Font:  VerdanaTimes New RomanCourier NewGeorgia10pt12pt14pt

A/N: This was originally written February of 2005, prior to the release of Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hollows. Please disregard any inconsistencies with the last two books and remember that this is an AU. Thank you.
 



Ever since Harry’s defeat, three years ago, the wizarding world changed drastically. Instead of Death Eaters hiding out, all those who supported Harry Potter were hunted down, tortured for information, and promptly killed. Those who survived either had to convincingly change sides or go into hiding. Hermione, Ron, and Neville had been lucky. They primarily lived as Muggles, even attaining Muggle jobs. Neville worked at a greenhouse in the city while Ron worked at a grocery store and Hermione waited tables.

Bracing. That's what they called the air here. Biting was more like it. Neville made his way to the meeting in the main greenhouse. The rolling hills around him were dotted here and there with white creatures whose heads always seemed to be close to the already ridiculously short grass. He wondered if sheep did anything except eat and bleat.

One of his co-workers went dashing past him accidentally knocking into his shoulder, causing Neville to gasp. The wound still stung even after all these months of treatment and recovery, but he knew eventually the pain would cease. The pain would cease... He felt hollow inside as it was. Sometimes the pain was the only familiar sensation he could find. He was lucky that he had simply not lost the arm altogether and he knew it. He'd certainly been told that enough times to know it. Whenever the shoulder pained him, the memory of that day would flare in his mind: shouting for Luna, seeing the Death Eaters closing in around Harry, and his desperate attempt to get to him before Voldemort did. Instead, there had been the severing spell slicing into him and the sounds of his friends fighting desperately as the world around him faded into black.

It was easier here. Here, he could try to forget.

‘Ach sorry, lad!’ his co-worker called over his shoulder as he continued his headlong rush. ‘Dinna be late!’

Dinna, thought Neville. Why couldn't they simply say ‘don't’? Even the language still sounded rough to Neville's ears.

There was a harsh flapping sound behind him, rapidly increasing in volume, and Neville turned just in time to duck the incoming owl. It landed on the ground in front of him and stared up with slowly blinking eyes. He reached in his pocket for a knut, but stopped short.

This was no Ministry or message service owl. It was Donnabhac, Seamus's tiny, brown owl. He scrambled for the message, knowing that Seamus had said he would contact him if there were news.

Neville's round face first showed astonishment and then, slowly, a smile crept across his features. Seamus had used code, but the message was still clear to Neville. He quickly lit it afire and it vanished.

Rushing up the path as quickly as he could, he ran past another of his co-workers who called out, ‘Neville, where are you off to? We've—’

Neville shouted back at her as he ran, ‘You've got a meeting. I've got to leave.’ He laughed somewhat as he called back, ‘Dinna be angry!’

---

Once Neville arrived in Dublin, he entered the pub Seamus suggested for their meeting.

Upon entering, a scandalously dressed woman approached Neville, pulled him over to the bar, and sat on his lap. ‘Nice weather we’re having, isn’t it?’ she cooed into his ear.

‘Erm—’ coughed Neville. ‘Sure…yeah…’

‘See you’ve met me bird Myrna,’ said Seamus as he wandered over to them. ‘Long time no see, Neville! How you’ve been?’

Myrna giggled, gave Neville a kiss on the cheek, and bounced over to Seamus’. ‘Make you jealous, lover?’

‘Not a chance,’ laughed Seamus. He kissed her and slapped her bum. ‘Get you!’ He winked at her and she giggled as she went behind the bar to serve drinks. ‘Can I get you something to drink?’

‘No thanks,’ said Neville.

Seamus motioned for Neville to follow him into a back room and Harry tagged along. He whipped out his wand and said an impenetrable charm around them.

‘What happened?’ asked Neville. ‘We thought you were—’

Seamus sighed and leaned back in his chair, folding his arm behind his head. ‘Me father was ill the last weeks of our seventh year.’ He exhaled loudly. ‘Me mum wanted to spend the last of his days with him and our family safely away from You-Know-Who.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ said Neville. ‘I didn’t know.’

‘No one did. I wasn’t about to tell anyone… Anyway, the reason I invited you here… After me father died last year, me mum went on a rampage, seeking out all the draíodóir—’

‘The what?’

‘Draíodóir—wizards—hiding away from You-Know-Who— She’s been gathering them together so that if Harry never returns, there’ll be a force against the Death Eaters should they want to take control of Ireland. We’ve heard rumours of Harry’s return…’

Neville wasn’t sure if he should admit to knowing Harry’s whereabouts or not, but figured now wasn’t the best time to reveal anything.

‘I know it’s not much, mate, but we Irish won’t let the dark wizards in without a fight.’

Neville nodded. He figured he may as well change the subject and began questioning Seamus about school in the most roundabout way possible to see if he really was Seamus Finnigan.

‘And then our fourth year…’ said Neville. ‘Who won Quidditch Cup? I've forgotten.’

‘We didn't play that year, mate,’ laughed Seamus. ‘Don't you remember? You were escorting Miss Weasley to the Yule Ball.’

‘Oh yeah, that's right!’

Neville and Seamus talked for another hour or so before Myrna called for Seamus.



‘Where the bleeding hell are you, Seamus? You puss-faced dosser! If you don't come out here in five minutes, you'll be twistin' hay!’ shouted Myrna.

Neville was taken aback by Seamus' foul-mouthed and visibly angered girlfriend. He wondered what got her knickers in a twist. ‘Does she, er—’ asked Neville. ‘Does she know about you being a wizard and all?’

‘She knows a bit about it, but nothing too important. It was hard to keep something that huge from her forever.’ He took down the impenetrable charm. ‘Shut your bleeding cakehole, Myrna! I'll be out in a moment! Leave off!’

‘It was good seeing you again, Seamus.’ Neville stood to leave.

The two shook hands.

‘Offer still stands if ever you, Ron, Hermione...Harry if you see him, you're all welcome here.’

‘Thanks, mate.’

‘Toss me an owl sometime.’

‘Sure thing.’

---

It was colder this December in Kirkcaldy than it ever had been at Hogwarts. Hermione figured it was due to some atmospheric charm around the school or its location. Though it didn’t seem like it, it wasn’t as snowy as London. Neville found employment at a local flower boutique whilst Ron stocked shelves at the grocery store.

Neville enjoyed his new part time job and since plants were familiar to him, he felt at peace amongst the greenery. Nearly every day, the pleasant young nurse from the hospital would walk by at the same time on her way home from work. Sometimes she’d peek in the window to admire the arrangements and sometimes she’d pop in and say ‘hi’ to him.



‘I’m sorry. I don’t think we were ever truly introduced. I’m Natalie Hayes.’

Neville was stunned when the short, beautiful girl thrust a hand toward him. ‘Hi. Neville L-long—Longbottom. N-nice to meet you…truly.’ He knew his face must’ve turned bright red.

Natalie examined Neville’s noble chin and sandy brown hair that fell into his eyes. It was a bit long for her taste, but it seemed to suit him. When he ran a hand through it, she noticed a pale, pink scar on the left side of his face from his ear, down his neck a little bit. ‘How’s that pretty lass of yours?’

‘My what?’

‘The girl you were with at hospital back awhile ago. I was just wondering how she’s gettin' on?’

‘She’s not my...lass...or girlfriend. She’s well—she’s a friend. We’re very close though like brother and sister. But yeah, she’s doing better...’

‘The two of you living together rambling about in that huge old house up the road and you mean to say nothing is…’

‘Oh we’re not liv-living together like that—I mean, I’m just staying there, but not alone with her—I mean, there are four of us staying there for Christmas…’

She loved how he was stuttering and nervous around her, though she truthfully was just as shy. He was quite a bit taller than her, trim and fit, though not muscular.

He is concerned about what he can tell her and what he can’t, worried that she might be a dark wizard….but dismisses it…she’s too nice…

Today, Natalie was with her two older brothers and old sister, shopping for last minute Christmas decorations. Natalie introduced him to her siblings and he helped them find a few nice poinsettias.

‘This is Neville Long—’

‘Longstocking,’ said Neville before she had a chance to finish.

‘Are you Swedish then?’ asked her oldest brother.

‘Erm, maybe?’ said Neville with an embarrassed shrug as he handed her brother his change.

‘He seems cheery sort. Nice fellow, really.’ Neville overheard her sister as the four of them exited the shop.

The rest of his shift, Neville thought about how daft he’d acted around her siblings, stuttering and stumbling about like a complete idiot. He was shocked that Natalie’s sister came back an hour later.

‘Neville?’ the woman asked, stepping toward him. ‘Hello. I’m Natalie’s sister, Catherine.’

‘Er, hi,’ said Neville, poking his head out from a large hedge plant.

‘Good to see you again. Sometimes my sister's too shy for her own good, that Natalie fancies you and would like to invite you round for coffee.’ She turned to look out the window and Neville looked over as well to see Natalie standing outside.

Watching intently, Natalie, who wore a bright green scarf and matching knitted hat, waved timidly.

Neville’s cheeks coloured. ‘Tonight?’
 
‘Yeah. Are you free then or is your social calendar already booked?’ said Catherine enthusiastically as she smiled at the younger man. He was certainly better than the other blokes Natalie had dated. Catherine and Natalie though five years apart in age, were very close and told each other everything. She knew Natalie had only been seriously involved with two blokes, both sexually, and neither relationship had worked out, but Neville here—there was something different about him; something she couldn’t put her finger on.
 
‘Yeah sure. I’ve just got to close up shop here.’
 
‘That'll be grand. She’ll just be waiting outside then.’ She turned to give her sister the thumbs up.
 
Before Catherine left, Neville said, ‘Wait!’

Catherine turned around with a questioning look on her face.
 
‘Er…she doesn’t have to wait outside. I mean, it’s a bit nippy…’
 
Catherine chuckled. ‘All right. I’ll tell her.’ She turned on her heels and exited the boutique.
 
The chimes on the door sounded once more when Natalie entered. Her cheeks were rosy from the cold and she paced the front part of the store, waiting for Neville to finish putting the potted plants in the back refrigerators.
 
‘Hi,’ said Neville when he reappeared, slipping on his coat.
 
‘Hi,’ replied Natalie. ‘So you want to come to my house then? For coffee?’
 
‘Yeah, that sounds lovely.’ Neville adjusted his own scarf around his neck and cleared his throat before they stepped through the door. He locked the door behind them and they walked to her home.
 
Though nineteen, Natalie still lived at home with her parents, Catherine, Catherine’s boyfriend Elam, their sister Mary who was still in primary school, and their baby brother, Julian. Their eldest brother was married with kids of his own and the other was in school at Edinburgh, but home for the holidays. Their small house was very crowded to Neville, who was used to spacious rooms with scarce occupants. After the holiday wine was opened and inhibitions were lowered, Neville found he enjoyed the company of the Hayeses. Especially Natalie.
 
‘So Neville,’ Elam looked him over with an appraising eye. ‘You're from England are you then?’
 
Neville glanced up from his coffee and saw that the young man was looking at him intently. Neville thought it was fairly obvious that he was from another part of the United Kingdom but could fathom why the man was asking.
 
‘Yes...I....yes.’ Neville had always tended to stumble over his words when nervous.
 
‘And then what would be your thoughts about home rule, if you don't mind my asking?’ Elam was leaning forward eagerly.
 
‘I think that...home rule...I think it's good to rule your home.’ Neville said uncertainly. To his surprise Elam sat back and laughed heartily.
 
‘Aye, it is.’ Elam smiled wildly. He stood and walked over to a small table with several bottles on it and lifted one with some amber liquid in it. ‘Would you care for a wee drop yourself there, Neville? It's bitter out.’
 
‘Uh...no. Not really…never liked...no, thank you.’ Neville eyed the whisky bottle with alarm. Then he noticed that Elam replaced it without using any himself and sat back down with a satisfied smile.

'You're a good lad,’ Catherine noted. ‘This one we might let you actually keep.’

Natalie blushed deeply but Neville could see that Catherine's smile was sincere. The evening had gone on from there.
 
After dessert and coffee, Neville felt he ought to leave so as not to overstay his welcome. He thanked everyone and Natalie jumped up to escort him out. Elam raised his eyebrows suggestively at Catherine and she elbowed him playfully.
 
‘Thanks loads for coming,’ she said once they were alone. ‘I hope my family wasn’t too terribly annoying or anything they're sometimes a bit terrifying if you're…’ She stopped and gazed into his eyes, trying to read his thoughts. Natalie decided by looking into his eyes that he was an old soul.
 
‘Thanks for inviting me. I had a wonderful time. Your family’s lovely,’ said Neville. Again, he wanted to tell her just how beautiful she was, but bit his tongue.
 
‘Cheerio, goodnight then.’ she said, giving him a chaste kiss on the cheek.
 
He put a gloved hand to his cheek, but before his nerves got the better of him, he touched her cheek in return and kissed her on the lips. The snow fell around them like a soft blanket.
 
He was so…different from the other boys Natalie’d dated. He seemed almost afraid to touch her, as if by a mere touch he would shatter her like a porcelain figurine. His diffidence made her feel special. To make for certain that he knew she fancied him, she didn’t budge after he broke away. Now the chill of December nipped at each patch of exposed skin on both of their bodies. She closed her eyes.
 
Neville was uncertain how to proceed from there. He studied her features as she closed her eyes and touched his nose to hers, brushing tentatively. He then leant forward and kissed her again, this time growing a little bolder. His free hand wrapped around her waist to pull her closer.
 
Once the weather was too cold to ignore, they parted and said their goodnights. Neville walked the whole way back instead of Apparating, thrilled at what had happened with Natalie Hayes. This joy hadn’t been felt by him in such a long time.