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.


The Longbottom Residence:

Neville entered the Tea Room thirty minutes later, showered and dressed in fine robes; however he had neglected to shave as he was soon going to be going undercover so it was best to have his beard grow out. Augusta nodded at her grandson as he kissed her on the cheek before sitting down opposite her.

"So Neville do you mind explaining to me, what was the reason for all that sudden antics? You are an Auror now, just like your father, not to mention an Order of Merlin recipient; you must be more respectable. After all you are the future Heir to the Longbottom name.

Really gran isn't that a bit much now? While I agree all those things you say are correct, I am also the same boy who had to carry around a remembrall because his memory frequently failed him. As for my antics well what's wrong with a good joke now and again? And here I thought you loved me grandmother?" Neville stated dramatically.

Augusta looked at him with a stern expression "my love is not in question Neville. Your recent behavior is? Now I would like to know the reason for all this sudden excitement over one of your Herbology experiments? "

Neville smile grew even wider as he discussed his accomplishment with his grandmother "well before I tell you about that, let me give you a bit of a back story about it, do you know why Dittany is so expensive?"

"That's obvious, Dittany plants are notoriously hard to grow and require constant supervision and expert care to ensure their continued growth, not to mention it takes about six months longer to mature than other plants with similar properties and even upon reaching maturity, the process to make the finished potion is extremely complex."

Neville smiled and said "while that is the most obvious answer it's a bit more complex than that. The dittany plant is a very fussy plant for lack of a better word. While it does require a lot of care and attention the main reason for that is because the Dittany plant is notoriously picky about the environment it's in, mainly because it requires much more nitrogen rich soil than normal to grow effectively which in and of itself is not that big a deal.

But the main reason that the Dittany plant is so hard to grow effectively is because it lacks the ability to effectively absorb potassium from the soil which is also an important nutrient plants require to grow, to combat this most botanists prefer to either use compost rich in potassium, however this is a tedious and exhaustive process and using magic won't work because the Dittany plant is sensitive to magic while growing."

"So why not try crossbreeding different species? Augusta asked now fully engrossed into the discussion. Although Herbology was never her forte, she still enjoyed an intellectual discussion, it was one of the many reasons she and Minerva got along so well, neither had much time or patience for frivolous gossip or other such mind numbing activities. Her grandson swallowed his crumpet before answering "that has been tried as well, but it hasn't helped much because they aren't as diverse as other plants, but still cross breeding has brought some success, but still it's merely worked as a stop gap."

"The Matriarch finally smiled, ah I see, you managed to find a loophole in this system and managed to increase the efficacy of the plant haven't you Neville?"

"It's actually a bit more complicated than that, what I created was something different; Instead of adding compost to the soil while the plant was growing; I tried soaking the seeds themselves to see if that would work. Needless to say I tried many different combinations and permutations but I finally hit the jackpot. I soaked the seeds for two weeks in Boom Berry Juice: Its juice has restorative properties and is high in Potassium.

With that done I then planted the seeds in normal soil that had been mixed with Murtlap essence which as you know is used in most home remedies in healing cuts and bruises these two things would help improve its own restorative properties but also help its vitamin D intake by about 30%. I then added partially decomposed Murtlap tentacles to increase the nitrogen content in the soil. And the end result was this." He then removed the letter he had received earlier from his shirt pocket and handed it to his grandmother.

Augusta took the letter and read it aloud:

"Dear Neville,

I hope this letter finds you well, as I am sure you can imagine this year has been very hectic, for many different reasons. I was pleased to hear of your exploits at the Ministry and your most recent promotion that came with it (Minerva won't shut up about it.)

Anyway the main reason for my letter is to let you know that the experiment that we started back in your Fifth yea, has finally borne fruit! Not only has it improved the quality of the Dittany leaves. But it has even cut down on the maturity age by four Months! Even professor Slughorn has commented on the improved quality of his Healing and Essence of Dittany potion and also mentioned that when being crushed the sap has a slightly fruity scent to it (no doubt because of the Boom Berry Juice).

Although Madame Pomfrey and many of her colleagues at St. Mungo's have confirmed the healing properties remain unchanged which honestly wasn't much of a surprise. Although to ensure my results weren't biased, I sent soil samples to six different renowned botanists around the UK, and had them perform blind tests when planting their Dittany plants and they have all with the exception of one have reported similar results. I even have sworn statements on their own personal stationary detailing the exact results and their explicit permission to use their names in print if required.

As I am sure you can understand this is an extremely ground breaking step forward in the field of Herbology (Finally I can one up Minerva in bragging rights!) While I am not at all surprised at your accomplishments, you have a gift and talent for Herbology that even your parents lacked.

In fact if I remember correctly I believe the only other person that had a talent similar to yours was your Grandfather John, although we were all students back then (although he seemed to have more of a knack for getting caught in broom cupboards with your grandmother than anything else!)

Anyway I believe you should formally publish an article in Herbology Monthly and make your presence known in the Herbology world. Knowing you, I am sure you have already gotten started on a few other experiments and I am eager to hear about them in time as well. This will help you in your career as well (your father himself published many articles relating to Transfiguration during his Tenure as an Auror.)

I look forward to reading your articles in the next few weeks; this is proof positive that you will do great things. I hope these past few years have proven to you why exactly you were sorted into Minerva's house and not mine.

If you have any questions or need any help getting your article published let me know and I will try to help (Herbology Professor of Hogwarts carries quite a bit of weight in my field of study in case you didn't know.) Never stop working hard Neville and always believe in yourself.

Kind Regards

Professor Pomona Sprout

Hufflepuff Head of House

Professor of Herbology

Deputy Headmistress

(Order of Merlin Second Class)

Augusta looked up from the letter and her look of pride and excitement was plainly visible. This is what I am talking about Neville! I am delighted to see you accomplish something substantial such as this. Pomona is right you must capitalize on this opportunity and take the family's name even further than your parents did! Once you have completed your article, I can have the family solicitor contact Herbology Monthly and draw up a very favorable contract for you. After all who wouldn't want a prominent member of Dumbledore's Army and Order of Merlin First Class Recipient feature in their Magazine?"

Neville's face fell as he braced for the conversations that would come next as he shook his head "No gran, I won't write under my own name and it's for the exact reasons you just mentioned right now. However I do think it's a good idea to have a contract drawn up."

For Merlin's sake why Neville? You finally have a chance to display you're as talented as your father, even your mother who was a talented witch in her own right, especially when it came to Charms. I remember she had a knack for not only using the most simple charms in creative ways, but she was a right talent at creating spells as well and she herself made many headways in magical research, and if it wasn't for her, most of the charms and spells you use today as an Auror would not exist!

Why are you acting so foolish all of a sudden? You are the living legacy of your parents; their greatest achievement! Have you forgotten that you are the heir to the Longbottom Family, and you have certain responsibilities and…"

She was cut off by an exasperated retort "oh please not that discussion again gran, look I have said it before and I will say it again I don't give a flying Flobberworm about traditions. I will forge my own path ahead. That is both my right and prerogative besides the Ancient and Noble House of Longbottom is only down to four people and a House Elf."

My parents have cast their shadows on me and while I will always be grateful to them and love them dearly. I refuse to be judged by their shadows and I want to be judged on my own merits. We both fought in the Battle of Hogwarts gran, I fought for a better future, and I fought for my right to make a choice about how I live. What did you fight for Gran? Did you fight to free Wizarding kind from tyranny or did you fight in that battle for one last chance to avenge your son and daughter in law?"

There was a palpable silence for a moment before she replied: Augusta's voice became extremely cold as she spoke "Do not think to understand my pain child; I fought for the same reasons you did. You have no idea the heaviness my heart carried when I saw children taking up arms in defense of their fellow Men and Women, you have barely seen one war Neville I have seen three! I have always said that no matter what race you are whatever your ancestry we all bleed Red! Few have made the sacrifices our family has made for that very cause. I lost my husband, my son and daughter in law to war. I nearly lost my grandson as well so I know sorrow far better than you Neville. I saw the sacrifices my daughter in law made.

"I saw the challenges she faced just because she was a so called Mud-blood!" She spat the word out with venom. "She had to fight tooth and nail for any success in a society who valued blood purity over anything else; Alice was the daughter I never had. So don't you dare pass judgment on me or doubt my motives for joining this war!"

The younger wizard had managed to regain his cool said "you forget grandmother; after I joined the Aurors I saw the files of all the Death Eaters that died in the Battle: I saw the injuries Rabastan Lestrange had sustained. His postmortem report showed him being stabbed repeatedly by arrows; his body also seems to have been moved, witness reports say the last person they saw dueling the battle was you.

If I remember correctly the arrow shooting spell was always one of your most favorite offensive spells. Interestingly enough they say the cause of death however was Acromentula venom. I believe the report concluded that he had been attacked by a rogue Acromentula while he was wounded. However what I think is that during the fight you lured him to the edge of the Forbidden Forest before leaving him wounded and helpless and wounded for the Acromentula to find.

Something tells me that part of you joined the battle to get revenge on the people who cost you the lives of your son and daughter in law. However seeing as Barty Crouch was dead and Bellatrix and Rudolphus had been killed by Molly and Arthur, I think you intentionally made him your target and killed him to exact your revenge on mum and dad.

I don't blame you for that gran; it was war and we all did despicable things during war, but its time you realized I am no longer that helpless first year that carried a Remembrall with him because he couldn't remember anything, neither am I a substitute for my father. I am my own man and I will forge my own path ahead! "

Instead of outright denying his allegations or shouting at him she spoke softly as if admonished "I long realized that you were not your father Neville. In fact you are well on your way on casting your own shadow on the world. You have always been a bit of a late bloomer." Seemingly changing topics she said "remind me once again what your wand is made of again."

He was shocked at his Grandmother's words, but equally confused at her sudden change of topic, but he answered her question anyway. Looking at his wand briefly he said "13 inches long, made of Cherry Wood, and with a unicorn hair core. Why the sudden change in topic Gran-Gran?" briefly lapsing into his childhood nickname for her.

The old witch smiled at the nostalgic name and said "I just remembered something Garrick told me all those years back when you bought your wand from him. He told me that he enjoyed challenging customers because for him it was test of his skill as a wand maker. It took him one hundred and seven tries before he found the wand for you, he was all smiles and when I asked him he said that your wand was unique not amongst your peers but even amongst our family.

He said and I quote: Cherry Wood although beautiful in appearance, often makes a wand that possesses truly lethal power; they demand owners with exceptional self-control and strength of mind. The wand's when paired with a Unicorn hair Core which itself a rarity as Cherry wands indicate a wielder who will hold fast to his or her beliefs, no matter what the external pressure, and will not be swayed lightly from their purpose. The propensity for owners of Cherry Wood wands when above a length of 10" mostly tend to have powerful intuition, and, often, an affinity with the magic of the natural world.

I later learned that you were only the second in Five Generations of Long bottoms to be chosen by a Cherry Wood wand the first being you're Grandfather and just like your grandfather you seem to be dead set on forging your own path ahead. Who knows maybe I'm just getting senile in my old age. But tell me this child why do you refuse to use your own name on an article and for an experiment that you worked so hard for?"

Neville chuckled at his gram's comment their earlier spat forgotten he said "ha! The chances of you going Senile are about as much as Luna has of finding a Crumpled Horned Snorkack. The reason is simple Gran: ever since the battle every new encounter I have had has been tainted by my fame as Lion Heart Longbottom or Serpent Slayer or whatever new convoluted name the papers think up every few weeks and I find myself being judged not for who I am or what I have done. But what some editor in a newsroom decides my character should be. To most people I meet for the first time I am either some larger than life member of the Silver Trio or the Leader of the revolutionary Dumbledore's Army!"

Augusta chuckled at Neville's comments, however she seemed to have hit a nerve as he got even angrier and said "I'm serious Gran, you don't get out much except to visit friends and since Heidy does most of the shopping you don't realize the shite I have to deal with at times, I remember just last week I was walking through Diagon Alley and some weird bird comes up to me, telling me how handsome I looked and how romantic she found revolutionaries, she offered me a leg over if I gave her my autograph and share some exciting factoids about the battle!"

Augusta's facial expression was strained as if she didn't know whether to laugh or look scandalized. Neville however didn't seem to notice and said "I don't see what's so exciting about war, half the time we were either scared out of our wits and the battle was chaos in its purest form of Hell!

For Merlin's sake I lost friends in that war, it has barely been a year since the war, the soil has barely settled on their graves. The Economy would still be in ruins if not for the Goblins artificially inflating it, not to mention the Auror office is severely understaffed, people are still grieving for their loved ones and all these blithering idiots can think of is their fifteen minutes of fame! You know I used to envy Harry his fame when we were in school, but not anymore. The price of fame is too high and if I publish my article I want it to be for the merit of my work and not for being some bloody War Hero!"

He then turned to Augusta and said "I don't see why you're so worried about: the family coffers, the last time I checked were far from empty. In the past few months the only big purchases I have made are the New Auror grade Firestorm broom and the purchase of the two acre neighboring fields of land where I built my own mini Greenhouse. And if I remember correctly except for paying some back dated hospital bills for mum and dad, I think in total we spent maybe a total of Fifty Thousand Galleons out of the combined Two hundred and Fifty Galleons we got for The Order of Merlin First and Second Class respectively. We should have more than enough to get by comfortably." He then raised an eyebrow and said "or am I missing something?"

Augusta who had managed to stop laughing and finally became serious said "No, we are not exactly in dire straits, however this is a large estate and the upkeep of it does take up a good chunk of the monthly budget."

Neville nodded and said "I understand Gran-Gran; I will talk to Bill after I get back from my mission and figure out an investment plan with him."

The old woman arched her eyebrow and said "I thought you didn't care a flying Flobberworm about the Longbottom Family?"

Neville smiled and said "I don't but I do care about you, and since you seem to care about the weight our family name carries, I guess I have to care as well. So like it or not we are stuck with each other."

She gave an almost Minerva like expression and said "indeed?"

Neville simply mimicked her expression and nodded his head and said" indeed grandmother dear, indeed, now let's finish our tea, shall we?"


-Fin-