Blank
By Shahrezad1
Prologue
Neville Longbottom was really quite a normal man. Or wizard, as it were. He'd known it since his childhood—a constant reaffirmation on every occasion he'd ever lost his toad. A toad long-dead from old age and one too many adventures.
For he'd had his fill of adventure; proving himself to be more than just a true Gryffindor, but a leader, a hero, and a loyal friend.
While the friendships of his youth still burned brightly, his life had calmed down some. He'd tried being an herbalist and a plantologist, but neither had been a comfortable fit. He'd pondered being an Auror, but had quickly discarded the idea, and a single internship at St. Mungos had left him feeling ill and depressed. It hadn't been until he'd pulled out his old photos in a fit of whimsy that he'd hit upon his calling.
Years later he was still ast it, following in Professor Lupin's inspiring footsteps and teaching the offspring of his childhood friends. Despite the irony of it all, he wouldn't trade teaching for anything in the world.
Locking the door to his flat, he carefully buttoned his overcoat and headed for the London Underground. With a week left before a new school year was to begin, he still had a few things to pick up. Seedlings for the batch of Squiggly Wampus they would be raising, and a set of antidotes for students poisoned by the silly things. How exactly one got enough of the miniscule dwarf plant's poison into one's lungs to have it turn poisonous, he didn't know. And no matter how many times he warned his students, there always seemed to be at least one incident of tampe--!
Time froze as the world exploded in front of him and scant centimeters from his face a Muggle automobile slammed into an innocent pedestrian, then sped off. Leaving a smoking stench in its wake.
Forcing past the shock rising within him, he dashed into the street and immediately checked for her vital signs. Although a poor mediwizarding student, as a teacher he utilized previously learned skills on a surprisingly frequent basis.
The Muggle's breathing was labored and a quick scan revealed several broken ribs, a shattered fibula, and a skull fracture. A whispered spell, with his arms strategically placed just-so, underneath, kept her form from being jostled while his upheld arms disguised the existence of magic being used.
She was ushered into his apartment, then the expanded fireplace, where a harsh command sent them off to St. Mungos, a place both bitter and sweet.
Ushering in a new school year, with them.