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Hermione eventually reached The Bear & Staff at Charing Cross just before the appointed time. She had transfigured her cloak into a long overcoat to blend into Muggle London. The pub was located on a well-lit road and the façade was reasonable, not run-down or tired. Upon providing Neville's name, she was swiftly guided upstairs into the dining area. Neville was already inside waiting for her and stood up when she approached.
"Oh, Neville!" exclaimed Hermione and she enveloped him in a bear hug.
The gesture seemed to take Neville by surprise because when Hermione released him, he was completely flushed. "It's great to see you, Hermione."
The air was quite warm so Hermione undid her coat and folded it over the back of her chair. As she took a seat, she realised that Neville was looking anywhere but her. The flush on his cheeks had deepened. She waved aside any thoughts of Pomona Sprout's words. Even though they were in a rather private corner, Hermione casted a Muffliato charm just to make sure the magical aspects of conversation wouldn't be overheard.
She smiled gently, hoping to relieve the awkwardness on Neville's part. "It's been so long since we've had a proper conversation. I'm glad you invited me out."
"My pleasure. How have you been? And how is Hogwarts doing?"
"The same as usual. There is an anniversary event later in December so we're busy planning for that."
Neville nodded. "Professor Sprout told me a bit about it. She said she was working with you."
"I believe you would be invited to the event. All alumni are."
"What activities did you guys plan?"
Hermione's eyes twinkled. "Wait and see. There'll be dancing, of course. But lots of other stuff in store as well."
"I'll come as long as you save one dance for me," replied Neville, his hand touching the back of his neck.
"Deal." Hermione grinned. "Speaking of Professor Sprout, I heard that you will be teaching at Hogwarts the next year? Would be nice to have someone familiar there."
"I'm sure all the professors are familiar to you," replied Neville but a smile still stretched across his face. "Teaching Herbology was something I had thought of while at Hogwarts. Actually, I'll be joining Hogwarts next month to start an apprenticeship under her."
"Why would you need to be an apprentice for? You're so good at Herbology like how –"
"– you're good at Potions?" finished Neville. "I still don't understand how you went into the Defence Against the Dark Arts role though. I thought Professor Snape would have wanted that."
Hermione shook her head. "I'm not that great in Potions. Snape is wonderfully skilled in that. Like how you are in Herbology."
Neville blushed. "No way. You can't compare me with someone who has so many years of experience. That's why I decided to do an apprenticeship."
"What about your job as a healer? I thought you wanted to heal your parents," probed Hermione cautiously.
A wistful look took over Neville's face. "It has not been easy at all. I don't think I'm really cut out for that role. Draco is talented, though. He's been researching into new ways of healing. Right now, he's almost done with his first project and I think he'll have a full paper on it published very soon."
"What is that project about?"
Neville laughed. "You'll see it all when the paper is out. I'm sure even The Daily Prophet will feature an article on him just for that."
"How is it like working with him?" Hermione remembered completing their N.E.W.T. year together with Draco Malfoy. He had changed quite a lot and even took up Muggle Studies as an elective. She never met him after that but heard that he was no longer blinded by blood status.
"This might sound surprising but he is actually rather helpful and patient. Very different from the younger Draco we all knew. And he's real clever, Hermione. I can't reach that level. That's why I decided to take a chance with Herbology. It feels more like home around plants. Nature." Neville paused. "Plus, Draco said if I really decided to go back to Herbology, he would take my parents on for his next research."
Hermione's eyes widened. "That's generous of him!"
Neville nodded. "I think he feels guilty. But I've seen him at work so I can trust him. This is also another reason why I decided to accept the teaching role."
A low rumble interrupted the conversation and Neville's cheeks infused with a light shade pink. "Let's get some food in us before we continue. I'm really curious about what you've been up to between N.E.W.T.s and becoming a professor at Hogwarts."
Hermione agreed although she knew she didn't want to discuss her post-N.E.W.T.s and pre-DADA job in detail. Yet again in the span of two days she was forced to confront her past. A part of her that she had rather kept buried deep in her pensieve. But she smiled at Neville anyway. He wouldn't understand why she had done what she did. Almost no one would understand why she had done what she did. But if there was someone who might, perhaps, it would be Snape.
-.-.-.-
After a scrumptious dinner, one round of Muggle beer and a slow walk, Hermione and Neville found themselves in The Three Broomsticks for proper drinks. Apparently Neville had a penchant for Firewhisky and Hermione felt herself becoming more relaxed as the night wore on.
"You dodged me earlier about what you were doing before teaching at Hogwarts," said Neville, leaning forward conspirationally. "I can keep a secret."
Hermione eyed Neville over the rim of her glass. "I haven't told anyone."
"Harry?"
"Nope."
"Ron?"
"Heavens, no!" Hermione laughed, throwing her head back. "He'd probably blurt it to the person right next to him."
"Try me."
"Oh, I'd like to," murmured Hermione, biting her lip. She had just begun to notice how his shirt fit him quite snugly across the chest and biceps. His sleeves were rolled up midway exposing some lean forearms.
"I'm serious."
Hermione nodded. Then she cast a Muffliato charm around them. "I hope you don't mind."
He shook his head.
"Well, I joined Harry and Ron for Auror training at first," began Hermione.
"Top of the batch, as usual."
Hermione blushed. "Everyone was just as good. But it felt a little stifling, you know? Lots of rules to follow."
"You never had a problem with rules or breaking them. Remember when you used the Petrificus Totalus on me?"
"I'm so sorry for that." Hermione reached out to pat Neville's hand.
"Well it's all a long time ago now," he said, his ears reddening. "Please continue."
Hermione grinned. "I guess that experience with Harry and Ron when we didn't go back to Hogwarts in the seventh year changed things. It was like going rogue and really doing what we needed to do. Not answering to anyone."
Neville nodded. "Mhmm."
"But it comes at a price. If there is no one to keep you in check, how would you know if you end up doing something you shouldn't be doing? Or doing something completely … unethical?"
Neville took a gulp of the Firewhisky. "I believe you. If you said something or someone was wrong, it would definitely be that way."
Hermione shook her head. "Sometimes, it's not easy when you're on the inside. What is the difference between revenge killing and murder? What makes one justifiable and one not?"
"Er …"
"Nevermind. Anyway, I left the Auror training shortly after. I travelled across Europe to find out more about the Dark Arts –"
Neville gasped. "Surely not, Hermione!"
"Wait. Not to learn how to wield it on people, obviously." Hermione waved her arms around. "I felt it was my fault that so many people died."
"Of course not, Hermione," said Neville softly. This time, he reached out to her and held her hand. "We all fought in the war. It wasn't just you. Everyone who died, died trying. Noble deaths. Don't blame yourself for it."
She gulped and nodded. "You're right. Thank you."
"I guess you must have learned a lot during your travels and ended up teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts after that."
"Yes, that sums it up," agreed Hermione.
"Quite interesting. Not a conventional route." Neville gave her a warm smile. "Tell me about Hogwarts. Anyone I need to be wary of? Like Snape?"
Hermione laughed. "He's not that bad. I was at Knockturn Alley earlier with him."
"Knockturn? That kind of figures." Neville cringed.
"But if there was someone to be wary of," she paused briefly in contemplation, then continued, "probably the Muggles Studies professor?"
"Muggle Studies? Are you sure?"
She shook her head. "Not in that sense. She's a bit strange. She knows things about me I hadn't told her before."
"You mean a seer like Trelawney?"
"Trelawney's not a real seer."
"But she made that prophecy."
"Still." Hermione grimaced. "But no, not a seer."
"Then how would she know?"
"I've been asking myself that."
"Perhaps someone told her?"
"I also considered that and offended the one person who may have been the source."
Neville frowned. "If she hadn't heard it from someone else, how did she come by it? What's her name anyway?"
"Chérie Dujardin."
Neville's eyes widened. "You could've fooled me with that pronunciation."
"Thanks." Hermione grinned. Then she sobered immediately. "I really don't know how she would know about it. She used to teach at Beauxbatons."
"What is 'it' anyway? Is it related to your exploration of Dark Arts in Europe?"
Hermione nodded. "Yeah."
"Were you doing something illegal?" He frowned.
"I certainly wasn't smuggling any Veelas out of France."
"Ha-ha. How is her name spelled anyway? Can't guess it from the way you say it."
Hermione spelled it out and he noted it down in a worn, little book. "I feel like I've seen this name somewhere. Just can't quite remember," said Neville as he tucked the book back into his transfigured cloak.
"She's still harmless. For now, at least."
"I'll take your word on that." Neville checked his watch. "It's approaching midnight. Shall we head out? I have a noon shift tomorrow."
Hermione jumped up. "Yeah, sure. Let's go."
They stepped out of The Three Broomsticks into the cool night air. Neville charmed his cloak to stay closed so the wind wouldn't enter. On the other hand, Hermione let her cloak flap in the wind as they walked up the hill until the edge of the Hogwarts boundary before she turned to face Neville.
"Thanks for tonight," he said. "You look really pretty, by the way. You really grew up well."
"You too. What a dashing, young man," said Hermione as she playfully skimmed her hand across Neville's bicep.
His hand closed around hers and Hermione's heart skipped a beat at the warmth of the contact. And the fact that their faces were so close. "I'll see you soon, Hermione. At Hogwarts."
"Yeah," she breathed.
Then he gently brought their hands down. "Go on. Let me see you enter the perimeters."
Hermione waved. Then she continued walking towards the castle. She turned back and Neville was still watching her. They waved at each other again before Hermione continued on. By the time she reached the entrance into Hogwarts, she was perspiring from the walk and the heat of the Firewhisky so she took her coat off and folded it over her arm.
It was way past the curfew so she didn't expect any students to be out of bed. Not that she would have noticed even if they were because her head was spinning after Neville, the Firewhisky and more Neville. She climbed the stairs slowly, making her way to the sixth floor. Instead of going through the portrait, she pushed the door to her office open. She threw her coat on the sofa in the corner and rummaged for a hangover potion for the next day but couldn't seem to find any and turned to go back the way she came, only to collide with a solid wall.
A wall that had reached out to steady her. She blinked. Snape held up a small vial before dropping it into the holder on her table. "I thought you might be needing that," he said.
"Oh, Snape!" exclaimed Hermione. "You're so thoughtful. Were you waiting up for me?"
He snorted. "I was on patrol and saw you stumbling up here. What were you thinking, getting yourself so drunk? How unseemly."
"Lighten up."
She lifted her beaded bag and dumped it on the table. Then she summoned a few items from inside and thrusted it to him. "Yours."
He gave her a look before pocketing it. Then he fished out some Muggle money and placed it on her table. "Thank you."
"Am I cleared of all charges now?" She wiggled a finger at him.
"Indeed."
There was a moment of silence as they stood surveying each other.
"Well?" Hermione waited expectantly.
"What? Are you expecting me to enquire after your date with Longbottom?" Snape scoffed. "Seems like it went well."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "If it was a date, and it did end well, I wouldn't be here so early."
Snape's brows rose at her implication. "I didn't take you for one who did things without any … attachment."
"I've known him for years now."
He frowned as if considering her point. "The boy has always been slow."
"He's no longer a boy. He's a man now."
Silence. They stood staring at each other for a few minutes.
Hermione broke the eye contact first. "He's smart, alright. Just a bit shy."
"It seems as if you wanted more from him," Snape drawled.
"It wasn't a date so there is nothing to want more of."
He sneered. "As if the both of you weren't tenderly clasping each other's hands."
Hermione gaped.
"Or looking fondly into each other's eyes?"
"You were there?"
Snape gave an exasperated sigh. "Do you really think only you two existed in The Three Broomsticks?"
"No, but –"
"As the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, you really should work on your defence."
Hermione crossed her arms. "Perhaps I'm too accustomed to your presence that it wouldn't tip me off even if you were skulking in a corner in your overflowing robes."
Snape pulled his robes around him. "Hogwarts does have a dress code." His eyes dropped from her face and took a slow journey down south before coming back up again. The corner of his lips lifted slightly.
Hermione felt the heat in her body rise even further under his piercing gaze. She blushed to the roots of her hair. "We're not having this conversation."
Snape shrugged. "If what you intended was for something fleeting, then you're wasting your time on Longbottom if he can't come out of his shell when there is a fine witch throwing herself at him." He turned on his heels, slamming the door shut on his way out.
Hermione found herself at a loss for words and didn't know if should be flattered or angry with his confusing, roundabout statement that both complimented and chastised her at the same time.
