What Was Lost 9/10
Title: What Was Lost ~ Tough Truth (9/10)
Author: Lire lire_casander
Pairing: Bill Weasley/Neville Longbottom
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 636
Beta: Unbeta'ed. Any mistakes are my own fault.
Disclaimer: I do not own in any form or shape these characters, JK Rowling does. Just playing with them for my own amusement and yours.
Summary: Bill Weasley is a Ministry worker sent to Hogwarts to supervise the OWLs and NEWTs. He expects to catch up with his old friend Neville Longbottom, but things are not the same anymore.
Warnings: Angst.
Author's Note: Written for 10_themes's prompt table using prompt 04. Brown.
The gargoyle opened for them just as they were approaching it. Bill could feel Neville trembling as they climbed the stairs. "It will be alright, Neville. Ted will be punished."
"It was only a prank," Neville whispered. "If I react this badly to a simple prank, what am I going to do?"
Bill sighed. "Nev, it was a prank to make you think you were bleeding. It was not innocent." They had reached McGonagall's door; Neville knocked on it respectfully and waited for it to open.
The office was considerably tidy, given that McGonagall was working on some exams and there were papers all over the place. The Headmistress was sat at her desk, her long fingers tapping on the wood, looking at Ted Lupin who was staring at his hands, as white as a sheet.
"Headmistress," they both greeted softly.
"Mr. Lupin here has confessed to have subjected Professor Longbottom to a practical joke with some red, blood-like substance. He has also told me that Mr. Weasley has dismissed the class," was her response, as she took in Neville's distressed appearance and the stain in his robes, which had turned from purple to brown once the liquid had dried on it.
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Neville, are you alright?" she questioned. "I imagine it must have been a tough experience."
"Uncle Nev, I'm so sorry," interrupted Ted. "I didn't know you'd knock the vase, I just thought you'd water the plants, but then you almost freaked out and..."
"Language, Ted," McGonagall admonished the child. "I will write to your godfather but I also want you to write to him and explain what you've done. By the end of next week, I expect you to have learned a lesson out of this by spending every evening helping Professor Longbottom at the greenhouses. You can go now."
The kid stood up, knuckles white from balling up his fists too forcefully, and made to leave the room. bill watched as Neville stopped him and pulled Teddy into a tight hug. "I know you didn't mean to hurt me," he whispered. "I forgive you, my little Ted."
"Thanks, Uncle Nev," Teddy whispered back, tears in his eyes. "I'll tell Harry that you forgave me."
The adults waited until Ted walked down the stairs before speaking again. "Neville," started McGonagall. "Neville, I'm worried about you. I know it's been a rough year for you, ever since your... accident."
"Has it only been a year?" Bill demanded, stunned. "Didn't you have some time to recover?"
"He came back immediately afterwards, without following Poppy's advice. And this is unacceptable, Neville." McGonagall looked straight into his blue eyes. "You were not ready to come back then, and you're not ready now. I'm not saying that what Teddy has done is funny. It's a prank and he has his punishment. But, Neville, Teddy has noticed the change in you - the kids know something's wrong, and you cannot afford them discovering, not now."
"Then, what do you suggest I do?" Neville asked, taking a seat. He had not let go of Bill's hand.
"Take a sabbatical, Neville. Get some rest, visit a healer at St. Mungo's. You need to talk about what happened; and once you're ready, you can come back to your post."
"This has been my home for ten years!"
"Please, don't make a scene like Sybill. It's not a suggestion, Neville, it's an order. I know you will get over this soon."
Neville nodded slightly; Bill noticed the stiffness in his walk when the teacher stood up and headed towards the door. "I'll leave my rooms by the end of next week. Thanks for everything."
Bill looked back at McGonagall, at her tired eyes tearing up, and realised how hard it was for her to admit that Neville Longbottom needed help she couldn't provide.
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Author: Lire lire_casander
Pairing: Bill Weasley/Neville Longbottom
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 636
Beta: Unbeta'ed. Any mistakes are my own fault.
Disclaimer: I do not own in any form or shape these characters, JK Rowling does. Just playing with them for my own amusement and yours.
Summary: Bill Weasley is a Ministry worker sent to Hogwarts to supervise the OWLs and NEWTs. He expects to catch up with his old friend Neville Longbottom, but things are not the same anymore.
Warnings: Angst.
Author's Note: Written for 10_themes's prompt table using prompt 04. Brown.
The gargoyle opened for them just as they were approaching it. Bill could feel Neville trembling as they climbed the stairs. "It will be alright, Neville. Ted will be punished."
"It was only a prank," Neville whispered. "If I react this badly to a simple prank, what am I going to do?"
Bill sighed. "Nev, it was a prank to make you think you were bleeding. It was not innocent." They had reached McGonagall's door; Neville knocked on it respectfully and waited for it to open.
The office was considerably tidy, given that McGonagall was working on some exams and there were papers all over the place. The Headmistress was sat at her desk, her long fingers tapping on the wood, looking at Ted Lupin who was staring at his hands, as white as a sheet.
"Headmistress," they both greeted softly.
"Mr. Lupin here has confessed to have subjected Professor Longbottom to a practical joke with some red, blood-like substance. He has also told me that Mr. Weasley has dismissed the class," was her response, as she took in Neville's distressed appearance and the stain in his robes, which had turned from purple to brown once the liquid had dried on it.
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Neville, are you alright?" she questioned. "I imagine it must have been a tough experience."
"Uncle Nev, I'm so sorry," interrupted Ted. "I didn't know you'd knock the vase, I just thought you'd water the plants, but then you almost freaked out and..."
"Language, Ted," McGonagall admonished the child. "I will write to your godfather but I also want you to write to him and explain what you've done. By the end of next week, I expect you to have learned a lesson out of this by spending every evening helping Professor Longbottom at the greenhouses. You can go now."
The kid stood up, knuckles white from balling up his fists too forcefully, and made to leave the room. bill watched as Neville stopped him and pulled Teddy into a tight hug. "I know you didn't mean to hurt me," he whispered. "I forgive you, my little Ted."
"Thanks, Uncle Nev," Teddy whispered back, tears in his eyes. "I'll tell Harry that you forgave me."
The adults waited until Ted walked down the stairs before speaking again. "Neville," started McGonagall. "Neville, I'm worried about you. I know it's been a rough year for you, ever since your... accident."
"Has it only been a year?" Bill demanded, stunned. "Didn't you have some time to recover?"
"He came back immediately afterwards, without following Poppy's advice. And this is unacceptable, Neville." McGonagall looked straight into his blue eyes. "You were not ready to come back then, and you're not ready now. I'm not saying that what Teddy has done is funny. It's a prank and he has his punishment. But, Neville, Teddy has noticed the change in you - the kids know something's wrong, and you cannot afford them discovering, not now."
"Then, what do you suggest I do?" Neville asked, taking a seat. He had not let go of Bill's hand.
"Take a sabbatical, Neville. Get some rest, visit a healer at St. Mungo's. You need to talk about what happened; and once you're ready, you can come back to your post."
"This has been my home for ten years!"
"Please, don't make a scene like Sybill. It's not a suggestion, Neville, it's an order. I know you will get over this soon."
Neville nodded slightly; Bill noticed the stiffness in his walk when the teacher stood up and headed towards the door. "I'll leave my rooms by the end of next week. Thanks for everything."
Bill looked back at McGonagall, at her tired eyes tearing up, and realised how hard it was for her to admit that Neville Longbottom needed help she couldn't provide.
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