The fall sun shone through the window illuminating the small stack of papers on the table. Neville stared at them, sighed and took another drink of his fizzy beverage that muggles called soda or Coke. He also hoped the Coke would wake him up so he could finish grading papers.
"Here's your Shepherd's pie," said Ellie, the waitress.
"Are you ok? You've been staring at those papers for a while. This should help wake you up. You don't want to grade while half-asleep. Trust me on this- no one is happy when teachers grade tired. I've found it leads to awkward parent meetings."
"How do you know that?" asked Neville.
"I'm a teacher, too," replied Ellie. I teach at the primary school in Grove Hill. Where do you teach and what subject?"
"Herbology at Hogwarts," the school up the mountain.
"Herbology- is that the study of herbs? Or is that a new term for biology?"
Neville's mouth opened for a minute in shock- he'd just stuck his foot in his mouth. Ellie taught at the muggle school- she would have no idea about Hogwarts or the magical world at all. He should have used the cover name- St. Anthony's. He could do a confundus charm to make her forget, but he decided not to.
"Yes, sort of like botany and biology," said Neville.
"So, do you grow your own herbs? If so, I wonder if I can get some to use in the kitchen- we can always use thyme, rosemary, and oregano. They are so much better fresh," said Ellie.
"
"Y-yes," said Neville. "I do. Which herbs do you need?"
"I love fresh thyme, oregano, basil, parsley, and dill," said Ellie. Fresh dill would be amazing. It isn't in season, now, though."
Neville knew nothing about cooking, but a good deal about plants. He could certainly get fresh dill to grow. The others he could get from kitchen garden. If he picked up some chocolates at Honeydukes, he could talk Wendy, the house-elf, into giving him some for Ellie.
"I'm off tomorrow," said Ellie. "Would you like to meet up in the park? We can have a cup of tea and you can give me the herbs. Do you have any fresh thyme or basil?"
"Yes, I have some I can bring," said Neville. "What time tomorrow?"
"Will twelve work for you?" asked Ellie
"Yes," said Neville, as he broke into a huge grin. It felt great to smile. He always tried to have a positive attitude, but this felt different.
"Eat your pie before it gets cold," said Ellie, "and grade the papers after you eat. You will thank me."
He finished his pie and then took the long way back to the castle. As he left, he noticed Prof. Sondregger talking with Rosmerta. He couldn't make out everything that was said, but they were arguing. Why on earth was she in the Crown? Sondregger had spoken against Muggles and Muggle establishments frequently. Still, he wouldn't let anything dampen his spirits. He had a date with a beautiful girl.