On Saturday, Neville led a group of third years into Hogsmeade. Since this was the first Hogsmeade trip of the year, all the students were excited.
"Listen up," said Neville, as the students circled around him. "Third Years, be sure to go in groups. Find a partner. The Three Broomsticks is just on the other side of the square. If you're hungry, they have a great shepherd's pie. Honeyduke's is on the high street- get the Chocolate fudge. Now, a word about Weasley's Wheeze's. I know they have great stuff, but be very careful. Some of their products work too well. Don't forget that the Weasley's tested stuff out on us. I'll know if you use the smart answers pen in class. I should remind you that Extendable Ears, the Daydream quill, and other things are banned. So don't try it. Third Years, we meet back here at 4:00 to get back to the castle. If you are fourth year or above, you can walk back yourself, but you must be back no later than 4:30."
"What time are we meeting?"
"Four" replied the students.
"Before I let you go, I have one more piece of advice. Remember who you are an what you represent. You are representing Hogwarts and it is imperative that we maintain good relations. If I hear of any bad behavior- and I will- you can easily wind up in detention. Now, Go have fun."
He couldn't believe that he'd just given the same lecture that teachers had given him.
"Neville, great job on the lecture," said Seamus.
"Thanks," said Neville, laughing.
"Yes, couldn't have done it better myself," said Flitwick.
"Now, please remember that Ellie is a muggle. Please don't scare her off or tell too many crazy stories."
"We wouldn't do that," said Evan, smiling.
"Are we still meeting her at the Three Broomsticks?" asked Flitwick.
"Isn't that risky?" asked Evan.
"Ellie's a muggle whose family owns the Three Broomsticks and half the muggle and magical hotels. I'm more worried that you lot are going to scare her off."
"She may know that the magical world exists, but that doesn't mean she knows a lot about it."
"Calm down, Evan. I'm sure it will be fine. The Three Broomsticks is pretty tame."
"It's sort of trial by fire," said Flitwick. "But I fully believe she will pass," said Flitwick.
Ellie was waiting outside the pub. She wore black pants and coral-colored sweater set. She looked terrific.
Neville immediately gave her a hug and kissed her cheek.
"Ellie, this is Evan Gallagher, Seamus Finnegan, and Prof. Filius Flitwick."
"I'm Ellie Banks," she said, shaking their hands. She had to admit that she is a bit nervous.
They found an open table toward the back of the dining room.
"What would you like to drink?" asked the waitress.
"I'll have a pint," said Seamus.
"Same for me," said Evan.
"I'll have a butter beer," said Flitwick.
"I'll take lemonade," said Ellie.
"I'll have lemonade, too," said Neville.
"What is Butter Beer?" asked Ellie. "I've heard about it, but never really tried it."
"Do you like Butterscotch?" asked Flitwick.
"It's ok," said Ellie, "not my favorite flavor though."
"Then you might not like it," said Neville.
"It's the magical world's answer to soda and fizzy drinks," said Flitwick.
"Actually, sodas are just starting to come into the magical world. The muggle students always complained about that you couldn't get fizzy drinks at Hogwarts."
"That's not entirely true," said Evan.
"What do mean?" said Neville.
"You could get them if you knew who to talk to," said Seamus. "Evan didn't you have your parents send you fizzy drinks every week or so?"
"Yes, and then I sold them to the muggle-born students at nice profit," said Evan.
"Plus, all it takes is a simple bubble charm to make a drink fizzy," said Flitwick.
"Then why wouldn't you just make your own and sell that?"
"It isn't as easy as you might think. There is also the fact that certain bubbly potions are known to be dangerous and many wizards shun them."
"It's also hard to get the taste and carbonation just right," said Evan.
"Interesting," said Ellie. "I bet that was why my cousin, Nathaniel, would have Dad ship him several cases of drinks once a month. I hope he didn't get in trouble."
"No," said Flitwick, "none that I can recall. Plus, selling fizzy drinks isn't exactly breaking rules."
"In other words, it's more trouble to get rid of it than to let students get away with it," said Ellie.
"Spoken like someone who has dealt with school administration," said Flitwick.
"Yes, I teach year 4 at Oak Grove," said Ellie.
"You mean the magical world isn't immune to crazy education administration rules."
"Of course not," said Evan. "Believe it or not, the Department of Magical Education is just as crazy in the wizarding world."
"Somethings are universal," said Neville.
"How old are year 4 students?" asked Flitwick.
"10-11," said Ellie. "It is the last year before prep school."
"So, the same age as our first years. Though, you have to be eleven to start at Hogwarts," said Evan.
"Do you focus on one subject or teach everything at that level?" asked Professor Flitwick.
"I teach a little of everything, but I specialize in English, History, and social studies," said Ellie.
"What do you all teach? I know Neville teaches botany."
"It's called Herbology," said Neville.
"Sorry, I'm still learning," said Ellie.
"I teach Potions, which is basically chemistry," said Evan.
"I am head of the Charms department," said Flitwick.
"I teach beginner Charms and coach Quidditch and Physical Education," said Seamus.
"What on earth is Quidditch?" asked Ellie.
"I'm surprised you haven't heard of it," said Flitwick. "Jamie, Nathaniel, and your aunt Mary were excellent players. I believe that your cousins- Tessa and Sam excelled as well."
"No, I haven't" said Ellie.
"Quidditch is the best magical sport," said Seamus. "It's sort of a mix between rugby and football. It's played on broomsticks."
"When you say broomsticks, do you mean flying?"
"Yes," said Seamus.
"That's amazing. I always thought the broomstick thing was a myth."
. "Not only is it true," said Seamus, "but there's a whole sector or the wizard world devoted to quidditch, broomstick races, etc. And men and women fly them."
"Really? That's awesome," said Ellie. "Do wizards go as crazy for Quidditch as muggles do for football?"
"Of course," said Neville. "Ask away"
"In all the muggle stories, it is the witches who are bad or good. The wizards are usually evil."
"Just like in muggle society, you have good people, bad people, and in-between people," said Evan.
"In a lot of the muggle stories, you aren't supposed to use magic for simple things or things to make life easier or for personal gain," said Ellie. "Is that true?"
"No," said Neville. "Of course, you do have to work hard to keep magic secret and that is where it comes in. Magic is a tool. Magic is kind of like electricity or power. You use power to turn on lights, cook, keep things cold or hot, etc. Well, wizards use magic to do all of that. You can do all kinds of things with it, once you know how."
"That makes sense," said Ellie. "Can you keep things at certain temperatures with magic?"
"Yes," said Flitwick
"That explains why the wizard hotels always had extremely low power bills."
"So, can you just tap into magic by plugging something in?
"Yes and no," said Neville. "It depends on what you are trying to do. But it isn't as easy as plugging something in to an outlet. For instance, with a light- you have to know how bright you want it, how long you want it to last, etc. It looks like it is just a few motions with a wand, but it takes a little more. Of course, once you know the spells, you can make it last quite a while."
"So instead of turning a light off every night, you could have some sort of continuous light."
"Yes," said Neville.
"Interesting," said Ellie. "It's kind of like there are two difference approaches- muggles use technology, wizards use magic to accomplish the same things."
"Yes," said Flitwick, "that's basically it. You know I've often wondered what would happen if the muggle world ever discovered magic."
"I am sure some would embrace magic. Others would fear it and want to stop its use. We don't have a great track record dealing with it," said Ellie.
"True," said Flitwick. "But in some ways, we're more alike than different."
"Well, they can exist together," said Ellie. "I mean, just look at my family. Three quarters are magical. I was brought up fully muggle. I mean, I knew a little about the world, and my brothers and I had to sign an oath at seventeen, but that was all I knew. And now, I discover just how interesting and how intertwined the two world are."
"Your family is the exception," said Flitwick.
"For centuries, if a family had a non-magical child, it was given to muggles to raise. Your grandmother started a grass-roots, very successful campaign to change that."
"How do you hide so much from muggles?" asked Ellie.
"There are numerous ways to do that," said Flitwick. "There is a whole department at the Ministry of Magic devoted to keeping the secret,"
"Yes, those strange events that you might think are weather problems or people just being silly, nine times out of ten, it was us," said Evan.
"Give me an example,"s aid Ellie.
"Wow, you really are a teacher," said Seamus. "You want everything backed up."
"That would be why I'm a good teacher," said Ellie.
"Do you remember hearing about some straight line winds that knocked statues down in Edinburgh and Aberdeen a few months ago?"
"Yes," said Ellie. "In fact, it was right outside one of our hotels."
"They said it was freak storm."
"No," said Seamus, "That was a silly broomstick race between wizards."
"Yes," said Ellie, "but that explains one event. Where do wizards get together? I know there are plenty around."
"They are around," said Neville. "There's usually a wizard district in every city, you just have to know where to look. There is also the fact that we've spent years living among you. We look like you. It is just that we know how to hide in plain sight. Take Hogwarts. Most muggles see a giant abandoned ruin at the top of a hill. It is not a place that looks inviting. In actuality, it is a full and thriving place. Hogmeade looks like every other village in Scotland, but you know it isn't like that."
"I mean, I've only really started to notice how different things are lately. I don't even think some of the people who live here are human."
"You're correct," said Flitwick. "Most magical beings use some form of glamour so they appear human to muggles. For example, you see Mr. Gripwell, the well-dressed bank manager. I see Gripwell the Goblin, head of Gringott's local branch."
"How interesting," said Ellie.
"You just have to keep your eyes open," said Flitwick.
"The funny thing is that we aren't so far apart," said Ellie. "Muggle wand wizard are a lot closer than anyone will admit."
"Yes," said Flitwick, "they really are."
Flitwick looked at his watch. "Oh my goodness, it's two thirty. I have to run an errand."
This signalled everyone to stand up and the lunch party broke up.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, my dear," said Flitwick. He motioned for Ellie to lean in closer, so she bent down.
"Let me know if he does anything annoying and I'll take care of it," said Flitwick.
"Thank you. I will," said Ellie.
"I have a few errands to run as well," said Seamus.
"Yeah, me too," said Evan."
Neville took Ellie's hand as they walked out of the pub.
"So, how'd I do?" asked Ellie.
"You were wonderful," said Neville. "I think Flitwick approves."
"It's funny that he's taught half of my family. He certainly knows more about some members than I ever will."
"Well, I think he's a good friend of Rosmerta's," said Neville. "You do know that he is the biggest gossip on the staff."
"I can kind of see that," said Ellie. "But, that also means that he knows everything."
"It's kind of funny being colleagues and friends with him," said Neville. "He keeps telling us to call him by his first name, but none of us will do it. So, he's just Flitwick. It's his own fault. They drummed manners into our little heads and it stuck."
"It just means he is a good teacher. We want that knowledge to stick," said Ellie.
Neville pulled her close and kissed her. Just then, two students walked past.
"Oh my goodness, it's Professor Longbottom," said a voice.
Neville broke the kiss.
"I wonder who the girl is," said another.
"Merlin's beard," said a third.
Neville broke the kiss. The voice belonged to Emma Harding, Olivia Fry, and Benji Holmes. Three Hufflepuff third years.
"I'm Ellie Banks," said Ellie. The students jumped about six feet when Ellie spoke.
"I'm Benji" said the boy. "It's nice to meet you."
"And what are your names?" asked Ellie, turning to the two girls.
"This is Olivia and Emma," said Neville.
"It's so nice to meet some of your students," said Ellie.
"Yes," said Neville.
"Hey Oliva, we have to meet Cameron at Honeydukes," said Benji. The students ran off.
"You ok?" asked Ellie, laughing.
"What's so funny?" asked Neville.
"The look on your face when the students spoke to us," said Ellie. "You looked so surprised and torn between happiness and wanting to run away."
"I'm tempted to take points from Hufflepuff," said Neville.
"We're in public. There's no reason to punish innocent children for your actions. They just found out that teachers are human beings. They were going to realize it one day."
"I guess you're right." Said Neville.
"Why don't we go and get chocolate from Honeyduke's?" said Ellie.
"And run into more students?" said Neville.
"It's just that their fudge is really good and we both know they only take wizard's gold," said Ellie.
By the time they'd finished in Honeydukes, where Neville bought Ellie some prized fudge, it was time to head back to the castle. Neville walked Ellie to her apartment and kissed her good bye.
"I love you," said Ellie. "I've been meaning to tell you that."
"I love you, too," said Neville, pulling her close for one last, wonderful kiss.
"Text me or call if you need me," said Neville. He kissed her on the cheek and then turned to head back to the castle. He didn't think he'd ever felt quite like this. Ellie loved him, really loved him. He knew then and there that he wanted to marry her.