It Started With a Kiss

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A/N1: Sorry folks for this taking so long I didn't have any net access at home for nearly a month and then had to copy what I had written in a notebook onto a word document which took me three days. I hope you like this latest chappie!

This chappie is for LadyVoldemort87 who hates Ron and Hermione but likes Neville/Hannah and for Tim Deck who sent me an email saying how much he liked my first two fics 'The Proposal' and 'The Wedding'

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The next Day Neville rose early he was about to head down to the Great Hall when Harry pulled him aside.

‘Got a minute mate?’ He said.

‘A minute an hour all day’ Neville replied following Harry to the far corner of the common room ‘What’s up?’

‘You know Kingsley is he new Minister for Magic?’ Harry began.

‘Yeah it was the second lead story on the front page of the Evening Prophet yesterday’ Neville said ‘I don’t know much about him apart from the fact he’s a member of the Order of The Phoenix and used to head up the Auror office’

‘Yeah that’s about it, well last night he owled me and asked Ron, Hermione and I to meet him at the Ministry at lunchtime’ Harry continued ‘He also wants you to come along’

Neville stared at Harry.
‘What for?’ He said in surprise.

‘I don’t know he didn’t elaborate, I suppose we’ll find out at lunchtime. Can you come?’

‘Yeah sure’ Neville said ‘Mind you at this stage it’s out of curiosity more than anything else’

‘Same here’ Harry said flopping back in his chair ‘Kingsley is a good friend of mine but the last thing I expected after all that went on yesterday was to meet with the Minister for Magic. If it wasn’t Kingsley I’d say sod off. My experiences with the last two Ministers haven’t exactly been sunshine and daisies’

Neville laughed.
‘Well from what I’ve found out about this Kingsley bloke in the last twenty four hours leads me to believe he’s a good bloke and is the one to fix up what’s left of the Ministry’

‘Yeah he is’ Harry said ‘So did you rest up okay last night?’ I know it was several hours before you came back up to the dorm...Hannah keep you awake did she?’

Neville blushed and rolled his eyes.
‘Yes she did but not in the filthy dirty way you think’ He said ‘We chatted for ages and got drunk together. I have to get a measure of Hangover Draught from Slughorn before I get started for the day my head is a bit sore’

Harry sniggered like a little boy then burst into raucous laughter as Neville’s blush deepened.

‘Bugger off Harry you’re as bad as Seamus’ Neville said dryly ‘He wouldn’t stop hanging shit on me about Hannah either’

‘So is there a you and Hannah?’ Harry asked in interest as his laughter died down; seriously this time, I’m not hanging it on you’

‘Awww I dunno Harry it’s too early to say if anything will happen. I’m only seventeen there’s loads of time for me to go domestic. But I think at the very least Hannah and I could be friends. She’s a nice girl’

‘Well good on ya, whatever happens. Let’s go down to breakfast yeah? I could eat a horse and chase its jockey’

Neville raised his eyebrows.
‘Excuse me?’

Harry grinned.
‘It’s a muggle saying, a euphemism for I’m starving’

‘You could’ve just said that you know’

‘I did’ Harry said with a snort ‘Just in an indirect way’

‘Ha ha...so where are Ron, Hermione and Ginny? I would’ve thought after all that happened last night you and Ginny would be permanently locked at the lips’

Harry gave a goofy grin.
‘Give it time we will’ He said ‘I have actually got the time to do that now’

It was Neville’s turn to snigger like a schoolboy
‘I suppose that is what Ron and Hermione are up to?’ He said as they climbed out of the portrait hole and set off for the Great Hall.

‘Dunno but if I were to place a bet on what they’re up to that would get my Galleons’ Harry said ‘Ron didn’t come in long before you. I have a feeling the Room of Requirement will be getting a workout I more ways than one in the coming days’

‘Okay stop there I don’t want my appetite to disappear’ Neville said making a face and waving his hands in front of his face.

Harry and Neville made their way down to the Great Hall where due to the small numbers remaining at the castle the repaired house tables has been magicked to lean up against the walls. In their place were several smaller dining tables of varying shapes and styles. Harry and Neville made their way over to an empty table in the corner and began tucking into their breakfast.

‘I can’t believe how back to normal the hall looks’ Neville commented slathering his eggs in tomato sauce (Harry screwed his nose up at this) ‘I mean only a few hours ago every single window was broken and the floor looked like a polar ice shelf with all the cracks in it. You can barely tell where all the damage was done now’

‘I reckon the Hufflepuff table will have that mark for a long time’ Harry said jerking his head toward the nearby Hufflepuff table that bore the mark of being split in two by a magnificent force ‘What the hell caused that mark?’

‘Probably a stray Avada Kedavra’ Neville said his gaze following the zig zag crack that ran down the centre of the ancient wooden table ‘In fact it might’ve been the curse that would’ve hit me had Hannah not pulled down when I stood up in the middle of the battle to get Ginny, Hermione and Luna’s attention’

‘You did that?’ Harry asked incredulously.

‘Yeah I know not the smartest thing I’ve ever done’ Neville said ‘But one tends to do unexpected things in the heat of the moment’

‘You’re the shining example of that’ Harry said with a grin ‘Mango chutney?’

‘On eggs are you mental?’ Neville exclaimed screwing up his nose ‘Yuck no thanks’

Half an hour later Ron and Hermione entered the Great Hall closely followed by Ginny and Luna.

‘Trust you two to be here early stuffing your faces...what the hell is that?’ Ginny exclaimed peering at the yellow, orange and brown puddle of goo on Harry’s plate.

‘Poached eggs and mango chutney’ Neville volunteered (Harry had his mouth full) ‘At least I think so. What most people identify as eggs ceased to remain in a definable form long ago’

Harry swallowed his mouthful of eggs and chutney and rolled his eyes.
‘Sod off’ He said thickly.

‘So what’s happening with everyone in the coming days?’ Luna asked in her usual airy fairy manner as she spread jam on a piece of toast ‘Neville?’

‘Well I have a meeting at midday but after that not much apart from staying here for a couple of days to help get things back to normal’ Neville said ‘I have to go home to Yorkshire eventually Gran would come here and hex me if I didn’t’

‘Hermione?’

‘I’m going to stay here and help re-construct the castle then after going to all the f-funerals Ron, Harry, Ginny and I are heading to Australia to go and find my parents’ Hermione said ‘Of course I don’t think I need the help...’

‘Maybe not but we want to go with you’ Ginny interjected ‘Friends stick together, we’ve stuck together so far and another trip won’t hurt. Plus I quite fancy a trip to Australia. I’ve only been to Egypt’

‘Would you Mum let you?’ Neville asked with a raised eyebrow.

‘Probably not that’s why we’re going to nick off when she least expects it. We’re going to let Dad know what’s happening so He can calm down Mum when she goes nuts’

‘Do you think it’ll take long to find your folks?’ Neville asked Hermione in interest.

‘It shouldn’t do’ Hermione said ‘I set them up in a dental practice in Adelaide and put them in a nice house so they should be in the same spot unless they have moved. If they have moved it should be no harder than finding them on the muggle electoral role’

‘It would be that easy?’ Neville asked doubtfully ‘Australia is an awfully big country with twenty million or so people in it and you need to find two?’

‘Well theoretically finding them should be easy but I’ll stay there til I do’ Hermione said ‘When I set them up in Adelaide I made sure they had few reasons to leave. I couldn’t use any magic to force them to stay because they’re there secretly there’s not trace of them with the Wizarding Immigration Department in Melbourne or with the muggle equivalent the Department of Immigration and Foreign Affairs in Canberra’

‘How did you manage that?’ Neville asked her in surprise even after all these years Hermione’s magical skill still amazed him.

‘Well it was hard’ Hermione said ‘They flew to Australia in a plane the muggle way and did go through the immigration department but once they were settled in I hacked into the computer system and wiped their arrivals from the record. That was harder than I thought it was going to be’

‘So how are you going to get them home?’

‘The muggle way I’ll set them up to fly home then floo home myself’

‘Sounds complicated’

‘Yeah more so than I would like but I thought there were a chance of Voldemort and his cronies trying to get to me via them so I had to send them into hiding in a complicated manner. See I found if things were too complicated they tended not to do it’ Hermione said ‘They were more likely to put their efforts into finding Harry, Ron and I at home than to bother looking for us via my parents’

‘Makes sense’

‘So what needs most immediate attention in the fixing up department?’ Neville asked no one in particular.

‘Well the most pressing issue is cleaning up the Entrance Hall’ Harry said starting again on another serving of eggs and mango chutney. ‘Structurally there’s nothing much we can do until builders get in but there’s load of cleaning up to do. If everyone chips in the castle should be cleaned up by the end of the week. The big stuff the builders will have to do. I don’t think anyone remaining behind has experience in building spells. All we can do is cast some re-enforcing spells til the builders can come’

‘God the Entrance Hall will take more then til the end of the week’ Ginny said ‘It’s a pile of rubble! If it weren’t for all the tarps over the gaps we’d be freezing our arses off’

‘Well Harry and I are going to start on it after breakfast you can join in and help if you like’ Neville said ‘We’ll need every pair of hands we can get’

‘Is the castle going to be ready for the next school year?’ Luna said ‘There is a lot of damage’

‘If we all chip in I think it might be’ Neville said ‘But then new school year is ten weeks away and as part of wizarding society I would’ve thought the Ministry would put a lot of it’s energy into having Hogwarts re-built. There will be no wizarding society if there’s no Hogwarts when you think about it. If Hogwarts closes eventually all the qualified witches and wizards will run out’

‘I doubt Hogwarts will close’ Ron said.

‘You really think so?’

‘Yeah I do, Hogwarts has been in existence for well over a thousand years nothing amongst all the battles and wars in the wizarding world has come close to closing it I don’t see why this would’

‘Yeah but to be fair Ron none of those battles or wars has actually come onto the grounds’ Neville said ‘And we’ve had two in consecutive years. The Ministry and Board of Governors might not want to close the school but the pressure of society might force them to’

‘Fuck society!’ Harry exclaimed with such force everyone at the table to stop in surprise eating with cutlery full of food half way to their mouths ‘If it wasn’t for Hogwarts I wouldn’t have been able to do what I have. This school will close when hell freezes over. I will not allow it to close...DAMMIT!’

At the last word Harry slammed his fist down on the able causing everyone seated with him to jump in alarm.

There was a brief awkward silence before Neville spoke breaking the tension.

‘I propose a toast’ He said filling his goblet with orange juice and lifting it from the table ‘To the rebuilding of Hogwarts, and may it stay open long after our relatives in a thousand generations have died’

‘To Hogwarts!’ Everyone cried.

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At eleven AM Neville paused his activity of clearing rubble from the Entrance Hall. Magic had been used to shift the larger pieces of stone but it was soon found that it was easier to shift the smaller debris manually without magic. The weather was unusually warm for the time of year and his shirt was drenched with sweat.

‘We better get ready to go to London’ Harry said to Neville spearing his shovel into a huge pile of debris and wiping his brow with a hanky he conjured from thin air ‘God look at it we’ve barely made inroads!’

‘Yeah we have the access path is wider’ Ron said following Harry’s lead and conjuring a hanky from thin air ‘That’ll make things easier for the builders when they get here’

‘I expected with how hard we’ve been working there’d be a bit more difference’

‘Harry you have to keep in mind a lot of damage was done here and it’s not going to be fixed in five minutes’ Hermione said ‘Damage on whatever scale always takes more time to fix up than it took to cause’

‘Damn you for sounding so sensible Hermione’

‘That’s me girl to be sure to be sure to be sure’ Ron said in a bad imitation of Seamus’s accent slinging his arm over Hermione’s shoulder.

Everyone rolled their eyes and Hermione elbowed Ron in the side.
‘Ronald get off me you’re all sweaty and covered in stone dust’ Hermione said half-heartedly pushing him away.

‘So are you sweetheart’ Ron said with a grin.

‘Oh vomit you two get a room will ya?’ Ernie McMillan called from the other side of the Hall his head just visible above a huge chunk of granite ‘There’s enough people in the Hospital Wing without you two sending us all there with a dodgy guts’

Neville snorted which got Harry sniggering and eventually Ron and Hermione joined in grateful for the opportunity to laugh frivolously.

I wonder what the Minister wants with us?’ Neville wondered as they climbed the steps to the seventh floor.

‘S’pose we’ll find out eventually’ Hermione said ‘Mind you so soon after the battle it does seem odd he wants to see just us’

‘I half expected the media to be pestering us’ Harry said ‘It’s been unusually quiet’

‘McGonagall is keeping them at bay’ Neville said ‘I heard at morning tea there’s a huge press crush outside the main gates led my Rita Skeeter wanting to get entry to the grounds’

‘If that fucking Skeeter woman comes near us the Death Eaters won’t be the only one up in front of the Wizengamot!’ Hermione shrilled in an uncharacteristic burst of foul language ‘I want to try the Yoga Hex on someone!’

‘There’s a Yoga Hex?’ Neville asked in surprise stopping in surprise and causing Harry to walk into him ‘Oof sorry Harry’

‘Yeah it forces the hexee into the lotus position with their arms behind their backs’ Hermione said distractedly standing aside to allow a group of Ravenclaws to pass by each carrying a bucket and broom’

‘Did you invent it?’

‘No it’s in one of the books I picked up from the Room of Requirement back in out fifth year when we first started Dumbledore’s Army’ Hermione said ‘I had it with me when Harry, Ron and I were out and about this year. I should’ve used it on Dolohov when he tried to hex Luna and I but all I could think of at the time was the damn Leg Locker Curse’

‘Hey it worked for me’ Neville said as they passed the fifth floor ‘Simple spells seem to have been the most effective in the heat of the battle. Hannah and I dropped Greyback with the Jelly Legs and Tie Up Jinx’

‘Really?’ Harry asked in surprise ‘Good on ya thanks’

‘No worries Harry’

Forty five minutes later Neville along with Harry, Ron and Hermione lined up in front of the floo ready to depart for the meeting with Kingsley Shacklebolt.

‘Remember to speak very clearly’ McGonagall said to Neville after Harry had disappeared amongst the green flames ‘This is especially important, this floo will take you directly to the Minister’s office. You will return but a portkey ordered my the Minister himself’

‘This is really weird’ Neville said grabbing a handful of floo powder and stepping into the grate ‘Minister for Magic’s Office’

Acid green flames erupted around Neville and in an instant he disappeared from McGonagall’s office so quickly he may as well have disapparated.

Unlike the usual floo rides he was used to this one was smooth as silk with no bumps and sharps turn and after a short time Neville’s feet hit something solid and he arrived in a sparsely furnished office. In which Harry and Ron were waiting along with the intimidating figure that was Kingsley Shacklebolt.

‘Neville!’ He exclaimed striding forward and grasping Neville’s hand.

‘Minister’ Neville replied politely.

Kingsley pointed his wand to the space to Harry’s immediate left and conjured a soft squishy recliner chair for Neville’s use.

‘Please take a seat’ He said ‘I’ll get things underway once Hermione gets here’

‘Great because the curiosity is killing me’

Harry and Ron snorted and sniggered loudly.

Just as Neville sat down in his conjured chair he grate burst into flame and Hermione arrived.

‘Well that was odd’ She announced stepping out of the grate with Kingsley’s help and hexing the magical ash from her robes ‘Hello Kingsley’

‘Hello Hermione, what’s odd?’

That floo ride I’ve never been on such a smooth one. Last time I flooed anywhere I had a bruise the size of a fiver on my knee’

‘Ah yes that took particular effort to get it like that’ Kingsley said flicking his wand and giving Hermione a chair identical to Neville’s ‘Please take a seat’

There was a brief period during which time Neville, Harry, Ron and Hermione stared inquiringly at Kingsley.

‘Well I suppose you all want to know why I’ve called you here?’ Kinsley began.

‘No not really I think we’d all prefer for another homicidal, Avada Kedavra happy megalomaniac to chase us down and hex us into a pile of Hippogriff mince’ Harry said dryly displaying his newfound black humour.

Ron laughed but quickly turned it into a hacking cough after receiving a death glare and elbow in the side from Hermione.

Harry laughed at al the serious looks he was receiving.
‘I was joking!’ he exclaimed rolling his eyes ‘Come on you don’t really think I was serious do you?’

‘We don’t really know what to think mate we’re not really used to you using such black humour’ Ron said cautiously.

‘Ronald’s right’ Hermione said her forehead creased in worry ‘Harry we love you but that comment was alarming’

Harry looked sheepish.
‘Sorry’ He mumbled ‘I really am. But you know I find it liberating to joke about something I’ve never been able to joke about before’

‘I think we understand Harry’ Kingsley said.

‘I definitely do’ Neville said ‘Now we can say Voldemort, Voldemort, Voldemort without fear of reprisal. I’d joke about something like that in the same situation too’

Harry shot Neville a grateful smile.
‘Thanks mate’ He said ‘Okay Kingsley over to you we’ve digressed enough’

Kingsley took a deep breath.
‘Well in the short time I’ve been Minister I have been gathering people around me to form the new and hopefully improved Ministry. One of my close advisors suggested to me that you fur could be the most important to that re-building’

‘We can be? Neville exclaimed ‘I can be? How? I mean with Harry, Ron and Hermione it’s as obvious as bollocks on a dog but me?’

‘Well from the preliminary meeting I had with Harry he told me yourself, Ron and Hermione are the people who directly helped him in the downfall of the Dark Lord. So I’ve called you all here to-’

‘Excuse me a minute Minister’ Neville interrupted ‘But I would like to know exactly how I helped in the finishing off of Voldemort. I just cut the head off his snake. I’m not the one who actually vanquished him into the abyss or wherever despots like him go’

‘Kingsley maybe I ought to explain to Neville helped me’ Harry said.

'Yes maybe that’s best’ Kingsley said ‘Go ahead’

‘Mate you’re in for a tale’ Ron said fervently.

‘No kidding’ Hermione said under her breath.

‘Neville have you ever heard of a Horcrux?’ Harry asked his friend.

‘Sure I’ve heard of them but I’m not exactly sure what they are or do’ Neville replied ‘All that I know for sure is that they’re extraordinarily dark magic like the pits of evil, worse than an unforgivable even’

‘Yeah you’re pretty spot on’ Harry said ‘But before I go any further I need you to promise me nothing absolutely nothing I will tell you will leave this room. What I’m about to tell you is literally classified information'

Neville looked at Harry strangely but his friend’s expression was so earnest any questions died in his throat and he nodded.
‘Of course’ He said ‘You’ve never lied to me before Harry and you’re not another Dark Lord so I doubt you’re about to start now’

‘Okay then’ Harry said happily shifting in his seat ‘Many years ago long before we were born and even before our parents were born Voldemort discovered the magic of Horcruxes...’

‘Which is?’

‘My understanding is a solid item or even an animal that houses the fragment of a soul of a witch or a wizard who has murdered. See a witch or wizard creates a Horcrux by killing another and splitting their soul imparting a piece of it into a chosen item or animal. I don’t know the process of doing it and really have no intention of finding out but essentially the purpose of a Horcrux is to extend the life of the creator ad therefore achieve immortality. That’s how Voldemort has been surviving all these years pretty much’

‘He created a Horcrux?’ Neville yelped sitting bolt upright in his chair.

‘Not just one six’ Harry said as Neville’s eyes just about fell out of his head ‘They were a ring and locket connected to Salazar Slytherin a Diadem which is sort of like a crown which legend says Rowena Ravenclaw herself wore a cup which belonged to Helga Hufflepuff, Nagini his snake and unintentionally me’

Neville’s jaw dropped.
‘You?’ He whispered in total awe.

‘Yeah it happened all those years ago the night Voldemort killed my parents’ Harry said ‘I’ll tell you more about the Horcruxes later. We have very little time here and I don’t want to be rushed in my explanation’

‘Fair enough gut I still don’t get how I helped you’

‘Well one way to destroy a Horcrux is to stab, smash or pulverize it with something imbibed with basilisk venom’

‘The sword of Gryffindor!’ Neville exclaimed the pieces of the strange story starting to fall into place for him’

‘Exactly!’ Ron chimed in.

‘But how is it imbibed with Basilisk venom?’ Neville asked ‘Basilisks aren’t common you know and even if they were how would you go about imbibing something into it?’

‘Remember back in second year with that whole Chamber of Secrets hoo ha?’ Hermione asked him.

‘Who could forget it?’

‘There was a Basilisk in there and Harry killed it with the sword of Gryffindor’ Hermione went on ‘It appeared out of the Sorting Hat like it did for you during the final battle’

‘That’s a separate story though’ Harry interjected ‘See with all the Horcruxes the only way to bring down Voldemort was to destroy each one and hopefully one day there comes a point where there’s only the fragmented soul of the Horcrux creator left. In this particular case the piece in Voldemort’s body. I dealt with that part but before that you killed Nagini with the Basilisk venom imbibed sword therefore destroying a Horcrux and making my job of finishing up Voldemort easier’

‘Harry that wasn’t exactly an easy job’ Hermione said dryly.

‘Well less difficult then’ Harry said with a grin ‘So you see Neville in destroying a Horcrux by killing Nagini you directly helped me bring Voldemort down’

‘Did I really do that?’ Neville asked incredulously ‘Really truly no bullshit?’

‘Really truly no bullshit’ Harry parroted as Ron and Hermione nodded vigourously.

‘Bloody hell I did wonder why you got me to kill that snake but never in a million years did I think it was for something like that!’ Neville said rubbing his face ‘This is mad! If anyone else but you told me what you’ve just told me I’d say they’re full of crap. So that’s where you three were all year? Off hunting Horcruxes?’

‘Yeah and trust us it was no picnic’ Ron said ‘Wait til you hear all the details they’ll really floor you. I was involved with it and I’m still coming to terms with it’

‘And so we come back to the reason I called all of you here’ Kingsley said ‘As the new Minister it is my job to bring people into the new Ministry who I believe will be the best and most effective at helping clean up as it were wizarding society taking it past the final battle and if you are agreeable I’d like to invite you all to join the Auror program’

The silence that followed bas so large Neville could’ve steered the Beauxbatons horses through it (Ron’s jaw had actually fallen open and he had started to drool)

‘Excuse me?’ Hermione and Neville squeaked in unison.

‘Why us?’ Harry asked

‘You’re mental’ Ron muttered.

‘As I said I believe you four are the best and most capable of helping me clean up the mess the wizarding world is in. In these delicate days I need people around me who I can trust implicitly and who have intimate knowledge of Voldemort’s downfall’

You trust me?’ Neville said a moment later breaking yet another long silence ‘But why? No offence Minister but you hardly know me’

I’ve had a very in depth talk with Harry and everything he’s told me leads me to believe you’re a very proper and moral person and we need that in the Auror department. We lost four staff in the last battle and we need to replace them soon’

‘No’ Hermione said suddenly.

‘Pardon?’ Kingsley said

‘I’m really sorry Kingsley but I’m going to have to refuse your offer’

You’re mental!’ Ron exclaimed in disbelief

‘I really am sorry Kingsley’ Hermione said apologetically ‘But I haven’t finished my schooling yet, none of us have. Plus I’ve never really harboured any desire to be an Auror. My post Hogwarts career interest lies in magical creature welfare and law enforcement as in being a lawyer. I’m honoured you think me worthy to join the Auror program but I want to go back to Hogwarts and finish my seventh year’

‘What for? Ron exclaimed incredulously ‘`Mione you’re being handed a free ticket into the Auror program without the entrance exams! Merlins pants you’re mental to turn this opportunity down!

‘That’s it Ron as much as I respect Kingsley I don’t want the free ticket’ Hermione said earnestly ‘No offence Kingsley but this isn’t the direction I want to go professionally’

‘None taken Hermione thankyou for being so honest with me’ Kingsley said ‘I can understand having strong career goals. I had them myself when I was your age’

Well I’m not going to pass up this opportunity!’ Ron exclaimed enthusiastically extending his hand to Kingsley ‘Count me in’

Kingsley burst into a wide grin and took Ron’s hand
‘Welcome aboard’ He said ‘Harry? Neville?’

‘Geez I can’t decide that now!’ Neville exclaimed ‘Bloody hell I’ve honestly not thought about what I want to do post Hogwarts or even wether I want to repeat my seventh year. I spent half of this year in the room of requirement you know’

‘That long?’ Harry exclaimed.

‘Yeah when things got too bad with the Carrows Seamus, Lavender, Susan Bones and I gathered up all the remaining DA members and those who wanted to get away from the regime and legged it to the room of requirement’

‘We’ve got to sit down and find out about your year soon Neville’ Hermione said in great interest ‘It sounds just as interesting as ours’

‘I highly doubt that’ Neville said raising an eyebrow ‘All new year we had daily DA meetings practicing all the spells that were in the books that kept appearing. You three were actually out on the field directly dealing with the Dark Arts’

‘If you decided to accept my offer you’d get a chance to out into practice what you’ve learnt this year practically and theoretically’ Kingsley said ‘I’m sure each of you could bring something new to the table’

’Minister I really need to think about your offer’ Neville said ‘I need to discuss it with Gran’

‘I understand Neville let me know by secure owl or in person once you decide what to do’ Kingsley said ‘With the delicate situation our world finds itself in I would prefer a one on one meeting. Just send a Patronus and we’ll meet’

‘Harry told me about talking Patronuses at breakfast will we learn that in the Auror program? Neville asked in interest’

‘No only members of the Order of The Phoenix know how to conjure a speaking Patronus’ Kingsley said ‘And I would prefer to keep it that way, at least for the time being’

‘Reckon the Auror office could use them’ Harry said thoughtfully almost to himself.

‘So are you going to come with me to the Auror office?’ Ron asked with polite excitement.

‘Dunno yet’ Harry said cautiously ‘I mean I’ve wanted to be an Auror since fourth year but I always imagined I’d have to sit the entrance exams’

‘Harry of all of us you are the most suited to being an Auror’ Neville said ‘You’re brilliant at fighting the Dark Arts. I expected you to jump in and say yes before Ron’

‘You know I did too’ Ron admitted.

'You really need our help in the ‘Clean Up’ as you put it?’ Harry said to Kingsley.

‘Yours especially’ Kingsley said earnestly ‘I think each and every one of you can bring a new perspective to the table’

‘Oh go on Harry!’ Ron exclaimed slumping back in his seat ‘You and the Auror job are meat to be together! Like salt and pepper, like chocolate sauce and ice cream...like...’

‘Ronald Weasley and yapping on’ Hermione interjected cutting of Ron’s monologue.

Harry and Neville sniggered clapping a hand over their mouths.

‘Ha ha’

‘So what do you say Harry?’ Kingsley said ‘Will you come to the Auror office?’

Harry burst into a grin.
‘Yeah of course I will’ He said ‘But nothing heavy just yet yeah? There’s the clean up at Hogwarts, all the funerals to go to and I’m going to Australia with Ron, Hermione and Ginny to look for Hermione’s parents’

‘I think I can arrange it so you’re only called on when absolutely necessary’ Kingsley said.

‘Thanks’

‘Minister when do you need my decision by?’ Neville asked.

‘By the end of the week if you could manage it’ Kingsley replied ‘So in four days, can you decide in that time?’

‘I think I can manage that, but as I said I need to discuss it with Gran first’

‘Mate you’re of age couldn’t you decide yourself?’ Ron said.

‘I could but Gran means a lot to me, she’s the one who brought me up’ Neville said ‘At the very least she’s someone I can have a heart to heart with’

‘Fair enough’

‘Plus if I didn’t she’d kill me’

Ron, Hermione, Harry and Kingsley sniggered.

‘I think what Neville is saying is that it’s respectful to speak to the person who brought him up about such a momentous decision’ Hermione said simply.

‘Thanks Hermione that’s exactly what I meant’ Neville said shooting his friend a grateful smile.

‘Well I better let you four get back to Hogwarts' Kingsley said opening a drawer in his desk and pulling out a muggle style egg beater ‘It’s obvious you want to go there’

‘It’s more that we’re needed’ Harry said standing up and vanishing his chair.

‘I understand Portus!’

The egg beater glowed a bright iridescent blue momentarily then it resumed it normal appearance

‘Okay everything’s ready for you to go’ Kingsley said ‘On my count one-two-THREE!’

At the same time as Ron, Hermione and Harry Neville touched the eggbeater and instantly felt the irresistible hook of pressure behind his nave as he left Kinsgsley’s and was propelled through nothingness to Hogwarts and Professor McGonagall’s office.

The next thing Neville knew his feet hit something solid and he stumbled tripping over his own feet. His vision cleared just as he bumped into Hermione falling on top of her.

‘Oooof sorry Hermione’ He apologized quickly getting up and holding a hand out to his friend ‘I never land on my feet when travelling by portkey’

Hermione took his hand and allowed Neville to haul her to her feet.
That’s okay’ She said brushing off the dust on her robes ‘Last time I travelled by portkey I fell flat on my face too’

Harry found a seat and flopped into it a look of excited incredulity on his face.
‘Well THAT was weird’ He said.

‘No kidding’ Neville said sitting on an ancient trunk on one corner ‘I wonder who the Ministers advisor is?'

‘No one dodgy I hope’ Ron said.

‘I doubt that’s the case’ Hermione said sitting in Professor McGonagall’s chair ‘Remember Kingsley used to head the Auror office, he’s not stupid. I reckon whoever his advisor is would’ve had to take a measure of Veritaserum wether voluntarily or involuntarily. Kingsley wouldn’t let just anyone into his inner circle’

‘I wonder if it’s someone we know?’ Neville wondered aloud.

‘I don’t expect we’ll find out any time soon’ Harry said exhaling in a great rush ‘That’s not my immediate worry at the moment’

‘So what way are you leaning mate?’ Ron asked Neville in great interest.

‘Heterosexual’ Neville said with a grin ‘I love girls’

Harry and Hermione fell about laughing and Ron rolled his eyes.

‘Oh ha har hardi har’ He said dryly ‘You know what I mean. That’s smartarseness on a Slytherin scale’

‘I know it came to me in a rush of insanity’ Neville said with a laugh

‘I meant about Kinsgsley’s proposal I reckon you’d kick arse as an Auror’

‘You really think so?’ Neville said sceptically with a rased eyebrow ‘I barely got through O.W.L’s and my first year N.E.W.T’s were nothing to write home about either. I stink at Transfiguration and I positively reek at potions those two subjects are essential to being an Auror’

‘Neville it’s not because we’re you’re friends that we’re saying this but you WOULD be a great Auror’ Ron said earnestly ‘I think with the right teacher you’d be brilliant at Potions’

Neville snorted.

‘No think about it’ Ron pressed on ‘You and most of the students on our year were intimidated by Snape and I’d bet a million Galleons that all the students that got crap marks with under him got better ones with Slughorn. I know I did’

W-e-e-e-e-ll I did go from a P with Snape to an A with Slughorn’ Neville said ‘I didn’t do Sixth year Transfiguration so I don’t know how I would’ve gone in that’

‘There you go then!’ Ron exclaimed triumphantly.

‘I can’t believe none of you are going to complete your education!’ Hermione exclaimed looking incredulous ‘Think of how important it is! Of what you could do with the N.E.W.T’s marks…you could...’

Ron cut Hermione off.
‘`Mione think about it’ He said ‘Harry and I have wanted to be Aurors for years. Wether we go back for seventh year or not we’re still going to be Aurors! This way we don’t have to do N.E.W.T’s or the entrance exams! Why do something unnecessary when we can avoid it and go straight into what we want to?’

W-el I suppose so’ Hermione said ‘But what about you Neville? Don’t you want to be a Herbologist? I know you have to pass exams to be admitted to the training program at the National Wizarding Botanical Gardens and they do want applicants to have completed their N.E.W.T’s’

‘Right now Hermione I’m not sure what I want to do’ Neville said ‘My big interest is Herbology and in some way I’ll always be involved with it but in recent times I’ve become really interested in Defence Against The Dark Arts. Running the D.A this year bordered on an obsession for me. While I can see me carving out a career in Herbology I can also see me carving out a career in Defence too and I could do that in the Auror office’

Hermione exhaled and slumped back in her chair.
‘Well I can’t argue with that’ She said looking like she’d very much like to.

Suddenly Ron got up strode over to Neville and enthusiastically shook his hand.

‘What was that for? Neville asked in bemusement.

‘For stopping Hermione in her tracks’ Ron said ‘You deserve an Order of Merlin First Class for that’

Hermione shot Ron a death glare worthy of a Basilisk as Harry fell abut laughing.

‘Ronald Weasley you should thank Merlin I didn’t hex you for that bit of tripe’ Hermione exclaimed.

‘W-why d-didn’t you-u?’ Harry hiccuped.

‘I’ve had enough of hexing for the time being’ Hermione said ‘The spells I’m concentrating on for the time being at least are those that will help up in the re-build of Hogwarts’

‘So you’re definitely coming back for your seventh year then?’ Neville said as they got up and left McGonagall’s office.

‘Yeah I am I couldn’t imagine not doing so’ Hermione replied ‘For myself at the very last’

‘How long before the press finds out about Kinsgsley’s invitation?’ Ron wondered as they made their way along the seventh floor.

‘If he and his advisor don’t say anything not any time soon’ Harry said ‘Kingsley’s not a gossip so he wouldn’t blab’

‘Word’ll get out eventually though’ Neville said as a mop and bucket floated by obviously having being summoned by someone on a lower floor ‘Especially with half the wizarding world’s media camped out at the Hogwarts gates led by Rita Skeeter. That woman has a better sense of smell than a bloodhound. If anyone is going to find out anything it’ll be her. But I doubt it’ll be because the Minster’s blabbed’

‘You know he’d be okay with you calling him Kingsley’ Harry said to Neville.

‘He would?’

‘Yeah I reckon so’

‘But I barely know him’ Neville said ‘I’ve always been taught to address people I don’t know very well as Mr or Mrs or after whatever position they held professionally. I think until I know him better or he asks me to call him Kingsley I’ll address him as Minister’

‘You’re a very proper person Neville Longbottom’ Hermione said giving her friend a hug ‘Hannah’s a very lucky girl’ She added in a giggled whisper.

Neville boiled scarlet a fact not missed by Harry or Ron.

‘What did you say to him?’ Ron asked his brown eyes alive with amusement ‘Nev you’re so red in the face the house elves could cook tomorrow’s eggs on your face’

‘Oh leave him alone what I said to him is none of your or Harry’s (She shot Harry a death glare) business’ Hermione said putting a protective arm around Neville ‘You’ll only find out what I said to him if he chooses to tell you and I’m guessing by the looks on your faces you’d be lucky if he told you what he’s going to have for lunch’

Neville couldn’t help himself and laughed.

‘Speaking of lunch I’m starving!’ Ron announced as they arrived on the third floor ‘Who fancies a detour to the kitchens?’

‘Great idea I’ll come with you’ Harry announced.

You two are pigs’ Hermione said witheringly ‘No I won’t join you. I can do something more constructive in the Entrance Hall’

‘I’ve got to take a raincheck on that too lads I’m not really hungry’ Neville said.

‘Great more for us’ Ron said with a grin.

‘Oink’

With a laugh Harry and Ron went off down the third floor while Neville and Hermione continued down to the Entrance Hall.

‘Oh you are SO thinking about Hannah’ Hermione said with a giggle patting Neville on the arm.

‘Is it that obvious?’

‘To me it is’ Go on Neville ask her out you’ll regret it if you don’t. Hannah clearly likes you and you clearly like Hannah. I think you two would be great together’

‘Oh Hermione I don’t know!’ Neville exclaimed throwing his hands up in the air ‘Until that moment I kissed her I never thought of Hannah as any more than a schoolmate. Even now I don’t know why I did it. But every hour since that moment I’ve been thinking I’d like to get to know her better. And if that progresses to a romantic relationship so be it’

‘You need to tell her that’ Hermione said gently.

‘Awww hell Hermione I couldn’t do that!’ Neville yelped ‘Hannah is one of the most popular well liked students in the whole of Hogwarts. And me...well I’m the geek of Gryffindor...’

Hermione giggled at Neville’s description of himself.

‘Girls like Hannah don’t like guys like me’ Neville finished.

‘How do you know ‘girls like Hannah’ as you put it don’t like guys like you?’ Hermione said ‘Opposites do attract you know. My parents are the shining example of that. My Dad is a sports mad poker and beer with the mates type and my Mum is the total opposite. She prefers to stay at home and watch a movie on the daggiest pair of pyjamas and slippers you can find. You and Hannah could be that type of couple’

Neville snorted.

‘Oh come one Neville you know you could be’ Hermione exclaimed ‘Don’t be so down on yourself! Go to Hannah and find out about her. I think you’ll find you have far more in common hat you think’

‘Yeah?’

‘Yeah I’d stake the contents of my vault on it’

‘Well so far we get on pretty well’ Neville said ‘We talked for hours after the battle’

Hermione lit up.
‘There you go then!’ She exclaimed ‘So what did you talk about?’

‘Oh anything and everything, mainly war related stuff’ Neville said ‘I did find out she’s from Wolverhampton and that’s where her Dad lives. She’s the eldest of four with the three younger ones having being evacuated before the battle’

‘Is Hannah going to return home?’

‘Yeah in a couple of days same with me going home to Gran in Yorkshire’

‘Neville it sounds like you’ve got loads in common with Hannah if you managed to talk for hours and you know about her family and you know where she’s from’ Hermione said ‘I think you’re worrying about nothing’

‘I tend to do that’

Hermione slung an arm around Neville’s shoulders.
‘Well don’t’ She said ‘What has gone on between you and Hannah sounds like the start of something beautiful. Just make sure you invite me to the wedding’

Neville rolled his eyes and blushed as Hermione snorted with laughter.
‘Don’t you start’ He said ‘If I want shit hung on me I’ll go to Harry, Ron and Seamus’

‘Sorry I couldn’t resist, it’s the boy’s bad influence on me’ Hermione said with a sheepish giggle.

‘Nah s’okay H’miny I don’t really mind’ Neville said ‘If I’m totally honest I’m kind of excited about what could happen between Hannah and I’

‘I feel the same way about Ron’ Hermione admitted her cheeks colouring up ever so slightly ‘Let’s be each other confidant eh? Our little secret’

Neville gave Hermione a hug.
‘Thanks Hermione you’re a good friend’ He said.

‘No worries Neville’

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

A few hours later Neville took a bottle of Butterbeer and a sandwich and went out side to the grassy knoll that overlooked the now flattened Hut of Hagrid’s. He was thinking about nothing in particular letting the sun warm his face when he sensed someone approaching. He opened his eyes and saw Hannah walking toward him. He waved her over and patted the grass next to him.

‘Take a seat’ He said with a smile.

‘Thanks’ Hannah said plopping down next to him with her own snack (Lemonade and chocolate biscuits) ‘Galleon for your thoughts, you looked miles away’

‘I was’ Neville said ‘I was thinking about lots of things’

‘Is that all the detail I’m going to get?’ Hannah said her green eyes alive with mischief ‘I thoughts were supposed to share. That’s not sharing Longbottom’

Neville rolled his eyes.
‘Ha ha’ He said dryly ‘I was thinking about Gran. She wants me to go back to the Manor in Yorkshire but I want to stay here. At least for the time being. There’s so much to do!’

‘Family’s important Neville if your Gran wants you home maybe you ought to go’ Hannah said ‘In these unsure time one needs to keep their family close lest something happen to them. Your Gran’s not a young woman anymore you don’t know how much longer you’ll have with her’

‘I know that’s why I was thinking about flooing back tomorrow after lunch’ Neville said.

‘I had planned on going home to Dad and tho others tomorrow too’ Hannah said kicking of her shoes (Neville noticed her toenails were painted purple) I floo called him this morning from Professor Sprout’s office’

‘So how is everything with your family?’ Neville asked ‘They’re all safe?’

‘Yeah my Uncle Robert had a close call with some people he thought might’ve been Death Eaters but he got away’ Hannah said ‘He said it’s handy being an Animagus'

Neville laughed.
‘What form does he take?’ He asked.

‘A horse’ Hannah replied ‘He was loads of fun when I was little he used to take all us kids for rides all the time. He’s what you could call a dual purpose wizard’

‘I think if I were to be an animagus I’d be a Trafalgar Square pigeon’ Neville said ‘That way you can blend in and observe things without calling attention to yourself’

‘I’d be a white tiger’ Hannah said ‘I love white tigers or maybe Golden Retriever dog. I love those too. Goldens blend into society better so I’d probably go for that it’s more practical’

‘Damn practicality go for something extravagant’ Neville said with a grin.

Hannah laughed.
‘Okay you want extravagance?’ She said ‘How about those tortoises in the Diagon Alley Magical Menagerie with jewels on their shells?’

‘Too ostentatious’ Neville chuckled ‘Have you ever met anyone who owns one? I haven’t’

‘Can’t say I have’ Hannah said ‘I like animals you can interact with like cats and dogs. Jewelled tortoises don’t seem to have much of a point’

‘Hmmmm...Hannah?’

‘Yeah?’

When we both go home to our respective families can we owl? I’d like to keep in touch’

Hannah burst into a grin that made Neville’s heart swell.
‘Of course we can’ She said ‘In fact I’d insist upon it. I’m going to need to be around friends in the coming times and it’ll help if I can send an owl whenever I’m feeling down or just need to chat’

‘You can owl me whenever you like even if it’s the middle of the night’ Neville said ‘And once I talk to Gran I’m sure you could floo call too’

‘Thanks’

There was a long pause.

‘So will you e coming back next year to finish or repeat seventh year?’ Hannah asked.

‘I don’t know yet’ Neville replied deciding to keep Mum on Kingsley’s offer from her for the time being ‘Deciding what’s going to happen next year is not one of my biggest priorities at the moment. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow let along next year’

‘I’m leaning toward not returning; Hannah said ‘I plan on entering the family business and you don’t need N.E.W.T’s for that’

‘What’s the family business?’

‘Jewellery manufacturing. Dad founded the business with Uncle Robert and they’ve offered me a traineeship or apprenticeship if you like once I finish at Hogwarts’

‘So you’d me making rings a necklaces and the like?’

‘Yeah and along with the rings the members of the team who wins the quidditch cup each year gets’ Hannah said ‘We’ve only just been awarded the contract’

‘I don’t really know what I’m going to do post Hogwarts’ Neville said ‘Something in Herbology or Defence Against the Dark Arts I think’

‘Ina few years time you could return here and be the Herbology professor’ Hannah said digging her toes into the long grass.

‘Neville laughed.
‘I very much doubt it’ He said ‘Of course it’s my dream job but I can’t see Professor Sprout retiring any time soon. Like McGonagall she’s a Hogwarts institution’

‘Ah you never know’ Hannah said ‘You said yourself you don’t know what’s happening tomorrow let alone next year so who says what’s going to happen by the time Professor Sprout retires?’

‘I suppose so. So what have you been up to today? I haven’t seen you around since breakfast’

‘I’ve been helping Professor Sprout clean up and repair the greenhouses’ Hannah said ‘There wasn’t a hell of a lot of damage done there so we’re just about finished. Though Greenhouse three needs new glass in the western side’

‘It can’t be repaired with magic?’

‘I’m not sure. I think magic would hold better if the glass is replaced’

‘Might drop in later today and give you a hand’ Neville said ‘At the moment I’m helping fix up the Entrance Hall so when the builders get here their job will be easier’

‘Any word on when that’ll be?’ Hannah asked as a Thestral flew overhead.

‘Nah none yet, shouldn’t be too long though I’d think’ Neville said ‘There are loads of people helping. McGonagall has been transfiguring the larger boulders into feathers and everyone helping has been levitating them outside. That’s why all that debris over there looks so out of place’ Neville said pointing to a huge pile of broke stone on the far side of the grass that once was part of the now damaged exterior of Hogwarts Castle.

‘Well that’s a way to speed things up’ Hannah said ‘I’d give it a go but I’m not entirely sure my Transfiguration is that good’

‘Mine definitely isn’t’ Neville said with a snort ‘I suck at Transfiguration’

Hannah laughed.
‘You can’t be that bad’ She said.

‘Well if necessity requires it I can transfigure something but I’m bad enough at it that at the beginning of Sixth year Professor McGonagall came to me and suggested I drop Transfiguration in favour of a N.E.W.T in Charms’

‘Ah well we al have our strengths and weaknesses’ Hannah said ‘And Charms is a growing industry the Charms department in the Ministry is huge. If you don’t go into Defence or Herbology you could do something in Charms’

‘Gawd Hannah what I’m going to do after Hogwarts is the furthest thing from my mind at the moment’ Neville said ‘I just want to surround myself with friends and think about the future later’

‘I feel the same’ Hannah said patting Neville’s knee ‘I want my friends around me too, you included’

Consumed by another rush of Gryffindor bravery Neville grasped Hannah’s hand and squeezed it gently. Hannah squeezed back and together they sat quietly enjoying each others company with only the sounds of the clean up being heard.

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

‘So did you tell her?’ Hermione asked Neville later that evening as they relaxed from a hard days work in the Gryffindor common room.

‘Did I tell who what?’ Neville said not taking his eyes from the page of the book he was reading (Untraceable Defence Against the Dark Arts-The Ultimate protection)

Hermione rolled her eyes.
‘Don’t play dumb Neville’ She said flopping down next to him ‘You know very well who and what. Did you tell Hannah you want to make a go of things?’

‘No’

‘Neviiiiiille!’

‘But we held hands’ Neville continued cutting Hermione off ‘And if you must know I made the first move’

Hermione squealed and clapped her hands enthusiastically.
‘Oh Neville that’s wonderful!’ She exclaimed bouncing up and down.

‘Yeah I liked it’ Neville said with a nervous grin ‘She has cold hands which means she has a warm heart. A person with warm hands is said to have a cold heart according to the saying. You know cold hands warm heart, warm hands cold heart’

‘Uh huh, well holding hands is a big step’ Hermione said with a wide grin ‘I did see you two on the knoll mid afternoon while I was delivering some cable ties to Professor Sprout in Greenhouse Four’

‘Anyway never mind what’s going on with Hannah and I what about you and Ron? You two look pretty cosy every time I see you together’

Hermione went bright red.
‘We’re fine’ She squeaked ‘You don’t need to know about us’

‘Okay then but then you don’t need to know about Hannah and I’ Neville said with a grin.

Hermione rolled her eyes.
‘Touché’ She said dryly ‘Well if I’m to be honest like you and Hannah I’m not a hundred percent sure where Ron and I are heading but I’m having fun finding out. It’s exciting being in the early stages of a relationship’

‘Yeah isn’t it?’ Neville said with a grin ‘I’ve never been in this position before’

‘I’ve heard rumours there’s going to be an end of war celebration ball held in the next few weeks are you going to invite Hannah if the rumours are true?’ Hermione asked.

‘Yeah I suppose I would’ Neville said ‘I stink at dancing though. Back in fourth year at the Triwizard Tournament Yule Ball I’m convinced Ginny ended the night with no feeling in her feet because I trod on her toes so much’

Hermione laughed
‘I don’t think you were that bad’ She said ‘So when are you going home to Yorkshire?’

‘Tomorrow after lunch’ Neville replied ‘For a couple of days. Just to put Gran’s mind at ease, then I’ll come back here to continue helping in the clean up’

‘Have you thought much more about Kinsgsley's offer?’

‘Well apart from Hannah it’s the only thing that’s been occupying my thoughts’ Neville said ‘I really admire you for having such strong goals Hermione you know what you want to do and do what you have to do to get there. I don’t know either. If I do decide to repeat my seventh year I’ve got four months to decide. But with the Ministers invitation there isn’t that much time as he’s indicated he’d like the decision by the end of the week’

‘I think your decision to talk to your Gran first is a wise one’ Hermione said ‘If I were in your position I’d do the same thing it’s good to chat things over with someone’

‘Hmm thanks for being that person I can talk to Hermione’ Neville said ‘As much as Harry, Ron, Seamus and Dean are the best bunch of mates a bloke could hope for I wouldn’t feel a hundred percent comfortable talking to them about matters of the heart’

‘No worries Neville I’m glad to be that person for you’ Hermione replied.

‘So where are Ron and Harry anyway?’ Neville asked her ‘You’d think they’d be around somewhere. I haven’t seen Harry or Ron since dinner’

‘Well Harry’s off with Ginny most likely snogging her stupid and Ron is in the kitchen stuffing his face’ Hermione said dryly.

‘Dinner was only two hours ago!’ Neville exclaimed ‘And he’s eating again?’

‘Yeah he is and how he manages it is beyond me’ Hermione said with a roll of her eyes ‘According to the laws of nature his guts should’ve bust at dinnertime’

Neville laughed so hard the book he had been reading fell off his lap and onto the floor with a loud thump.

Hermione giggled at Neville’s reaction.
‘Well I’m going to head to the kitchens and try and find my gluttonous other half’ She said getting up, retrieving Neville’s book from the floor and handing it to him ‘See you at breakfast tomorrow morning Neville’

‘See you then Hermione’

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A/N2: So what do you think? Review review review!...Please...LOL!