-1Let It Roll

All Hallow's Eve saw Hogwarts a buzz with activity and rumour. Professor McGonagall had told the assembled staff and students that this year would see the start of the first annual Halloween Ball, to which everyone was expected to bring a partner. Even the teachers, she had said, with a very pointed look at Neville that made his insides shrivel. And so the Herbology professor found himself walking down the third floor corridor in his dress robes to meet his date, when he heard some very peculiar noises from a disused classroom.

"Vic, we really need to get down to the hall," came the unmistakable quavering voice of Teddy Lupin.

Neville opened the door and looked down with a disapproving eye at a pair of very flustered students; Teddy Lupin with a loosened tie and a number of lipstick marks on his face and fifth-year Victoire Weasley who was looking equally flustered but also a faint air of triumph. The professor made a coughing sound and the couple turned around, Teddy looking mortified and even Victoire had the decency to look slightly worried.

"I was under the impression that the two of you were prefects," he said sternly, leaning against the doorway.

"Yes professor," Lupin said, his hair turning an impressive Weasley red.

"And I also believe that as prefects, you're meant to set an example for the younger students. While I appreciate your being young, I would also prefer it if you conducted yourself with a bit more decorum in future. Detention for you both tomorrow night, my office at eight," Neville said, turning to leave.

"Please professor, it was my fault, Vic shouldn't be punished, I dragged her in here before the Ball," Teddy said, blushing deeply. The professor pivoted, pursing his lips.

"Oh yes?" he asked mildly.

"W-well…" Teddy stammered, before Victoire rolled her eyes and took over.

"We're going to the Ball with different people, sir," she said as if that explained everything.

"And?" he prompted.

"And he wanted to tell me how he felt before-"

"You know what, I'd rather not know at all," Neville said lightly, turning to the door "I'll see you both at eight o clock tomorrow evening,"

Professor Longbottom hurried down the stairs rather faster than was necessary, tugging at the collar of his dress robes. There were some things that he would never, ever like to know about the relationships of these children, especially the ones he was present at the christening for. He found it hard to align the images of the little pigtailed girl who once gave him a daisy from the back garden for his birthday, with the girl who had covered Teddy Lupin's face with lipstick. He stood by the front doors and waited for his date for the evening who was due to be arriving at any time.

His face flushed when he remembered how he had asked Hannah if she would like to come with him. It had involved turning up outside her apartment at a ridiculous time in the morning, quite drunk and clutching a bouquet of flowers triumphantly in one hand. He silently thrilled at the way she had blushed as she put the flowers in a vase of water, or the slight tingle he felt when his hand brushed hers. His breath fogged in the cold night's air, but his cheeks felt warm as he saw Hannah walking up the pathway towards the school.

Neville's first thought was that she was covered in red paint. Then he realised it was a dress. A very slinky, figure hugging, heart palpitation giving scarlet dress that made Hannah Abbott look like one of the more stunning love goddesses from the History of Magic textbook. He tried to say something as she approached, but all that came out was a high pitched squealing sound. He coughed.

"You look…wow," he whispered in awe as she came over and took his arm.

"I don't normally look wow?" she said in a mock offended tone. Neville made a gasping sound and Hannah giggled, swatting him playfully "I'm just joking Neville, relax,"

"I'm honestly trying," he said weakly as he led her inside to the warmth of the castle. As they entered the Great Hall, Neville had to say that he was impressed by the decorations that Hagrid and Flitwick had put up. Tiny pumpkins with bat wings swooped around the Hall, and various other bat themed decorations were whizzing around the room. At the centre of each of the tables was a giant carved pumpkin, which was talking animatedly to some of the students around it.

"That's fairly impressive," Neville said, making a strangled sound as Hannah brushed up against him. She gave him a puzzled look as he guided her over to a spare table by the door that already had Seamus sitting at it.

"I'm just wondering why witch's dress robes look good, and why all wizard's dress robes ever created involve frills," he muttered, taking his seat.

"You don't have frills on yours," Hannah pointed out, pulling at the velvety sleeve.

"That's because I cut them off!" Neville exclaimed "I looked like a doily!"

"It's true," Seamus said glumly "It was embarrassing to behold,"

Hannah frowned at him "Where's your date Seamus?"

Seamus muttered something about needing alcohol and fled the table, moving over to the drinks table, barging a few students out of the way. Neville winced. He wasn't entirely sure that Seamus Finnegan had even gone on a date since the Battle of Hogwarts. He certainly knew that the poor man had never gotten over the death of Lavender Brown, who'd been murdered by Fenrir Greyback during the battle. Of course she hadn't died then, it'd been a long, painful drawn out thing. She hadn't known him before the end. Neville gave his date a winning smile as the music started.

Gone were the days of the Wyrd Sisters, though he vaguely remembered reading an article about Kirley Duke living in a condo in Spain. Neville couldn't really remember the name of the band playing on stage, though he remembered tutoring the lead singer for her Herbology NEWT in his first year of teaching.

"They're…certainly interesting," Neville said, his face going pale at the unique 'tune' that the band was playing. Hannah's face was aghast.

"This is something to do with banshees, right?" she asked in mock horror. Neville chuckled.

The evening was certainly in Neville's top ten. He made sure not to have too much to drink, though Hannah seemed to be downing it in liberal amounts. They danced a little, and they were both pleasantly surprised to find that he wasn't quite as clumsy as he had been up until his seventh year. Neville couldn't help but notice that Teddy and Victoire were practically ignoring their own dates, casting glances at each other across the hall. This culminated in the young Weasley girl slapping Roger Davies' son around the face and running from the room, shortly followed by Teddy. Towards the end of the night, Professor McGonagall amplified her voice and asked for quiet.

"Another year, another Halloween," McGonagall said in her soft Scottish lilt "And I must say, I'm delighted by the joy you all appear to receive from such…unusual music, though I must say the tastes have changed since my day. Before I depart for bed and leave you all to your merriment, I must take it upon myself to introduce some guests that will be teaching some special lessons for you over the next few weeks,"

The doors to the Great Hall opened and two figures walked through. One was tall, lean and cast a grin around the room at the children who were now paying him such rapt attention. But Neville's eyes were fixed solely on the woman standing next to him, who had waist-long dirty blonde hair and protuberant ice blue eyes.

"It is my great pleasure to introduce you to Rolf Scamander," McGonagall said, and Neville was fairly sure that her eyes had wandered onto him "And Luna Lovegood,"