeeeeeeeerlin’s pants!’

Hannah reached forward with one hand and began massaging Neville’s testicles. He let out a small squeak that echoed off the tiled walls and began wanking hard, moments later he clenched his buttocks threw back his head and came with a roar like a raging bull.

‘AAAAAAAAAAAARGGGGGGGGGGH! he bellowed as he sprayed his essence all over Hannah’s pussy and stomach ‘Oh shit oh shit MERLIN’S BALLSACKS!’

Neville put his hands on the wall over Hannah’s head and let her grasp his cock and lick him clean. He then knelt down on the bathroom mat in front of the shower wiped his cum from her pussy and latched onto her clit immediately illiciting an ear peircing scream from her.

‘N-neville that wasn’t-t f-fair!’ she whimpered as Neville slid two fingers into her and took a long sustained suck on her clit.

‘Yes it is in fact I would say it’s extraordinarily fair’ Neville said huskily rubbing her clit rapidly ‘come for me’

Hannah pushed Neville’s head onto her pussy and let her legs flop open further as he resumed sucking on her nub of arousal. All thoughts about the rest of the day’s activities were extinguised as he feasted on her core lapping up her leaking juices and finger fucking her. Moments later her slick walls fluttered and she came with a scream gushing all over his face.

‘NEVILLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! she screeched as Neville flicked her swollen nub with his tongue ‘HOLY SHIT!

Neville flicked Hannah’s clit til she was totally and utterly spent. He then got up and kissed her on the lips.

‘So was that anything like your fantasies?’ he whispered in her ear.

Hannah was puffing so hard she could only give and non-descript grunt. Neville wrapped his arms around her and lifted to her feet vanishing the chair with a flick from his wand. He tried to set her down on her feet but her legs were to wobbly she was unable to stand under her own power. Neville held her more securely til her breathing slowed and she lifted her head to look in his eyes.

‘That w-as incredible!’ she whispered her lips and inch away from the nape of his neck.

‘So was it worth acting it out?’ Neville said with a cheeky grin.

‘Oh hell yeah’ Hannah said with a grin ‘you might have to make a couple of clandestine visits to me during term I’m not sure I could go three months without your head between my legs’

‘And where do you think we could get away to?’ Neville asked setting Hannah down.

‘The room of requirement?’ Hannah suggested ‘or my dorm at Hogwarts?’

‘You want me to chance going down on you in your dorm? Neville exclaimed ‘There’s no way we’d get away with it. The Room of Requirement would be less risky’

‘Fuck the risk’ Hannah said with a grin ‘how about the High Table?’

‘Okay now I know you’re joking’ Neville said as they stepped into the shower.

**************************************************************************************************************************
An hour later Hannah and Neville left the house and disapparated to Charing Cross Road.

‘We’ve got forty five minutes til we have to meet Harry, Ron and Hermione where do you want to head to first?’ Neville said as they walked through the Leaky Cauldron and entered the courtyard where the entrance to Diagon Alley was situated.

‘Flourish and Blotts’ Hannah said ‘then Scrivenshafts. I’m low on ink and I want to get a new nib for my favourite quill. And last of all Madam Malkins for fersh robes. All mine were ripped and put beyond repair during the battle’

Neville tapped the brick wall in front of them and waited. With a grinding sound the bricks melted away and formed a rustic archway. Hannah and Neville stepped forward into the bustling street and paused to let a family of four to walk by them into Scrivenshafts the ‘foremost supplier of wizarding stationary’. Being the last weekend before the Hogwarts year started again it was packed with children and their parents making a last minute trip to purchase their school supplies.

‘Glad it’s busy there’s less chance of us being recognized’ Neville said as they stepped forward into the hustle and bustle ‘don’t think Harry will see it that way though’

‘I think after a while the facination with Harry will drop off’ Hannah said ‘maybe not in the immediate future but I think one day he’ll be able to walk down Diagon Alley or the Hogsmeade High Street without being swamped’

‘I reckon he’d disagree with you’ Neville said ‘I agree but it might take a while for him to believe it. Ginny might be the only one who can make Harry realise that’

Neville and Hannah slowly made their way down Diagon Alley til they came to Flourish and Blotts. After the war it had been refurbished and now had a totally new interior. A large skylight was in the roof and it was packed with school aged children and their parents.

‘Can I help you luvvie?’ a plump mature aged woman wearing robes of a neutral beige colour asked Hannah’

‘Yeah I need Standard Book of Spells Grade Seven, Theoretical Herbology and Advanced Transfiguration’ Hannah said.

‘Ah just starting your seventh year eh?’ the woman asked cheerfully leading them into a new section of the shop signed as ‘Textbooks’

‘Nah repeating’ Hannah said ‘a lot my age are re-doing their seventh year after the battle’

‘Ah yes we have sold twice as many seventh year textboooks as normal’ the witch replied heading straight for the ‘General Magic’ shelves ‘Okay here we go Standard Book of Spells Grade Seven’

Hannah quickly gathered her required books and paid for them, then a mere ten minutes after entering the shop she and Neville left.

‘Okay books done’ Hannah said ‘Now Scrivenshafts’

‘Thought you might’ve had your books left over from last year’ Neville said as Hannah shrunk her books and poked them into her tote bag.

‘Most of them I do’ Hannah said but my copies of Standard Book of Spells, Theoretical Herbology and Advanced Transfiguration went missing. I looked everywhere and owled Professor Sprout to see if she could have a scout around Hufflepuff House and I still can’t find them. Serves me right for not keeping all of my books in my trunk like Susan does. Plus my copy of Standard Spells was falling apart, it was best I got a new copy’

After loading up on supplies in Scrivenshafts and Eeylops Owl Emporium Neville and Hannah dropped by Madam Malkins where Hannah bought herself two sets of school robes and a brand new set of dress robes a violent shade of Heliotrope with siler threading. They then stopped by Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour for a cool drink.

‘Ten minutes til we have to meet Harry, Ron and Hermione’ Neville said looking at his watch ‘thought given the crowd we’d still be going’

‘Nah I didn’t have much to get’ Hannah said as from their vantage point they saw an excited child exit Ollivanders Wand Shop ‘aw look isn’t that cute obviously a first year’

Neville smiled as the young boy waved his new wand above his head unintentionally sending out a shower of purple sparks and accidentally hexing a little old lady in front of the Apothecary ‘ahahaha!’

‘Dad would’ve hexed me had I left Ollivanders like that’ Hannah said with a giggle and the boy’s mother disarmed her son, wolloped him on the bum then apologise to the old lady ‘I had to wait til I got home to take my wand out of it’s box.

‘I used Dad’s wand up til the end of fifth year’ Neville said ‘it broke during the Ministry Battle and Gran took me to get the one I have now about this time before Sixth year. Actually let’s stop by Ollivanders before we head up to the Leaky I want to get some wand polish. Gran was at me last night saying ‘Neville your wand is filthy!’

Hannah giggled at Neville’s impression of his Gran.
‘You’re funny’ she said swallowing the last mouthful of her lemonade ‘I bet you wouldn’t do that voice in front of her though’

‘Hell no’ Neville said ‘my names rupid not stupid, ready to head off?’

‘Yup’

Neville and Hannah left Fortescue’s and made their way across the street to Olivanders. The little old man was busy cleaning up his shop the mess made as a result of the child who had just left his shops visit.

‘Hello Mr Ollivander!’ Hannah piped ‘would you like some help?’

‘Oh thankyou m’dear’ Ollivander said greatfully ‘ah Mr Longbottom what can I do for you today?’

‘Would just like a pot of wand polish sir’ Neville replied drawing his wand and helping Hannah and Ollivander clean the shop front ‘but no hurry’

Neville helped Hannah and Ollivander clean up the shop then made his way over to the front counter that had been inacessible because of the previous customer’s mess.

‘So how many wands did that kid test before he got the right wand?’ he asked with a grin.

‘Sixty seven’ Ollivander said dryly ‘the highest amount of any first year that’s come into my shop this year ‘very enthusiastic young man that one. Slytherin or Gryffindor for sure’

‘Did you see what he did after leaving your shop?’ Hannah said with a giggle.

‘No m’dear I got right into cleaning up. It’s been so busy today it’ll only be another five minutes before another first year comes in’

‘He sprayed the front of the apothecary with purple sparks and accidentally hexed a little old lady who was busy inspecting the specials bin’ Hannah said with a laugh ‘Neville and I saw him from where we were sitting in Fortescue’s. His Mum wolloped him on the bum and made him apologise to the woman’

The corners of Ollivanders mouth twitched.
‘So what can I do for you Mr Longbottom wand polish was it?’

‘Yes sir’

‘And as I recall you have a cherry wood with unicorn hair core eleven inches? Bendy good for Charms and Transfiguration’

‘Yes sir’

‘Please wait a moment I have just finished making a batch of polish perfect for Cherry Wood wands’

‘Thankyou sir’

‘I like Ollivander he’s such a nice man’ Hannah said as the little old wandmaker disappeared down to the back of his shop ‘he didn’t deserve to go through what Harry said he did’

‘No one deserves to go through that shit’ Neville said letting his gaze drift over a wall of ‘Holly Wands’ ‘though you have to admit he does look rather well for someone whol spent over a year in a cellar’

‘Yes he does’

Moments later Ollivander returned carrying a small jar of wood polish and bringing with him a faint smell of vanilla.

‘Here you go Mr Longbottom is there anything
else I can get for you?’ Ollivander asked.

‘No thanks Mr Ollivander that’s all’ Hannah replied politely ‘how much for that?’

‘Just seven sickles’

Neville withdrew his money bag from his cloak’s inner pockey and pulled out a handful of coins. He counted out seven sickles and pressed them into Ollivanders hand.

‘See you again soon Mr Ollivander’ Hannah said cheerfully heading for the front door ‘I hope the next first year isn’t quite so difficult to fit with a wand’

‘I hope so too dear but I wouldn’t guarantee it’ Ollivander said dryly ‘as I recall when you came in for your first wand you blew up my till’

Neville snorted gleefully.
‘You’re kidding?’ he exclaimed laughing loudly ‘ha ha ha that’s funny!’

‘Oh it is not’ Hannah said grabbing his hand an dragging him toward the door ‘goodbye Mr Ollivander thanks so much for letting that bit of info slip’

Ollivander laughed and waved them from his shop.
‘See you soon Miss Abbott’ he said cheerfully.

‘I could kill that old git that was embarrassing! Hannah hissed as the door shut behind them and they set off up Diaon Alley back towards the Leaky Cauldron.

‘Did you really blow up his till?’ Neville said with a grin.

Hannah blushed harder.
‘Yeah it is’ she said ‘not with the wand I eventually ended up with it was a Yew and dragon heart string one. It felt really unfamiliar in my hand and when I gave it a wave the til blew up and Galleons, Sickles and Knuts rained down everywhere. Mum got a black eye from a sickle that his her just below her eye and Dad got a cut below his left ear from a errant Sickle you can still se the scar. It was so embarrassing! Dad of course thought it was hilarious’

‘But it is hilarious’ Neville said with a loud snort ‘I reckon you ought to tell everyone at lunch’

Hannah drew his wand with dizzying rapidity.
‘No I shouldn’t’ she said in mock anger ‘and you’re not going to tell anyone either got it?’ she added poking the underside of his chin with the tip of her wand’

‘Yes dear’ Neville said with a grin.

‘Oh shut up’

Hannah slipped her hand back into Neville’s and together they walked up the rest of Diagon Alley and into the Leaky Cauldron. In the far corner near the kitchens Neville spieed Harry and the Weasleys.

‘Neville!’ Harry exclaimed standing up and sleeping Teddy still in his arms ‘hey Hannah’

‘Heya Harry’ Hannah said ‘can I have a cuddle of Teddy?’

‘Of course’

Harry carefully placed a sleeping and violet haired Teddy into Hannah’s arms and re-took his seat.

‘Where’s Ron?’ Neville asked noticing two spare seats next to Ginny who was sitting next to Harry.

‘He’s at Heathrow picking up Hermione and her parents’ Harry said ‘he’s going to Portkey them to Hertfordshire then bring Hermione here. They shouldn’t be too long actually’

‘So you lot haven’t done your Hogwarts shopping yet?’ Hannah asked Ginny lifting Teddy onto her chest.

‘No, not yet we’re all going to do it together in one big group’ Ginny said ‘you’ve done yours then?’

‘Yeah but I didn’t have much to get, Just replacing my copies of Standard Book of Spells, Theoretical Herbology and Advanced Transfiguration and loading up on ink, parchment and quills at Scrivenshafts. I also got some new school robes at Madam Malkins and a to die for dress robes.

‘Oooh can I have a look?’ Giinny asked brightly.

‘Sure have a look in my tote bag’ Hannah agreed jerking her head toward the tote bag at her feet. ‘In the box you’ll have to resize them’

Ginny picked up Hannah’s tote bag and rummaged through it before retreiving a box bearing Madam Malkin’s shop logo. She tapped it with her wand and with a pop it rezid. She took off the lid and pulled out the set of robes.

‘Oh they’re gorgeous!’ she declared fingering the floaty purple material.

Mrs Weasley and Fleur ‘oohed’ and ‘ahhed’ at the robes and Teddy amused everyone by changing his hair colour to match Hannah’s new purchase.

‘He’s a chameleon’ Neville said in amusement.

‘That’s what we’ve nicknamed him’ Harry said with a grin ‘his usual colour is bubblegum pink. The same colour Tonks normally had his hair’

‘Awww that’s lovely’ Hannah said ‘how are you managing Harry?’

‘Yeah I’m doing fine thanks’ Harry replied with a grin ‘thanks for asking Hannah’

A few minutes later Neville’s attention was drawn to the door of the Leaky Cauldron. Ron had just arrived with Hermione who was dressed in a flowery ankle length summer dress and wearing dark wrap around sunglasses.

‘Hey everyone!’ she greeted them brightly ‘Hi Neville, Hannah’

‘You’ve got a tan!’ Neville teased his friend ‘what did you do on your holidays? Spend every minute of the daylight hours on the beach?’

‘Yeah pretty much’ Hermione replied with a grin giving him a friendly hug ‘how’s the Auror training program going? Ron says it’s really complicated’

‘Yeah it is but it’s manageable’ Neville replied returning the hug ‘potions is the hardest but we’ve all got tutors to help us’

‘And yes Hermione they have all given us the ‘safety before brewing’ lecture’ Harry said dryly sipping his beer.

Hermione rolled her eyes.
‘Good because who would remind you boys not to go blowing yourselves up while I’m away at Hogwarts?’ Hermione said jokingly.

‘Mum’ Ron said.

‘Mrs Weasley’ Harry and Neville chorused.

‘So Hermione how did your parents handle the portkey ride back from Heathrow?’ Neville asked with a grin ‘Ron didn’t deliver them back to the roof of your house did he?’

Ron rolled his eyes.

‘No actually we all appeared on the front porch just down from the front door’ Hermione said with a grin ‘and they landed on their feet too. They prefer that to side along apparition. The first time I did that with them both of them vomited all over their shoes’

‘Muggles often experience that’ Mr Weasley said ‘but then a lot of wizards get ill the first time they side along too’

‘I was ill the first time I did it too’ Harry said ‘But I didn’t spuke everywhere’

For the next hour and a half Neville and Hannah joined the Weasley’s for lunch. They then stood up and bade them farewell.

‘We better be off’ Neville said to Harry and Ron as Hannah returned a now green haired Teddy to Harry’s arms ‘see you Monday morning yeah?’

‘Yeah hey good luck for....well you know’ Ron said ‘let us know how it goes won’t you?

‘Yeah will do’ Neville said catch you all later’

Neville and Hannah left the Leaky Cauldron and made their way out into Muggle London.

‘Okay you ready for this?’ Hannah asked him softly as they ducked down a sidestreet that wizards used as a disapparation point.

‘Yeah the quicker we get this done the better’ Neville said grasping her hand ‘on three. One...two...three!’

Their surroundings disappeared and they journeyed into the familiar compressing darkness. Then seconds later they appeared in the bustling waiting room of St Mungo Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Wordlessley Neville led Hannah to the lifts and together they made their way up to the fourth floor where the spell damage ward was situated.

‘Hello Neville!’ one of the healers greeted him brightly.

‘Hey Margaret is it okay if I go in and introduce Hannah here to Mum and Dad?’ Neville asked the witch.

‘Sure go ahead dear’

‘Okay here we go’ Neville said to Hannah leading her over to the door of the nearest ward ‘Mum’s name is Alice and Dad’s name is Frank. They don’t speak but they do laugh and Mum has a thing for giving out Droobles wrappers. She gets upset if you throw them out in front of her so wait until we leave til you d that okay?’

‘Okay’ Hannah replied nervously.

Neville pushed open the ward door and led Hannah through the door. In the common lounge area near the enormous arched window Frank and Alice were sitting each reading a book. This surprised Neville so much he stopped in his tracks causing Hannah to bump into him.

‘What’s up?’ Hannah whispered.

‘They’re reading!’ Neville whispered ‘they’ve never done that in the whole time they’ve been in St Mungos and look they’re actually reading.

‘Go and asked them about it then’ Hannah whispered giving him a little push ‘go on’

Neville crept forward slowly til his shadow was cast over the book his mother was ‘reading’ She looked up and her face broke into a wide grin.

‘Neville!’ she exclaimed putting her book down and getting up.

‘M-mum?’ Neville stuttered in surprise ‘you can talk?’

‘Of course I’m talking now aren’t I?’ Alice said ‘come sit down’

‘Um I want to introduce you to someone first’ Neville said waving Hannah forward.

Frank left his seat and stood next ot his wife yet still to speak a word. Hannah came up beside Neville and squeezed his hand.

‘Mum and Dad this is....uh Hannah, Hannah Abbott my girlfriend’ Neville said nervously biting his lip ‘Han this are my parents Frank and Alice’

‘Abbott?’ Frank said inquiringly ‘Mick and Louise Abbott’s eldest?’

‘Uh er yessir’ Hannah said extending a hand to Frank ‘Nice to meet you Mr Longbottom, Mrs Longbottom’

‘Pleae dear call me Frank’ Frank said kissing Hannah on each cheek ‘so lovely to meet you, last time I saw you, you were still in nappies’

‘Ah that was a while ago’ Hannah said with a grin.

‘Yes it is, how are you parents these days dear?’

‘Um Dad’s fine and er...Mum passed away two years ago’ Hannah said her smile fading.

‘Oh I’m sorry to hear that dear dear’ Frank said solemnly ‘do you still live in Wolverhampton?’

‘Yes Sir still on the stud farm. But I start school again in two days’ Hannah said ‘I’m repeating my seventh year you see, a lot of my school friends are’

‘They are?’ Alice asked in surprise ‘how come?’

Hannah looked at Neville uncertainly.
‘Um you don’t know?’ she asked ‘um because of the war’

‘There’s been a war?’ Alice asked in surprise ‘really? Over what?’

‘Ooooh Merlin’s pants’ Neville groaned ‘Mum, Dad sit down with Hannah and I’ll be back soon yeah?’

Frank and Alice sat down with Hannah and Neville hurried outside to the Healers Station. Margaret was going through an enourmously thick file a quill poised over a page.

‘Maggie!’ Neville exclaimed ‘something’s happening with Mum and Dad!’

‘What’s wrong?’ Margaret said leaping from her chair and grabbing her wand off the desk.

‘They’re speaking!’ Neville exclaimed ‘and they can remember Hannah when she was a year old! Well Dad can. I think the curse has broken. The only thing they can’t remember is the war Mum asked Hannah why she was repeating her second year and she said it was because of the war and the Battle and Mum didn’t know what she was talking about’

‘Really? You’re kidding?’ Margaret said in disbelief ‘the department director has to know about this. Wait here!’

Margaret ran off and Neville waited by the healers station bobbing up and down on the balls of his feet. Moments later Margaret returned her robes flying with Jonas McPherson the director of the Spell Damage Department jogging after her.

‘Neville!’ McPherson greeted him ‘Margaret said the curse has broken on your parents’

‘Yeah it has’ Neville said excitedly ‘well it appears ot have anyway....see...’

And Neville went onto explain what had just happened in his parents ward.

‘Hmm interesting’ McPherson replied.

‘So do you think I should tell them all about the war?’ Neville asked uncertainly ‘maybe if I mention Bellatrix LeStrange it might put them back into their catatonic state’

‘Hmm well yes it could’ McPherson said rubbing his chin thoughtfully ‘but we don’t know for sure unless you tell them the full story. We have to find out what brought them out of their state so suddenly and then if they go back to their previous state use it again to see wether the same techniques work’

‘Dad remmbers my girlfriend when she was a year old! Neville exclaimed ‘that obviously means they remember everything from the last seventeen years’

‘Ohhh no necessarily’ McPherson said in a cautious tone ‘with the sort of damage your parents suffered what they remember could only be in pockets. They might remember your girlfriend from seventeen years ago but mighn’t remember what got them into hospital or what they ate for lunch yesterday. The fact they know nothing about the war indicates that’

‘But they wouldn’t know about the war would they?’ Neville asked ‘I briefly mentioned it to them three days after the Battle when I told them Bellatrix LeStrange was dead but I haven’t mentioned it since then and the radio you have in the ward is only tuned to popular music not the Wizarding Wireless Network’

‘Well yeeeeeees’ McPherson said ‘I tell you what. How about you tell them all they ask questions about and Margaret and I will take clinical notes. I’ll start by asking what they can remember and you can take over after that’

‘Yeah sounds good’ Neville said ‘you know I never thought this day would arrive. The damage they suffered was so bad’

‘Well you’re not the only one to think that’ McPherson said ‘my predecessor thought it was permanent’

‘You didn’t?’ Neville asked in surprise

‘No I thought with much investigation that with some therapy they would come out of their state. I know when they were first admitted they had therapy but as you know my predecessor was a rather impatient man and when the therapy didn’t have any effects he never thought any in the future would work at all so he stopped it. I don’t know what’s happened but now that they’re apparently in the land of consciousness and awareness further therapy could be effective’

‘Well let’s go’ Neville said.

Neville led the way back down the hall and into the ward immediately Hannah’s voice carried over to them.

‘Yeah I have a thoroughbred stallion called Magnificence’ she was saying ‘I ride him every day when I’m home and from February to July he covers mares for the purpose of breeding racehorses. He’s a lovely horse. I’ve got some clients coming to look at him tomorrow’

‘And have you taught Neville to ride?’ Alice asked.

‘Oh of course he’s getting quite good too’ Hannah said with a grin ‘we ride together three or four times a week. But with me going back to Hogwarts and Neville studying at the Ministry that’ll have to wait til the Christmas holidays’

‘What’s he studying?’ Frank asked in interest.

‘Uhmm maybe...’

‘Mum, Dad I have a lot to tell you before I go into that’ Neville said ‘maybe you should hear that before I tell you what I’m studying’

‘We’re in for quite a story aren’t we?’ Alice said.

‘Oh you bet’

‘Before Neville starts on that story Frank and Alice would you mind Margaret and I asking a few questions?’ McPherson asked.

‘Er...okay’ Alice said warily.

Margaret and McPherson conjured chairs and sat down.

‘Alice, Frank I was wondering if you can tell me everything you can recall from today’ McPherson began.

‘Well after waking up Frank and I showered then had bacon, scambled eggs and baked beans for breakfast’ Alice said ‘then the cleaner came in and then we sat down to read and then Neville arrived.

McPherson scribbled away furiously.

‘And what did you read?’ Margaret asked.

‘I was reading Hogwarts a History’

‘And you Frank’

‘To kill a Mockingbird it’s a Muggle novel’ Frank replied.

‘I see’

‘What’s this war?’ Alice asked suddenly her brow creasing ‘Hannah mentioned it before Neville rushed off what the hell happened?’

‘I don’t think we need to..’

‘Yeah we need to talk about it’ Frank said ‘whatever it is it’s big. And I know it has something to do with why we’re in St Mungos’

‘Okay I will let Neville tell you all about it’ McPherson said but I need to ask you something very important before he goes ahead. I promise’

‘Go ahead’ Frank said.

‘I need to know everything if anything you remember about how you got in here’ McPherson asked.

‘Well that’s the only thing I can’t really remember’ Franks replied ‘I remember Alice and I were on a Death Eater survaillance mission in Kensington with Sully and Mickelson when we were ambushed. The last thing I remember is Bellatrix LeStrange and Barty Crouch’s lad bursting in’

Neville closed his eyes and inhaled sharply.

‘What?’ Alice said sharply noticing her son’s reaction ‘Neville you know something!’

‘Go ahead Neville’ McPherson said.

All eyes turned to Neville.
‘Mum...Dad you’re in St Mungos because Bellatrix LeStrange tortured you both with the Cruciatus Curse til you both went loopy’ Neville said staring at his toes ‘after that incident the same night The Dark Lord went to Godric’s Hollow and killed Lily and James Potter’

Frank and Alice looked horrified.
‘Oh no Lily and James dead?’ Alice whispered her hands flying to her mouth ‘and Harry?’

‘Oh Harry’s fine’ Neville said ‘he turned eighteen a month ago. He’s dating Molly and Arthur Weasley’s youngest a girl called Ginny’

‘Molly and Arthur had another after Ronald?’ Frank said amusement ‘Merlin’s pants those two never could keep their hands off each other’

Hannah unsucessfully tried to cover a snort.

‘Neither you or Frank can remember the actual incident that caused you to be in here?’ Margaret asked.

Frank and Alice both furrowed their brows as they tried to remember.

‘No’ said Frank eventually ‘only before and after’

‘And what’s the first think you can remember of your time spent in St Mungos?’

‘I remember waking up with a plaster cast around this arm (Frank waved his right arm) and this leg (He jiggled his left leg)’ Frank said ‘I remember feling really sore and Alice still being unconscious and not being able to speak myself. I remember having to be fed and having to be helped in the shower and loo. I remember Mum bringing Neville in to visit and each Christmas a choir of House Elves used to come into the ward and sing carols. I remember Neville starting Hogwarts and him using my wand but all the time not being able to speak’

‘When was the last time House Elves came into the wards to sing carols?’ Neville asked in surprise.

‘That ceased in ninteen eighty three when a mystery virus swept through most of the St Mungos House Elves and most of them died’ McPherson said as Margaret added to her own notes ‘the elves used to sing carols and otherwise lift the morale of the long term patients of St Mungos were deployed to the kitchens and laundry’

‘No wonder I don’t remember’ Neville said ‘I was only three’

‘Okay now sod the questions’ Alice said a look of annoyance crosing her face ‘I want to know what the hell this war is all about’

‘Neville go ahead’ McPherson said to Neville dipping the nib of his quill in a pot of ink perched on copy of ‘Hogwarts a History’ Alice had been reading.

‘Well to tell the story of the war I have to tell you Harry’s story’ Neville began ‘I’ll get him in here to tell you it as well. It started in ninteen eighty one....’

And for the next two hours Neville told his parents all about the happenings in the magical world that had transpired since their arrival at St Mungos seventeen years earlier.

‘And Bellatrix LeStrange is dead’ Neville said feeling the natural conclusion of his story near it’s close ‘Molly Weasley Avada Kedavra’d her right in the middle of the Hogwarts Great Hall. Then Harry killed the Dark Lord. It truly was an awesome sight. He was awarded an Order of Merlin First Class because of it. And Mrs Weasley got one for knocking off Bellatrix’

‘And Neville got one too for killing Voldemort’s Snake Nagini and therefore one of his Horcruxes’ Hannah interjected.

‘You have an Order of Merlin First Class?’ Alice and Frank chorused in stunned amazement.

‘Yeah I do’ Neville mumbled ‘maybe when you’re better I can put my memories in a penseive and you can have a look at everything’

‘I had no idea....’Alice whispered contemplating this newest piece of information ‘I haven’t read the Daily Prophet or listened to the Wireless for seventeen years’

‘If it’s okay with the Healers I can investigate getting you every Daily Prophet from the last seventeen years for you to catch up on everything’ Hannah volunteered ‘the Daily Prophet have a huge archive’

Neville did the quick maths in his head.
‘Han that’s over six thousand papers’ he said.

‘I want to read as much as I can’ Frank said before Hannah could respond ‘Neville your Mum and I have lost so much time in here we need to find out what we can’

‘I can also get all the Weasleys as well as Harry and Hermione to come in and tell you their recollections until you start getting the papers’ Neville said ‘If-if that’s okay’ he added looking uncertainly at McPherson and Margaret.

‘Yes I think the more we can get to help restore you parents conditions the better’ McPherson said ‘you seem to have several blank spots around seven years ago we could do with smoothing out’

‘Did anyone we know die during the battle?’ Alice asked solemnly.

‘Y-yes’ Neville stuttered ‘Mr and Mrs Weasley’s son Fred, George’s twin died when a wall collapsed on him and Mad Eye Moody died twelve months ago when he was blasted off his broom when moving Harry to a safehouse’

‘Oh no Mad-Eye’s dead?’ Alice whidpered ‘and Fred? Oh poor Molly and Arthur! The twins were not even six years old the last time I saw them’

‘Yeah well George and Percy saw it all happen and took it pretty bad’ Neville said in a thick voice ‘though Percy is dealing with it much better than George is. He’s not dealing with it at all. He eats less than a sparrows and is a recluse in his room. According to Ron he’s teetering on the edge of emaciation. He even refuses to see a Pshychiatrist. Everyone else there that night is seeing a counsellor. Even I am still’

‘So what are you studying?’ Frank asked in interest.

‘I’m studying to be an Auror’ Neville said looking once again at his toes ‘after the battle Harry, Ron, Hermione and I were invited to join the Auror program. We all said yes apart form Hermione. She’s all set on joining the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures and wants to go back to Hogwarts to finish her education. Harry and Ron have been hell bent on being Aurors for years so they said yes to Kingsley straight away’

‘And what about you?’ Alice asked ‘you said you were into Herbology’

‘I am’ Neville said ‘I’m going to a Herbology elective next semester. I haven’t ever ruled out being involved with it in the future but for now I want to make a go of being an Auror. Everyone thinks I can do it, though sometimes I wonder’

‘You’re managing the study load well so far’ Hannah said.

‘Yeah well it’s only the first week insn’t it?’

‘My boy an Auror!’ Frank whispered to himself almost inperceptively.

‘Well that’s it’ Neville said ‘Hannah and I have told you everything we can from out view. As soon as I can organise it I’ll get some others in to chat to you. Maybe Harry and Mrs Weasley would be the best ones to start with’

‘I think one at a time for the immediate future’ McPherson suggested making yet another note on his roll of parchment which now resembled a manuscript ‘if you could get Harry in here I think that would help’

Neville and Hannah spent the rest of the afternoon with Frank and Alice then reluctantly stood up to leave.

‘I better get home now Mum and Dad’ he said hugging them each in turn ‘it’s nearly tea time. I’ll come back tomorrow I promise. Just before lunch’

‘Can’t wait’ Alice said with a grin.

Neville and Hannah left the ward a short time later and immediately Neville burst into tears. Hannah led him to the nearby sunroom then engulfed him in a hug.

‘Let it all out’ she whispered hugging him hard.

It was several minutes before Neville calmed down enough to speak.
‘Mer-hic)-lins pants’ he hiccuped.

‘Are you okay?’ Hannah asked leading him over to a nearby couch.

‘Yeah I’ll be fine’ Neville said holding his head in his hands.

‘Do you want to talk about it?’ Hannah asked softly running her fingers through his hair.

‘You know I’ve waited all my life for this moment to arrive and now that it has it’s a helluva shock’ he rushed swallowing hard ‘I’m more glad than anyone could imagine but you know I don’t know how to handle it. What should I do?’

‘I think you should just follow your heart’ Hannah said sagely ‘deal with each situation and difficulty as comes aross your path. I can’t really tell you what to do because I’ve never been in this situation before. Voldemorts cronies killed my mother. I will be here for you though whenever you need me’

Neville grinned and kissed her on the lips.
‘You’re too good to me’ he said with a sheepish grin rubbing noses with her.

‘Aw I’m nothing special’ Hannah said going pink.

‘Yeah you are you’re very very special’ Neville said firmly holding her head in his hands to me you are everything....seriously’

‘Aw don’t start you’re going to start me crying’ Hannah said thickly ‘c’mon how about we head back to your place?’

‘Want to stay for dinner?’ Neville said as they got to their feet.

‘Sure’

Neville grasped Hannah’s hand and together they disapparated with a snap. They appeared back at the Manor right on the front door mat.

‘You’re apparating accuracy is getting better’ Hannah said with a grin as they made their way indoors ‘last time we apparated here you apparated us to the doorstep of Algie’s propergating greenhouse’

Neville turned red.
‘Well I was distracted he said definsively ‘I believe you just blew me in the barn after we got back form that trail ride. You can’t blame me for being a little distracted’

‘Maybe I can distract you after dinner’ Hannah giggled.

‘Neville is that you dear?’ Enid called form the kitchen.

‘Yup and along with Hannah’ Neville replied walking into the kitchen.

‘Oh hello Hannah dear’ Enid said brightly.

‘Boy do I have some news’ Neville rushed flopping down into one of the dining chairs.

‘Good or bad?’ Enid asked.

‘Good most definitely good’ Neville said with a grin ‘but I want Algie and Gran to be here before I say what it is, where are they?’’

‘Algie is in greenhouse three finishing up with the Flitterblooms and your Gran just apparated up to Hogsmeade to get some wine to go with dinner’

‘Lovely jubly’

‘My you are in a good mood’ Enid said with a grin peering into the oven from which emanated a loud sizzling noise.

‘You would be to if you knew what I did’ Neville said with a grin leaping up and doing a little jig.

‘Well how about you hold yourself in a bit and expend some energy setting the table?’ Enid said with a grin.

‘I’ll help you’ Hannah said following Neville into the kitchen where the cutlery drawer was.

Neville and Hannah set about setting the table, they had just placed wine glasses on the table when Augusta and Algie arrived.

‘Well good news, we have a new shipment of Flitterblooms ready to go out to the shops next week’ Algie said with a grin ‘I think Flitterblooms will be out biggest seller this year’

‘Well’ Neville said as they sat down ot eat with a grin ‘and excuse my language Gran ‘my news shits all over that Algie’

‘Okay now sod dinner I want to hear what this news is’ Enid said poking a serving spoon back into the bowl of mash.

‘Well Hannah and I went to St Mungos today’ Neville began pouring himself a glass of wine ‘specifically to introduce Hannah to Mum and Dad’

‘Oh and here I was thinking you were going there to put laxatives in the canteen urn and run through the geriatrcis ward flashing old ladies’ Algie said with a grin.

‘Algernon shut up’ Enid and Augusta chorused.

‘No I did that afterwards’ Neville said with a grin ‘anyway when I got there they were both reading and when I said hello Mum got up and spoke’

Algie who had chosen at that moment to take a swig of wine choked and spluttered loudly dribbling the liquid down his shirt.

‘S-sor-ry?’ he choked.

‘Mum spoke’ Neville repeated as Algie mopped his shirt ‘she greeted me. Then I introduced Hannah to her and Dad and Dad said ‘Abbott Mick and Louise’s youngest?’ It’s amazing their memories have come back like totally. They remember everything leading up to when they were cursed and their whole stay in St Mungos. Dad recalled the choir of house elves that used to come by at Christmas and entertain the long term residents! Joe said that hadn’t happened since ninteen eighty three that was fifteen years ago! Margaret and Joe peppered them with all sorts of questions. Mum and Dad remember when I started Hogwarts and me coming in the Christmas of my first year to tell them I was in Gryffindor. He even remembers me coming in at the end of fifth year to tell him about the Ministry Battle’

‘B-but how?’ Augusta her face full of shock ‘why? I mean why all of a sudden?’

‘Margaret and Joe have no idea’ Neville replied as he started to spoon peas onto his plate ‘at this stage they don’t anyway. But I don’t think it’s been that sudden. I’ve noticed sublte changes in them both ever since my visit to them three days after the Battle of Hogwarts. Remember how I told you I thought I saw a look of recognition in Dad’s eyes when I told him Bellatrix was dead? And both of them used to prefer to be inside all the time with the curtains shut and now Margaret tells me they want to be in the sunroom all day. And remember how they used to play disjointed chess all the time? Today Hannah and I played a game against them and they won! It’s like the attack never happened’

‘So they have perfect memory?’ Enid asked.

‘It certainly seems so’ Neville said enthusiastically ‘there are a few things they don’t remember. Dad doesn’t remember me telling him at the start of Hogwarts that I was using his wand or that it broke at the Ministry Battle and Mum doesn’t remember me telling her in fourth year all about the Triwizard Tournament or that Harry won it and Cedric Diggory died or that she always used to give me Droobles wrappers when I visited. Joe took me aside at one point and said with some extensive therapy we may be able to being back the memories of me telling them things like that. Their short term memory is excellent and their long term memory seems even better save for a few odd things. Joe wants me to being you in tomorrow morning Gran to talk to you about it all’

‘So will they be able to come home?’ Algie asked.

‘I asked Joe and Margaret that and they said it’s way too soon to say’ Neville said but if they don’t regress into their former state at the very least they’ll be able to come home for short day or weekend visits. Of course I’m hoping they’ll be home for Christmas but Joe and Margaret warned me not to get my hopes up’

‘Wise idea’ Enid said nodding.

‘After Gran and I have visited Mum and Dad tomorrow I’m going to go and see Harry and Mrs Weasley and see if they can at some point go and see Mum and tell them their stories. Dad was particularly interested to hear about how Mrs Weasley AK’d Bellatrix in the Great Hall. And I think it would be good for Harry to tell them all about the lead up to the Battle over the last few years. I told them what I know but Joe thinks it would help jig their memories and be a therapeutic process if Harry told it from his end’

‘I’d be very careful asking Molly to go and see your parents Neville’ Augusta warned her slate grey eyes glistening with moisture ‘the reason she killed Bellatrix LeStrange but still be a very sore point for her’

‘Of course I’ll be careful’ Neville promised dropping some pork onto his plate ‘I’ll use all the tact of a Hufflepuff. They’ve got loads more than we Gryffindors’

‘Yeah Gryffindors go at something like a bull at a gate hey Augusta?’ Hannah said with a grin.

‘You can say that again’ Augusta replied dryly.

‘Okay in view of this brilliant news I propose a toast’ Algie declared flicking his wand so that the wine bottle tipped a measure of the liquid into every empty glass ‘to Frank and Alice and may their recovery be whole and complete....oh and permanent’

‘To Mum and Dad’ Neville echoed lifiting his glass

*******************************************************************

An hour and a half later after too much food and too much wine Neville walked a slightly tipsy Hannah to the fireplace in the front parlour.

‘Hey thanks for being there for me today’ Neville whispered to her after a long and very heated snog.

‘N-no w-hic-orries’ Hannah said covering the hiccup with a hand ‘ooh I think I had far too much wine. I should never drink that stuff it goes straight to my head’

‘And vodka doesn’t?’ Neville said in amusement teasing Hannah about her favourite tipple.

‘No not when you mix it with creaming soda’ Hannah said with a grin ‘now I’ve got to hope when I floo off I don’t end up at the French Ministry’

‘You won’t’ Neville said with a grin ‘Beacon Park sounds totally different to ‘Le Magique Ministrie de Francaise’

‘Oh ha ha ha’ Hannah said dryly grabbing a handful of floo powder and stepping into the grate ‘see you Monday morning nine thirty at my place yeah?’

‘Of course see ya’

Hannah blew him a kiss with her free hand then threw down the floo powder and said loudly ‘Beacon Park!’ Green flames erupted around her and she disappeared in a rush.

‘Care for a nightcap lad?’ Algie called poking his head out of the kitchen.

‘Nah thanks I think I might head to bed’ Neville said turning around as the last spark from Hannah’s departure died ‘I had too much wine too and I have loads to do tomorrow and I want to get an early start’

‘Okie dokie kiddo see ya in the morning’

‘Night Algie, Night Gran, Night Enie!’

‘Goodnight Neville’ came the chorused reply.

*******************************************************************
Neville rose on Monday morning with a mixed feeling of sadness and exhileration. Exhileration and excitement at his parents progress (they had not regressed into ther former catatonic state) and sadness that today was the day Hannah would depart for Hogwarts.

‘Cheer up lad it’s only three and a half months’ Algie said with a grin as Neville entered the kitchen ‘and she hasn’t gone yet’

‘She will have in...’ Neville said looking at the clock above the dining room side table ‘three hours’

‘Well you can Owl her’ Algie said with a grin ‘or if you get desperate send her one of those fancy speaking Patronuses’

‘I can’t do that they’re only for emergencies!’ Neville exclaimed.

‘Algernon leave Neville alone’ Enid scolded her husband taking the kettle off the stove ‘three and a half months may as well be a lifetime for Neville. Surely you remember the heady days when we first got together’

‘Yes dear’ Algie said meekly.

‘Neville dear I used to get Owls from your great uncle every day for the first week of every term during my last year at Hogwarts’ Enid said to Neville with a grin (Algie had promptly turned a fierry scarlet at these words) ‘and on Valentines day I woke up to the most enormous bunch of roses on my bedside table. Patricia Moore was most jealous’

‘That’s because she fancied me’ Algie said with a grin ‘all the girls in Ravenclaw did’

‘Oh Algernon get over yourself’ Enid said dryly rolling her eyes.

‘Well Patty Moore did fancy me’ Algie said in amusement.

‘She fancied everyone’ Enid said dryly ‘old gossip’

‘So I’m not going to die?’ Neville said sitting down at the breakfast bar and accepting the mug of tea Enid pushed forward to him ‘ta Enie’

‘No mate you won’t die’ Algie replied clapping him on the back ‘thought it may seem so at first but I guarantee you won’t drop dead on platform nine and three quarters’

Neville rolled his eyes
‘Oh ha ha ha’ he said ‘I’m just going to miss her you know?’

‘Yeah mate I understand totally’ Algie said ‘just get a good breakfast into ya and you’ll be fine’

‘Hmmmph’

After a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs Neville brushed his teeth and changed into his Auror trainee robes. He packed his bag for the day then disapparated to Hannah’s house. The front door was ajar when he arrived and Hannah’s trunk was the only one on the front porch ready to go. Neville pushed open the door and entered into a house in chaos.

‘I CAN'T FIND MY QUIDDITCH GLOVES!!’ Jake bellowed form up on the second landing ‘and I need them Hufflepuff will have team trials at the end of the week!’

‘Look in the toxic waste dump you call a trunk!’ came Hannah’s returned yell ‘I swear that thing has crawlies in it not yet known to muggle and wizardkind!’

‘Sod off Hannah’

‘Shut up and stop being a twat or I’ll hex you!’ Hannah threatened sending a harmless flash of blue in her brothers direction.

‘Hello?’ Neville called to the air.

‘Neville is that you?’ Hannah called.

‘No it’s Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’ came Jake’s peeved tone.

‘Shut up Jake!’

‘Yeah it’s me’ Neville said walking down the hall and into the kitchen where one other trunk that Neville identified as Louise’s stood just beside the sidetable.

‘This is madness!’ Hannah exclaimed giving him a quick peck on the cheek then returning to the sink where she was putting away a load of dishes that had just been washed ‘every year the start of term is stupid. And Jake didn’t start packing til an hour ago the little shit’

‘Where’s your Dad?’ Neville asked.

‘Down at the stables turning out the horses with Louise’ Hannah replied flicking her wand so half a dozen glasses flew up to an overhead cupboard and put themselves away ‘it was my job to get this lot ready while Dad did that. Though at the moment I’m wishing I had turned out the horses...grrr’

‘Do you want some help?’ Neville asked striding toward the sink.

‘Nah I’m alright with this can you go upstairs and give Jake a hand? He likes you he might respond better to you than me’

‘Sure’

Neville turned and left the kitchen making his way up to the second landing.

‘Yeah yeah alright I’m do-oh Neville it’s you’ Jake said stomping out of his room.

‘Need a hand finding your gloves?’ Neville asked drawing his wand from inside his robes.

‘Oh would ya mind?’ Jake said gratefully ‘I swear I put them back in my trunk after I went for a fly last week’

Neville walked over to Jakes trunk and looked inside. It was a total mess obviously having been rifled and picked through many times.
‘Bloody hell mate looks like you packed in a hurry’ he said.

‘I dunno if you’d define it as packing’ Jake said turning red.

Neville pointed his wand at the contents of Jakes trunk and with a swish and flick muttered ‘Wingardium Levisosa! collectively the contents lifted up and flew over to the bed there they dropped with a rustle. The cauldron rolled off the bed and landed on the carpeted floor with a loud muffled thunk.

‘Have a look through that and repack your trunk again neatly and in an organised manner and if they’re not in there I’ll try and summon them’ Neville said magicking Jakes cauldron and potions kit back into the trunk.

‘Thanks’ Jake said rushing over to the bed ‘I should’ve done this last night. Dad flipped when he found out I only started an hour ago. Louie and Han have done theirs already. Even Zac has done his’

‘Well next year you’ll have to do it the night before won’t you?’ Neville said with a grin waving his wand at Jakes room which was as untidy as his trunk from his glove finding mission and cleaning it up with a long sweeping wave.

Neville sat in the chair of Jakes desk and minutes later just as he folded up his day wear hat he gave a cry of delight.

‘Hey I found them!’ he declared pulling out a pair of very battered quidditch gloves.

‘Great now keep on going the same way with you trunk and I’ll go and report ot Hannah you’re nearly set to go’

‘Thanks Neville’

‘No worries mate’

Neville returned downstairs where Hannah was now wheeling Louise’s trunk out onto the front porch.

‘How did he go did he find them?’ she asked.

‘Yup, but I wouldn’t quite say his trunk is a toxic waste dump’ Neville replied with a grin.

‘It was the last time I looked in it’ Hannah said dryly flicking her wand at the kitchen and cleaning it up in one spell ‘we’re all going to London on the Knight Bus. Do you want to apparate ahead of us or come on the bus with us?’

‘I’ll come on the bus with you’ Neville said taking a seat at the dining table ‘I’m not as paranoid about going out in public as Harry is’

‘You don’t have a reason to be’ Hannah said pushing Louise’s trunk out the front door and putting it next to her own ‘you weren’t hassled as much as Harry was on Saturday when we went out to get my Hogwarts things’

‘Hmm well I wouldn’t be surprised if Harry’s in a disguise when we meet him Hermione, Ginny and Ron on platform nine and three quarters’ Neville said ‘of all the places people in magical Britain go to he’s most likely to be hassled there’

‘We’ll wait and see I suppose’

At quarter past ten Neville along with Hannah and her family made their way down the long drive to catch the Knight Bus’

‘Next year when I’m old enough I’m apparating into London’ Jake grumbled picking up his trunk after a pebble sticking out of the ground jerked it from his hand ‘sod this taking the bus crap’

‘Great then you can side along your brother then’ Mick said with a grin.

‘Nah thanks’

‘I don’t smell you know’ Zac said as his father stuck out his wand to hail the Knight Bus.

‘Could’ve fooled me’ Jake said under his breath.

‘Oy you two cool it’ Mick said.

‘At least my trunk doesn’t look and smell like Professor Sprouts Hippogriff Dung heap’ Zac returned grinning at his witty comeback.

Jake opened his mouth to retort but was interrupted by the loud crunching arrival of the Knight Bus.

‘Okay everyone on ya get’ Mick said waving his wand at the trunks so the made their own way onto the bus and stowed themselves in some of the few remaining luggage racks.

‘So are you going to owl me while I’m away this term?’ Hannah asked with a grin as she and Neville took a seat on the second level of the bus.

‘No I want to save my parchment’ Neville said with a grin bracing himself against the bus which jerked forward ‘and my ink to I go through loads as it is’

‘Oh you’ Hannah said dryly slapping him on the arm as he laughed heartily.

‘Of course I’ll owl’ Neville said ‘did you really expect me not to?’

‘No’ Hannah said with a grin resting her head on his shoulder ‘first Hogsmeade visit is in October’

‘And I’ll definitely be there’ Neville said ‘if we can mamage it I’ll apparate you home so we can go for a ride too. If I collect you early enough in the morning we can get back to your place early enough to go on a day long ride. You have to be back at Hogwarts by five that ought to be enough time to spend some times on the trails’

Let’s see’ Hannah said with a grin ‘I would like that’

At quarter to eleven the Knight Bus crammed to standing room only arrived in London in an out of the way street close to Kings Cross. Neville and the Abbotts piled off and crossed the road to enter the busy hub.

‘Hang on I’ve got to go and change into my robes’ Hannah said as they arrived in front of a public convenience ‘you and Dad wait here with the trunks and I’ll be out in a minute’

‘Sure thing’

Neville and Mick waited outside the toilets while Hannah ad Louise went into the ladies and Jake and Zac went into the mens to change.

‘Do you still want to keep up with your riding lessons while Hannah’s away mate?’ Mick asked as they watched the muggle passengers rush towards their trains.

‘I-uh hadn’t really thought about it’ Neville said his gaze drifted over toward the space of wall between platforms nine and ten ‘I suppose so, but who would give me the lessons? You? Aren’t you always busy with the jewellery shop in Diagon Alley and giving others riding lessons?’

‘Yeah but I can get Jim my foreman to give you lessons when I can’t’ Mick said ‘then when Hannah gets back for the Christmas Holidays you can resume lessons with her’

‘Yeah okay if you don’t mind’ Neville said cheerfully ‘though with me studying at the Ministry I might not be able to come in every day. The weekends will most likely the time I’ll be over’

‘No worries if you get the time just come over and whoever’s there will give you a lesson’ Mick said ‘Beacon Park will turn you into a horseman yet Neville’

Neville snorted.
‘You’re kidding aren’t ya?’ he said with a laugh ‘me a horseman? I can barely canter without bouncing my arse over the saddle. You’re a horseman hell even Jake and Zac are horsemen it’ll be a long time before I get to your level’

‘Yeah maybe but if you keep at your lessons you’ll be one in no time’ Mick said ‘you’ve done well so far for someone that five months ago that had never been on a horse in their life’

‘Thanks, Hannah makes it easy to learn’

‘Oh realy does she?’ Mick said with a grin and an arched eyebrow.

Neville felt his face burn.

‘Oh fuck....’ he mumbled avoiding Mick’s gaze.

Mick laughed and clapped Neville on the shoulder good naturedly.
‘Don’t worry mate’ he said in amusement ‘I’ve guessed what you get up to with my little girl but I don’t mind. I like you. You look after her make her laugh which is something I’m greatful for. No one in the Abbott family has had much to laugh about since Louise Hannah’s Mum died’

‘Oh-uh...thanks’ Neville mumbled ‘I think’

A few minutes later Hannah, Louise, Zac and Jake emerged from the toilets all dressed in their Hufflepuff robes. Hannah had braided her hair and tied it off with a khaki ribbon.

‘Okay you lot let’s get you onto the train’ Mick said as they started off toward the entrance of platform nine and three quarters ‘we should already be there what were you all doing?’

‘Jake was putting on his makeup’ Zac said with a grin.

‘Oh bend over and bite yourself’ Jake said rolling his eyes.

‘Do you lot give each other this much shit at Hogwarts?’ Mick asked in exasperation as they strode along platform nine.

‘Dad if it weren’t for the fact we were all in the same house we’d never associate’ Jake said dryly ‘the only time we see each other is at mealtimes and at night. Even then we don’t talk to each other’

‘Oh it’s nice to know my boys and girls don’t associate’ Mick said ‘so shall I cancel Christmas? Forget about Easter?’ It’s our turn to host Christmas this year I’ve ordered the hams and turkeys already’

‘Nah Dad we’ll consent to being nice to each other at Christmas and Easter’ Hannah said with a grin ‘But only then’

‘Hey don’t forget birthdays!’ Zac exclaimed.

‘Yeah okay squirt and birthdays too’ Hannah jokes putting her brother in a headlock and playfully ruffling his hair.

‘Hannah banana gerrof me!’ Zac complained.

‘Okay boys you go through first’ Mick said as a family of four disappeared through the entrance ‘Then Hannah you and Louie next’

Jake and Zac disappeared through the barrier first then Hannah and Louise followed.

‘Shall we?’ Mick said to Neville ‘you first’

Neville tok a furtive look around then when the crowd was at its thickest her broke into a run and ran at the barrier. He went through and came out the other side on an equally busy platform. The bright red Hogwarts Express stood waiting on the rails belching steam over the crowd of excited first years. Older prefects and parents of the students rushing to get their childrens belongings on the train.

‘Neville!’ came a familiar voice.

Neville looked in the direction of the voice and saw Ginny waving at him her shiny new Head Girls badge affixed to her lapel.

‘Ginny!’ he exclaimed going over to his friend and hugging her ‘where’s everyone else?’

‘In there’ Ginny said pointing to a set of doors covered in peeling paint ‘find Hannah and bring her in yeah?’

‘Sure....hey the Head Girl badge suits you’

Ginny laughed.
‘Thanks’ she said ‘see you in a bit yeah?’

‘Yup’

Neville turned around and went looking for Hannah. He found her by the luggage cart helping Zac put his trunk onto the train.

‘Yup you got it’ she was saying ‘Wingardium Leviosa!’

With a wiggle from his wand Zac managed to levitate his trunk onto the train and put it down directly on top of Hannah’s.

‘Great now I’m off to find Kenny’ Zac said happily ‘see ya on the train Hannah banana!’ And in a trice Zac had disappeared into the steam’

‘Ginny has invited me into the waiting room’ Neville said ‘Harry, Ron and Hermione are in there too want to come in?’

‘Sure’ Hannah said.

Neville took Hannah’s hand and togather they walked thorugh the steam to the peeling doors. That were being guarded by Olivier and Archie. Neville grinned at them then placed his hand on the door and pushed it open. Inside were Harry, Ron and Hermione all the Weasleys and Hermione’s parents’

‘Is Rita Skeeter still out there?’ Harry who was wearing a harrassed expression asked.

‘I didn’t see her’ Neville said ‘mate are you okay?’

‘Been better’

‘When we arrived Harry was immediately accosted by Rita Skeeter’ Mr Weasley explained ‘that’s why we’re in here and there are two Aurors out the front. I sent of a Patronus to Olivier and he and Archie were here in seconds’

‘I knew I shouldn’t have gone out without my diguises’ Harry said angrily.

‘Harry even if you had come out in your disguise Rita Skeeter would only have to see you on Ginny’s arm to guess it was you’ Hermione said ‘and as we all keep telling you, you can’t hide forever’

‘Yeah well....I suppose so’ Harry said ‘but if worst comes to worst I’m going to do some serious hexing’

‘Well we’ve got back to the Ministry after the Express is gone maybe you can take your frustration out in Defensive Combat’ Neville said with a grin ‘I’ll partner up with you’

‘Sure’ Harry said with a grin.

A knock came at the door and Olivier popped his head around it.
‘Eet is five to eleven’ he said ‘five minutes to departure’

‘Well I suppose we better go out and run the gauntlet’ Harry said to no one in particular.

‘Cheer up Harry I’ll buy you a pint after we finish for the day’ Ron said as they headed for the door.

The group headed for the doors and as one made their way out onto the platform. Children of all ages were pouring onto the train their parents calling goodbye.

‘Harry!’ came a high trilling voice.

‘Oh fuck, Rita Skeeter’ Harry mumbled.

‘Harry let me handle this’ Neville said quickly conjuring a small box tied with a pink ribbon.

‘Neville!’ Rita Skeeter exclaimed striding up to him.

‘Rita on behalf of Harry I would like to give you this’ Neville said handing the little box to the reporter ‘just a little token of thanks for sticking about since he’s been in the waiting room. He would like to grant you an interview but as I’m sure you understand now is time for family and friends’

‘Oh of course of course!’ Rita simpered going to open the box ‘may I?’

‘Of course’

A Rita began openeing the box Neville furtively drew his wand pointed it at the box and whispered portus!. For a nano second it glowed blue then before Rita could finish her word ‘Wha...?’ she disappeared.

All the Weasleys and Harry fell about laughing.

‘Neville Longbottom did you just portkey her out of here?’ Hermione scolded in amusement as Rita’s photographer disapparated.

‘Hermione if I told you I would have to kill you’ Neville said with a grin ‘I shall let your imagination run wild’

‘Thanks mate’ Harry said appreciatively as the group made their way toward the front of the train ‘I owe ya one’

‘Nah don’t worry about it’ Neville said waving a hand ‘happy to help’

‘So where did you send her?’ Hannah asked a moment later as they paused by the prefect carriage.

‘Dunno’ Neville said with a grin tucking a whisp of hair behind her ear ‘she could be anywhere. But nowhere she can’t apparate out of’

‘You’re a naughty boy’ Hannah scolded dropping a kiss on his lips.

‘So does this naughty boy deserve to be spanked?’ Neville said with a grin whispering in her ear.

‘Oh of course’ Hannah said squeezing his bum and earning a volley of wolf whistles from her fellow prefects ‘I better get on the train ‘I’ll see you on the first Hogsmeade visit okay?’

Neville lowered his lips to hers and pressed them lightly to hers. Hannah responded with such enthusiasm Jake who was in the second carriage poked his head out of the window and bellowed.

‘OH GET A ROOM!’

Hannah gave her younger brother the finger and Neville dipped her still kissing her like at the end of the battle.

‘You better get on the train’ Neville said when they finally pulled apart and as the whistle shrilled ‘go on I’ll owl you and see you at Hogsmeade on the the first weekend yeah?’

‘Can’t wait Hannah said skipping toward the prefect carriage ‘see ya’

Hannah got on the carriage and slammed the door. Then with a final whistle the engines fired up and the Hogwarts Express slowly began moving forward. Neville kept up with it waving at Hannah til he ran out of platform and it finally turned a corner and disappeared from view’

‘Don’t worry boys the first Hogsmeade visit is only a month away’ Mr Weasley said cheerfully clapping Harry, Ron and Neville on the back ‘you’ve got something to look forward to’

‘Yeah thanks Dad but that’s not much comfort’ Ron said miserably staring into the sky as the last of the trains steam disappeared ‘it’s a whole month’

‘You can always wank over that picture you have of you two’ Harry said so only Neville and Ron could hear.

‘Oh shut up Harry’

And as the last of the trains steam disappeared Neville let his thoughts drift to a month’s time when he would see Hannah and once again spend a few glorious hours in her company.

*******************************************************************