Stitch Me Up
Tress Blues

3

Dear Hannah,

Gran and I are back home and she's feeling a lot better. She finally coughed up about that spell you helped her with but she's told me I can't be cross with you for keeping it a secret. I guess I should just thank you for helping her. I suppose this is the time to ask if you had any more run-ins with that Healer guy. I'm sure I could borrow the sword for a night or so if you needed someone to yell at him for you.

Anyway, I don't have much more to write so I suppose I'll just end it here. Write soon. Or not.

Neville

Dear Neville,

Thanks for your letter. I've been told I looked much happier once I received and to be honest, it is good to hear that Mrs Longbottom's doing better. The curse is something I've had…experience in so no you shouldn't be cross. Or you could be, I suppose, if you wanted to…I don't know.

Unfortunately, I've been helping out at St Mungo's a lot lately so yes, there have been plenty of run-ins with grouchy Healers but I'm trying to get an apprenticeship here so I shouldn't complain. The sword shan't be necessary…yet.

You asked me, back at the castle, what my favourite plant and teacher were and I guess I shouldn't leave you hanging (not that you were hanging for an answer, I know you've got better things to be doing).

I like Ever-White Blooms, mostly. I don't know why, I know they aren't particularly useful but there's something really lovely about the way they remain so clean, even once they've died. And my favourite teacher, well, I'd have to say Professor McGonagall. She's a spectacular teacher and always very fair. I've only gotten into trouble with her twice but she's not as biased as a lot of the other professors are.

I've got to go but please write back soon,

Hannah

Dear Hannah,

Can I ask what you're doing at Mungo's? I would've thought you'd be following Madam Pomfrey; you seemed far too good to be wasted doing assistant work. What Department have you been working in? Has anyone from Hogwarts gone through yet?

I did ask you and yes, I was wondering what your answer would be. You know, I'm surprised because my favourite teacher is Professor Sprout. She gave me a private greenhouse in Fifth Year for me to work in. Isn't it funny that we both like the other's Head of House?

Also, Ever-Whites are used in Peace Potions and Sleeping Draughts- on the contrary, they're very useful. I've never seen one though; they don't grow around Hogwarts. Do they really stay white all year round?

Write soon,

Neville

Dear Neville,

After the battle was just a temporary thing. I can't shadow Madame Pomfrey until I've cleared a spot in the Apprenticeship program, which I can get much easier at St Mungo's than Hogwarts. So here I am, tired and pressured and covered in unmentionables. We've been dealing with a lot of war victims and I've seen so many curses do so many horrible things.

To answer your question, I'm in the Intensive Care Unit and unfortunately I've seen a lot of Hogwarts students. Some of them have passed away since the battle from their injuries and it's horrible to watch them just fade away. In fact, just a day ago, I was scheduled to help with the werewolf victims and I had to leave the room. There were so many and they were all clawed up. It made it even worse when I realised I knew some of them.

Sorry, I shouldn't be putting all this on you. It's not fair. Actually, I don't find it funny that we fancy each other's Heads of House best. I always thought you'd make an excellent Hufflepuff, even though I'm no Gryffindor.

My family used to live in the Abbott Estate and there were enormous trees of Ever-Whites in the back garden. Every year in autumn, it seemed as though it were snowing; there would just be this overwhelming storm of white flowers falling to the ground. I didn't know they're used in Peace Potions but it doesn't surprise me. They're beautiful to watch grow and fall, all the while staying this glowing white colour.

Write soon,

Hannah

Dear Hannah,

You shouldn't worry about writing that to me. It's what friends are for. Although, if it makes you feel better, I can write about Gran; she's been getting worse and I'm starting to become worried. The Healer we called insisted that it's just the leftover residue from the curse and her old age (Gran nearly attacked him for that comment) but she seems so weak. You know about this, don't you? Is this normal?

I'm sorry you had to see other students. It's hard, seeing people hurt but it's worse when you know them. I still can't believe how many underage kids snuck back in to fight. They were just children. They should have listened; they shouldn't have been there at all.

And personally, I think you would've made a great Gryffindor.

Neville

Dear Neville,

Your grandmother was hit with a curse called the Black Ink Curse. A death eater by the name of Evan Rosier invented it and it's meant to slowly poison the victim and burn their veins away so they literally die from the inside out. The Healer was right- it's entirely normal to feel the effects for years after its first inflicted. That's the real sick thing about the curse. I know about it because my mother and brother were killed in my Sixth Year from it.

The underage kids are the hardest to treat but I can't feel angry with them. I can only feel angry that it was done to them. I know that, meek and mild as I am, I would've snuck back in if I were underage. And don't lie, I know you would've too.

My term is coming up; soon I'll be able to actually apply for an apprenticeship here, if I can just get one of the healers to sign off for it. They seem to resent me because I'm so young and I'm really good with the students. They feel better taking treatment from one of their own I suppose.

Tell me more about your grandmother. She seems like a character, although I would've attacked the healer as well. Who asks a lady her age? Honestly!

Hope your well,

Hannah

Dear Hannah,

Thank you for your advice. Gran says she trusts your opinion a fair side more than those 'dodgy, grabby Healers'. I'm really sorry about your mother and brother. I didn't mean to pry before, I was just worried about Gran. Were you close with your brother? I think, I would've been close to a sibling, anyone to share the wrath of Gran, I s'pose.

I guess I can't argue that I would've snuck back in if I was underage. Even though I still think it was stupid of them, I would've, if I thought I could help. I've got some news though: Professor McGonagall is commissioning help to rebuild Hogwarts and I've been selected to start the basics. I have no idea what she's thinking; I'll probably ruin the whole damn thing. But she says that no one knows the Hogwarts garden better so I'll have to trust she knows what she's doing.

I hope the Healer's sign off on your application because honestly, you deserve it. If they don't, then they've lost a really great healer in the making and it's completely their own faults.

I don't know what to tell you about Gran- she's really tough and she doesn't like taking no for an answer. I mean, you've met her, she's got a bit of an attitude.

By the way, she hit me for that last comment. I don't know why she's reading my letters though. Gran has asked if you'd like to come over for dinner sometime in the future? She's really eager to complain more about Healers.

She just hit me again.

I guess, we'll both be waiting for your reply,

Neville

Dear Neville,

My mother was pregnant when she died; I never knew my brother. His name was going to be Christian Royce Abbott. Every year, I put Ever-Whites on their graves to show I haven't forgotten them. Maybe that's why I like them so much. Thanks, by the way. I haven't talked about either of them in a long time. It's nice, you know, to think of them both.

I think it's wonderful that Professor- oops, Headmistress- McGonagall asked you to help. You know so much about Hogwarts and I think she knew you were the only person who could restore the gardens and the forest; it's seen too much violence, it needs a little care.

I blushed when I read your comment about my application. Thank you but honestly, I'm not truly expecting that they'll sign me off this round. Knowing them, they'll wait til next year to sign it but it means a lot. Also, I would love to come to dinner and complain about Healers. I'm afraid I don't have a lot of friends right now and the company would be nice. But I don't have a lot of time either so, perhaps we could make it for next month or so?

I'm sorry she hit you. I'm sure she's just saying I love you. In a very forceful manner.

Hannah

Dear Hannah,

It's not fair what happened to your family. It stories like that that makes me so glad that Voldemort is dead and we don't have to live that way anymore. I think when I remake the gardens, I'll plant Ever-White Blooms, somewhere near the lake so people can see it. You're right about the violence. I think it'll be the perfect thing for the future generations to see and remember us all by.

I can't write much (Gran's got me waiting on her hand and foot) but shall we say the fourteenth? I'd really like to show you the gardens I've got growing around the side of our house. See you soon, hopefully,

Neville