Disclaimer: Harry Potter and his Magical World do not belong to me.

Chapter II: The Puppet

Neville was very glad to get home from the memorial. The rest of the night had been awfully uncomfortable. After Harry had almost threatened him, Neville had thought it best to avoid Ginny. He did not want to avoid her, but he had thought it best not to cause waves. Neville did come across a few other old acquaintances. He was glad to see most of them again. He did not enjoy seeing Draco Malfoy again, though. Draco was quite similar to how he had been in Hogwarts; he was vain and snobbish. He had become less antagonistic, though.

Neville had not stayed to the end. He ended up leaving without saying goodbye to hardly anyone. He just hoped that Ginny had been too distracted to notice. In all likeliness, she had been.

The next day, Neville opened his store a bit early. He needed something to get his mind of the night before. He was pruning his Peruvian Petunia, when the door opened. In walked a peculiar woman with long dirty blonde hair, who looked like she wasn't paying any attention to where she was going. The most peculiar thing about her was her earring, which looked like orange radishes.

"Luna?" asked Neville.

The woman turned to look at him slowly. "Hullo, Neville. I heard you were back."

"Yeah," he said a bit awkwardly.

"You had everyone quite worried, you know. But, it is completely understandable. There are many people who would have benefited from disappearing for a while after the War."

"Um, yes."

"Well, welcome back," Luna said while she inspected a bucket of purple plunkard bean pods.

"Thank you. What have you been doing?"

"I run the Quibbler. My father retired, so I took over for him. I also, on occasion, am a commentator for quidditch games."

Neville grinned, remembering Luna's quidditch commentary from Hogwarts. Everyone had to say that she was of the most bizarre and entertaining commentators. "That is great."

"I ought to be going. I am on my way to try to get an interview with Harry Potter."

"About what?"

"About him making pacts with Rib-nosed Murtutons to help get him into the position of Minister of Magic. You have heard about that, haven't you?"

Neville smiled. Same old Luna, he thought. "I have heard about Harry being up for Minister, but I haven't heard of Rib-nosed Murtutons."

"They are creatures that manipulate minds. They are great for propaganda."

"Oh."

"Well, I'll be on my way. Oh, also, you don't happen to have any red Gogolisdims, do you? They are good for Rib-nosed Murtuton repellent."

"No, I don't, but I can order some from a friend in Mongolia."

"That would be lovely. Nice to see you again, Neville."

"Bye, Luna."

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Neville was having a very cheerful week. His business was doing absolutely smashingly. He was very happy that he was being successful at something that he really enjoyed. Little did Neville know that peril was lurking around the corner.

It was early on Friday morning and Neville had fancied a cup of coffee. He walked through the door of a small café tucked into a corner of Diagon Alley. It was then that Neville had the feeling that someone was watching him. He ordered a coffee and took a table in the corner, keeping his eyes on watch. Soon a hooded figure had taken a seat at his table.

"Neville Longbottom?" the figure asked.

"Yes."

"Good, that is very good. My associate shall be here momentarily," at that the figure got up and slipped out the door, leaving a very confused Neville. Neville didn't have much time to be confused though. A moment later the door to the café swung open to bare a ghastly sight. A woman with tightly curled blonde hair swayed over to Neville. Her outfit was an offensively bright suit, which clashed with her oversized crocodile purse. Her glasses were jeweled, setting of her eyes in a peculiar way.

"Neville! How lovely to see you!" said Rita Skeeter in a loud and cheery voice.

"Um, Hello," said Neville nervously.

"So, Neville, why did you leave?" asked Rita Skeeter, as she pulled out some parchment and an acid green quill.

"What? I am sorry but I would rather not be interviewed," said Neville politely but firmly. He was then distracted by her quill scratching. He looked up to see that her quill was writing by itself.

Neville Longbottom, a hero of the War, has always been a shy boy. When asked why he disappeared after the War, he becomes nervous. "I guess I was because of the attention I was getting. I was sort of an accidental hero. I guess you could say the same about Harry Potter...

Rita seemed to ignore his statement. "So, what do you think of Harry Potter becoming the Minister of Magic?"

"Pardon me, but I will have to be going now," said Neville, as he realized what he was about to be sucked into. "Good day, Ms. Skeeter." Neville hurried out the door. He was all the way to his shop before he stopped to catch his breath. He really did not want to be forced into the affairs of the Ministry, nor any part of the magical world for that matter. He began to think that maybe it wasn't a good idea to have come back.

Neville really did not want to be coerced into another war, either, even if it was a political war. Perhaps he should just disappear again? Stage his death, maybe?

Neville was so deep in though that he didn't realize that an owl had flown into his shop. To his chagrin, the owl started pecking at his head. He managed to stop it before it did any damage. He groaned as his untied the letter from its leg. The letter had a Ministry of Magic seal on it.

Dear Mr. Longbottom,

Your are requested to attend a meeting with the Minister of Magic at two o'clock this afternoon. If you cannot attend, please stop by to reschedule.

Sincerely,

Juanita Kingston

Personal Secretary to the Minister

Neville sighed. Should he run away now or later? He quickly dismissed those ideas from his head. He would not run away. He would stand up and live his life on his own terms. Then, if that didn't work he would disappear again.

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Neville apparated to the Ministry of Magic with fifteen minutes to spare before his meeting. Much of this time was taken up by being approached by old acquaintances, all asking where he had gone and why he left. He managed to shake them of politely and make his way towards the Minister's office. The secretary admitted him and he opened a big fancy mahogany door.

As soon as Neville entered the office door, he knew this was not going to be the most pleasant meeting. Behind a big executive desk sat the Minister, Rufus Scrimgeour. Oddly, he had not been fired after the War, although he probably should have. In a chair in front of his desk sat none other, but Harry Potter, himself. Neville remembered how Harry had never liked Scrimgeour. Scrimgeour had wanted him to pretend that he approved of Ministry dealing, although the dealings were dirty and false. A mascot, Neville thought.

"Ah, Mr. Longbottom, I see you made it. Come take a seat," said Scrimgeour. Neville sat in the chair next to Harry, with wariness. "As you probably know, Harry here is going to take over being Minister of Magic when I retire this fall. I have heard that you are wanting to help with his campaign?"

Neville stared. He had never said anything about it. When Harry had asked him the conversation had taken another turn for the worst. "I, um..." started Neville.

"Well, it is settled then! We will run an article in the Daily Prophet! Maybe even an interview!" said Scrimgeour enthusiastically.

"Great, I have Quidditch practice now, but I will stop by your Herbarium to discuss the particulars tomorrow," said Harry.

Neville brain was screaming. How did he get himself into this? Neville took a deep breath. "I am sorry, but I will not be able to work on your campaign, Harry."

"What?" said Harry spinning around.

"I am quite sorry, but I am... I am very busy with my new business. To add, I have some quite unavoidable business with an associate in Mongolia."

Harry gave him a hard look. "I think I understand perfectly," he said coldly. "Well, that is too bad. Owl me if anything opens up."

"I will, have a good day, Harry, Minister," said Neville in a hurry to get out. He knew he would have to disappear now. Harry was sure to be angry about his refusal. Neville had a feeling that he could see right through him. He was sure that this would not be his last awkward encounter with Harry Potter.

Neville hurried through the hall of the Ministry. He didn't know why, but he felt like he was being watched, maybe even followed. At the thought of being followed, Neville instinctively looked over his shoulder. Unfortunately, he was still moving as he did this and he ran smack into something, causing himself to fall over on it.

Neville, who had his eyes shut in wake of his fall, opened his eyes slowly. His sight meet with a pair of beautiful brown eyes, which made him wonder why he would ever disappear again. Neville shook himself out of his trance. Avoiding looking at the girl, Neville quickly pulled himself off of her.

"I am very sorry, Miss," as he got up and offered her a hand. He then realized that it was not just any person, it was Ginny.

"That is quite alright, Neville," said Ginny with a smile, accepting his hand. "What brings you to the Ministry?"

"I had a meeting with Scrimgeour," said Neville as he straightened his robes.

"How fun. Let me guess, he wanted you to campaign for Harry?"

"How did you know?"

"They have been trying to get every well-respected witch and wizard to. They even tried to get Draco Malfoy. He refused, of course."

"It is surprising that they even tried."

"Yes, but what is even more surprising it that he is supporting Hermoine."

"Really?"

"Yep. He may not like her, but he loathes Harry more. I don't think that even he can deny that Hermoine would be a good Minister of Magic."

"I don't think anyone in their right mind could."

"Yes, well, then it seems that there are a lot of people who are not in their right mind. I would be one of them, but in a different way."

Neville chuckled. "Well, are you working on Hermoine's campaign?"

"Yes, quietly though. I could lose my job if Scrimgeour found out. Unfortunately, Hermoine won't use many of my ideas."

"Why not?"

"She thinks they are too unorthodox. She also refuse to be involved in what she considers to be 'dirty politics.'"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, she refused to use my idea of jinxing Harry during one of his speeches with a Babbling Hex. Nor would she consider using a hex that makes him quack when he tries to speak," said Ginny with small smile.

"I am not sure that would help, I talked to him and I think I would prefer the quacking," said Neville, grinning.

"I guess your right. I have to get back to work. I am swamped with research on a suspected Death Eater. He is supposedly one of the last ones, but he is hard to catch. How about we catch up a bit sometime next week? I am going to dinner with Hermoine and Ron next Tuesday. I am sure they would love to see you again too. Do you think you could make it?"

"Sure, what time?"

"At six. We are going to a muggle restaurant. We can meet you in my brothers' shop, you know, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes?"

"Alright, I will see you then," said Neville as they departed. Neville was euphoric. Sure, the dinner was also with her brother and friend, but he would still be at dinner with Ginny. Then again, though Neville as he remembered the memorial, perhaps this was not good. Harry had warned him to stay away from Ginny. Neville really did not want to find out what Harry would do. Neville shook away this though immediately; he wasn't going to let anyone interfere with him living his life to its fullest.

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A/N: And that would be Chapter II. Thank you to everyone reading and a special thank you to my reviewers: ih8uppl, Taken-IT-Easy, and Riye Link Reue. Let it be now be stated that this is my first attempt on writing romance. Although my otherstory has a ship, it is not really romance. Anyway, thanks again!

--Perplexity

PS

Riye Link Reue- Now that is an idea. I may consider including the ten Death Eaters thing in thisstory or perhaps in a nother one.

ih8uppl- I too have noticed that lack of Ginny/Neville stories. That is one reason I started this one. Also, don't worry, there will be plenty of Harry.