Professor Longbottom

A/N: I love these sort of stories – forbidden love! I go all fangirly over that sort of thing ;) This is set after the Second Wizard War, so the next generation. I may change some things around in this story, such as Neville not being married to Hannah Abbott. There aren't many other changes. Also, the timings may not work in some ways, but I hope that you can try to look past it because I should have given it more thought! Just a quick warning, this first chapter may drag as it's the introduction. Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading

Whistling its final warning to students who still weren't on the train, the Hogwarts Express began to fill with hundreds of students of all ages – a new generation of witches and wizards. I slowly turned towards my pale-skinned, and raven haired mother, who stared coldly at me with her piercing green eyes. Many had told me that I looked a lot like my mother, which annoyed me greatly; our relationship was non-existent, and I didn't want to be anything like her. However, my hair was a mass of black curls, while my mother's was as straight as her strict beliefs. Her nose was straight, and was used often to enable her to look down on people, and her pale lips were in a thin line.

"Don't disappoint me this year, Marcia. Your father wouldn't want a bad update on his only daughter, will he?" She said coldly.

I nodded slowly as I stepped away from my mother and boarded the train, my father was a death eater but he was imprisoned in Azkaban after the War. He has never seen me and I have never seen him, but I prefer it that way- he was a complete waste of space. I waved goodbye to my uncaring mother, who wasn't one to show her emotions. I looked around for anyone I knew, and the silence was interrupted by a familiar platinum blonde, "Hey Marcy, how about a quickie?"

I rolled my eyes, "Scorpius, how many times have I told you?! Do you honestly think that I'd do such a thing on a train?" Scorpius and I had been together for a year and it was already getting serious…too serious for my opinion. Draco Malfoy, Scorpius' father, was talking about marriage, and that's not something a 16 year old wants to hear.

"I was only joking Marcia…Christ! I'm sorry that you're so frigid." Scorpius walked away arrogantly; sometimes I found it really hard to love him. We definitely had a love-hate relationship.

"Hey Marcia, how are you doing?" My friend Ana asked me from behind; she flicked her brown hair behind her shoulder, revealing the Slytherin emblem.

"I've been getting along, how about you?" I smiled, Anastasia was one of the closest friends I had and she was in the same family situation as I was.

"I'm doing great, but don't you think we should find a compartment?" She gestured towards the endless full compartments of students. I sighed exasperatedly and nodded, walking in front of Ana as we tried to find room for the both of us.

"Sit down girls please." The train warden told us.

Ana gave her a dirty look, "What do you think we're doing you old hag!"

I sighed internally; this was one of the reasons why I struggled to make friends in Slytherin, everyone was so horrible to each other. I have no idea why I am in Slytherin, but I was very different in my first year – I was a complete bully, and I treated everyone like dung. However, after being the bullied one for a while in fifth year, I decided that I couldn't go on like that.

I walked past the warden and finally found an empty compartment, calling Ana over to sit down. We sat comfortably in our seats, and watched outside as the scenery rolled past.

"Mother heard that there's going to be a new Herbology teacher." Ana told me, twiddling her hair in her fingers.

"Really? Who?" I asked, secretly I was starting to get excited, but I didn't want Ana to find out my passion for Herbology.

"Not sure, he's probably some old guy. It's only plants anyway…like who needs Herbology?"

I frowned slightly, "Yeah, only plants…"

My chances of becoming a Herbology professor were becoming slim, mainly because I had stopped trying in lessons after I was mercilessly teased by Ana and Scorpius. They thought I was a weirdo for having a passion for something other than bullying. Tired of my typical over-thinking, I leaned against the train window and gradually fell asleep.

"Go into the Great Hall. You'll be just in time for the Sorting." Professor Slughorn told the sixth years as we entered Hogwarts. The journey had been rather uneventful, as it was just me and Ana who was on the train and on the carriage. I was surprised that Professor Slughorn was still here, he was well into his seventies.

"Hey babe." Scorpius whispered into my ear, sending tingles down my spine. "Wanna ditch the Sorting?"

This was so typical of Scorpius, "No, we should go. I'm starving, and besides, there's a new professor."

"Suit yourself." Scorpius walked off ahead of me and joined his friends, leaving me alone as Ana had left me a while ago. This was how things mainly went; I was everyone's second choice and back-up. I got fed up of it in fifth year, but the idea of being alone with no friends around pushed me back into the routine of being ditched when someone better came along.

I walked into the Great Hall, adjusting my robe so I was comfortable. Scorpius waved me over as he laughed with his arrogant friends- I couldn't stand most of the people he hung round with. He was different when it was just him and me. I sat down quickly and looked up to our head master, who was Professor McGonagall. She was still around, which surprised many.

"Quieten down please, students. I have an important announcement to make." Professor McGonagall shouted over the many people in the Hall. Once it was quiet enough, McGonagall smiled at us all, "Before we begin the Sorting, I must inform you of the new staff here. As our current Herbology teacher Professor Sprout is only working part-time, we have another Herbology Professor. Professor Longbottom, please stand."

A young and tall man stood from his seat, he was admirably good-looking and I could already tell that I was going to enjoy Herbology very much…He was wearing a black satin cloak with the Gryffindor emblem, and a brown and white sweater vest. He looked goofily cute as he smiled sheepishly and sat back down.

After the sound of applause died down, the Sorting began and I soon lost interest. I twirled my curly black hair with my fingers as I thought about the new Herbology teacher; he certainly was a looker but the name Longbottom brought more to my mind than his looks. Neville Longbottom, the hero from the last War. He was in Gryffindor and he faced Voldemort head on. Being a Slytherin I should probably hate what he did, but I found myself admiring his bravery and liking him even more.

"What are you thinking about Marcia?" Scorpius piped up. I looked at him with wide eyes, how could I think of him in such a way when I was with Scorpius.

"Oh nothing…how about after the feast we go somewhere more…private." I smiled devilishly, and he returned the same smile. He gave me a quick kiss before turning back to talk to his friends, and I once again, was alone.

Picking at pieces of bacon and eggs, I struggled to eat my breakfast after the events of last night. Scorpius and I left the feast early to our common room which was deserted.

Scorpius pulled me down the endless stairs, holding my hand gently. When we finally reached our Common Room, Scorpius pushed me onto the sofa in an aggressive manner.

"Ow, Scorpius calm down-" I tried to say, but I was interrupted when he crashed our lips together, forcing his tongue into my mouth. I soon started to enjoy it, but I soon felt his hand on my boob and a belt becoming undone.

I pulled away in realisation, "What do you think you're doing Scorpius?" I removed his hand from my boob, suddenly feeling violated.

"What do you think Marcia? How do you expect our relationship to work if we don't have sex?" Scorpius hissed angrily, staring me with anger in his grey eyes.

I frowned and started to shout, "Is this what this relationship is all about then? Sex?! If that's what you think then this isn't worth it."

Scorpius grabbed my arms forcefully and pulled me up from the green satin sofa, "How dare you speak to me in that way!" He dug his nails into my skin, and I was sure that I felt a trickle of blood. I stared back at him as I tried to hide my fear; this wasn't the first time he'd been violent. He let go of my arms and saw me drop to the ground with a yelp. "You're lucky to have someone like me. You don't know the shit that I'm given for going out with you! You have no fucking idea of what I've been through at all, have you?!" He kicked me roughly in the side, and shook his head. I tried to avoid his stare before he walked away and back out the portrait door.

I shuddered as I felt a dull ache from where Scorpius had kicked me. I knew that I should break up with him, but that would mean the next two years would be full of torment. I looked up quickly at Professor Longbottom, who was laughing with another professor revealing two defined dimples.

"Here you go Miss Rennie." Professor Slughorn smiled as he gave me my time-table, and I looked at it with excitement. I had Herbology first…with Professor Longbottom. I felt excitement but dread at the same time, there was no doubt that I would be teased for choosing Herbology for one of my subjects but that was something that I was willing to do.

After breakfast, I left without speaking to Scorpius or Ana. Scorpius for an obvious reason, but Ana hadn't spoken to me since Lauren arrived (she was a desperate girl who was jealous of my relationship with Scorpius), and I wasn't willing to make the first move and speak to her. Walking out to the green houses, I took a deep breath and was prepared for a lesson in a boiling hot green house.

I walked up to the greenhouse, where several other sixth years were waiting outside…and that's when I saw him. He wasn't wearing his robe, probably because of the heat, and his black rolled-up shirt showed a part of his muscular arms. I felt butterflies flutter in my stomach as he waved me over.

"Come on, I assume you're Marcia?" Professor Longbottom asked, giving me a half smile. I blushed and nodded as I joined the rest of the class. "Okay, that's all of us. Come inside, but just to warn you it's a bit hot in here."

I followed who I recognised to be Rose Weasley, she was a Gryffindor and the daughter of Ron Weasley. How do I know her you ask? Scorpius told me after he and I bullied her. He claims that it was only right after what her parents did to his family, but I soon regretted it. Rose was the nicest person in sixth year, not that I had noticed it at first. I looked from afar and saw how much she helped people, and how kind she was to everyone she met.

"Okay, find your places. I don't mind where you sit as long as you do your work."

Oh great. I was on my own and I had to find a place next to someone who didn't hate me for being Scorpius' girlfriend, and for bullying them in the past. I moved gingerly next the empty place beside Rose, who looked up and smiled. Widening my eyes in shock, I sat down and pulled out my books from my bag. Did Rose just smile at me? After everything I had done?

"Don't look too surprised." Rose whispered quietly, her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail and it really suited her.

"Sorry, I just thought that you didn't like me." I spoke as I got out my quill.

"Why, because of what happened over a year ago?" She scoffed, occasionally looking up at our professor while he handed everyone a wilting tree. I nodded slowly, and she smiled in return, "I know you regret what you've done in the past. You're a better person now. Don't worry about it; it's all water under the bridge."

I gave her a grateful smile but quickly faced the front, where Professor Longbottom had started the lesson.

"Okay, welcome to your first lesson of Herbology. I am Professor Longbottom, which you already know." He gave the class a genuine grin, "In front of you there is a wilting plant. I would like you to restore that plant to its full health without any support from me. This is more of a recap lesson from last year, so you should know. You may start now."

My mouth dropped; I didn't work too well last year and I could hardly remember a thing. "Sir," I began as I raised my hand, "I can't remember how to do it…" I blushed a bright shade of red when everyone turned round to face me.

Longbottom stared at me with sympathy, but disbelief, "This is easy stuff Marcia." He walked over, "You learnt this last year didn't you?"

"Y-yeah. I d-didn't listen very much." I stuttered, giving glares to the people who were still staring at me and they soon looked back to their trees.

"I don't mean to sound harsh Marcia, but if you want to do this subject this year and in seventh year you need to know this stuff." He sighed, "We'll see how the next few lessons go, and if you're still struggling then we'll arrange some extra help outside of classes. Understood?"

I nodded and tried to work on the tree that was sitting in front of me. These lessons were going to be fun…

A/N: Sorry that this is a bit rubbish. This was a spur of the moment, but I like the idea of it. I understand that at the moment nothing is really happening, but I plan for a lot to happen. I am going to post the second chapter at the same time as this one, so you will get to see for yourself if the story doesn't drag on so much and something actually happens. Anyway, please review, I'd love any feedback

HereGoesMyReputation

Update: I have updated this chapter, and changed some little things around. However, this does not change anything important in the storyline. This should all make sense now!

~HereGoesMyReputation