Visiting Harry

"Who is that bloody Rolf Scamander, anyway?" raged Neville, storming around Harry's office. "And who does he think he is that he can just- turn up at one of our events, just like that- and act as though he belongs there, as though he were one of us?"

Harry looked up from his desk. "I think you're overreacting, Neville," he said mildly. "Rolf Scamander is a rather nice and polite person."

"Bland," Neville sneered. "And he dresses like a dandy."

Harry quickly ducked his head, and Neville thought he caught the glimpse of a smile.

What right had Harry to smile?

He scowled.

"Sit down, Neville," Harry said pleasantly. Neville did so, grudgingly.

"Pumpkin juice, or would you rather Butterbeer?"

"Neither, thanks" he said shortly, staring across the room. "Farmers mustn't be tending their crops properly; the pumpkins are all strangely bitter this year. I'm not thirsty, anyway."

Harry shrugged and poured himself a cup, then peered intently at Neville.

"You didn't have a fight with Luna, did you?"

Neville nearly fell out of his chair. Merlin's beard, was that what people thought? He and Luna never fought, had never fought- and even if they did, Luna wouldn't be going around with- well, even if they did fight, they would have made it up, wouldn't they?

"N-no," he said, staring at Harry. "What- how did you get that-"

"Ah, I never really got Occlumency; it's not surprise I didn't learn Legilimancy- but what a shame," sighed Harry. He spotted Neville's face, and quickly added, "It's probably just my not understanding properly- Ginny's always rattling on about that. Don't worry."

But Neville couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling from his stomach for the rest of the day. He and Harry worked in silence for the rest of the day, Neville discarding several lesson plans for his third years, before deciding to stick with his first idea.

The sun was starting to set when Harry finally finished his paperwork.

"Oh," he said, slightly indistinctly. "I must have lost track of the time. So sorry, Neville."

"It's all right," said Neville. "Er, I suppose I'll be going now. Sorry for- this morning." He turned around, and took an immediate step backwards. "I think you've got an owl, Harry."

"Really?" said Harry lightly. "Well, I suppose I should read that letter. Teddy is starting to write stories, you know."

The owl flew over and promptly landed on the desk. Harry opened the letter.

"Ah," he said, "so that's why."

Neville moved across the room.

"So, what's that-"

But Harry had already crumpled the letter.

"I think this will do quite nicely, don't you, Neville?" he said cheerfully, transforming the parchment into a paper dragon. "And what do you say to coming over for dinner? Andromeda and Teddy will be visiting."

"Er- sure," said Neville, still staring at the dragon. What had that letter contained?

"Brilliant," said Harry, apparently oblivious. He scooped up the dragon and pocketed it. "Well, we'd better go- Ginny was rather annoyed the last time I was late. Apparently James threw a tantrum and refused to eat his strained vegetables."

Neville thought that he would, too, despite his significantly older age, but chose not to say anything. James wasn't his child. Instead, he gathered up his belongings and stared out the window- trying not to think about he and Luna should be sitting by a lake or having dinner in Diagon Alley by now- and Apparated to Grimmauld Place.

As Andromeda Tonks opened the door to let him in, he thought he saw a flash of silvery blonde hair in the distance, and shook his head.

He must be getting really hungry to be imagining such things.