However they didn’t anticipate that Aberforth was now accessible to many people. His name had helped him fet acquinted and respected by people. On one of their visits to Aberforth, Harry, Ron and Hermione found Neville in the drawing room. Neville had a couple of books in his hands and looked rather, well, Neville!
Neville’s tremendous display of courage at the battle had given him the confidence he had always needed. Proven to be a worthy son to his parents, now Neville had found in his heart the courage to pursue his dreams. He had returned to Hogwarts to complete his NEWTs and had received a minimum of E in all his subjects. His grandmother was happier than she could ever be. She admitted that all she wanted for her grandson was to be himself. Now that he didn’t feel that he needed to be like his parents or anyone else, she stopped telling him what she wanted. This didn’t mean that she stopped telling him what to do. Often she told him about how to take care of the plants that Neville had grown in his little garden at home. Despite knowing that she was not providing the best solution, Neville was still scared of not obeying his grandmother.
From Aberforth the trio came to know about Neville’s interest in teaching Herbology. After completing his time in Hogwarts, Neville had spent months meeting fellow Herbologists and sharing his knowledge with them. Over time he authored several articles that got published in different magazines. He had become a kind of celebrity in the field. It was more due to his involvement in the battle of Hogwarts and him being friends with the trio. This was now the reason why Neville was sitting in Aberforth’s home.
Neville often visited Hogwarts to take suggestions from Professor Sprouts on his articles. In honesty, he felt best at home in those greenhouses where he had first discovered himself and something that he was good at. Now when he wad finally doing what he loved, he was still not happy. Atleast not completely. He felt that his work was slowly becoming about making experiences and retelling tales enumerated several times earlier. What he wanted was a quiet life where he could do his research and at the same time help others find their love for the subject. Aberforth had suggested that he tried for the job at Hogwarts.
Professor Sprouts had wanted to retire for sometime now. She had seen quiet a lot of things. She had taught a lot of students. After the battle of Hogwarts, she had started valuing her life significantly. Initially she tried quite a few different activities like broom riding, potion making and ground keeping. However she failed in all of them. She found her calling recently and it was time she took it up seriously. She had informed Headmistress McGonagall that she wanted to now travel the world and meet the different wizards and witches. Unable to find a suitable replacement, Minerva had always succeeded in agreeing her friend to extend another year.
Aberforth felt that the time was right when Pomona got the break she deserved and Neville got the opportunity he wanted.
Ron was more than happy to take this up with Percy who had now become the senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic. Ironically, the decree that Fudge had implemented that the Ministry can provide a faculty member if the headmaster or headmistress is unable to find had failed to do so.
Percy drafted the entire suggestion and Harry helped getting it approved by the Minister of Magic.
On a fine Tuesday evening, the trio and Neville answered a summon to the Headmistress’ office. Even though they were all sitting comfortably, the aura around Professor McGonagall was still the same. Sitting in front of her they were sure that they had done something wrong and had already started feeling guilty.
‘So the ministry is interfering with Hogwarts again?’ She said sternly, raising everyone to alert. She then smiled and gave a parchment to Neville. He read it quite unbelievingly. It was an offer for the post. ‘I do not need the ministry telling me about my students Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger. I do however appreciate your concern and willingness to help your friend. I wont be needing this however. It would be very kind of your Mr. Potter if you could return this.’ Saying so she handed Harry a parchment which was sealed with the Ministry seal. Later he came to know that she had returned the Ministry orders for Neville’s appointment at the school and instead given him the offer on behalf of the school directors. Now so much for crossing a toe out of line, the three were to return these to the Minister’s office, which seemed a well deserved punishment for not taking the easier approach.
No longer in the light of his elder brother, he was wise in his own ways and people were coming to see that. Soon he had become an important part of the Wizarding world. However, he preferred his quiet life in his home with the portrait of his sister. An additional portrait of his brother now stood beside this. Often the three of them chatted and introspected on problems at hand. Albus and Aberforth still had their disagreements often ending with Albus’s abrupt departure from the frame or Aberforth’s threat to bring down Albus’s painting. It was as normal as things could get and it was as wonderful as never since Percival’s arrest at the Dumbledore’s home.
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