Neville woke to blanket being pulled off him by a yellow lab.
"Ok, Ginger, I'm up," said Ellie. "You know you don't have to pull the covers off me every morning."
"Morning, love, did you sleep well?" asked Ellie, as she moved to give him a kiss. Their mouths opened and the kiss turned passionate, then Ginger began whining and jumped on the bed.
"OK, girl, I get the message. I'll take you out," said Ellie.
"I can do it," said Neville.
"Great," said Ellie. Neville put on his shoes and grabbed the leash and took the dog out. When he returned, Ellie was in the kitchen.
"Would you like breakfast?"
"Sure," said Neville, "But it will have to be quick. My first class is at 9:30."
"Mine's at 9. It's only 6:15, so we have time."
"Do you like scrambled eggs with cheese?"
"Sure," he replied. He then stood behind Ellie and kissed her neck.
"Thank you for this," he said.
"Why are you thanking me? I should be thanking you for your help last night."
"Thanks for breakfast."
"You haven't eaten it yet. You never know, I might be a terrible cook."
"I truly doubt that. For one thing, your hotels, at least in the wizarding world are known for good food."
"True, but you know that could just mean we know how to find good chefs," said Ellie.'
"Is there anything I can do?"
"You can toast the bread. You just put it in the toaster over there."
"Thanks. Quick question- where did you put those vocabulary that you said you marked?
"On the coffee table. I also got started on the history quizzes. Did you know that muggles leave the best part of the Battle of Hastings out?"
"No, what part did it leave out?"
"The big duel between Aethelflaed and Carloman the Mighty. If Hedwig hadn't been killed at Stanford Bridge or if Aethelflaed had been a little better, then William would have lost. Did you know that most of magical Britain had to flee to Scotland after the conquest? The Normans tried to stamp out English magic?
"No, I didn't," said Ellie, "but they clearly didn't succeed."
"No, they didn't. Of course, magic is very hard to stamp out. There's also the fact that there were more wizards in Britain than in Normandy."
"So, what happened?"
"By the reign of Henry I, an English magician was back at court. Still, there was an awful lot lost in that time."
"That's absolutely fascinating," said Ellie. "I'd love to learn more. Are you sure you shouldn't be teaching history?"
"No, and that position has been taken for the last century. These eggs are amazing."
"You have a teacher who has been teaching for a century?"
"I didn't say he was alive," said Neville.
"How does that work?" asked Ellie. "It's hard to teach if you are dead."
"Binns is a ghost. He didn't let a little thing like death stop him from teaching."
"Wow. You know I think I remember my cousins talking about him. But I think they found his class boring."
"Everyone does."
"Is it 7:00 already? I have to be at school by 8:30."
"I'd better head back to the castle, too."
He put his dishes in the sink and kissed Ellie.
"I love you," said Ellie.
"I love you," said Neville.
He walked through the village. He felt like his feet were ten feet off the ground- without a broomstick. He smiled at the few villagers walking around, opening up shops and beginning their days.
"What is the password?" asked the Green Gargoyle at the gates of Hogwarts.
"Lemon Squash," said Neville.
"That was last week's password," said Green.
"You need this week's password," said the Red Gargoyle.
"Yes, prove to me that you belong here," said Sir Cedric, who appeared to be visiting the guards through a painting on the gates.
Neville sighed. Sir Cedric was known to change passwords on a whim and clearly, he and Green Gargoyle were friends.
"If you have business here, prove it," said Sir Cedric.
Neville reached into his pocket and pulled out a small ID card and his wand.
"I'm Neville Longbottom. I'm the professor of Herbolgy here. You've known me for years."
"Good grief," said the Red Gargoyle. "Either let him in or call up to the castle. Neville, have you ever had Red Velvet cake? You might want to try it.
"I still can't let you in without the password," said Green.
"Red Velvet," said Neville, "Now will you open the gate."
The large gate opened, and Neville walked quickly into the castle.
"Hey Neville," said Evan, "How was last night?"
"Great," said Neville.
"I'll bet it was- you're smiling like a cat who got the cream."
"We didn't do anything if that's what you are implying. Ellie is a nice girl," said Neville.
"Yes, but you owe me," said Evan.
"Why would I owe you?" asked Neville.
"Because I covered for you with Flitwick," said Evan. "You do know he is worst gossip in the castle."
"Thanks," said Neville. He rushed out the door and into Greenhouse 1 where his students eagerly awaited him.
"Good morning," said Neville. The class dutifully repeated the greeting back. Suddenly, several beeps interrupted his lesson.
"What on earth is that?" asked a small boy named Brian.
"It sounds like a phone to me," said Jenny Parker, a muggle born student.
"It can't be," said Peter. "After all, everyone knows electronics don't work well for wizards.
"They do if you use a few charms," said Rishi. "At least, that's what my brother did."
"Yes, it was a phone," said Neville. "I'm sure most of you have heard of them. Now, could you please open your books to page 34."
"Professor why don't electricity and muggle devices work for wizards?" asked Jenny.
"That's a good question," said Neville. "Electricity and magic often used similar frequencies, and therefore, don't like to work together."
"Professor, are your muggle born? Is that why you have a phone?
"No, I'm not muggle-born," said Neville.
"I bet he uses it to talk to his friends. My sister Jenny says you have a girlfriend in the village."
"Yes, I have a friend in the village. I'm a professor. Contrary to what students think, many of us have lives outside teaching. Now, can anyone tell me how plants get energy and how magic can help plants? You might want to make sure you know this one- it is likely to come up on the quiz next week." Somehow, he managed to get the class back on track. He got through both of his first-year sections, and his second-year class, then it was time for lunch.
Neville took his usual place at lunch next to Evan and across from Flitwick. Despite his rocky morning, he couldn't seem to stop smiling.
He took his customary place at the High Table for lunch- between Dean and Evan and across from Flitwick.
"Neville how are you this fine day. I'm glad you made it back safely," said Flitwick.
"I'm fine," said Neville.
"You know, just a reminder, write down the passwords somewhere. How was Ellie?"
"I'll do my best to remember them. Ellie is fine, why do you ask?"
"Well, you left the castle for Hogsmeade yesterday and you came back this morning, so I imagine you were with her," said Flitwick.
"As matter of fact, I was," said Neville.
"It must have been a very good night. You're grinning like a Cheshire cat!" said Flitwick.
"It was a good night- but not in the way that you are thinking. Ellie isn't that kind of girl," said Neville.
"So, what did you do?" asked Flitwick.
"Why are you so interested in my love life?" asked Neville.
"Because he doesn't have one of his own," said Dean.
"No, really, what happened last night?" asked Dean.
"I needed supplies from Hogsmeade, and I decided to see if Ellie wanted to have dinner. She had a headache, so we just ate some dinner at her place. Then I helped her mark some papers and we ended up falling asleep. I came back this morning."
"You owe me a drink," said Dean.
"Why does Flitwick owe you a drink?"
"Flitwick thought he could get you to come clean in two minutes, I said four. It took 3 and a half hours. I win."
"You two are betting on my love life," said Neville.
"Well, kind of. Today, the bet was how long it would take you to come clean," said Dean.
"Don't you have better things to do?" asked Neville.
"No," said Flitwick. "It's a small castle in the middle of the Scottish Highlands, you have to make your own fun and keep life interesting."
"And what are you up to?" asked McGonagall. "Every time you say that you're up to something. What is the bet today?"
"How did you know there was bet?" asked Neville.
"Seriously?" said McGonagall. "Filius loves to have a flutter on anything. The weather, the house cup, student relationships. In fact, I don't think he's paid for a drink in many years. If I were you, I'd be careful. Keep the stakes low- stick to drinks."
"Minerva, I believe you owe me a drink," said Flitwick.
"So, what did you bet on?"
"Nothing," said McGonagall.
"You're in on it, too," said Neville.
"Maybe," said McGonagall. "Though to be honest, I didn't think Neville would be the one caught doing the walk of shame."
"At least Ellie is a nice girl," said Flitwick.
"Yes, she is," said McGonagall.
"I have to know- who did you think would be caught doing the walk of shame?" asked Evan.
"Dean," said Flitwick.
"Why me?" said Dean.
"You've always been a bit of a player. Didn't you try to date two girls at once in your sixth year."
"I learned my lesson," said Dean.
"Only after the girls found out and sent a howler announcing it to the entire school," said Flitwick.
"It all turned out ok. In fact, I think Eleanor and Jane became best friends," said Dean.
"I think they are a little more than that," said Neville, "I just got an invitation to their wedding."
"Really," said McGonagall, "good for them."
"I still think that dating a muggle is a bad idea," said Professor Selwyn.
"I think it can work out," said Evan, "at least it did for my parents."
"Still, she won't be able to see Hogwarts or anything like that. You're a Professor of Magical Botany- I'm not sure that would translate into the muggle world. She won't even be able to see Hogwarts."
"Actually, she can see the castle," said Neville.
"Really," said Dean. "That's unusual."
"Not really," said Flitwick. "She comes for a magical family. She knows it exists. She probably has some magical ability- not enough to make her a full-blown witch, but enough to see past certain spells."
"I thought Hogwarts was totally hidden, that it is one of the few places left that muggles can't see," said Neville.
"Some can see it. I've known muggle parents who can," said Flitwick.
"Still," said Selwyn, "I don't think it is good idea."
"No one asked you," said Neville. "Times are different now."
"Still, aren't the Longbottoms a pure-blood family. And aren't you the last of that line? If so, you owe it to the Wizarding world to carry on the name."
"Yes," said Neville, "I am the last one. I fully intend to carry on the name. But you will have no say on who I choose to do that with. I get to choose. Not for the wizarding world, not for my family, but for me. And now, I've got third years to teach."
Neville got up and Evan followed him.
"That was impressive," said Flitwick.
"Indeed," said McGonagall. "Neville's gotten stronger."
"I'll bet you a Butter Beer that they will be engaged by the end of the year," said Flitwick.
"You're on," said McGonagall.