It Started With a Kiss

A/N....Okay people here's is the next chappie of my epic fic (Ha!...as if) that has been in the making for two months. This is for the only person who appears to regularly review and all of those people who read but don't review....I know reviewing isn't compulsory but remember they make me feel warm and fuzzy and if you leave a review the fact you're making me feel warm and fuzzy will make you feel warm and fuzzy...LOL.

On with the show!
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For the next few weeks Neville and Hannah were barely out of each others company and at one point Augusta admonished Neville affectionately after he came home late one night after yet another day in Hannah’s company.

‘Really Neville I’m starting to forget what you look like’ She said after releasing him from a customary rib cracking hug.

‘Oh that’s rot Gran You know who I am I know you do’ Neville said with a grin going into the kitchen ‘Are Enie and Algie up?’

‘No dear it’s half past twelve in the morning most people are in bed’ Augusta said with a grin ‘most sane people’

Neville giggled like a girl as he retrieved a bottle of lemonade from the fridge Algie had recently acquired for the Manor.

‘Gran most sane people aren’t in love!’ He said flicking his wand so the lemonade poured itself into a glass that flew over to the bench from a nearby shelf ‘Well at least not like I am’

Augusta smiled as she seated herself at the breakfast bar.
‘So you are in love then?’ She said ‘Hannah’s the right one?’

‘It certainly feels like it Gran it really does’ Neville said banishing the lemonade to the fridge again ‘I’d rather be in her company than anyone else’s you know?’

‘I gathered that by your infrequent appearances at dinner’ Augusta chided affectionately.

‘Oh ha ha they haven’t been that infrequent’

‘I think Algernon and Enid would debate that’ Augusta replied with a grin ‘We're all starting to forget what you look like, What do you two lovebirds get up to anyway? You often get home so late everyone’s in bed then you’re gone again when the sun’s barely up’

Neville blushed a furious shade of red. He certainly wasn’t ready to inform his grandmother exactly what he and Hannah got up to when they were together. That would be too embarrassing.

‘That would be telling’ he said with a goofy grin ‘let’s just say we have loads of fun in each others company. She’s teaching me to ride you know’

‘Horses?’

‘Uh huh we started cantering today and I fell off twice’

‘Are you okay?’ Augusta asked in alarm ‘Neville maybe after your stay in St Mungos you shouldn’t be doing anything so...well vigourous’

‘Gran that was weeks ago I feel fine!’ Neville exclaimed ‘And if you do it properly horse riding is one of the safest activities in the world. I have no better teacher than Hannah and her father. They say you’re not a real rider until you’ve fallen off a hundred times’

‘Well I hope you’re not in a hurry to get to that mark’

‘Of course not but falling off is all part of the experience’ Neville said ‘you worry too much Gran really I’m fine. Look at all the dangerous stuff I’ve been involved ,in since I started at Hogwarts. I managed to get out of that okay horse riding is no different. In fact I would say it’s significantly less dangerous than duelling a pair of death eaters’

‘Well I’ll give you that’ Augusta conceded ‘You know you and Hannah sound rather a lot like your Pop and I when we were courting. Though he didn’t teach me to ride a horse, we tended to go punting on rivers and have picnics in the countryside. We even went bird watching in Tuscany once’

‘Romantic’ Neville said with a snigger.

‘Well it was rather’ Augusta said reminiscently ‘more than romantic you could say it wasn’t long after that, that your father was born’

Neville had to use all his self control not to snort the lemonade he was drinking up his nose.
‘Yuck Gran I don’t want to know the details of how Dad was conceived!’ He exclaimed loudly ‘that’s just too ghastly to think about’

Augusta laughed heartily.
‘Don’t worry dear I won’t go into detail’ She said with a grin ‘have you told Hannah about your parents yet?’

Neville’s expression became sober.
‘No I haven’t’ He said ‘I’m not ready to yet Gran I don’t want to scare her off!’

‘Neville you and Hannah have been together for two and a half months and in that time she has shown herself to be a very mature woman. I don’t think she would be to quote you ‘Scared off’’ Augusta said firmly ‘If she is the one like you said she deserves to be told. She’ll find out eventually. I know young Mr Weasley and Miss Weasley, Harry Potter and Miss Granger know about your parent’s situation how many others know? If you don’t tell Hannah she might find out by a second source sooner or later’

‘No one at school knows about Mum and Dad apart from Harry, Ron. Ginny and Hermione and since they found out in fifth year they haven’t told anyone’ Neville replied ‘They aren’t tattle tales’

‘Don’t you trust Hannah not to say anything?’

‘W-well it’s not like I don’t trust her I do’ Neville said ‘I’m just not ready to tell her. I mean how do you say to someone ‘Oh Bellatrix LeStrange tortured my parents til they went around the twist? That sounds weird and scary to me and Mum and Dad have been like that since I was three years old! I’ve had the time to get used to it!’

‘And how do you know how Hannah will handle you telling her about your parents?’ Augusta said ‘Are you clairvoyant? You can’t say for sure how she will handle the news until you tell her’

‘I know but I’m scared Gran’ Neville said plaintively.

‘Neville Frank Longbottom you are a Gryffindor be brave, take the risk and tell Hannah I think you’ll be surprised at her reaction’ Augusta said softly laying a hand on her grandson’s shoulder ‘She’s a Hufflepuff true as true and they are very trusting people...I was and am’

Neville hugged her.
‘Thanks Gran I’ll take it into consideration’ He said sheepishly.

‘There’s a good lad, so what are you up to tomorrow off galloping around the countryside with Hannah again?’

‘Oh ha ha no I’m going to The Burrow and meeting with, Harry, Ron, Ginny, Hermione and we’re going to go to Georges shop and see what we can do to get it open again’ Neville said ‘The battle was three months ago and now it’s the only shop in Diagon Alley still not open. I’m good with numbers like Hermione and we’ve offered to help go over the books and see what financial state the business is in. The others are going to do stocktaking’

‘Does George Weasley know about this?’

‘Apparently not but the Weasley’s want to keep it like that for the time being until George is ready to take the shop over again. Ron’s even said he’ll put off going into the Auror program to get the shop going again. Apparently George is still delicate and two weeks ago spent three days in St Mungos because he gave himself alcohol poisoning’

Augusta ‘tsk’d’.
‘The poor poor boy’ She said softly ‘Molly and Arthur have had so much to deal with if George keeps on going he might soon follow Fred into the family plot’

‘That’s what Ginny said all the Weasley’s feel’ Neville said ‘they think that maybe if George sees the business up and running successfully again he might be inspired to come back to run it to carry on Fred’s legacy as it were. I didn’t know the twins that well but I’m sure Fred wouldn’t have wanted his brother to pine away and waste himself on Firewhiskey and Vodka’

‘I agree with you wholeheartedly’ Augusta declared ‘but maybe drinking is George’s choice way of coping with such a tragedy...albeit not the wisest one’

‘Yeah that’s everyone’s theory’ Neville said pensively ‘Though apparently since the stay in St Mungos George hasn’t had a drink because Mr and Mrs Weasley have taken anything with alcohol in it out of the house and have cast a charm on the grounds so George can’t leave without someone with a wand. They still haven’t given his own wand back yet apparently’

‘On the whole I think that a wise idea’ Augusta said ‘it must’ve hurt Molly and Arthur so much to do it’

‘I think it did but even I can see George would do something stupid if he had it’ Neville said ‘He won’t even go and see a Psychiatric Healer like the rest of us are. I think it’s that fact that alarms Mrs Weasley the most’

‘I think the one thing George is going to need to heal is time’ Augusta said sagely ‘and even then he has to be willing to move on, until then nothing can be done to help him’

‘Hmm

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Early the following morning Neville packed his old school bag with a muggle calculator, rolls of parchment, several quills and bottles of ink and flooed to The Burrow. The first thing he heard when he arrived was a loud ‘FUCK YOU! followed by an even louder door bang. Shortly after that he heard Ginny’s voice shrilling ‘Screw you George Weasley you arrogant prick!.

‘Er Hello?’ Neville sad in an uncertain voice.

‘Down in a minute Neville!’ Hermione called from the floors above him.

Neville slung his bag over the back of the nearest chair and sat down. A few minutes later Hermione came down stairs with a seriously pissed off Ginny.

‘George Weasley is the most arrogant, up himself, selfish pile of Hippogriff SHITE!’ Ginny espoused flinging herself down in the nearest chair which creaked in protest ‘The fuck head he thinks he’s the only one who lost someone in this fucking war!’

‘I take it George is still a bit delicate?’ Neville asked diplomatically.

‘Delicate is the sanitised evaluation’ Hermione said dryly ‘long story but basically he went nuts last night and punched Percy in the jaw breaking it. Percy fell over the landing rail and would’ve done himself a major injury had he not had his wand with him and disapparated to the lounge room. Molly and Arthur are at St Mungos with him now’

‘Wow heavy stuff’ Neville said in surprise ‘is Percy okay?’


‘Yeah he’ll live’ Ginny said who by now had calmed down significantly ‘he’ll need to spend a day or two in hospital but after that he’ll be well enough to go home. You know I’ve never wanted to kill anyone as much as I want to kill George right now he’s being a arse on a Malfoy scale’

‘Where are Ron and Harry?’ Neville asked.

Still upstairs they’ll be down in a minute’ Ginny said exhaling in a rush.

‘So has anyone thought about how to break the news of the shop re-opening to George?’ Neville asked her ‘I mean he’s bound to find out eventually’

‘Well everyone’s come to the agreement that we’ll jump that hurdle when we come to it’ Hermione said ‘if we told George now he would flip and he is well within his legal rights to prevent us from even setting foot inside the shops premises. But in his will Fred left half of his share in the shop to Lee Jordan and Lee wants the shop re-open so we’re going to use that excuse if George finds out and tries to use the owner of the business tack’

‘Does George know Lee is now a part owner?’

‘He’s been told but in his alcoholic stupor no one thinks he remembers’ Ginny said ‘He was the silent third partner in the shop when it was started so is already a part of the business in legal sense’

‘Did he go to the reading of Fred’s will?’

‘No he flat out refused to’ Ginny said ‘The rest of the family did though and we’ve all got our memories of the event stored ready for penseive when George feels ready to see what happened and refresh his memory’

‘Poor bugger’

A few minutes later Harry and Ron came down the stairs each clutching their own school bags.

‘Just got a floo call from Verity she said she would meet us at the shop’ Hermione said.

‘No worries’ Ron replied.

‘So is George still being an arse?’ Ginny asked her brother her brown eyes flashing.

‘What do you think?’ Ron said with a roll of his eyes ‘that’s what George does of late acts like an arse. He’s locked the door now. If it’s still like that when Mum and Dad get home Mum’s going to flip. She knocked off Bellatrix LeStrange she could make short work of the door’

‘Should we head off then?’ Neville suggested ‘the sooner we start the sooner we can finish’

‘Yeah lets head off then we can head to the Leaky Cauldron for a pint’ Ron said.

‘I’m not going anywhere that close to the Prophet Offices’ Harry said flatly as they headed to the fireplace ‘Rita Skeeter is still harassing me and she’ll be in the Leaky faster than you can apparate if se even suspects I’m there, same for the Three Broomsticks’

‘You can all come back to the Manor if you like’ Neville offered ‘that is if you don’t want to come back here’

‘No let’s go to your place’ Ginny said ‘I don’t want to be anywhere near where George is unless I have to be at the moment. lunch at you place will be like a break’

‘Is he that bad?’ Neville asked.

‘You don’t want to know’

Within minutes everyone had arrived at the shop. Neville tumbled out of the floo and immediately began sneezing uncontrollably. A thick layer of dust covered every available surface and it looked exactly has it had twelve months ago when Fred and George had left it as the threat of war loomed.

‘Sod da shop we hab to clean in ‘ere first’ Ginny said nasally drawing her wand ‘Fug under ad’ge madgig’

Everyone followed her lead and inside a minute the flat was spotless though it still retained its ‘left at the last minute’ appearance.

‘Do you not want to gather Fred’s things?’ Neville asked Ginny and Ron uncertainly.

‘No that’s got to be something George has to do’ Ginny said ‘and he’s going to flip enough when he finds out about the shop he’ll go totally nuts if we packed away Fred’s gear’

‘Fair enough...so everything’s downstairs?’

‘Yeah the office, potions lab and the workshop’

They made their way downstairs where once again they had to clean the surfaces of all dust.

‘Okay Harry and Ginny you go in the workshop and start stocktaking and categorizing all remaining stock Ron you go in the potions lab and Neville you can join me in the office where we can start on the books’ Hermione said in a businesslike manner ‘Lee, Glen and Verity should be here soon’ Neville followed Hermione down to the back of the shop where a small office was located. Inside were three filing cabinets, two huge redwood desks and a whiteboard that was ‘alive’ with hand scribbled notes and cut outs from the Daily Prophet dated a year previously.

‘God where do we start?’ Neville said to thin air as he headed for the desk that had a sign on it reading ‘Fred Weasley the real brains behind the business’

‘I think we need to start going through the filing system and see what order Fred and George had it in. If there’s no system let’s put it into alphabetical order into categories like ‘Potion Stocks’ etcetera can you manage that’

‘Sure’

Neville dumped his bag on Fred’s desk then headed for the nearest filing cabinet preparing himself for a long and no doubt tedious job. He yanked it open pulled out an armful of files and plopped himself down at the desk and started.

‘So how did the trip to Australia go?’ He asked Hermione a moment later ad he plopped a file labelled ‘Bubotuber Pus Receipts Feb 1997’ onto his ‘Potions receipts’ pile ‘I haven’t seen you and Ron since you got back’

‘It was loads easier than I thought it was going to be’ Hermione said as she sucked on the end of a very battered eagle feather quill ‘we found Mum and Dad within two days of getting there and they were back in England a fortnight later, that’s how long it took to tie up all the ends for the practice they were at. They’re back in Cheshire now’

‘So no run ins with the local magical community?’

‘No Ron and I made a point of not mixing in with the wizarding community there seeing as we entered the country illegally, the last thing we wanted to do was get arrested when I’m about to finish school and Ron’s about to embark on his career in the Auror office’

‘Do does Kingsley know you went to Australia illegally?’ Neville asked in amusement.

‘He does now but he said to keep quiet about it’ Hermione said with a grin ‘The ‘I know nothing theory’ he calls it’

Neville chuckled.
‘So what is the penalty for entering Australia illegally?’

‘Four years in what apparently is called the Aussie Alcatraz after the American muggle prison off the coast of California’ Hermione said with a grin ‘I found that out after we got back of course’

‘Tsk tsk Hermione Granger you are a criminal imagine what Rita Skeeter would have to say if she found out you a celebrated war hero had committed an international crime, Oh dear she would have a field day’

Hermione rolled her eyes.
‘Oh ha ha hardi har’ She said dryly ‘Rita Skeeter isn’t going to find out because no one’s going to tell her are they?’

‘Tell her what?’

Hermione giggled.
‘So how are things going with you and Hannah these days?’ she asked ‘pretty well I gather whenever Harry or Ron floo call your place you’re never home and it takes you a week to reply to any owls’

Neville blushed hard.
‘Yeah things are going well’ He said with a goofy grin ‘I see her every day, today is the first day since I got out of St Mungos that I haven’t seen her or planned to see her’

Hermione tittered and clapped her hands.
‘That’s lovely!’ She said brightly ‘your Gran tells us she’s teaching you to ride’

‘Horses yes’

‘What did you think I meant?’ Hermione said with a grin ‘her?’

‘Hermione!’ Neville yelped ‘just a bit louder why not? I’m not sure the Daily Prophet offices heard you’

Hermione snorted in a loud unladylike manner.
‘You’re shagging!’ She hissed ‘is it good?’

‘Hermione we are not shagging!’ Neville hissed back ‘What has gotten into you? Did you get lucky last night?’

Hermione nodded furiously as she collapsed into a fit of totally silent hysterical giggles.

‘So you’re not sh-agging then’ She said several minutes later as she tried valiantly to compose herself.

‘No, no we’re not’ Neville said purposely avoiding Hermione’s gaze and pretending to be interested in the price of ‘Murtlap Essence’ ‘everything but though’

‘You mean she’s blown you?’ Hermione whispered incredulously.

‘Several times’ Neville said with a grin ‘six times yesterday alone’

‘God no wonder you’re never home’ Hermione said with a grin ‘good on ya Neville great to hear’

‘Hey I’m telling you about my love life how about you let me in on some of the detail about yours?’ Neville said with a grin ‘no in depth detail though’

Hermione grinned and tittered as if drunk (And had he known there was no alcohol at The Burrow Neville would’ve suspected Hermione had sneaked a few shots of vodka).

‘My sex life is great!’ She giggled ‘twice a day since the end of the war you know? Well since the Lockinge Valley Riot anyway, we went to Mum and Dad’s house and did it in their bed!’

‘I’m not sure I’m going to need to know the rest of this’ Neville said ‘That’s a bit gross Hermione having it off in your parents bed’

Oh no it was great! Then I ble...’

‘Okay that is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much information!’ Neville declared covering his ears with his hands ‘Have you been taking a mind altering potion?’

‘Nah Ginny and I were practicing Cheering Charms this morning and the one she cast on me was rather strong’

‘You don’t say?’ Neville said dryly.

The group worked so hard for the next few hours they totally forgot about having lunch. Verity, Glen and Lee disapparated to Hogsmeade to have lunch while Neville, Ron and Hermione gathered at the door that led through to the shop front.

‘Where are Harry and Ginny?’ Neville asked.

It was then that the trio became painfully aware of a soft thumping noise coming from above their heads.

‘Oh my God they’re shagging’ Ron said making a face ‘can’t you two keep your hands off each other for longer than five minutes?’

‘FUCK YOOOOOOOOOOOU!’ Came Harry’s voice.

‘We’ll be at Neville’s when you two fuck buddies have finished getting your rocks off!’ Ron called.

‘Oh leave them be’ Hermione said in amusement slinging her handbag over her shoulder ‘they need some along time and there’s nowhere at the Burrow for them to as you put it ‘get their rocks off’ there’s always too many people about they’ve taken the opportunity to get away’

‘If it helps Hannah and I would do the same thing’ Neville said with a grin.

‘No it doesn’t help but thanks anyway’ Ron said dryly ‘shall we go then?’

‘Yup see you at the Manor’

Neville turned on the spot and with a snap disapparated to the Manor. He arrived a second before Ron and Hermione and set off toward the front porch.

‘You know I say this every time I come here Neville but I really love what you’ve done with the garden’ Hermione said admiringly ‘if Professor Sprout saw this at the start of your Hogwarts years she would’ve given you an ‘O’ for every exam’

‘Oh she would not have’ Neville said dryly ‘and anyway the only part I’ve done in the front garden is the Honking Daffodils and the Gerberas. The back yard is my domain, its Gran, Algie and my late Pop who did the front yard’

‘Well it’s very nice if I ever get a place of my own I am paying you to do the landscaping’

‘You couldn’t afford me’ Neville said with a grin ‘I’m a war hero you know’

Ron sniggered loudly earning a glare of reproach from Hermione.

Neville opened the door with a flick from his wand and led Ron and Hermione inside. As usual an alluring smell emanated from the kitchen and the three young people followed their nosed where they found Enid deeply engrossed in a page of a cookbook a cup of flour held over a bowl.

‘Hey Enid what’s cooking?’ Neville asked.

‘This is going to be Butterscotch Pudding’ Enid said her eyes not leaving the page in front of her ‘I’m trying something new’

‘Oh wow I love Butterscotch Pudding!’ Ron exclaimed.

‘Enid you remember my friends Ron and Hermione’ Neville said ‘I’ve been in the shop with them all morning’

Enid dumped the flour in the bowl and looked up her grey eyes twinkling.
‘Of course I remember!’ She exclaimed brightly ‘nice to see you two again’

‘How are you Mrs Longbottom?’ Hermione asked politely.

‘Oh dear sod the formalities please call me Enid or Enie, everyone else does’ Enid said brightly ‘You’ve been here several times and we know each other quite well’

‘Okay I can deal with that’ Hermione said with a grin.

‘But as to your question, I’m fine busy cooking up a storm someone has to make sure this house has a constant supply of food though Algie, Gussie and I eat very little of it’

Ron and Hermione sniggered and Neville gave his great aunt a mock death glare.
‘Are you insinuating I’m a pig?’ he said theatrically.

‘No dear the thought hadn’t even crossed my mind’ Enid replied with a grin ‘So where are Harry and Ginny? I thought you were all working together today’

‘We were, or are’ Ron said ‘Harry and Ginny are..ermmm back at the shop just finishing up some minor stuf

Neville sniggered and Enid gave them a knowing look.

‘Ah it’s not unusual for you young ones to shag like rabbits in these past few weeks’ She said ‘I don’t blame Harry and Ginny for staying behind to spend some quality time together’

‘Oh going by what we could hear when we left the shop I reckon they’re spending more than just ‘quality’ time with each other’ Neville said with a grin.

Ron laughed out loud and Hermione and Enid rolled their eyes at the boys.

Half an hour later Harry and Ginny arrived (Both rather red faced) and the group went out on the back porch to discuss the days work.

‘Glad you two decided to join us’ Neville said with a grin as they sat down ‘get any extra work done?’

Ron’s face turned as red as his hair as he tried valiantly to withhold the hysterical laughter. Even Hermione to Neville’s surprise looked as if she were about to burst into a fit of giggles.

Ginny and Harry turned identical shades of red.

‘None of your business’ Ginny said applying herself to her lunch ‘You’re entirely too nosy Neville Longbottom’

‘Aw all the girls say that’

Ron and Harry sniggered.

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The following morning Neville was roused from a very deep sleep by his Gran barging into his room.

‘Neville! Neville you must get up!’ She exclaimed ‘Neville!’

Neville slowly sat up rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
‘Gran it’s....six th-thirty in the m-morning!’ He mumbled through a yawn as he glanced at his alarm clock on his bedside table ‘What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing is wrong but you must come downstairs there’s the most wonderful news in the Daily Prophet!’

‘Ha I doubt it I wouldn’t line a kitty litter tray with that rag’ Neville replied scratching his scalp and yawning like a hippo then promptly flopping back down amongst the covers.

Augusta drew her wand and with a non verbal poke from her wand cast a spell that caused a loud bang to emit from its tip. Neville grabbed a pillow and pulled it over his head with a moan.

‘Neville get up!’ she said commandingly flicking her wand so the quilt threw itself off the bed to reveal Neville in all his naked glory.

‘Gran!’ He bellowed snapping into a sitting position and hurriedly covering his bits with his hands ‘WHAT?

‘Get up you really need to see today’s paper!’ Augusta repeated her face alive with enthusiasm.

‘Do I need to see it now?’ I’ve only gotten five hours sleep!’

‘I promise you can go back to bed after you’ve seen what’s in the paper!’ Augusta trilled sweeping down and throwing the quilt back onto the bed ‘this is most important!’

Neville glared at his Gran.
‘Can I get dressed first or do I need to be naked?’ He asked.

‘Oh of course sorry dear, see you downstairs’

Augusta disapparated with a snap and with a groan Neville got up pulled on a pair of pyjama pants and his dressing gown and made his way downstairs. He woke up in a hurry when he saw Hannah in the kitchen also curiously in her nightie, dressing gown and slippers standing between Algie and Enid.

‘What are you doing here?’ He said in sleepy surprise going over and kissing her on the lips.

‘I came over here straight away when the Prophet arrived at the farm this morning!’ She exclaimed brightly pushing a crumpled copy of the Daily Prophet in her hands ‘you MUST read this’

Neville took the paper and sat down at the dining table spreading it out in front of him. A second passed as he read the headline and the shock of it made him pause, mid yawn.

‘What the-?’

Since the last of the funerals two weeks previously the Daily Prophet had been printing less and less war related material eventually reverting back to it’s normal cycle but now the headline screamed out a new and previously unmentioned story.

‘ORDER OF MERLIN AWARDS NOMINEES’

Under the column ‘First Class’ was his name ‘Neville Frank Longbottom’

‘I’ve been nominated for an Order of Merlin?’ He said incredulously ‘Me?’

‘Isn’t it wonderful?’ Hannah exclaimed slinging her arms around his neck and kissing his ear ‘You’ve been nominated along with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Mrs Weasley, George, Professor Lupin, Tonks, Professor Moody, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout and Fred’

‘B-b-but why?’ Neville asked his head still muddled with sleep.

‘Oh it might have something to do with you killing Voldemort’s snake and destroying a Horcrux’ Enid said flicking her wand at the kettle and setting it to boil on the stove.

‘The awards ceremony is in a month at the convention centre in Hogsmeade’ Hannah said running a finger down to the bottom of the page where the details about the awards ceremony were printed.

And your lovely girl failed to mention she herself has been nominated for a Second Class Order of Merlin’ Algie said with a grin as he poked tobacco into his pipe and lit it with a wordless spell.

‘Algernon please don’t smoke inside it’s a filthy habit!’ Augusta admonished.

Algie rolled his eyes serruptisously at Neville

‘You have?’ Neville exclaimed dragging his gaze away from his great uncle who was now making faces at Augusta behind her back.

Hannah blushed furiously.
‘Yeah along with Ginny’

Neville rubbed his eyes and began reading the article in earnest. By the end of it he had learned he along with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Mrs Weasley, George, Professor Lupin, Tonks, Professor Moody, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout and Fred had been nominated for an Order of Merlin First Class and Hannah along with Dean, Ginny, Seamus, Luna, Lavender, The Patil Twins, Madam Pomfrey, Susan, Ernie, Justin and many members of the D.A who had remained at Hogwarts to fight had been nominated for a Second Class Medal. Several names he didn’t recognize were listed in the ‘Third Class’ column but his gaze was constantly drawn back to his name under the ‘First Class’ heading.

‘This is mad!’ He exclaimed in disbelief ’truly it's nuts’

‘Nah it’s not ye deserve it laddie’ Algie said re-lighting his pipe and earning a glare from Augusta ‘You deserve that medal. What you did at Hogwarts was special and you deserve some recognition for it’

‘I only did what I did because I had to’ Neville said a flush of embarrassment creeping over his cheeks ‘people don’t get awards just because they did something that had to be done’

‘Yes they do that article is proof of that’ Augusta said firmly ‘you acted bravely and should be recognized for it’

But-I’

‘No buts’

‘Do we have to accept this award?’ Neville asked no one in particular ‘because I feel very peculiar accepting it’

‘What for?’ everyone chorused in amazement.

‘Neville what you did that night was one of the bravest things I’ve ever seen!’ Hannah said softly resting a hand on his shoulder ‘you did what Harry asked you to, unhesitatingly and without question. How many people would do that? For pete’s sake you had a direct hand in the downfall of Voldemort! I don’t care what you think, I think that deserves an Order of Merlin First Class’

Neville went bright red as Algie, Enid and Augusta chorused ‘Hear hear’

‘Awww geez I dunno’ Neville said slowly ‘it feels most peculiar to think of myself as Neville Longbottom Order of Merlin First Class. Hell there have been some Ministers of Magic that haven’t had even a Third Class’

‘That’s because they’ve not done what you have’ Enid said sagely flicking her wand so a tray of tea things organised themselves ‘age is no indication of ability Neville and wether you like it or not what you did was extraordinary’

‘Umm...thanks’

‘Would you like to stay for breakfast Hannah dear?’ Augusta asked going to the larder ‘or do you need to get home?’

‘Nah I can stay for a bit thanks Mrs Longbottom’ Hannah said sitting next to Neville ‘Dad said he’d get things started with the horses this morning’

‘So did you get out of bed, read the paper and apparate here?’ Neville asked her in amusement.

‘Pretty much’ Hannah said with a grin ‘Dad was up first and he called me downstairs I saw you name on the first class list and apparated straight here. It wasn’t until your Gran was upstairs waking you up that Enid pointed out to me my name was on the second class list’

‘So if I do decide t accept this medal what happens?’ Neville asked no one in particular ‘we just turn up at the Hogsmeade Convention Centre?’

‘I suppose so’ Hannah said.

‘I expect you’ll hear more from the Minister’ Enid said carrying the tea tray over to the table ‘when is the awards ball scheduled to be held?’

‘August twenty sixth’ Neville said peering at the article again ‘the week before Hogwarts goes back’

‘That’s a month away yet plenty of time to decide wether or not you feel right about accepting the award and letting the committee who decides these things know’

‘Who suggests for people to be nominated for an Order of Merlin?’ Neville asked.

‘The public, heads of government, dignitaries and the like’ Enid said ‘usually about two to three months out from the ceremonial ball the call goes out for people to nominate candidates and within a month a list of people that the Order of Merlin Committee considers worthy for the award is published in the Prophet. Though with the Battle of Hogwarts being on at the same time this year as when the call for nominations usually goes out it’s a bit later’

‘Merlins pants this is full on’ Neville said as Hannah made him a mug of tea ‘me the holder of an Order of Merlin first class? Usually it’s older witches or wizards who get those, hell I’m a week away from turning eighteen!’

‘You’re right the recipients of a First Class Order of Merlin usually are older but age is not the determining factor when deciding who gets the award’ Augusta said ‘remarkable magical feats and achievements or contributions to society are. And Neville what you did at Hogwarts certainly was remarkable’

‘And it was a massive contribution to society’ Hannah chimed in sliding his mug across the table to him ‘and just think the first class medal will look spiffy on your dress robes lapel’

Algie snorted loudly as Neville rolled his eyes.
‘Oh ha ha’ He said ‘I’m not thinking about how it will look on my lapel’

‘So you’ve decided to accept the committee’s nomination then?’ Enid asked keenly.

‘No I haven’t decided anything yet’ Neville said wrapping his hands around the mug ‘I haven’t decided anything yet. I’m still half asleep for Merlins sake I’m not awake enough to decide what I’ll have for breakfast even’

Hannah giggled.

‘Would eggs and bacon suffice sire?’ Enid said in mock seriousness as she cracked an egg into a pan ‘Lord Neville holder of an Order of Merlin First Class medal, we are not worthy’


Hannah collapsed in a fit of giggles and Algie snorted so hard a puff of tobacco ash erupted from the end of his pipe and landed on the dining table (this earned him a glare of reproach from Augusta)

Neville rolled his eyes.

‘Enid I am not a Lord, a Sire refers to a stallion with progeny and I’m not yet a holder of an order of Merlin Medal!’ He exclaimed his cheeks turning red.

‘Just joking dear’ Enid replied with a grin.

Enid went back to cooking and Hannah leaned forward in her chair to whisper in Neville’s ear.
‘You may not have any progeny but to me you’re a stallion’ she whispered so he could barely hear her.

Neville promptly turned scarlet.
‘SHHH! he hissed.

Hannah winked and slouched back in her chair.

‘Want to go to the Burrow later today?’ Neville suggested a few minutes later as Enid bought over a tray of the most alluring smelling bacon and eggs ‘we can go after our Patronus tutoring session’

‘Sure! I thought you might want to’ Hannah replied ‘I wonder what everyone’s reaction is?

‘I think Hermione would say she’s not deserving but Harry and Ron are and if he does get to read the Prophet George will set fire to it’ Hannah said ‘that’s going on the last time we all saw them. Any more news on George and how he’s holding up yet?’

‘Nothing new’ Neville replied ‘he almost ended up in St Mungos again a week or so ago because he made himself sick on Gin but I think I told you about that’

‘Yeah you did’ Hannah said thoughtfully ‘I wonder where George is getting the booze? I thought Mr and Mrs Weasley had cleared the Burrow of anything that that remotely resembled alcohol’

‘Well Ginny said they did but she suspects he’s manufacturing his own’

‘How and where would he be doing that?’ Hannah exclaimed ‘There’s nowhere in the Burrow to make bootleg booze’

‘That we know of it’s a highly enchanted building so maybe there is a secret hideaway he does it in’

‘Hmmm’

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

Hours later after concluding yet another Patronus tutoring session Neville and Hannah flopped onto the re-sized couch to relax. Hannah took her golden locks out of its restraints and let it free. Neville grinned and scooped handfuls of it up when she sat down next to him.

‘I love your hair’ He said sniffing it appreciatively ‘it smells like burnt sugar’

‘Thanks’ Hannah said leaning into him ‘your hair smells pretty spiffy too’

Neville snorted derisively.

‘No it does!’ Hannah exclaimed ‘it smells like old parchment, soil, sugar and that aftershave I made you. A decidedly sexy smell. And what I smell when I sniff at Amortentia’

‘Really?’ Neville exclaimed in surprise.

‘Oh yeah, last year when Professor Slughorn started us on it I smelled it’ Hannah said ‘though that was long before I made you that aftershave’

‘Well that’s weird’ Neville said ‘I wonder how the potion knew?’’

‘Who knows’ Hannah said kissing him on the neck ‘Mmmmm you taste nice too’

Neville suddenly felt a warm feeling of contentment course through him as Hannah got up and straddled his lap.

‘Oh do I now?’ He said with a grin as she sat down and ran her fingers through his hair ‘and what do I taste like?’

Hannah gave him a long languid kiss.
‘Mmmm that one tasted like the bacon and eggs you had for breakfast’ she said with a grin

Kiss

‘And that one tasted like the orange juice you washed it down with’

Kiss

‘And that one tasted like the chicken you had for lunch...’

Kiss

‘And that definitely tastes like the chocolate pudding you had just before the tutoring session...’

‘An...’

But what Hannah was about to say next was lost as Neville grasped her hips and smashed his lips down on hers. At first her eyes flew open in shock at the dominant gesture but she grinned mid-kiss and ground against his groin which was rapidly increasing in size as the seconds passed.

‘Should we really do this here?’ Neville breathed a moment later as Hannah began unbuttoning his shirt ‘the steps going downstairs are on the other side of the hall and the door isn’t locked’

Wordlessly and halfway through giving him a love bite Hannah seized Neville’s wand and cast a locking and silencing charm on the door.

‘There’ she whispered ‘plenty of time’

‘N-not here!’ Neville exclaimed.

‘Where then?’ Hannah said in mild frustration sitting up.

‘Follow me’

Hannah got off Neville’s lap and slipped her hand into his Neville led her across the library floor where he yanked open the door and into the hall.

‘Enie I’m just going to go to Hannah’s for the rest of the day!’ He called over the landing rail which was directly over the door of the kitchen ‘we might head up to Blackpool or Then Burrow on the way’

‘No worries dear take care!’ came the response.

‘Now what?’ Hannah hissed with a giggle.

‘We disapparate’ Neville said simply grasping her hand more tightly.

‘Wh…’

Suddenly everything went black and the next thing Hannah knew they arrived in Neville’s room.

‘My room’ Neville said with a grin waving his wand at the door and warding his room ‘sorry I know I took you a bit by surprise’

‘No kidding’ Hannah said making a face and rubbing her neck ‘I think I ricked my neck’

Neville had the good grace to look guilty.
‘Sorry but I wanted to give the impression we had disapparated from the grounds’ He said apologetically.

Hannah grinned
’No matter’ she said kicking off her shoes and sitting on his bed ‘so this is your room eh? Very schmick, so is that what you do in the school holidays? Channel your inner interior decorator and go for the ye olde eeeengleeesh tea room look?’

Neville rolled his eyes.
‘Ha ha no’ He said ‘this was my great Aunty Maggie’s room when she was growing up and I’ve never bothered to properly re-decorate it. Of course I couldn’t do any magic at home til I turned seventeen and what you see now is a combination of what the room was like originally and my half arsed attempts at Transfiguration spells, then I got used to how it looked and never made an attempt to fix it so I’ve pretty much left it as it is. Though the curtains used to be lace with embroidered roses on them and I did change them completely to the blue and white stripes, though I was going for white with blue spots...I told you I suck at Transfiguration’

Hannah grinned and drew her wand.
‘I decorated my room can I have a go and decorating yours?’ She asked her round face alive with excitement ‘you need a manly masculine décor that reflects your Horcrux destroying, death eater catcher bad ass mother fucker personality’

Neville snorted and laughed out loud.
‘I do not have a Horcrux destroying, death eater catching, bad ass mother fucker personality’ He said.

Hannah rolled her eyes.
‘Neville let’s not go through this again you know full well you do’ she said ‘So can I do a bit of decorating?’

‘Do I get anything for letting you do it?’ Neville said with a grin.

Hannah got off the bed and walked over to him pressing herself up against him with a sultry smile.
‘You may well do’ she said huskily dropping a kiss on his lips and grinding her hips against his growing arousal ‘be a good boy and sit on the bed, I might even give you a treat’

‘Oh yeah and what sort of treat would that be?’

Hannah began unbuttoning her blouse.
‘I’m going to do it topless’ She said with a grin ‘You seem to have an obsession with my boobs and I..’

‘Excuse me I do not have an obsession with your boobs!’ Neville exclaimed as Hannah sensually slipped off her blouse ‘bloody he….’

‘Oh yeah sure you don’t have an obsession with my boobs’ Hannah said dryly reaching behind to unhook her bra ‘that’s why you’re not currently panting at me like a dog in heat'

Neville held his hands up.
‘Okay okay I plead guilty’ He said with a grin ‘but it’s not an obsession, I will accept a mild interest’

‘Oh ha ha’

Hannah slipped off her bra and flicked it over to Neville then grasped her wand and in a frenzy began casting several Transfiguration spells. Neville paid next to no attention to the result of those spells as the bulk of his concentration was directed to Hannah’s breasts which were swinging and bouncing in time with all her wand movements, and as the seconds past his arousal became more and more obvious til a significant tent formed in his trousers and it became painful to move.

‘Shit Hannah I can’t move here’ he complained as Hannah flourished her wand and turned the calico hangings of his bed to a deep blue velvet.

Hannah shot him a sultry smile and Neville couldn't help but groan out loud.

‘I won’t be much longer’ she said with a wink ‘try to hold yourself together’

‘If you keep moving like you are I’m not sure that’s going to be possible’ he replied.

Several minutes later when Neville was right on the point of undressing and ‘taking care’ of himself Hannah finished her Transfiguration spell casting and tossed her wand onto the bed.

‘Well what do you think?’ she said placing her hands on her hips and surveying her work.

‘Hannah right not I don’t give a rats you’ve caused this you know’ Neville groaned.

Hannah turned around to find Neville indicating to the state of his arousal.

‘I caused that?’ she exclaimed feigning surprise.

‘Of course you did who else would’ve? the Giant Squid?’

Hannah got up on her hands and knees and ran a finger over the tent in his trousers.
‘Well I’m going to have to fix this aren’t I? She said with a predatory gleam in her eyes that caused Neville to shudder.

Hannah straddled Neville and leaned down kissing him on the neck. Neville placed his hands on her plump hips and leaned into her ministrations.

‘I don’t think wearing a shirt is necessary’ Hannah said moments later her lips inches from his as she began unbuttoning his top ‘I prefer to see you without one on’

‘What for? I don’t have a body like a wrestler or anything’ Neville responded shivering slightly as Hannah dropped a kiss on his Adam’s apple.

‘To me you do’ she said ‘and don’t be so bloody down on yourself. I like you just the way you are Neville Longbottom just you remember that’

A few moments later Hannah unbuttoned Neville’s shirt completely and spelled it off to save him the effort of getting up.

‘Do you want to do that with my pants?’ Neville said with a grin ad Hannah slowly pulled down his fly.

‘Yeah sod taking them off manually’ Hannah said with a grin.

Hannah leaned over Neville and grasped her wand from the bedside table. With a quick non verbal spell Neville was divested of all his clothing and lay there stark bollocking naked his cock hot, hard and at full mast.

‘Good golly did I do that?’ Hannah said with a grin gently grasping him and slowly pumping his length.

Neville gritted his teeth.

‘Don’t be smart you know you did’ He said ‘Now how come I have to lay here stark bollocking naked while you sit there fully clothed?’

‘Hey I’m in charge here for the time being you can stay there in the nud’ Hannah said pumping him harder.

‘Oooh you’re being bossy I think I like this new bossy Hufflepuff side of you’ Neville said with a grin ‘do keep going’

Hannah grinned and a second later lowered her lips to his cock where she proceeded to swallow him whole. Neville couldn’t help but buck his hips and squeal in the most un-masculine like manner when his head hit the back of Hannah’s throat and she began massaging his balls.

‘Merlins balls Hannah one of these days I’m going to pass out when you do that!’ He exclaimed as she slowly licked his length flicking the head with the tip of her tongue.

‘Don’t so that it’d be no fun’ she purred licking him like an ice lolly.

Moments later Hannah paused letting go of Neville’s cock with a loud wet ‘pop and once again reached for her wand. She gave it a quick flick and divested herself of all her clothes including her underwear.

‘Ah now that’s MUCH better’ Neville said with a grin rubbing her cheek with the pad of his thumb ‘I don’t think there’s much point in you wearing clothes anymore you look much better without any on’

Hannah giggled.
‘You’re a bad bad man Neville Longbottom and you ought to be punished’ she said kissing him on the lips.

‘Oh would you do the punishing?’ Neville joked grinning widely.

‘Ha!’

Hannah kissed Neville on the neck again paying particular attention to his collarbone then made her way down his muscular chest where she latched onto his left nipple making him squirm.

‘You know normally you’re the one that makes me squirm like this’ Hannah said with a grin dropping a kiss on the centre of his chest.

‘Oh don’t worry about that give it time and I’ll return the favour’ Neville breathed and Hannah began going lower ever closer to his aching arousal.

Hannah stuck out her tongue and lazily licked a trail down Neville’s muscular abdomen leaving a shining trail of saliva behind she then gave him yet another smouldering look before she slowly took his entire length in her mouth. Neville bucked his hips and grabbed handfuls of the bedspread and a thrill of electricity raced through his hips and up his spine.

‘Aw shit…’ he moaned in a strangled cry

Hannah reached down and gently began massaging Neville’s testicles as she sucked his length herself getting more and more turned on as he moaned and mewed like a kitten, Neville squeezed his eyes shut so hard an explosion of colour danced behind his eyelids as he neared his own moment of completion.

‘Aw shit Han I’m not sure how much longer I’m going to be able to stand you do-ing that!’ Neville yelped as Hannah’s tongue danced up and down his rock hard cock ‘holy merry Hippogriffs!’

‘Do you want to cum?’ Hannah said releasing his cock from her mouth with another audible ‘pop ‘I want you to cum and cum hard and when you do I’m going to eat it all’

If it was at all possible Neville became even more aroused with Hannah’s dirty talk. She wasn’t usually one to do that but when she did…geez it worked literal magic. He went to respond but all that passed his lips was a strangled moan.

Hannah grinned and once again took his cock into her mouth she sucked on him hard and massaged on his balls til they disappeared and with a roar he spilled his load into her mouth.

‘AHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHH! he bellowed ever thankful for the silencing Charms he had cast after they had apparated into the room ‘’Awwwwww SHIT!’

‘Was that nice dear?’ Hannah joked leaning over him and kissing him in the lips.

Wordlessly Neville flipped Hannah over and dove between her legs to immediately feast on her core. She yelped but relaxed and let her legs naturally fall open to allow him better access.

‘Neville Longbottom you are seriously evil!’ Hannah breathed moments later as Neville stiffened his tongue and poked it into her centre as far as it would go.

‘Yeah but y’luv me’ he replied pausing in his ministrations his chin covered with the evidence of her arousal.

‘Oh just shut up and get back to what you were doing’

Neville grinned and returned his attentions to Hannah’s delectable pussy. Going down on his girlfriend was by far his favourite activity miles ahead of spending time in the greenhouse. In fact Neville thought he would rather eat Hannah’s pussy all day every day….and be dammed the fucking Hummingbird Orchids!

Neville parted Hannah’s folds with the tip of his tongue and latched onto her clit he sucked on her gently til she was a squirming mass of limbs and he was at risk of suffocation from her creamy thighs wrapped around his head.
‘Han you know if you suffocate me you’ll have to finish yourself off don’t you?’ Neville said with a grin inserting a finger into her centre and rubbing her nub with the pad of his thumb.

‘Oh be dammed I will not!’ Hannah shot back her ample chest heaving from the anticipation ‘I promise not to suffocate you if you keep going; anyway it’s nowhere near as satisfying when you do it on your own. I’d rather you do it for me’

‘Lazy Hufflepuff’

‘Arsehole Gryffindor’

‘Tut tut language’ Neville returned pressing hard on her clit.

‘Fuck you’

‘One day most definitely’ Neville said with a grin languidly licking her slit from bottom to top ‘and you won’t be able to walk afterwards’

Hannah laughed.
‘And I’ll shag you so hard your cock will fall off and you’ll have to pee through your nose’

‘Oh you would not, you couldn’t’

Hannah grabbed a handful of Neville’s hair and pulled on it so he was forced to look into her lust filled eyes.

‘Just watch me’ she growled.

Neville felt himself return to full mast as he once again dipped his head to feast on Hannah’s core. It wasn’t long before she was squirming and writhing on the bedspread her moment of completion seconds away.

‘Ah shit oh shit oh shit Neville I’m gonna cuuuuuuuuuuuuuumohhhfaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaark!’ Hannah screamed flopping back on the pillows totally and utterly spent ‘Ohmigod!’

Neville dropped a kiss on her bare mound then crawled up the bed where he slung an arm over her heaving chest playfully tweaking one of her peaked nipples.

‘That was nice’ He said with a flippant grin.

‘Oh go fornicate a cauldron Neville I’m having trouble breathing here’ Hannah said the ghost of a smile tickling the corners of her mouth ‘oh who am I kidding? That was FANTASTIC!’

Neville laughed and enveloped her in a hug.
‘It was from my end too’ He said with a grin brushing the hair from her eyes ‘you must’ve had loads of fun I mussed your hair’

‘You always muss my hair’ she replied ‘I really ought to tie it up next time we…er do any extra curricular activities’

‘Nah don’t I like the mussed up look’ Neville said running a hand over her honey locks ‘In fast I like the look of you totally naked…w…’

‘Your cock in my mouth?’ Hannah said with a giggle.

‘Well that too’

There were several long moments of silence before Hannah spoke.

‘Shall we head to The Burrow to visit Harry, Ron and Hermione?’ She suggested ‘of course I love laying her stark bollocking naked but the day is young and we haven’t seen them for a while’

‘You sure you don’t want to stay here and do nothing but feast your eyes on my Horcrux destroying, death eater catching, bad ass motherfucker physique?’ Neville joked with a loud snort.

Hannah pulled a pillow from beneath her head and hit Neville’s midsection. He snapped into a foetal position and moaned in mock agony.

‘Oh my guts you wound me!” He declared writhing on the bedspread theatrically ‘Summon a healer I require immediate and urgent medical attention!’

Hannah burst into a fit of giggles as she straddled his hips and began thumping him in earnest with the pillow.

‘Neville-Longbottom-you-are-such-a-drama-queen!” She giggled each word punctuated by a thump from a pillow ‘Sometimes-I-wonder-why-I’m-with-you!’

Finally Hannah fell off Neville heaving for breath.

‘You’re with me because the oral sex is great’ Neville whispered in her ear and making her skin crawl in the most delicious way.

Hannah shivered.
‘Yeah it is but that’s not the whole reason I’m with you’ she said dropping a kiss on his lips ‘I love your sense of humour. Your compassion, your bravery and..’

‘Sorry what was that?’ Neville said as Hannah finished her sentence in a whisper 'I didn't quite catch that'

‘I said I love your oral skills’ Hannah mumbled turning scarlet and avoiding his gaze ‘and I don’t mean your ability to hold a good conversation’

‘You could’ve just said that’ Neville said.

‘Well it’s well..’

‘What’s?’

‘Aw don’t make me say it!’

‘Go on I’m not going to bite you’

‘W-well it’s hard talking about oral sex!’

‘You say that after you make me blow like Krakatoa?’ Neville exclaimed incredulously ‘You can take part in the act but not discuss it? Hell Hannah I could talk about it all day’

‘Yeah well you’re a Gryffindor and the whole magical world knows you lot can only talk about getting laid and getting drunk’ Hannah said still avoiding his eyes ‘all Gryffindors have no problem at all talking about sex in whatever form....I’m a Hufflepuff we’re the epitome of discretion’

Neville couldn’t help it and fell about laughing.

‘What?’ Hannah trilled as Neville clutched at his stomach ‘What? Neville you’re laughing at me!’

‘S-s-sorry’ Neville stuttered ‘that is so funny! I mean you go down on me then find it difficult to talk about it! Sorry I shouldn’t laugh’

‘No you shouldn’t’ Hannah said her face still boiling red.

Neville hugged her tightly.
‘I’m sorry’ He said ‘But you know you shouldn’t feel uncomfy talking about anything to me I’m not going to bite you...well not unless you want me to’

Hannah giggled.
‘We’ll explore that possibility at a later date shall we?’ she said returning the hug ‘C’mon lets go and visit Harry, Ron and Hermione’

‘Okay’

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

Minutes later re-dressed but still basking in the afterglow of their bedroom theatrics Neville and Hannah disapparated from Neville’s bedroom to the long path leading to the Burrow hand in hand and totally infatuated with each other.

‘So when are you going to decide about wether or not to accept the Order of Merlin committees nomination?’ Hannah asked as they made their way toward the Burrow.

‘Dunno yet I’m hoping being around, Harry, Ron and Hermione will help me decide’ Neville said ‘I mean while I feel a bit odd about accepting it, it would be bad form to refuse it wouldn’t it? I mean there’s a sort of etiquette to these things isn’t there?’

‘Well you could accept it then not put it on your business card’ Hannah said with a grin.

Neville rolled his eyes.
‘Ha ha’ he replied ‘I don’t have a business card and doubt I ever will’

‘I think you’ll have to get one if you ever get around to starting up your own chain of Herbology nurseries, people will need your contact details’

‘Hmm I suppose so’ Neville said ‘you know I’ve been thinking about that opening my own business a lot recently especially since I’ve been helping Ron, Harry and Hermione get the joke shop in order. I’m half tempted to go about starting it now trying to get it going even when I’m doing Auror training’

‘Would you have the time?’ Hannah asked ‘I mean Auror training is really hard and will take up the bulk of your time’

‘I know and for the time being that’s going to be my priority’ Neville replied ‘I mean only to get things started you know form a business plan consult a financial planner then eventually go to Gringotts and see about getting a loan’

‘Do you think you’ll need one? You got a pretty substantial pay out from the Ministry for being part of the final battle’

‘I feel really funny about using that money’ Neville said making a face ‘it’s only because of Gran’s insistence I didn’t give it to St Mungos’

‘I think you were right to follow her advice’ Hannah said ‘Neville you were an integral part of the final battle and in doing so deserve any rewards that come your way. I think that includes the money and the Order of Merlin. And you could set up your Herbology business then when you start making money then give what the Ministry paid you to St Mungos that way you’ll keep your Gran happy and not feel weird’

Neville kissed her on the forehead.
‘That’s a smart idea I might go with that’ He said.

A few minutes later Hannah and Neville entered the Burrows grounds through the ornate iron gate and made their way down the drive toward the house. They had just passed the chicken coop when Mrs Weasley emerged from the house a huge basket of washing resting on her hip.

Neville Hannah!’ She exclaimed placing the basket on an old rusted out cauldron and rushing forward ‘you should’ve let me know you were coming I would’ve prepared something!’

‘It’s no problem Mrs Weasley we only decided to drop by at the last minute’ Neville said allowing the older woman to embrace him ‘there’s no need to do anything’

‘Oh pish I like to have something prepared for guests’ Mrs Weasley bustled releasing Hannah from a hug ‘come in come in I’ll make some tea’

Mrs Weasley flourished her wand at the washing basket and it zoomed over to the line (Where the clothes inside started to hang themselves) she then led Neville and Hannah into the kitchen.

‘It’s awfully quiet here Mrs Weasley is no one at home?’ Hannah asked politely sitting down at one of the vacant chairs.

‘Yes at the moment dear they’re all at Hogwarts for a Patronus tutoring session but they will be back soon for afternoon tea’ Mrs Weasley replied flicking her wand to set the kettle boiling ‘now how are you both?’

‘Fine thankyou Neville and I had another group finish their Patronus tutoring sessions today they start their banishing missions tomorrow’ Hannah said ‘Kingsley reckons it’s a distinct possibility that all the dementors could be banished by New Year. With all the British community doing their bit and the foreign contingents helping it’s going far quicker than he thought’

‘Yes he did mention something similar last week’ Mrs Weasley replied ‘I’ve only gone on three missions since the end of the war I’ve er...had my hands full here’

‘How is George Mrs Weasley?’ Neville asked seeing through the older woman’s comments immediately.

‘The same as usual dear’ Mrs Weasley replied sighing loudly ‘One moment he seems like his old self then the next he shuts himself away from everyone. He’s doing that now he hasn’t been out of room for three days save for going to the toilet. The only ones who can speak with him now are Ginny and Percy we’re hoping both of them can convince him to go and see a counsellor at St Mungos or at the very least agree to see one here’

Neville’s heart went out to Mrs Weasley and he thanked Merlin that his parents were blissfully unaware of the second war.

‘He’ll come around Mrs Weasley I know he will’ Neville said ‘trust me’

‘Thankyou dear I suppose all he needs now is time Arthur and I have done all we can’

Moments later the grate burst into green flame and Ron appeared.

‘Mother dear never fear I am here!’ he joked.

‘Very funny Ronald’

‘What’s gotten you in such a good mood?’ Neville said in amusement as the grate illuminated again and Ginny arrived.

‘You got lucky’ Hannah observed.

‘Who got lucky?’ Ginny asked flopping down into the nearest chair.

‘I’m guessing Ron’ Hannah joked as Ron’s ears turned pink.

‘Oh probably he and Hermione are worse than Terry and Luna and that’s saying something, they got busted shagging on Professor Flitwick’s desk today’

‘Who by?’ Hannah said with a giggle.

‘Flitwick’

The group (Including Mrs Weasley to Neville’s surprise) fell about laughing as in the grate Hermione followed by Harry arrived back at the Burrow.

‘Are we that funny?’ Harry said to no one in particular hanging his cloak up on the nearby hat stand.

‘No you’re as funny as a pickaxe in the head I just told Neville and Hannah that Ron and Hermione are worse than Terry and Luna and that Terry and Luna got busted shagging on Professor Flitwick’s office desk’ Ginny said.

Harry sniggered.

‘Oh you lot behave’ Mrs Weasley admonished affectionately ‘one would think someone’s spiked everything you eat and drink with a Libido Draught’

‘There is such a thing?’ Ron asked in interest ‘wow maybe I ought to take a measure’

‘You don’t need it’ Hermione said suddenly and apparently without any thought.

Every head snapped in Hermione’s direction and on realising what she had said she slapped a hand over her mouth and turned a bright fire engine red. Neville saw Harry turn and equal shade as he fought valiantly to swallow his laughter but in the end his efforts were in vain and her collapsed into the nearest chair in hysterics. That got Hannah going who got Ginny going who was closely followed my Neville and Mrs Weasley who was trying to play the role of the sensible, respectable matriarch.

‘Ohmygodican’tbeleiveijustsaidthat!’ Hermione whispered burying her head in her arms.

‘Yeah neither can we ‘Mione what the hells wrong with you?’ Harry exclaimed in surprise ‘something that dumb and unthought-of of is usually Ron’s thing’

‘Oy!’

‘He’s got you there’ Ginny said ‘Ron you’re famous for only opening your mouth to change feet, Hermione isn’t she’s normally the one to clip you around the ear when Mum isn’t about’

‘Hermione you ought to get a certificate to mark this occasion’ Neville said with a grin ‘because no one will ever believe you just said something so un-Hermione like and we’ll need to have a record on paper to prove it’

‘Oh sod off Neville you’re not helping!’ Hermione said sitting up but still covering her face with her hands.

‘Nah just a memory stored in a penseive will do’ Ginny said adding to the friendly ribbing.

‘Oh leave me alone!’ Hermione groaned ‘And you’re all supposed to me my friends!’

‘Hermione we are’ Hannah said with a grin ‘who else would you let get away with all the ribbing? If it were anyone else you’d make what Harry did to Voldemort look like fairy dust....look you haven’t even thought about drawing your wand’

‘Good point’ Ron and Ginny chorused.

‘Oh trust me I have thought about drawing my wand’ Hermione said finally uncovering her face ‘But I don’t believe in wasting perfectly good magic’

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

Minutes later after being plied with tea and cakes by Mrs Weasley the group moved into the lounge room.

‘So I suppose you lot got the Prophet this morning?’ Neville started.

‘Yeah along with thirty seven other owls’ Harry said dryly ‘half of which were from Rita Skeeter. Order of Merlin First Class my arse! There’s no way in hell I’m going to stand up in front of a room full of Ministry and high society retards and get fawned over’

‘Harry be real you get fawned over anyway’ Hermione said ‘that’s not going to change wether or not you accept the Order of Merlin or not, plus I think of all of us to be nominated you deserve it the most’

Harry made a face.

‘Don’t give me that you know you do’

‘Isn’t it weird? Ginny piped up.

‘That’s the understatement of the millennium’ Harry muttered.

‘So have you decided wether or not you’re going to accept your nomination yet?’ Ginny continued on looking over at Hannah and Neville.

‘No not yet’ Neville replied ‘I’m still digesting the fact I’ve been nominated, Gran apparated into my bedroom and hexed the doona off me this morning as soon as the Prophet arrived’

Ron and Harry sniggered

‘Really? Ron said grinning stupidly.

‘Yeah and I was stark bollocking naked too’

‘Oh so that’s why you were yelling’ Hannah said.

‘Yeah that was the point where Gran hexed the doona off’ Neville said dryly ‘If my mind wasn’t so addled with sleep I would’ve hexed her back just out of reflex’

‘So what did your Dad say Hannah about you being nominated for a second class?’ Ginny asked.

‘Oh he went all teary, saying he was proud and how proud Mum would’ve been. He wanted to get Zac, Jake and Lou up but I said I had to go and see Neville. I apparated there in my dressing gown, I arrived just as Enid was starting on breakfast’

‘Did you apparate right into the kitchen?’

‘Yeah but not on purpose, I just thought of Neville’s place and that’s where I ended up. If I’m not specific with my destination I don’t arrive exactly where I intend to. Usually I floo or apparate to the front porch’

‘Ha ha’

‘So has George found out he’s been nominated for a first class medal?’ Neville asked tentatively.

‘No not yet’ Ginny said ‘I’m going to have a go at telling him later today, Percy who is the only other one George will talk to wants to do it with me but I think for something like this a singlehanded approach would be the best method. Mum and Dad want me to try and convince him to accept Fred’s’

‘I said that’s as likely as it snowing in the middle of summer’ Ron said.

‘Well if he doesn’t do it Percy’s going to’ Ginny said ‘none of the rest of us feels it’s appropriate for anyone else but George or Percy to do it’

‘How is Percy getting on?’ Neville asked ‘I haven’t seen him around much’

‘That’s because he’s working as much as Dad is’ Ron said ‘And he’s got his own place in London now so he tends to go there in his downtime. Mind you since the end of the war he’s spent more time here than in his own place. Even Bill and Charlie are here every day. Charlie’s taken long service leave from the reserve in Romania and is doing some casual work for the Magical Creatures Department of the Ministry’

‘So you know about Percy professionally now I suppose’ Neville said ‘what abut personally? Have you properly caught up now?’

‘Yeah we’ve all made amends’ Ron said happily ‘and the whole family is back in sync now save for Fred of course. As you know Perce is working in Kinsgsley’s office and he’s dating a girl called Audrey LaTour. She’s a lawyer in the Improper Use of Magic Office and is one of the Ministry prosecutors in the Death Eater Trials. Hermione and her get on like a house on fire...and ‘Mione thinks the sun shines out of her arse’

‘Oh I do not!’ Hermione exclaimed ‘you are fu...’

‘I meant in the professional sense!’ Ron exclaimed in a manner Neville thought was a magnificent case of self preservation ‘her being a lawyer and you wanting to do that sort of thing once you finish at Hogwarts’

‘Saved yourself from a right bollocking there mate’ Harry said with a grin.

‘So all in all everyone’s undecided wether or not to accept their Order of Merlin nomination then?’ Hannah said after a moment of silence.

‘Uh huh’ came the collective reply.

‘It just feels so weird to be recognized at such!’ Harry exclaimed ‘I mean I only did what I had to do to save others from being murdered on the spot, I didn’t do it for any sort of personal glory’

‘Harry as we all keep on telling you we know you didn’t do it for personal glory’ Hermione said ‘you did it for others, for the good of wizard kind. And the Order of Merlin committee just want to recognize you for it. They’re just saying what the rest of the magical world think. And obviously they think a lot because Order of Merlin first second and third class candidates are nominated by the public’

‘I’m starting to think if I farted the public would nominate me for an Order of Merlin’ Harry said with a barely discernable smile.

Ron and Ginny sniggered and Hermione just rolled her eyes.

‘Harry no one especially us your closest friends are pushing you into anything but you know it wouldn’t be such a bad thing if you accepted this award’ Hermione said.

‘You quoted me’ Harry said with a wry grin ‘I said the same about your nomination’

‘Ha! I didn’t do anything you did the vanquishing’

‘How can you say that?’ Harry exclaimed incredulously ‘Hermione if it wasn’t for you I would’ve just gone off on my own and probably got myself killed. And I mean properly. You were the sensible. You stopped me and Ron doing more stupid things than we actually did. You deserve as much recognition as anyone’

‘Listen to yourself Harry you just have every reason why you yourself should accept your Order of Merlin’ Neville said with a grin.

‘Touché’

‘So after that I take it we’re all going to do our social etiquette thing and rock up to this poncy soiree at the end of the month?’ Hannah said after a few moments of silence ‘there doesn’t seem to be any other option does there?’

Harry grunted.
‘No there isn’t’ he said ‘Oh well at least I have a hot bird to hang off my arm on the red carpet’ he said with a barely discernable smile.

‘Oh you are so crass’ Ginny muttered as Ron and Neville snorted into their tea ‘you can go by yourself if that’s your attitude’

‘Awww c’mon Gin you know you like it’ Harry said with a grin.

‘Oh vomit, get a room you two will ya?’ Ron said screwing up his nose ‘you two are making me feel like I’m going to bring up my lunch’

‘Oh you can talk, now you know how Harry and I feel every time you and Hermione near enough have sex in front of us’ Ginny said ‘Fang produces less saliva than you two do’

Hannah and Neville fell about laughing.

‘Reckon Ginny has a point’ Neville said with a grin.

‘Bite me Neville’

Neville and Hannah stayed at the Burrow til the sun started to go down then disapparated to Hannah’s house in Wolverhampton.

‘Well I suppose I’ll see you tomorrow morning then’ Neville said tucking a strand of hair behind Hannah’s ear and dropping a chaste kiss on her lips ‘where once again we shall join together in a fantastic journey into the unknown’

Hannah rolled her eyes and giggled.
‘Very funny’ she said ‘come on inside for dinner, Dad won’t mind and I’m not quite ready to finish our day together yet. You can floo home afterwards’

‘You sure he won’t mind?’ Neville asked uncertainly as they started down the drive.

‘Neville he’ll be fine!’ Hannah exclaimed in amused exasperation ‘C’mon we’ve been together long enough for Dad not to mind wether you come and go as you like. He thinks the sun shines out of your arse any time you visit you’re welcome’

‘Well if you’re sure’ Neville said ‘and maybe a roll in the hay afterward’

Hannah rolled her eyes.
‘Neville Longbottom you are a sexual deviant!’ she declared.

‘You’ve only just noticed?’ Neville said in amusement as Hannah skipped up the porch steps.

‘Ha ha, c'mon keep your pants on ad maybe later we'll go for a walk'