Chapter 6: The Trials and Tribulations of Neville Longbottom – Auror, Herbologist and Time Traveller
Neville's life has never been easy. Just when it is going well some calamity is bound to happen. Naturally, as he was relatively happy at nineteen, he would be thrown back in time into an alternate universe because that is simply the sort of thing that happens when you are Neville.
Being an Auror is not too bad. It's more Harry's, Ron's and co.'s thing than his. Neville is not half bad at duelling and directly after the Battle of Hogwarts the remaining Death Eaters loyal to Voldemort had to be hunted down. But now most of them are safely locked away in Azkaban and Neville is not needed so much anymore, except for the boring paperwork. Neville is thinking about focusing more on Herbology. Professor Sprout is said to be retiring soon. Perhaps he will take her position.
The only downside to working at Hogwarts, surrounded by plants all day, every day, is that he will not be able to stop by his favourite haunt, The Leaky Cauldron. He will admit, it is not the drinks and accommodations so much as the friendly blonde barmaid, Hannah Abbott, which draws him there on his breaks. Nothing better than a warm mug of Butterbeer and Hannah's smiling face after a long day at the Auror Office.
The dreaded night of no return, Neville had gone to bed as per usual, internally cataloguing the differences between Puffapods and Snargaluff-pods while he drifted off. While Puffapods are generally viewed as less dangerous than the Snargaluff plant there have been cases of Puffapods suddenly erupting due to metric pressure in the atmosphere, the force of the beans-projectiles injuring those nearby. There are also several distinct variations in the pods of each plant though they are composed of the same core components, thus both plants thrive in dragon-waste due to the nutrients foun... and you don't care. Neville really wants that Herbology job.
He fell into a dreamless sleep – so far, so good. In the morning he opened his eyes – so far, so good – to a Gryffindor bed in Gryffindor dormitories filled with five Gryffindor boys in the Gryffindor Tower, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When Neville wanted to go to Hogwarts this is not quite what he meant. With the old lament – why is it always me? – Neville used his pro-Auror skills to scope the situation. By that, he looked around a bit and subtly asked a few people some probing questions. Through this simple but effective method he found out a number of things. A) He was once again a seventh year at Hogwarts. B) Harry Potter was scar-less and a lot more of a loner. C) Voldemort never existed and aside from Grindelwald, there had been no further wars. D) Professor Riddle, as in Tom Marvalo "I am Lord Voldemort" Riddle, was the DADA teacher. Isn't that just peachy? Like dragon pox.
Had he been a good few years younger he may have been the Neville they all saw: a bumbling, unconfident, all round unskilled child (though he was always skilled at Herbology, people just never seem to count it). But no longer. Neville is an Auror for pity's sake! He pulled the sword of Gryffindor out of the Sorting Hat and used it to destroy Voldemort's final Horcrux! He, Neville Longbottom, stood against the most infamous Dark wizard in history because it was the right thing to do! Neville may not be perfect, but he is not and never was a fool. He may have been a nervous, awkward mess in the past and occasionally still is but, gosh darn it, he is not worthless! He will undo whatever dastardly plot is going on. The Wizarding World is in danger and it is up to him to help it. However, there is a slight hitch. Neville has no idea about what, how or why this is happening or what to do. Back to square one.
So Neville was forced, by the cruel hand of Fate, to act. Neville is not, nor will he ever be, an actor. A good one that is. He hates pretending and lying and cheating, etcetera, etcetera, and therefore acting is rather uncomfortable. Not to mention it makes him nervous and sweaty. But for Neville to save the Wizarding World, he was forced to act normal. Operation: assimilate a seventh year until he knows what is happening and what to do.
Thankfully, no one noticed Neville's terrible acting. Unfortunately while being simultaneously fortunate, Neville was often nervous and sweaty during his Hogwarts years so it was not suspicious. Breakfast passed without incident. Neville did, however, notice that just as Riddle was alive many other who had died during the war – such as Cedric Diggory, Snape, Dumbledore, Colin Creevey and Lavender Brown – were as well. It was curious. Was it like with the portraits? Were bodies transfigured and infused with an imprint of their departed soul? Neville could not very well go up and ask them. Not when he was going au naturale. Wait, no, Neville was fully clothed. He is not some sort of… some sort of inappropriate… person. He may have confidence but not that brand of it.
Lessons went well. Herbology was first and it was nice to be back in the Greenhouse, in his element. If anything it cemented his resolve to be a teacher. Charms followed, leisurely in comparison to Auror missions and the Battle of Hogwarts. He did vaguely notice something about Draco seemed off, but only due to his on-alert mode and he wrote it away as a tantrum from the spoiled rich boy. Yep, lessons went well. Until Defence Against the Dark Arts.
Of course, Neville predicted it would be hellish in some way, shape or form. Voldemort was teaching the class for crying out loud! Next to Bellatrix Lestrange, it was his worst nightmare. Neville got it right. The only time he regretted succeeding at Divination. It took two seconds for it all to dissolve into madness. Professor Riddle, aka Voldemort Crazy Evil Pants, pulled out his wand and Draco Malfoy – Draco Blood Purist Death Eater Malfoy – disarmed him. He started ranting about him being dead and then knocked Voldy down for the count. Personally Neville wanted to join him and would have, had he not been in absolute shock Malfoy took him down. Malfoy ran away and Neville was hit with the urge to throw a dance party. It was too simple.
It was too simple.
A student quickly freed Professor Voldemort from the spells' influence. To Neville's further utter distress it was Harry who did it. Harry, who should have been the Boy Who Lived but instead was the Boy Who Helped His DADA Professor Get Back Up Who Happened to Be the One Who Killed His Parents.
The rest past pretty rapidly. The professors and some students – though not Neville obviously, who right now had given Malfoy a number of brownie points – went on a school-wide hunt for Malfoy. Professor Babbling apparently had found him and accidently put him under a rather strong Sleep Charm. Malfoy was taken to the Hospital Wing and all Hogwarts could talk about was how mad he was. Neville knew better. It seemed to him that Malfoy was somehow also from the same reality Neville was from. If Neville was to get out of this he would need help and right now, the only help was in the shape of Malfoy. At least he seemed to hate Voldemort as much as Neville. But… Malfoy. Curse his luck.
The next available opportunity, which happened to be the following day, a Saturday, Neville went to visit the Hospital Wing. It took a lot of wheedling, pleading and a firm stance but Neville eventually convinced Madam Pomfrey to let him see Malfoy. She gave him a warning look as he went in. Though he is an Auror that woman still scared him enough to keep him on his guard. He approached the pale, blonde boy, looking every bit the invalid and the first thing Malfoy said was; "We're not friends."
Neville could have rolled his eyes. But he did not, to show him he meant no ill will. Then he explained why he was here. Malfoy gave him the same disbelieving look Neville had received for his entire life. This is the son of the Auror Longbottoms? This is someone who got into Gryffindor, House of the Brave? This is the boy who fought in the Battle at the Department of Mysteries? This is the boy who led the resistance at Hogwarts during his seventh year and stood against Voldemort even though the Chosen One was believed dead? This is an Auror? On and on and on. Neville was used to going unappreciated. No matter, he will help in spite of their doubts.
A/N: I mostly made up the stuff about Puffapods and Snargaluffs in case you avid Herbologists were questioning Neville's knowledge. There is not much about Herbology in general out there. It was fun to write from the POV of Neville, who despite his newfound confidence is still that awkward boy we know and love (in my opinion). I even got to throw in a few Neville-isms. Draco is more prone to swearing in this fic. What do you think? Has Neville retained his Neville-ness? Review and let me know, lest my Neville be inadequate forever!