1st February 1998

"Longbottom, my office please," said McGonagall sharply.

Turning on her heal, she started to march down the corridor towards her office, obviously wanting Neville to follow. Neville sighed, it was a Saturday afternoon and he was not in the mood to be lectured by his Professor. He was tired, bruised and angry not to mention aching thanks to his very recent detention with the Carrows the previous evening.

"See you later, Seamus," he muttered, patting Seamus on the arm before hoisting his bag more securely onto his shoulder and starting to make his way to McGonagall's office, jogging a little bit to keep in pace with the Transfiguration Professor's brisk step.

"See ya, Neville," waved Seamus, continuing his way to the Room of Requirement, "I'll, hum, tell the others and, hum, I'll explain to you what happened tonight," he said, trying not to give too much information away as there were many Slytherins in the corridor.

"Thanks," called Neville, as he rounded a corner and left the corridor he and Seamus had been previously walking down.

Now alone with Professor McGonagall, he continued to walk up the half deserted corridor. It would have been unusual to find the castle this empty if it were a normal year however, it was not a normal year and the circumstances were quite different meaning that the corridors were quite empty apart from the few rogue students who were most probably running to a study session, back to their Common Room or to the Room of Requirement where a meeting was about to begin.

"Go in and take a seat, Longbottom," said McGonagall, swinging her office door open and gesturing with her arm for Neville to enter.

As he entered the room, Neville noticed the dark expression on McGonagall's face and his mind instantly darted back to the previous day when he and the DA had graffitied the walls in the Great Hall: "Dumbledore's Army needs you!"

Gulping he made his way to his Professor's desk and took a seat opposite McGonagall's, carefully avoiding her eyes which were staring unblinkingly at him.

After a few minutes of silence, Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, "Longbottom, I have asked to see you today because a few of your professors have reported that your grades have been slipping these past few weeks," she started, resting her hands on her desk and putting her fingers together.

Neville lifted his eyes up and let out a breath he had not known he had been keeping. He had expected much worse and had already been preparing the many rehearsed lies he had chosen with the DA so as to avoid trouble with McGonagall and avoid her getting too involved in their activities. He hated keeping her in the dark, however, the DA had already agreed at the beginning of the year that it was for the best – they did not want another Umbridge year.

McGonagall's eyes flashed as though she knew exactly what he was thinking and Neville suddenly thought wildly of her perhaps being able to read minds. Dismissing that thought almost immediately, he tried his best to look worried and adopted an expression of deepest concern.

"Hm," he said, trying to seem as though he was interested in what she was saying.

McGonagall eyed him suspiciously and again, Neville felt as though she could see straight through him. Clucking her tongue she pursed her lips however, instead of putting her thoughts into words she removed her hands from their resting position on her desk and reached down the side of her desk. Opening the second drawer on the left she extracted a small tartan tin, and opened its lid. Thrusting it in Neville's direction she said tartly, "Have a biscuit, Longbottom."

"Have a – what?" stammered Neville, completely at lost at what had just happened.

"Have a biscuit, Longbottom," repeated McGonagall, shaking the tin impatiently.

"Hum… thanks," said Neville, gingerly putting his hand in the tin and taking out a rather large looking ginger newt.

McGonagall pursed her lips, sniffed and powered on, "Now, as I was saying, I now that this year has been… different," McGonagall, pursed her lips tightly and Neville noticed her nostrils flare, "however, this must not affect your schoolwork as no matter who your teachers are and no matter the... activities you have decided to participate in… you still need to do well in your exams at the end of the year as they will be important for you in the future when you want to get a job."

"I understand, Professor," said Neville seriously.

"Herbology is one of your strong subjects and I think it important you succeed in that subject, Longbottom. Speaking as your… former… Head of House, I think I have known you long enough to recognise your strong subjects and I do not want, because of these unfavourable circumstances, for you to do badly in the subjects which you should excel in," stated McGonagall, and Neville could detect a slight hint of pride in her voice.

"Of course, Professor," answered Neville.

"Well, then I suggest you spend as much time as you can on your studies or else you might land yourself in difficult positions, Longbottom. At school and after," added McGonagall significantly, raising an eyebrow and staring pointedly at the large gash on his forehead.

Neville shuffled uncomfortably in his seat, "I understand, Professor. I will try to make time for my studies as well as my extra-curricular activities. I will make sure neither of them affects me too much," he said, aware of the several meanings their conversation had.

"Very well," said McGonagall in a clipped manner.

"Can I go now, Professor?" asked Neville; desperate to find out what happened during the DA meeting.

"Yes, you may go," sighed McGonagall, looking much older, much frailer and much more tired than Neville had ever seen her. His heart twinged painfully in his chest, as he looked at the Professor who had always scared him the most, however, always looked out for him and her students.

"Thank you, Professor," said Neville, getting up from his chair and making his way to the door. As he reached the doorway, however, he suddenly turned around and said before leaving, "I promise to keep my head down and study but I am not going to pretend I can't see what they are doing to our school and my friends. I will not let them do anything else without doing something about it."

A flurry of expressions crossed McGonagall's face: pride, irritation, anger and amusement, however, they passed so quickly, Neville could not be sure they had even been there at all.

"Straight back to your dormitory please, Longbottom," called McGonagall as Neville left the room.

"Of course, Professor," shouted back Neville, not even thinking of disobeying her.

Super busy week so short chapter. Picked up my GCSE results really early two days ago and went to sleep at 2 am for two consecutive nights so I am very tired. Have a great day and I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please read and review if you liked it! I would love to know what you think about it good or bad as I would really like to improve my writing :) Have a super week! :)