Chapter Four – Class Schedules

"Double potions with Slytherin again!" Ron Weasley whined, throwing his schedule down onto the table.

Hermione gave him a pointed look. "You didn't have to take potions this year, Ron."

Ron rolled his eyes. Neville gulped. He had really hoped that potions wouldn't be with Slytherin again. He didn't think he was brave enough to stand up to Professor Snape yet. Check that, he knew he wasn't brave enough to stand up to him.

Neville checked the rest of his schedule. Not too bad. He had a three- hour break on Tuesdays. That would be a perfect time to work in the greenhouses privately. After the feast last night, Neville spent the rest of the evening repotting his plant. He hoped he would remember to check on it between classes.

Just then the owl post flew in. Neville looked up and recognized his grandmother's owl. He had hoped that this year he hadn't forgotten anything. The owl dropped a package in his lap and flew off. Neville opened it and started laughing.

"I forgot my rememberall!" he chuckled. A few other Gryffindors laughed with him.

His first class was the most boring class of all: The History of Magic. He couldn't believe that he had to take this class for another two years. The problem was Neville's forgetfulness. He always confused dates, places and people. Facts just wouldn't stay in Neville's head straight. He told himself he had to try, and dutifully took notes for the next ninety minutes.

He looked over at Hermione and sighed. She always was so alert in class. He knew she would never confuse Norish the Terrible with Norbit the not-so- terrible. Neville looked outside. The sun was shining and it was beautiful outside. He wished he could be in the greenhouses right now.

The moment the bell rang, every student perked up and bolted out of the classroom. He had Charms in the afternoon. He liked Professor Flitwick.

"We will be working on a number of different charms this year. First will be vanishing charms, followed by memory charms, and last but not least, cleaning charms."

The students groaned. "I know cleaning charms seem boring, but they are very helpful in everyday life," Professor Flitwick squeaked.

Neville was glad when the day was over. He rushed to the greenhouses as soon as class was done. Professor Sprout was just finishing up with a class. Neville's stomach gave a little lurch when he saw that it was Luna's class.

Professor Sprout released the class, and Luna seemed to be slow getting to her feet. Neville walked in quietly. When Luna saw him, she smiled and said "Hello, Neville Longbottom."

Neville smiled back. She looked beautiful today. Her hair was piled up on top of her head with chopsticks. It still gave the look of wanting to fall out of place. She had the sleeves of her blouse rolled up above the elbows. Her hands were covered in earth.

"Did you have a good day?" he asked shyly.

"Tolerable," she said, "I have Potions in the morning and Herbology in the afternoon. I love the work in Potions, but Professor Snape has never been very kind to me."

"I have class with Professor Snape tomorrow. "I really don't like him," Neville whispered.

"He's not a very nice man, is he?" Luna asked. "I think he's lonely."

"Lonely? Professor Snape? He's happy as long as he can torment students," Neville said, kicking a bit of dirt on the greenhouse floor.

"He does like to berate people, doesn't he? I think he called me Loony three times today. Maybe I should correct him next time," she said dreamily.

Neville looked at the ground, not sure of what to say next.

"Are you going to the Great Hall?" Luna asked. "I'm going there now to grab some dinner before I go to the library."

Neville shook his head, "No. I have some work to do here."

"You really like Herbology, don't you?" Luna asked, staring at some of the exotic plants.

Neville started to open his mouth to agree when she cut him off, shaking her head. "That is very obvious." She gave him a small smile and walked out the door.

As she walked past, Neville realized she smelled like mangos. Taking a deep breath, he took off his vest, rolled up his sleeves and got to work.

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"Congratulations," Professor Snape said to the entire class. "You managed to score high enough on your O.W.L.S. to be placed in this class." He looked in the general direction of Neville. "I didn't think some of you were capable of that feat."

Neville blushed and continued staring at his desk. I should cast a disillusionment charm on myself, he thought. Neville was sitting next to Hermione. He always tried to sit near her, since she was willing to help him.

Neville had the same problem with Potions that he did with the History of Magic. He always seemed to get the directions confused. And Potions was a hundred times worse with Professor Snape breathing down all of their necks.

"Today we will begin working on a truth telling potion called the Certus Potion. It is not as strong as another truth serum called veritaserum. But this potion is not controlled by the Ministry; it can be made at will." Professor Snape waved his wand at the blackboard. "You have until ten minutes before the end of class to finish. Begin."

Neville looked at the blackboard and gulped. Professor Snape always wrote in very small handwriting. He read every instruction twice. Even so, when he had finished making the potion, his still didn't look like Hermione's, who's potion was a light violet. Neville's potion was a very dark purple.

"At least it's purple!" Hermione whispered encouragingly to Neville.

"Is someone brave enough to test their potion in front of the class," Professor Snape said lazily. No one raised their hands.

"No one? I'm disappointed," Professor Snape said. "I'll offer ten points to a successful potion." Neville noticed that he was looking at Harry as he spoke.

Hermione raised her hand. "I'd like to test mine, sir," she said confidently.

"Miss Granger, I should have realized you'd take the bait," he told her.

Hermione walked up to the front of the classroom and handed her vial to Professor Snape. He poured a third into a small glass, handed it to her and said, "Drink. I have given you enough only to last for fifteen minutes."

Hermione drank the potion in one gulp and made a face. Neville guessed that the potion tasted foul.

"What is your favorite subject?" Professor Snape asked. He was clearly uninterested in having Hermione as a test subject.

"Arthimancy," Hermione said at once.

"What is your greatest fear?" he asked.

"Losing my friends to Voldemort," she said.

At once, half the class gave an angry hiss (the Slytherin side) and half shuddered at hearing you-know-who's name. Hearing the name, Neville put his head in his hands. Professor Snape raised one eyebrow and looked at Hermione with what appeared to be respect.

"Very well. That is all," he said picking up the rest of Hermione's potion. He took out a small vial from his robes. He poured some of the liquid of the vial into Hermione's potion. The potion changed from violet to a bright blue.

"Ten points to Gryffindor," he muttered. Then more loudly, he said, "In case you have any ideas, Certus Potion does not require the drinker to answer like veritaserum. Miss Granger doesn't have to answer any question she doesn't want to."

Neville noticed that Ron and Harry looked a little disappointed at that news.

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Neville bounded into the transfiguration classroom the next day. This was his third day at Hogwarts and he was finally going to be able to try out his wand. They hadn't actually tried anything in charms. Neville took out his wand and cleaned it with his robes.

Just for the occasion, Neville decided to sit near the front of the classroom. He looked at the students that were entering the classroom. This year, transfiguration was with Hufflepuff.

Professor McGonagall looked just as Neville remembered her, very strict. She sat at her desk, hands folded in front of her, waiting for the students to arrive. Finally, the class was still.

"Welcome to the post O.W.L. level of transfiguration," she said, standing up. "You will be learning some of the most dangerous magic that you will ever learn, starting this year."

Neville gulped.

"This is the year you start learning human transfiguration. In other words, you'll be transfiguring each other," Professor McGonagall lectured. "I expect everyone of you to be paying close attention while you are in my class room. Fooling around will not be tolerated."

Neville hoped that they would transfigure each other before working in pairs. If his new wand helped, maybe people wouldn't avoid his eyes when he looked for a partner.

"The first term will be devoted to transfiguring your body's color and shape. The term after that will involve transfiguring your body to animal parts for enhancements." Professor McGonagall tapped her wand to her ear and her ears changed into a retriever's. The class started laughing.

"Laugh if you must," Professor McGonagall said, "But my hearing is now enhanced. Very enhanced, Mr. Finnegan. I don't appreciate being called a 'crazy old bat.' One point from Gryffindor."

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The following day, after Muggle Studies and Divination, Neville went to the greenhouse to check his Mimbulus Mimletonia plant. Professor Sprout asked if she could have a clipping to try to grow her own for the Hogwarts' greenhouse. Neville was happy to donate a bit for the greenhouse.

The fifth year class was just leaving the greenhouse. Ginny Weasley waved to him, and Neville smiled back. He remembered his fourth year. The first half he liked Hermione. When she said she couldn't go to the Yule Ball with him, he was surprised how quickly his allegiance switched to Ginny. She was very nice to him at the ball, and didn't seem to mind that much when he stepped on her feet. Luckily, his crush seemed to disappear when she started dating Michael Conners.

Luna was still in the greenhouse when he entered. She was staring at a Dittany plant, which was one of Neville's favorite plants. He was going to cross breed it with his Mimbulus Mimletonia for a project this term. He was very curious to see what would come of it.

Neville cleared his throat so that he would know that he was there with her. She made no notice that he was there. She kept staring at the plant. Neville supposed that she thought some strange creature lived in the plant, and she was looking for it. He never really knew what to think about Luna's proclamations. Half of him wanted to believe her.

"How's your first week?" Luna asked quietly, still staring at the plant.

By this time, Neville had already rolled up his sleeves and had put on his dragon hide gloves. "Not too bad," he said. "I have a new wand, which I think is going to help."

"Yours broke in the Department of Mysteries, wasn't?" she said, finally turning to look at him.

Neville nodded, not wanting to think of that horrible day.

"Do you ever dream of that day?" she asked softly.

"All the time," Neville answered truthfully.

Luna looked at him with interest. "So do I," she said, "I keep reliving the feeling of being thrown against the desk. It's not pleasant."

"I know," Neville told her.

"Neville?" she asked.

"Yes?"

"I know you're here to work, but would like to eat dinner together in the Great Hall?" she asked.

Neville was taken aback. "S-Sure," he said, cursing himself for not coming up with a better line.

Luna smiled brightly at him, the first real smile he had seen from her in a while. As Neville took off his gloves, Luna grabbed Neville's backpack, along with her own. Then she took his arm, and they headed towards the Great Hall for dinner.

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A/N – A special thanks to those who told me about different fanfiction websites. Oh, and I changed all the "perfects" to "prefects." Oops!