Chapter twenty nine. I'm switching to a different character for this to get through the vineyard part. Instead of doing another, more boring wine festival, I think it's time I covered a character that I haven't been able to do much with until now. With Merlot out of the castle,

It's Neville's time to play.

—0—

The air in the Slytherin common room was bathed in the scents of foreign spices as students sat around studying or chatting. The heavy burn of cinnamon was joined by the dark scent of saffron.

Within the dorm of a certain pair of Slytherin first years, a potion was bubbling softly, sending up clouds of red and orange which hung in the air, turning the room into a hazy den of magic brew.

Draco Malfoy slowly added a dash of Cornish pixie wings to his bubbling cauldron, stirring the brew once clockwise before shifting and performing two counterclockwise stirs.

"Do you even know what you are doing, Draco?"

Neville Longbottom sat at a table at the side of the room, wearing a pair of orange goggles as he delicately swirled a translucent green liquid in a crystal flask.

"Look, it's the first assignment I have as an apprentice, I've done the calculations correctly."

Draco swirled the potion around again before adding water and setting the cauldron alone to boil. "And what exactly are you doing, Longbottom?"

The boy carefully set his flask down and pulled on a pair of thick dragonhide gloves. "Experimenting."

Draco pursed his lips, watching as the boy pulled out a pot of soil. Neville took a small seed and planted it a knuckle deep in the dirt, before adding a drop of the green liquid in his flask.

"What now?" Draco asked.

"Now, I wait. You should probably return to your potion." Neville nodded.

Draco turned to see the top of his cauldron roiling smoothly. He quickly walked over and returned to his stirring as Neville put his things away.

"You know, you aren't what I expected." The blonde pureblood said.

Neville looked over, his eyes gleaming in the haze of the room. "What did you expect from me?"

Draco blinked as Neville took a step closer.

In reality, he had been expecting a boy with no talent for magic. Someone who was barely a squib. Instead, Neville Longbottom had been sorted into Slytherin, and now that he was the boys roommate, he found that Neville's life was carefully sculpted by the boy in order to fool many many people. He was cunning, shrewd, and as calculating as they come.

Draco shivered as the boy took another step towards him. The gleam in his eyes was now a flame that burned not out of rage or anger, but out of pure elation that he was this good at his facade. His narcissism coupled with blatant sociopathy was further spurred on by the idea that he was the one in control, and he was. Neville Longbottom was in complete control of how others perceived him, and it was downright terrifying.

"You saw what I wanted you to see, just like everyone else." The boy grinned. "A blubbering fool, who was downright useless when it came to magic. I bet you thought I would be in Hufflepuff, or even Gryffindor."

Draco nodded silently, keeping his expression stoic. Neville turned and walked back to his desk. "Typical… Yet you must know that the other houses are just as great as ours. Brave Gryffindor, Wise Ravenclaw, Loyal Hufflepuff. What do you think would happen if Merlot Scortwit were to snap? What do you think would happen if we were to see her lose control…"

Draco couldn't help but at the mad look in Nevilles eye, the grin that seemed feral in the dim light of their room. "I don't think about such things. I have better things to focus on."

"Oh… but it would be so beautiful…"

Draco watched as Neville gazed into thin air, imagining what would happen.

"You often talk about her, Neville. Are you attracted to her or something?"

The boy whipped around, his gaze sharp. "You don't see it, do you. Of course you don't, she is better at hiding it than I."

Draco turned to his potion and added in a half measure of powdered thestral hoof, causing the potion to turn a gleaming silver. "Merlot Scortwit is not hiding anything. She is a very nice girl, no matter her background, and she is very skilled when it comes to magic. Just like you are, only she doesn't hide it behind a facade of blubbering foolishness."

Neville grinned. "She has darkness within her, more than you could fathom."

"And how do you know that?"

"Because she fears it." Neville sat down at his desk. "Merlot Scortwit told Flitwick that she doesn't use magic on living beings unless absolutely necessary."

Draco blinked as Neville drew his wand and began polishing it. "That proves that she is not dark. What dark person would refuse to harm another? Merlot Scortwit is as light as they come… But she is still a strong witch."

"She is afraid of it." Neville hissed. "You did not see the look in her eyes, you weren't there when she spoke to Flitwick. She spoke as if she had harmed people before, as if she had taken lives before…"

"It's sick how you revere that side, even if it isn't true." Draco grumbled, stirring another component into his cauldron. Powdered imp toenails, turning the potion a pale blue.

"It is because she knows what it is like. I need to know what it's like, Draco. I need to have that strength when I face her."

Draco blinked, knowing instinctively who the boy was speaking of. "Bellatrix…"

"I will kill her, Draco." The boy's eyes gleamed again. "I will learn of Merlot Scortwits strength, and I will use it to tear her apart."

The blonde pureblood shook his head as he finished his potion with seven stirs, before bottling it carefully and sealing each container with a quick mutter and wave of his wand.

"You know that they wouldn't stand for what you wish to do, Neville. Your parents."

Neville turned to Draco. "The spawn of a filthy death eater has no right to speak of my parents. You may be different from your father, but as long as he and his purist ideals fill the world with mistrust, I will not respect you."

"And as long as you seek to become just as much a monster as my aunt, I will not respect you." Draco replied.

"I do not need your respect." Neville spat, standing up and pocketing his wand. As he walked to the door, his face went calm and smooth, his eyes softening as he clutched his arms tightly around a book of charms. It was sickening how quickly he could shift his persona. "I just… I just need you to fear me, okay?"

Draco shook his head at the soft voice of the pretender. Neville gave one last smirk before walking from the room, leaving Draco with his bottled potion and his notes.

"Aunt Bellatrix said that to my father once…"

—0—

Hermione sat in the library, looking over a book with a frown. It frustrated her that Scortwit felt she was so much above the rest. The girl had tried to turn down an opportunity from a Hogwarts professor. No matter what mamby pamby excuse, and she didn't use the phrase 'mamby pamby' lightly.

She knew that Merlot was not above the rest of them. The girl had a see magic to make her float, after all. She was so good at everything she did. Merlot Scortwit, brilliant potions student. Merlot Scortwit, best in transfiguration. A person like that would never stunt their growth in such a way, and if duels were common around the wizarding world, there was no way that the girl would not learn them.

Hermione's fury was growing as she leafed through another book. She wasn't finding any answers here either. She had hoped that in the few minutes she had she would find something, anything that would fix her magic circle of plants.

"Excuse me, Hermione?"

The young Ravenclaw looked up to see the boy she would be helping today. A Slytherin by the name of Neville Longbottom, who was having trouble on their transfiguration homework.

Hermione had helped Neville before with a charms essay, and a few more times with some potions was nice, but seemed a bit hopeless when it came to some things. She knew that he could do it if he was given enough support, and she was willing to provide help. After all, she was Hermione Granger, the smartest witch of the age, and she would always be willing to help those who had trouble.

As far as she knew, her help had paid off. He was in Flitwicks dueling group, after all, and as far as she knew, only the best were in the dueling group.

"Hi Neville, I'm glad you came."

The boy smiled a bit nervously, sitting down at the library table with his bag of supplies.

"I'm not sure you'll need all of that though…" the girl giggled, causing Neville to blush. "Sorry… the homework was a bit straightforward, just practicing the spell that turns bells into whistles."

Neville nodded. "I'm just having a bit of trouble with it. I can get it about halfway, but I normally just end up with a bell that you blow like a whistle, or a whistle that clangs like a bell…"

"Hm…" Hermione hummed. The girl took out a few bells that were provided by McGonagall and set them upon the table of the library. "Walk me through your process."

Neville nodded, drawing his wand.

Hermione took a moment to admire the boy's instrument. The wood looked as if it was just snapped from a branch and polished. The handle was smooth, gripped tightly in his hand. After the handle, the wand slanted as if it were a branch that was splitting, with one end going forward in a straightened wand end. The other part of the branch had been sanded down to a small nub, which bore a small green leaf.

"Something the matter?"

"Your wand just… always astounds me."

Neville nodded. "It's alive, you know… taken from the branch of the Yggr tree."

"The Yggr tree?"

"A magical genus that only grows in Norway. They are endangered now, but many many years ago, there were enough to blanket Norway and twine together. The vikings called the collective Yggr forest Yggdrasil."

"The world tree…" Hermione nodded. "Sorry for going off topic…"

"It's okay." Neville smiled. "I'm actually pretty decent at herbology, so I took my wands composition to heart. I delved into the history after I bought it, and I learned a lot."

Hermione nodded. "You might actually be able to answer a question I've had for a while… but before that, Transfiguration! Walk me through your process."

Neville nodded and pointed his wand at the bells that Hermione had put upon the table. With a grand gesture he thundered the spell. "Anulusibilus!"

Hermione jumped a bit as the librarian, Madam Pince, gave a loud shush aimed in their direction. Nevertheless, when she looked at the bell, she could see it slowly shifting into a whistle. It stopped and sat as a small wooden whistle, which Hermione picked up. As it moved in her hand, she heard a rattle coming from inside it. And while it was whistle shaped, it didn't have any hole to blow into.

"Like I said, more of a bell than a whistle." Neville sighed.

"It's okay!" Hermione said back with a smile. "I think your problem might be with your movements, and your delivery of the incantation. As far as I've seen, if you wave your wand around a lot and yell, your magic doesn't really flow into the target. Try just a simple swish and flick, and keep your volume down."

Neville nodded and gripped his wand again. "Alright… Anulusibilus!"

The second bell transformed a bit quicker. This time it didn't rattle when Hermione picked it up, but it still didn't have a hollow form to whistle through.

"Well you did a lot better… try picturing the whistle in your mind, really really hard. Imagine the grain of the metal expanding, becoming the smooth wood of the whistle."

Neville nodded and closed his eyes. "I think I've got it…"

"Go ahead." Hermione smiled.

"Anulusibilus!"

The third bell smoothly rippled and changed into a wooden whistle. Hermione picked it up and gave a quick blow into one end, causing a high pitched note to fill the library, much to the displeasure of Madam Pince.

"SHHHHH!"

Hermione and Neville both blushed and sat down.

"That was very well done, Neville."

"You think so?"

"I know so. Professor McGonagall will be thrilled!" Hermione smiled.

Neville blushed and scratched the back of his head. "So… you were saying something earlier about a question you had?"

Hermione tilted her head to one side. "Sort of… I've been working on a project of my own. I'm trying to use a ritual spell with the circle made up of plants… I figured that the best directors for energy are living things, you know?"

Neville blinked. "That's really advanced…"

"Sorry… I figured that you might have some idea because of your green thumb."

"My thumb isn't green." Neville blinked.

"Oh right, sorry… different expression."

Neville nodded. "I might have an answer, but it may not be the one you're looking for."

"Anything would help at this point." Hermione sighed.

"Okay… So while some circles of plants can be used for magic, those plants are already living. We call them fairy circles. Sometimes they're mushrooms, sometimes flowers, you get the point. If you're using plants in a self made circle. Those plants must have a connected root system, and samples also won't work because, well they're dead. They hold magic as any object would, but they don't channel the flow of energy like a living thing."

Hermione blinked. "Wait… that actually makes a lot of sense!"

Neville nodded. "I would suggest looking into runes. Professor Quirrell has been talking about them a lot."

"But wouldn't plants direct the magic better?"

"Not necessarily." Neville shrugged. "Living things already have predetermined pathways, like wood has a grain. They transport energy through their shape in order to grow, so you can't always influence the direction of magic when using plants as a medium."

Hermione nodded. "Okay, thanks for the advice."

"I'm a bit worse for wear when it comes to that type of magic, so I won't be taking the ancient runes elective in my third year. If you want to pursue the course, I'd look into some of the books on the second level of the library, section EB I believe."

Hermione smiled. "Thank you so much Neville."

"It's no problem, thank you for your help Hermione. I'll see you at dinner."

"Yeah!"

Neville collected his things and left the library. Hermione quickly checked the time before running out as well, eager to finish the next parts of her day in order to look at some books on runes.

—0—

The fireplace roared with green flames as Charles Fontaine Scortwit and his daughter Merlot stepped into Albus Dumbledore's office.

"Ah! You're back."

"With a bit of extra time to talk, Professor." Scortwit nodded.

"Please Charles, you've graduated. It's Albus now." The elderly headmaster smiled. Scortwit nodded stoically, which was a bit odd. Scortwit had always been a very cheery person. His seriousness was either due to the passing years, or some situation that Albus was not yet aware of. "What can I do for you?"

Scortwit nodded and waved his wand with a quick incantation, conjuring two chairs for him and his child to sit in. "I just wish to talk about Merlot's progress. She is a brilliant witch with a great grasp of magics, I just wanted to make sure that she was doing okay in a new place."

Albus nodded. "Well for starters, your daughter is one of the top first years this semester. The professors often gush about her, even Quirinus, who has a bit of a speech impediment these days."

"Ah, so Quirrell is the Defense teacher. A good fit." Scortwit nodded.

Albus nodded, looking at Merlot. Who was staring at the folder of research upon his desk. "There are of course… a few complications. I feel that Miss Scortwit is holding herself back. She is… afraid of her magic, in a way."

Scortwit nodded and mussed Merlot's hair with a sad smile. "She has always felt that way… unfortunately. Merlot isn't mine by blood, she came from a rough home of squibs in the village by our property. They grew up despising magic simply for the fact that they didn't have it."

Albus's face softened. This girl must have been through a lot.

"I heard word of it from a few witches and wizards who had heard screams or yelling on different nights. We decided that we would walk by every night and if we heard sounds of violence, we would intervene. I found her one night, shivering on their front stoop. I asked her her name, and she said she was a freak, so that was her name. She referred to her magic as unnatural… a freakishness. So I stole her away and never allowed her to return."

"I am… better off for it." Merlot said quietly.

"You are." Scortwit softly smiled. "I know that your magic is still scary to you, after what happened."

"She was cast out. What scared her so?"

Scortwit pursed his lips and looked at Merlot. "Merlot… after a few months, Merlot wanted to go back. She wanted to show them what she could do. She wanted to get revenge…"

Albus raised his eyebrows, looking at the shivering girl. "I see… So she used magic on them."

"They were angry with her for coming back, and they lashed out. The husband shattered her ribs and the wife stabbed her. There was nothing she could do physically against a bigger opponent, and so she was injured, badly. When they tossed her out on the street again to die-"

"I lost control. I got angry and… I used magic that I hadn't used ever. I don't want to use it ever again…"

"That bad?" Albus leaned forward.

"A firestorm charm. Without a wand." Scortwit spoke softly. "When Charlie told me where she went, I was furious. I found her screaming at the house as she razed it to the ground… It was one of those moments that I still do not know how to feel about. It was horrible, They were screaming but… She was so powerful."

The room was silent for a moment while Scortwit stared at Albus. After a few moments, he licked his lips and continued. "Once I found out what she had wanted to do, and what had happened… I couldn't be angry. I decided to protect her by any means necessary. I named her Merlot, and she took my name."

Albus nodded. "I see… From the sounds of it, Miss Scortwit, you have a lot of untapped potential, even for being a prodigy now."

"I don't want to use magic on other people."

"There are ways to use magic on others without harming them, take the disarming spell for example. You simply take away anothers wand, and now they cannot fight."

Merlot blinked. "There's a spell like that?"

"And many many more." Albus smiled. "I believe that learning from Flitwick's dueling club may do you a lot of good."

"That sounds like it could be fun Merlot. It could help you learn how to protect yourself without hurting anyone else."

Merlot nodded. "Maybe… I said that I would practice with them, but only on dummies."

"I want you to try to work up to a duel between you and another student." Albus raised a hand. "Notice I said work up to. You can always forfeit if you are unwilling."

Merlot nodded. "I'll try…"

"In the meantime, I think we should have meetings on saturdays, after your dueling lessons with Flitwicks group! You can talk about how it went and work on your own projects while you do it."

Scortwit raised an eyebrow. "Personal lessons sir?"

"Again Charles, Albus." Dumbledore twinkled. "I would rather make sure that she is safe. Especially when working on advanced areas, like runes."

Scortwit nodded. "I see. That would indeed be preferable." 'Even if she has to be close to the leader of the light every week.'

"Well, it is getting late." Albus nodded, casting a quick time charm. "I believe we should see Miss Scortwit off to dinner, and we can see you back home, Charles."

"Before I forget, the wine."

"Oh! Yes, of course." Albus gave a smile as Scortwit procured a few bottles of aged wine.

"Dragonsblood… what an interesting name."

"Indeed! Give me a hug, Merlot. I'll write to you for Halloween." Scortwit smiled, avoiding the eyes of Dumbledore as he searched for the wines meaning.

The young witch wrapped her arms around Scortwit and gave a soft squeeze. Scortwit hugged back before giving her a smile and walking to the fireplace. "Do send letters more often, please. You need to let Hedwig stretch her wings."

"I will."

With a quick utterance of "Scortwits Preserve, Romania." The man hopped into the roaring green fireplace and disappeared.

"Well Miss Scortwit, dinner will be served in a half hour. I would recommend practicing a bit on your broom this week, your first quidditch match is next Friday, up against Gryffindor. And I hear they've found a good seeker."

Merlot nodded and gave a bow. "I will see you soon, Professor."

"Of course. Just so you know, the gargoyle's password for next week shall be Berties Beans."

"Is that in reference to the classic wizard sweet?" Merlot raised an eyebrow.

"I have a bit of a sweet tooth, although I always have bad luck when it comes to those tiny treats." Dumbledore smiled. "Enjoy your dinner."

"Thank you sir. Have a good night."

—0—

And there's the next chapter! I hoped you all liked seeing a bit from Neville. Next up we have quidditch, then dueling class and the first meeting with Dumbledore, and then Halloween and the troll!

As always, leave a review. And until next time,

Adios!