Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Harry Potter. I do this all for fun.

Chapter 15

Practice makes Perfect

I had told Dumbledore I was tutoring Longbottom in Potions because, simply put, I didn't want him destroying my classroom. It was a lie. I would show him some potions, ones I felt would be beneficial in the fight against The Dark Lord, but I would show him far more then that. I didn't particularly like lying to Dumbledore but I knew he wouldn't approve of a former Death Eater teaching The-Boy-Who-Lived Defensive magic.

Most likely he would have suggested Potter spend more time pushing defensive spells down his throat. The boy needed to brush up on his offensive magic first and foremost. Once that was in place we could work on defensive magic. Potter was a good defense teacher however he focused more on power and accuracy then the theory behind the spells, which was what I believed Longbottom was missing.

And so there I waited, in my classroom, at 8'oclock on a Wednesday evening. I could be tucking in my children, enjoying a good book, ravaging my beautiful wife, instead I was sitting here waiting for Neville who was already three minuets late. I was starting to doubt my decision to help him. If he wasn't going to take this seriously what was the bloody point? Finally, the door creaked open and in walked the Boy-Who-Lived.

"Your late." I snapped.

"Sorry, sir. Peeves."

I sighed in understanding. I hated that bloody poltergeist. "Have you been continuing to do the mind meditations before bed?"

The boy nodded a small smile slipped to his lips, "Yes, sir and they seem to be working well. No visions. Not even a dream actually."

"Good. That's certainly an improvement. Now, you should take off your cloak, it will be easier to move around without it."

Neville took off his cloak draping it over one of the desks. He then pulled out his wand from his pocket.

"Do you have am arm holster for your wand?"

He shook his head, "No sir."

"You should get one. Quicker access."

"Yes, sir."

"Now, Neville. We are going to start from the beginning. Every offensive spell from year one on and see where you are. Now, lets start with a simple blocking charm charm shall we?"

A blocking charm was sort of like a shield but not nearly as powerful. It would stop simple hexes and jinxes, it would also prevent solid object from hitting you.

"Now, I'm going to send a mild stinging hex and you should easily be able to block it."

I knew Neville wasn't without his strengths. His magic was strong enough it was just unfocused and slow. I let the hex go and as expected he was able to block it, the issue was his shield was soft and if I had put much more force behind it, it would most likely have broken through.

"That was good, but you need to realize that when the Dark Lord is coming at you he is going to be hundred times faster not to mention he can cast spells with more power then you have ever seen in your life."

I noticed the boy visibly pale at my words, but this was not the time to coddle him. "So first we are going to work on your speed and then we will work on you putting a bit more power behind it. Now lets try again."

Neville raised his wand and said with a very determined gaze, "I'm ready."

By the end of the hour he had been able to successful block the hex at maximum speed but only medium power. We would work on that next time. He had the ability and I honestly believed a lot of his weaknesses came from personal insecurities the child has developed and not lack of skill or ability.

As the lesson ended he turned to me and said, "Thank you, professor for taking the time to help me. I-I know Professor Potter gets frustrated with me when I can't do the spells the way I should. I know he's only trying to help I just, well I think he compares me to James even though he's not meaning to."

I believed that. Deep down I wonder if Potter thinks his own son should have been labeled the boy of the prophecy. It certainly would have made more sense, but James wasn't born until mid-August, Neville was the only child that truly fit the prophecy.

"Your not James, you are your own person and not everyone learns the same. Anyway, enough of that for tonight, you really should get going you don't want Mr. Filch catching you out of bed after hours.

Longbottom gave me a small smile and nod before grabbing his cloak and heading back to Gryffindor Tower.

XXX

A/N: I know it's not much but I wanted to show Sev helping Neville a bit. Next up Severus see tried to convince Draco to let him help him with his task and Lily catches two Gryffindors in snogging in the library.