Anyone who had ate or stayed at the Leaky Cauldron in the past would be certain to be in for a surprise when they opened back up for business.
The muggle shop next door had been for sale and with a small loan they were able to secure both properties.
It had long been a blessing and a curse that any access to Diagon alley from muggle London was through the center of the crowded pub and with the post war economy booming more and more magical folk were using the pup's fireplace to floo to London's wizard shopping area.
Working with Arthur Weasley, they had gotten permission to construct a new 'lobby' area on the first floor of the building they had bought. It had two fireplaces hooked up to the floo, several secure apparition booths and a welcome desk, staffed 24 hours a day. The shop owners had wanted a spot for muggle parents to get more information for years and George had led the drive to fund the center. It also had display cases where items available from their shops could be displayed and an area where announcements and sales could be posted.
With the completion of the center Hannah felt they could close down for two months. Every evening when Neville got home from Hogwarts she had more progress to show him. The top floors of the new building had been connected to the old inn and on suite units built. Tom's old bedroom over the kitchen had been gutted, along about half that floor, and a new private flat for the two of them had been created. The rest of the old inn was well on its way to completion.
The downstairs had seen great changes too. It was no longer dark and smoky with centuries of dirt crusted on. The rich old wood shone from the thorough cleaning it had been given, over the bar was a large flat screen, it would be tuned to the cable-less, most often to the sports channel. This past weekend the new kitchen had been fitted in the basement and Neville was pleasantly tired from the work as he greeted Angie in the back room of London's WWW.
George and Angie had a direct floo to their store in Hogsmede and generously allowed him to use it to get to and from school during the week. He was smiling and thinking of the greenhouse addition that was scheduled to be erected on the roof of the two buildings as he greeted Hagrid at the school gates; "g'mornin' professor! Pleasant day it is!"
"I've been wondering if you and the misses would do Gwarp and me the 'onner of commin' to our home Saturday. It is Gwarpie's birthday and I'm havin' a wee party for 'im."
Neville quickly wrote the date and time down to owl Hannah about it and told Hagrid he would let him know later that day.
……….
The week had gone fairly well, taking advantage of the fine weather he had his first years out on the lawn reviewing the additions one would use for alkaline soil. Each had a potted honking daisy bulb in brightly colored pots they were taking back to their rooms to set up a mini grow area. They were to tend to them for the year, keep a journal, and in the spring report on their progress.
He had hit on the idea when Harry had mentioned how much Neville's plants had livened up their dorm room when they were in school. So each of his students now had plants to tend, depending on their level.
He was staying the night, he had poinsettias to transplant if they were to be in bloom for the holidays and Gwarp's party was the next day. Hannah was flooing down in the morning and then tomorrow night they could return home together.
…………
Wiping his hands Neville took the long way back to the castle, through the cluster of small huts. Young elves ran to grasp his hands, yelling out their greetings of "Professor! It's Professor Longbottom!"
The larger building in the center of the clearing was almost finished, it would hold the primary school, soon the board would be interviewing for teachers. Minerva, Hermione and he had fought hard for this and it felt good to see it coming to being.
Hermione had owled him that several other schools had been approved and were scheduled to open next year. Someday he would see elf children alongside humans, not as servants but as students at Hogwarts.
