Hufflepuff
Herbology
Theme: [Reconnecting] Reconnecting with something/someone.
Prompts: [First and/or Last line] He never forgot how it felt when she told him those magical words. (Pronouns can change. Tense cannot change)
The war was over, the light had won, and nothing had changed. They had fought, they had bleed and then life had gone back to the way it was. Pureblood ruled the wizarding world while muggleborn scrapped to find jobs and live in a world that no matter what rejected them.
Neville starred at the entrance of St. Mungo's like he had done every week for the past 20 years, and went in. He was visiting his parents, parents who had been irrevocably changed and destroyed by a meaningless war. What had the first and second wizarding wars accomplished, nothing, simply nothing. He had fought for change, he had hoped that Wizarding Britain would change, that the prejudice and hate that had always been so prevalent would lessen but nothing did. Pureblood retained their posts while muggleborns scrapped to get by. Halfblood remained in the middle threading the line between the two distinct parts of society.
"Neville!"
"Hermione! What are you doing here?" he was surprised to see her at the hospital, well to see her at all. After the war, the woman had all but disappeared from Wizarding Britain. She had tried to make changes but had been blocked at every turn. Harry and Ron had not understood all the fuss she had made and had wanted her to stop fighting to just accept the situation and live. But that had been impossible because even though she was a war hero; she had been blocked from pursuing any masteries. All her requests had been rejected and she had found herself unable to learn.
Ron had told her that she didn't need to keep learning, that they could get married and have children. That had been the end of their short-lived relationship, Hermione couldn't and wouldn't live like that, dependent on someone else. She was a strong woman; she was smart and knew what she wanted. And that was to keep learning and discover more about magic and its wonders.
Harry had, like usual, taken Ron's side in the argument and Hermione found herself alone to face Harry and the Weasley family. She had come to him, heartbroken like she had done multiple times during their school year and cried. He had held her and tried to comfort her, but it had devastated him to see her this way. She had been his first friend, the first person to talk to him as an equal. She had helped him study and supported him countless times during their school years. And numerous times, he had held her as she cried because of Harry Potter and Ronal Weasley. He had been discussed by their attitudes then and still is till this day. He wouldn't say he hated the duo, but he wasn't far off. Hermione was the most amazing and loyal friend someone could ask for and they had treated her like an afterthought.
"I found something, something that may help your parents!" she exclaimed enthusiastically, running towards him, and giving him a bone crushing hug. He hadn't seen her in ages, and he was glad to have her in his arms once again. They held onto each other for a while before letting go. Then he started to process what she had said.
"What do you mean you found something to help them?" He questioned, he didn't want to hope, he had done so numerous times and had been destroyed. But he couldn't help it if some sense of hope seeped into his voice.
"You know how I've been studying the ley? Well, my master was teaching me something about the effect they have and how they can affect people, wizards and witches to be precise. And well I had an idea, and Master Morgan agrees with my theory."
When no British Master accepted Hermione as an apprentice, Neville's Gran, Lady Augusta Longbottom head of the Noble and Ancient house of Longbottom, had stepped in and contacted some friends of hers. She had than sent Hermione's NEWTS, scores which were the highest scores seen since the founders, to these friends and came back with a platera of request for Hermione to apprentice with them. Hermione had been infinitely grateful and after researching her options, she had gone to become a Ley master.
It was one of the most difficult and respected forms of magic, it took a special individual to be able to connect and control the Ley. It was dangerous as well, for that reason few people applied for the Mastery and fewers became Masters.
Hermione had left soon after to China where Master Morgan lived. She had kept in touch with a few people, Neville, Luna and surprisingly his Gran, but then again, the brunette got along surprisingly well with his Gran.
"I don't understand Hermione, what did you find?"
"I may have a way to bring them back, and Master Morgan said he would help. We may be able to do it!" She was excited and
"Are you sure about this? I mean a lot of people have tried…"
"I'm not a hundered percent sure but whatever may happen it will be an improvement. I know you don't want to get your hopes up but this may be it. Trust me on this please." She pleaded with him, hhopeing that he would let her try, let her help.
"We need to talk to Gran, I can't do this again, if she agrees you can try." He told her.
And with that being said, Hermione bid him farewwell and went to see Augusta. The imposing old witch listened to her and studied her notes. Thhey spoke in length and went into the tiniest details. She wanted to know everything and Hermione was happy to provide her with all the nessecary information.
It took a couple of days and a lengthy discussion with Master Morgan before Augusta agreed with Hermione's plan. This was the best chance they had to bring back her son and daughter in law and she would be damned if she let it slip out.
With the approval given, Hermione and Master Morgan started there work and there set up. Alice and Frank needed to be moved to a specific location, a place where Ley lines are the strongest. That place turned out to be the forbiden forest, it made sence to Hermione, seeing as a lot of magical creatures lived in it and were attrracted to it's pull. Centaurs specifiically tended to live in places where the Ley rained supreem.
The day of the ritual, boitth Neville and Augusta stood facing Hermione and Master Morgan at the center of the forest. Alice and Frank were laid across the floor under a sleeping spell. Centaurs and unicornes had gathered around there location, observing what was happening. It had been ages since the Ley's were did active and everyone was affected by it. Evenn Fawks, who had disapeared after the death of Dumbeldor had made an apearance, joining into the song of the Ley.
THe air was crackling with magic and everyone was enthrolled. Hermione and Master Morgan started there ritual, it was a regenerating ritual that would hopefully restore the magic and the mind of the two people laying on the ground.
Neville observed transfixed as Hermione and her Master wove the Ley and manipulated the strand. It was a magic he never understood and never will. SOmething that made no sense to him, In order to control the Leyy one had to give themselves to it, become a part of it and Hermione had done it. She was waving and pulling and magic was craclink. Real magic, magic at it's purest form. It was intoxicating and amazinng, something he was sure he would never witness again.
The magic entencifed and grew stronger in the air, it became suffocating, it was everywhere. It seemed like the earth was joining in, that magic was seeping into the grounds and than into his parents. They were glowing, bright lights eminating from them and encasing them.
Something was happening for sure, magic was active and was doing something to them, his parents.
Suddenly everything went dark, the magic seesed and the Ley's disapeared. He wasn't sure what this ment but he was looking at his parents with hope. They needed to be okay.
And than iit happened, his mother woke up followed closely by his father. They looked around confused, than Frank's eyes took in his Gran and a soft whispered "Mom" was heard.
Augusta standing next to him, let out an sob before running towards them. He stood stock still as his Gran took his father and mother into her arms and sobbed uncontrollably. They looked confused and weren'tt sure what was happening. Frank was looking at his mother as though she had lost her mind.
Neville hadn't moved though, he wasn't sure what he was supposed to do or say. His parents were there in front of him seemingly sane. And here he was, someone they didn't know. A son theey had never met.
"Neville, go join them," came the whispered words of his friend, of the person who had made this possible.
Having heard the words, Alice looked up from the woman in her arms and starred at the young man standing still in frront of them. A multitude of emotions passed thrrough her eyes before recognition and love shown out.
"Neville, my son!" His heart started beating faster and he found himself running into his mother's waiting arms.
"I love you Neville."
He never forgot how it felt when she told him those magical words.