It Started With a Kiss

A/N: Hey everybody here is the sixth chapter of this fic. I'd like to thank each and every one of my reviewers who had taken the time to give me their feedback though you may be small in number your views have been big and have made me feel all warm and fluffy.

This chapter is dedicated to LadyVoldemort87 who is a really really funny chick and had inspired me all throughout my fic in particular this chappie and the last one. I hope you're feeling better Miss Moldy Shorts!....ROFLMBFAO!

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

The first of Neville’s senses to return to him was smell. Wherever he was reeked of the sterile scent of cleansing and antiseptic charms.

The next was touch. Every square inch of his body ached with excruciating feeling that seemed to radiate from his abdomen.

With a soft groan Neville opened his eyes and after a few seconds his burred vision sharpened to reveal a hospital room. Not the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts. This must be St Mungos. But how did he get here?

As the seconds passed Neville became more and more aware of his surroundings. Every available surface was covered in flowers get well cards and stuffed toys. On his bedside table was a mature potted Hummingbird Orchid and nestled in its foliage was a small card that read ‘To Neville get well soon it’s boring not having you around. I miss you Love Hannah . He reached out to touch it but was overcome with a wave of nausea and vomited spectacularly onto the floor. The noise of him being sick must’ve set off the monitiring charms St Mungo's wards were known for and seconds later and kind faced healer in her mid twenties bustled into the room.

‘Ah Mr Longbottom you’re back with us!’ She said happily waving her wand to vanish the pool of sick at the side of his bed ‘How are you feeling?’

‘Oh just fine’ Neville said dryly closing his eyes against the wave of nausea that washed over him ‘Am I in St Mungos?’

‘Yup you are the intensive care unit to be exact we’ve needed to keep quite a close eye on you since your arrival’

‘But why? How long have I been here? What the hell happened?’

The healer bustled around Neville running her wand over him and making a record of his vitals on the clipboard that hung off the end of his bed

‘I think it’s best if I get the chief of intensive care to have a word to you about how you came to be here. In the meantime is there anyone I can contact for you?’

Neville had to let another wave of nausea pass over him before he opened his eyes to speak.

‘Erm yeah my Gran Augusta Longbottom you can get her in the floo at Longbottom House and my girlfriend Hannah Abbott she’s at Beacon Park in Wolverhampton’

‘I’ll get onto that for you. Miss Abbott was in here earlier this morning visiting you’

‘She was?’

‘Of course you’ve had quite a lot of visitors over the last couple of weeks’

If Neville was capable of moving aside from throwing his guts up he would’ve fallen off the bed in shock.

‘I’ve been here for two weeks?’ He moaned in amazement.

‘Oh yes exactly two weeks to be precise. Now if you’ll excuse me Mr Longbottom I’ll go and alert your Grandmother and Miss Abbott and see what I can do about getting the chief of department to come and see you’

The healer left the room and Neville was left alone to ponder what little he knew in his post consciousness nausea.

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

The next thing Neville became aware of was a soft hand pushing back his fringe he opened his eyes and saw Hannah her green eyes shining with tears gazing down at him.

‘Hey you’ He whispered.

‘Oh Neville you’re back!’ She exclaimed.

‘I’ve not been anywhere’ Neville said with as much humour as he could muster ‘How long have you been here?’

‘Since I got a floo call from your primary healer a bit after eleven this morning. Augusta is just downstairs at the cafeteria getting some coffee’

‘What time is it now?’

‘Seven at night’ Hannah said pulling her chair close to the bed ‘The healer said you’ve been dipping in and out of consciousness since she flooed me’

‘I passed out?’

‘Yeah but you’re not in deep unconsciousness. It’s more like you’re falling asleep for a couple of hours then waking up, falling asleep for a couple of hours then waking up...well you get the drift. Apparently it’s not unusual for someone who had suffered your sort of trauma to go through’

‘Can you help me sit up?’ Neville asked.

‘Sure!’

With help with Hannah Neville got up into a sitting position. He had to use all his self control not to throw up again.

‘So what happened exactly?’ He asked her in barely a whisper ‘The last thing I can remember is coming out from behind that car in Bristol’

‘Do you really want to know?’ Hannah asked her round face draining of colour ‘It’s rather gruesome’

‘Hannah I’m bound to find out eventually I’d rather hear from you than anyone else’

‘Okay then well I’ll take it from what you can remember. All of us you me Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Terry, Ernie, Justin, Susan and Michael got up from behind that car and entered the fray with the rest of the Order of the Phoenix having just arrived to help. Antonin Dolohov was behind you and hen he called out to you, you turned around and he got you with the Entrail Expelling Curse....’

If it were possible at that moment Neville became even sicker. The Entrail Expelling Curse was one of the most vicious spells known to wizard kind and it was universally regarded as the unofficial fourth Unforgivable.

‘Oh shit....’ He groaned.

‘But Hermione saw what he was doing and stunned him....quite viciously too. So you didn’t cop the full brunt of the curse. The petrol tank of the car did. It blew sky high. Anyone nearby has burns to most of their bodies. Dean and Seamus got the worst of it but thanks to Luna side along apparating them here to St Mungos they’ll be fine apart from some very minor scarring. Hermione broke her leg when she was blown back from the force of the Entrail Expelling Curse hitting the car. Lavender’s left ear was impaled by a piece of wood from that picket fence and now she has a hole there she’s joking she’ll be able to hang her Gringotts vault key off of. Harry broke his nose when duelling Thorfinn Rowle and Ron dislocated his knee when duelling with some other Death Eater. I don’t know who it was’

‘But what happened to me?’ Neville asked ‘Why do my guts feel like they’re on fire?’

Hannah hesitated.
‘Do you really want to know?’ She said once again.

‘Yeah go on I want to know’

‘Well I don’t know all the medical terms you’ll have to talk to the chief of medicine about that but basically you had a hole the size of a fanged Frisbee ripped in your side. You lost your spleen a quarter of your liver and your short intestine was so badly cursed the healers had to remove seven and a half feet of it. I heard your primary care healer say to your Gran that another six inches higher you would’ve lost your heart and died from a ruptured aorta’

‘Bloody hell...’

‘I know’

‘So how did I get here?’

‘Harry and I side along apparated you here. We literally apparated straight into the emergency department. It looked for a while we-we...’

But the rest of Hannah’s sentence was lost as she burst into tears burying her face in her arms and sobbing into Neville’s bed clothes. He didn’t have the strength to console her so waited til she composed herself and reached out a hand to her which she gratefully grasped.

‘Your Gran and I thought we were going to lose you’ She said with a hiccupping squeak ‘For a whole week you teetered on the edge. You finally started breathing on your own last Monday. The monitoring Charms indicated you were coming out of the coma you were in. We’ve only gone home to change and shower’

‘You didn’t have to do that!’ Neville moaned as another wave of nausea washed over him.

‘We wanted to’ Hannah whispered ‘Everyone from the D.A has come by every day health permitting to visit you. Hermione and Ron are still on crutches. Even the Minister has come by’

‘Kingsley has been here?’

‘Yeah though generally only for a few minutes each time. He’s busy getting the Death Eater trials organised’

‘What about our Patronus tutoring sessions?’

‘Professor McGonagall and Luna have taken them over for the time being. They’re doing two classes a day now’

‘How’s Luna after hitting that bird bath?’

‘She’s fine just some minor concussion but with loads of potions from the Apothecary here she’s as good as new. Her Dad nearly had a fit when he found out she had gone to Bristol’

‘I bet that was nothing on Mrs Weasley when she found out Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione had gone too’

‘Well Mrs Weasley did actually have a fit’ Hannah said a small smile gracing her features ‘A great big yelling match Ginny told me but things are okay now. There’s been no more riots, attacks, injuries or deaths....thank Merlin!’

‘Did we lose anyone?’

‘No thank Merlin and it’s a miracle we didn’t. According to Harry Dean and Seamus were the closest with the percentage of their bodies that was burnt but they’re okay now. They’ll have some minor scarring but according to their healers they’ll be fine in the long term’

‘So am I the only one from the D.A still in hospital?’

‘Yeah everyone else only had a few hours of in the case of Dean and Seamus a few days in hospital. Seamus is back home in Dublin now with his Mum. Dean said he’ll be under the care of a home care healer for a couple of weeks at least’

‘Well when I’m feeling well enough I’ll go and visit him’ Neville said shifting is position ‘Mind you I feel like hell now and it doesn’t feel like I’ll ever feel better again’

‘You’ll be fine now you’re awake’ Hannah said brushing his hair out of his face ‘Now that you’re awake you’ll be able to ingest some of the more potent healing potions and got to physiotherapy which will help you along a lot. I’ll be surprised if you’re here longer than another two weeks’

‘Gawd I don’t want to stay here that long’ Neville groaned ‘This place stinks of cleansing charms. I prefer the Manor. It smells of roses and Enie’s chocolate pudding’

Hannah got up and dropped a kiss on Neville’s forehead. The then drew her wand and seconds later after some wand waving the alluring smell of melted chocolate became apparent.

‘There that ought to help’ She said with a grin.

Neville took a deep appreciative sniff.
‘Thanks’ He said ‘So how’s things with your family now?’

‘Oh great we’re all back in Wolverhampton Dad’s taking a break from the Dementor missions’ Hannah said drawing her chair closer to his bed ‘And now that Luna and McGonagall have taken over out Patronus tutoring sessions I have a bit more time on my hand so together Dad I are home schooling the younger ones til Hogwarts reopens. Dad’s doing potions and Transfiguration and I’m doing Charms, Defence and Muggle Studies for Jake’

‘How’s the re-building going?’

‘Great there’s been loads done in the time you’ve been out in la la land’ Hannah replied ‘All the debris is gone from the Entrance Hall and work has begun in earnest to rebuild it. And McGonagall is pushing for the Entrance Hall to have government funded portraits of all that died in the final battle hung in it once the building has been completed. It was a second page feature in the Prophet two days ago’

Is anyone still staying at Hogwarts?’

‘Nah everyone’s back at their homes now’ Hannah said ‘And the funerals are still going on of course. Professor Lupin’s funeral is on in four days’

‘It hasn’t happened yet?’ Neville asked in amazement.

‘Nah the Lockinge Valley Riot held things up a bit. It’s so close to Budleigh Babberton where the funeral was being held that the Minister decided to upgrade the security even more. And with everything that’s happened since the end of the war finding the right people to provide the security has been difficult’

‘I want to go to that funeral’ Neville said ‘Professor Lupin was one of the teachers who had total and unadulterated faith in me at school I want to pay my respects to him’

‘I don’t know if the healers will let you go’ Hannah said.

‘I don’t care I’m going’ Neville said resolutely ‘I don’t care if I have to go in one of those backless hospital gowns ‘Of everyone lost in the war this is one funeral I want to go to’

‘Well work hard at getting well and you might be in with half a chance of getting a pass out to go to the funeral’ Hannah said.

A moment later Augusta Longbottom re-entered the room and nearly dropped the cups she was holding when she saw Neville was awake.

‘Neville dear you’re back with us!’ She exclaimed hurriedly putting the cups on the bedside table ‘How are you feeling?’

‘Lousy’ Neville groaned as Augusta swept down to kiss him on each cheek ‘I feel like spuking all the time’

‘Have you taken any potions for that?’

‘Nah not yet apparently the department head healer is supposed to come by and see me. I suppose I’ll take some then’

‘You had us so worried!’ Augusta went on conjuring a hair out if thin air and pushing it to the other side of Neville’s bed ‘What were you thinking of going heading into Death Eater riot?’

‘I was needed’ Neville said ‘I couldn’t stay at Hogwarts knowing my participation could help’

Augusta scowled.
‘Well....’ She huffed ‘The thing is you’re okay. Enid and Algernon know you’re awake now and I expect will be by soon’

Several minutes later and older man wearing a white lab coat and a nametag with ‘Chief of Emergency Medicine Hyperion Crockford’ on it strode into the room accompanied by the middle aged woman who had first seen Neville earlier in the day.

‘Neville?’ He inquired holding out his hand ‘I’m Hyperion Crockford chief of emergency medicine how are you feeling?’

Neville shook Crockford’s hand weakly.
‘Lousy’ He said ‘I feel like a Hippogriff has danced on my stomach and I have a headache that could fell a unicorn stallion’

Hannah let out a barely discernable snort. Neville gave her a wink and squeezed her hand. Hyperion Crockford took out a small pen light and began investigating Neville’s eyesight. The sudden bright light and hard poke in the eye turned his stomach and with a heave he leaned over the side of the bed and once again vomited spectacularly on the floor. Hannah squeezed his hand hard and smoothed his hair down as the lady healer conjured a small plastic jar and took a sample.

‘You need to take a sample?’ Neville moaned weakly as she waved her wand and for the second time cleaned up his sick.

‘It might help design a potion to help you get better’ She said sympathetically. ‘See victims of the entrail expelling curse don’t usually survive so anything that can help you recover we’ll do’

‘I do apologise for that Neville’ Crockford said apologetically waving his wand and conjuring a bucket from the air ‘You better have this just in case you’re ill again. Now I’m just going to conduct a few basic tests do you feel capable of sitting through them?’

‘Yeah I’ll be okay’ Neville said weakly.

So with Hannah holding his hand tightly Neville submitted to Hyperion Crockford’s battery of tests. The female healer had conjured a self inking quill and was making furious notes as Crockford cast a myriad of diagnostic spells. It was only after half an hour of furious work and when Neville once again felt on the edge of being ill again that Crockford finished.

‘Well that’s all for the time being Neville’ he said ‘I think now we can get you on some potions to ease your nausea and pain and I think a potion to increase your appetite would be a good idea’

‘The last thing I feel like doing is eating’ Neville groaned feeling green at the very thought of eating.

‘I know that you feel that way now but after some of the potions I have prescribed you’ll be feeling normal or as close to normal in no time’ Crockford said ‘Remember you have suffered a tremendous trauma to your abdominal area and it will take time to get over’

‘No kidding’ Neville replied dryly ‘But hey at least I have a scar I can boast about down the local’

Hannah laughed and Crockford grinned.

‘That’s the spirit!’ He declared ‘Now if you’ll excuse me I must be off to see another patient. In the meantime I’ll leave you in the capable hands of Healer Ferguson here. I’ll drop in on you periodically to see how you’re going’

‘Thanks if I had the energy I would shake your hand’ Neville said.

‘No worries I understand see you tomorrow in the afternoon sometime okay? Don’t go anywhere’

‘Oh ha ha’

‘Thankyou director’ Augusta said gratefully getting up and shaking Crockford’s hand ‘It means a lot to me you’ve taken a special interest in Neville’s case’

‘Oh that’s no problem Mrs Longbottom you take care won’t you?’

‘Of course’

‘And thanks from me too’ Hannah said

‘No problem at all Miss-?’

‘Abbott, Hannah Abbott’

‘As I said no problem at all. No doubt I’ll be seeing you again. Take care now’

Hyperion Crockford left and Healer Ferguson plumped Neville’s pillows.

‘I’ll be back momentarily with your first measure of potion’ She said ‘Rest up now’

Healer Ferguson left the room and shortly after Augusta got to her feet.

‘Well dears I best be going’ She said ‘It’s long past dinner time’

‘Oh please don’t leave on our account Mrs Longbottom’ Hannah exclaimed.

‘Hannah dear I’ve told you before please call me Augusta. I think I have known you long enough for you to forgo the formalities. And I think it is best I go. A Flobberworm can see you two want some alone time. I can return in the morning’

‘Gran!’ Neville exclaimed mortified his face turning brick red in embarrassment.

Augusta swept down and kissed Neville on the cheek.
‘No need to be embarrassed dear’ She said with a knowing grin on her face ‘Remember take all the potions prescribed to you and try and get some rest. You’ve been through a lot’

Neville gave a noncommittal grunt. And at that Augusta hoisted up her red handbag gave them a small wave and left the room drawing the door shut behind her.

‘Oh my god that would have to be the most embarrassed I’ve ever been!’ Neville exclaimed covering his face with his hands.

‘Aw come on it wasn’t that bad’ Hannah said drawing her chair even closer to his bed ‘At least not as bad as when Professor McGonagall sprung us snogging in her office’

‘Well...well I suppose not’ Neville admitted ‘But nearly as bad’

Hannah giggled as she drew her conjured chair up close to the side of his bed.

‘I like your Gran but I am glad she left us alone together’ She said grasping Neville’s hand and lacing her fingers through his ‘We’ve not had much time alone together since everything well...finished’

‘Or started’ Neville said with a shy smile and the usual accompanying blush.

Hannah got to her feet, leaned down and pressed her lips to Neville’s. He lifted a hand and boldly ran his fingers through her golden locks.

For once good fortune smiled on Neville and Hannah and they weren’t interrupted. Hannah brushed the pad of her thumb across one of Neville’s cheeks and he responded enthusiastically drawing her closer and kissing her harder. His nausea disappeared and a warm feeling of contentment coursed through his veins instantly revitalising him.

Right in the middle of their kiss Hannah kicked off her shoes and climbed up on the bed snuggling down beside Neville.

‘Scoot over’ She breathed.

‘Are you always this forward?’ Neville asked scooting sideways so to allow Hannah to lie more comfortably.

‘Stick around and see’ Hannah replied with a laugh snuggling into his side and resting a hand on his pyjama clad chest ‘How are you feeling?’

‘If you stay there I think I’ll get better in no time’ Neville said with a grin ‘But seriously still a bit spewy but I’ll live’

A few minutes later Healer Ferguson returned to the room carrying a tray full of vials containing a rainbow of potions. She stopped embarrassed when she saw Hannah cuddled up to Neville.

‘Oh I’m so sorry!’ She exclaimed her face reddening.

‘Don’t worry you’re not interrupting anything’ Hannah said sitting up and sliding off the bed ‘Get those potions down him or his Gran and I will hex him’

‘If I had the energy and knew where my wand was I would cast a shield charm that would knock the pair of you unconscious’ Neville joked.

‘You wand is in your bedside cabinet along with a change of clothes our Gran bought while you were out’ Healer Ferguson replied setting down the tray of vials on the end of the bed ‘Okay ready to down this mix? I recommend going left to right. The left ones taste quite disgusting’

‘Is there a spell for temporarily killing one’s sense of taste?’ Neville asked screwing up his nose at the vial of vomit coloured potion Healer Ferguson handed to him first.

‘Actually there is’ She replied thoughtfully ‘Of course it doesn’t actually kill your sense of taste but it’s a complicated spell with bad side effects if not cast properly by a skilled spell caster so it’s rarely used. Most healers have the theory that while a medicine tastes foul it is only for a moment. And the foulest potion you’ve been prescribed is only a three day course. By then it’s accepted it’s well and truly done it’s job’

‘I have some chewies in my purse if you want one’ Hannah volunteered.

‘Thanks’ Neville said lifting the vial to his lips ‘Well here it goes over the tongue past the gums look out guts ‘ere it comes’

Neville downed the evil looking potion and he immediately retched, his face contorting in disgust.

‘Keep downing them keep downing them!’ Healer Ferguson urged pushing a second vial into Neville’s hand ‘They get better as you go!’

So going against everything his battered body was telling him Neville downed another four vials of potions before leaning over the bucket Hyperion Crockford had conjured for him and heaving with so much effort his stomach exploded in radiating pain. Thankfully one of the potions had done it’s job and nothing came up.

‘That was revolting!’ He whispered his face drained of colour ‘I have to take three days of that shit?’

‘Only the green one’ Healer Ferguson said sympathetically ‘That’s the potion to accelerate blood flow to your short intestine’

‘It should be an imprisonable offence to make anyone take it’ Neville moaned slumping back on his puffed up pillows ‘Seriously those five potions would have to be the most revolting edibles known to mankind...muggle and magical’

‘The last three are loads better, the middle one tastes like bubblegum ice cream’

‘What does that do?’ Hannah asked in interest.

‘It’s a strong painkiller. It’s mainly dolled out to quidditch players who suffer severe head injuries but Director Crockford thought it appropriate for the treatment of the Entrail Expelling Curse’

‘Do I have to take a sedative at night?’ Neville asked downing one of the vials that tasted like pepper.

‘Only if you want one. We wouldn’t give you a proper one just one to make you a bit dopey. Do you think you’ll need one?’

‘Nah I don’t think so I reckon I could fall asleep on my own’

‘Good the less potions we have to give you to get back to normal the better’

‘I reckon I could do without that one’ Neville replied jerking his head toward the empty vial that had previously held his first potion.

‘Sorry chookie that’s one you definitely have to have’ Healer Ferguson replied apologetically ‘Now down the other three so I can go on my tea break and you can get back to snogging’

Neville and Hannah blushed scarlet and Healer Ferguson laughed loudly.

Neville managed to down the remaining three potions and immediately felt his insides squirming.

‘My guts are churning’ He said.

‘That’s not uncommon’ Healer Ferguson replied ‘It’s one of the side effects to the Entrail Expelling Curse. See your small intestine suffered a tremendous trauma and what’s happening is that it’s just settling back into where it should be. And you lost your spleen and part of your liver too so there’s a bit of re-arranging you body has to do. I expect you’ll feel that for a while depending on how well your prescriptions work’

‘So I take it apparating anywhere is a no no?’

‘You got it toots, even side along and flooing is against the rules for the time being ‘If you need to go anywhere you’ll have to go on the Knight Bus’

‘I’m not entirely sure that’s a gentler way of travelling’ Hannah joked ‘The way Ernie drives’

‘Of course the other way you could travel is the muggle way on the public transport system or by car’ Healer Ferguson relied ‘By why do you want to know about travelling? Do you plan on going anywhere?’

‘Not anytime soon’ Neville replied ‘I don’t expect I’d be allowed to anyway right?’

‘Got it in one you’re in here for at least a week, that’s the intensive care department. Then another week in the general care ward’

After Healer Ferguson left the room Neville turned to Hannah.
‘I’m never going to be able to get away to go to Professor Lupin’s funeral!’ He said ‘You heard what she said ‘I’m going to be here for at least another fortnight’

‘Leave it to me’ Hannah said running the pad of her thumb across his cheek ‘Let me have a word to the rest of the D.A and see if together we can get you out of here for a few hours. Hermione is really good at concealment charms we might be able to confound everyone here to make them believe you’re here when really you’re not’

‘Nah don’t do that’ Neville said shaking his head ‘I might have a turn and get really ill while I’m out and I know Gran is planning on going to Lupin’s funeral what do you think shed have to say if she saw me turn up there? She’d have a fit’

Hannah climbed up on the bed again.
‘Well I suppose so’ She said ‘Don’t worry I’ll figure something out to get you to Lupin’s funeral’

Neville feeling much more himself after the round of potions put and arm around Hannah’s shoulders and drew her close to him.
‘Thanks for your wanting to help’ He said ‘You didn’t have to’

‘Yeah but I wanted to’ Hannah said ‘It’s me Hannah the Helpful Hufflepuff’

Neville sniggered which set Hannah off and soon they were laughing out loud. Neville only stopped when a dull pain began in his abdomen.

‘I better not light too much’ He said rubbing his belly ‘That hurt a bit’

Hannah slid a hand down his chest and let it come to rest on his stomach.
‘I’ll make you better’ She said softly rubbing right on the spot where the pain was radiating.

‘You’ll drive me nuts if you keep on doing that’ Neville said with a gulp as an intense pleasurable heat began growing in his belly.

‘Ooooh I’d like to see that’ Hannah breathed with a grin kissing Neville right behind the ear and making his scalp tickle ‘Can I try?’

Neville felt his flash with embarrassment.
‘Hannah-I-I-I...er..’

‘You’re not ready for anything more than kissing for now?’ Hannah said propping herself up on an elbow her round face full of understanding.

‘I-er...well...yeah’ Neville finished rather lamely not quite being able to meet her eyes.

Hannah swept down and kissed him on the lips.
‘I understand’ She said.

‘It’s not that I don’t want to it’s just that I want to take things slow’ Neville said ‘A step at a time yeah?’

‘I understand really I do’ Hannah said ‘No point in rushing things is there? We’ve got loads of time to get to know each other. Providing of course you don’t go getting yourself cursed again’

‘Hey I’m not in here because I want to be’ Neville said with a grin ‘I do have better things to do than spend all my time in hospital taking evil tasting potions you know’

‘Yeah like what?’ Hannah joked sitting up and resting her legs across his ‘I don’t believe ya Longbottom’

‘Oh we’re on surname basis now are we?’ Neville said with a raised eyebrow ‘Well Abbott I could systematically pluck each hair on my legs out with a pair of tweezers. Or I could apply a white hot branding iron to my bum. Though I have heard ramming garden stakes through one’s eyeballs is much more amusing’

Hannah laughed heartily.
‘Oh ha ha hardi har’ She said slapping his leg ‘You know Neville I like your sense of humour. You’re a really funny person’

‘Nah I’m not’ Neville said ‘I think you’re better at the humour thing than I am’

‘Don’t underestimate yourself’ Hannah said ‘Neville a lot of people think the world of you and I think it’s time you started thinking similarly’

‘I’m still shit at being funny’

‘No you’re not, at least not to me’ Hannah said lacing her fingers through his ‘Actually I might owl everyone in our year and get their opinion on how funny you are. I’m sure I would have the whole of Gryffindor House’s vote’

Neville rolled his eyes.
‘Oh ha-‘

‘And I’m sure I could get most of Hufflepuff onside’ Hannah said with a snigger as a deep belly laugh threatened to escape her lips ‘And I’m sure with Luna and Terry’s help we’d get Ravenclaw onside. I reckon we might have to bribe the Slytherins but eventually the whole of Hogwarts would be voting one for the Neville Longbottom is hilarious party’

‘Yeah yeah whatever’ Neville said as Hannah collapsed in a fit of giggles ‘I’ll appoint you as my campaign manager the nanosecond I get out of here’

‘Vote one Neville Longbottom for Magical Minister of Humour!’ Hannah shrieked tears running down her cheeks ‘On the platform of joke reform!’

‘I’m not sure I should be laughing this much’ Neville said with a laugh ‘I have suffered great abdominal trauma you know. You wouldn’t want my scar to burst open and my guts spill everywhere would you?’

‘No pookie bear I wouldn’t’ Hannah said with a giggle patting her face ‘Sorry, you know there have been precious few reasons to laugh recently and I laugh whenever I can now’

‘I understand let’s just stick to fart jokes and why did the chicken cross the road humour now okay?’ Neville said with a grin ‘At least until the healers give me the go ahead to cack myself’

‘Deal’ Hannah said.

Two hours later Healer Ferguson returned to the room carrying a vial of purple potion.
‘Visiting hours are over I’m afraid’ She said ‘Neville I have a sleeping draught here if you’d like to take it’

‘I might actually’ Neville said as Hannah climbed off the bed and slung her handbag over her shoulder.

‘See you tomorrow about lunchtime’ Hannah said dropping a kiss on his lips ‘Be a good boy for all the healers and take all the medicine they have for you’

‘Yes Mum’ Neville joked ‘See you tomorrow’

‘Bye’

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

The first people to visit Neville the next morning were Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione. All bore signs of injury from the Bristol Riot ad Ron and Hermione were still on crutches. Hermione’s leg in plaster, and Ron’s knee in a complicated brace.

‘Neville!’ Hermione exclaimed hobbling over and giving him a hug ‘How are you feeling?’

‘Better’ Neville said ‘I have to take a million and one potions every morning but I’ll live. How’s your leg?’

‘Oh not too bad I have an appointment with an orthopaedic healer at two and if the potions I’ve been taking have worked I’ll be able to switch from a cast to a brace and get rid of the crutches’

‘Everyone in the D.A has signed it’ Ron said in amusement conjuring a chair out of thin air and flopping into it.

‘Got a texta?’ Neville asked Hermione with a grin ‘I want to add my bit before you get it taken off’

‘Not on me. Everyone that’s signed it conjured one’ Hermione replied.

‘Nuts my wand is still in the side table’ Neville said ‘I haven’t had need to use it since I woke up yesterday’

Harry drew his wand gave it a flick and conjured a thick black texta which he then tossed to Neville.
‘There you go’ He said with a grin.

‘Now what to write?’ Neville said theatrically putting a finger on his dimpled chin ‘Hmmmm’

Ginny snorted.
‘Voldemort blows’ She said with a giggle ‘Or Neville Longbottom is a B.A.M.F’

‘Pardon?’

‘It means bad ass mother fucker’ Ginny said with a grin.

‘I’m not a bad ass mother fucker’ Neville said in amusement.

‘Aww I dunno I think what you did to Nagini was pretty bad ass’ Hermione said.

‘And you contained Dolohov at the Lockinge Valley riot’ Ron added.

‘Yeah and that worked’ Neville scoffed ‘He broke the binds I put on him and hexed my guts out...literally’

‘He didn’t break the bind on him another Death Eater unbound him and gave him a wand from one of the residents he disarmed’ Harry said screwing up his nose.

‘So they’re all in Azkaban now?’ Neville enquired.

‘Yeah they are now, a couple nicked off before Aurors arrived but with some information about their habits from us they were caught after a few days’

‘So what’s going to happen to them?’

‘I suppose that’s up to the jury at the Wizengamot trial. I expect Kingsley and someone from the Auror office will come in the next few days and interview you. Dolohov’s going to get life for his participation in the battle of Hogwarts but he might get additional punishment for what he did to you?’

‘What would he get?’ Neville asked ‘You can’t get more than life and Britain’s magical society doesn’t have the death penalty. It hasn’t since nineteen thirty four’

‘I’m not a hundred percent sure’ Hermione said ‘But maybe not an official life sentence. I’ve been reading a lot of procedural law text since I got out of hospital and all evidence points toward a life sentence. The last documented case involving the use of the Entrail Expelling Curse where the victim survived was the people versus Aristotle in nineteen seventy three. That was the beginning of the first war. And Aristotle got eighty seven years which is pretty much a life sentence. According to the court stenograph records he would’ve gotten life but the Entrail Expelling Curse wasn’t and still isn’t an unforgivable and back in the seventies life sentences were only really dolled out to casters of an unforgivable rapists and kiddy fiddlers’

‘And you said no to Scrimgeour when he asked if you were going to get into law enforcement’ Ron said to Hermione his face a picture of disbelief ‘Hell If I were a criminal I’d want you defending me and you’re not even a qualified attorney!’

Hermione blushed.
‘I need something to pass the time til I’m well enough to go and get Mum and Dad’ Hermione said.

‘You haven’t done that yet?’ Neville asked in surprise.

‘No I’m not well enough for international travel according to my specialist’ Hermione said ‘My leg is going to have to be a bit more stable before I can floo or apparate anywhere. Same with Ron. He’s going to need some intricate potions and healing charms on his knee’

‘Whereas I reckon we should just up and go one morning damn what the Healers say’ Ron piped up ‘I’ve been able to walk without crutches for a week’

‘Yeah on gallons of painkilling potions’ Hermione said ‘I think the Healers will want you to get about without painkillers before you can go anywhere’

‘Fuck them’

‘Ronald Weasley language!’ Ginny exclaimed in a perfect imitation of their mother.

‘Oh sod off’

‘Okay Hermione leg up so I can add my mark’ Neville said with a grin uncapping the texta Harry had conjured.

Hermione drew her wand and tapped the leg of the chair she was sitting in. Slowly they grew til Hermione’s plastered leg was level with Neville’s bed and she was able to rest it on the covers.

‘You know I might keep this cast once the healer takes it off’ Hermione mused as Neville pressed the tip of the texta to the only free space on Hermione’s cast just below her knee.

‘Ew yuck who would keep a manky old cast?’ Ron said screwing up his nose.

‘Muggles do it sometimes’ Hermione said as Neville scribbled away ‘Lewis Llordan the jockey who won the Grand National the year I was born kept the cast he got on his arm when he fell off High Art in the nineteen seventy eight Cheltenham Gold Cup. That was the race where he fell off got back on and won. He framed it and everything’

‘Now that’s just weird’

Neville finished writing on Hermione’s cast and capped the texta Harry had conjured for him.
‘There you go’ He said with a grin.

Ginny was the first one to laugh.
‘Neville Longbottom woz ‘ere?’ She tittered.

‘You branded me!’ Hermione exclaimed in mock disbelief.

‘Nah Ron did that’ Harry said with a grin ‘You ought to read what he wrote’

‘I didn’t tell you!’ Ron exclaimed as Harry and Ginny laughed and Hermione blushed to the root of her hair.

‘No but we can guess’ Ginny giggled.

‘I believe it was along the lines of ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones but whips and chains excite me so throw me down tie me up and show me that you like me’ Harry said with a great snorting laugh.

Neville took one look at Ron and Hermione’s faces and fell about laughing.
‘I’m no supposed to laugh much you know’ He said to Harry ‘It’s lucky I’d had my potions for the morning’

‘Sorry mate but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to hang shit on my two best mates’

‘If we weren’t in a hospital In the presence of a mortally wounded friend I would render you unable to have children’ Hermione said dryly.

‘Mwah’

Are you allowed to move about yet?’ Ginny asked Neville a few minutes later ‘Or do you have to stay in bed?’

‘I haven’t been told I can or can’t move about but I don’t feel well enough to do anything but shuffle to the loo or sit up’ Neville said ‘I hope I feel better soon because I want to go to Professor Lupin’s funeral on Friday and my Healer reckons I’m going to be in St Mungos for another two weeks half of that in the intensive care department’

‘That long?’

‘Yeah, minimum. Hannah told me in veiled terms I think that when Harry and her apparated me to emergency literally half my guts were hanging out so I suppose it’s not surprising I’ll be in here for a while yet. Which I think stinks because I really want to go to Professor Lupin’s funeral. He’s the reason I started getting more confident in my magic’

‘Do you reckon you’d be allowed to go in the company of a healer?’ Harry mused.

‘I dunno maybe. But ultimately I doubt it. From what I know about the Entrail Expelling Curse it takes weeks and weeks to get over if you survive it and the time immediately after being cursed is when a victim’s body is most delicate’

Harry went to leave the room.
‘I’ll be back in a minute’ He said.

‘Where are you going?’ Ginny asked.

‘To piss in a pot plant...there’s a Flitterbloom in the sun room’

‘Oh brother’

While Harry was away Hannah arrived carrying the biggest box of Honeydukes Chocolates Neville had ever seen.

‘Hey feeling any better?’ She asked kissing him on the lips.

‘Yeah a bit better’

‘These are from me, it’s one of every soft centre chocolate Honeydukes do’

‘I hope you’re going to share those’ Ginny joked ‘The English Toffee and hazelnut praline ones are the best’

Neville took off the lid of the box and placed it at the end of his bed.
‘Dig in’ He said with a grin.

So does anyone know how the rebuilding of Hogwarts is going?’ Neville asked a few minutes later as he selected a peppermint cream from the box.

‘Brilliantly’ Ginny said ‘The skeleton of the Entrance hall has been completed and McGonagall told Harry the other day it’ll be a hundred percent completed before the end of June. Then it’s the Great Hall’s turn. All the windows have been replaced or restored but that was only to prevent any rain getting in should the weather turn nasty. The Ministry have three building teams on site so the restoration can go on around the clock. All things going to plan Hogwarts will be open come September the first’

‘You know it’s amazing after all that went on there that it was only the Entrance Hall and Great Hall that were damaged’ Hannah said ‘Everything from the first floor up is unblemished’

‘Luck was on our side that night for sure’ Ron said quietly resting an arm across the back of Hermione’s chair and tugging on a lock of her hair absentmindedly ‘Luck beyond that of Felix Felicis even’

‘Can you imagine what would’ve happened had we all taken a mouthful of that potion?’ Hannah mused.

‘We wouldn’t have lost anyone that’s for sure’ Hermione said.

There was a short and very awkward silence.

‘Oh let’s not talk about that it’s dead depressing’ Neville said ‘What’s going on with everyone else in D.A now? Even before the Bristol Riot I hadn’t seen them for a week’

Hermione giggled.
‘There’s a lot of lovin’ going on’ She said with a grin ‘I walked in on Seamus and Lavender rutting like deer after a Patronus tutoring session at Hogwarts last week and Ernie and Justin walked in on Terry and Luna going at it like nymphomaniac rabbits yesterday...right in front of the Ravenclaw common room up against the wall’

‘Terry and Luna?’ Neville exclaimed in disbelief ‘As in Terry Boot and Luna Lovegood Terry and Luna?’

‘Uh huh Luna was to quote Ernie ‘Lovin’-Terry –good’

Hannah, Hermione and Ginny collapsed into fits of giggles.

‘And apparently right in the throes of passion just before Terry dropped his load he told Ernie and Justin to fuck off’ Ron said with a grin ‘But he kept right on doing his thing’

‘They stuck around to see Terry drop his load?’ Neville said with amused disbelief.

‘No but as they left they heard him roaring like a Gryffindor lion’ Hermione tittered her face red from the effort of trying to suppress her giggles ‘I’ve never seen Ernie look so embarrassed the poor bugger’

‘Imagine Luna and Terry!’ Ginny exclaimed ‘What were they doing in the middle of the fourth floor? I thought Ravenclaws had more discretion than to shag in public’

‘No way when they come to sex they have more balls than Slytherins’ Hannah said ‘Madam Love-a-lot the burlesque dancer and nightclub owner from the seventies was a Ravenclaw. She started a chain of brothels called Knock Shop. And apparently liked to employ Ravenclaws because they were best suited to the prostitution industry and in particular being hookers’

‘How the hell do you know something like that?’ Neville asked in amazement.

‘Meh just a random bit of info I’ve picked up’ Hannah said offhandedly.

‘I can’t see Luna or Terry for that matter delving into the prostitution industry can you?’ Ginny said with a grin ‘Luna is going to do something in Naturism and Terry I can see doing something arty I dunno maybe being the director of the National Museum of Wizarding Arts’

‘Nah I reckon Dean out of everyone in the D.A would do that job him being so good at drawing and Art in general’ Ron said ‘I could see Terry in Magical Creature liaison or Law enforcement’

‘How about Seamus?’ Ron said.

‘Charms’ Neville, Ginny, Hannah and Hermione chorused.

‘Me’ Neville piped up.

‘Herbology’ came an even more emphatic chorus.

‘Oh lovely are we playing the random word game? Harry asked brightly re-entering the room.

‘No we’re playing the let’s guess D.A members post Hogwarts careers game’ Ginny said ‘So far we’ve come to the conclusion Dean is going to be a lawyer specialising in magical creature liaison and Neville is going to be a Herbologist’

‘The latter is a no brainer’ Harry said dryly ‘Okay let’s pick someone random....Lavender’

There was a short silence as everyone contemplated.
‘I would say experimental charms or real estate’ Ginny said.

‘Gawd they’re miles apart’ Hannah said.

‘Good guess though’ Hermione said.

‘How about me?’ Ginny said looking at each of them.

‘Professional quidditch’ Ron said instantly.

‘You think so?’ Ginny said thoughtfully.

‘Hell yeah you live and breathe quidditch’

‘So do you’

‘Yeah but the thing is I don’t want to play quidditch as a career I want to get into being an Auror’ Ron said ‘Don’t get me wrong I love quidditch to the point where I think I will live to see the Cannons win the league in my lifetime I just don’t want to play it every day. I’ll make do with playing it at the end of the orchard at the Burrow’

‘So where did you nick off to? Ginny asked.

‘To see the director of medicine about Neville’ Harry replied.

‘Why?’ Neville asked sitting up straighter in bed.

‘To ask if you could get a clearance to go to Lupins funeral’

‘And what did he say?’

‘That should you continue on with your current rate of recovery you can go but you must be accompanied by two healers’ Harry said ‘And you’re probably going to get a visit from a physiotherapist at some point today’

‘Thanks Harry I don’t know what to say’ Neville said quietly truly humbled by his good friends help ‘You didn’t have to’

‘But I wanted to’ Harry said ‘Don’t worry about it. Just get better quick so we can go out and get pissed you can buy me a pint then’

Neville laughed.
‘I’ll definitely do that’ He said.

Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione stayed for another hour then left leaving Hannah and Neville alone. Hannah climbed up on the bed and snuggled into Neville’s side.

‘I love Harry and Ginny and Ron and Hermione but I’m glad they left I wouldn’t feel comfy getting this close to you in front of them’ Hannah said ‘Holding hands is one thing but this is another’

‘I know what you mean’ Neville said ‘I’m not ready to be overly public yet either. I can get to know you better when we’re alone’

‘Is your Gran visiting today?’ Hannah asked tracing a circle on his chest.

‘Yeah I got an owl this morning while I was eating breakfast and she said she’d be here sometime around mid afternoon’ Neville said ‘Enie and Algie are coming too’

‘Do you want me to stay? I can go if you want’

‘Don’t be stupid’ Neville said ‘Of course I want you to stay, you’re the only thing that’s making me being here tolerable you know’

‘Well hurry up and get better so I can visit you at home then’ Hannah said playfully slapping his chest ‘I’d rather snog in Algie’s greenhouses than in here you know. It’s not very romantic to snog when you’re wearing a backless hospital nightie that shows you bum’

‘I’m in my pyjamas not a hospital nightie that shows my bum!’ Neville exclaimed as Hannah giggled.

‘Pity’ She said ‘If I paid you could you slip into one?’

‘That question doesn’t deserve a dignified answer’ Neville said in amusement.

Hannah snorted gleefully.
‘I might have a word to Healer Ferguson and see if I can swipe one of those nighties to take home with me’ She said ‘We could erm ‘use it later’. I reckon they would look quite sexy on you, you know’

Neville blushed a shade of Red Ron would’ve been proud of.
‘You’re mental woman’ He said tucking a curl of her honey blonde hair behind her ear.

‘Yeah but you still hang around me’ Hannah replied her lips centimetres from his her green eyes boring into his blue ones.

‘In here I don’t have much choice I can’t escape you’ Neville said with a grin ‘You track me down and are witness to my vulnerability’

‘And I’m witness to your appalling burden of bullshit’ Hannah replied leaning down and kissing his ear lipping his earlobe with her glossed lips.

A warm thrill of excitement raced up and won Neville’s spine as Hannah kissed his ear running the tip of her tongue down the outside in a way that made Neville see her in a totally different light. In the presence of this woman he felt like another person. Like there was nothing bad in the world, or would be in the future. Even that he was lying here in a sterile, clinical hospital bed mortally wounded and lucky to be alive. He was starting to feel things that he hadn’t felt before but was sure he wanted to feel in the future. Was he falling in love? Nah it was too early for that and he didn’t feel like Algie did when he told Neville the story about he and Enie got together. But then he wasn’t declaring his undying love for a girl covered in dragon manure either.

Neville was shaken out of his reverie by Hannah pushing aside the collar of his pyjama top. She felt him shift his position and stopped.

‘I can stop if you like’ She whispered ‘If I’m going to fast’

‘No you keep going’ Neville said feeling dazed (And if truth be told a little dopey) ‘You know I would tell you if we were going too fast wouldn’t you?’

‘Uh huh I’m just not sure abut all this, you know when and if I should stop how far I should go’

‘I’ll let you know’ Neville said as Hannah laid a kiss on the juncture of his neck and collarbone sending a jolt straight to his groin.

Awww shit now he was going to crack a hard on. Of course it wasn’t the first time he had had one but morning wood was totally different from your girlfriend kissing you in such an alluring manner your old fella decided to come up to party. How was Hannah going to react when she discovered his rapidly tenting pyjama bottoms? If she wasn’t careful he was going to cream himself and for the time being at least he would rather be on his own when it happened.

Hannah came up for air and Neville keen to distract her from going lower than his chest grasped her hair and being more forward than he had been at any point during their relationship thus far pulled her forward and kissed her hard on the lips.

‘Oh Neville!’ She exclaimed with a sultry giggle ‘You can do that again....any time you like’

Neville kissed her again. This time more gently and this time he let his hands run through her hair down her sides and to her bum where he squeezed each mound gently.

‘You know I will get better a whole lot more quickly if you come here every day and do that to me’ He said with a grin ‘I might ask the director if he can prescribe daily hickies. I can tell you I’d rather have those than that revolting potion’

‘Sod him’ Hannah said ‘Neville Longbottom I prescribe you a generous dose of kissing daily. Several doses in fact and not a simple peck on the cheek a proper kiss on the moosh’

‘Like what sort of kiss?’ Neville said with a grin.

‘Like this’

Hannah then proceeded to give Neville the hottest kiss they had shared in their so far short relationship. Hell the tent in his pyjama trousers was so big now Britain’s entire Cornish Pixie population could’ve camped there. Thankfully Hannah was so involved in paying attention to his lips anything lower than that was irrelevant (Something Neville thanked every deity known to man for) She pulled away when her brain demanded more oxygen then dropped a light kiss on his forehead.

‘I need to make a visit to the ladies’ She said in his ear ‘You behave yourself now’

Neville gave her a wink as she slid off the bed and padded across the room to the small ensuite.

The minute the door clicked shut behind Hannah Neville’s hand shot straight to his y-fronts and he hurriedly re-arranged himself. Bloody hell he was at full mast and now was the time he wished he had taken the time to learn the kind of Charms he had heard Algie talk about to his poker mates. A quick impotence charm would deflate his old fella like a pricked balloon but as it was a Charm he had little knowledge of he didn’t want to risk hexing his cock off. He tried to think abut the least arousing things possible but nothing he did lessened his erection. He was forced to pull the wheeled table at the end of the bed upon which rested some ice water up to his waist to hide his ‘tent’. He was busy guzzling a large glass of water when the loo flushed and Hannah re-appeared.

‘Much better’ She said with a grin climbing up on the bed again ‘Have you had a chance to test your magic since you woke up yesterday?’

‘No my wand is still in the bedside table’ Neville said.

Hannah went to the small cupboard on Neville right and pulled open the door. She reached for Neville’s Cherry and Unicorn hair wand and gave it to him.

‘Try something simple first’ She suggested.

Neville scanned the room and his gaze fell on Hannah’s handbag. He pointed his wand at it and muttered ‘Wingardium Leviosa. The handbag rose slowly into the air and began flying around the room to Neville’s will. But having been so badly injured Neville quickly felt his energy drain and the handbag fell to the floor scattering it’s contents over several feet.

‘Sorry ‘bout that’ He said to Hannah making a face ‘My magical energy just drained’

‘I’m not surprised you did suffer a great physical trauma and from what Hermione told me about the Entrail Expelling Curse it does drain your magical and bodily strength if you survive it’ Hannah said flicking her wand and summoning the bag and it’s emptied contents toward her ‘I wouldn’t think you’ll be back to full magical strength for a while’

‘But the Levitation Charm is so simple’

‘I know that but you magical core has suffered a great deal it needs to heal before you can perform the most basic of Charms. That’s what Healer Ferguson said to me yesterday when you were slipping in and out of consciousness. She actually said she would be surprised if you could perform and magic at least temporarily. The fact you can do half a Levitation Charm is great!’

‘You’re staring to sound like a healer’ Neville said in amusement.

Hannah kissed him on the lips.
‘I am’ She said wiggling her eyebrows ‘Of sorts. Just not a medically hospital trained one. I believe in the natural, organic holistic approach’

‘Oh really?’ Neville said with a raised eyebrow ‘And what pray tell is the natural, organic, holistic approach?’

Hannah pushed the table aside and pressed her lips to Neville’s.
‘Well I like to start small’ She said.

Kiss

‘Then I administer a little more medicine to see how much a patients constitution can handle’

Kiss

‘Then if a patient can handle a bigger dose I increase each individual dose til the patient can’t handle any more’ Hannah finished her gaze drifting down to Neville’s groin which was doing an impressive impression of a circus big top ‘If you get my drift’

Neville’s face burned a magnificent shade of scarlet. He had never been so embarrassed in all his life.
‘Oh I get your drift’ He whispered his lips centimetres away from Hannah’s.

Hannah dropped a kiss on the tip of his nose.
‘But a natural, holistic and organic healer also has to know when a patient is ready for such medicine’ She said sitting back on her knees ‘Sometimes they’re not. At least not straight away’

Neville sighed and brushed her cheek with a bruised and battered hand.
‘You’re too good for me’ He said ‘Thanks’

‘No worries, now I’m hungry. Do you fancy something from the cafeteria or do you have to eat what you’re given from the kitchens?’

‘I haven’t been told I can’t eat anything else but what comes from the kitchens’

‘Okay then I’ll go and get you something then. Don’t go anywhere’

‘Ha ha’

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

A/N2: Thanks for reading if you7 have gotten this far. My thanks go to LadyVoldemort87 and Snapes_Goddess who inspired me to use the term 'Sticks and stones may break my bones but whips and chains excite me, so tie me up and lay me down and show me that you like me'. SG actually had that as her Facebook page status and it was so funny I swore to myself and LadyVoldemort87 I would use it LV actually 'ROFL'd' on Yahoo Messenger when we were chatting last week. Thanks girls you're luffly!

Oh and please review!...LOL.