Another update! So I think I've through pretty long and hard about which way this story was going to so. I hope you enjoy and this will probably be one of the last chapters before the Epilogue. I'll have one-shots to follow of course but the actual story is coming to an end.
The Giant Squid, I could admit freely that during my Hogwarts career I had only seen the beast a handful of time and now I could see the lump and wasn't sure if it was alive. With sigh I drop down along the shore line feeling the wet ground dampen my shorts. I was beyond caring at this point, I was tired and only now did I feel that I could let my guard down and let the sadness wash over my face. The week had been full of funerals and crying, I had kept up a brave face most of the time, going where I was needed keeping my expression impassive. It was catching up with me now and I let my shoulders sag, the tears instantly springing up in my eyes.
I cried, and not a pretty cry, ugly sobs that had my whole body shaking as I let everything go. I could feel the sun on my face as it rose in the sky and buried my face into my arms as I bring my knees up to my chest. My heart was completely shattered and the last moth felt more like a year, if I didn't age prematurely from this I don't know if I would age at all. I could hear some muffled footsteps behind me as an arm circles around my shoulder pulling me into a warm chest.
"I knew this would happen" the voice sighs, their hand moving up to stroke my hair. The arms had become familiar over the past year and in that moment I knew who was holding me and I trusted he wouldn't let go. I think of how far he had come in the last year, how the blushing boy was gone and now was a strong man was replaced. A strong man who had been my rock all year, one of the few people I knew I could trust.
"You can't hold it all in Lizzie, you know that's no good. You have people here for you, it's okay to cry."
I shiver against his body trying to calm my sobs as they become harder, his arms sliding down my back pulling me onto his lap. I rest my head on his shoulder wondering when he had become so solid, so sturdy and dependable. Words that I never thought I would associate with Neville Longbottom.
"They're gone" I whimper thinking of them. Remus, Tonks, Fred, and Severus. Severus the man who raised me, the man who had been a father to me for almost 17 years, the man who never gave up on me. The man who put me and my safety before everything else. The man who no one thought could love, the man who loved me like a daughter.
"They are, but you're still here. I'm not saying forget about them or pretend you're okay when you're not but you have to deal with it Lizzie. You can walk around plastering a smile on your face it's unnatural."
"You're unnatural" I mutter into his shoulder, he's quite for a moment before I feel him begin to shake softly with laughter. I pull away and wipe the tears from my face taking deep breaths looking up at Neville who was biting his lip.
"It's not that funny" I mumble, Neville snorts. "Welcome back, Lizzie."
"Come on, last dinner, we are all leaving tomorrow." Hermione orders pulling me along behind her and the boys. I make a face my arm twinging a little bit from the nerve damage I had gotten from leaving my broken arm unattended for so long. When I had finally gotten it fixed I swear it almost wasn't worth it when the pain set in.
"I don't like being the fifth wheel" I whine feeling a bit more like myself, I had spent the majority of the day with Neville and had only been pulled away a few hours ago when Hermione demanded I spend some time with them while we swapped stories. I tell you that wasn't nearly as interesting as you would think basically from what I gathered they sat around in a tent a lot, ate berries and mushrooms, Ron left, Ron returned, more drama and no gossip. Honestly, you'd think in all those months something gossip worthy would have happened. A glimpse of someone naked, some teasing? No, nothing they were the most boring teenagers on the planet.
I pull my arm free seeing the door to one of the broom closets open and a familiar head of brown hair inside.
"Lizzie, leave him" Hermione scolds, ignoring her I walk over leaning against the open door in what I'm sure was a suggestive manner.
"Wood, what's a smoking piece of man meat like you doing in a place like this?" I question making my former Captain jump, theres a wide-eyed expression on his face as he looks up from the broom he was examining in the cramped broom closet. He resembled a child being caught with snacks before dinner.
"I-I used to keep a spare broom in here. I was just seeing if it was still-"
"So how are things these days? Still single?"
"I-"
"Shhh," I order reaching forward to place a finger on his lip, "We can fix that."
I could hear Harry groan from behind me and a distinct slap of what I'm sure was Ron's hand to his face. I watch as Oliver takes a step forward coming much closer then I had thought he was comfortable with.
"How do ye' propose we do that lass?"
I gulp, I was used to hitting on him, not the other way around. I step back unsure of what was happening before noticing the glint in his eye. I cast a sideways glance over to the others hearing more footsteps in the corridor as other people began to make their way to dinner.
"Well, eventually marry and have children but I don't think a frantic shag in the broom closet would be totally uncalled for. Long time coming you know."
Oliver offers his hand and I hear Hermione gasp behind me, and the signature 'bloody hell' I was expecting from Ron.
"It was nice to see ye' again, Lizzie. Stay out of trouble love." he smirks bringing my hand up to his mouth for a kiss before releasing it and stepping around me, hopefully not noticing the slightly dazed look on my face. Seven years after I had met Oliver Wood I had finally gotten a kiss... on the hand.
I had a sad, sad life.
"Ms. Potter, this way please" the stiff voice of McGonagall calls out. I frown and give the others a shrug before turning to follow her, I knew for a fact I hadn't done anything but apparently that didn't mean much these days. The halls had been harder to navigate a week ago but now I could see that the clean up and rebuilding was coming along quite nicely as I didn't trip while making my way towards the spiral stairs I had climbed so frequently this past year.
The office looked the same and I briefly wondered if it was because she hadn't wanted to change anything, I then realized that Severus had been the one who hadn't made any changes to the office except maybe the few Potions texts that were on the desk. I sit down across from the desk as my now former Transfiguration professor watches me quietly before opening a drawer and taking out a stack of parchment.
"Severus left a Will, everything is to go to you. His savings and home along with all his possessions, this was also left for you." She says quietly handing over a sealed envelope, the wax seal looked almost fresh, so untouched that I almost never wanted to break it.
"Thank-you" I mumble staring down at what was obviously a letter, my name written across the front in his familiar spiky writing. "There is another reason I asked you up here this evening. This afternoon a rather interesting piece of magic was thrust into my hands by a rather determined Mr. Longbottom." she stares down at me, I frown in confusion. I hadn't told Neville to give her anything so that accusing look she was giving me could stop any time now. "He was offered a Herbology apprenticeship the other day you know. I thought it was rather fitting that he suddenly saw fit to make me aware of your talent in Charms."
I feel my eyes widen as McGonagall continues, "Professor Flitwick was very impressed by your map," she says somewhat proudly drawing out a more then familiar piece of parchment, one I had given to Neville months ago. "So impressed that he has asked that I offer you the opportunity to train under him as his apprentice as well. He's been thinking about retiring for some years now and I think you are an acceptable choice to take over in three years when he has decided to leave."
"Professor this is-" she holds out a hand halting my sentence.
"Think it over, owl me in a few days with your decision. Whatever you choose Elizabeth, we are all proud of you, never forget that."
Nodding I stand taking that as my dismissal and rush down the stairs towards the Great Hall.
"That's fantastic! Lizzie, I'm so proud of you!" Hermione grins pulling me into a side hug.
"Really Lizzie, that's great. My sister a Professor, who would have thought?" Harry beams. I roll my eyes punching his shoulder lightly, no wise cracks about how I would corrupt young minds?
"Who gave McGonagall that idea? She does know you're class would be a zoo right?" Ron teases, I roll my eyes before looking around the room. Where exactly was the person who gave McGonagall that idea, the Great Hall was suspiciously void of Neville Longbottom.
"Actually it was Neville, have any of you seen him?" I question, ignoring the smirks around me.
"He's right over there" Hermione points over by the doors where Neville was walking beside a tired looking Seamus.
"Right, excuse me then. I'll see you all later" I say with a wink to Hermione who rolls her eyes.
"Later, why will she see us later if she's just walking over there?" Ron's confused voice follows behind me making my smile stretch.
With purpose to my stride I make my way over to the two boys blocking their path, Neville stops talking only to meet my eyes a blush reddening his cheeks.
"Lizzie, what can I do for-"
"You never told me you got an apprenticeship with Professor Sprout" I accuse. Seamus sniggers and slips away leaving Neville flustered and looking like a deer caught in wand light.
"Well I..." he frowns, "McGonagall must have told you did she ask you about the-"
"Yes" I confirm feeling my smile tug on my lips. Neville looked relaxed again realizing that I hadn't come to yell at him, and almost lazy expression on his face as he looked down at me a foreign emotion dancing in his eye.
"Are you going to-"
"I'm considering it" I smirk, causing him to roll his eyes. Neville brings up his hands and drops them onto my shoulders moving me out of his way. "Well if that's all then I'll be going" he shrugs moving to take a step forward. I block his way again stepping in front of him holding my hands out to push against his chest.
"One more thing," I tell him holding up a finger before placing it back against his chest. Neville huffs in mock annoyance before relaxing again, I shift my weight onto my toes briefly before jumping into his arm, kissing him smack dab on the mouth.
That's right, I was standing in the middle of the Great Hall, kissing Neville Longbottom.
I regret nothing.