It Started With a Kiss

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The intervening years had been kind to Neville and Hannah. After graduating from Hogwarts at the end of June 1999 Hannah began working in the family Jewellery shop and had become quite a celebrated designer winning several awards and gathering acclaim before going out on a financial limb and buying the Leaky Cauldron when Tom the landlord died. After a major refurbishment the popular wizarding watering hole was bringing in more clientele than ever and she and Neville now lived above the pub in a large but homey feeling apartment that overlooked the bustling thoroughfare of Diagon Alley.

Neville had graduated early from the Auror program along with Harry and Ron with terrific fanfare and gaining some of the highest marks ever and had gone to work in the Ministry. He had been in the job a little over twelve months when Professor Sprout had come to him with a proposition one day on his lunchbreak with the most extraordinary proposition.

‘Neville you know I’m getting on a bit’ she began.

‘You’re not in the ground yet!’ Neville exclaimed with raised eyebrows.

‘As it is I have made a plan to retire in two years’ Sprout said continuing on ‘I want to relax and enjoy my twilight years maybe start up a small nursery business. I came to you today with a proposition’

‘Oh yeah and that is?’

‘Come to Hogwarts. Train under me as a Herboogy apprentice get your skills up to the point where you can teach others. Then when I retire take over and become the Hogwarts Herbology professor’

Neville choked on his lemonade.

‘You’re having a laugh!’ he exclaimed wiping his nose ‘aren’t you? Me a Herbology Professor? You’ve got to be kidding Professor I haven’t opened a Herbology book for four years! Does Professor McGonagall know about this?’

‘Yes she does and she’s in full agreeance with it’ Sprout said ‘Neville you’re the best person for this job I know you are. I think you could do it and so does Minerva. Neville you have been the best Herbology student to come through Hogwarts in decades and the way you went through Auror training shows you have quite a developed academic mind’

Neville snorted derisively.

‘Oh come on you graduated that course a year early! No one has done that ever!’

‘And your point is?’

Sprout sighed loudly
‘Neville I want you to be my sucessor’ she said ‘I think you can do the job and so does Minerva. I’m not looking for an answer right now the start of term is a month away. Just think about it. Talk to Hannah your Gran and even your parents about it. Don’t rush it. Please consider it....please?’

Neville wrinkled his nose.
‘Well it is a tempting offer’ he said ‘okay I will think about it. You’ll have my answer by Owl by the week before term goes back’

‘That’s all I ask Neville’ Professor Sprout said getting to her feet ‘I’ll see you later yeah?’

‘Sure, nice seeing you Professor’

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Neville finished his shift that day and returned to his and Hannah’s apartment over the Leaky Cauldron.

‘You’ve got something on your mind’ she said looking up from the sheets of parchment spread over the dining table.

‘Is it that obvious?’ Neville sighed flopping down on the lounge.

Hannah rose from her seat and went over to him massaging his shoulders.

‘Yeah it is’ she said ‘patently. What’s up?’

‘I had lunch with Professor Sprout today’

‘Oh yeah and how did that go?’

‘Peculiarly’

Peculiarly? Howso?’

‘She asked me to come to Hogwarts and train under her as a Herbology apprentice then when she retires in two years take over the post of Herbology professor’

‘You’re kidding?’ Hannah exclaimed ‘really? And what did you tell her?’

‘I told her she would have my answer in an owl by the third week of August’ Neville said kicking off his shoes and peeling off his socks.

‘What you didn’t say yes straight away?’ Hannah said in surprise walking around the lounge and sitting down next to him.

‘No it was such a shock I didn’t say yes or no’ Neville said taking off his tie ‘me as a professor? I dunno if I can do that’

‘You said the same about being an Auror and you’re doing that pretty well at that’ Hannah countered ‘seven major arrests credited to you since you graduated from the training progran that’s pretty good’

‘Yeah but....’

‘Yeah but nothing’ Hannah said ‘Neville you have to cut this ‘I’m not good enough’ crap. You love Herbology. Hells bells every minute you’re not at the Ministry you’re back up in Yorkshire working with Algie in the green houses’

‘But I’m an Auror!’ Neville said ‘hoofing it back to Hogwarts after busting my arse through training and going on the job itself would make a mockery of Kingsley inviting me to join the Ministry in the first place’

‘I don’t think it would’ Hannah said ‘even people who only know you from what’s in the papers know Herbology if your first love. I’m sure if you decided to take up Professor Sprout’s offer no one would blame you for doing so. And anyway being an apprentice you’d have the same timetable as the students which means you’d work nine to three and only within school terms. That means you could still do some work for the Auror office in your off time. And that’s better than what you’ve been doing your hours have been higgeldy piggeldy since you graduated. I’ve barely seen you the last week because of the night shifts you’ve been doing’

‘Hmmm well I have to admit Professor Sprout’s offer if really tempting’ Neville said conjuring a foot rest and plopping his feet onto it ‘but you know I really wanted to make a go of being an Auror’

‘Taking up Professor Sprouts offer wouldn’t mean that you haven’t made a go of being an Auror’ Hannah said ‘in fact I think it would be the completer opposite. You’ve done wonderfully as an Auror Neville. I overhear patrons here banging on about you all the time’

‘Oh really?’ Neville said with a raised eyebrow and wry smile.

‘Yeah especially Grantley Johnson that git from Experimental Charms. He goes on about you so often I’m starting to wonder if he fancies you’

Neville rolled his eyes as Hannah collapsed in a fit of giggles.
‘Oh ha ha ha’ he said dryly ‘very funny. He doesn’t fancy me he’s just jealous of my physique and the fact you’re mine and not his’

Hannah sniggered.
‘Possibly’ she said dropping a kiss on his lips ‘hey it’s Friday night fancy going into muggle London for dinner and a show? It’s on me you need to relax’

‘A quick shag would help me relax’ Neville said with a grin ‘that could be on me. I know you like being on top’

Hannah laughed and slapped his arm.
‘Deviant’ she said ‘afterwards when we get home, come on go and have a shower and dress smart we’re going to London!’

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Two weeks later Neville had made his decision. He arrived at the Ministry half an hour early for his shift and went straight to see Harry who recently had been elected to head of the Auror office despite only being a year out of training. Despite the early hour Harry already had his nose buried in parchment and had a quill poised over another piece of parchment ready to write.

‘Harry you got a minute pal?’ he asked poking his head around the edge of the door.

‘Yeah come on in’ Harry said cheerfully putting his quill down ‘what can I do for ya?’

Neville shut the door behind him and took a seat at Archie’s desk.

‘A few weeks ago I was offered a job’ he began.

‘Oh who from?’ Harry said in surprise.

‘Professor Sprout she came to me a couple of weeks ago and said she plans on retiring from the Herbology post in two years time and wants me to come to Hogwarts and train under her as an apprentice for two years then take over her position. According to her she and Professor McGonagall think I can do it and I’ve been thinking over the past couple of weeks so can I’

There was a moment of silence as Harry steepled his fingers beneath his chin.
‘You’ve really considered this haven’t you?’ he said.

‘Yeah I have’ Neville replied ‘I’ve discussed this with Mum and Dad, Gran, Algie and Enid and for the last couple of weeks Hannah and I have barely talked about anything else’

Harry sighed loudly.
‘I can tell you’re serious about this’ he said ‘if you said you were leaving the Auror office to take up professional Quidditch I might think otherwise but I know you wouldn’t change careers unless it was for Herbology is this your official two weeks notice?’

‘Yeah it is’ Neville said withdrawing a parchment envelope from his cloak pocket ‘but I don’t want you to think I don’t appreciate what you and Kingsley have done for me I do. I just think my profession life needs to be steered into the direction of Herbology. This my official resignation letter’

‘We’re going to miss you you know’ Harry said slitting open the envelope with the tip of his wand ‘you’re one of the best and most hard working Aurors in the department’

Neville felt his ears go red.
‘Thanks’ he mumbled.

‘But do you think in the hols you could do the odd shift?’ Harry asked as he read Neville’s letter of resignation ‘we’ll need you for fill in at least until Geoff and Trish graduate’

‘Of course I was going to ask if I could’ Neville said ‘Professor Sprout said that as an apprentice I would have the same schedule as a school aged student so I would have the Christmas, Easter and Summer hols to help out of you needed me’

‘Well I don’t really want to accept this’ Harry said leaning forward and offering his hand to Neville but I know deep down your heart belongs in the Hogwarts greenhouses’

Neville leaned forward and shook Harry’s hand.
‘Thanks mate’ he said ‘now just to tell Kingsley and the others in the office’

‘You’ll manage that just fine’ Harry said ‘do you want to head downstairs and see Kingsley before starting your shift?’

‘I was planning to’ Neville said getting to his feet ‘back soon yeah?’

‘Sure thing’

Neville turned and left the office making his way down to Kingsley’s office. Being the nerve centre of the entire Ministry it had the biggest staff numbers and upon his arrival like all his other visits it was busy. To the untrained eye it looked like chaos but Neville’s familiarity with the department told him otherwise. The first person to notice his arrival was Percy Weasley.

‘Morning Neville!’ he said brightly ‘can I help you?’

‘Yeah I just want a quick word with Kingsley’ Neville said shutting the office door behind him ‘is he free?’

‘Yeah sure go right through’

Neville dodged the organised chaos and made his way over to Kingsleys office. He knocked on the ajar door and poked his head around.

‘Neville!’ Kingsley greeted him ‘come in come in!’

Neville entered the office and shut the door behind him.

‘I won’t start long my shift starts in twenty minutes’ Neville said sitting down in one of the elegant chesterfield chair on the other side of Kingsleys desk ‘I’ve just had a chat with Harry and handed in my resignation’

Kingsleys eyes widened in shock.
‘Why?’ he exclaimed ‘Neville you’re a terrific Auror one of the best graduates in recent years you graduated early from training and have only been on the job twelve months why pull the pin now?’

‘Because Pomona Sprout offered me a Herbology apprenticeship at Hogwarts’ Neville replied ‘she came to me a couple of weeks ago and said she planned on retiring in two years and wanted me to be her sucessor. I thought long and hard about it and after talking to Mum and Dad and Hannah and everyone else I’ve decided to go for it. Herbology has been my first love since I was small and I feel this is where my professional life lies. I know I didn’t have to come here and tell you directly but as you were the one to invite me to train as an Auror in the first place you deserved to be told’

Kingsley grinned.
‘I appreciate you coming to me directly’ he said ‘have you resigned officially?’

‘Yes gave Harry my verbal and letter resignation when I arrived this morning’ Neville said ‘Professor Sprout said that if I were to take her up on the offer I would start on September the first. I would have the priveleges of a teacher and would go up on the Hogwarts Express’

‘So you’ll be putting up with smartarse first years then’ Kingsley said with a wide grin.

‘Yes it would appear so’ Neville said ‘scary eh?’

‘Ah I dunno you’ve dealt with some pretty scary stuff in your time Neville I reckon you’ll do it just fine’ Kingsley said ‘but a small announcement will have to made to the media you realise that? You won’t have to do a press conference though’

‘I don’t care as long as I don’t have to do a press conference’ Neville said making a face ‘I hate those things’

‘I’m no fan of them either but I do think once you start at Hogwarts your media commitents will be less and less’

‘Hannah said that to me too’ Neville said ‘that was another reason I’ve decided to take Professor Sprout up on her offer’

‘Well I wish you all the best Neville I hope you’ll find your niche in Herbology if not I’m sure Harry will welcome you back to the Auror office with open arms’

Neville laughed.
‘Well I’ll still be an Auror in the holidays’ he said ‘Harry said he would need me at least until Geoff and Trish the new trainees graduate’

‘Good so you won’t be a total stranger then’

‘No I don’t plan on being so’ Neville said getting to his feet ‘well I better be getting to work see you later yeah?’

‘Of course’

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

At the end of his shift that day Neville gathered everyone together in the Auror office.

‘I won’t keep you long boys and girls’ he said ‘I’ve gathered you all here to let you know that this morning I have handed in my resignation to Archie and the thirty first of August will be my last day as an Auror’

There was an outcry of disbelief.

‘What for?’ Mack and Ron exclaimed loudly.

‘Mate you’re one of the best Aurors in this place’ Ron went on ‘we need you!’

‘Professor Sprout came to me a couple of weeks ago and told me she intended on retiring in two years’ Neville said ‘she asked me to go to Hogwarts and train under her as a Herbology apprentice so that by the time she retires I can take over the post of Herbology Professor. After talking with my family and Hannah I’ve decided to take her up on her offer and as of September first I’ll be Profesor Sprouts Herbology apprentice’

‘Well you know I’m not really surprised’ Ron said ‘I don’t think anyone that knows you will be surprised once word gets out. Have you told Kingsley?’

‘Yeah I told him this morning before my shift’ Neville said going over to his desk and picking up his cloak ‘I came in early so I could let Harry and Kingsley know of my intentions’

‘’vill you let us throw you a farewell party?’ Olivier asked Neville.

‘Well you can if you like’ Neville said ‘nothing big if you’re going to do anything I don’t want a fuss’

‘Neville you’re one of the best in this office with someone as good as you a fuss needs to be made’ Mack said.

‘Well I’m not going to be gone a hundred percent permanently’ Neville said putting his cloak on ‘at least while I’m training under Professor Sprout I can work here in the Hogwarts holidays. After I take over however I’m not sure’

‘So we can’t hang up a ‘we’re glad you’re going, now fuck off you git’ banner for two whole years then?’ Frankie said with a laugh.

‘Neville rolled his eyes.
‘Ha ha ha Frankie hil-a-ri-ous’ he said dryly.

‘Okay you lot home time!’ Harry called ‘stay here any longer and you’re on night shift!’

There was a mad rush as the day shift staff left the office and headed downstairs to the Atrium.

‘Do you two want to come back home for a pint?’ Neville asked Harry and Ron as they reached the lift.

‘Oh yeah just a quick one’ Ron said ‘how about you Harry?’

‘Yeah I suppose one won’t hurt’ Harry said ‘so how’s the Leaky going Neville Hannah still got you pulling pints?’

‘Oh yeah I do that all the time’ Neville said ‘and no one has argued when I tell them they’ve had enough yet’

‘Well they wouldn’t’ Ron said with a wry grin ‘how many people would argue with a fully qualified Auror with a B.A.M.F badge behind the bar?’

‘What the hell is a B.A.M.F?’ Neville asked as the lift reached the Atrium.

‘Bad Ass Mother Fucker’ Harry and Ron chorused with snorting laughs.

‘Oh sod off I do not have a B.A.M.F badge’ Neville said rolling his eyes.

‘According to Witch Weekly you do’ Ron said.

‘And since when have you read that litter box liner?’ Neville said making a face.

‘I don’t I just leafed through an old copy at St Mungos in April when Fluer had Dominique and it was in there you were labelled as one of the most bad ass wizards in Britain’

All this time Harry was snorting uncontrollably.

‘And how old was this Witch Weekly?’ Neville asked ‘it must’ve been so old Dumbledore was still alive when it was published’

This comment earned a fresh round of snorts from Harry.

‘Ha ha no I think it was about four years old’ Ron said thoughtfully.

‘Oh so it was a edition published right after the Battle that makes a whole lot of sense’ Neville said dryly ‘you simply must go back to the St Mungos Maternity Department and fetch it for me. I simply must add it to my own personal scrapbooking collection I have on myself’

‘Yeah yeah yeah I get ya’ Ron said as Harry turned a deep shade of magenta ‘Harry give it up you’ll stat hyperventilating in a minute’

The trio disapparated to Diagon Alley and made their way down the street. They arrived just as the door flung open and a clearly drunk wizard was thrown out. Hannah followed paused on the doorstep her rage contorting her usually attrative features.

‘AND STAY OUT!’ she bellowed ‘start brawling in my pub and you’ll have to start drinking in fucking Europe you rancid old git!’

The wizard gave Hannah a look of deepest disgust then disapparated with a ringing snap.

‘Interesting day dear?’ Neville greeted her with a grin and a kiss on the cheek.

‘Until that arse turned up it was great’ Hannah said making a face ‘hey Harry, Ron fancy a pint?’

‘Yeah Han that would be great’ Ron said greatfully ‘but no rush yeah?’

‘Go and finish whatever you were doing I’ll pour them’ Neville said dropping a kiss on Hannah’s forehead.

‘Thanks’

Hannah disappeared back into the crowd and Neville led Harry and Ron to the back of the pub to a booth right next to the kitchens.

‘You lads wait here I’ll get the first round’ Neville said dropping his satchel on the table ‘what’s your poison?’

‘Just some House Ale’ Harry said sliding into the booth.

‘And I’ll have a pint of that German stuff Hannah got in last week’ Ron said ‘ta’

Neville fished some sickles out of his trousers pocket and weaved through the crowd ducking behind the bar where Hannah and three other bartenders were feverishly working. He dropped the money into the til then began pouring his Ron and Harry’s drinks.

‘The Missus got ya workin’ again Nev?’ Clive one of the old regulars asked Neville with a raspy chuckle.

‘Nah mate I’m just pouring for the boys’ Neville said with a grin setting Ron’s glass on a tray ‘how’s your Missus going?’

‘Oh yeah goin’ well goin’ well’ Clive said happily ‘got some pieces going in the art show up in Hogsmeade next weekend. If she sells some we’re off to Jamaica for the summer holidays’

‘So you’ll come back tanned with all the girls swarming over ya?’

Clive chuckled.
‘Maybe’ he said as Hannah slid three pints of house lager over to him ‘catch you later yeah?’

‘Yeah no worried Clive catch you later pal’

Neville poured his and Harry’s drinks then carried them over to the table. He handed the pints out then banished the tray back to the bar.

‘Up your nose with a garden hose’ Ron toasted cheerfully lifting his pint.

After several deep swigs the trio set down their glasses and in unison sighed loudly.

‘So have you let your family know you’re taking up Sprout’s offer?’ Harry asked cracking his knuckles and wiggling his fingers.

‘Yeah Han and I had dinner with them last night’ Neville said pouring his drink ‘they all had the same reaction you saw just now I the office then when Algie calmed Gran down everyone was really enthusiastic. Algie then gave me a shitload of books he thought might be useful so when I’ve not been working I’ve been reading. It’s like cramming for Auror exams again’

‘And I suppose you’ve let Sprout know?’ Ron said after taking another swig of his drink.

‘Oh yeah last night I portkeyed to Hogwarts and told her in person’ Neville said ‘after Hannah she was the first person to find out. The this morning I got an owl from McGonagall welcoming me to the Hogwarts staff’

So what wage does a Herbology apprentice get?’ Ron asked.

‘Dunno haven’t found that out yet but I would think it’s around what I was getting for first year Auror training’ Neville replied ‘I have to take at least one day off in the last week of August to go to Hogwarts and do an orientation which apparently means setting up an office and getting some more study materials but nothing major’

‘So eventually you’re going to be teaching our kids?’ Harry said with a grin ‘geez that’s scary’

‘Ha ha Harry very funny’ Neville said dryly.

‘Mum will want to throw you a party when word gets out’ Ron said ‘you’re like a seventh son to her and she likes to throw parties for anyone close to the Weasley family. Remember the party she threw when Gin made the starting lineup of the Harpies? That’ll go down in the annals of Weasley family history’

‘Well tell her she doesn’t have to’ Neville said ‘really she doesn’t’

‘Okay I will but you know Mum she doesn’t take no for an answer readily’ Ron said dryly ‘but seriously there ought to be something this is a big thing for you Neville. Hannah will probably want to do something anyway’

‘Yeah well we’ll have a ‘private’ celebration’ if you get my drift’ Neville said with a grin ‘so need for friends or family to come along to that one’

‘You mean you haven’t done that already?’ Ron said with a grin.

‘That’s for me to know and for you to find out’ Neville said with a laugh.

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On the morning of the last Wednesday of August Neville rose and got ready for the day with an air of excited anticipation.

‘Haven’t seen you this excited for a while’ Hannah commented with a grin as she watched him shave ‘you’ve got ants in your pants’

‘I’m just looking forward to the day you know?’ Neville said shaving under his nose ‘I’ve always wanted to have a career in Herbology and this is the opportunity to do so. Plus I’m looking forward to getting back to Hogwarts. It was one place where I was truly happiest when I was young. And it was where we met so it holds a special place’

‘Will you be gone all day?’ Hannah asked.

‘Dunno’ Neville replied ‘but I expect so, Professor Sprout said there was quite a bit to go through. And if we don’t get it done all today I might have to go back on the weekend’

‘Are you going to have quarters there?’ Hannah asked.

‘I think I will have some should I ever choose or need to stay overnight’ Neville said ‘but I’m not a hundred percent sure. You can help decorate if I do’

Hannah rolled her eyes.

‘Oh ever since I went nuts in the lounge last week you’ve been giving me shit about decorating’ Hannah said rolling her eyes ‘You make it sound like I get off on it’

‘You do don’t you?’ Neville said with a snorting laugh.

Hannah smacked his bare bum.
‘Idiot’ she said turning around ‘I’m going to get some breakfast see you in the kitchen’

Hannah left the bathroom and seconds later Neville could hear eggs cooking. He finished shaving combed his hair then dressed arriving in the kitchen just as Hannah finished plating up some egg and bacon snadwiches.

‘Get into those’ she said grabbing one for herself ‘Mr Hot Herbology 2002’

‘Mr Hot Herbology 2002?’ Neville echoed ‘that’s a new one. You normally go for My Personal Horcrux Destroyer or your favourite....’

‘Meh I felt like something new’ Hannah said with mock indifference ‘plus it sounds like a good idea for an erotic calendar. I reckon you’d be great as Mr December starkers save for a little santa hat hanging off your raging had on’

‘Not so little I think my dear’ Neville said dryly as Hannah collapsed in a fit of giggles ‘you think I’ve got ants in my pants? You’re in a good mood this morning’

‘I think that might have something to do with the good hard seeing to you gave me last night’ Hannah said with a grin ‘you fuck like a Hippogriff when you’re nervous’

‘I do?’

‘Hell yes you always have. Last night was exactly the same way you did me the night before your final set of Auror exams. The day after that I was as sore as I was the night you took my virginity’

‘And are you like that now?’

‘It’s not so bad’ Hannah said with a grin ‘you’d think with the amount of times we do it I wouldn’t get sore but on the odd occasion you make me walk funny afterwards’

‘That does wonders for a mans ego’ Neville said with a grin as an Owl arrived with their copy of the Daily Prophetm ‘ah the Prophet Kingsley told me today would be the edition with the Ministry press release in it saying I was leaving to go work at Hogwarts’

‘You expecting a front page exclusive?’

‘No Kingsley said he went straight to the editor to make sure it wasn’t made a bigger issue than it is but he also said that we might get more than a few owls from media outlets wanting interviews so don’t be surprised if you come up for lunch and find a million letters on the kitchen bench’

‘Oh well I’ll put them all in alphabetical order and send any from Rita Skeeter back’ Hannah replied putting a Knut in the Owls leather pouch and sending it on its way ‘though I reckon we should start saving up any correspondence from Rita Skeeter and once a month send it back to her. That’s what Harry does’

Neville grinned.
‘Yeah let’s do that’ he said ‘it works for him’

‘And if we do it a few times she might lay off’ Hannah went on ‘as I recall Harry only gets the odd owl from her these days’

‘Hmm he does’ Neville said finishing off his sandwich and licking his fingers ‘Okie dokie I’m going to brush my teeth then head off to Hogwarts. I’ll try and come home for lunch but no garantees yeah?’

Hannah dropped a kiss on his lips.
‘Sure thing hot stuff’ she said with a grin slapping his bum ‘stay good lookin’

‘Ha ha’

After brushing his teeth Neville turned a coathanger into a portkey and travelled to Hogwarts. To his surprise he landed directly outside the door of the hallway that led to Professor Spouts office off the Entrance Hall. He raised a fist and knocked loudly.

There was a few moments of silence before Neville could hear a bustling set of footsteps then the heavy door opened and an extraordinarily clean Professor Sprout stood smiling before him.

‘Come in come in!’ she said brightly chivvying him into the hall ‘how are you this morning?’

‘Eager to get going’ Neville replied ‘you’re clean!’

‘Yeah I know I tend to be in the holidays’ Professor Sprout replied ‘not long to go now and I’ll once again be elbow deep in dragon manure, you will be too come to think of it’

‘So where do we start for the day?’ Neville asked hoising his satchel over his shoulder.

‘Well you’re going to need your own quarters so over the last couple of weeks Minerva has had some work wizards in to fix up the old teachers quarters and build a new potions lab’ Sprout said ‘it’s got the bare necesities in it but it’s rather sparse I’m afraid’

‘That’s easily fixed’ Neville said ‘did you read the Prophet this morning?’

‘Oh yes I thought the story they had on you starting here was rather modest. I half expected a front page exclusive’

‘Nah Kingsley went straight to the editor and made sure the Prophet wasn’t going to make a mountain out of a molehill’ Neville said ‘that’s why it’s only on page two and then only a half page story’

‘Well I know for a fact Minerva was beseiged with Owls this morning wanting interviews and more information’ Sprout said ‘she was quite late to breakfast because of them all’

‘I’m sorry to cause all the fuss’ Neville said his cheeks reddening.

‘Neville don’t think anything of it’ Sprout said firmly ‘there was bound to be a little excitement when news got out you were coming back to Hogwarts and no one thinks any of the repercussions are an inconvenience. For the moment Minerva is telling people further news will be released in the near future. It’s part of her job as Headmistress to deal with the media’

They eventually came to a stop at the end of the hall in front of a large heavy wooden door with a brass plate on it that read ‘Neville Longbottom, Herbology’. Sprout tapped the lock and muttered ‘Alohomora! there was a small click then the door swung open of its own accord.

‘This will be your home away from home once term starts’ Sprout said ‘what do you think?’

Neville cast a look around the room. It was a high ceilinged apartment style abode with an ancient lounge setting in front of a fireplace. There were two cathedral style windows on either side of the fireplace each with a ledge big enough to lie down on. On the other side of the room was the dining area that an an old scrubbed wooden table surrounded by four mismatched chairs and behind that was small kitchen. An old stone staircase led up to another door that Neville assumed was the bedroom.

‘You’re right is is sparse but I can fix that up’ Neville said walking further into the room ‘Hannah said she would help with anything like that. Is the bedroom at the top of the steps?’

‘Oh yes, go on have a look’

Neville walked through the room and up the steps unlocking it with a tap from his wand. If it were at all possible the bedroom was even more sparse. It too had a fireplace at the end of the large bedroom and on either side of the enormous four poster bed were smaller versions of the windows in the lounge room. A small door off to the right of the bed led to a bathroom with an ancient claw footed bath in it.

‘It’s not much but the roof doesn’t leak when it rains’ Profesor Sprout said going to one of the windows and throwing open the old curtains ‘this used to be the main Professors quarters til about thirty years ago when a new lot was built. You’ll move in there once I retire’

‘Nah this is fantastic’ Neville said ‘a few Charms and some Transfigurations here and there and it’ll be like home’

‘Well you’re most welcome to have Hannah here to help you fix it up’ Sprout said with a grin ‘and I expect you’ll need it. Once term starts you will be really busy with the cirriculum and students’

‘Well she’s taking the weekend off this week so I expect she’ll want to come here and start decorating’ Neville said going over to the bed and sitting down on the mattress ‘Hannah’s on an interior decorating bent at the moment this will be her dream come true’

‘One thing you’re going to need is a lot of bookcases’ Sprout said ‘there are several books you’re going to have to order from Flourish and Blotts and I have several to give you and the longer you’re in the job the more books you’ll accumulate. Give it six months and you’ll have a whole wall of magazines, leaflets, books and reams of parchment with your own notes on it’

Neville rolled his eyes.
‘Lovely’ he sad dryly ‘sounds like N.E.W.T’s all over again’

‘Neville your whole career as a Herbologist will be like N.E.W.T’s’ Sprout said ‘as an an apprentice then as a fully fledged Professor you never stop learning. Just make sure you always have your books and notes filed properly. In the forty years I’ve been a teacher I’ve never managed to get on top of my papers. My quarters look like a parchment dump. I’m starting to go through it now in the hope than when I eventually retire they’ll be in some sort of order and of use to you’

‘Do you need any help with sorting it?’ Neville asked bouncing slightly on the on the matress to test it’s softness ‘two heads are better than one and you might get it done quicker of you have another pair of hands helping you’

‘Don’t worry about it til your own matters are sorted out’ Sprout said firmly ‘I can manage for now. There’s five days til the start of a new school year it’s important you get all your things as ready as you can for that’

Neville got up and with a few flicks of his wand turned the linen on the bed to blue and white he then turned the hangings from black to white.

‘There that’s a start’ Sprout said brightly ‘now come on so I can show you your Potions lab’

‘I’m going to need one of my own?’ Neville asked in mild surprise ‘couldn’t I use Professor Slughorns?’

‘It’s better you have your own space for brewing’ Sprout said leading him down the stairs ‘besides the Potions department is on the other side of the castle way down in the dungeons it’s too far for you to go especially if you’re brewing a volatile draught that needs supervision. If you have one here you can easily check on it’

‘I hope it’s not as big as the dungeons’ Neville aid ‘I hate housework and the smaller it is the less space I have to clean up’

Sprout chuckled.
‘No it’s not big’ she said as they went back out into the hall ‘only a little bigger than your room’

Neville followed Professor Sprout a short way down the hall til they came two two door side. Both were decorated with brass plates each baring their names.

‘This one is yours’ Sprout said opening the door on the right.

Neville followed Sprout into the room. It was furnished with two waist high benches each set up with the basics for potion brewing.

‘You’ll have to get all your own equipment and ingredients but a decent shop in the Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley apothecaries will fix you up’ Sprout said going over to the only window and throwing it open ‘for the first couple of months of the school term you can use my facilities until you get your own things organised’

Neville suddenly seized with a moment of inspiration walked between the two benched and flourished his wand in the direction of the wide expanse of wall in front of him.

Instantly the old stone wall began to bubble and contort and within moments a door appeared. He grinned and opened it. Directly on the other side of it was the lounge room of his quarters.

‘Purely for conveniences sake’ he said to Professor Sprout whos eyes had widened in surprise ‘and if I accidentally blow anything up I’ll need easy access to put out any fires or repair any damage’

‘You make it sound like you expect to blow things up’ Sprout said.

‘Well Potions was never my strong suit til I got into Auror training and even then it was nothing spectacular’ Neville said shutting the door again ‘and accidents happen’

‘True okay now let’s head for the green houses’ Sprout said ‘you’ll need a refresher of what we have’

For the rest of the day Neville spent the day with Professor Sprout going over the entire Hogwarts Herbology stock and making lists of what he was going to have to order before the start of term. He finished off by signing his apprenticeship papers with McGonagall, Sprout and the head of the board of Govenors before flooing home at eight PM. Hannah was as usual was at the dining table with a stack of parchment in front of her an a battered eagle feather quill in her hand.

‘You’re home!’ she exclaimed throwing down her quill and getting up to greet him.

Neville engulfed her in a hugand kissed her on the lips.

‘I’m stuffed’ he said ‘how was your day?’

‘Oh ho hum you know the same stuff. Just doing the ordering for next week. That German Ale Ron likes so much is running out quick I’m going to have to triple the order’

‘It’s not because Ron’s drinking so much of it is it?’ Neville said with a grin going to the fridge and pulling out a bottle of the said lager.

‘Ha ha no it’s just really popular, may as well ride the wave while it’s there’ Hannah said hoisting herself up on the bench and dangling her legs over the edge ‘plus Oktoberfest is coming up soon and we’ll get shitloads of German magic folk in town got to have it for that’

‘That’s a month away!’

‘I know but we can put any excess in the cellars’ Hannah said ‘anyway sod my day how’s yours gone?’

‘It was busy as hell’ Neville said leaning against the bench and making a face ‘academically I’m ready for the start of term but I’ve still yet to set up my quarters and potions lab. I’ve sent off owls and ordered what I need and it’s being delivered on Saturday to Hogwarts so I’ll have to spend at least the morning there’

‘So what ae you quarters like?’ Hannah asked in interest ‘any decorating posibilities for me?’

‘Yes one big opportunity’ Neville said ‘my quarters have a bed one lounge chair and a dining setting that looks older than Hogwarts itself. Take your ideas wand and some inpiration and go to town it’s literally a blank canvas’

Hannah lit up like a Christmas tree
‘Goodie’ she said with a grin ‘I have loads of ideas’

‘Don’t go to too much effort I don’t plan on spending huge amounts of time there’ Neville said.

‘I know that but I want it to feel homey for you on the times you do have to stay there’ Hannah said ‘if we get everything done on Saturday do you want to go for a ride on Sunday? We haven’t been for a while’

‘Yeah okay then can we have our own ride later?’ Neville said with a cheeky grin.

‘Why later?’ Hannah said ‘let’s go to Shennandoah Falls and have a ride there. We haven’t been there since we bought the Leaky and I fancy a bit of outdoor friskiness’

‘Geez you’re randy today’ Neville said with a grin setting his bottle of beer down.

‘Well I’ve been on my own haven’t I?’ Hannah said you’re probably too tired to do the full thing but if you have a hot bath I might join you’

Neville grinned.
‘Sounds like a great idea....’

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