Longbottom Rose, the hollywood remake

by Billybob - csagun36

This narative ship is primarily Longbottom-OC plus loads of space given to Ron-Hermione and a Ginny pairings that actually makes Blood status sense - all done - with a very adult twist. This is a remake with the full-permission of the original author'

5. Chapter 5

soLongbottom Rose

ID # 1822668

First Pub: 04-16-04 completed 07-12-05

Author: ForeverLaDonna

Original Word count total: 97,626

Rated 'T'

I have received permission from the original author's to do this rewrite via e-mail 10/15/2010

Hollywood Re-write part five - - by; billybobcsgun36 - - fanfiction (dot) net id# 641050

Begun; 10-23-09

Redo-Word count; 27,889 (this part)

Rated 'M'

Rewrite-Author notes: I love the original and suggest everyone check it out. In fact I suggest dear reader that you compare her version to mine. She'll win I'm sure, hands down ;-) Do keep in mind, however; that as a rewrite the differences between the original and mine will be subtle at times, especially at the beginning.

Now for the warnings;

I am not a professional writer; I have been called by critics; long-winded with a tendency to go off into tangents that distract from the main plot… to these charges; I plea, Guilty. I also openly admit to the abuse of the King's English. If you look for perfection in writing; grammar or spelling, by all means go elsewhere. I don't claim to be anything else than a story teller… plain and simple

Warning two; this story is thick with sexual innuendo and the discussion of sexual preferences that are unusual to say the least. This story is rated M for a reason …okay? I feel that JK Rowling's notion that teenagers of seventeen and eighteen have no interest in sex; is laughable.

Just one more part to go after this one

Disclaimer;

Is there someone somewhere who doesn't know who owns all legal rights to the Harry Potter series? If there is; please tell this person, that I will not profit in any way, from this tale, beyond the entertainment of my few readers and the annoyance of the grammar-Nazi's.

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The house lights fade, the curtain opens … roll film

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The Duel

Chapter 37

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"Expelliarmus," Alaire shouted as the spell leaped out of the tip of her wand, but missed Harry by a wide margin as he dodged away from it.

"You missed again, Alaire!" he taunted as he cast a spell on himself that seemed to make him shimmer before he suddenly seemed to appear a few feet from his last location.

"Stand still, dammit!"

"A Death Eater's won't stand-still - just to let you get them - and neither will I!" he said, still moving about.

"Immobulus!" she yelled, quite irritated as she aimed the spell a little left to where Harry was. It was by nothing but pure luck that the spell hit Harry in the foot. He found himself trying to move while dragging the foot which felt as if it had fallen asleep.

"Incarcerous!" Alaire snapped, a smile finally gracing her face. Thick ropes fell around Harry pulling him down to the floor.

"Ridicusempra!" she yelled, thinking that she'd make him pay for being so difficult to stun.

Now, not only couldn't Harry move, he was being tickled mercilessly. "St-stop! I give-up! M-m-mercy!"

"Finite incantatem!"

Alaire bent over the red-face boy and smiled. "You are soooo busted." She bent over and helped him stand. "Wait until I tell Ron that I got yo roped and tied in less than twenty minutes. I think I'm ready for the rodeo."

"You got lucky," Harry said matter-of-factly while getting-up.

Alaire knew that he was right, but still she was a bit peeved about that fact.

"Oh, really? OK, Potter. Let's up the stakes a bit. We have about ten minutes until Neville comes to pick me up and sees you tied to a post …begging for mercy."

Harry gave her a quizzical look.

"Don't you remember my last name, Harry? It's Goodnight." She stepped away from him and cried out, "Nox!" Suddenly the room went black.

"Where'd you go?" Harry shouted. The only answer he got was the tracer of a spell as it missed him by inches. "Oh, shit!" He swore as he ducked and rolled on the floor as another tracer whizzed by him.

"What's wrong, Potter? Can't see in the dark?"

"Neither can you!" he yelled back.

"But I can hear! Immobulus!" Harry ducked just in time.

"So you want to play rough …do you?" Harry whispered to himself as he crawled towards the door to the room or, rather, where he hoped the door was. "Stupefy!"

Harry sent the spell towards a noise that he heard coming from across the room.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Harry. You missed again."

Harry didn't waste a moment and quickly sent the "Incarcerous" spell towards the voice. He knew he had hit when he heard a loud thump as Alaire hit the floor. "Alaire, are you okay?"

"Why don't you just come and see?"

Suspecting a trick, Harry made his way over in a different direction in the dark …not wanting to give his position away. He heard Alaire struggling with the ropes off to his left. He dropped to the floor and crawled quietly towards the sounds.

"Ridicusempra!" He hurled the curse then threw himself off to one side on the floor. Instead of the counter-curse he half-expected Harry heard Alaire begin to giggle loudly while gasping for air …as she cursed Harry with every Muggle expletive she could bring to mind.

"What a dirty mouth! Do you kiss Neville with that mouth?" he taunted.

"Harry, please, stop the tickling."

"Finite!"

"Thank you," Alaire gasped, "and now the ropes?"

"No way, do you think I'm mental. In combat you never give-up any advantage …so if you can play dirty …then so can I."

"Harry Potter, are you insulting my honor?"

"Well done, Alaire, you got that in one. - "Lumos" - Harry said turning his wand into a torch which he waved about until he could make out the form of Alaire tied up neatly with her hands above her head and her feet bound at her ankles. Her face was flushed from the training and sweat beaded on her forehead. "Can't get away, can you?"

"Harry, don't be an ass. Let me up."

"Not until you promise to tell everyone that I won."

Alaire glared at him, and then in a whisper said; "Fine."

"Excuse me, what did you say? Was it, 'Harry Potter beat my arse at Defense?' I wasn't listening." He knelt down to were she lay on the floor helpless and bent his head closer to her mouth. "What did you say, Alaire?"

She was torn between spitting out the words just to be untied and just spitting. "Hmmm?"

Harry leaned even closer until their noses were touching.

Suddenly, Alaire could sense the teasing manner changing into something different. There was something off …something dangerous in his eyes; "Harry, you won. Please let me up."

Alaire emotion-shields were up full but she didn't need empathy to sense the lust in Harry's face. Franticly she tried to tamp down the odd fear that was starting to rise up in her chest.

"You know I ought to charge you a kiss to untie you" Harry said in a husky tone as he started to lower his mouth onto hers. The moment their lips met something snapped in Alaire.

Suddenly the ropes holding her down popped loose and Harry found himself flung off of Alaire with considerable force to land flat on his back. He was totally unprepared for what happened next. Alaire was suddenly pummeling his chest and face with her fists …as hard as she could. He quickly rolled into the fetal position only to find himself being kicked in the kidneys and hips. He tried to roll away only to be stopped by a swift blow to his head.

"Alaire …I'm sorry …Stop! Alaire …for pity-sake, Stop!" But the American girl didn't seem to hear him. She was screaming hysterically at the top of her lungs like a banshee …sobbing and kicking him …all at the same time.

Suddenly, the attack stopped and Alaire …still sobbing out of control moved away from Harry and collapsed against a wall trembling and shaking as if in a an epileptic fit. . Harry beaten to a pulp …couldn't move …it hurt too much. Alaire had trampled every single inch of his body. He tasted blood in his mouth but couldn't open his eyes to check himself out.

After what seemed an eternity, the door to the room of requirement opened and Neville came in.

"What's going on here? Alaire …Alaire, God-girl …look at me!" Harry could hear Neville trying to bring Alaire out of her stupor.

He half-dreaded when Neville would discover him. He tried to curl into a smaller ball …but it hurt too badly. A groan escaped as he tried to move his legs.

"Harry …Harry, where are you?" Neville asked frantically, and when he found him. "Oh god …what happened to you?".

"I-I don't know. She-she just …snapped," Harry managed to whisper.

"I'm going to get help …don't move." Harry honestly didn't have a problem with that.

Neville pulled out his wand and said firmly; "Expecto Patronum" casting his Patronus, which immediately appeared. It then bowed to its master before dashing off. A few minutes later, Harry heard the sounds of feet shuffling into the room. He heard Professor McGonagall voice and he felt himself being levitated him out of the room and down to the hospital-wing. Harry blacked out somewhere along the way.

Because of a lack of any outward sign of injury, and Neville insistance that he would take care of the American. McGonagall had left him in charge of the comatose girl. It quickly became clear however; that this situation was beyond mending with a few happy-thoughts and so…some ten minutes later; "Alaire, come on. We've got to get you down to see Madame Pomfrey," Neville pleaded.

Alaire didn't respond at all she just continued to softly whimper as her body rock back and forth. It was the similar to the Halloween party but much, much worse. There was nothing for it. Neville bent over and pulled Alaire up into his arms for it was clear that Alaire couldn't walk. Thanking fate that he had lifted plenty of heavy bags of mulch in the greenhouse over the years. He walked slowly to the infirmary, whispering to her the whole way that everything would be alright and praying to Merlin that he was lying.

Madame Pomfrey was in the middle of trying to assess Harry condition but that came to an abrupt stop when Neville walked in with Alaire.

"Oh, dear - - Oh, dear." She quickly ran to the fireplace and flooed for Dumbledore and Snape. "Put her down on the bed."

Neville tried to gently put her down …but Alaire's instantly began to struggle franticly against him as if fighting off a rapist. The paleness of her face contrasted sharply with her red, swollen eyes.

"It's never been this bad before …She has meds …they're on her necklace, I just don't know how many to give her for something like this," Neville said to Madame Pomfrey as he began to fumble with Alaire's sweat-shirt trying to reach for her necklace. However Alaire wasn't about to let anyone touch her without struggling and she fought against Neville like a wild cat, hitting him with her fists, kicking or clawing at his face franticly with her nails.

"Enough of this, step aside Mr. Longbottom". A moment later the nurse said firmly; "Stupefy"

Instantly Alaire went limp and moving forward a battered and bruised Neville found his girlfriends meds vile. Opening it carefully, he spilled two pills into his hand. Madame Pomfrey poured a glass of water and between the two of them managed to get Alaire to take the medicine. The effect was immediate and as Alaire began to calm down; Madame Pomfrey then took out her wand again and whispered softly "Remunerate" Alaire continued to rock and moan with fully-opened glazed eyes that seemed to see nothing but some inner-terror within her mind.

Satisfied for the moment Madame Pomfrey went back to attending to Harry, Leaving Neville to hold his girlfriend's hand while asking himself; 'What the hell had happened'? This had only been Alaire and Harry's third self-defense practice. Had he said something? Had he hit her with a strange spell or something? Neville refused to let his mind go there. He turned his attention back to the girl on the bed.

"Alaire; Luv, wake-up;" he said as he tried to stroke her cheek, but she fought against him. "It's me honey …it's your Neville. Talk to me baby …please?"

Suddenly, a hand gently shook Neville's shoulder. Snape raised his hand to silence him.

Across the room Madame Pomfrey worked on a moaning in pain Harry who had been placed on a nearby bed by two house-elves. Waving her wand, she healed most of his cuts and bruises. She then poured a pain-relieving potion into his mouth. The room grew quiet as the two patients began to absorb their medicines.

"What happened, Neville?" Dumbledore's voice startled him.

"I-I don't know. I left Alaire and Harry at the Room of Requirements to practice Defense spells. I came back an hour later to pick her up and found them like this. I think Alaire had some kind of emotional overload. But this is a hundred times worse than what she went through on Halloween night."

"Severus?"

"Step back, Longbottom. I'll handle this." Snape pulled him away from the bed. Before he could say anything, Dumbledore was beside him motioning for him to be quiet. Snape sat down in a chair next to Alaire, turning her head in his hands, and staring into her unseeing eyes.

"Alaire - Alaire? Look at me, Alaire."

Neville sat astounded at the tenderness in the potion master's voice.

"Alaire? Look at me."

Alaire's eyes fluttered into focus. Snape mumbled a spell under his breath then bent over to look into her eyes. They stared into each-others eyes for a long-moment and then abruptly …Alaire began to gasp for air. "Stay with me, Alaire. It's Severus …your safe …at Hogwarts."

He began muttering half to himself and half to Alaire. After a few minutes, Alaire began to blink and a glimmer of recognition came onto her face. Alaire then began to move …trying to get away from the professor's stare.

"Stop it - Stop it - you're hurting her!" Neville found himself pulling at Snape's arms yanking the older man away from the girl with surprising ease.

Snape spun around suddenly and grabbed Neville's robes. "I'm not the one that hurt her!"

Neville's eyes followed to where Snape was pointing. Harry's body still lay curled into a tight ball. Suddenly indescribable anger consumed him, his hands balled into fists, abruptly letting go of the professor Neville turned on his dorm mate, the rage inside him was boundless, as for the first time in his existence he was mad enough to kill. The headmaster drew his wand and was about to hex his botanist when any revenge contemplated by Neville was abruptly put-on-hold… by a sudden gasp from Alaire.

"Where …what?" Her eyes closed again then slowly reopened. "Severus?"

The professor quickly turned back toward Alaire. "Yes, my dear …calm yourself …you're safe now. I promise."

"I'm sorry." Tears began to fall afresh down Alaire's face.

"It wasn't your fault," Snape said gently taking hold her hands again.

"B-But … I should've known," she muttered. "I shouldn't have … Don't be mad at me."

Snape seemed to stamp-down something deep inside him-self. With more tenderness than Neville had ever thought Professor Snape capable of… he said; "No one's angry at you, Alaire. That's over and done with …Remember?"

Alaire stared at him for a moment then full realization hit her.

"Oh, my-God! Where's Harry? What did I do?" She pulled away from Snape and sat up …looking around wildly. "Oh, God …I hurt him …I know I did!"

She tried frantically to get out of the bed …when she sudden saw her battered-boyfriend, "oh Neville …not you too!"

Neville urge to beat the snot out of Potter for the second time that term was suplanted by his concern to help his girlfriend and he quickly pulled Alaire into a tight hug; "don't give this a thought, I'm a clumsy-dolt …I do more than this to myself …all the time."

"She'll be okay for now", Severus said aloud as he saw the claming effect the botanist had on the girl, before becoming thoughtful. "I knew that boy could heal-her, had she not wasted all that time making him compete with Potter. Had she claimed the shy-herbalist right from the off, as I had suggested, then perhaps; this incident would never had happened. The errors that hindsight reveals however must be un-done at a later time …right-now what needs to do be done is damage control.' He said to himself before speaking aloud. "Albus but do you remember why Alaire joined us?" Snape asked as he turned his attention to the Headmaster.

Dumbledore nodded.

"I can only assume that tonight; Ms Goodnight …um, mistook some action by our Mister Potter's to be the actions for someone else." Snape said looking grim.

"Poppy, is there anything more we can give Ms. Goodnight to make her more comfortable?" the headmaster asked the Matron.

"Dreamless sleep-potion would help," Pomfrey replied.

Snape nodded. "Yes, that should work. She needs rest more than anything."

Madame Pomfrey poured a large dose into a glass and handed it to Professor Snape who motioned for Neville over to help him. Together they pulled Alaire in an upright position and got her to drink almost half the medicine. With a final look of apology, Alaire's eyes closed as she drifted off into slumber.

"She'll sleep now", the matron said smugly and before returning to her other patient she declared to Neville. "Mr. Longbottom you should go return to your greenhouse confinement …"

"…In light of the current situation I believe Mr. Longbottom's presence could be of far more therapeutic value right here. I'm sure that Ms. Goodnight would greatly appreciate it, in case she awakes unexpectedly during the night …don't you agree Severus?" Dumbledore interrupted firmly as he raised a hand against Madame Pomfrey's immediate protests.

"I do agree with the headmaster, Poppy," Professor Snape declared with unshakeable conviction. "If as the Headmaster suggested; Ms. Goodnight was to awaken during the night another panic attack could easily accrue. Mr. Longbottom's calming influence on Ms. Goodnight is truly remarkable as I'm sure you noticed." The Potion-master said to the Matron before turning toward Neville. "I'll sign-off on the necessity of you breaking punishment with the Board of Governors' in exchange for your promise that you will wait until tomorrow when we hear what really happened to make any final judgments against Mr. Potter. Alaire will need you calm. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, sir."

"I'll go inform Minerva that Mr. Longbottom will be spending the night here. Otherwise …I'll leave everything in your capable hands, Poppy." Dumbledore patted Neville on the back and left.

Neville looked up to see Professor Snape giving him a curious look. If he didn't know better, it seemed like approval. It quickly gave way to the impassive look that haunted his usually gaunt face.

"Take care of her, Neville. You've become a very serious young man as of late. The headmaster told me about the defenses you put up at that London hotel, giving ample proof of how calm you now-are in a crisis." He stood with one last look at Alaire. "Send your Petronius to get me if she awakens and is . . . troubled. I'm sure she'll explain everything tomorrow morning." He sighed. "This charade needs to end."

He turned and left a very confused Neville in his wake.

"Alaire," he began softly looking down sadly the girl in the hospital-bed in uneasy-sleep; but was interrupted by Madame Pomfrey.

"It's natural I suppose for me to forget, that you're not that same clumsy boy you were during first-year."

"No; ma'am,"

"Then you can help me put a privacy screen around Mr. Potter and then you can pull up a bed beside Ms. Goodnight. You will stay in your own bed tonight …am I understood," Poppy said before she motioned for Neville to follow her.

Neville had the good grace to blush hard at the innuendo

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As Neville moved the screen around Harry' bed he gave his dorm-mate a good-look and frankly Harry was a mess. Clearly he hadn't expected to be physically attacked by Alaire and had also held back by some sense of "shouldn't hit a girl." He had a black eye, his chin was bruised and he had a nasty cut on his shoulder.

"Bloody-hell; Harry, what happened?" Neville exclaimed before he could stop himself.

"I wish I knew," Harry managed to squeak out between moans of pain. "One minute we were fine and the next BLAM …she went mental! I didn't know what to do after that."

"Try being quiet," Madame Pomfrey said testily. "You've been here so often over the years Mr. Potter …you could practically nurse yourself at this point."

She motioned for Neville to lift Harry's legs so that she could tuck in a pillow under his knees. When Harry was finally comfortable, she said with a smile, "I've ordered the plaque, you know, 'Harry Potter Slept Here' just for this bed."

Harry smiled as he accepted the flask of Dreamless Sleep potion.

"I promise I'll drink this as soon as we're finished talking. Okay, Madame Pomfrey?"

"Like I said, you could run this place yourself with all your experience, Mr. Potter. I'm sure you know best by now." She smiled sarcastically and walked away leaving the two boys.

"So let's try again… what happened?"

"We were practicing in the dark and I had hit her with the standard binding spell. She fell down and I had bent over her to lower the curse and help her up …when she went ballistic. That's all that happened, mate." Harry felt he was being 'somewhat' honest. They had been flirting but he had never actually kissed Alaire …although he had wanted to do so desperately.

"I was getting ready to release her when she started to act like she was suffocating …and then …before I could cancel the curse, she burst out of it. I was in such shock that I just sat there and then she turned on me and began beating the shite out of me. I didn't know what to do, Neville! She kept at it for like three minutes or so - and then just collapsed in the corner crying. You walked in a few seconds later."

Neville say quietly digesting what he had just heard. He knew from Ginny that Harry still cared strongly for Alaire on a romantic level. But he also knew Harry very well - and that Harry would NEVER force himself on anyone …especially Alaire. Something else was going on here. They would find out tomorrow until then …he simply had to have faith both in an old dorm-mate and his new girlfriend.

"Okay, until tomorrow then. Drink up, Harry. You look like shite."

Harry turned up the flask and drank deeply. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow.

Neville went back over to Alaire's bed. She looked horrible. Her eyes, bruised from crying, lay in sharp contrast to her pale skin. And she was still whimpering softly. With a sigh, he tried to make himself comfortable in a chair next to her bed …but it was no use. Looking around, he saw that Madame Pomfrey had retired for the evening. He quietly levitated a bed right next to Alaire's and climbed in. He was just getting comfortable when he felt a tiny hand reach for his. The moment their fingers intertwined Alaire's whimpering ceased.

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The next day, three very battered students made their way to Dumbledore's office. Alaire took a deep breath to steady her-self as she followed Harry up the stairs while holding Neville hand in a death-grip. Her shields were-up and as strong as a meter-thickness of armor-plate, nothing got through and yet; she needed the touch of her boyfriend's hand to anchor her soul to earth.

She had awakened an hour previous to Neville, only to find that she had unconsciously abandoned her own bed at some point of the night in favor of Neville's. She had smiled when she had realized how her subconscious mind had instinctively sought comfort by wrapping her-body tightly in Neville's arms.

She savored for a good forty-five minutes an emotional-healing cuddle with her sleeping bed-mate before she had carefully extricated herself and gone to the Loo, shaking her head in wonder at how close she had gotten to Neville. A year ago …waking up in the arms of any man would have been physically and emotionally impossible. In Neville's arms she felt safe… she felt loved beyond description, her therapist had been right about the effects of the right guy on her ability to heal.

Then her positive attitude was crushed and she almost passed out when she saw Harry's battered form stretched-out in a nearby-bed. She had quickly run back to the bathroom barely making-it in time to thrown-up. Guilt ate at her gut as a few minutes later she'd made her way back to Neville's bed.

A fresh change of clothes was lying at the end of her empty-bed. Pulling the curtains, she quickly put on the clean clothes. She was just pulling on her socks when she noticed that Neville was awake and looking at her.

"Hi."

"Hi, yourself."

"How do you feel, Luv?'

"Better. You?"

"Been worse - Been better."

"I-I'm sorry about last night."

Neville sighed. "You scared me pretty bad."

Alaire nodded and bit her lip.

"I'll be right back." Neville stood and made his way to the bathroom. When he returned, Harry was dressed and eating his breakfast. He had improved greatly overnight. The only sign that he had been beaten black-n-blue was stiffness in his left arm.

"Morning," Neville proffered. You heal quickly?"

"Morning," Harry replied. "Yeah; the wonder of magical medicine."

"Um, Alaire's awake so we can go talk to Dumbledore whenever you finish." Harry nodded and Neville went to check on Alaire.

She was standing by her bed gazing out a window at the snow covered hills. A few lonely tears were rolling down her cheeks.

"Want some breakfast?" he asked motioning to a tray of buttered toast, jam, and juice at the end of the bed.

"No. It'll just come back to haunt me," she said quietly.

Neville took a piece of bread and slathered it with butter then grape jelly. "Humor me."

Alaire reluctantly took the toast and took a small bite. Neville crossed his arms and stared at her.

"God, you're worse than my mother; Fine." She took another three bites before Neville was satisfied. She was finishing a goblet of pumpkin juice when Madame Pomfrey joined them.

"Professor Dumbledore would like a word with you-lot… in his office… now."

Alaire nodded then headed out of the infirmary, head down as if she was going to her own-execution. Her only source of comfort was in the hand she held so tightly. Looking-up briefly every so-often at Neville's face …she could see the unquestioned-support in his eyes. And suddenly she knew beyond doubt that her man had her back, Neville didn't know what was coming, but that didn't matter, whatever it was… he would still be-there for her. His unspoken-support filled her with the courage she'd needed right then.

Glancing over at Harry; Alaire could tell that he was burning up with curiosity but, for once, she didn't care. She had demons to face and her two best friends would just have to deal with it in their own very-different individual ways. Dumbledore greeted her with a smile and waved her to a seat near a cozy fireplace. Neville and Harry sat down on a nearby sofa.

"So, I take it you're feeling better Ms. Goodnight – Harry - Neville?"

All three students nodded.

"Good. Now, I have a question for you, Alaire. Would you mind if Professor Snape sat in with us? I believe he knows something of what is bothering you."

Alaire nodded. Dumbledore threw some powder into the fireplace and called out for the professor who was obviously waiting for his summons. He stepped through the fireplace, nodded to the boys, then sat down on a conjured seat near Dumbledore's desk. Alaire would have to turn to see him but she knew he was there.

"Good, now that we have everyone here, I think we're here to listen to your story, Alaire, and possibly, an explanation for what happened last night."

Alaire took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She quickly assessed the room visually and saw in their eyes mostly curiosity and warmth. It was time to come clean it seemed.

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Chapter 38; Alaire's story

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"I found out that I was empathic when I around thirteen years old. It took a while to figure out what was going on. Eventually, I learned to manage my reactions to other people's feelings but I was still bombarded by them every minute of the day. I would get tired and when that happened … I would get swept up in what they were feeling. Sometimes it would get all muddled together and I wouldn't know where they ended and I began.

"I've worked on that since a-lot since I came here. Thanks to Professor Snape, I no longer have that problem. But when I was sixteen, I didn't know any better and when I did, I didn't always care. Combine that with my overprotective parents," she looked up at Neville who gave her the slightest smile of agreement. "And you pretty much have a recipe for disaster."

"I had been going to a Wizarding school in my home state when one of my friends there discovered my secret and she instantly betrayed me. She told everyone there about my empathy and then lied. She said that I was using it to spy on them.

"The following school year …I transfer to another Wizarding school near Charlestown North Carolina. Again it was only a matter of time before they-too discovered my so-called Gift. Everyone turned on me, just like back in Louisiana …except for one person, an eighteen-year-old boy named John Canady. This older boy began to pay loads of attention to me. While my parents had wanted me to just-quit regular school or be tutored privately; but as a stubborn teenager and thinking I knew-better… I refused to listen to them; mainly because of John.

"My Parents warned me to go slow, romantically and being so pig-headed obstinate to be convinced that my dad was dead-wrong about John's intentions, I didn't tell them when John asked me out on our first off-campus date. The school was out in the middle of nowhere, and officially-frowned on students leaving campus. But I was seventeen and thought I was adult enough to handle being out among what y'all call Muggle's. I was so thrilled that John had never treated me like a freak; I ended-up trusting him way-more than I should have.

John was a 'first-gen' in America or what you call Muggleborn in the U.K., so he had his own car. We snuck off campus without permission and went to dinner at the local pizza place in a tiny non-magical town about forty minutes outside the outskirts of Charlestown and then we took in a movie, kissing like mad in the back row. We did some kissing-n-groping in that theater, but only outside of my clothing and John stopped when I asked. After the movie …" Alaire's voice trailed off as she forced herself to remember that night. "Then . . ."

She couldn't make herself continue it was too painful. A heart-wrenching sob escaped her lips.

"Alaire?" Severus's voice broke the silence. "It's time to put that demon to rest. Face it and then put it away. Isn't that what you tell me to do…all the time?"

Alaire wiped away a tear as she nodded in agreement.

"What is it we Americans say? Pot calling the kettle black?" An odd half sob/half laugh escaped from Alaire as she continued.

"It was a beautiful spring night. We left the town with John allegedly driving me back to my dorm-room. It had been the perfect first-date up to this point. Loads-of kissing and a bit of heavy-petting, which had left me hungry for more… there I was… sitting next to John actually considering letting him go a-little farther touching-wise on our next date when…

"Go-on, Alaire"

"So we were going down this country road when he suddenly pulled into the driveway of an old boarded-up empty-farmhouse that looked oddly familiar and stopped the car. He-He told me how much fun he had had that night. Then he told me how pretty I was. Then he began kissing me."

Alaire sighed deeply in regret. "I was so stupid. I was seventeen and yet …totally naïve about boys …too dam-trusting …too vulnerable. Kissing in the dark led to touching, at first it was outside my clothing like before and then I felt his hand slip underneath my sweater. As I had been thinking about letting him do this kind of thing on our next date anyway, I wasn't all that concerned when John began touching bare skin.

"I was a virgin, that night and he knew it. I had zero experience with sex and he knew that too. I trusted him when he asked me to tune-in on his feelings …so that I would know how he truly felt for me.

"Things got all muddled after that, after I had lowered what few shields I knew how to put-up at that time and let his emotions into my mind …his arousal was intense, and enflamed my own far beyond where I wanted to go. His emotions quickly overrode my virgin shyness and brutally brushed aside my moral inhibitions.

"I learned later… during his trial; that he'd been studying on his own… legilimens, so I wasn't just empathically-reading his lust, he was pushing his perverted desires at my mind as hard as he could. I never stood a chance; it was like trying to push-back a tidal-wave with a spoon. His intense lust took total control of me …I was processed in a similar way to the effect of the imperious curse over-here. His projected-lust made me do things …I couldn't stop myself. In mere moments I literally became his personal sex starved slut," she looked up embarrassed.

"I think we understand, dear," Dumbledore quickly saved her from any more awkwardness.

"The whole night became a blur for me. It was like I was a carnal-puppet with John pulling all my strings. His desires controlled me completely. I just wanted one thing … unbridled sex …and I eagerly offered myself up to him in every way a girl can give herself to a boy. His carnal emotions ensuring zero reluctance on my part …his desire made me crave everything he did to me with aggressive enthusiasm …that would sicken me afterwards.

"For a untouched virgin, like me; John was considered well-endowed and in spite of my inexperience, he ignored my screams as he brutally-deflowered …one at a time; each of my… openings. My rapist ended things by insisting on deep-throat oral sex. I'd never gone-down on a boy before, but John wasn't about to let my gag-reflex interfere with his pleasure. It was bad …I couldn't breathe and I think I passed-out before it was over. When I regained consciousness I was out of the car …lying face down on the asphalt …on the passenger side of his car …discarded and naked.

"I managed to crawl a few feet from the car before I threw-up. I was just sitting up …trying to recover from the emotional overload …when I heard John talking his cell-phone. He was speaking to one of his basketball buddies back at school. He was inviting this asshole to come over and take his turn with me," Alaire paused as anger began to invade on her senses. "He was telling him how 'cool' it was …how he could just think about something sexual and I would automatically do it. That I was his personal sex-slave." She spit out the last few words.

"I couldn't take it. Naked as a jay-bird I got to my feet and began to run. I knew where I was generally-speaking. I'd recognized the backside of that boarded-up farmhouse from having seen it from the air during the only-two awkward broom-rides I had during class at that school. So I knew I was somewhat-close to my dorm, especially if I cut across a few fields. I'm still not sure how long I ran. When I got to the school, I literally ran into the front gate security guard screaming hysterically and covered from head to foot in scratches from briars and such.

"I still don't know how I beat John back to campus. The school president floo-called my parents back in New Orleans, and then the Auror's. When my dad saw me, he went crazy. My mother had to put him in a full body bind and then had Dame Maggie Smith; the Dean of Women Students duct-taped my dad to a chair to keep him from going out and killing John."

She paused and looked up expecting to see shock and loathing on Harry and Neville's faces …but that wasn't what she saw. Instead, the two boys had reacted radically differently to her story. It almost broke her heart. How had she ever deserved two such special people? Harry might be a bit self-absorbed at times being preoccupied with saving the world and all …but on an individual level, he was at that moment showing genuine concern. Neville on the other-hand as Alaire had more or less expected …had the same look that her father had worn that night. His hands were balled up into fists and he gripped the edges of his chair tightly. Professor Snape cleared his throat. She turned to see him even paler than usual.

"I think we'd all like to know what happened to this boy …John Canady," the headmaster said in a grim tone.

"My mother demanded a meeting of the local Wizarding Government. She explained that something had to be done before my father either committed murder or sued the Magical community surrounding Charlestown, North Carolina into permanent poverty. The Auror's arrested John at his dorm, with my virgin-blood stained 'panties' dangling from the mirror in his car.

"John's claim of consent might have actually worked …if my dad hadn't used the same Soul Versa curse on him that he used on you… Neville and right in front of a local Judge no-less. John then confessed to everything; under the expert questioning of my dad… John admitted that he knew ahead-of-time that I was a empath and had with deliberate-predetermination set-out to us my gift against me, to mentally a physically rape me. There are strong laws in America against abusing an empaths gift, for people like me are as rare in the U.S. as they are here in the U.K.

"Both my parents were out for a pound of flesh and they and the Charlestown magical community got it… in spades. The court snapped John's wand in two, he was sent to jail for a-bit …they penalized his family by charging them a small fortune in fines and court-costs; finally, they then banished John for-life from practicing magic anywhere within the boundaries of the United States and Canada.

"After serving a year in prison; which was ironically, the same amount of time I spent in therapy. John's wealthy parents sent him away to Haiti to do his parole …six months of magical community service. Last thing I heard and that was just before coming to Hogwarts; John had gotten into more trouble yet-again …this time in Brazil, for the illegal use of some serious dark magic."

OoOoOoOo

Quiet fell over the room again as each person digested this information. At last Dumbledore broke the odd silence. "So, now everyone knows why you came to Hogwarts …a new beginning.

Alaire nodded.

"But we still need an explanation for your attack on Potter." Severus asked softly

Alaire started to answer …but Harry interrupted her. "You thought I was him, didn't you?"

"For just a moment, lying on that floor tied-up and helpless …the memory of being under John's control came back to me in a rush", Alaire said clearly ashamed. "All that anger from that night …anger that I had held inside of me since it occurred …just exploded. You just happened to be in the way of the blast."

Harry swallowed then asked, "Do I even …look like him?"

"Not at all! He had pale-white blonde hair; grey eyes and very pale-white complexion.

"You just described Draco Malfoy, you know," Harry said with a snort.

"Yes …I know and it's ironic really …that's another reason why I didn't choose Slytherin as my house …even though it's where my cousin Vinnie lives. But I should point-out that there is a major difference in appearance between Canady and Malfoy.

"And that is?" Severus asked.

"John was built like a classic American football line-backer …if you know what that means. He's bulky with loads of muscles…the stereotypical dimwitted… all-American sports-jock. Draco on the other-hand has the physique of a Thestral, instead; he's the classic …frail-looking ferret …that we've all come to know and Love. So in every way physically, Draco really is …the anti-thesis of John.

"For example; I happen know what Ginny sees in the skinny little Slytherin runt; and although John was above average in equipment he certainly can't win a pissing contest 'size wise' with Ginny' future husband, or so I've been told." Alaire saw the look of embarrassed-concern on Neville's face and felt empathically waves of equipment-envy pouring out of her boyfriend. Knowing how fragile guy's egos were about tool-size, Alaire quickly tried to do damage control to salvage her man's self-worth. "I don't have any 'hands on' knowledge on the subject of Draco's …tool. My experience with men, irregardless to my public persona …has been very limited. There are several other trait's comparison issues with Draco …but …as I don't think Ginny would appreciate me making public knowledge; the reason why she does find Draco irresistible …so I hope what I've revealed about Draco remains confidential.

There were semi-confused rumblings at Alaire's tool size comparisons, before one by one everyone in the room nodded their agreement to remain silent. Neville was the last to agree and seemed the most upset at the news; but he bit-back his own feelings of carnal in-adequacy in favor of being supportive of Alaire.

"Harry, I'm so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?" Alaire said breaking the awkward silence.

Harry stood and pulled Alaire from her chair into a hug …totally ignoring Neville's presence, "Only if you promise to channel that anger towards a Death Eater …if you ever run into one. Your rage could be pretty lethal."

Alaire let go of a deep breath that she didn't realize she was holding.

"Well, now Mr. Potter, I think you could go back to classes now. You are going to have to live with the rumor that Ms. Goodnight managed to put you in the hospital …but I'm sure the stories will die down …in a few years," Albus said with twinkles in his eyes.

Harry smiled at the joke. "I'm sure Ron will publicly take the mikey-out-on-me …but it'll be well worth it. I could stand to have my God-like reputation taken down a notch or two. If people starting thinking of me as fallible …maybe the birds around here will look at me with something other than exclusive Hero-worship.

"I thought you and Daphne were …" Alaire began

"…you can count on me Alaire", Harry said sincerely interrupting her implication. "This secret is safe …I swear on my magic …a Wizard's promise… to tell no-one." Alaire could actually see the pride welling up in Dumbledore.

"Thank you, for your cooperation in this, Harry. Now off to class you go, but don't feel too-bad it is Friday after-all.

"Yes sir", Harry said and then looked at Alaire, "I'll see you tomorrow night for the movie …right?"

"Yeah-sure, Harry." Alaire said as she saw Neville go stiff a few feet away.

"Run a long, Harry I have a few things more to discuss with Ms. Goodnight and Mr. Longbottom …I'm sure that one or both of them will join you later in the day. Dumbledore said and hearing this Harry nodded and then left the room.

Dumbledore turned to Neville and Alaire. "I'm sure that the two of you have a lot to talk about, but I'm afraid that Neville's in-the-Girls-dorm punishment doesn't permit such latitude. Therefore…"

"…Excuse me for interrupting Headmaster …but I must strongly disagree," Professor Snape said interrupting the headmaster, "Ms. Goodnights mental health has taken a serious blow, I must insist that she be excused from the rest of today's classes and go to a peaceful place of prefect-quite …to begin the slow process of reassembling her mental shields. Would you happen to know of such a place?

"Hum …well …I don't really know, Severus; such sanctuaries are hard to find within Hogwarts. Besides; wouldn't such a location involve a direct violation of Board of Governor restrictions on a certain Botanist's… movements?" Dumbledore said his eyes now twinkling really fast.

"The ruddy-board can shod-off for all I care, Miss Goodnight's mental-health takes precedence," Severus snarled.

"I'm more than willing to run interference with the board …but now that I think on it, I believe we should assign a responsible student to be Miss Goodnights escort for the entire weekend in case of a relapse", Professor Dumbledore said rubbing his chin as if thinking hard. "Mr. Longbottom, do you anyone who might volunteer for this kind of duty?

"Yes sir, I'd like to volunteer for that task, myself."

"It wouldn't interfere with any of your botany projects …I trust?" Dumbledore asked with a smile.

"Oh, No sir, quite the opposite in fact,"

"I expect you to make up any work assignments you miss during the performance of this duty. Is that perfectly understood?" Severus said with his customary sneer.

"Of course Sir"

"Well what are you waiting for …see to it at once," Snape retorted sternly

The pair nodded then practically ran out the door.

OoOoOoOo

Watching them go, Snape commented, "I believe she'll make it now."

"Severus I'm shocked, I don't know all the details of your arrangement with the Goodnights but I never thought I'd live to see the day that you'd play matchmaker for a pair of students here," Dumbledore said chuckling softly.

"My pre-term suggestions to the Goodnights concerning the healing of Alaire have proven spot-on in every respect. That Longbottom has also benefited by having a genuine lady-friend is also undeniable. In spite of the time she wasted by pitting Longbottom against Potter, it has become painfully obvious that since becoming a couple how much they complete each other. He has become her rock, an anchor for her emotional stability. Her rapid-recovery from the Potter duel-incident proves his calming effect on her. She in turn inspires him. We both know how hybrid productive Longbottom has been this year, and Alaire's presence in his life is clearly the cause of it …without doubt. So in the end both of them have directly profited from my alleged matchmaking.

"Besides; I seriously do not believe that the Goodnights have any long-term plans for our botanist and I think share this view. Longbottom has matured dramatically due to Alaire so I consider their relationship such as it is …to be the means of defusing Longbottom usual discomfort at being in my presence. I need our brilliant botanist of his caliber for my own potions projects, and I'm more than willing to share his talents with Ms Goodnight… the so-called potion healer.

"And the possibility, however remote …of become the godfather to one of their children after the war, has no appeal to you," Dumbledore said nearly beaming in delight

"I didn't say that, now …did I"

OoOoOoOo

Alaire sat down heavily on the futon in Neville's greenhouse …more grateful than ever for the peace and quiet. She felt so drained. She didn't have the energy to tune anyone out at the moment and with her boyfriend she didn't need too. Severus had been wrong … and intentionally so. Her mental shields weren't shot at all, however she had no intention of correcting the two professors if it meant a weekend alone with Neville.

Alaire had lowered her shields the moment she'd left the headmasters office in hopes of reading the emotions behind the stern-expression on her boyfriend's face. But Neville was unusually unreadable with his own somewhat-weak Occlumency shields firmly in place. He'd learned this skill a-bit… to keep his emotions from overwhelming Alaire when he felt strongly about something and though she was grateful for it most of the time …on this occasion; it had backfired.

Lowering her shields to tune-in Neville had translated into feeling every ounce of emotion on the short trip from the headmaster's office to Neville's blessed sanctuary. Every iota of; happiness, despair, envy and even a tinge of lust …of every student they-had passed in the halls had pounded like a jack-hammer in her head. Thankfully that all vanished the moment she had enter Greenhouse number seven. And safe behind the walls of his sanctuary, Neville's porous mental shields, which had been shielded by other-peoples stronger emotional emissions in the hallways, now, surged to the forefront. One emotion remained …the feeling that seemed to flood every inch of the living-quarters - and that was anger …and it was coming from Neville Longbottom in waves.

"Neville, I'm sorry. I should have told you earlier," she said trying to placate him …but he didn't answer. She then started to panic, what if he hated her …now that he knew that she had been unnaturally-promiscuous with John? "I-I had just tried to put my past behind me."

Still silence.

"I kind-of mentioned it once, remember?"

Neville turned from where he was staring out the window to say; "Yes …I remember."

He paused for a long moment turning to stare straight at his true-love 'Rose' - which seemed almost happy for the attention. Then without turning to face Alaire again …he asked simply; "Why?"

"Why what, Neville?" she asked, feeling as though her heart was breaking.

"Why did you act the way you did when you first got here? Why in heavens name did you come on to me and Harry the way you did? Why did you… how could you… be so outgoing about your sexuality after what that bastard did to you?"

Alaire couldn't bring herself to look at Neville. "I wanted to see what it was like …to feel that outgoing on my own. I refused to allow my date-rape by John to scare me to the point where I ceased to function as a woman. My American therapist said my outgoing bluster was my way of compensation for what John did to me …so instead of cowering in a corner afraid to be touched …I took the other road …and became as bold as brass. By openly flaunt my sexuality …pretending to reveal-in-it …as my therapist once said; by doing that… being such a huge flirt …took real balls ...a huge pair. When I feel the most vulnerable, that's when I'd behave the most bold.

"Yeah, I've seen you bold," Neville snorted.

"In public situations hell-yeah …but that just means that I'm as big a fraud as Draco Malfoy is. But I need to showboat my sexuality …like Draco does his social and Blood-status …just to get through the day," Alaire said. "I'm not like you and Ron, most of us have two masks that we wear in life. My fake one, the bold shameless flirt that I show to the world and the inner one …the real me, that only you have seen. You and Ron wear your hearts on your sleeves, your public face is your real one, what the world sees is the true you - and I envy that honesty to no end.

"I guess that once I felt that I was more in control of my empathy, once I knew that no other man could use me as John did. I realized to fully-heal I had to try romance again. I see now that Harry 'right from the get-go' was unsuitable, he wears so many masks; it's hard to tell the real-one… empathically speaking. His true feelings for me, even today… were dominated primarily with friendly concern mixed with normal teenage lust …whereas your desire for me was always balanced perfectly with solid unchanging love.

"To be honest, Neville …I'm – I'm still a-bit fearful of raw; un-bridled male lust.

An intense feeling of despair mixed with shame erupted from Neville, although he hid any outward show of it. Alaire knew the cause and instantly did damage control

"Don't pull back from me Neville; we wouldn't be having …what little sex we've had …if I didn't feel safe from abuse with you. I know in the deepest part of my soul …that you'd never take advantage of me like John did. I fell in love with you precisely because you're the exact opposite of everything that my bitter experience taught me to expect from guys. You have been sweet and sensitive to my feelings right from the start. You took care of me sexually and didn't expect anything in return.

"Neville, think about it, it feels so right for me, to be with you …that every day I grow more-willing – to try things with you …sexually …that would have been unthinkable for me …just one year-ago. You've been wonderfully patient, suffering more cold showers for my sake in a shorter period of time than Ron ever-did… with Hermione." She waited for her words to sink in but the anger continued to come off of her boyfriend in thick waves.

"Neville, why are you so mad at me? What else can I say?" Alaire pleaded, with tears of angst pouring down her cheeks.

"You think I'm angry at you?" he said disbelievingly.

"Yeah …I can feel …it's so thick …I could cut it with a knife."

"I'm not angry at you, Alaire," he sighed.

"Then . . . I-I'm confused. Just because I can feel your emotions, doesn't mean that I can tell why you're having them."

"I'm just thinking that after I deal with Bellatrix for torturing my parents …that I'm going to have to go to Brazil."

Alaire was completely floored. "What did you say?"

"I just don't understand how he could do that to you, Alaire! I mean all blokes want something to happen …on a date. We're just wired that way …but to do what he did! I-I …" Neville didn't get a chance to finish his thought …because Alaire had wrapped herself around him so tightly he could hardly breathe.

"I love you so much," she said, hugging his tighter. "But I want you listen to me; Neville Francis Longbottom. I don't need a knight in shining armor to rush off and take revenge for my stolen virtue. I need my… lover to care for me here and now, in spite of what happened in my past. Most important of all; I going to need; sometime very-soon …my man between my legs …making babies and he can't do that if he's in Brazil.

"The best thing you can do for me will happen on your futon bed …replacing the painful sex memories from America, with sweet …happy-thought-sex …laid in Great-Britain - and you're the guy to give me those happy thoughts …eight inches of throbbing happiness …every time I need it".

"But …you can't want …that? Not from me …not from anyone …not after what he did …"

"Not now, no …but soon …I'll be ready for you soon …Don't leave me, Neville. Please."

Neville could tell that Alaire was scared.

"Oh, love, I'm not going anywhere. It's just that a huge part of me wants to protect you. Anything like that ever happen over here, a full body bind and duct tape wouldn't stop me. Understand?"

Alaire nodded but still held on to him as if she would never let go.

"Alaire, I can't breathe."

She finally loosened her grip a-bit. "We don't have to go to classes, do we?"

"No. We're excused."

"Good. I don't think any glamour spell on earth could help me right now."

"Let's just finish up our homework and then, if you're a good girl, we could take a nap together."

"Not going anywhere, Neville?"

"Nope. Not going anywhere… Luv."

OoOoOoOo

Chapter 39; Mind-wipe

OoOoOoOo

Alaire spent the entire weekend after the Potter incident on edge. Neville tried his very best to comfort her but nothing seemed to help. By the following Monday; Harry had assured her several times during the day both in the Great-Hall and in the common-room that he held no grudge and that he totally understood her actions …but she remained unresponsive, giving him a blank stare and backed away if he got too close. Neither boy knew quite what to do. But, a week after her attack on Harry and after unintentionally backing away from any-kind of close proximity interaction with her devoted boyfriend …Alaire made a decision.

She walked down the hallway to the Potions room ignoring the students who were hurrying away from the frigid dungeons heading for a warm dinner. Looking into the potions lab, Alaire saw a few students still gathering up supplies. Professor Snape sat at his desk scowling at them. She waited until the classroom was empty then approached Professor Snape.

"Sir? I need to talk to you."

Snape gave her an exasperated look. "I'm busy, Ms. Goodnight. Besides, it's Friday night. Shouldn't you be with your friends?"

"I'm sorry, Professor Snape, but this won't wait. It's really important."

With an exaggerated sigh, Snape gathered up several parchments from his desk and motioned for Alaire to follow him into his office. "OK. What is so important, Alaire?"

"I want you to 'Obliviate' me," she said closing her eyes. Of all the people in this school, she thought he would understand why she wanted this done.

"What?" Snape said darkly, a sneer threatening to form on his lips.

"I said I want you to 'Obliviate' me. I know you can do it."

"It's not a question of skill, child. It's a question of why."

"Because I can't take the risk of hurting anyone else …my stupid repressed memories are slowly ruining everything I've built here …especially with Neville. I pushing him away …without intending to …thoughts of intimacy with him are getting more and more frightening every day."

Snape sat down in his chair and studied the girl across from him. There were dark circles under her eyes. Her hair was limp and ragged. The usual smirk was gone from her face. "Alaire, I cannot do what you ask."

"Yes, you can!" she pleaded.

"No. I cannot. I will not."

"Why?" she nearly sobbed.

"What you are asking is a delicate procedure done only by skilled mental-healer wizards with years of very specialized training. And, I will not take the risk of permanent damage to your mind simply because you want to forget an unfortunate encounter with a boy several years ago!"

"UNFORTUNATE ENCOUNTER …it was not an 'unfortunate encounter'? It was empathic rape! And you're telling me that you won't help me!" she shouted nearly in Snape's face.

"Alaire, this is not a problem that you are supposed to just forget. You are supposed to deal with it and not allow it to happen again. You have had as much Occlumency training as I've had now. You will recognize anyone who tries to force themselves upon you and automatically block them out."

"THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM! IT'S WHAT I MIGHT DO TO SOMEONE ELSE IF I GET SCARED …THAT'S THE PROBLEM!"

"Alaire –"

"What if I have a relapse? What if something else happened to me back in North Carolina… that I don't remember? I could hurt someone else for no reason… really badly. The most innocent touch during foreplay with Neville could act as a subconscious-trigger …then I lose it again and start attacking him… heaven-forbid? I could freak-out during sex with the man I love and end-up killing him …Please …you've got to help me!"

"Alaire, I'm not a specialist in bad memories," Snape said carefully. "However, I do strongly BELIEVE that what happened was a one-time event in a long life. I've seen with my own eyes the positive effect that your Mr. Longbottom has had on your boy-trust issues. That you have told me your-self …that your relationship has in your own words; 'gone way-beyond kissing" …that he can undress you completely, openly grope and fondle you without violent repercussions' …something we both know would have been impossible ten months ago… is the best indication of all …that you're well on the road to a normal sexual relationship with a man."

"Not a specialist on bad memories …my arse!" Alaire's snorted. "Then what is that huge bowl of painful history that you call a Pensieve? All the good times that you've had that you just can't stand to think about any more?"

"Miss Goodnight …that is enough!" he snarled. "My memories are my own business."

"No, they're not! You're telling me that I have to live with my bad memories when you conveniently store yours up on a shelf!" She leaned over the desk and stared at him defiantly. "I believe that in Wizarding terms that's the cauldron calling the kettle black."

"How I manage my memories affects no one else. It is strictly my business. This conversation is over." He stood and motioned for her to exit.

"I don't think so. Your memories affect me every day, Professor Snape. They've made you the person that you are and, right now, you're an antisocial… great big pain in the… –"

"…Miss Goodnight," Severus interrupted …"I suggest you watch your language …or I will cast a silencing spell on you for the rest of your time here."

"Then teach me how to use a pensive, let me store in tiny bottles all my memories of that night as you do" she pleaded.

"No, that method leaves gaps in your memories," Snape spat back, "that cause you mind to fill these blank spaces with fantasies that are a thousand times worse than what really happed.

"Fine; if you won't let me use a Pensieve and you won't Obliviate me. Fine - - I'll do it myself!" she screamed, pulling her wand from her back pocket and pointed it at her temple. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on that fateful evening and began to mutter; 'Obliviate, Obliviate – Obliviate!"

She had reached the third term when she was hit with a force that blew her back into the wall. When she opened her eyes, she saw Snape's concerned face staring down at her.

"Are you OK?"

"No I'm not OK! What the hell did you hit me with?"

"Language, Miss Goodnight. I used Expelliarmus."

"Just grabbing my wand didn't occur to you?"

"Were you really trying to Obliviate yourself, Alaire?" Snape asked as he helped her to her feet.

"Yes."

Snape sighed. "That's not necessary. I think we need to have a long talk and if after that you still want to erase your memory, I'll have Dumbledore call in a mental healer, they are the only ones qualified to do what you want."

He helped her back to her chair and produced at teapot out of thin air. The scent of peaches wafted over to her.

"You've been talking to Dumbledore. He made me that tea once."

"Yes. And it's also a logical choice taking into account your upbringing."

"You could be wrong. I could have a thing for blueberries."

"You don't. Drink up."

"Why do you Brits always think that a cup of tea will make everything better? Every time I've been upset over here, someone has shoved a cup of tea in my hands. It's like it's some magical elixir." She took a drink then sat back choking. "That's not just tea!"

"No. I put in some restorative potion to help calm you."

"Restorative potion …my ass …that tastes like brandy!"

"One would wonder how a 'shy' reclusive student such as your-self …would know what brandy tasted like," Severus sneered. "Let me assure you, it's a restorative potion. Now, I believe that we were going to have a much delayed and much needed 'long talk'." He sat back in his chair and arranged his robes. "You think that I'm an arrogant son-of-a-bitch …with such a tragic past …that the things I've done keep me from bonding with my students. Is that right?"

Alaire stared at him in wonder.

"Well, you would be partially right in that assessment, however, but don't pretend to be naive and tell me that life is strictly black and white. We both know better. I indeed have my reasons for bottling up my past and I know you will give me no rest until I explain myself to you fully," Severus said as with a flick of his wand the door to the room closed and locked.

"I went to Hogwarts many, many years ago. I was sorted into Slytherin my first year. I wasn't at all happy there. I had a pre-Hogwarts girlfriend, from my old-neighborhood back home and when she was sorted into Gryffindor, it was the beginning of the end for us. For six years everything was fine, our relationship was strained and persecuted by snobbish members within both our houses… but somehow we kept it going. However, in spite of my best efforts …we were doomed to a Shakespearian ending. For during our seventh year I lost her heart …to an arrogant Prankster from inside her house. He was the stereotypical good-looking Quidditch-jock… smugly arrogant just like his three friends and he used tricks and slander to turn her ever so gradually against me. Finally to prove his superiority over a lowly Slytherin they started a four against one prank-war which made my life miserable."

Severus took a deep breath as he confronted his own memories. "I made as many enemies with my know-it-all attitude as Granger has in her time here, but I lacked a kind-hearted red-haired peacemaker to keep me on speaking terms with my peers. People deeply resent people who are smarter than they are and Granger is more fortunate than she'll ever realize to have Weasley. Friendless, I never gave a second thought as to why my peers hated me."

Alaire was shocked to hear Snape admit that he'd been the Granger of his time, alienating his peers by his potion-brilliance as Hermione was doing now with loads more subjects. But without the saving grace of friends …or more vital …a female version of Ron, within Slytherin …a girl that would have kept Severus grounded; a diplomat that would have modified Severus excesses as Ron did for the Head-Girl.

Alaire watched Snape's face and tuning-him-in …she felt his emotions; anxiety, sadness, and even a remnant of bitterness and hate for everyone that made him feel alone and isolated. Loneness exudes from her potion master in thick waves.

"There were four of them and only one of me. I got no help from my house-mates for Slytherin unwritten motto is 'everyone is an island, so trust no-one'. I fought the best I could, but the odds were against me. Then I did something really stupid, and lost forever the girl I loved. I begged for forgiveness, but …well never mind". Severus said, as the sadness of that particular memory nearly overwhelming Alaire.

"When she utterly rejected me …I was in a very vulnerable state of mind, Alaire. That arrogant Gryffindor had won, he had her, and yet the unfair prank war against me continued unabated. Outnumbered and with no-one on my side to help, I gave serious thought to using Dark Magic against those I thought were my enemies." Snake smirked at Alaire's startled face. "I had just lost the girl I loved to a single-act of stupid blood-prejudice …so I wasn't a very nice person back then. It's ironic really; to think about embittered Granger would be at this point in her Hogwarts experience had she not had captured …during fourth-year …the heart and soul of the youngest-male Weasley. Come to think-on–it, Ginerva is changing Draco into …never mind.

Without a Weasley-type of personal-savior in my life back then, to keep me on the straight and narrow, I became deeply embittered; it was me against the world …and that has been the way it has remained, Miss Goodnight …all my life. Am I correct in assuming that your relationship with Mr. Longbottom has become …serious?"

"I love him, if that's what you."

"You think you love him, I see that," Severus said calmly. But you're still haunted by lingering trust issues thanks to Mr. Canady. Or you wouldn't fear being more…intimate with Neville. Luckily for you; being an empath …you must know with absolute-certainty that he loves you?"

Rather than waste any time denying that she had used her powers to reassure herself how Neville felt, with a sigh, Alaire admitted the truth.

"Neville loves me, more than life itself and he has admitted that to me verbally …more than once. He even said as much in words and under the Soul Versa, a truth-spell at Christmas …in front of my parents.

"Your romantic 'LUCK' seems to be as good as Ms. Granger's," Severus said sincerely. "Having friends, and more importantly being sincerely loved by someone special, will most likely prevent you from choosing the wrong path in life.

"You chose the wrong path?" Alaire asked.

"Let's just say that I feel into the wrong crowd, one bad-deed led to another, and I ended-up committing some atrocities which I have recently tried to make amends for. In fact …I am still in the process of make amends for them. I have not stored away on a shelf as you call it, the mistakes I made; that led-up to the commitment of several serious crimes …nor have I entirely escaped punishment for my misdeeds. The Headmaster, spoke on my behalf at my trial, and you could say that I was paroled into his custody. Now do you understand why I use a Pensieve?"

"Guilt."

"Guilt, my dear is only a tiny-part of it."

"What did you do? Was it worse than beating someone up?"

"Much-much worse, I assure you."

"Oh. Did you ever k . . ."

"…No. I did not. Murder in this country is punishable with the 'KISS.' And I couldn't have that kind of memories Obliviated - it's illegal," Severus said in a mono-tone voice. However, I have done things, terrible things that were …just short of the unforgivable's, that still haunt me."

"So you live as a flagellant penitent of the middle-ages. Beating your-self daily like the monks used to do to atone for past sins."

"I am not trying to save my soul, Alaire."

"I believe you are Professor."

"Well you are entitled to believe what you wish, no matter how foolish," he snapped. "But I assure you what you are going through pales in every comparison to what I have done and gone through. I also believe that your attack on Potter was as much his fault as yours."

"How can you blame the victim?"

Snape snorted, "Please... spare-me. Potter is as helpless as a Dementor. I used legilimens on you and saw your memories that night in the infirmary, Alaire. I am quite aware of what you were sensing from him and it was not friendship. His mind was thick with raw lust, without one iota of love to offset the animal passion within him.

"We both know that the great Potter, has a sexually perverted mind that parallels Mr. Finnegan in depravity, a dark-side of his character that no-one else knows about. He was going to make an unwelcomed sexual advance and reviled in the belief that you were helpless and therefore unable to stop him. Granted …it wasn't going to be the extreme that American boy took advantage of …in your youth, but it was still very unwelcomed. You had every right to do what you did. I part of me just wishes I was there to see him get what he deserved."

"That's an awful thing to say! I could have seriously hurt; Harry!"

"Yes, you could have. But in the end you did not. I believe that this particular defense mechanism you have is very …beneficial."

"Beneficial? I could have killed him. He's my friend!"

"Who was doing something that reminded you strongly of John… that American bastard? Part of your mind knew that it was Potter and that's why your reaction was so …restrained. I'm sure if it had anyone else, Mr. Finnegan for example …the outcome would have been far more severe."

"Like what?" Alaire asked, not brothering to protest the 'restrained' comment.

Snape sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "As much as I hate to mentally imagine this particular scenario, you are leaving me no other choice than to spell it out. I firmly believe that if it had been Mr. Finnegan who had rendered you helpless… or worst yet; Theodore Nott of Slytherin, who I regret to say has assaulted a few of his Slytherin female housemates this term; sharing as he does, his father's low-option of women. I feel that if Mr. Nott had rendered you helpless, with the same perverted intentions that you sensed in Potter. Mr. Nott would be in a coma at this moment… if not dead.

"That's what I'm scared shitless about; Dammit?" Alaire screamed.

"Self-defense against a rapist who'd kill you after he had his 'fun' is fully justified Alaire and you know it," Snape retorted hotly. "But now… let's turn this scenario on its ear; from one of the most dedicated 'DE" wantabe's within Slytherin to…Longbottom …what if he rendered you helpless …in a mock-duel or just fooling around in that greenhouse of his. If you had sensed Neville's lust for you, mixed with equal portions' of love …instead of Potter or Nott's animalistic desires …If it had been your precious Neville… just try to deny to me… that the outcome of this incident wouldn't have been far different.

Alaire had that deer in the headlights look on her face again and then she blushed really-really HARD.

Having achieved a clear bulls-eye on target, Severus couldn't hold back the smile. "Think back and tell me truthfully if you would have been frightened at all …if it had been Longbottom instead of Potter who had you trapped like that."

Alaire blushed. "I don't think how far I'm prepared to go in my love life is any of your concern professors."

"No… it's not and I thank-Merlin for that. But you didn't answer my question."

"No," she admitted softly. "I don't think I would have minded being helpless underneath Neville …nor would I have snapped."

Snape nodded his head, "very good, we've established what pulls the trigger, now how about this, instead of Potter, Finnegan or Nott, where your response was restrained by somewhat-knowing to varying-degrees your attacker. Image that you were rendered helpless by someone you didn't know at all. Say someone wearing dark robes and a mask."

"You mean a Death Eater."

"Precisely," Severus said as a instructor trying to teach a lesson.

Alaire looked down at her tea cup and thought about it. Just the idea of that scenario filled her with more panic than she remembered having before she attacked Harry. She knew she would have gone ballistic, and doubted she would have stopped an even more intensively-violent reaction.

"I think you can see now why I say this particular defense mechanism would be personally beneficial," Snape said smugly. "Potter said he had you under a full binding spell, and Potter doesn't do his defensive work half-arse. He also said he had disarmed you. So tell me Ms. Goodnight …how did you break free of a binding spell, magically throw Potter off of you by at least ten feet, so that you could instantly pounce on him and beat the living-snout out of one the best duelist this school has ever produced.

"Accidental magic …maybe?," Alaire asked uncertain

"Rubbish," Severus snorted. "That was no accident. I personally believe that you have developed unconsciously …due to your bad experience in America with John. An automatic and totally wand-less magical response for whenever you feel seriously threatened …to trigger this weapon, simply allow your emotion shields to drop, absorb the intensity of the threat, and that should set-off the same kind of instinctive defensive-magic that you used on Potter.

"But what if I kill someone, sir," she whispered.

"And by doing so you save yourself from death …or more importantly someone who you love?" Severus retorted sarcastically. "This is a war, Alaire. If you can't kill to save Longbottom from being killed, then you don't really love him."

"I see your point, Sir," Alaire said as reality smacked her hard in the face.

"Good, now if you don't mind I still have loads of work to do."

Alaire looked up and smiled slightly at the potion master. "Thank-you sir."

"You're welcome," he said. "Now please leave my office. I do not enjoy having students linger in here too long. You never know what they might be plotting …especially Gryffindork's."

Alaire held back a snort. "Well we can't all be Slytherin's you know."

"Thank Merlin for that."

OoOoOoOo

Alaire left the room and made her way back to Gryffindor Tower. As she reached the fifth-floor she heard someone shout her name. Turning around, she was abruptly wrapped up in a pair of arms. At first Alaire was afraid she was going to do something violent, but then she realized she wasn't panicked at all. In fact, she seemed to be relieved as did the man that was holding her so tightly. She knew who it was right away. His robes smelled of sun, greenery and with that special-bit of himself mixed in.

"I was worried about you. You just disappeared for two hours," Neville said hugging her hard. "Are you all right?"

"I feel better than I have in weeks," Alaire said happily snuggling into him.

"Are you sure? I mean are you all right, I mean with everything?" Neville asked. His eyes held concern as he looked down on her.

Alaire smiled up at her adorable boyfriend. "Yes, I believe I am."

"Good."

"There is one thing though I think would make me feel even better," Alaire said smiling softly.

"What?"

"You let me spend the entire night in your greenhouse. You know how better I sleep when I snuggle with you."

A huge grin crossed Neville's face. "I think that can be arranged.

OoOoOoOo

Chapter 40

The ultimate Yoga revenge Hogwarts library; early evening.

OoOoOoOo

"Neville, now you know that I love you."

His only response was to sigh. Usually, when Alaire started a sentence with those words, something bad was about to happen.

"Just promise not to get mad or jealous."

"Why am I about to become jealous?"

"Well, you know that the guys have been watching our yoga class for most of the year?"

"Yeah, but what does that…" Neville asked.

"…Hmmm, Alaire interrupted instantly. "The Girls have decided that it's high-time that they collectively pay for their free entertainment. Don't join them on the steps tomorrow. Please."

"Alaire, you know that I never lied to you about watching. Seeing you exercise has been a gift from the Gods for me. You're just so beautiful.

I'm glad you think so," Alaire replied with a warm smile, "and I'm proud that you were so up-front about watching. You and Ron have been the only two who have admitted what you were doing", Alaire said calmly. "I just don't understand why you bother, you've seen me in only knickers countless times now - and I like to sleep all but naked in your arms at night. So what's the big-deal about seeing me in exercise tights?"

"Oh, it's not just the sight of you in spandex; I'm addicted to watching you irregardless of what you have on at the moment". Neville declared in shameless admiration. "Just saying your beautiful is actually a gross understated …if it wasn't for the stairway-punishment, I'd follow you around like a puppy.

"You really do love me that much …don't you?" Alaire said feeling truly humbled.

"You doubt me?" Neville said, unable to keep the hurt out of his voice.

"No sweetheart, not at all. However, I do need you to forgo watching me during yoga tomorrow?"

"What are you guys up to?" Neville asked suddenly very suspicious.

"Just promise me, no yoga tomorrow."

Neville watched as Alaire simply smiled, stood up, and wandered over to Hermione who was sitting in a cozy chair nearby reading.

"So, are you ready for tomorrow's yoga class?"

To Neville's amazement, Hermione gave Alaire a brilliant smile. "Yeah, it's going to be great. I've heard so much about couple's yoga."

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it, too. Have you decided what pose you want to try?" Alaire stretched her arms upward. "I think I want to see if we can do the Partner's Padahastasana Ginny usually partners me but to do true couple's yoga, we should be about the same size. Want to see how we size up? I know I'm shorter than Ginny."

"Sure." Hermione stood up and placed her back against Alaire's. By now, Ron had looked up to see his girlfriend standing back to back with Alaire. He watched as they grasped hands then stepped apart.

"I believe we have to bend over at this point," Hermione instructed.

This got the attention of Seamus who poked Dean who nudged Harry. Soon the girls had the interest of most of the male population of the Library all of whom watched as the two girls balanced precariously on their toes as leaned away from each other. Suddenly, they broke off from one another. Hermione fell into the arms of Dean while Alaire landed in Ron's lap.

"Oops! Sorry, Ron," Alaire apologized as she extricated herself from his grip.

She turned to Hermione who was carefully removing Dean's hands from her rump. "I guess we'll just have to practice some more on Saturday morning, eh?"

"Yes indeed. It'll be easier then because we'll be properly dressed for it. It's hard to do anything in these uniforms. Don't you agree, Ginny?"

Ginny could only nod not trusting herself to speak without breaking down with laughter.

"OK. Well, I'd better head up to the tower then. I'm finished with my homework." Hermione leaned down and kissed Ron on the cheek. "I'll see you for breakfast, remember your promise." Ron then nodded as he watched as the Head-girl walked away.

Alaire stretched and yawned. "I think I'll join her. I'm beat. Too much homework for my own good," She went to gather her things from beside Neville. "Remember, no yoga for you tomorrow …don't go near the stairs," she whispered as she kissed him near his ear, "Goodnight-Luv."

Neville had a sudden urge to warn his roommates… but stifled the idea as he watched Seamus eye Alaire arse …as she left the library to go to her dorm-room. He had earned the right to ogle Alaire, for she'd been his official girlfriend for months now. He still had jealousy issues, no bloke with a beautiful well-built girlfriend can ever lose them completely. Alaire frankly had the figure of a Play-wizard centerfold, and that meant that Blokes would always be looking as Seamus just did.

It had been at Alaire often repeated insistence that Neville had refrained up to now; from pounding Finnegan into the ground …so If he couldn't take revenge on Seamus then Alaire was perhaps; better prepositioned to exact the kind-of divine-punishment for Finnegan and the other randy-Gits for ogling his girl.

Neville couldn't help at times like this to feel a-bit envious of Ron's invisible girlfriend, for no-one; not even Seamus, ever mentally undressed the Head-Girl. The fact that no-male except for one, ever-gave Hermione a second glance as a girl …now that Neville had a moment to think-it through… was actually a good thing. Ron's protective temper in regard to his Granger was notorious. The Hospital-wing would be filled to the rafters with victims of Ron's wrath had not the cock-tease diversion in the Great Hall proved-beyond doubt, Hermione's invisibility to any other male. Draco had similar protective jealousy concerning Ginny; but luckily, his spell-work was so pathetic no one had come close to being harmed by Draco.

OoOoOoOo

The next morning as requested by Alaire …Neville had allocated part of his two-hour socializing time for breakfast in the Great Hall. When his girlfriend joined him at the table he was surprised to see that she was wearing her normal yoga spandex exercise-pants and jacket.

It was most unusual for her to wear the outfit in the Great Hall, precisely because of the drooling expressions of the other boys at the other house tables. Alaire who used her carnal-boldness to offset her fear of boys… actually hated being glared at like a piece of meat, so for her to do it deliberately that morning …should have been a red-flag for anyone who was actually thinking at that moment with the head… above their waistline.

After being played the fool once already during the diversion Ginny had demanded …to get her infamous 'Draco Fix'. Neville couldn't help but feel resentment when he saw the same scenario played out yet-again. So when Alaire ever so casually slipped off her jacket to reveal to one and all that her exercise top the left-exposed an usually large-amount of tastefully done cleavage. Well you know what they say; 'Once burned …twice shy'.

With Alaire so obviously flaunted her sexuality …that could only mean one thing to Neville …the game was afoot, and a demonstration of Girl-power was about to begin. The next act in this cock-tease prelude before the main performance made Neville dropped his spoon as Ginerva Molly Weasley walked in. She was wearing skintight stretchy shorts, a form-fitting tank top, and a jacket that she had left deliberately unzipped, the sixth-year girl was all-but dripping with overheated-seductive power. Somewhere across the Great Hall Neville heard the jaws of dozens of boy's abruptly-drop… and then a moment later, someone cursed softly at the Slytherin table. Looking over, Neville saw Vincent Crabbe stunned motionless; utterly spellbound by the sight of the sexiness and only female Weasley in ten generations. Dammit. The poor-boy was literally drooling at the dancer-firm legs of Ginny, fortunately or more likely by design; Draco had somehow missed breakfast that morning, or the trap would have been sprung early.

Hermione was the last to enter, and of course she was the least noticed. Neville gave her a look-over just to see if she had made any extra effort to dress sexy, and indeed she had, exposing more bare flesh than at another time since coming to Hogwarts. This showed her dedication to the cause of Girl-power… however, as expected …only one male gave the head-girl a second glance and Neville couldn't help but chuckle at the look of lustful-worship that Hermione received exclusively from her Ron.

"Ahem. Earth calling, Neville… come in, Neville!" He turned to see Alaire giving him an odd smile.

"May I ask what you find so amusing? I'm sitting next to you half-naked and you don't seem to care".

"I do care," Neville snapped, trying to suppress his growing resentment. "But just like last time you did this in the Great Hall …I know that you're not dressing sexy, for me." and with that said …the very put-upon botanist got up from the table abruptly and without another word … marched briskly out of the Hall.

Alaire just sat there gob-smacked, completely at a loss to explain her boyfriend's actions. "What was he going on about?" she said to herself.

"Harry, I wish I had mirror", Ginny giggled. "If you could only see your face right now, actually, you can. Look at Seamus." Harry glanced over to see his buddy of seven years with his mouth hanging open and a spoon dripping porridge frozen in front of bowl. Openly staring without shame at Alaire's cleavage display… next to him, Dean was equally spellbound as his attention was fixated on barely covered buttocks of Luna Lovegood, whose' Ravenclaw backside was clearly visible from where he sat.

Harry quickly closed his mouth and diverted his eyes, but his regained composure didn't last long as other girls from the Yoga class entered the Great Hall for breakfast. In particular Harry radar detected Daphne Greengrass as she entered the hall. She like the other girls in the class had gone out of her way to dress sexy. She gave Harry a seductive-smile and wiggled her butt in his direction in an unspoken invitation. Harry grinned back like an idiot… utterly-spellbound.

"Ready for the couple's yoga-class, Ginny?" Hermione asked as she surveyed the Great Hall, the boys were behaving as predicted, which meant the trap was baited. Smiling in contentment the Head Girl sat down and deftly buttered a piece of toast.

"Yeah, I'm gonna work with Marison from Hufflepuff. We're about the same height and build."

"I think Alaire and I are going to be together today." She looked up at Alaire innocently.

"Sure. I think we would be good together," Alaire said half-heartedly in agreement, still trying to puzzle-out her boyfriend's odd behavior.

"I wish you had worn your shorts though, Alaire. It's important that you have skin-on-skin contact so that you know exactly what your partner is doing."

Crash! - Bang! - …Five plates hit the floor at exactly the same time. Alaire quickly hid her obvious amusement by pretending to drop her fork. When she sat back up, Hermione was calmly spooning scrambled eggs onto her plate. She risked a glance around the table. Most of the Gryffindor boys were busy staring at their plates.

"You know, Hermione, you're right. Luckily, I have on my shorts under my pants. I'll just strip-down once we get to the yoga room. Ready; Ginny? We need to get all the mats and such set up."

Ginny stood and slowly drank her pumpkin juice. "Now, I'm ready. See you in a few, Hermione."

OoOoOoOo

Forty-five minutes later, the steps across the hall from the yoga room were stuffed to overflowing. Ron was squeezed against the wall by Seamus. Dean was trying to peer around Colin Creevey's head but had to keep pushing Harry out of the way to get a peek.

Neville arrived late, for he was still a bit upset, at his girlfriend acting like a trollop – again - in the Great Hall. Alaire didn't seem to care at all …what the flaunting her sexuality for the benefit of other men cost him in being publicly perceived as being cuckolded. It wasn't a matter of ownership …He knew he was fortunate for every moment she could spare for him… seeing as she could easily do better than a clumsy botanist. Alaire could never be property to him. However; there were times when respecting girls independence …like now, was a major pain in the arse.

That she had told him in advance that she was going to do …to put a bunch of randy Gits in their place, was a kindness in a way …but that didn't lessen the hurt of being humiliated in front of his friends …not all that much… anyway. Neville didn't have to be an empath to figure-out what people thought of him when his girlfriend shameless flirted with other blokes. He knew that they would see Alaire coming-on to other blokes as a clear indicator that her relationship with him …wasn't all that-secure… and that the American was open to a better-offer. Neville couldn't blame them for thinking that …for the same thought tormented him day and night.

So He had been torn between curiosity of whatever prank the girls had planned - and staying out of the way for emotional self-preservation. Neville took no pride in the knowledge that HIS girl could turn every bloke he knew… with one very notable exception …into drooling idiots'. In the end, pathetically …he couldn't stay-away, his need to be near-her …like a moth to a flame … got the better of him. Seeing Ron on the steps made Neville realize that Ron shared this weakness.

But instead of sitting down with the rest of the crowd on the stairs, he leaned against the wall twenty-paces down in the hallway from the other overly randy-boys. From where he stood Neville could barely see a small area of the yoga room …through a hall-window to the outside and back inside …through the picture window of yoga classroom. He couldn't see Alaire at all …why put himself through the self-abuse that came from a better view of his outgoing girlfriend blatant sexually on display… for the benefit of others.

Soon he heard a slow chanting music fill the hall punctuated by the ooh's and ah's of the audience. By openly the window and leaning out, Neville could barely make out an almost naked Ginny Weasley doing a backbend over another girl's body. Then unexpectedly; Alaire came into view of the window, wearing almost nothing bending forward from the waist as she held a scantily-clad Hermione's hands.

Anxiety tore through him like a knife, he felt jealous of the boys on the stairs beyond description. He felt unsure of everything he had with Alaire, and struggled with these unhealthy emotions, thankful; that his girlfriend was too far away to read-him. A moment later, from behind him, he heard the familiar voice of Draco Malfoy asking. "What's going on Longbottom? Ginerva is supposed to be having a Yoga class somewhere around here, and I can't get down the stairs due a cartload of groaning blokes."

At that moment, the boys groaned in unison again, and glancing out the window, Neville saw those few girls he could see, Ginny among them …bent over at the waist facing the boys on the stairs, their barely covered breasts dangling down and swaying back and forth.

Draco looking over Neville's shoulder; snarled, his temper flaring. "Are they staring at my Ginerva, I'll get them …I'll get them all." And pulling out his wand he began to storm off in the direction of the fifty-odd boys sitting on the stairs. Neville reacted instinctively, and a moment later he shouted "Pertrificus Totalus" followed by; "Silencio and Accio Malfoy." A moment later a simply furious Malfoy slid back …as if dragged by invisible hands back to where Neville stood. Looking down… Neville then said in a whisper:

"I know you're pissed. But Ginny would kill me if I let you get into a hexing battle with fifty very-randy blokes. So why don't we stay-put and sit-out whatever girl-power 'prank' our ladies have in mind; for the blokes you were about to hex?"

Neville dragged Draco a-bit further down the Hallway, and then sat down and waited for whatever was planned to end. Thirty agonizing minutes later; for Neville anyway… after countless loud groans from the boys on the stairs the door to the yoga-room swung open. The boys began to scramble to make their getaway but quickly found they couldn't move.

"What the…? Bloody Hell! They've put a sticking charm on the stairs!" Seamus bellowed.

"What! Oh, no! Someone do the counter-curse, quick!" squeaked Colin. "Come on, Harry! Do some super-magic!"

"I'm trying! But my hands are stuck to the stairs!"

Harry turned to see a livid Hermione staring him down. She was now dressed in the bottom half of a track sweat-suit and matching sweat jacket so her entire yoga outfit was-now fully covered up.

"I do believe, boys, that you are all stuck." Ginny Weasley gave them a sweet grin. "And, if my new charm works, it should be quite awhile …until it wears off on its own."

"Wears off? What's going on, Weasley?" Seamus asked. "Just do the counter-charm."

"I can't."

"What?"

"It doesn't work that way. You see, I recently learned how to modulate a curse or charm according to how a person reacts to it."

"You see, Ronald," Hermione said furiously; as she turned toward her fiancée and unzipped her sweat-suit jacket to reveal the same low-cut top she had worn to the class. "The more AROUSED you are, the more you are stuck to the stairs."

Ron narrowed his eyes and turned toward his sister. "Ginny, you promised me that you would NEVER prank me again." Ron looked like he was going to cry. "I have Quidditch practice this afternoon."

"Hmmm. That's too bad." Hermione said as she leaned down; grabbed-hold of Ron chin and gave him a sexy lingering kiss. "I warned you not to come today, but you weren't listening …as usual. You have to trust me enough to know, that I don't need to be followed about everywhere I go. I'm a big girl now. It's also a pity that I'm clearly not enough of a woman for you …too bad …that you had to come here stare at all these other half-naked trollops. Honestly I don't know why I put up-with you?"

"That's pure Bullocks Hermione and you know," Harry snapped with infuriated contempt, as Ron suddenly acquired a fatally-wounded expression on his face… his hurt look made Harry even madder. "Alright, you caught us out, I get that …you don't want us watching you girls bend and stretch …I get that too.

"Harry …language," Hermione said in the tone of a mother reprimanding a child.

"Stick it up your arse …Head-girl," Harry spat; his anger flaring hot, which left Hermione utterly gob-smacked. "And stop mothering me, for Merlin's sake …I'm almost eighteen. Okay, I'm guilty of being a randy-Git …like all the other normal bloke's that you've caught in your ever so clever trap …so what? But don't you dare accuse my best mate of looking at any other girl in this blood school …beside you.

Hermione took a step back stunned at Harry's outburst.

"Are you so bloody self-righteously in your; I'm always right about everything smugness …that you didn't you see the way that Ron behaved in the Great Hall this morning. I challenge you or anyone else that was there; to claim that Ron …with all those other birds sitting about half-starker's in the Great-Hall …each and every one of them with better figures than you'll ever have. I challenge you to claim that your love-sick Boyfriend looked …even once… at any other girl in the Great Hall …or here …right now …but you!

"Honestly, Harry, I was just trying too …"

"…to make him feel unworthy of you?" Harry interrupted pointing with his head at Ron who was looking at his feet, a broken man. "Well bravo Granger, just look at him, he's afraid you're going to dump him."

Hermione looked at her wreck of a boyfriend horrified, "Oh my God."

Ginny saw it too, "Ron …get up," she said softly and her brother, without thinking instantly obeyed.

"Hey how come he can get up and we can't" Seamus complained.

"My hex is based on arousal, you stupid Prat. It takes just one look at Hermione in her every-day… unsexy, school-uniform… to get my brother as randy as all get-out …and two words to deflate his …'ego' and make him feel like shite." Ginny said; now looking at Hermione with pure-disgust …as her bother began to mindlessly wander down the hallway …walking in a depressed daze like a zombie, right by Neville and Draco …without seeing either boy and then out of sight around a corner.

"You better go after him, and do a-bit of damage-control, Hermione," Ginny snarled as she watched her brother disappear. "Before my heartbroken brother in an act of despondency …hangs himself in the Room of Requirement." And nodding her head… Hermione dashed off after her fiancée.

"Okay; Ron gets a pass, because we all know that he was only looking at Granger", Alaire said with a grim smirk. "But what about the rest of you boys …anyone here wants to try to claim that they only had eyes for their own girlfriends in the yoga room. How about-you, Harry?

"Yes I like to hear the answer myself?" Daphne Greengrass said steeping forward.

"I took in all the eye-candy in the Yoga room," Harry admitted without hesitation. "And why not …didn't you make it clear to me right from the off, Daphne …that only Gryffindork's …like Neville and Ron; are …monogamous. You didn't want to date me exclusively, because a wise Slytherin girl plays the field for as long as they can …until their families force them into an arranged marriage."

"Harry …I …"Daphne began tearing-up realizing her mistake.

"…There is no place for Love in a relationship with a Slytherin", Harry spat interpreting the Slytherin's… no romantic ties attitude correctly …and feeling clearly embittered. "You did know that about the snakes …didn't you …Ginerva? But then again, maybe you have a better shot than I did, at getting any kind of commitment out of one of them …being a 'frigin' pure blood …your-self? The same doesn't apply for me it seems, for you snakes; as I've been told …repeatedly - deduct points - if you're a mere …half-blood." Harry said as his resentment overrode any lingering arousal and abruptly standing up …he stormed down the rest of the stairway without giving a sobbing Daphne a passing glance.

Ginny looked shocked at what she heard and turning to a weeping Daphne …she suddenly knew that Harry had spoken an unpleasant truth. "I really pity you-lot," she said to the Slytherin. Before turning to the other half-naked girls and saying; "Looks to me that the boy-who-lived is now in-the-market for a new girlfriend, someone who is dorky-enough to want to date him exclusively."

Hearing this Daphne ran down the stairs sobbing loudly.

"Right then", Ginny said glaring at the remaining stuck to the stairs boys. "Harry also gets a pass …for being dumb-enough to date a heartless Slytherin bitch with blood-status issues". Does anyone else have a sob-story to tell, or are you-lot still unable to tear your eyes off my cleavage?" the red-head said as she slightly bent over and jiggled her Bobbies, there were a few groans in response from the boys,

"Girls, a little help please." Alaire said stepping forward and bending over next to Ginny. Three other girls stepped up into the line and did a bump and grind as Alaire shook her barely covered tits alongside of Ginny's. A much-louder groan of frustrated arousal erupted from the boys which was for Ginny and Alaire a very satisfying sound.

"We girls have known for some time that we had an audience", Alaire said boldly. "We got together and decided that your voyeurism should be punished in a way that would be remembered for a good, long time. Our outfits at breakfast were chosen to arouse you randy Gits into a fit of agitation." Alaire then looked around carefully for Neville and was pleased to see that he wasn't among the victims of their little trap.

The girls then one-by-one; began to walk down the stairs …ignoring the pleas of the trapped boys. Soon the hall was silent except for the occasional grunt from someone trying to free himself.

OoOoOoOo

"OK, the only way we are going to get out of here is to think of something else!" Dean said with an authoritative voice.

"Oh, yeah! That's easy for you to say," Seamus whimpered.

"We just have to think of things that are unsexy," Colin suggested.

"Such as?"

"how about old Snape in a string bikini?" Justin Finch-Fletchley ventured.

"Aaarrggh!" The boys screamed.

"Filch in leather thong."

"Nooo! Ugh!"

They began to get creative in their anti-sexy mental images and soon… they were all laughing so hard …that they didn't even notice that the spell had been broken.

"Hey! Hey! I'm free!" Ernie Macmillian said as he jumped-up and grabbed his dorm-mate Wayne Hopkins. He gave a pull and soon the two were in a heap on the floor. Soon, all of the boys were free.

"I swear I will never spy on the girls again," Dean said with a sigh.

"I think I have a better oath," Seamus suggested. "I swear to Never, EVER …piss off Ginny, Hermione, and Alaire again."

"Hear! Hear!" The boys chorused as they made their way to lunch. Although several people in the Great Hall wondered why they all ate …standing up.

OoOoOoOo

"Did you hear all that?" Neville whispered to a still magically body-bound and silenced Draco. "Your Ginny dressed like a trollop to teach a bunch of randy-Gits a lesson. She wasn't cheating on you, and hexing a bunch of randy pussy-hounds Prats - that couldn't defend themselves - would have gotten your arse expelled.

"Finite Incantatem"

"You saved me …why?"- Draco asked sitting up slowly.

"Ginny is one of the few real friends that I have around here, and I'd do anything to see her happy. Merlin knows why …but for some odd-reason I've come to believe that she has fallen in love with you. Getting expelled for hexing those Gits, would make her unhappy, and I couldn't let that happen …plain and simple. Need I point out that if you break her heart …"

"…You'll kill me," Draco interrupted with a sad smile

"Oh no …I won't do anything rash like that, but I will help Gin-gin dispose of whatever-bits still remain of your body."

Draco had the grace to look at Neville with gob-smacked shock.

"You really have no idea how dangerous that girl can be …do you?" Neville asked helping Draco to his feet. "God gave that girl red-hair as a warning to any bloke that takes her for granted."

"Yeah …she is a wild-cat …isn't she?" Draco said smiling big.

"Yes she is,"

"You dated her once," Draco said in a matter of fact tone, devoid of any jealousy.

"Yes …but I didn't measure-up", Neville said with clear regret.

"If I treat her right, would you be my friend too?" Draco asked with fearful hesitation.

"You treat Gin-gin right …make her happy, and I'll become your best-mate ever."

"Consider it done, Neville!"

"Then I've got your back …Draco," Neville said holding out his hand in friendship. Draco shook the extended hand, feeling happier than any other time in his life. As the two young men headed off in opposite directions, Draco smiling like an idiot said to himself

"Hooking up with Ginerva has been without doubt …the smartest move I've ever made."

OoOoOoOo

Chapter 42

OoOoOoOo

"Again, what is the most fundamental principle of defense?" Hermione demanded.

"Do what you do best."

"But what does that mean?" Lavender asked

"Huh?" Ron muttered

"Again… what does that mean?" Lavender repeated

Neville sighed. The study group had been over and over this stuff. His fantasies about the Head-Girl currently involved ropes and a very large gag, not at all nice.

"It means," said Hermione replying to her own question, "that Harry would use one of his best charms …that my Ron hands would turn blue …and then …well …never mind what Ron would do," Hermione said her body trembling at thought of her boyfriend's power fully-released in battle. "I would try to jinx them, Lavender would use a disabling-hex and Neville would use some sort of plant spell."

"A plant spells, there is no such thing," Seamus snorted

"I'm not so sure …not-since the other day when we did the growth charm in herbology," Lavender pointed out thoughtfully.

She's got a point …you know," Ron said in his fiancée defense. "We were supposed to take a apple seed …put it into a pot and using the charm make the seed grow into a tiny sapling. Neville did the same thing I did; I got the seed to barely bud while Neville produced a full sized tree, with ripe apples …ready to be picked. I tell you mate …when Neville calls …Mother Nature herself answers.

Neville found himself the center of attention for once, and blushed hard accordingly.

"What would I do, Hermione? You can't draw a picture in self-defense!" Dean said in an exasperated voice thankfully drawing attention off of Neville. "And what about Seamus he can't really bull-shite someone into a coma, now can he?"

"Oh, I don't know about that!" Lavender said with a laugh. "I could tell you stories . . ."

"Dean, you would use your great imagination to transfigure them," Hermione interrupted the giggles that were going around the table. "And, Seamus, well, I'm sure Seamus would be able curse them with …something."

"Ay, that's right! I'm good at cursing!" Seamus said with a laugh. "Drives mi-mum nuts! Threatened to wash out mi-mouth with Dr. Stuffer's Everlasting Suds Soap when I was just four!"

Alaire couldn't help it. She lost it. She'd been listening to Hermione for almost two hours and her mind was shutting down. After she'd picked herself up from the floor from laughing, she bent over to Neville and said.

"Want to go for a walk?"

"Sorry Ms. Goodnight," Neville said in a good mood "…but I must decline. I'm not allowed out of the castle without special permission, in fact …my socialization time limit, has just expired for today?"

"Break your silly restrictions for once. It's a full moon. It's finally nice outside. We could take a walk around the lake." She smiled suggestively.

Neville was torn. A walk in the moonlight around the lake with his beautiful Alaire was very tempting… as opposed to being a 'good-boy' and returning to his greenhouse confinement. He looked up to see Hermione glaring at him. "Don't you dare Neville; the Headmaster went through hell …to get your socialization time limit extended to six hours on weekends. You break confinement during the week …this close to end of term and you'll get expelled; before you can take your N.E.W.T.'s.

"She, right mate …you're still walking on thin ice with Professor McGonagall," Ron said backing up his lady-love.

"As for you Alaire, you should be ashamed of your-self", Hermione scolded. "If you're so set on an adventure that breaks all kinds of rules …take Harry with you. He's unusually your bloke for adventures after-all - and Dumbledore lets him get away with murder more often than not. Hasn't Neville suffered enough this year by breaking rules just to court-you?"

"Mione …that's enough," Ron said firmly. "I'm sure that Alaire appreciates all that Neville has gone through for her sake."

With a sigh, Neville shook his head no at Alaire, before getting-up and gathered his books. He needed to get back to his greenhouse. NEWTS were only three weeks away and while Alaire didn't depend on the exams for her future career as a potion-healer, he did.

"Maybe tomorrow;" Neville said heading for the portrait hole.

"You said that a week ago."

"I know but . . ." Neville said

"…Say no more. I'm going for a walk with or without you," Alaire threatened.

"Well Adventure Boy, how about it", Alaire said looking straight at Harry. "Are you up to a walk in the dark with a randy bird?"" Alaire said shutting her book and grabbing her cloak as she stuck a deliberately sexy pose for Harry's benefit …while totally ignoring the dumbstruck departing Neville. "I'll go-postal if I have to stay in this stupid castle one more moment, and I'm willing to richly-reward the bloke who relieves my boredom," she said loudly and seductively in a deep husky voice.

Neville's face fell, he felt hurt beyond words at being discarded yet-again for a more exciting bloke. Stung deeply by her latest-rejection, the wind seemed to go out of him, and with deflated shoulders Neville turned and departed the Gryffindor common-room. In his mind one thought kept repeating in his mind … over-and-over as he walked alone down to his empty greenhouse prison; "nice blokes are boring … nice blokes are boring."

OoOoOoOo

The portrait door closed behind Neville, and Harry shook his head sadly before he turned toward Alaire and for the first time since he had met the American …he didn't like her at all.

"That was downright mean, Alaire."

"What?"

"I don't know what mind-game you're playing on him this time, but for Merlin's sake leave-me out of it."

"What in Hell are you talking about?" Alaire retorted.

"Why, are you flaunting your sexuality directly at me …yet again …just to make Neville feel like dirt?" Harry said clearly disappointed.

"I did nothing of the sort,"

"Yeah you did, Alaire", Dean said equally disappointed. "And this isn't the only time you've done it recently. We're all painfully-aware at this point of the term …that, your trollop-act is just for a lark …most of the time. We've also come to accept that your shameless flirting ….that you do all the time with other blokes …is just part of the American courtship-culture designed by birds to torture blokes. But in the seven months you've been in Gryffindor …I couldn't help but notice, that you never seem to flaunt your sexuality in Neville's direction."

"I've noticed that too," Seamus said unusually insightful.

"He's my boyfriend …I don't have to flirt with him… in public."

"You couldn't be more wrong" Lavender said more than a little shocked and disappointed. "Your boyfriend should get the lion's share of your sexiness. Flirting with others more often than your man …sends the wrong message… it says to everyone that sees it …that you value him less as a man …and as a lover …than the other blokes you're flirting with …or… to put it more bluntly; that you find strangers more attractive than Neville.

"That's bullshit, my boyfriend knows …"

"…that you want to snog Harry down by the lake in the moonlight," Hermione retorted disenchanted. "Yeah …I'm sure he got that message loud and clear."

"I got to agree with Harry on this one," Ron said, "the self-serving game are you playing …this craving for rules-breaking excitement …seems to be calculated ploy to make Neville jealous enough …to risk expulsion …and ruin his future as a botanist …just to satisfy your selfish need for a bloody-walk in the moonlight?"

OoOoOoOo

Five minutes later, Alaire stormed out of the castle all-alone and in a right fit of temper. "How could her friends …dare to imply that she was playing Neville? She did flirt with Neville …all the time …on those now increasingly-rare occasions when they were alone," she said to herself as an excuse. But Alaire knew that even as she thought it …something about the whole 'flirting-bit' didn't ring totally true. Ever since the Yoga-room incident, her relationship with Neville had been hemorrhaging, and tonight was just the latest example of her flirting with someone else …to semi-punish Neville. And she couldn't stop herself from doing it even when she knew deep-down that Lavender was right.

Hermione had spent countless hours over a period of weeks …groveling at Ron's feet …just to make amends for her brief slip of the tongue. Alaire had been greatly amazed …along with many others …how the negative fall-out over the yoga-room incident had changed the head-girl attitude toward her fiancée. It was if she hadn't realized until that very-moment …how much control over the personal life-happiness of Ron that she held in the palm of her hand.

It had taken a week before even her closest friend's realized what she was doing. Since the Yoga-incident Hermione had taken obvious pains to show Ron's how much his unshakable devotion meant to her. As men were visual animals she continued to dress tastefully-sexy, underneath her otherwise prim-and-proper school robes. She would flash her boyfriend at odd moments during the day with a glimpse of lace covered or bare breast flesh …underneath a deliberately undone blouse. She'd hike-up her skirt and place his hand high-up on her inner thigh.

Now that she knew that no-one gave her a second glace… Hermione took full advantage of her invisibility to other guys… to cock-tease her fiancée into a-frenzy at every opportunity. Alaire her-self first became aware of the Head-girl out of character behavior when she caught the couple in the stacks in a dark corner of the library whispering in a husky tone her never-ending sexual hunger for her man. To hear the Head-girl talking dirty had been quite a stunner.

The next day Alaire had taken Ginny aside to see if she knew of the new wanton witch at Hogwarts, only to have Ginny giggle-hard before telling-her in confidence …that Hermione gave full credit to whatever pitiful cock-teasing skills she now had… to her American tutor. For six years the very-virginal Miss prim and proper Head girl had not felt the need …nor had she felt remotely-comfortable flaunting her miniscule sexually to attract a boy. However, Harry's dressing-down of the head-girl on the yoga-class stairway had opened her eyes to a painful truth.

No other boy at Hogwarts thought of her as attractive; with Ron alone …finding her irresistible. Tonks had been right she was damn-lucky to have Ron, and in light of this knowledge she devoured him with snogs in-between classes and intimate touches during lectures …thus; by making him feel desired …at odd unexpected moments during the day …she strongly reinforced in his mind, her love for him. As a result of these positive strokes of his ego …Ron now strode the Hallways of Hogwarts with a confidant, outgoing and happy stride.

The Head girl in accepting the lesson from an American; that subtle cock-teasing one's own boyfriend into frenzy …did wonders for a guy's self-esteem. Instead of becoming upset by the out-of character behavior by her Head-Girl, Professor McGonagall had taken the smartest witch of the age aside to compliment Hermione on… quote;

"Finally letting your hair down and reveling at last in your femininity".

Minerva even gave the shocked bookworm a-bit of advice;

"Cock-teasing isn't mean …provided that the tease leads to direct stress-relief activity before the day ended."

Once again Alaire was gob-smacked at the surprising sensuality of the allegedly; Stiff-collared British. When her parents had first brought-up the idea of attending school in England, Alaire had thought that she was going to have as much chance to snog as a Nun in a convent back-home. New-Orleans Zombies had a more active sex life; than the Anglo-Saxons… right?

Now just three weeks before graduation not five days shy of the first NEWTs exam. The so-called shameless American …the queen of flirting …couldn't figure-out the why …why; she didn't practice on Neville …what she had unconsciously taught a bookworm to do. Why she was suddenly making really lame excuses to avoid going to greenhouse number seven. Why she had begun flirting shamelessly with every guy with a pulse… instead of the boy she allegedly loved. Especially; when Alaire knew how much Neville resented …when she got into the mood to flaunt her sexuality as an over-the-top cock-teasing trollop to everyone …but him.

'Come-on Alaire, think this through,' she said to herself as she walked away from the castle. 'Your American therapist told you that your outgoing boldness was a defense mechanism …over-compensation …so as to avoid dealing with some emotional trauma that you didn't want to confront. So, let's take that theory as gospel - and see where it leads us. If I've been acting like a sex-starved slut lately to repress something sexual that scares me to death, then what was it …that I'm so afraid of?

'It wasn't as if Neville was putting any pressure on me to do anything I don't want to do. No demands for oral …or going-all-the-way. He never complains about being stopped on the one-yard line …just short of intercourse. Sure he was frustrated by not being able to score, just like any other normal guy …although even I've noticed that he's gotten loads-better at using Occlumency in hiding his emotional-disappointment from my gift.

'He's really been wonderful about my post-rape mental-issues …extra patient and understanding. So why am I treating him like he has the plague lately. Sending him to a cold shower far-more-often than before I started giving him hummers. For that matter, why have I stopped doing that too… when was the last time I gave-head to Neville?'

Alaire deep in thought soon found herself wandering down the walkway towards Hagrid's hut subconsciously intending to follow the path from there down to the lake while still trying to work things out in her head.

"If even massively-insensitive to romance stuff; Seamus, can tell that I'm acting like a royal tease …if all of my friends can see that my over-the-top flirting is deeply hurting Neville feelings… why can't I stop myself from doing it?" she asked herself.

Stopping to admire the full silver moon hanging over the surrounding highlands, Alaire couldn't believe that the year was almost over. Almost Eight months ago, I arrived at Hogwarts scarred and defensive but now many of my demons had been laid to rest and I feel more at peace and in control of my life than ever before.

My empathy is firmly under control, to the point that I can easily block out the entire Great Hall …even after the exciting end-of-term Quidditch house-cup-match where Ron kept the opposition scoreless. The victory-party was an emotional title-wave and yet I had emerged without even a hint of headache.

Most of my N.E.W.T.'s grades are decent; with Professor Snape now calling me the most brilliant Potions student he'd taught in ages. His promised letter of recommendation meant that my so-called Potion-healer career cover-story is still firmly on track, even if that will only be a side-line to my true career choice. I've done everything I set-out to do when I came to England and that was a good thing …wasn't it? I've even made several really good friends, and had acquired a fairly sexy…indescribably wonderful …temporary boyfriend.

Now if I could only figure out why the thought of shagging Neville scares me so much … and then she stopped abruptly in mid-step …the victim of a accidental-bit of epiphany

"Oh-my god - - is that it?" Alaire said aloud gob-smacked. "I'm scared of having intercourse with a boyfriend that I going to lose at graduation."

Her thoughts had carried her to the bottom of the hill and half-way through Hagrid's garden. Suddenly she was almost knocked to the ground by a huge black bird carrying an unusually large green snake. To Alaire's amazement, the odd pair landed in Hagrid's patch of mutant squash and transformed into a tall dark haired lady and a man with long white hair.

OoOoOoOo

Chapter 43

All good-nights must end

OoOoOoOo

Alaire immediately recognized the pair from the numerous photos she had seen in the Daily Prophet. But what were Bellatrix Lestrange and Lucius Malfoy doing at Hogwarts? Her first thought was to warn Neville and Harry but before she could turn to run, she heard "Pertrificus Totalus" as a flash of purple light hit her in the chest throwing her back onto the hillside.

"Why did you bring me over here, Bella, The attack was to take place at the entrance Hall, Our master wants certain prisoners brought to him and …"

"…Shut your-gob Lucius", Bella replied heatedly. "This is why you have consisting fail our master in the past. You and your pathetic son can't think with the head on-your-shoulders, you never take advantage of an unexpected opportunity."

"What are you going on about?"

"Don't you recognize the girl I just hexed?"

"No"

"Lucius, you're an idiot, and I don't understand what my sister ever saw in you," Bella snarled. "Didn't you pay any attention at the briefing for this attack? This is the American …the niece of Carlton Crabbe …that has ensnarled the heart of the botanist Longbottom. The master wants the boy to work for him and this girl is the key to his cooperation.

"Too bad she hit her head." Lucius Malfoy bent over her body to give the damage a cursory glance then stood up with a smile. "She is a rather well-built bint, and far prettier than the picture; Theo Nott provided. Perhaps the master will allow me to breed her. I do need a new heir after all."

"You're not to kill; Draco, Lucius …do you understand me? Narcissa has obtained the master's reluctant approval for the match. He feels as I do …that breeding the Weasley girl with my nephew …just might eliminate the incompetence-DNA-gene from the Malfoy bloodline," Bella said with an insane laugh to underscore her determination to bring about that result.

"But, my dear Bella, my son's has earned his death, for gross disobedience of me …his father. I have the right to set-aside my marriage to Narcissa for the deformed and cowardly brat she produced. So if Draco were to accidently meet his end tonight, I can with just cause …divorce Narcissa …which is something you have yourself desired for years. You want her free of me, and I want another chance to sire a proper son. With Longbottom's American the vehicle to a far superior line of Malfoy's.

"Americans are worst blood-traitors than the Weasel-girl. Bellatrix retorted angrily. "They give no thought to their blood-lines. No Lucius …Draco lives and will breed the weasel. You can shag the American trollop until you get bored, but you can't kill her. She is the key to Longbottom's cooperation". Bellatrix said… her grip on sanity only so-so.

He turned to her with gleaming pale eyes. "I will appeal to the Dark-Lord again.

"Do what you please Lucius, but until then I'm in-charge. We can leave, and rejoin the others attacking the castle after we have managed to obtain our other prisoners."

"Have you bound and gagged the slag carefully, Bella? She can be as dangerous as her Gryffindork friends.

"You're still afraid of those children, aren't you, Lucius?"

"Are you really that naïve, Bella? Those children, as you call them, have thwarted us at almost every move for the past three years. Unlike you …I refuse to underestimate them again. You were prudent in taking advantage of the situation …I grant you that. Obtaining Longbottom's American-whore was brilliant. But our task is not complete until we capture the half-giant grounds-keeper and obtain the botanist as well."

Suddenly, Bellatrix Lestrange's eyes came to life.

"Oh, me – oh my;" Bella said walking over to the girl. "Then let's use her, as bait to lure in two twits with the same slutty-bird." She paused then looked over at Lucius. "I have a wonderful idea. Instead of blasting our way into Hagrid's hut, let's let our little-Yank open the door for us. She can lure that giant-oaf out into the open, away from his hut - and then - we will be able to surround him. You can then stun him and I'll transfigure him for easier transport. After that; we'll have the girl send her Patronus to Longbottom to lure him down here as well."

Lucius nodded in agreement.

Bellatrix then bent over Alaire's body.

"Finite Incantatem," Alaire blinked and tried to sit up but was quickly pushed back down by a wand pointed at her heart.

"Imperio!" Suddenly, Alaire was back in the car in Louisiana and then in the Room of Requirement. Something was controlling her and she didn't like it. She struggled but it this was a hundred times worse than anything she had experienced before. It was as if she was a puppet on a string all over again.

"Impedimentia!" Now she felt as if she was moving in slow motion. She couldn't even bring a hand up to stop Bella slashing at her face with long magically transformed finger-nails into red steel hard talons. To torment Lucius Bella then used her talons to rip Alaire's blouse down the front to her waist …before tearing her bra open …thus exposing her bare bosom to the chilly night air.

"I suppose she now looks properly attacked," Bellatrix commented looking down at her handy-work. "Perhaps a little more blood," Bella said as she slashed at the teenage girl's breasts and abdomen with her claws, drawing thin lines of blood from tiny cuts. Then she punched Alaire as hard as she could right in the mouth. "There …that's much better."

The two Death Eaters lifted the Impedimenta jinx then pushed a stumbling Alaire ahead of them toward Hagrid's door.

"Tell him that you were attacked by a wild animal and that you need his help to get back-up to the castle." Bella coached.

Alaire's heart was racing. She knew they wanted to harm Hagrid and kidnap Neville. She had to stop them …but her thoughts were too jumbled to figure out how.

Her hand had lifted on its own accord. "Knock, knock, knock."

The door opened wide and Alaire was momentarily blinded by the light from within. Hagrid's bulk soon shaded her eyes from the fireplace.

"H-Hagrid. I-I need your help. I was attacked."

"What! Attacked? By what? What are you doing walking around anyway …at night… and after curfew?"

"Hagrid. I was attacked by a-a," Alaire stumbled over the words still fighting the Imperio curse. "I was attacked by a dwarf Galumphing-Gator, Hagrid. You know, the fire-breathing Gator of Louisiana!"

"Alaire Goodnight, you know perfectly well that we don't have the climate to support a …"

"…I was attacked! It was a dwarf-Gator, Hagrid!" Alaire interrupted him, her whole body shaking as she attempted to throw off the Imperio. "I was attacked …Hagrid!"

Hagrid looked carefully at her face taking in the blank stare and the dilated pupils. Something was wrong. He looked out at the darkness surrounding her, but no one was there. She seemed to be alone but things were . . . odd. He needed help. He would escort Alaire back to the castle …but first he'd floo-call Dumbledore, just in case.

"OK, Alaire, let me get my special equipment." Hagrid turned and grabbed his crossbow and umbrella. He also covertly threw a handful of orange powder into his fireplace hopefully alerting someone in the Headmaster's office that was all was not well in the forest. "All right, let's go see this Gator."

Unbeknownst to Alaire, Hagrid and her 'DE' captors, almost everything that had happened had been observed form the Castle. Neville had wandered over to the window of his greenhouse after Alaire had so brutally dismissed him, his heartstrings tugging his feet over to the windowpane. He had seen a flash of purple near Hagrid's garden. It was followed quickly by blue, red and then yellow. Someone was outside casting spells right where Alaire was supposed to be walking.

"Something's going on out there, maybe Alaire is just practicing. But that would be a dumb thing for her to do …especially after curfew!" Neville said to him-self.

The next thing he knew extra-loud alarm bells were ringing all over the castle. And an announcement was made by a very familiar voice like with a Muggle loudspeaker system. Albus Dumbledore voice seemed to come out of all the stone walls of castle as he declared.

OoOoOoOo

ATTENTION … ATTENTION …ALL STUDENTS.

AN ATTACK IS IN-PROGRESS ON HOGWARTS ITSELF,

ALL STUDENTS ARE TO ASSSMBEL IN THEIR COMMON-ROOMS FOR A ROLL CALL

ALL PORTAIT-HOLE ENTRANCES TO THE HOUSES WILL SEAL SHUT IN TWO MINUTES

THE TEACHING STAFF IS INSTRUCTED TO JOIN THE AURORS IN THE ENTRANCE HALL

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ATTENTION … ATTENTION …ALL STUDENTS.

AN ATTACK IS IN-PROGRESS ON HOGWARTS ITSELF,

ALL STUDENTS ARE TO ASSSMBEL IN THEIR COMMON-ROOMS FOR A ROLL CALL

ALL PORTAIT-HOLE ENTRANCES TO THE HOUSES WILL SEAL SHUT IN TWO MINUTES

THE TEACHING STAFF IS INSTRUCTED TO JOIN THE AURORS IN THE ENTRANCE HALL

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Harry quickly jumped up along with the others. As Dean Thomas, seventh year Prefect tried to take charge of the frightened Gryffindor's streaming down the dorm stairways in their pajamas, during the pandemonium that ensued; Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny quietly slipped through the portrait hole before it sealed shut. They had one thought in common …that Alaire was still outside.

Meanwhile down in greenhouse number seven …Neville heard the alarm and saw the light from Hagrid's door illuminate a small shadow. Then he saw a sprinkling of orange sparks burst from Hagrid's chimney.

"Something's definitely going on out by Hagrid's!" Neville said aloud as he grabbed his wand. Marching over to the door he found it sealed. Several failed opening spells later, an infuriated Neville turned toward the outer glass wall of his greenhouse, he raised his wand and nothing happened …the wards were too strong.

Franticly looking around …he saw several honeysuckle plants in-pots, then remembering his ivy plant trick that took him up to the seventh-year girl's dorm. He laid the plants on the floor facing the wall, put down his wand and muttered the magical invocation while gesturing with both of his hands in a pushing motion at the wall. Suddenly; 'BLAM' a huge magical explosion suddenly tore a large hole in what had once been the outer wall of the greenhouse with Honeysuckle vines pushing through the stone like tissue paper.

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Meanwhile, Alaire had led Hagrid into the garden and then turned to him with a wide-eyed stare. She managed to eek out "I'm sorry" before a swish of purple flew past her left ear towards Hagrid.

"What the . . ." he exclaimed as the curse bounced right off of the groundkeeper.

"Imbecile, he's a half-giant," Bellatrix shouted at Lucius, "Normal hexes won't work on him."

Hagrid quickly swung up his crossbow and let-fly a bolt into the darkness as another purple ribbon headed toward him. His arrow came in contact with someone's "Protego" shield charm. Hagrid heard an; "Oomph!" at the impact and a thump as whoever it was knocked flat on his-or-her butt.

"Transfiguro!"

A band of teal light hit Hagrid in the arm. Suddenly, he felt it go limp causing him to drop the crossbow.

"Transfiguro!"

Another shot of teal flew at his legs. He quickly jumped to one side but tripped over a squash landing at Alaire's feet.

"Thank you for delivering yourself to me, Hagrid," he heard a silky feminine voice dripping with evil say.

"Transfiguro!" Teal light hit near his ear as he tried to roll away. "And they said giants would be difficult to handle! Get up Lucius; we still have work to do before we rejoin the others at the entrance Hall.

Transfiguro!" Teal light hit Hagrid square in the back. To Alaire's horror, Hagrid began to shrink and lengthen at the same time. It seemed that Bellatrix was hell-bent on changing Hagrid into a gigantic-snake or extra-huge caterpillar.

Alaire didn't have time to examine the logic of this thought because she was suddenly knocked off her feet by a flying body. Neville had tried to run down the steps to Hagrid's but had slipped and rolled halfway down. He landed at Alaire's feet with his wand …who knew where? He quickly stood up and found himself face-to-face with his ultimate nightmare, Bellatrix Lestrange holding Alaire Goodnight hostage.

"Right on time; Longbottom, here no-doubt to rescue your maiden-in-distress, isn't that right …Sir Knight?" Bellatrix laughed hysterically while gripping Alaire by the hair and inching back from Neville toward a tree behind her. "I'm afraid that if you have visions of heroism, that are sadly, oomph, out of date." She placed Alaire solidly in front of her. "When will you ever learn?" She gave him a look that seemed to tap an evil deep down in her heart. "I drove your parents mad. I've killed Sirius Black. I've even beaten that brat …Potter. What makes you think you're any different?"

"Let her go!" Neville wanted to curse Bellatrix with every fiber of his being but he was without a wand.

"Lucius, curse the botanist with a few well placed - "Diffindo" - severing charms. Try to do it right this time …none too deep, mind you. The master wants his new expert in plants semi-functional. But I warn you … don't muck-up this simple task …just make him bleed… a-little."

"If you don't trust my abilities," Lucius snarled in protest.

"You know …now that I think-on-it, you're right," Bella said with a hysterical chuckle. "You have proven your mental and magical incompetence far-to many times …for me to trust you with something this childishly simple. I think we'll have the American do it instead."

"Imperio" Bella shouted as the spell flew out of her wand; it struck Alaire in the back.

"I want you to cast the 'Cruciatus Curse' on, Longbottom. I want you to concentrate on anyone who ever hurt you in the past, I want you to focus all of your hate for that person and then cast it at your boyfriend. Make Longbottom pay for everyone who ever did you wrong.

Her whole body shaking, Alaire slowly raised her wand and pointed it directly at an unarmed Neville. Her hand trembled as she pointed it at his heart. She didn't want to do this but something was forcing her. In her minds-eye Neville's face faded …replaced by an arrogantly smirking John Canady. She felt unbelievable hatred begin to surge-up inside her, she couldn't push it back and suddenly she said it;

"Crucio"

Everything happened in slow motion; the hex came out of her wand and seemed to crawl across the space to hit a resigned faced Neville. He instantly fell to the ground screaming in unbelievable torment. The pain seemed to last forever, but finally it ended.

"Very good my dear, you must really hate someone for that hex to have worked so well" Bella said in approval. But I can't let you have all the fun.

"Crucio"

"Crucio"

"Crucio"

Face down in the dirt, his fingers digging into the roots of Hagrid's garden, Neville waited for the mind destroying pain to end, "was this how his parents were driven into madness" he wondered openly.

"You see …it's all in the wrist, Now my dear …it's your turn again. Cast the 'Cruciatus Curse' one more time, but don't hold anything back this. Embrace fully the darkness inside you, revile in your hate.

Alaire couldn't do this to Neville again. There was only one thing to do. An unconscious person could not be made to act against their will. She looked at Neville, still empathically feeling his love. She simply said, "I'm sorry, Neville", closed her eyes, and dropped all of her emotional defenses.

Hate, fear, anger, terror, and, lastly, love filled her head. Her last memory was of Neville and the oneness that they had shared during their restrained lovemaking. Physically, she lost all control as rage against the Imperio curse filled her. Arms flailing, she struck Bellatrix squarely in the nose. She began to kick and punch randomly causing her captor to drop her just seconds before Alaire lost all consciousness.

Bellatrix was surprised by Alaire's sudden weight falling forward and she sensed Malfoy rushing forward to help her."

Neville lay on the ground, suddenly free of the Crucio hex. His mind dazed by the pain. The only thought in his messed-up head was Hermione's mantra from earlier; ringing over-and-over in his mind, "Do what you do best!" His eyes seemed to focus on the squash roots around his fingers and instinctively he cast wandlessly …for the second time that night the same growing charm on the vines that he had used to make his apology to Alaire from the outside of the Gryffindor girls dorm.

Hermione would have been the first to point-out that technically; what Neville attempted shouldn't have worked. Neville didn't have his wand and he didn't speak the proper incantation aloud. However, that he was breaking all the rules of magic didn't seem to detour the spell from working beyond anyone's wildest imagination.

The hex hit the plants surrounding Lestrange and Malfoy at the same time and Bellatrix found herself instantly lifted off her feet by squash vines that wrapped around her arms and torso at an amazing fast rate. A nearby green bean plant began wrapping around her legs growing ten thousand times faster than normal. Lastly, a wild rose that was trailing up the tree behind her began to grow at an alarming rate into spear. Giant thorns sharp as daggers; shaped around enormous blooms forming a magnificent bed of nails.

Nymphadora Tonks and a few other Aurors had arrived at the bottom of the hill by this time just in time to watch in horror as the rose thorns began to dig its way through Bella's soft flesh.

"Somebody end the spell, Neville! Stop what you're doing!" Tonks screamed; but her spells had no more effect on the plants than her words had on Neville.

Bellatrix screamed curses as well …but they too had no affect-either; as she writhed in pain. She frantically fought the vines and the thorns wrapping tighter and tighter around her limbs.

Neville still in a daze of pain of the curcio-curse… paid her no heed. He was far too focused on crawling over to Alaire and gently trying to rouse her.

Suddenly, Dumbledore appeared behind the crowd. He shouted an ancient-spell and the plants obeyed by stopped growing …but by then …it was too late.

"Lumos!"

A bright light erupted from Dumbledore's wand illuminating a horrific scene.

Bellatrix Lestrange had literally been drawn and quartered …ripped into six separate parts by the vines. Arms and legs akimbo, she seemed to be suspended like an insect caught in a spider's web. The most gruesome detail was the branch of the rose that had penetrated her chest. A single red bloom lay where her heart should have been. Bellatrix Lestrange was finally dead.

Some ten feet away from Bellatrix was the lifeless-corpse of Lord Lucius Malfoy, his fate had been to be pierced in at least three-dozen places by the razor sharp bamboo plants two inches thick. The tiny buds of bamboo that Hagrid had planted that every morning were now-cultivated way-beyond their normal size into ridge-spears that had punched Lord Malfoy as if the man had been thrown upon a giant pin-cushion. Draco's abusive-father was also very-dead.

"Alaire …wake up Luv!" a barely conscious Neville whispered hoarsely as he, weakly-shook Alaire's shoulder ever so gently. "Come on, sweetheart come back to me!"

Dumbledore turned the light from the death scene to illuminate Neville trying to revive his unconscious girlfriend.

Walking over, he gently pushed Neville to one side.

"Innervate." Dumbledore placed his wand over Alaire's temple. She twitched but her eyes remained stubbornly closed.

"I believe we should get both of you up to hospital, Neville."

Dumbledore waved his wand again and soon Alaire was placed on top of a floating stretcher heading up to Hogwarts followed by Neville on a second stretcher. Turning to the remaining Aurors and teachers, Dumbledore began giving orders.

"Nymphadora would you be so kind as to escort my students up to the hospital-wing… Professor Flitwick would you make an school-wide announcement, with particular empathizes to the Prefects of the four house …that the school will remain in lock-down until further notice. I want several sweeps of the grounds done by the remaining uninjured Aurors …to make sure that no more Death Eaters are hiding within the unbreakable-wards that Mr. Weasley so thoughtfully threw-up during the battle.

"Do not mention what just happened here at Hagrid's garden to anyone …is that understood? Remus Lupin, would you please go and find Professor McGonagall and tell her we need her here at Hagrid's as soon as possible. If you happen to run across Professor Snape, in passing …would you tell him that Miss Goodnight will need his assistance in the hospital-wing, as soon as possible? Now …for the rest of you, help me cut down Mrs. Lestrange."

Using carefully placed 'Diffindo's', several of the teaching staff began cutting down the dismembered remains of Bellatrix Lestrange and Lucius Malfoy. They laid the two bodies out in front of the hut and covered them with a tattered-bit of canvas.

"It's a pity really," Albus said to himself, as he looked down at the remains. "There would be no trial, for either of them, no chance for Lucius to bribe his way out of prison …a second time. I'm sure that Narcissa will find the passing of her sister and husband to be regrettable… on one hand and …financially liberating on the other. As the other two Lestrange's died in the assault; the Lestrange family fortune will revert to the only living relative …Narcissa.

It's a shame that a strong-willed woman such as Narcissa …have no right under magical law to become the Head of a pure-blood House. As with all the other pure-blood families only a male heir of age …may gain the title. Which makes Draco of the noble house of Malfoy, the new leader of his clan and if a certain red-haired girl had any say in it, the house of Malfoy, will going to follow a far more tolerant path from now on.

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"I'm here Albus", Minerva said arriving out of breath.

Very Good, thank-you for coming, is all well in Gryffindor?" the headmaster asked pleasantly.

"Yes, all students, except for the usual four, are accounted for," Minerva said in an annoyed tone. "Thank-Merlin …we lose some of the worst rules offenders …in four-weeks' time. But I digress …what did you require of me?"

"Bellatrix capture Hagrid and apparently was trying to transfigure Hagrid into some kind of snake," Albus said genuinely puzzled. "I'm not sure why."

Minerva frowned and then bent over the inert body of Bellatrix, pulled aside the canvas-shroud and pointed out several feathers that had seemed to sprout from her scalp.

"I believe that Ms. Lestrange had learned to transform herself into a bird. Perhaps she was trying to turn Hagrid into something small-enough for her to carry back to you-know-who. A rather odd plan and not thought-out very-well …but then the Dark-lord …in my view has not shown …up to this point …any real stratagem.

"Oh I agree, Minerva, his frontal assault on Hogwarts tonight …although clever, lacked the step-by step planning of a master chess-player. I can only assume that Voldemort's scheme for Hagrid tonight was to turn him over the Giant's in exchange for their support. I'm sure that to certain factions among the giant population …Hagrid is as big a blood-traitor and abomination as the Weasley's."

"Can you help him, Minerva?"

"Do you have the wand that cursed him?"

Albus quickly scouted around and on the ground until he spied Bellatrix's wand imbedded in the ground near Hagrid's feet.

A few muttered words and a shot of teal sprang forth from the piece of wood.

"She was trying to turn him into a worm. How-odd!" Professor McGonagall quickly reversed the spells that had struck Hagrid.

"Hagrid, how do you feel dear fellow?" Dumbledore asked as Hagrid struggled to consciousness.

"Can't feel me-arm", Hagrid said sitting-up. "What did that old cow do to me?"

"She was trying to transfigure you into a worm. Which was really brainless, even my fourth years know that reductions in mass by spells are limited. Stupid and cruel woman, that sums up Bellatrix rather nicely I think." Professor McGonagall exclaimed.

"Let's get you to Poppy, Hagrid. I think a night of Skele-grow should help quite a bit. Don't move. We'll stretcher you in."

Another floating stretcher appeared and Dumbledore carefully levitated Hagrid onto it. Soon Professor McGonagall and the giant were heading up the hill leaving Dumbledore alone with the remains of two dead Death Eaters.

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Two hours later

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"What are you going to do with her body?" Harry asked from his hospital bed. His right arm and left leg were magically bandaged and he was still in shock over what had happened in just the past four hours. One moment he was revising for Newts' and the next he was in a full blown battle in the Entrance-Hall of Hogwarts. Bellatrix was now dead and Neville of all people …had killed her.

"I'll contact the Ministry, Harry. But as both of the Lestrange brothers were killed during the fighting last night, so there are no more Lestrange's alive …to claim the bodies.

"How he do it Professor?"

"He doesn't know, and I for one refuse to press him on it."

"Hermione says it's impossible to make plants grow that fast, nor is it - in her view - feasible to direct their growth to literally attack a particular target …'Bellatrix' …while totally ignoring Alaire, who was mere inches away from Lestrange's feet," Harry bemoaned.

"Yes …I know all that, Harry. Miss Granger has also …shared her views on the subject with me as well. I fear that asking her to look into it… just to take her mind off of Mr. Weasley injuries was a huge mistake. But if you like …I'll give you my educated guess as to what happened.

"Yes sir, please"

"Your element, if I may call it that …is the air. You're the best flyer on a broom that I've ever seen …baring none," Albus said without hesitation. "Neville on the other hand …is truly a son of the earth; he is as-one with all growing things …on a level that frankly …I doubt anyone will ever fully comprehend. Last night, your old dorm-mate took the first step into a whole new field of magic. For Miss Granger is correct, the same mindless vegetation that killed Bellatrix should have done the same thing to Miss Goodnight, the fact; that it left her untouched; speaks volumes in itself.

"I don't understand what you mean, sir."

To speak more plainly let me paraphrase what your best-mate said on this very subject; when Neville calls, Mother Nature answers," Dumbledore said in a hushed whisper.

"Oh-my-God" Harry said stunned. "Are you suggesting …"

"…I'll speak with Neville again once the crisis with Alaire is over" Dumbledore interrupted, "until then the less-said about this… the better. Eventually there will be a few questions that the Unspeakable's will want to ask Neville as well… luckily for all concerned …the Ministry is still far-more obsessed, with the "blue" wizard's ability to create unbreakable wards …than in giving much thought to plant magic. Legally speaking, and without the use of his wand …there's no-one that will doubt that he acted in self-defense."

"We were just studying Defense before all this happened. Hermione kept saying to Neville 'Do what you do best." Harry shook his head in wonder. "I-I underestimated Neville."

"Everyone did, Harry; including me …the only one who didn't was perhaps, Ms. Goodnight." Dumbledore stood and patted Harry on the shoulder. "I know you wanted your own revenge against Bellatrix for what she did to Sirius …but fate chose this to be Neville's battle."

Harry couldn't help but finish the thought, "And my battle was with Voldemort."

"He's not dead you know",

"Yes professor, you explained about the Horcruxes." Harry said in a resigned tone

Dumbledore gave his shoulder a squeeze. "The way I see it, the attack last night was the biggest mistake Voldemort has made… to-date. Not only were you able to destroy his third physical manifestation …but Mr. Weasley's unexpectedly strong wards made victory or escape for the other Death Eaters impossible.

"The interrogation of the prisoners we've captured gave us …not only the location of their Headquarters …but also Voldemort's financial records. Everyone who contributed to his movement over the years, sleeper-cells of spies within the Ministry, bribes paid and to whom …even non outwardly-active sympathizers' …all of that was exposed as well.

"Voldemort has …I think …only two 'Horcruxes' still in hiding. His followers in this country have been outright killed, captured or exposed to law enforcement and are therefore on the run. For Voldemort to return now, he would literally have to start from scratch. He'd have to recruit fresh followers, and raise totally new sources of financial support. All of that takes time.

"Then all we bought with all those killed… was, time?" Harry said exasperated

"Yes Harry, buying time is the best that a soldier can hope for …time to live, time to train to be a full Auror - and maybe - best of all …for you …a piece of time to find a love of your own.

"That wouldn't be bad," Harry said slowly beginning to smile "Not bad …at all."

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To be continued

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