"Longbottom?" Pomona asked, pulling the pot of Gillyweed from her student's hand. "You're hardly talking, and you normally talk my ear off. Before we continue any gardening this evening, I must ask: what's wrong?"

Neville looked closely at her, his face drained of its normal rosy complexion. "It's nothing, Professor Sprout. Really."

Continuing to stare at him, Pomona could see his lip trembling. "Then, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

Suddenly, Neville sunk down into the stool behind the table they were working at, rubbing his temples. "I…it was class today, that's all."

"What happened?"

She watched as he swallowed, turning his head. "Professor Moody…he showed us the cruciatus curse…he them to us…all the unforgiveable curses…on a spider. I never actually saw what happened to my parents...I know that it was on a spider, so I shouldn't be letting it get to me this way…"

Pomona felt her stomach lurch as she saw the pain wash across Neville's face. Alastor was lucky he wasn't in the room, because Pomona wasn't sure if she could keep from wrapping her hands around his neck. Neville had become the student she had grown closest to in years. He'd showed such a passion for Herbology, and he was a lovely young man, his lack of confidence something that she'd set herself on working on as he grew up. "I'm so sorry, Neville," she said softly. The Gryffindor looked surprised at the use of his first name, but Pomona couldn't help the affection that came over her. He was becoming the closest thing she knew to a son. Placing the pot back on the table and pushing it towards him, Pomona sat down across from him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Why don't we break for tonight?"

Neville looked up at her and nodded. "I should go write my paper for Professor McGonagall."

The Deputy's name perked Pomona's ears, and she knew she had to tell Minerva what had happened. Patting Neville on the shoulder, Pomona stood. "We can pick up on this tomorrow evening if you have time."

Standing, his head was hanging down, and he slowly picked up his books. "Good night, professor," he said quietly as he dragged himself from the greenhouse.

Trying to control her breathing, Pomona felt anger flow through her as she thought more about what Alastor had done. The young boy didn't need any more stress in his life, especially not at school. Severus gave him a hard-enough time- something Pomona could never understand. Without a thought, she stood and practically ran down the hall to Minerva's office, throwing the door open without so-much-as a knock.

When the door slammed against the wall, she saw Minerva and Severus, who was standing behind her, jump at the sound. His hands were on her shoulders, but Minerva immediately stood when she saw her friend. If Pomona hadn't been so angry about Neville, she would have noticed the blush that crept across both of their cheeks. "We need to talk," Pomona snapped, her voice almost unrecognizable to herself. It had been years since she had been so angry. She was known for her cheeriness, and as much as she hated to be angry, it was beyond her control.

"Sit down," Minerva said gently, walking to put a hand on her shoulder. Pomona so desperately wanted to push her off, but she didn't. "What happened, Pomona?"

"Alastor needs to go," she said, remaining standing.

"Something we can agree on," Severus muttered.

"What happened?"

"He showed the fourth years the unforgiveable curses in class today. Neville came to work on some routine planting with me, and he told me…"

Minerva's face drained, and even Severus looked appalled, something that surprised Pomona. "What?" she asked.

"He demonstrated them on a spider."

"Dear, Merlin," Minerva muttered, walking slightly away and turning to face out her window. Her arms were wrapped around herself. "With Potter and Longbottom in there…"

Severus stood where he was, his face hard to read. Pomona wished it was just Minerva in the room. Severus's dislike of Neville had grown to anger her more and more over the years. Potter, she understood, whether it was justified or not, she understood from what she'd heard about his father. But, Neville? Over the years, she'd learned that everything about Severus was explainable- predictable even. His hatred of Neville was something Pomona couldn't wrap her head around. Sometimes, she wondered, with Minerva's love of the boy, how the two weren't constantly butting heads over it. There had to be something Pomona didn't know. "What are you going to do, Minerva?" Pomona finally asked.

A long breath came from Minerva, who turned to face her. "With the other two schools coming in a few days…I just don't know where this is going to land with Albus."

"His focus must be on the Ministry," Severus cut in.

"Why can't his focus be in two places?" Pomona fired back.

"With two other schools coming, there are many precautions he has to take."

Pomona glared at him. "What about his own students? Just because Longbottom doesn't matter to you-,"

"Stop!" Minerva snapped. "Both of you."

Releasing the firsts her hands had balled into, Pomona looked to Minerva for an answer. The woman was her rock- all their rocks. Tension had been mounting among the staff since Albus had told them at the beginning of year meeting about the tournament. Nobody, save Hagrid, seemed particularly thrilled at the idea. Minerva and Severus had both seemed more agitated with Albus than usual. Pomona knew that something was going on that only the Headmaster's two right arms knew. But, the pain on Neville's face was far more important to the Head of Hufflepuff than whatever the Albus club had brewing. Durmstrang and Beauxbatons could shove it. "Do you suggest we ignore this, Minerva?"

"No," she replied, rubbing her temples. Pomona felt a hint of guilt throwing more onto Minerva's plate. However, the woman was a teacher before a Deputy. "Alastor is…unstable. I know that his teaching methods would be…"

"Medieval?" Pomona suggested.

"Yes," Minerva agreed. "But, with the possible threat that bringing in these two other schools could bring, he is a necessary piece to the puzzle. His skills are legendary, even if he has become a little…deranged over the years."

Knowing Minerva was right, Pomona sat down in one of Minerva's chairs with a huff of defeat and exhaustion. "I say we send the others back before they even arrive- solve this whole mess."

Severus snorted. "And we agree again."

Ignoring him, Pomona grabbed a biscuit out of the tin that sat in its usual spot on Minerva's desk. "You cannot allow him to continue to teach like this all year."

"Of course not!" Minerva exclaimed. "I'll speak to Alastor. We've always had a good relationship from working together over the years; I know how to quarrel with him. I find it may sink in better coming from me, anyway," she explained, biting her nail. A bought of silence fell over them until she asked, "How's Longbottom?"

"Working on your essay," Pomona offered, half-chuckling.

"Merlin, let it keep him busy. The last thing I need is a howler from Augusta."

"If it's anything like your run in with her two years ago, I'd be open to the idea," Severus said.

Having heard about the incident in the hospital wing from Poppy, Pomona tried to bite back a laugh- Minerva kissing Severus right in front of the old prude. Pomona had always hated Augusta when they were in school. It amazed her how sweet Frank and Neville had turned out, being raised by her. "If I'm being honest, he looked…too drained to even talk," Pomona admitted.

"I'll handle Alastor," Minerva said, sitting back down at her desk, looking pleased Pomona was crunching away on her biscuits. "I'm worried about Longbottom."

"He'll be fine," Severus said.

"Would you stop?" Pomona asked bitterly.

"At some point these students are going to have to see things they don't want to see," Severus replied. As much as she wanted to argue back, Pomona knew he was right. The trio and the others in their year were growing up. It didn't make what Alastor did right, but with the way darkness was moving over their world, it felt too much like the first war. Pomona had an eerie feeling that this generation of children was about to see a lot more than they should.

"We're going to try and protect them as long as we can," Minerva said slowly.

Severus rolled his eyes. "Doesn't do them much good."

Minerva's eyes met Pomona's. "I'll handle Alastor, dear. Severus, do be a little less harsh on Longbottom tomorrow, would you?" Her tone was final in nature, and Severus simply nodded.

"Thank you," Pomona replied, standing. "I'll leave you two alone." As she stood, she saw Severus's hand touch Minerva's back. When she turned for the door, she suddenly remembered what the rest of the evening had in store; everything with Neville had had her so angry, she'd almost forgotten. "We have the get together in Ro's rooms tonight, are you two coming? Our last chance without the new additions for a while?"

For the first time since Pomona had come in, Minerva smiled. "Of course!"

Raising an eyebrow, Pomona looked to Severus. "And you?"

"When have I had a choice in these things?"

"It'll be fun," Minerva said, turning to face the man behind her. "It always is."

"Listening to Rolanda gossip about her sexual exploits from the summer is not my definition of fun."

"You don't know anything about fun," Minerva argued back, leaning against him. Trying to bring herself into a better mood and trust that Minerva would handle Alastor, Pomona laughed as well, shutting the door behind her.