"Take a break Harry. You've been at it for hours. If you push yourself too much Madame Pomfrey and Molly will have my guts for garters," called Eleanor.
"I just want to finish pruning these roses then I'll have a breather." Replied Harry. He reached up to a long straggling branch of the very old but still beautiful rose. A sudden pain in his side reminded Harry that not many weeks had passed since his accident. He winced and placed a hand on his side in an effort to ease the pain.
"M'okay." Said Harry as he realised Eleanor had seen his sharp intake of breath. "Perhaps I could do with a break." He walked back up the lawn to the table and chairs that sat on the flagged stone patio that ran the width of the fine old house. Harry had come to love the house, the garden and also the two women who called the house their home.
Eleanor and Jenny were almost like an older and younger version of the same person. They both had the same quirky and somewhat dry sense of humour; they both enjoyed teasing Harry and he found he liked teasing them back. When they laughed they giggled like schoolgirls – a trait which Harry found adorable but he would never dream of admitting.
In other respects the two women were complete opposites.
Jenny was a vegetarian.
Eleanor loved steaks, ribs and roasts.
Jenny was tee-total.
Eleanor loved wine with her food and was partial to a drop of brandy before bed.
Jenny tried to keep fit and Harry witnessed her exercising in the warmth of the conservatory at the side of the house where it caught the sun. She also went jogging most mornings.
Eleanor did no exercise but she was surprisingly fit and active for a woman of her years.
They both adored chocolate and – it seemed – one Harry James Potter!
Indeed in the few weeks he had lived here, Hill House felt more like home to Harry than Privet Drive ever had.
Dumbledore had retrieved all Harry's belongings from Number 4 and various articles could now be seen scattered around his bedroom. To make Harry feel more at home Eleanor had cast a neat little charm on the wallpaper and now it showed a mainly blue sky with occasional clouds drifting over it.
Every once in a while a golden snitch would appear and dart around the walls until it eventually shot out of sight. Harry had appreciated the gesture but asked that the honeysuckle-clad trellis be kept as the pattern on the wall to the side of his bed as he liked to watch the bumblebees as he drifted off to sleep.
On the floor beside the bed stood the rucksack Sam had bought for Harry in Ramsgate. Seeing it brought a lump to his throat; there was still no news of Remus or of Sam and days were stretching into weeks.
Could no news continue to mean good news?
When Jenny brought the rucksack back from the Evidence Store at Police Headquarters, everything was still intact. It had been with a huge sigh of relief that Harry had been able to hand the omnioculars to Mad-Eye Moody.
Harry had thought back to his lists – the one from the hospital and the one made in Hill House.
A lot of items had been crossed off but he still hadn't got his wand back!
Harry finished off the long glass of pumpkin juice pulled his gardening gloves back on and turned to resume his pruning.
"You're doing a pretty good job on that, Harry." Came a familiar voice "But don't forget to water well after you've cleaned up the clippings. Spray with 'Paisleys Patent Pesticide Potion' too. Keeps blackspot, white spot and aphids away."
"NEVILLE. Mate. It's good to see you." Exclaimed Harry with joy. "I didn't know you were coming. Eleanor never said anything."
"Not surprised. She and my Gran don't get on too well. It's some old rivalry thing from their schooldays but I think that really they've just gotten used to sniping at each other." Neville was smiling as he spoke.
There was a sudden awkward silence. Did Neville believe he had murdered his relatives?
No, reasoned Harry, he wouldn't have come here if he thought that.
What then?
Instead of asking the question he was dying to ask, Harry simply said, "How did you get here?"
"Knight bus." Replied Neville briefly then, indicating Harry's unfinished task, asked, "Do you want a hand to finish off the roses?"
"Yeah, sure, why not?" Harry's brief staccato answers were unaccountably awkward. "I'll see if Eleanor's got more seccateurs."
"No need Harry. I always have some with me." From his pocket Neville pulled what at first glance looked like a folded penknife. A few deft flicks later and Neville had in his hand a pair of neat, obviously sharp, seccateurs.
The two boys – no young men – worked side-by-side with hardly a word passing between them.
After pruning the roses, and Harry had counted at least 57 different varieties, they moved on to a clematis-covered pergola that led down to an ornamental pond with a fountain in the centre. It looked like it hadn't worked in a long time. Harry got to thinking that he'd clean it out and fix it next time he was home from Hogwarts.
He voiced these thoughts out loud to Neville who smiled and said, "So, you'll be coming back?"
Harry just had enough time to wonder if Eleanor and Jenny would want to be troubled with a 16 year old around the place again when Jenny appeared at his side. He knew she couldn't apparate but he could almost be forgiven for thinking she could she'd crept up on them so silently.
"Course he's coming back. Why wouldn't he?" stated Jenny unequivocally.
'Yes' thought Harry 'why wouldn't I?'
He wouldn't ever be returning to Privet Drive. He hated Grimmauld place. As much as he loved The Burrow, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had enough on their hands without Harry and the danger he brought with him.
Hill House was quiet. It was well protected – both Dumbledore and Moody had seen to that. It also had two people who liked and respected Harry living within its walls.
'Yes, I would definitely like to come back here next summer.' Determined Harry silently to himself.
"Harry. I was thinking, the next job we should tackle is that honeysuckle on the West Wall. It's got so straggly and top heavy it's pulled some of the trellis off its fixings. A bit of hard pruning now will do it the world of good for next year." Said Neville, pulling Harry back to his surroundings.
"Sure thing, Neville. You're the Gov'nor. Lead the way." Said Harry and he was pleased to see the assured and self-confident way that Neville took to ordering Harry about. Harry didn't mind, he knew Neville had far greater knowledge of herbology and planting than he did.
'If only Snape could see him now!' mused Harry.
Before starting work on the honeysuckle all the rubbish was piled in a wheelbarrow and trundled to the compost heap at the very bottom of the garden. There were two bins of compost with wooden shuttered sides. Neville explained that it was usual to fill one, while the second rots down until it is ready to use.
"Put all the clippings in the left-hand bin after you remove the cover of course." Ordered Neville.
"Of course." Echoed Harry.
"Then you slide up the bottom shutter on the right-hand bin to access the ready-to-use compost." Said Neville has he slid up the shutter and out poured beautiful rich dark brown and slightly warm compost.
Neville bent over to pick up a handful. "Beautiful!" he exclaimed as he let it trickle through his fingers.
The two Gryffindors worked side-by-side chatting about everything and nothing until around 7 o'clock when Jenny came and called them in for dinner.
They cleaned and put away their tools and were walking back up the lush green lawn when Harry realised he hadn't asked Neville about his summer.
"Oh. It's been pretty good actually." He had a small secretive smile on his face; his hands were buried deep in his pocket.
"Come on sunshine. Spill the beans." Harry was now in front of Neville who had to stop in his tracks.
Neville's blush would have done a Weasley proud!
Still Neville stayed silent.
Harry dropped all kidology and said quietly "Luna is something special isn't she?"
Neville raised his eyes and looked Harry in the face; he half expected to be teased but when he saw no sign of malice, he said softly "Yes. Something special."
The two friends continued to the house. As they reached the conservatory they saw Jenny struggling with a large and obviously heavy box. Neville and Harry immediately went to her aid.
It was some new equipment for 'Jenny's Gym' as Harry had renamed the conservatory.
"Food's on the table! Come and get it!" called Eleanor.
It was a delicious spread. There was roast chicken, roast potatoes, carrots and peas and, surprisingly, Yorkshire pudding.
Jenny had a jacket potato with grated cheese and loads of salad. As Eleanor put Jenny's food on the table the two boys heard her say 'Rabbit food' under her breath.
Harry couldn't help but smile when Jenny too had a Yorkshire pudding but in the middle was an assortment of roasted vegetables. It looked delicious. As she walked to her seat she kissed her grandmother on top of the head and muttered "But I'm not a bad bun, am I?"
For a fleeting second Harry had an image of Jenny in a bunny girl's costume in his mind, which made him blush. He picked up a glass of pumpkin juice to try and hide his embarrassment and noted Neville had done the same!
Harry's musings were brought to an abrupt end as Eleanor asked, "How's your Grandmother, Neville? Still as stiff and starchy as ever?"
Eleanor seemed to have adopted her Grumpy Gran persona.
"She's very well indeed Aunt Eleanor. She sends you her love as always!" replied Neville with a distinct twinkle in his eye.
"Aunt Eleanor? But you never said …!" Harry questioned Neville.
"Oh, sorry Harry. I thought you knew. Eleanor and my Grandmother are sisters." Neville went on as though those few words explained everything. It was Jenny who coloured in the picture for Harry.
It transpired that Eleanor Cantwell was a surviving twin, her sister having died at birth. A couple of years later her parents decided to try again to expand their family and again twins were conceived. Tragically death claimed one child once more, this time a boy, but the second twin survived. That child later became the Grandmother to Neville Longbottom.
"So you see Harry they are both twins … just not to each other! They've been rivals all their lives. They had to fight to survive and now they …"
"Fight just 'cos they enjoy it!" This last comment came from Moody who had just appeared at the doorway.
"Your timing, as always, is impeccable Alastor. There's enough for one more. Pull up a chair." Eleanor said this as she placed a chicken leg and some breast meat on a plate and passed it down the table to Moody. Harry was surprised to note that for once Moody did not sniff or overtly check his food before placing it in his mouth.
Something of Harry's thoughts must have shown on his face because Eleanor leaned over to him and whispered to Harry "Alastor knows I would jinx him into the middle of next week if he dared question the quality of my food!" She winked.
The meal continued with many varied conversations going back and forward. Just as they were finishing dessert, a mouth-watering coconut and pineapple mousse served with slices of fresh pineapple, Moody leaned towards Harry.
"Want a few words in private, Harry. Meet me in the parlour in half-an-hour."
"O.K." said Harry but nervously.
Eleanor's voice carried over all other conversations as she said "Your Grandmother isn't using the floo network these days is she Neville? It's so dangerous, never know where you'll come out!"
"No Auntie." Replied Neville. "We've had the house taken off the network all together on Professor Dumbledore's advice."
"Quite right too! Did you come by Knight Bus then?" asked Moody.
"Yes. It's slower but safer." Replied Neville.
"I told you Eleanor. You really need to get your floo connection blocked." Insisted Moody.
"Yes, Yes. You've already explained why. I'm still thinking about it. Now if you've all finished we can clear the table."
Harry stood and gathered up the dirty plates and cutlery and took them through to the kitchen and Neville followed suit. As they reached the sink Neville let out a small "Oh!" as he dropped his plate and it smashed on the stone floor.
"Sorry." Muttered Neville as he stooped to pick up the shards.
"Don't just stand there Potter. Fix it!" Challenged Moody.
"But I …!" started Harry who intended to protest that he didn't have a wand. Moody however had other thoughts.
"… don't need a wand! You fixed that mug you smashed. Fix this! Come on boy. Think. You know you can do it. Concentrate. Build an image in your mind then create the reality."
Everyone in the room was holding their collective breaths. Harry stood and looked down at the broken plate; slowly he held out his hands, the pieces moved together like a jigsaw puzzle and then rose in the air to land, good-as-new, in Harry's outstretched palms.
"Good Lord!" Said Eleanor.
"Amazing." Said Neville.
Harry just stood staring at the plate astonished at what he'd done.
"Didn't even need to say the spell!" said Moody a distinct note of pride in his voice.
Harry was still staring at the plate when Eleanor commanded. "Just stack all the dishes beside the sink for now. They can be washed later. Now Neville, have you got everything?"
"I think so. I only brought a little loose change and these." He held up his gardening gadget.
"Right then. Oh and you had better give Alexandra this." She handed Neville a wicker basket with a cover on it. He took it without saying a word. This, apparently, was part of the ritual between the two sisters. They cared very deeply for each other but refused to openly admit or show it.
"Come on then Neville, you'd best be off." Said Jenny as she opened the front door and she and Neville stepped outside. Harry went to join them on the front garden path but Moody stopped him.
"You're not allowed to cross the threshold yet Harry. You're still under house-arrest remember."
Harry nodded. He'd almost forgotten that his name in the wizarding world had yet to be cleared. He stood inside the house, raised a hand and shouted, "See you Neville. Take care. Give my best wishes to Luna!"
Neville raised his left hand in acknowledgement when the Knight Bus appeared with its usual bang! Just seconds after Neville had stuck out his wand hand.
Harry realised he hadn't even asked if Neville had gotten a new wand as his old one had been broken in the Department of Mysteries last June.
There was a second loud bang and the bus and Neville were gone.