Professor Malone was enjoying a warm cup of tea and a book before bed, when there was a knock at her door. When she answered, there was no one there. She stood aside to let no one through.

"Okay, what did I say about not being able to entertain you lot in my flat?" she asked, once Draco, Neville, Harry, Hermione and Ron appeared again. "And how are you lot all invisible?"

"Disillusionment charms, superpowers, Invisibility Cloak, and I'm Harry freaking Potter," Harry explained. "We need your help, Professor."

"Oh?" She waved her wand and a tea set flew in. "What's the trouble? Bit late to have stirred up anything big, right?"

"Neville needs your Floo, and we need you to make a brain clouding potion for Draco."

"I thought -"

"Dumbledore stopped giving it to me," the blond explained.

Malone's look of incredulity was priceless. "Does he want you to get killed?"

"Apparently."

The older witch summoned her Potions equipment. "Where are you planning to go, Neville?"

"Just to see my Gran. It's important."

She gave him a concerned look. "I suppose. I'm giving you a thirty minute window before I send someone after you, though."

"Cheers," he said softly, lighting the fire.

A moment later, he was gone.

"Right, let's get this started. Hermione, you and Draco watch so you can make it yourselves. No offense, Harry, Ron, but Potions isn't your thing. Though you have come remarkably far in my class," she added. "You two...amuse yourselves while we work."

"How about Hermione tells us what's up with Neville," Harry suggested. "Where were you guys, and why is he all morose."

"Oh! We went to research what the Elven Wand is - you know, Harry, part of your title mentions it."

"Yeah, I remember. But that doesn't explain why Neville -"

"I'm getting there. It turns out that a lot of older Wizarding families have a special item associated with them. Not necessarily heirlooms passed down for centuries, but something one generation deems important to the line. Well, it turns out the Potters and the Longbottoms have a bit of a history…."

Neville stepped out of the fire and into his grandmother's sitting room, spotting her in her rocker crocheting.

"Neville! What on earth?"

"Gran, I've come to talk to you," he began, voice low, but steady. "It's important."

"Is everything alright?" she asked.

"Fine, except for the fact that you never told me about my inheritance."

"How -"

"All my life, you made me feel like I was worthless - like my parents died for nothing, because I wasn't worthy of them. Yes, I know they're not actually dead - but the way you talk about them, they might as well be. And the way you talk about me…. It ends today. I am not Frank Longbottom. I am his son - Neville Longbottom, Lord of the Crystal Orb since I was three years old, and you never once told me. Do you want to know how my grades are now?"

Augusta looked taken aback at the rapid change of pace, but said, "Yes."

"I'm doing better than I ever have. Because I have my own wand now! It's amazing that all the times you berated me for my poor marks, you never once suspected that it might be because I had Dad's old wand. I'm my own man, and I refuse to live in the shadow of a man long gone. He's gone, Gran," Neville said, gently but firmly. "He and Mum aren't coming back. And it's time you let them go. Visit them, but understand that I am not going to magically become your son, reincarnated. I assume my title today."

"You are not of age," she sputtered, but seemed a bit in awe.

"But you can give me permission."

They stood there, looking at each other, for a long while. Finally, the old witch said.

"You may have your claim," Augusta said, eyes tearing up a bit.

Neville glowed - both in the sense of happy radiance, and quite literally. Sparks came from his wand and encircled him, and he felt a sense of immense power rushing through him.

"I suppose you'll want the Wand?" Augusta asked, dabbing her eyes with the tea cozy she'd been making. "Or shall I keep it safe for you and Harry?"

"It's safe here for now. Hermione said they saw the Orb when they visited the Potters' summer home. No one's been there in years, so I don't imagine it's in any danger. I have to get back school."

She walked over to him and kissed his forehead. "I am proud of you. Of the man you've become. Be safe. And don't cause too much trouble. I fear Professor McGonagall is about to have a heart attack."

Neville grinned and stepped back into the green flames.

"So let me get this straight," Harry said. "For a solid six generations, the Longbottoms and the Potters have been best mates."

"Right."

"And at some point, a Potter gave a Longbottom his wand -"

Draco and Ron sniggered.

"And a Longbottom gave a Potter his ball -"

Professor Malone sniggered.

"And they pinkie swore to keep them safe for each other forever and ever, amen?"

"That's right," Hermione said. "And Neville's gone to ask for his inheritance and titles and what not. Actually, I think the proper word would be 'demand'. He was not a happy camper finding out he was actually a powerful Duke when all his life his family's called him a Squib."

"Okay, it's finished," the Potions professor said, ladling out a cupful for Draco. "And I'm giving you each a cup as well, because I'd like to not get fired one week into term. The less anyone knows about this little meeting, the better."

"Thanks, Professor," Draco said, downing his like a shot.

"Anytime. I'll package the rest up for you. I'd suggest each of you keeping a vial, in case Dumbledore confiscates Draco's."

The fire roared back to life, and Neville stepped out.

"Everything okay?"

"Wonderful," he said, smiling brightly. "I feel freer...I feel like singing!"

"WHOA! No! You're not going to a song in the middle of my flat!" Professor Malone said, wielding the ladle like a sword. "To bed, all of you. I'll see you in the morning."

The group disguised themselves again and trouped out. Hermione was the last to go, and she waved her wand before closing the door.

An envelope landed on the floor, and the professor picked it up, smiling. It looked like some sort of invitation. She laughed when she read it, and sent a quick Patronus to Tonks before going to bed.

LbN: Hope you liked this quick chapter. The insanity starts again next chapter! There's a poll up on my profile for the next HP fic, if you haven't voted yet. :)