AN: Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
"So Severus thinks he can come onto my land and rule my kingdom!" Molly pounded her fists onto the table, almost knocking her crystal ball onto the floor.
"Are you sure they want to rule your kingdom?" Ron the winged monkey returned the ball to its place.
"Why else would they be coming this way?" Molly made a fist. "I'll bet the wizard told Severus what those shoes can do. Yes! He knows what they can do so he's going to try and take over my kingdom!"
"No offense, but why would anyone other than you want to rule the Winkies?" Ron asked.
"Excuse me? Why would anyone not want to rule my glorious kingdom and my Winkie subjects?" Her frown deepened.
"Winkies, it's just not a group of people I'd want to rule over. It sounds so," he fidgeted. "Crude."
"Winkie is a very cute name. They should be happy I gave it to them."
"I'm sure they love the name you gave them, but it's still weird."
"There is nothing weird about Winkie! Winkie is a very respectable name!" Molly raised her arms and gave him a glare which could peel the wings from his back.
"Yes," Ron shuddered and nodded. "Winkie is a very good name. You were very wise to pick it. I'm sure even the females enjoy being called Winkies"
"Of course they do. Everyone enjoys being called a Winkie." Molly gave a self-satisfied smile.
"They do," Ron released the breath he'd been holding.
"Winkies aside," Molly scratched her chin. "I need to stop Severus from conquering me. If I can kill him and get the shoes that would be helpful too. Then there's the Tin Woodswoman. Oh that meddlesome Hermione who refuses to spend eternity rusting! She needs to learn her place."
Ron gulped.
"Oh so many things I could do to her!" There was a gleam in her eyes that Ron could only describe as sinister. "I could store so much soup if I chopped her up. Imagine Hermione, a pile of soup cans! Ooh, it's enough to make me want to cook some chicken soup right now!"
Ron's stomach churned at the thought of his friend's dismembered body.
"Yes, I'll enjoy chopping her into pieces, but I need to capture her first." Molly tapped the table before her lips curled up. "And I know how to do it too!"
"How?"
"I need you to find Fenrir and tell him I have a feast of nice juicy steaks if he and his friends bring me those pains in the neck here. I don't care if they're alive or dead. I just want them here."
"I can do that." Ron felt bile go up his throat. He remembered the stitches plastered all about Lavender's face after she'd been attacked. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't help but whine when he put the soothing salve over her wounds. She was lucky that Bellatrix wanted her punished, not dead. Severus and his friends would be lucky if there was anything left of them.
"Make it clear that they are not to pee on those shoes too," Molly continued.
"Pee on the shoes?"
"Yes, I know for a fact Scabior isn't housebroken!" Molly scowled. "It took weeks to get the smell out of my new carpet. He is not to pee on my boots."
"Oh yeah," Ron's stomach churned at the memory of that stench. No matter how hard he and Winkies had tried to remove it, only time removed the noxious odor.
"Why are you still here?" Molly screamed. "Go find Fenrir and his goons and tell them to take care of Severus and his friends once and for all!"
Ron leapt and began flapping his wings.
"Also, they are not to harm one part of those shoes! So help me if there are chew marks on them!" She yelled. "I refuse to wear torn shoes! Not one thread of those shoes is to be damaged!"
"Yes," Ron gave her a salute. Then, he flew off, hoping Fenrir and his friends would break their teeth on Hermione's tin.
"So how do we reach the Wicked Witch of the West's castle?" Neville asked as they traversed a plain. There were no plants, no signs of life, only cracked, clay like ground.
"I am not entirely sure," Severus admitted. "If I recall correctly the flying monkeys capture Dorothy and her friends follow them."
"Please no more flying monkeys," Hermione groaned. "I've had enough of those to last a lifetime."
"It isn't too late to return to Emerald City," Severus replied. "We can get you a hotel room where you'll be safe until we return."
"No, I'm not afraid of flying monkeys, I just don't want to be around one again."
"I can hardly blame you given what you've been through."
"It isn't so terrible to interact with a flying monkey, so long as it does not hold you."
"What's it like?" Severus asked. The second the question left his mouth, he knew he didn't want an answer.
"It's hairy and itchy. I prefer a well-shaven man," she answered.
"Is the beard the worst part?"
"No, monkeys are terrible kissers. Slobber everywhere," if she wasn't made of tin, she would've been green. "It is quite unpleasant."
"Apparently Lavender found it pleasant enough."
"Lavender and I are two very different people. There are things she appreciates that I do not, and vice versa."
"That much is obvious."
Crookshanks shot Hermione a look of sympathy as he continued to walk beside Severus.
"I'd love to date someone someday," Neville began. "But I don't have the nerve to speak to them."
"It's not difficult to ask a woman out," Hermione replied. "Just go up and say 'hello.'"
"I can't do that now, but maybe when I get courage, I'll be able to ask girls out."
"Are you interested in anyone," Harry said.
"There are a few lady travelers who I found interesting," He flicked his tail. "But I was always too scared to make myself known, much less ask them out."
"I don't see why you would feel that way," Harry began. "For a lion, you are attractive."
"Yes, and you are very interesting and intelligent," Hermione replied. "That goes far with women."
"Do you two really think so?" Neville's eyes lit up.
"Yes, we do," Hermione glanced at Severus. "Don't we?"
"If one was attracted to lions, you would not be a terrible partner," Severus replied.
"If one was attracted to lions," Hermione's voice was low with a hint of a warning.
"I apologize if my tone was harsh, but I'm trying to get used to the idea of animals dating people. It is extremely rare in my world."
"It's become very clear that Oz functions differently from Hogwarts."
"That is putting it very mildly."
"What are you going to do when you get home?" Neville asked.
"Drink so much Firewhiskey I'll forget any of this ever happened," Severus muttered.
"What?" Neville asked.
"Nothing," Severus gave them a sheepish grin. "I suppose I'll read a book or a potions article."
"I can't wait until I can read," Scarecrow Harry leapt in front of them. "Reading is going to be so exciting."
Severus raised an eyebrow. Now he knew this world was upside down. In no conceivable universe would Harry want to read a book.
"What are those things in the distance?" Hermione pointed to their right.
"What things?" Severus asked.
"Those things over there." Hermione kept her focus on the direction of her finger.
There were three dots in the distance. With each second they became bigger and more distinct.
Severus squinted. Flying monkeys wouldn't be traveling by the ground, but they were the things which were supposed to be next. What on earth was going on?
Before Severus could contemplate the possibilities, a howl resounded through the cracked landscape.
His heart froze. He'd recognize that sound anywhere.
"What are those?" Harry asked.
"Fenrir and his band of Snatchers," Severus muttered.
Harry cocked his head.
"They're a pack of wolves about to attack us!" Hermione shouted.
The friends ran faster to the west as the howls grew louder. Severus glanced back. Fenrir and his Snatchers' faces had become clearer. They were gaining ground quickly. If they didn't find a way to lose them soon, they would be devoured.
This was not in the movie!
"Neville!' Harry cried before stopping.
"Go on without me," Neville stood between them and the Snatchers. "I'll catch up with you later."
"Neville, you can't be serious," Hermione stopped.
"Just go!" He yelled before charging towards Fenrir.
Severus watched as Neville pounced onto Fenrir. The werewolf yelped before he was thrown aside, his head crashing to the ground, knocking him out cold. Scabior pounced on Neville's back. With a roar, Neville bucked him off. He slashed Scabior's side, eliciting a pained yelp. Scabior leapt towards Neville again, but the lion tossed him aside, knocking him out. Then, Neville turned his attention to the third werewolf. He let out a roar. The third wolf yelped before racing off, leaving his two unconscious companions.
Neville stood over them panting before turning around. "I thought I told you four to keep going."
"Neville, that," Harry began.
"That was bloody brilliant!" Hermione exclaimed.
"That was quite impressive," Severus admitted.
"If that was great, just wait until I gain my courage. I'll be able to do more daring feats than that." He grinned.
"Until you gain your courage?" Severus asked.
"Yes, I only did that because we'd die otherwise. When I get courage, I'll be able to fight more enemies, even when my life isn't in danger."
"Sure," Severus drawled, wondering who the hell put it into Neville's head that he lacked courage. Whoever it was deserved to be hexed into oblivion, or at least be on the receiving end of one of Neville's roars.
His stomach clenched as he considered the way he'd treated Hogwarts Neville. Being kind to him for a few years wouldn't undo all damage he'd done to his confidence during their time as student and professor. When he returned home, he'd need to begin helping him regain his confidence rather than saying a kind words and hoping Neville had the strength to do what needed to be done.
"Are you coming?" Hermione called.
Severus turned around. His friends were already a few feet down the road.
"Yes, I am," Severus rushed behind them.
"Tell me, did the movie lion defeat the wolves the same way Neville did?" Harry asked.
"No," Severus patted the lion's back. "Neville did it much better than any movie character ever could've fought.."
"Thanks," Neville blushed.
"There is never any need to thank me for honesty," Severus replied, hoping he could hide the growing fear that things had just deviated from the movie.
If that was the case, defeating Molly would not be as straightforward as envisioned.