Chapter 21: Show and Tell

August 16th, 2007

Bella had hoped that Neville would stay the night at her house, but he'd opted to stay with the wolves, reminding Bella that this could be the last evening she had with her father for some time. He did however cast a few sensory charms around the home for security, and Bella had slept surprisingly well.

Saying goodbye to Charlie that morning had been difficult, but she took comfort in the fact that he and Sue Clearwater could console one another amidst their children's absences.

They were in the forest now, just waiting for Hermione and whomever she had scrounged up to help. Bella wondered if it was someone she had met before, or at least someone she'd heard of.

"Looking forward to going home?" Neville asked, and Bella didn't miss his subtle implication.

She clutched his hand tightly, and heat flooded her cheeks as she thought of a home that included Neville. "Yeah. Home," she echoed softly, liking the way it sounded.

Any further conversation was put on hold by a sudden rush of wind in the trees.

"This'll be Hermione," Neville warned the pack, and they nodded with anticipation.

After a few more seconds two specks became visible in the sky, rushing swiftly toward them.

A male with light colored hair and a broad beard slammed into the soft mud, causing a few members of the pack to snicker. Immediately he bolted upright and proceeded to siphon wet earth from his face and robes.

Hermione landed delicately beside the man a few moments later without so much a single splash of water or mud.

"Completely undignified. I say, Granger, you could have held on a bit more securely."

Hermione stepped beside him and grimaced. "Forgive me, Cormac, but I wasn't going to touch you a second longer than necessary...and for the last time, it's Weasley, not Granger." She glanced up, and finding Bella's eyes her disdain instantly melted into relief, and she ran over to embrace them. "Oh, Bella, I'm so glad Neville got to you in time."

Neville leaned over with a perplexed expression. "Hermione, why is Cormac McLaggen here?"

She scrunched her nose with a dissatisfied scowl. "You know how connected he is to the Ministry. Kingsley recommended him and wouldn't take no for an answer. I'm beginning to think it was just his way of getting rid of him for a day."

"Ah, so these must be the shapeshifters...and what have we here?" Cormac winked at Leah, but she simply glared at the wizard.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Good heavens, McLaggen, you don't have to make a pass at every female you come across. We're supposed to be diplomats: courteous and...dignified."

"You always did know how to spoil the fun, Granger." He winked again, this time at Bella, and she shuddered audibly.

A growl of irritation rumbled in Neville's chest. "Try not to alienate the entire wizarding race in one go, McLaggen."

"Alright, alright. Just tell me what we're looking at."

The next hour was filled with formalities and introductions. Then Hermione wordlessly shrank all of Jacob and Leah's luggage to the astonishment of the pack.

Cormac on the other hand continued to hit on Leah relentlessly until the she-wolf lost her temper and punched him in the face.

"That was brilliant," Neville nudged Leah with a grin, and Bella spied the hint of a smirk forming on her lips.

Only Hermione looked unamused. "Are you certain you have everything you need? The portkey activates in one minute, and haven't time for anymore trivial delays. Cormac?" she peered at the wizard, once again covered in mud. "Are you done behaving like an arse?"

"You can bloody well guarantee this is the last time I ever do you a favor. I think my nose is broken."

"Trust me, Cormac, an encounter like this is just the medicine you need."

"What is medicine?" he sat up, rubbing his bloodied jaw with a groan.

"Oh, nevermind! Pretend her fist was a bludger if it makes you feel any better!"

She pulled a faded belt from her bag and held it in front of her. "Alright, Mister Black, Miss Clearwater, hold on to this like your life depends on it. The portkey activates in twenty seconds."

Leah smiled more widely than Bella had ever seen as the six of them grabbed onto the strip of leather. She and Jacob called out their nervous farewells to the rest of the pack. Then with a flash, they were pulled into the air and out of sight.

Jacob and Leah descended with surprising steadiness as they landed atop the Hill overlooking the Burrow. Bella wasn't quite so lucky, tripping into McLaggen's over eager grasp.

"Came to see the goods, Swan?" he winked, and she extricated herself quickly with a grimace. Then she stepped back until she bumped gently in Neville, who eyed the blonde wizard with perturbed annoyance.

"Look, I'm flattered, Mister McLaggen...but I'm with Neville."

Cormac eyed the pair with a mystified expression. "My mistake. Hermione failed to inform me of your...closeness." Nodding briefly to aforementioned witch, he apparated with a crack, leaving the rest of the group on their own.

"Thank Merlin," Hermione shook off the disgust. "He may be close to every high ranking Ministry official in London, but that man gives me the creeps."

It was already late in the afternoon by the time they arrived, so Mrs. Weasley had already begun preparations for dinner, but that didn't keep her from enveloping everyone in hugs when they entered the house.

"Bella, dear, I'm so glad Neville got to you in time. When Ron told us what happened I could scarcely believe a word. Oh, these must be your friends who saved you from the vampires! Why don't you all come into the kitchen and help with the last preparations for dinner, and then you can tell us everything."

Jacob and Leah admittedly didn't help much with the food preparation, as they were so distracted by levitating potatoes and knives cutting carrots of their own accord, but when the meal was served Jacob forgot his reservations and dug in.

Leah was less accepting, eyeing each arriving family member with scrutiny and uncertainty. Ron, Harry, and finally Arthur arrived after Jake had already begun third helpings, but Leah had hardly touched her food.

Mrs. Weasley smiled at her with motherly concern. "I know this must all be quite shocking to you, dear. Perhaps, a less chaotic atmosphere would suit the both of you better."

"I think it's great!" Jacob garbled with a mouth full of food.

"Perhaps if they met other shapeshifters," Hermione offered.

"Or any witch or wizard who's an animagus," Ron said, also with a full mouth.

"Or a werewolf," Bella interjected hesitantly.

The table fell to an awkward silence. "Perhaps," Mrs. Weasley trailed off, somewhat troubled.

Seconds passed, and it was actually Leah who broke the silence. "I'd like to meet a werewolf."

"Well, you see, dear, the only werewolf we knew well passed away some time ago." The Weasley matriarch frowned sadly at the recollection.

"There now, dear. I'm sure our guests would like to hear how it happened," Arthur interrupted. "They came here to learn about the wizarding world after all."

So the rest of the evening was filled with stories of war, and heartbreak, and the deaths of friends and loved ones. Bella had never heard what happened first hand, and she cried freely during many of the stories. Neville kept a reassuring arm wrapped around her shoulder throughout most of the evening, and before she knew it, the clock was chiming midnight.

Mrs. Weasley hugged everyone goodbye. "You're all welcome to join us for dinner this Sunday. We'll be celebrating our son, Percy's birthday, and you'll be able to meet everyone in the family."

Bella peered at the wolves who nodded enthusiastically. The stories seemed to have softened Leah's perspective for the better, and Jake...well, he was probably looking forward to more of Mrs. Weasley's cooking.

"So where are we shacking up?" Jacob grinned as they stepped outside.

"You and Miss Clearwater will be staying with Ron and myself in London," Hermione beamed brightly. "You'll get to meet Harry's wife, Ginny, and our little Rose. Then I'm sure Bella and Neville will want to show you Hogwarts before the start of term as well."

They said their goodbyes, and Bella was suddenly felt like a fog had lifted as she and Neville apparated to Hogsmeade. No wolves, no family, no friends – just Neville.

"Well this has been an eventful two days." He twined her fingers in his hand as they made their way in the moonlight toward the castle.

"Thank you," Bella blushed after a moment.

"For what?"

"For being there when I needed you. I don't think I ever officially expressed my gratitude."

"Well," Neville chuckled softly. "You could always show your gratitude when we get back to the castle."

"Oh my gosh!" She smacked him on the arm, but she couldn't seem to tame the wide grin on her lips. "Are you always like this?"

"No!" He exhaled with a sigh. "I'm never like this."

"Well, what's so different now?" Her heart thrummed as she wondered how he might reply.

"I think you know, Bella," he said simply as he squeezed her hand more firmly.

They caught sight of the glittering castle, and Bella could feel her pulse flutter.

"Suppose for argument's sake that I don't know," she teased.

"Then I suppose – for the sake of argument – I'll just have to show you." Then before Bella could even blink, Neville tossed her over his shoulder and began to fireman carry her across the grass.

"Neville! Neville, put me down!" she swatted at him the entire way across the field until they reached the first Greenhouse.

"Alright, you win." He finally lowered Bella to the ground and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Turns out I'm not all that great at showing people how I feel."

"You're just over thinking things. Just...do what you want."

Neville exhaled shakily. "I think the things I want to do aren't appropriate for a first year Greenhouse."

"School doesn't start for two weeks, you know." She felt her breath misting down his neck and the subsequent tremor of breath that escaped through his mouth.

"Right..." he murmured in a whisper, drawing closer to Bella.

All the tension and chaos of past two days seemed to pour out of Bella as Neville's lips touched her own. She could still breathe in the heat of greenhouse, but somehow the taste of his tongue left her wanting for air, and the touch of his hands trailing up her back left her head spinning from dizziness.

He lifted her onto a desk, and Bella squeaked in excitement as he lifted her legs around his torso. He was starting to kiss his way down her neck when the shattering of a ceramic pot made them both jump.

It was a woman, probably in her mid-twenties with long blonde waves and light blue eyes.

"O-oh, Sweet Helga, I didn't mean to interrupt. I j-just heard a ruckus in the Greenhouse and wanted to make sure everything was alright. I am...so sorry, Neville. I'll just see you both in the morning." The blonde darted out of the Greenhouse as quickly as she had come, and Bella's eyes widened with confusion.

"Who was that?"

"An old friend," Neville looked equally perplexed. "She must be the new Potions Master."

"Oh. That's cool," Bella lied. She wasn't sure how to feel about the pretty blonde woman at all. "What's her name?"

"Hannah," he frowned slightly. "Hannah Abbott."

Something told Bella she'd be hearing a lot more about Hannah Abbott, and she didn't like it one bit.