Neville Longbottom

Coda

Wed, 02 Sep 2015 02:46:05 GMT

Once the location of NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM's remains is revealed by Rodolphus Lestrange, Frank and Alice Longbottom bring their son home for burial in the Memorial Garden at Moddey Dhoo.

With the assistance of St Mungo's, Frank and Alice establish a memorial fund in Neville's honour for students, magical or muggle, who wish to pursue higher studies in the cultivation and use of medicinal plants. Applicants may be pursuing their Mastery in a number of related fields, including Herbology, Biology, Botany, Medical Research, etc. Regina Wilson-Lee oversees the applications from muggle students, and the current Herbology Professor at Hogwarts evaluates the applications from magical students.

During the annual observance of Remembrance Day on May 16th each year, bells are rung, names are read, and candles are lit. And white flowers -- miles and miles of flowers -- spring up from the ground in St James Park and are left at graves and on memorials, worn as corsages, and displayed in windows.

Neville's grave, in particular, is nearly buried in white flowers every spring, and every Christmas, one of his friends leaves paperwhites in a charmed pot on his grave sometime during the night.

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Order Only: private message to Susan Bones

Tue, 23 Dec 2014 14:39:15 GMT

Thanks so much for the invitation to dinner. It was fun meeting your mum and dad, and spending more time with your family. And thank your mum again for me, won't you? I was really astounded, but it all seems to fit, doesn't it? I don't know if you can really understand what a relief it is, to have an explanation for why I had trouble in school, why I was so slow at learning to read and telling my left from my right (I still get them mixed up, sometimes).

I was wondering...d'ye think you and your mum might be willing to come to have dinner at my place, sometime after Boxing Day? I think it'd really help if your mum could talk to Gran (she loves me, I know she does, but she's always been, I dunno, impatient. Like, 'you'd do better on your essays if you simply tried, young man!') I think your mum could explain it to her way better than I can.

I enjoyed our talk after dinner last night, too. I know you were a little embarrassed that Ed and Pete kept butting in, but don't worry about it. I thought it was funny, and I know that younger brothers always feel honour-bound to do that sort of thing.

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Order Only: Private message to Ron Weasley

Sun, 21 Dec 2014 22:40:38 GMT

Did my garden notebook end up in your trunk somehow, in that last minute flurry of packing? You were grabbing stuff in a hurry; perhaps you swept that up, too, by mistake? Or maybe I just forgot it and left it in the sealed drawer of my bedside table instead.

Bugger all. I really wanted to show my notes to Mr Snape.

You remember what it looks like, yeah? Black leather, but really worn; the edges are grimy with dirt, and there's Spello-tape on the spine. You won't be able to open it, but I'd really appreciate it if you could let me know if you have it, and I'll come by and pick it up.

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Order Only: Private message to Susan Bones and Justin Finch-Fletchley

Sun, 14 Dec 2014 01:28:43 GMT

How is the Sett doing tonight? How are you doing?

I hope no one is doubting Cedric's loyalty at all. Well, I'm sure they wouldn't in Hufflepuff. I haven't heard anything malicious about him in Gryffindor, anyway, so it looks like the cover story is holding. For now, anyway.

I'm so sorry about Professor Sprout. Honest, I'm just gutted about it. I know you'll all miss her so much, and I will, too.

I can't remember if I ever mentioned to you, the Hat thought for a long time about putting me in Hufflepuff. Don't know why it put me in Gryffindor, really. I certainly felt a lot closer to your Head of House than mine.

I keep thinking about what sort of tree we should plant for her in the Memorial Garden. I wanted to get your opinion, to see if you had any suggestions. Was there a particular tree she ever mentioned to you that she really liked, that she thought represented Hufflepuff? Or sometimes I choose whatever tree the person's wand came from. What was hers made of, do you know? I thought it looked like apple, and I was thinking of an apple tree, maybe. It's beautiful in the spring, with the flowers, and I bet she'd like it that it would produce fruit that the kids at Moddey Dhoo could eat.

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Winding up chores in the greenhouses

Thu, 11 Dec 2014 02:02:02 GMT

I had a melancholy realisation today as I was puttering around Greenhouse 4, finishing putting the last of the fall experimental harvest to bed: for the Herbology NEWT students, now is pretty much the end of our time at Hogwarts, as far as our own research, I mean. I'll help plant seeds and set out flats in the spring, but I won't be here next autumn to take note of which crossbreeds thrived the most through the growing season (good thing, I suppose, because after six and a half years, my garden notebook is so stuffed with sketches and notes that the only thing holding it together is a charm and Spell-O tape.)

I love the greenhouses in the winter, though, even though the season's work is mostly done, and the holiday greens have been taken up to the castle to deck the Great Hall. It's always warm, for one thing, which is nice. But it's quiet, and the colours are more muted (except for the tropical section, of couse). It's not as busy as the library, right before exams, which makes it an excellent place to revise. I've spent so much time here doing chores (watering, turning the compost pile, and recording observations) that Professor Sprout has let me carve out my own niche at one of the rickety tables with cupboards above them at the back of Greenhouse 4, so I don't have to carry my tools back and forth a lot.

Merlin. I have months to go, but already I'm getting nostalgic. But I've learned so much here, so I guess I'm feeling grateful. I've figured out what I want to do with my life: developing plants that'll make better potions. And I'm quite proud of the Memorial Garden. It's nice to think that's something that'll continue to thrive and grow after I leave school.

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Order only: private message to Mum and Dad

Fri, 07 Nov 2014 01:34:35 GMT

'm ok

So's E. & rest of JA therE

potion now. Madam P's really bossy.

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Order Only

Sat, 01 Nov 2014 01:38:31 GMT

The Lord Protector Really. Does. Not. Like. Gryffindors.

As soon as he came in, he vanished our House's table and benches, and we weren't allowed to eat. All the Gryffindors had to prostrate ourselves on the floor while he ranted on about Professor McGonagall, and all the other traitorous Gryffindors. Um, Sirius, your name came up.

Harry tried to intervene, but it was like Voldemort didn't even hear him. Professor Dolohov tried using tact to redirect him, but he wasn't listening to anyone.

The students are all right. I mean, none of us were hurt, but everyone's shaken up, and a lot of the younger ones are crying. A few of them spewed, right on the floor, because he...tortured and killed Professor Hooch, right in front of us all. Then he said he was disbanding the Gryffindor Quidditch team(!), and he stormed out.

He was just...raving.

No one's dared touch her body. Merlin, are they just going to leave her there all night?!

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Private message to Ronald Weasley

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 20:40:17 GMT

It's not like you to miss Defence. Where are you? Are you all right?

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Order Only

Fri, 03 Oct 2014 01:30:06 GMT

I have so many Herbology projects going, although of course I can't talk about some of them openly in NEWTs class. I've been trying to think of a reason we might have to cultivate a bigger bed of aconite openly. I found a catalogue company that offers heirloom varieties of potion ingredients. They offered Monkshood with yellow flowers instead of the usual blue-purple, which might make it less noticeable, tucked here and there in the greenhouse...except that we'd have to keep it away from the younger kids because it's just as poisonous. The catalogue called it, 'Friar Attor.' Have you ever heard of it, Mr Snape? It might not do, though, anyway. It's supposed to be gathered under the midday sun instead of under the full moon, so perhaps that would make it worthless for the Wolfsbane potion.

Maybe it would be safer just to cultivate traditional Wolfsbane at Moddey Dhoo where no one will ask awkward questions. Except there are kids there, too, even younger and more prone to stuffing things in their mouths--including my little brother.

Mum, could you tell Mrs Regina Wilson-Lee that the potatoes she suggested I grow this year look promising. They're quite high in potassium, RL said, which would help muggles who suffer from hypertension and cancer. (I guess that makes sense to her, although I don't understand it, but Madam Pomfrey was very pleased when I told her.)

I wonder whether transfiguring the potatoes to make them look like standard white potatoes would make you lose all their health benefits. Maybe Professor Brutka would know. Anyway, that's the next experiment.

Oh, but the gourd experiment didn't turn out very well. I copied all her notes down wrong, so I spaced the plants wrongly, and they all ended up strangling each other. I had to rip them all out and leave the bed bare.

~~Pretty stupid~~

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Order Only

Mon, 22 Sep 2014 00:34:14 GMT

I was stupid and left Professor Desai's assignment until tonight because I just wasn't sure who to pick. Or how much to reveal.

My goal is to keep her underestimating me as much as possible. For myself, I'll say that since I haven't been in CCF, I'm behind in knowing as many defensive spells as the rest of you lot (I don't intend to let on about the old school auror stuff I've been learning from Dad and Kingsley).

Ron, I'm going to name you as the friend, and do what I can to make you look good.

Justin--maybe this is a little weird, but I'm going to name you as a rival. If I do this right, maybe I can give her the impression that I'm the odd man out in our dorm room; that Ron and I aren't really as close as I'd like because you're better friends with him than me. After all, you two PM each other a fair bit, and not all of it is under the Order lock. I'm hoping maybe she'll pick up the idea that I'm jealous about it.

I'm going to have Evelyn look over what I've written, to see if I'm shading the hints just right.

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New year, new teachers

Tue, 09 Sep 2014 02:10:42 GMT

I think it's rather a pity that now that we have a new Potions professor for the first time in seven years, we're getting less time with Professor Gimlet than we ever had with Professor Slughorn. It would have been interesting to compare the two teaching styles, but the one hour lecture we had on Monday last week and today hasn't really been enough to give me much of a strong first impression.

At least there's the long lab session on Tuesdays. In addition to brewing the assigned 7th year potions, I hope I'll have time to experiment with some new concoctions that'll tie to the independent research I've been doing in NEWT Herbology. I think I really have settled on what I want to do when I leave school: to develop new ways of cultivating plants so they'll be more effective in medicinal potions.

It's a little frustrating that the coldest seasons fall during the heart of the school year. I brought back samples of the plants I tended last summer, and I hope I've enough different varieties to make experimentation worthwhile. There are some medicinal potions in the 7th year curriculum, anyway. Hopefully that research'll keep me busy until the spring plants are up and out of the pots again.

I think Defence is going to be quite different, with Professor Desai, but again, it's a little soon to know exactly what that means. I'm afraid I'll be at rather a disadvantage since I haven't been through CCF training, though.

On the whole, though, I'm pretty pleased with how the first week's classes went. Transfiguration and Charms and especially Herbology were brill. As for the second week...we'll see. But I have a good feeling about this year. I liked the Headmaster's speech at the Welcoming Feast, and everyone seems to agree he's added excellent people to the staff to promote Our Lord's purposes here at Hogwarts.

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Order Only: Private message to Evelyn Longbottom

Wed, 03 Sep 2014 02:50:18 GMT

How's Artie taking it all, now that things are really starting to sink in for him?

I'm glad for you that he's in the know. Especially because he's been such a decent bloke who has treated you right.

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Thanks, everyone

Thu, 31 Jul 2014 02:51:52 GMT

My coming of age birthday was brilliant. For a surprise, Gran and Uncle Algie and Aunt Enid and Evelyn took me to see the incredible gardens at Chatsworth, the Flint family mansion. You could spend days exploring the grounds! Gran's not up for very much walking, so after taking a turn around the South Lawn to see the limes, she sat by the Protector's Fountain, chatting with Uncle Algie and Aunt Enid. Meanwhile Evelyn and I toured the Cottage Garden and had a lot of fun getting lost in the Maze and trying to find our way out again without using the 'Point Me' spell. It took awhile! The Ouroboros Knot at the center of the Maze was really impressive, one of the nicest examples of enchanted topiary I've ever seen.

I sat in one of the greenhouses and just sketched for an hour as Evelyn wandered around, admiring the flowers. I was trying to scribble down all of the ideas I could to bring back to Hogwarts. I wished I had my layering sketchbook; I didn't think to bring it. Wish I were a better artist! Evelyn bought me a beautiful book about the gardens they had for sale in the gift shop, and I'm really glad to have it. It tells a lot about the various species they have planted there.

Evelyn and I ended up with quite bad sunburns, but that's what potions are for. Should be gone by tomorrow.

Then we apparated home, and had a nice family dinner. I opened up the box with my coming of age watch after dinner, and the rest of the presents. Thanks to everyone who sent me something by owl today.

I can't think of a more enjoyable way to celebrate my coming of age.

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Order Only: Private message to Ron Weasley

Sat, 26 Jul 2014 23:40:51 GMT

Ron, I'm really sorry. Even if--well.

It's possible to have decent memories of someone, even if there's a falling out later. He was pretty decent to me, when I was a homesick firstie. And I remember him coaching me on chess once or twice, when I was despairing that I'd never be able to beat you.

I'm glad Sally-Anne can be with you. Let me know if you want any company the next couple of days. Oh--assuming your internship will give you a leave of absence. Hope they do.

Bugger, I don't know what's the right thing to say. Just that I'm sorry.

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Order Only: Private message to Mum and Dad

Tue, 08 Jul 2014 03:33:38 GMT

I received a package by owl today. Thing is, I've no idea who sent it. It 's a really posh robe, the sort for lounging around. I mean, brocaded silk with fur trim. Whoa. There was no note with it.

I know my birthday's coming up this month, but it's a little early, and it doesn't seem quite your style. ~~Or budget~~. And it seems too new to be something you found scavenging the island.

Any ideas?

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Private message to Seamus Finnigan

Wed, 02 Jul 2014 23:00:41 GMT

Congratulations, Seamus. I am seriously impressed.

Seventh year will really be different, huh?

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Order Only: Private message to Evelyn Longbottom

Thu, 01 May 2014 01:33:07 GMT

You have no idea how lucky you are to get along for the most part with your dormmates. Although who knows; maybe the Protectorate'll try to set you at each other's throats when you're studying for NEWTs, too.

I don't have time for this. I finally blew up at all three of them, saying 'Dammit, you lot, act like civilised beings, would you?' Surprised Seamus and Dean and even Ron, because I'm generally the peacemaker, but the latest skirmish was just the last straw.

So I told them: there will be no more fighting in this dormitory. Period. I looked up a klaxon charm that responds to ANY magic cast in the room aside from Lumos and Nox. I'm the only one who knows the warding and disarming spells. I take it off in the morning when I wake up, so the rest of them can open up their blood-warded trunks and do whatever dressing spells they use. I put it back on when I go to bed at night, so they'd better have what they've needed from their trunks and locked them again by then. I even made Nearly Headless Nick promise to go get Hooch and maybe Milland and the Headmistress, if necessary, as soon as the alarm ward goes off. So there will be NO more ambushes. PERIOD.

(Now I know what you mean when you're always going on about 'Boys.')

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Order Only: Private message to Frank Longbottom

Sat, 19 Apr 2014 23:11:36 GMT

Colin has your journal, and he's with me, and I know you couldn't answer anyway.

But hang on, Dad. It can't end like this. I won't let it.

Digging as fast as we can. And Mum and Ev and Kevin and me, we're all safe.

Just...hang on.

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Private message to Seamus Finnigan

Fri, 11 Apr 2014 02:55:55 GMT

All right then, Seamus?

I must say this contest has had an uncomfortable knack of making people meddle in other people's private business.

It should be your right to decide when and with whom to share something so personal.

For what it's worth, I'm sorry.

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Order Only

Thu, 03 Apr 2014 01:59:38 GMT

Ron, sorry I couldn't go over that essay with you like I promised. Pansy and Evelyn and I did our little drama after dinner and Mr Milland/Snape was there to swoop in because I threw the hex and...yeah. I've been scrubbing mud up off the floor--without magic--in the Entrance Hall and up the staircase ever since (the stuff that Darshana Patil tracked in).

Anyway, I reckon it worked. Loads of people saw it, and Pansy gets to tick that challenge off, with loud accusations of 'blood traitor' thrown in for extra credit, I guess.

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Order Only: Private message to Mum

Sun, 30 Mar 2014 13:08:08 GMT

Happy Mothering Day, Mum.

We sent an owl; hope the package arrives all right. It should if the owl's a smooth flyer.

Love you.

Nev (and Ev). Tell Kevin he's in on it, too.

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Happy birthday!

Tue, 11 Mar 2014 01:06:52 GMT

Happy birthday, sis!

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Order only

Thu, 20 Feb 2014 19:03:06 GMT

I think my nose is finally starting to work normally again.

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Apparition Class

Sun, 02 Feb 2014 00:02:17 GMT

Congratulations, Perks! That was fast!

Wonder how long it'll take me to master it.

(I'm gonna probably have a mental chorus of 'Destination, Determination and Deliberation' running through my head all night).

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Order Only: Private message to Frank Longbottom and Colin Creevey

Thu, 05 Dec 2013 05:37:07 GMT

Hullo, Colin. Thanks for agreeing to do this to help out my Dad.

Hullo, Dad.

(I just realised: I can write a private message to both you and Mum, but then you can't answer. Well, I suppose Mum could reply for you. Or I can write a private message to you and Colin, and you can have Colin reply for you, but Mum can't read it. I reckon eventually we'll figure out the best way to handle things.)

I've mentally started and scratched out this journal entry a bunch of times in my mind. I'm sitting in my dorm room with the curtains drawn round my bed. Dean's down in the Common Room, Seamus is working on an essay, and Ron's already asleep, and I'm thinking of you and wishing I could see you. I dunno why it seems harder to write to you than usual (well, except knowing that Colin's reading it. No offence, Colin, but it'll take a little time getting used to that). But I don't want you to think that it's harder to write to you because you can't do magic. Which makes writing to you seem even more important, which ties me up even more trying to write to you.

Which sounds really stupid, when you think about it.

Ev and I have had a couple of days now to absorb the news. Both of us want you to know that we're dead proud of what you did, all those people you saved. I know that you did it knowing you were willing to bear the cost, whatever it was. We're just sorry that cost was so high.

I've been thinking a lot about that, the last couple of days. Counting the cost. A lot of us in the Order have had to face questions like that. Even us still here at school. It's not the same, but I had to give up being in CCF. Some of the kids had to give up being honest with their families (glad mine's all in the Order).

You and Mum had to do that years ago, when you left Evelyn and me up to Gran to raise. It was hard for all of us, even if it was Gran. But when I saw Moddey Dhoo for the first time, I was so glad and so proud of you. Don't see how you could have got the sanctuary up and running if you were trying to protect two little kids while you were on the run. Seeing Moddey Dhoo and meeting all those kids you've saved made the sacrifice seem worth it. Remembering that makes me trust your judgement on this one, too.

I have more to say about school and all, and stuff going on in the Order, but I'm getting sleepy, so I'll save that for another time.

Love you, Dad. Give my love to Mum, too.

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