Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. This story is meant purely in tribute to the original work.

"We are truly dangerous now my friends!", Ron exulted. Harry and Neville grinned at their red-haired friend as he lifted another glass of beer. A group of newly-vetted non-probationary aurors had gathered at this pub to celebrate their new status. Neville had to hand it to Harry and Ron, they were kind enough to wait until he had completed his probationary year before indulging in a celebration. Granted they did not have to wait long since Neville wasn't quite that far behind them but it was still a grand gesture to Neville. "Just think, now they actually would have to think before sacking us instead of unceremoniously kicking our bums out into the street!"

"Keep in mind that our new supervisors will still keep a close watch on us. There's a lot more oversight than there used to be.", Harry cautioned.

Ron made a dismissive gesture that nearly sloshed some of his drink onto a fellow patron. "Still a damn sight better than being a probie!"

"That I will drink to!", Neville contributed.

"So, you going to finally propose to Hermione now?", Harry casually threw in.

"What? Who told you that?"

"Well you've been talking about it throughout your probie year. Thought you might want to actually get off your lazy arse and do something about it."

"This is hardly the place and time to discuss this. Neville, help a mate out and change the subject."

"Sure", Neville grinned, "When are you going to ask Ginny the big question Harry?"

Ron rolled his eyes. "Not the help I was looking for. Care to try again mate?"

Neville was about give Ron a break when a new voice broke in. "I see losers still like to stick together." Ron could see over their shoulders and his expression visibly darkened. Neville and Harry's smiles vanished at the distinctive voice. They turned to face Draco Malfoy. "You all are bloody proud of yourselves aren't you? Think a shiny badge makes you someone now?"

"Jog on Malfoy", Ron seethed, "This is a private party."

"I didn't see any bills posted.", Draco retorted. "You all celebrate while my father's murderer is still alive."

"He's in Azkaban Draco-", Harry began.

"With a pittance for a sentence!", Draco interrupted. "You call yourselves aurors? You call that justice?"

"Wallace was doing the world a favor. You're lucky he got any time in Azkaban."

"Say anything like that again and you'll regret it Weasley.", Draco rasped. "That court was a travesty. It was a show and you all know it!"

"Brave words from someone who no longer has dumbasses 1 and 2 backing him up.", Ron jeered.

"You should be thanking Neville out of any of us Draco.", Harry interjected, "He's the one who found the break that solved the case. Without him, Wallace could still be walking around free. Maybe to come after you."

"Ah yes, Loser Longbottom.", Draco turned his angry gaze to Neville. "I suppose I do owe you thanks. Thanks for growing half a brain to solve a simple case."

"You're welcome Malfoy.", Neville smirked. Years of bullying from Malfoy steeled Neville's resolve. Things were different now and Neville was adamant that he would not back down. "You would have never seen him coming and you would have joined your father as a wall decoration in your manor. So you're welcome for your sorry arse."

Draco scoffed. "If you caught him Longbottom, that's saying a lot. I could have beaten him with my eyes shut."

Neville laughed. "Really? I didn't see you pursuing Wallace. And as for your bravado, I seem to recall you fleeing the Battle of Hogwarts. I remember staying to the end. Had quite an audience. Got a nice souvenir from it too."

"You'll regret saying that Longbottom! Just wait-"

"Until what Malfoy? Until your father hears of this?", Ron mocked. "Too bad that doesn't work anymore."

Draco turned from flustered red to white-hot angry. "You shut your mouth Weasley! You don't deserve to speak of my father! You don't watch yourself you'll end up like your brother-"

Draco never finished his sentence as at that point, Ron lunged for Draco but Harry saw it coming and caught his friend mid-motion. Draco moved to take advantage of the situation but found Neville blocking him and shoving him back. "You've done quite enough Draco! You don't have your goons backing you up anymore. You're powerless without them. Get out of here and go back home to your mum."

Malfoy leaned in as if to whisper something to Neville and muttered something under his breath. Abruptly, Neville found his legs rigid and fused together. He glanced down in horror to see that Draco had flicked out his wand into his hand from some hidden pocket. "Not again!", Neville fumed at himself, "Not the damn leg-locking curse AGAIN! How could I be so stupid to let him do that to me again?" The humiliation from the times this happened at Hogwarts came flooding back into Neville's mind.

Draco smirked. "Some things never change do they Longbottom? Badge or not, you'll always be a loser. You'd best watch yourself out there. Or you may end like mummy and daddy in St. Mungo's." He turned to leave, confident in teaching his old classmates a lesson. Had he remained facing them for a moment longer, he would have been witness to rare occasion of Neville Longbottom losing his temper. Neville took a couple hops forward to pursue the Slytherin alumnus as he departed. Draco felt a hand grip his shoulder to spin him around and a hand immediately seized his shirt collar.

"What the-" was as far as Draco got out before he felt Neville's palm slam into his jaw and turn his head. Malfoy was surprised but also incensed that Longbottom had dared to lay hands on him. He still had his wand out, a quick stunning spell would teach Longbottom a decisive lesson. Unfortunately, Draco found he could not get any sound out, let alone an incantation. Neville's thumb was hooked into Draco's jaw behind his chin. A split second later, Neville's fingers were digging into Draco's eye sockets and Malfoy promptly forgot about any spells whatsoever. In fact, all Draco could think about was how amazingly painful the technique was. He was vaguely aware of his head being angled upward and what had to be Neville's knuckle drive into his throat. Draco was vaguely aware of a lot of shouting going on but he could not make out any specific words. At any rate, the sudden lack of oxygen made everything kind of fuzzy. At some point, he found he could breathe again. The ceiling of the pub gradually came into focus as he drew in deep, ragged breaths and he was aware that no one was trying to gouge eyes out anymore. His sudden relief came to an abrupt halt as he felt someone try to drive his skull through the pub's floor. Things really got unpleasant at that point.

A Few Hours Later

Neville stood rather uncomfortably and apprehensively in front of Inspector Edward Bay's desk. Bay glowered at him through narrowed eyes. "I'm surprised Longbottom. I mean really surprised. You mind telling me what the hell happened tonight?"

"Old classmate sir. Some…impolite and angry words were exchanged."

"Uh-huh. And those words were enough to-", Bay glanced down to sheet of parchment on his desk, "-to put a man in St. Mungo's with a fractured jaw, broken nose, three teeth knocked out, black eyes, and a concussion?"

"He used a curse on me sir."

"Yes, the report documents that. In fact, it's the only thing keeping you out of an official reprimand. Is that really all of it?"

"They were very, very harsh words sir."

"Is that your story? Are you really going to stick to that? No prominent case details regarding a rather infamous name were discussed? You think your story will match up with Weasley and Potter's?"

"They had nothing to with it. It was all between myself and Malfoy sir."

"OH COME ON!", Bay roared as he stood up. "You think they didn't try to pass off the same damn story? And knock off that 'Yes sir', 'No sir' probie bullshit!" Bay ran a frustrated hand through his unkempt hair and sat. "Sit down! We're not getting anywhere with you standing there like a statue." Bay drew in a deep breath as Neville sat down. "You avoided any trouble in your probie year. Barely past probationary status and here you are in my office. You trying to set a record?"

"Not really." Neville thought it best to drop "sir" from here on. "We all have a…history for lack of a better term. If you don't know Malfoy, it's kind of hard to understand."

"Oh but I do. I have met young master Draco Malfoy. I knew the abomination known as his father as well. Draco raised bloody hell in here and the Ministry during his father's murder investigation. After only five minutes with him, I was ready to pound him into snail snot." Neville breathed a silent sigh of relief. "For better or for worse, his name still carries a lot of weight in the Ministry. I don't know how but it does."

"Shit.", Neville muttered.

"Prize understatement. Neville, listen to me. We don't spend enormous amounts of time and money training aurors to go brawling in pubs and try to stomp a man's head into a bloody pulp. Politics still exist, even in the auror service. That evil was not born and will not die with Voldemort. It is what it is. Try not to step on too many toes and do try not to stomp them into paste if you must?"

"I'll do my best, Inspector."

"I know you will. Now get out of here. Thanks to someone, whose name I won't mention-", Bay directed a pointed look at Neville, "-I won't be getting back to sleep until my report is at least in draft form."

"Sorry sir."

"For what? Honestly Longbottom, if I were to hang you from the gallows I'd need to put up a noose right next to yours just for the violent thoughts I've harbored for Malfoy. I wouldn't be the only one either. Just do me a favor Neville, don't give Seb headaches like this?"

"Yes sir."

"Now go on, get out of here." As Neville made his way out, he turned to notice that Bay had put his feet up on his desk and was wearing bunny slippers. Neville knew the inspector had been pulled from home but- "Keep walking Longbottom!" Neville wisely made his way down the hall.

Author's Note: I wanted to show Neville did learn something besides magic at the academy.

Special thanks to everyone who has added this story to their Favorites and/or Alerts list! An extra special thanks to everyone who reviewed as well! It means a lot to know that people are reading and I hope you are all enjoying the story. I know we haven't seen much of Luna lately but I promise the story will be steering back on track soon. There IS a method to this madness!