I Do Not Own Harry Potter.


All Characters Appearing In This Work Are Fictitious. Any Resemblance To Real Persons, Living Or Dead Is Purely Coincidental..


July 1999

The Ancient and Noble home of Long bottom

Neville had just finished packing his bags for an undercover mission he was scheduled to go on tomorrow with Harry, Ron and Auror Captain Jones. He wasn't happy about the timing of the mission. Hannah was supposed to come home tomorrow and he had made plans to not only meet her at the platform but also spend some quality time with her, preferably in a locked room without any clothes on. Neville was in a sour mood indeed, he hadn't felt Hannah's touch since Easter. They had initially decided to take their relationship slow but during the Easter holidays it seemed Hannah had made up her mind while at Hogwarts and soon after coming home she had pounced on him like a starving Lion on a helpless deer.

Although surprised at first Neville had been a willing accomplice in her carnal deeds. However his thoughts were suddenly distracted by an incessant knocking on his window sill. He looked up to see a large, Tawny Barn Owl knocking on his window with a letter attached to its leg. With a swish of his wand Neville opened the window, as the Owl came inside he fed him some Owl Treats and gave him some water.

The blonde Specialist Grade Auror took the letter from the Owl with a scowl thinking it was more instructions from the office, instead he was pleasantly surprised to see the envelope bear the Crest of Hogwarts and the letter within bear the Badger of Hufflepuff house.

Curious he sat down on his bed and read the letter addressed to him from Professor Sprout his frown signaling confusion, as he continued to read the letter his frown literally turned upside down and soon he was laughing out loud as he reached the end of the letter.

His face cycled through a myriad of different expressions before settling on one single emotion: a smile, it wasn't an ordinary smile. It was a smile full of mischief and rascality. A smile that would have made Hannah look at him askew and the Weasley siblings beam with pride and hidden behind that smile was a plan in the making.

The results of which although might be devastating would be extremely hilarious in hindsight. Neville was positively giddy at doing something he would have once describes as poking a sleeping dragon, but then over the past few years he had developed an uncanny habit of courting danger, what else could explain his current job profile.

A Few minutes later

Having just come from the Greenhouse, Neville dressed in his dragon hide gloves and his muddy clothes waited for the signal from Heidy their house-elf, he didn't have to wait long as he soon heard his house elf greet her old wizened mistress. As Augusta entered the Hall she was surprised by the radio suddenly turning on and blasting some fast paced music, however before she could do more than frown, she was distracted by Neville's voice calling to her from the other part of the house. Her grandson was filthy as a mutt but smiling like a mad genius. For a moment Augusta was transported back in time as she remembered her late husband John sporting a similarly roguish smile when often greeting her after a long day at work.

He was a hopeless romantic her John, always flattering her with Poetry and flowers and what not. At times when he was feeling extra romantic or just plain joyful he would frequently dress up in his best robes and pester her until she agreed to a dance. It seemed Neville had inherited his grandfather's roguish smile that in his seemingly good mood wrapped one of his hands to his grandmother's hips and with the other took her hand in his as he began to dance to the beat of the fast paced music. Augusta's body moved of its own volition from pure muscle memory, as her brain took a trip down memory lane.

A Few seconds later:

Augusta grew suddenly suspicious at Neville's odd behavior and thinking an intruder had appeared, had while being spun managed to extract her wand from her robes and quick as a viper sent a spell hurtling towards the seeming imposter, but before the spell could collide. Heidy their house elf had cast a Protego charm causing the spell to bounce off and shatter a vase nearby. Realizing his prank had gone on too far, Neville quickly sobered up and raising his hands in surrender said "Gran Gran wait it's me Neville! I was just having some fun with you that's all. His smile back in place "I thought you said Charms was a soft option, don't you think it's a little hypocritical of you to use that particular spell against me, besides what if I was injured?"

Stowing her wand back in her robes Augusta gave her grandson the stink eye and said "no grandson of mine would be incapacitated by such a simple spell especially not one of your caliber and especially not when Heidy was so nearby, I knew the moment she cast her magic to intercept mine it was you. However what I don't appreciate Neville is this behavior of yours, what is the meaning of spinning me around like a top. I understand that you are a young man, however just because Hannah is not here does not mean you will let your hormones run amok like some sort of drunken sailor!"

"Egad, "Neville sputtered, pulling a face and clutched his chest with both hands. "You wound me! There's no need to insult me gran, I was just having some fun. After all you're my dear gran and I love you."

Augusta was unfazed and lifting her eyebrows in skepticism and said "I think your spending too much time with George Weasley and his experiments lately; he seems to be rubbing off on you. Now why don't you get cleaned up and presentable, while I have Heidy serve us some tea and then you can share the reason for your good mood, although judging from your clothes I assume it has something to do with your blasted plants."

Neville chuckled as he kissed her on the cheek on the way out, nothing slips by you does it Gran?" Once he was out of Earshot Augusta picked up the photograph of her late husband that sat on the mantle. "It seems I was wrong John; he not only has Frank's talent but also your gentle Heart, sometimes I think he takes after you more than he does Frank and Alice. I hate to admit it but perhaps Minerva was right about him all along."


A/N: hey guys, hope you liked it, I know it's a bit short and also a bit different to what I usually do, but I wanted to do something different. Now on to a few things, I know many people might not agree with the way Neville was portrayed in this particular chapter, but as stated before I believe that characters are multidimensional.

Also I wanted to show a bit of a different side of Augusta Longbottom, and since neither her husband's name or personality have been mentioned so I decided on my own name and personality for him. I enjoy writing side characters, because I get to add my own creativity to them. In regards to the title of the story. The meaning of the given name Arohim represents innovation, independence, determination, courage, sincerity and activity. Lignum Vitae means Tree of life