A little light violence in this chapter.
Chapter Twenty Six
(With Posy's magnifying glass, and who is crying? Certainly not Neville)
"Happy Birthday, Pansy. My little flower," Seraphina Aurelia Iohanna di'Siena placed a graceful hand against her cheek with an affectionate manner. She could do that.
She could do whatever she wanted to do. And she usually did.
It helped they were alone, finally, after the long day they spent pandering to the royal family about an impossible situation. It certainly wasn't the first time Pansy had been thrown under the bus, so to speak. But the gut churning, raw pit in her stomach didn't have much to do with that.
Pansy stared into the hypnotic, otherworldly green eyes of the Royal Queen, her highness who ruled with artistic beauty and a velvet fist over the magical community in old Italia. The powerhouse behind the Academy of Immortals. Half human, half... something else, and unlike most raving mad, unstable creatures that came from such a union, Sera lacked most of the negative genetic anomalies that resulted in a child born of two species that shouldn't breed.
"You're mistaken, Sera," Pansy said softly, placing a hand over the hand on her cheek, unable to stop herself from returning the affection. Even after everything that happened, Pansy found it difficult to blame her highness for the role she played. With her other hand, she ran her fingers through the thick, glossy strands of Sera's mahogany tinted hair, pulling her closer.
In the privacy of Seraphina's personal quarters, Pansy was able to use the nickname that would earn another severe punishment. "My birthday isn't until tomorrow."
"So it is," a deep, beautiful smile that went well with the glittering gemstones of her eyes. Pansy had never seen such a dazzling color before, but it reminded her of the most exotic of snakes. Beautiful and deadly. "But I see the look in your eyes, the wanderlust on your face. I fear you won't be here tomorrow for me to wish your birthdate well."
Italy felt like home, in a way that home never did. The people accepting, her role necessary, the romance of the land and cities singing to her soul. For a few years anyways. Pansy felt like she found a place where she belonged. But now she knew better. She'd been a pawn, but not intentionally. "I did exactly as you asked of me," she said, somehow upset at herself and not the proper party that deserved her frustration.
Why should she feel guilty for leaving? Sera didn't want her there any longer, if she had, she wouldn't have set Pansy up. Instead, Pansy let Sera lean in, press a kiss against her lips. It expressed what words could not.
"Will you ever forgive me, my little flower?" Her tone full of regret.
There was nothing to forgive, strangely. Pansy felt nothing but gratitude towards Sera, for somehow getting her to remember the unfairness of life. That even if she did everything right, it could still go all wrong. And more importantly… She couldn't trust anyone. Not even family.
Not even home.
"Depends on what present you've gotten me for my birthday," Pansy lied easily, presenting a coy little smile she knew her Queen loved. She'd become so good at it, lying, even Sera couldn't tell. And vampires, even half breeds, always knew the truth from lies. She hoped to one day meet someone who could see through her bullshit, to find someone she could be herself around.
"You can have anything of mine that your heart desires," Sera whispered softly between them.
"Anything, huh?" Pansy stepped forward, closing the gap between them, and giving her Queen a kiss that would make Sera forget that Pansy hadn't actually said what it was she wanted.
oOo
Officially cornered, Susan gulped and pressed her back against the glass wall. Curse Posy Parkinson for convincing her to attend this ball, this charade being held in her honor. Curse her for picking out this monstrosity of a gown to wear.
Curse her for being right.
On both sides she was surrounded by tumbling river gardenias, their scent intoxicating and heady. Though nowhere near potent as the man in front of her.
With the strappy heels that hurt her feet, they were the same height. But he still managed to make her feel smaller, especially as he stepped forward, closing the space between them. She wasn't savvy enough to know the rich scent of his cologne, but it suited him. Suited his wealth. And it mixed with the damn flowers until her mouth watered.
Hunger, but not for food.
"You've been avoiding me."
Yep. Big yep. 100% yep.
Her voice warbled. "No, in fact, I have a rather serious question for you," she summoned all the courage she had by channeling Neville and Connor, the toughest people she knew. Then she looked Draco Malfoy right in the eye.
oOo
Neville glanced around, pulling at his black tie while wishing he was wearing his jeans and leather jacket instead, searching for his girls among the crowd of well dressed witches and wizards. There wasn't a wolf in sight.
Ten minutes.
He'd been there for ten minutes and already managed to trip over his own shoes twice. At that rate, it was looking to be a very long night at The Conservatory.
A string quartet played in the corner of the ballroom, candles lit the air from crystal chandeliers. Beyond the glass walls, Neville could spot the thousands of plants and flowers sprawling across the grounds and greenhouse as the summer sun began to set. And the formal setting made his skin crawl, all made worse by his history with the place.
He hadn't had anything but bad luck at this damn place in the past. He should have stayed home instead dooming his best friend's night of honor. He might've, if it hadn't been for Posy. Who had talked about this benefit all week in excitement. Not even the cloud of Hal's perilous condition had dampened her determination to have a good time.
Susan messaged him hours ago, to tell him Posy was with her, and it made him realize he really needed to keep better track of his ward while on the job. Just another thing he seemed to be failing at.
He let her go off with Harry, who he trusted without measure, but who knows how she ended up not at The Offices, not with Harry, or Ron, or Bobbi, or Connor. Of course he trusted Susan as much as Harry or any of their friends.
That wasn't the problem.
But she worked several blocks over at St. Mungo's. Did Posy walk there? Take the Floo? Did anyone go with her? He wondered if regular parents felt this way about their kids, or if he was just obsessing for no reason. Surely it would be okay to let Posy, a very capable wolf, walk twenty minutes to St. Mungo's?
But, his brain seemed to scream at him, Pearl was out there, alive. She could be anywhere. She could be at the benefit that very instant, though Neville very much doubted she would show her face with the area practically crawling with Aurors. The woman had a penchant for getting others to do her dirty work, so even if he managed to get everyone at the Offices and The Ministry and St. Mungo's keeping an eye out, someone they weren't looking for at all could grab Posy at any time.
He wouldn't have known it, because Neville had been engrossed with the Azkaban recording for far longer than he should have. Watching and rewatching the unknown cloaked figure murder Torres until the images were imprinted on his mind. He had a feeling they would stick there, in his memory, much the same way Katherine Whittler's dead body did.
The same way he couldn't forget the memory of Pansy Parkinson rushing into battle, hair flying behind her, and that little scar beneath her ear. Lonnie McDonald had drummed up those particular images when she mentioned her sister, Bre, earlier. And made him realize that was the first day he started to admire Pansy. The day they partnered up for the first time, did good things together.
And probably set him on this path he walked now.
Worrying his damn head off over where Posy had gotten to.
He tried not to think that he would never see Pansy again, that Posy was her parting gift. Just like the scar on his shoulder. Permanent, irreversible. He hadn't lied when he told Posy he believed Pansy would be back, that she couldn't bear to let him forget her. But if Pearl had her all this time…
Neville just didn't think Pansy would come out of that situation the same, if even alive.
He carefully maneuvered through the throngs of people, trying not to forcefully bump or knock anyone over, keeping his hands to himself. Trying not to trip. Those people recognized him, called out his name in hello. Some whispered as he walked by, others openly smiled and waved.
One even had the guts to stop him and tell him how much she admired what he did, taking in that poor helpless wolf girl who had no one to depend on.
Helpless his pale pasty ass.
Not that he said such a thing to the older witch with her feathered hat and earnest expression. Most days he would be lost without Posy, not the other way around. Neville didn't know how he got by before she came to live with him, it seemed like a lifetime ago.
Would it be wrong to put a tracker on her? He could slip it in that backpack she took with her everywhere and then his peace of mind… would still be shot. She would be miffed when she found out, and there was no doubt she would. He could just imagine her yelling 'Boundaries!' at him in a mocking tone.
Okay. Bad idea.
Neville avoided the press, taking a long path around the dance floor, overhearing Hermione comment to a group of professors that Hogwarts just happened to sit on the largest magical 'hot-spot' in Europe, one with far more juice than the baby one The Conservatory was built on.
They, the press that is, hadn't picked up yet on his return to the badge and he could wait for that article his whole life. If only it were possible. The news hadn't exactly been kind when they reported Bobbi had taken it in the first place. While he had been in a wheelchair, trying to take care of Posy, and getting called a pervert for it. They also managed to make sure everyone who read the prophet knew exactly how unemployed he was just to add insult to injury.
He wouldn't care, normally.
But there was always Posy to think about. "Now where did you get to, little wolf?" he muttered to himself, narrowly avoiding a gaggle of young witches who seemed to be following him around the room not so covertly.
They should've been on the floor, dancing with the rest of the party goers.
He spotted Bobbi's friend Fran, looking far too inebriated, and made a sharp turn past the glittering table full of champagne flutes and headed in the other direction. Someone had come in with a narrow stage, raising the floor along the far wall, the steps decorated with healer-yellow ribbons. He spotted portraits of older witches and wizards in their bright Healer's robes, looking right and regal.
The Head Healers of the past, the first dated with the year 902. Except this couldn't be all of them, there were too few portraits for that. Neville followed the line down until he reached the end, stopped, and looked up at Susan's young, frowning face. Young, especially compared to the others. And he could tell she hadn't enjoyed having her picture taken one bit. No one else might be able to tell, but Neville and her had been friends since 4th year, joined the DA in 5th, became Herbology partners in 6th, and rebelled in 7th.
They went through Auror training together until she split off to become a Healer and they've been best friends ever since.
He knew what Susan's pissed off face looked like. And he was looking right at it.
"Yes."
Neville spun on his foot. "Yes?"
Susie stood wearing a long, yellow dress that had his eyes bulging. Her arms were crossed over the tight, layered bodice of that lacy dress, as if she were trying to cover herself up, seeming down right uncomfortable. Her red hair up in a complicated twist he couldn't even begin to describe except it looked nothing like her usual ponytail. "You're thinking, wow, that Susan Bones sure looks sour. And I'm telling you, yes, yes I am."
"Hate to break it to you, Susie," he couldn't help but smile at her bad temper, "but I was thinking you looked ticked. I know how much you love getting your picture taken though, so I can't imagine why."
The sour look translated just as well in real life. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"If by 'this' you mean getting to see you all dressed up and getting the recognition you deserve? Then yes, I am enjoying this. I'd apologize for being a terrible friend but you put up with me anyways."
He reached out with his hand, gently ran a finger across her cheek. The skin flushed under his attention, Susan more than aware exactly what it would take to get him to willingly touch another. "I don't deserve any of this and I hate dresses and it was your ward that made me wear this dreaded piece of fluff in the first place."
"She's a big bully alright, and speaking of Posy, where is she? I'm considering putting a tracker on her."
Susan burst into a fit of giggles and immediately looked more relaxed. "Yeah because that'll go over well. And she's out and about," she slipped him a sly grin. "She was sneaking out again when I ran into her earlier. Should we tell her we all know her secret?"
"No," he rubbed the back of his neck, at odds with the entire situation. "I think I want to wait for her to come clean. What excuse did she use this time? Going to Ron's?"
"No, erhm, Malfoy Manor," Susie shook her head in amusement. But he caught the discomfort behind her eyes that didn't have anything to do with the tension in her shoulders.
He decided not to press, when she was ready to talk about Malfoy, she'd say so. Instead he kept the subject on Posy. "She's the worst liar, I don't understand."
Pansy and her mother both lied with ease, manipulating words and language to suit their needs, but Posy had the most obvious tell in the world. The very moment she began to tell a lie, her eyes would dart down and her feet would turn inwards. If it wasn't so damn cute, Neville might have said something about it.
Susan opened her mouth to add something more, but from behind her, Connor snuck up and grabbed her in a rough hug. She shrieked when Connor lifted her up in the air, her legs kicking out beneath her flowing dress.
"Connor Hendrick O'Donnell, if you don't put me down this instant!"
"Susan Eleanor Bones, the most badass healer witch around," Connor shouted, disturbing all the nearby party goers. Most of the stuffy, older patrons looked less than pleased with Connor's language, but his antics of tossing Susan up in the air like she was a kid had her laughing even as she tried to tell him off.
"Nev - oh - please! Help me!"
"You're determined to be grouchy because you hate attention, but tough shit Susie B, this whole parade is about you and you're going to enjoy yourself!" Connor told her firmly, finally setting her down on her own two feet.
She stumbled away breathless, right into Neville, and he couldn't help bringing up his hands to steady her. Too late, he didn't temper his strength, there wasn't time. But Susan playfully held onto his shoulders, swinging them around to put Nev between her and Connor, the two of them laughing. "Save me, Nev!"
Was he hurting her? He felt in control, maybe he finally figured out how to relax his strength in a casual setting. The hope of that mixed with Susan's huge smile until he felt his own lips turn up in a grin to match. He wrapped his arms around her middle and swung her around in circles.
As gentle as he possibly could.
She shrieked with joy again. "Will you two stop manhandling me! I am supposed to be a respectable Head Healer!"
"Never," Connor laughed, a big booming sound.
Bobbi, coming behind her husband, shook her head with an exasperated eye roll. "My husband, the bear. Will you stop flirting with another woman when I'm standing right here? Can you be at least be decent enough to wait for me to leave the room?"
"Can you just turn your back for a bit, babe? I wouldn't want to put you out. That wouldn't be decent at all," he broke into more booming laughter by the end of his joke. Especially when Bobbi playfully hit his arm.
Their celebration and laughing attracted more people, everyone interested in the woman of the hour. Including an immaculately dressed and perfectly presentable Posy Parkinson turned Lovell. As when he first spotted Susan in her yellow dress, Neville felt his eyes bulging at Posy's formal dress in the same color. The impact was not made less by the sight of her well used backpack hanging over her shoulders.
He just wasn't used to her being so clean. Posy was most likely to be found climbing trees, running through their backyard, Full Moon or not, exploring in places she ought not to be exploring.
Getting exceptionally dirty.
Because Pearl didn't let her do such things, things unbecoming of a proper young lady, and Neville didn't give two shits if Posy wanted to dress up and play with dolls or if she wanted to roll around in the dirt. So long as she was happy and safe.
And the relief that she seemed okay after apparently gallivanting around London without a chaperone had him feeling in an even better mood.
"So that's where you've been all day. Probably took you an hour just to brush your hair," he teased as she pushed through the crowd to make her place at the front, her hands clutching the lacy ruffles of her huge yellow skirt. Behind her, Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny all followed. Her entourage.
"Oh Nev, is that you? I hardly recognize you without your grumpy face on," she snapped back, preteen attitude in full force. That signature Parkinson Sass.
A round of chuckles, including his own, made her grin though. She loved the attention, so he crossed his arms and gave it a little more. "How long did the flea bath take? An hour?"
"Did you just make a werewolf joke at me?" Posy turned, reaching into her backpack, and pulled out a magnifying glass. One of those old fashioned ones with a faux silver handle. She marched up to him and peered through the glass with a major look of concern. "Strange, you look like my guardian… but the real Neville Longbottom doesn't have a sense of humor."
Those who knew him best roared with laughter at Posy's well executed joke. Looking perfectly pleased, she grinned for their circle of friends, posing in her pretty gown and magnifying glass. With her clean scrubbed face and hair pulled back, Neville caught something of her profile that reminded him of someone…
Someone he couldn't place, but someone he was sure he knew.
She'd hit a growth spurt during the first month of summer that gave her a few more inches and a little more maturity to her face. But too soon, she turned to face him again and the moment passed.
She reached out and took his hand, coming to stand by him and completing the circle of the most important people in his life. He tried not to imagine her sister standing on his other side and instead focus on Susan. It was her night after all.
"I just wanted to say," Susie began, taking advantage of the opening. "I'm very grateful for all of you, and all you've done for me to get me where I am now. But when I go up there to make my speech, I blame you for this. I finally get a night off and I have to go to a stinking ball."
A round of groans and 'Oh boo-hoo!'s. Laying the sarcasm on thick.
Susie screwed up her face, especially at Posy, before she turned and made her way to the stage. Posy tugged his hand.
"Let's get closer," she whispered excitedly. "I wanna be able to see everything."
"I could put you on my shoulder," he suggested, though his feet obeyed Posy's frantic tugging, pulling him forward. He winked at Ginny as they walked by.
In turn, she reached out and ran fingers through his beard. "Well groomed looks good on you, LB."
"Don't get used to it." He liked the trimmed and brushed look of his beard, having never shaved it down after Pansy grew it out the first time magically. What he didn't enjoy was the effort it took to keep it that way.
He reached down, readying to pick Posy up, but she pushed his hands away.
"Not in this dress, Nev!"
Instead, they made their way straight to the front of the stage, Posy ignoring all the twirling couples in favor of the best view. He said, "5 says it'll be dirty by the end of the night anyways."
"You're on. I'm keeping this baby spotless. It's prettier than anything I own!"
They shook hands.
When a lumpy looking wizard with navy blue robes and a long, dangling hat in the same color walked across the stage, the music died down quite suddenly. But it took the old, hunched man nearly 60 seconds to walk across the long and narrow stage. Up close Neville could see his crooked teeth and wrinkly skin a little too clearly. Once he had the attention of the entire room, he began talking.
In the most monotone, boring voice Neville ever heard before.
"You dragged me up here for this?" he couldn't help whispering to Posy.
"Shh!"
"We can barely hear him…"
Susan walked across the stage then, her posture straight and head held high. A microphone in hand. It took her but a few seconds to cover the same amount of ground.
"Mr. Shafer forgot his microphone," she spoke confidently into the device, giving the crowd a performer's smile.
"Ah yes, thank you, young lady, now I must get back to my speech to honor our Head Healer Bones," Mr. Shafer smiled up at Susie, not realizing who she was.
"What a shit show," Neville heard Ron whisper behind him.
But Susie didn't miss a beat, instead she laughed. "Mr. Shafer, you're so funny. Isn't he?" By including the crowd she managed to coax a few chuckles before she continued. "A round of applause please for Mr. Shafer for making the long trek up here!"
While speaking, she gestured to a tall black man Neville didn't recognize, who immediately came over to escort Mr. Shafer from the stage. Probably Susan's new assistant. "As this benefit is being held in my honor, I thought it only courteous of me to present you with the histories of St. Mungo's myself."
"Well, that's a relief," Posy whispered under her breath, full sass. He loved it so damn much.
Susan managed to erase the awkwardness of Mr. Shafer even though the subject matter, in Neville's opinion, left a lot to be desired. She used the portraits to explain the history of St. Mungo's, starting with Ralf Heymunn, a gifted Healer born in 889, the first to suggest a magical institution.
"It took centuries before Saint Mungo Bonham made a dream into reality, using hard work and determination, he was often heard quoting his friend and colleague, Jullian Willet-Smyth. A Herbologist best known for the invention of a little thing we call Firewhiskey," Susan smiled at the crowd who broke into chuckles. "His motto for life, 'Do for others all that you can and cannot do for yourself'. Something I take to heart."
She said it in a way that invited others to agree, as if saying don't you? Neville caught Posy nodding her head from the corner of his eye.
"1940, Steuan Drust, Head Healer and Auror, convinced the Ministry of Magic not to stand idly by while war raged at our front doors. When the hospital was raided and set ablaze a bare year later, we did not abandon our people. We did not abandon the people who call this country home. St. Mungo's rebuilt and opened its doors to all who needed it."
"What's she saying Neville?" Posy asked in a whisper.
"She's making a dig at all the people who abandoned St. Mungo's after the wolf attack and have the nerve to show up tonight," Neville told her quietly.
Susan gestured to the same man as before, who came across the stage, pushing something covered, an easel on wheels. Posy tugged on his hand, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "What's up, little wolf?"
"Oh you'll see," she smirked at him.
"We have forgotten this lesson. One year ago, patients and staff alike faced a fierce enemy, an enemy we did not have to face if we had remembered to open our doors to those in need, and many lost their lives because of our mistake. I witnessed two patients sacrifice themselves to save others and it is in their name I'd like to rename the Janus Thickey Ward. You came here tonight to present me with an Order of Merlin, and I'd like to present you all with this in return."
With a hard yank, Susie pulled the cover from the easel and revealed a large grey plaque, which all the names of the victims that passed away one year ago were carved into. Memorialized.
And at the top it said: The Alice and Frank Longbottom Ward.
Posy's bouncing became full jumps, her hand tugging his in excitement. But he looked up and met Susan's eyes, schooling his face to remain as impassive as he could. Otherwise, well Neville was certain he would burst into tears if he didn't keep absolutely still. He could feel everyone in the room turning to look at him, feel his friends behind him, patting his back in support.
And his chest tightened painfully, and yet, he felt a swell of pride unlike any experienced before in his life. One year since his parents passed away, and Susan managed to honor them in such a way he never thought possible, along with all the others who perished in the attack. In a way that meant they wouldn't be remembered as Auror's who lost their minds after being tortured by Death Eater's, or spending the majority of their lives in a mental ward.
Clearing his throat, he nodded to Susie and choked back tears as applause broke out all around. Worse, she just smiled at him, the knowledge that she got him feeling emotional written all over her face. At least she had the decency not to look smug.
Instead, she looked happy.
"This is what history has taught us," Susan continued, once the clapping died down a bit. "To open our doors to those in need. To do for others all that I can. From this point on, St. Mungo's will be open to all who require medical help. Wizards and witches. Muggles."
She paused, and moved her gaze over the crowd, making sure everyone was paying attention. "And wolves."
It was silent for a five long seconds. Then it got very loud, very quick.
oOo
Posy covered her ears as everyone in the room burst into shouts, or maybe cheers, her sensitive ears taking a beating. The lady next to her had a sharp, piercing scream. One that zipped straight into her ear and through her brain like a knife. She didn't have to wait before Neville realized it was far too loud for wolf ears. He scooped her up with one arm and jogged along the edge of the stage, getting her to a hallway that she thought led to some offices.
"Okay?" he mouthed at her, setting down in an empty corner.
Oh, well he probably said the word out loud, but her head spun from the sudden burst of noise that had her ears ringing. Nodding, she leaned into the wall and closed her eyes, hands still covering her ears, hoping she wasn't about to hurl on Nev.
That would be super embarrassing.
She didn't think she could ever live it down if she puked on him. He'd use it as ammunition most definitely. Like could she please oh please get that jug of cream soda? And he'd say, remember when you puked on my suit at Susie's ball?
Posy pulled her hands away from her ears when she felt something sticky wet on her fingers, holding them out to see. Blood, as she expected. Her eardrums probably burst.
She glanced up quickly, caught the look of anger on Nev's face. "It's fine!"
"Fucking hell, it is not," his words were muffled, but never one to hesitate, he pulled his wand from some unseen place in his suit jacket and started casting a spell.
And Posy wouldn't dare miss a chance to watch real, actual magic happening. She'd seen large batches of Glimmer get made night after night, seen wolves transform under the moon. Both undoubtedly magic.
But this…
If he spoke out loud, she missed it when a cool stream of green magic, deep and sparkling, poured from the tip of his wand and wound its way through the air, dipping and darting like a snake until it slipped into her ears.
Air rushed as if being sucked quickly into those ears before her hearing cleared right up. She tried to hide her awe, but … wow. "Thanks, Nev."
"Better?" he asked, checking around them as he hid his wand. "Who was standing next to you, I'll-"
"No, it wasn't that. It was the whole shebang, way too loud."
He stood and gave her a stern look. But he only said, "I need to help contain the crowd."
"I'll stay here until it calms down."
He gave her a look as if to say 'Yeah right' before heading back into the main ballroom. From her position in the hallway, Posy could see Susie, still on stage. Calm and cool and collected, a small smile on her face even as the crowd before her yelled and got rowdy. It made Posy sad.
People didn't understand her kind, their gut reaction fear. Susan was in the right. Wolves would be much better behaved if they had access to healthcare and wolfsbane potions. She couldn't help leaning out and yelling, "YOU'RE RUINING SUSAN'S NIGHT YOU WAMBOS!" Though she was certain no one could hear her at all. Except for the Auror that stood guard by the hallway Neville brought her too.
Natasha gave her a small wink and a wave but didn't leave her post.
And Neville's big moment! Posy suggested Susie name the hospital after him, but even she could admit Susan came up with a way better idea. Renaming the ward his parents had been in when they died? She turned on her toe, suddenly feeling quite upset with everyone and stomped down the hallway and into the far room, shutting the door behind her with a hard slam.
Maybe she felt more upset than she let Neville believe. Watching him do magic, actually casting with a wand, made her forget that she spent all day missing her sister and sad about Hal, feeling mad at Neville and yet also feeling badly for him.
She missed her Papa so much. The day he died, Theo had taken her into the gardens and pointed out all the little bugs and critters that lived in the plants and trees. To distract her. He even sang to her and Posy laughed because Theo could not sing one bit. Not like her sister could.
But she had all these memories to keep her warm when she thought of her Papa. Him with in black and silver robes, the pipe that always smelled like sweet mint, and always being naughty, sneaking chocolates when her Mama wasn't looking. Letting Posy stay up late on special occasions. What did Neville have? Susie found a great way to give Neville a warm memory and these people were acting like jerks!
Posy quickly wiped at her face, surprised to feel the hot tears there. She tried not to cry in front of Neville, it made him awfully uncomfortable. But now she was alone. She could cry all she wanted to.
And cry she did, until her throat felt scratchy and her eyes hurt. She cried for Hal and for Pansy both, for Susie and for Neville. For feeling so lonely, even though Nev always did his best to make sure she wasn't ever left alone or in need. She hated to get her pretty yellow dress dirty, but she didn't have a tissue, so she used a corner of the ruffled sleeve to wipe the snot away from her face and nose.
Then she finally took a look around, realizing she should have done that first. Nev would be disappointed she didn't make sure her surroundings were safe right away, all the hours spent drilling and training felt like a huge waste right then. "I'll do better next time," she promised herself.
The room was completely dark, except that wasn't a problem for Posy. She could see just fine without light thanks to her wolf. Across the room, on a tall wooden pedestal, sat a giant plant. All leafy and bouncy in its tub of water. It ranged all the way up to the ceiling, a monster size for such a delicate and pretty plant.
She stepped forward to get a closer look.
And suddenly she felt a warm hug all around her, her tears melting away. A soft breeze went through her combed hair and on it floated words of the song her Papa used to sing to her, but it wasn't Tarrant's smooth voice Posy heard.
It was Pansy's.
The longer she stood there, listening to her big sister sing Wild Horses, the calmer she felt. The wolf completely retreated to the back of her mind for the first time in… for the first time, leaving Posy feeling almost human.
Yawning, tasting chocolate cake, smelling mint. "I miss you," she said, kneeling down and laying on the floor, not sure who she spoke too. Then she fell right to sleep.
oOo
Neville held the crowd back from the stage fairly easily. Most people recognized him right away and didn't bother trying to push forward, but the people behind them, the ones who were still focused on Susan, tried to push ahead. Wolves were, and had been, a political hot topic for years. Ever since the beginning of the epidemic.
Half the crowd was cheering though, he realized as he sent people away. Nearly everyone these days had a family member or friend who was a wolf, who thought that after the end of Glimmer things could simmer down with The Ministry.
Wolf violence was at an all time low since Glim went kapow. Yet The Ministry still defined them as Dangerous Creatures, with no rights, and only executions should they be implicated in a violent crime.
Neville knew, despite taking time off to be with Posy, that the quiet would not last.
All along the stage his fellow Aurors did the same. And he recognized this for what it was. A wolf tactic. It only took one or two people in the very back to start the rush if they knew what they were doing. The crowd would try to push forward, diverting attention.
He'd read about it before, but witnessed it for himself at Club Dread. Not wasting time, he stepped up onto the stage behind him, trying to get above the noise. Susan glanced over curiously, not phased one bit at the controversity. "Get out of here," he told her firmly before he looked towards the back wall, narrowing his eyes in search.
People tried to push forward again, like a giant wave, shouting out different things like 'You can do it Bones!' or 'Wolves should be excluded!' or 'Lock those animals up!'.
But Neville found what he was looking for almost immediately. He jumped down and started pushing people out the way, making his way across the ballroom to the side door. A lone man, wearing a black on black suit stood in front of the beaten glass, his gait pure wolf. He met Neville's gaze, then reached into his jacket quickly.
Pulled out a handgun.
And shot directly at Susan.
Shit! Neville turned, hand already reaching into his pocket for his wand. "Protego!"
Just as before, when he healed Posy's battered ears, The Dolce Mela filled him with a cool magic that aided his wand. A shield burst into being around Susan, who as usual didn't listen when he'd told her to get off the stage, disintegrating the bullet before it had a chance to harm her.
He turned back around, ready to disarm the shooter and make sure there wasn't any more danger. Though all around him people gasped at his effortless display of Magic and the mood turned serious in the blink of an eye, he could only focus on the threat.
The wolf, who turned the gun on himself. And pulled the trigger. Neville raised his wand to stop it but tripped up on his shoes when a couple smelling of too much champagne bumped into him. His wand flew out of his wand and bounced out of sight, disappearing into the crowd.
"Damnit!" he shouted, pushing more people out of his way. He came to the fallen wolf and dropped to his knees, taking the gun and handing it to Harry, who ran up behind him. Ron was right.
This was a shit show.
"How did he get through security with a gun?" Neville snapped the question, angry that Susan could have potentially been very hurt. He looked around, searching for any other threats. Why one wolf? Why the suicide? To give bad press to St. Mungo's, or Susan?
"I'll find out," Harry promised.
But then Neville realized with a painful thump of his heart. "It's a distraction. Get people out of here," he told Harry. Then he ran for Posy.
I hope you are all ready for Pansy's return... next chapter. :D