Thank Heavens For Eusebius Spark

Thank Heavens For Eusebius Spark
Pt. 2 of 2

Neville Longbottom hated himself.

He hated himself for hating to visit his parents.

He hated Drooble's Best Blowing Gum and he hated whoever it was that gave his mother the gum wrappers so that she would give him one. Each time he visited, she gave him a wrapper. Each time, Neville folded up a tiny piece of his heart and stuffed it into his pocket and left the room where his parents lived, stuck in the minds of children. Infants.

He most especially hated having to come here at the holidays. His grandmother no longer came with him each time, but she expected him to continue visiting his parents, and so, because it was easier to fulfill her requests, he did so. He hated it, though, and he hated himself for hating it.

Neville did not like the sensation he thought was hate, but it really wasn't. What he was feeling was despair. However, never having learned the concept, he continued believing he was hateful.

"I love you, Mom," he whispered dutifully, and kissed her temple. She did not look at him or even blink and he sighed out the pain this made him feel. It was far too deep for him to put into words. It was far too old a feeling for him to no longer feel, if not exactly comfortable, then at least accepting of it.

He remembered kissing Luna now and felt a sense of miserable guilt strike. But why?

Was it because his parents could no longer express their feelings? Was it because he was growing up now, no longer a boy, almost a man, learning the lessons he needed to in order to take on the mantle of adulthood one day and soon? Was it because he really would rather be with Luna than here, with his own mother? Or was it that kiss?

He had kissed his mother. He had kissed Luna. The two could not be more different and yet the feelings he held for both were not different enough.

He realized now that somewhere, deep in his heart, he felt love for Luna. She was a strong, silly, talented, troubling, mad, and miraculous girl. Who was he to judge, though?

It was said his mother was mad. He loved his mother, though, still. Perhaps... just perhaps he had found someone who would help him understand the madness.

His mother reached up now and he saw the expected Drooble's gum wrapper in her hand. She pressed it to his hand and he took it as he always did.

"Thank you, Mum."

He was about to stick it in his pocket and put it away, when he felt something in his pocket. Pulling it out he realized it was the Spectrespecs Luna had given him.

He found himself handing them to his mother. "Here, mum. For you."

She didn't seem to understand, merely holding them in her loose clasp, but he did not mind. From one mad girl, he thought, to another. Somehow he knew Luna would understand. She always seemed to.

"Happy Christmas," he whispered again, and then turned to walk out of the room.

He turned back at the lintel of the doorway, though, to look on his father, his mother, before exiting.

His mother was wearing the Spectrespecs.

* * * *

Neville liked Trevor.

Trevor had been his companion for almost seven years, tadpole and toad. He had been transfigured countless times. He had nestled in his pocket at Neville's best and worst times. He had even been at the Ministry with him, but no one else knew that.

Trevor was a mostly silent friend, and Neville treasured that. The only thing he despaired of was Trevor's tendency to hop out of his pocket and hop away.

He did not do it often, but when he did it was upsetting.

Had someone influenced him? Did Trevor leave because he was unhappy? Was he tired of Neville? Was he bored? All these thoughts circled Neville's mind as he searched the Gryffindor common room once more for his verdant familiar. He knew they were silly, even unlikely thoughts. He took good care of Trevor, but the thoughts returned each time he went missing.

He did not know and would have been surprised to learn that the reason for this was his never-addressed fears of his parents having abandoned him when he was a toddler. Intellectually, Neville knew they had not been enticed away nor had they left him because they were unhappy or tired of him or bored. Nevertheless, these childish concerns, long buried, would resurface when Trevor went missing.

Spring it might be now by the calendar, but it was still too cold for Trevor to be out hopping around.

The portrait door opened and Lavender Brown stepped in. Seeing Neville, she gestured.

"Luna wants to see you outside."

Neville nodded his thanks and gave up his search. He hoped Trevor would come back in time for dinner.

Luna stood just outside the door, eyes gleaming. Neville felt as if his stomach did a tiny flip.

"You wanted to see me?"

She nodded and held out her hand. Trevor croaked at him from her palm.

"Trevor!" He took his toad back and looked to Luna. "Where did you find him?"

"He was by my pillow when I woke up from my nap. I think he was keeping nostro-knorfs from filling my head with bad dreams. Toads can do that you know."

"They can?"

"Yes. Toads have loads of useful magical properties, Neville. Didn't you know?"

He considered this, not wanting to seem foolish. "Er... no."

She did not seem troubled or apt to laugh at him, but she took his hand and began to pull him along the corridor.

"Come with me."

To his surprise, she took him to the library, where she pulled down two books - The Natural and Magical History of Toads [1], and The Order of Anura and Their Uses in Potions, Conjuring and Divination.

"Look." She had opened one book and placed a finger on the text, reading aloud, "all toads are frogs, but true toads belong to the order Anura. There are over 36,000 species."

Neville looked at Trevor who croaked again and he stuck him in his shirt pocket.

"Toads are thought to have the power to alter mental states, both causing and curing hallucinations, bad dreams and unwanted visions."

"Oh."

"Do you have bad dreams?"

Neville considered this, surprised. Truthfully he only had unsettling dreams near exam time. Otherwise, he could not complain.

"No."

"There you go," she smiled, continuing, "The ancient Egyptians believed frogs were the symbol of rebirth and renewal and women wore charms shaped like frogs to increase their fertility."

She paused and looked over to Neville.

"Don't worry. I don't think Trevor was trying to help me get pregnant."

Neville blushed, looking around worriedly, hoping no one had heard Luna. Fortunately they were the only two in the stacks at the moment.

"Besides, I know the non-contraceptus charm."

"Luna..."

"There is also the Toad Stone," she continued blithely. "Which is located inside a toad's head. The Greeks wore them in a necklace or a ring that would grow warm or change color when exposed to poison."

"Well, that's useful."

"Yes, but you'd have to get the stone out. I don't think you want to do that."

"No," Neville agreed, briefly stroking Trevor's head, and adding, "But I bet Snape would."

"That would be silly since he has loads of Toad Stones in his store room." She put the books down and stroked Trevor, too. "He wouldn't need you Trevor."

Her voice had changed slightly when speaking to his familiar and Neville smiled. It was the voice a woman put on when speaking to a child or a beloved pet and it gave him a fluttery feeling inside.

"Luna."

She looked over at him. The fluttery feeling increased. She searched his face.

"You're going to kiss me again, aren't you?" The prospect did not seem to disturb her.

He nodded, unable to speak, just suddenly wanting more than anything to take her in his arms and-- then his lips were on her own unresisting ones and her arms slipped around him and his hands rested on the bookshelf behind her and it was warm and wonderful and her lips were moist and moved against his and he hoped his sudden, throbbing erection wasn't poking a hole into her stomach, but he couldn't really be bothered to stop and find out.

"Neville," she whimpered as his lips moved to her cheek, her ear, her neck.

"Come with me," he murmured urgently, grabbing her hand and rushing out of the library.

They ran all the way to the greenhouses, then to the storage shed where all the tools were kept. It was dry and warm there, due to the proximity of the warming charms for the more delicate plants. No one came there except advanced Herbology students and Professor Sprout. Since it was near dinnertime, he didn't expect anyone to disturb them.

"Are we going to have sexual intercourse now?" Luna asked brightly.

A sudden sound interrupted Neville's answer and he swiftly checked the next room, afraid Professor Sprout might have finished dinner early and decided to check on the plants, but the only movement was from the Screechsnaps who were quietly snoring, and the venomous Tentacula that appeared to be pouting. It had been tetchy since it had been repotted. He turned back to Luna then and nearly swallowed his tongue.

Luna was taking off her clothes, neatly folding them on a small shelf that held trays of seeds. She looked at his incredulous expression and paused, her hands about to push down her soft yellow panties, tender pink nipples seeming to point at him as she spoke.

"You did want to have sexual intercourse?"

Neville nodded, panting a little as desire raced through him. He could not believe she was undressing. He could not believe he could actually see her breasts. He could scarcely believe this was all really happening.

"Pinch me," he said, hoping it really was happening. He'd had enough dreams of late involving Luna that it was entirely possible he was asleep in his bed in the Gryffindor boy's dorm with an enormous erection and about to have a wet dream.

Luna did not question his odd behaviour, merely stepping over and reaching out to pinch his inner forearm, hard.

"Ow!"

"Do you want me to pinch you again? Is this something you like during sex?" Luna did not seem offended, merely curious.

Neville shook his head now and reached for her. As he kissed her, he could feel her hands undressing him. Soon enough, they reached his trouser placket and this time no Professor Snape stopped her from easing out his achingly hard penis. His pants and trousers slid to the ground and he stepped out of them as her hands assessed his girth and length.

"It's interesting looking," she murmured, adding, "I've never seen a boy naked before."

Neville took her hands in his, kissed them, and led her to the pile of tarps in the corner. Before laying them both down, he gently and slowly pulled down her panties, revealing her wispy dark blonde curls. Her musky, womanly scent made his head swim.

He tossed her panties atop his discarded trousers and sent a silent wish to any deities that might be listening not to be interrupted.

* * * *

At the door, two silent figures stood, watching. Both were also nude.

Millicent Bulstrode turned to Gregory Goyle, lifting a brow. She had already cast a silencing charm so Neville and Luna could not hear them, but the impulse to be silent was strong.

"I never knew Neville had such a large... wand," she whispered, intrigued.

"I thought you wanted to--" Millicent's fingers, which he nipped at playfully, silenced Goyle.

She swatted his hip, making him jump and smile.

"Oh, you like that," she teased, not really asking. Both were longtime lovers, well aware of the roles they held during sex.

His smile increased as she pushed at his powerfully muscled chest, and before he knew it, she had turned him around, bent him over one of the large, waist-high pots, and was spanking his bare buttocks with enthusiasm. His already engorged erection grew larger still now, leaking as his 'punishment' continued.

"You love it when I treat you like the dirty boy you are, don't you, Mr. Naughty Bottom?"

"Yes! Yes I do."

"You'd love it if Neville and Loony came in here and saw you like this."

"No. No, I wouldn't."

The smacking became harder and sharper as she picked up a flat spade to use as a paddle. To his chagrin, the pain merely excited him more.

"Liar. Tell the truth."

"Ah! Yes, Mistress Milly. Yes, I'd love it!"

"I knew it. They don't have any idea what a dirty boy you are, do they? They don't know how much you love me whacking your arse."

"No Mistress Milly!"

"You're lucky I don't drop the silencing charm and call them so they can walk in here and watch me paddle you until you come."

Goyle groaned, fighting to keep from ejaculating as her words made him harder and harder.

"You should thank me for keeping your filthy secret, Mr. Naughty Bottom."

"Yes, Mistress Milly! Thank you! (swat!) Thank you, Mistress! (swat!)"

This continued for a while, until Millicent took pity on his panting, thrusting state and pressed the cold, clean steel of the tool against his huge red organ. Without preamble, Gregory Goyle issued forth, covering the spade with his seed as he grunted.

"Oh! Oh!"

It took several moments for him to catch his breath, during which time Millicent had manoeuvred herself atop a sturdy shelf and splayed her legs. When his head finally cleared, he looked over at her, found her smiling, licking the spade and then using it to point at her pudenda.

"Mr. Naughty Bottom needs to express thanks for his special treatment."

Goyle nodded, moving to kneel before her and work his long tongue through her wiry hair to the warm, wet slit. He so loved to have found a large, powerful woman who could order him around, be masterful with him, treat him like a very naughty boy.

* * * *

Neville liked knowing what to do without fumbling. He had enough of fumbling.

Thanking his gran several times in his head for having given him Eusebius Spark's Guide for Ecstatically Happy Relationships to read back when he turned 14, Neville paused between kisses to look at his newfound lover.

"Luna... have you... have you ever done this before?"

"No. No one's ever even asked me on a date. A real date I mean. Not just as a friend."

This made him pause. Was she rebuking him? It was true; he'd not even stepped out with her to Hogsmeade or anything.

"Um... do you... would you like to go out with me on a date?"

Luna giggled. "Silly. I'm willing to have sex with you, why wouldn't I want to go out with you?"

He couldn't help blushing fiercely. "No, I mean... yes... I mean, would you like to go out... before we do this... anything?"

She considered this for a long moment during which Neville cursed himself for saying anything. Finally, she said, "No."

Uncertain, crushed, and feeling his erection starting to shrink, Neville began to pull back from her. "Oh."

Luna giggled again, reaching up to stroke his cheek. "You are really very silly sometimes, Neville. I meant no I don't want to go out first. I'll be happy to go out with you... after we have sex."

"Oh!"

Suddenly relieved, he told himself firmly not to say anything else that would blow his chances and leaned over to kiss her some more.

"Unless of course you don't want to," Luna added after a moment.

"Huh?"

"Well, you might not like having sex with me," she said reasonably. "Or I might not like having sex with you. Then it would be kind of pointless for us to be going out on dates if we hated the sex."

"Luna." Neville tried not to groan in frustration or laugh. He truly cared what she thought and did not want to hurt her in anyway. I love her.

Before he could think, it had slipped out of his mouth. "Luna, I love you."

Time seemed to spin out very slowly. They gazed at each other, hearts beating fast. Then Luna blinked.

"In that case, I hope the sex is good," she admitted.

Neville smiled. "Me, too."

Then he leaned closer to her, letting his hand wander down to gently touch her small, pink-tipped breasts. She gasped at the sensation and he smiled.

"Is that good?"

She nodded and he bent over to kiss them, then gently suckle her nipples. He could feel her hands running over his body.

He slid one hand down to part her soft thatch and gently finger the edge of her vulva.

"Yes, Neville."

He sighed with satisfaction, still suckling as his fingers crept into her moist, warm slit and gently stroked along her clit.

"Neville!"

* * * *

"Are they still at it?"

Goyle shrugged, a happy, if vapid expression on his face. He had been spanked into a state of utter imbecility and was fairly certain Milly had been licked into a similar state.

Millicent pursed her lips and shook her head. It was always the quiet ones.

"Come on. Naughty Bottom."

He smirked and she slapped him lightly and they both left the greenhouse, and the happy couple, behind.

* * * *

Neville did not like feeling uncertain. This was bad because he was quite often uncertain about people or events.

"Are you sure?"

"You've asked me that twice, Neville. I'm sure."

He nodded, sweating and panting and hoping he would not explode as soon as he got inside her, or worse, before he could get inside her.

Considering the state of his erection, it was entirely possible. It felt like most of his blood was throbbing in the engorged tool between his legs.

She reached for him and he pulled back. "Please. Don't touch me. I..."

"Too close? It's okay. I was just going to help you get inside."

Neville thought this through as best he could with desire-addled brains before nodding at her. Her hands touched him and he began to mentally recite advanced herb classifications.

Soon he felt warm, wet folds around the head of his penis and before he could control it, he thrust. She was very wet and did not seem to be in pain. He thrust again, felt something resisting him. Luna gasped. He watched her then and they gazed on each other as he thrust one last time and pushed into her fully. Luna gasped again, then panted. Neville waited, his mind reciting plants that grow in trees, plants that grow in water, parasitic plants...

"What about them?" Luna inquired after a moment.

"Huh?"

"You said something about parasitic plants."

"Oh. No. I..."

"Reciting plant classifications and trying not to ejaculate?"

He nodded dumbly; profoundly glad one of them could communicate sensibly.

"That's very sweet, Neville, but remember -- oh! -- what Eusebius Spark said: first time for the wizard, second time for the witch. It's natural if you let go early."

He only heard her say 'that's very sweet' before he shut her out and began to thrust in earnest. It was sheer ecstasy all stemming from his erection.

She was so soft, so sweet-smelling, so... so... Neville jerked, gasped, feeling himself shooting convulsively inside her, even as she held him close, touched his face.

It was perfect.

Then he caught his breath and smiled, slightly apologetic.

"I'm sorry, Luna."

"I'm not," she murmured dreamily, shifting her hips and making him gasp a little. "That was very nice. Very, very nice."

He smiled, gently pulling out and held her close. After a moment, his hand crept back between her legs and soon she was squirming and gasping and he was growing quite hard again.

"Oh, Luna," he murmured, kissing and caressing her even as she writhed on his fingers.

"Neville!"

He stretched over her and slipped right in without preamble. She screamed and he paused, but soon enough she grasped at his back, urging him on and he lowered his head to nuzzle her neck as he thrust into her.

The pressure off this time, he was able to stroke and caress her. He kissed and licked and gently nipped at whatever he could reach. He suckled her breasts and moved one hand down between them to press his thumb against her slippery clitoris.

"Neville!"

He could feel her convulse around him, suddenly even wetter, gripping him tighter and he lost himself to his own climax.

"Luna!"

They both gasped out their passion, catching their breaths.

A muffled croak made Neville giggle and Luna raise an inquisitive eyebrow. She looked over to what he was staring at to see Trevor perched on a shelf and watching them warily.

She giggled. "He probably thinks we're not doing it right."

Neville considered the mating habits of toads and smiled at the thought. "Probably. But I'm not going to hop over your back in the middle of the pond."

She began to laugh at this. "Good. I don't think the Headmaster would want you to spray your seed over the water anyway."

Convulsed with laughter and giddy with relief, the lovers held each other, goofy smiles on their faces.

"I can't believe we did this," he admitted softly, stroking Luna's shoulder.

"I can't either. I didn't think I'd ever have a friend, much less a boyfriend."

"Is that what I am?"

"Well, I suppose technically, I'm your lover. It doesn't matter," she admitted. "So long as we're together."

He nodded at this, kissed her.

"We'd probably better get back. I don't know when curfew is."

"I think we have enough time to get dressed and get back to our common rooms."

"Good."

They dressed quietly, Neville retrieving Trevor and sticking him back in his pocket. He turned to Luna, smiled at her and kissed her again.

"I do love you, Luna."

"I know."

"I don't know when we can..."

"Get together again? I don't either. So much is going on and exams are coming up."

"I... I didn't hurt you, did I?" He stroked her cheek wonderingly.

"No. It was... it hurt a little at first, but it was wonderful, Neville. You were really very nice."

"Good."

"Did... was I..."

"You were perfect," he murmured, before kissing her senseless. When he let her go she giggled. "What?"

"According to Eusebius Spark, next time should be even better," she said brightly.

* * * *

Next time turned out to be quite a long time later. So much happened that spring and early summer - exams, Quidditch... Death Eaters. Neville was injured during the Death Eater attack on the school.

Luna took care of him as he recovered. It was some time, though, before they could do more than kiss or cuddle.

With school out, it was rather more difficult for them to get together, too.

It wasn't until Luna told her father she could not work all the time during her summer break that he hired a new office assistant and she gained some more freedom.

Neville was surprised in his solarium one day as his gran led Luna into the room.

"Young man - you have a guest!"

"Yes, gran. Thank you. Hi, Luna."

"Hi, Neville."

"I understand you are the daughter of the Quibbler's publisher?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Well-mannered, too. You'll do," she said approvingly, before nodding to them both, giving Neville a particularly pointed look, then leaving them alone in the room.

Neville reached for her even as she reached for him and they embraced. So much had happened since they'd last seen each other. He couldn't believe how much love he felt for her.

"Oh, Neville. I've missed you."

"I've missed you, too."

"Can we have sex?" she asked, looking up to him.

"Luna! Gran could hear you." He looked to the door half-expecting to see his formidable gran there.

"It wouldn't really matter. I asked her already."

"What?"

"Well, first I asked her if I could see you, then I told her that was kind of a silly question since I was already seeing you."

"You did?"

Luna nodded. "Then she asked if I was your girlfriend and I said no, I was your lover."

Neville groaned. "Oh, no..."

"Then she laughed."

He frowned. "Gran? Laughed?"

"Yes. She said I had spunk and she was glad because her grandson needed a good strong-minded woman. She asked if I was a Gryffindor and I told her I was in Ravenclaw. She said that was even better, because heaven knows you need someone with smarts to help you out. Then she asked me if I'd like to come for your birthday celebration tomorrow. I said yes, and then she led me to you."

"Oh."

Neville was nonplussed. He knew he was practically of age now and that, technically, his gran could neither order him around nor have any say in who he could or couldn't see, but he had expected rather more ceremony when it came to explaining Luna to her.

"So now that it's all okay - can we have sex?"

Neville couldn't help it, he laughed. Then he put his arms around his Luna.

"Yes."

She sighed happily and reached up to touch his face.

"I love you, Neville."

"I'm glad." He kissed her, then took her hand in his and led her to his bedroom.


Neville liked his life now. He liked it very, very much.


FIN

=================================

Footnote
1. A Natural and Magical History of Toad - Human Relations
Robert M. Degraaf: http://tinyurl.com/9336g


Completed: 23 November 2005