Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters and settings from the Harry Potter world, which is trademarked by J. K. Rowling. I do not claim any ownership over them or the world of Harry Potter and will not receive any money or other financial profit for presenting the work on this site. The story I tell here as well as certain original characters are my own invention, and are not purported or believed to be part of J.K. Rowling's story canon.

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Chapter 25

Sage lingered a while, before ultimately heading for the door, off to kiss Alecto Carrow's arse. The very same crossed her path, only a few steps down the empty hallway.

"Professor Carrow! I was just about to visit you at your office," Sage greeted her, sounding just a little too casual.

"I expected as much," she remarked snidely, "Did you take care of the boy?"

"Do you mean to tell me you didn't hear his cries of pain?"

"It sounded more like cries of laughter, if you ask me."

Sage's heart skipped a beat at what she just had heard. It took her a moment to even properly register what Alecto Carrow was trying to imply. She knew her accusations were true, but she couldn't possibly let on. Instead, she tried to put on a brave face and fight through.

"You surely must be joking, Professor. Rest assured, my.. disciplinary measurements were sufficient. He has surely learned his lesson," Sage explained, opting to show some poise.

"I wouldn't be too confident about that. Longbottom might be a pureblood, but he is also an idiot. Just like his traitorous parents. Filthy scum, the lot of them."

His parents? For a split second, Sage considered to interrogate her on the matter, as she clearly knew much more about it than she did herself. However, in the end she didn't have the heart to actually go through with it. Neville didn't want her to know and she had to respect that, no matter what.

"I must admit, I'm not too familiar with his stance yet, as we didn't exactly spend the last half an hour talking.. but I highly doubt there is no way to make him shift his ground," Sage blatantly lied straight to her face.

"Don't be foolish. He is smitten with that grotty Potter boy. He'd never betray him," Alecto Carrow disagreed.

"How can you be so sure though? I can imagine plenty things that would make him more favourable towards our cause," she claimed in response, though knowing damn well that Neville Longbottom would be the very last wizard on earth to join the ranks of the Death Eaters.

"Like what?"

"Go easy on him."

The professor (if she could even be considered as such) gave Sage a stunned look, seemingly having a hard time to believe what she just had heard.

"You want me to do what?" she asked, still somewhat shocked.

"Let his comments slide a little. Let him feel that he is a pureblood, superior than the rest. One of us. He's just a teenager who is feeling rebellious and trying to challenge his limits. If you punish him for every little misdemeanour of his, all you end up doing is further alienate a potential ally," Sage confidently explained, hoping to get Neville out of harm's way (even if just a little).

"You really see potential in him?"

"I'd be very surprised if I were wrong. We'll just have to show him that he's better off on our side."

Her rather bold suggestion was followed by silence. Sage found the woman in front of her quite hard to read, but hoped she would ultimately take up on it. Neville deserved a break from constantly being punished, even if it meant that he would now be otherwise targeted. She'd rather watch the Carrows try to win him over than break his spirits. There was only so much even a brave man like Neville could take.

"I'll give it some thought," Alecto Carrow finally claimed, before rushing off without even a single word of goodbye.

Here was to hoping she would actually change her ways, at least with Neville.

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Author's note: The confrontation!! If they just hadn't laughed.

Thank you sososo much for your kind words on my last chapter. It's very important to me to develop their relationship in a natural way, so that truly meant a lot to me!!!

Hope you had fun reading this chapter and leave me some of your thoughts on it!! :-)