Order Only : Private message to Alice and Frank Longbottom

[alt_pomona]

That was a more pleasant and also more challenging hour than I'd anticipated. You might have seen your Neville write earlier. He came to me asking how to best tend the cutting you sent him, Alice, dear.

Hawthorne's a fair bit trickier than some, but he and I had a good chat about it and I showed him a few of the methods to keep it stable until he gets back to Augusta's and can plant it properly, and what to watch for. Naturally, I did not push at his story that it came from "a gardening friend".

There were a few times he quite had to stop talking for a minute or two, as the talk turned Hannah. Thankfully, having one's hands in dirt does give one an excuse or two for that kind of thing. It's clear he cared more than a little for her - he's taking it near as hard as her yearmates.

And so I did something I'd not have done for many. We're having a gathering - just the House - to remember her tomorrow night, and I invited him. Quite startled him, I think, when he realised. I do hope the sett will understand, but I think they will, and turning him away seemed quite the wrong thing indeed.

He offered, then, to come in and spend time tomorrow afternoon helping me finish tidying and clearing some space. So if there's anything you'd like me to have an eye or ear toward, I'll have a bit more time with him then.

Comments

[alt_alice]

Thank you, Pomona. I appreciate it more than I can say.

Hawthorne really is the best tree for her. And him too, I think. It's rather fitting that her wand was made of it, because it's meant to heal broken hearts and be a sign of spring.

Neville tends to be very good at keeping to himself, and can sometimes find it hard to trust other people. I'm so glad he feels like he can confide in you, and it's quite a testament to your way with students. He really does love Herbology, you know, and speaks quite highly of you. I believe that you are by far his favourite professor at Hogwarts.

He's taken Hannah's death quite hard, and has spoken about it to us more than once. I wish we could show him her tree, the one in the memorial garden, but this is the next best thing.

And I'm so glad the cutting travelled well. I was worried about it -- it can be so tricky.

[alt_pomona]

Ah, thank you, Alice, for that. I admit I've been feeling a bit alone tonight, so the kind word's particularly welcome. Aurora's off elsewhere, and Poppy's had her hands full with students worked up over the news in the papers.

As to your boy, he's always a pleasure to see, and he's a delight in class, as well. Certainly one of my brighter stars in the subject, and his side projects are going well.

Not a surprise, of course, given your touch, and you needn't have worried about the cutting. Looked full wick, as my old instructor used to say, like it had just been cut.

[alt_alice]

I'm not surprised that so many Hufflepuffs are gardeners. It does require a great deal of patience, and a great deal of faith.

I can imagine that this particular week-end is especially difficult for you, seeing as how you've got a lot of students to look after and no small heart-ache yourself.

[alt_pomona]

Quite. On both patience and faith. And hard work where you don't see the results for quite some time. (On which note, it's always surprised me that more don't go in for teaching, but there you are.)

Aurora and Mina are helping out tomorrow, mind you. And of course, Mina both wasn't here last year, and is still finding her feet in some ways. Not that she's not doing quite well, mind.

And Aurora - well, I sometimes forget quite how young she is, really, and that it was the first student she'd known who'd died while she was teaching. But there's personal aspects for her too, with the anniversary, and she's quite right to get a bit of quiet while she had a chance.

[alt_alice]

What's your take on Aurora? I know from what Poppy's said that she's getting pulled in all sorts of directions, especially with that YPL business.

[alt_pomona]

Ah, on that. She is, yes, and this spring's been quite bad for it. (And I think, perhaps, she's told me more than she's told Poppy, even.)

I think the YPL would be a far worse thing if she weren't overseeing it, truly. She's told me more than enough stories from meetings about proposals and personalities to make me sure of that. But at the same time, she's getting less and less sure how long she can hold on, and that's a worry.

She does care deeply about her students. All of us have favourites, of course, but she'll put herself out time and again to be of help when it's needed, or to be as fair as she can possibly manage.

And even her relationship with Rabastan, well. I never thought I'd say it, but he's not only been good to her, but for her, as well. (And there's a sentence I'm sure neither of us ever expected to be saying or reading.)

They're careful, in public, of course, and there's things I don't see. But she swears he not only asks for but takes her advice, regularly, gives her every respect. She's blossomed, since they started dating, in ways I don't think anyone expected, her included.

It makes me wonder what else we're not seeing, honestly. Not just with her, but everywhere.

[alt_alice]

I know the feeling -- there certainly is more to Neville's group of friends than meets the eye, for one.

And Rabastan Lestrange... from what Neville's said, he's always treated him like any other student.

And I respect that. Very much. Even though you're right, it's not something I'd expect I'd ever say.

I think that there's a lot of good people out there. More than we know. And they don't always look like who we'd expect.

[alt_pomona]

Exactly. It is an odd world, isn't it? Odder than we think.

And you're right about Rabastan's teaching. He's a popular teacher, naturally, given his fame and his field, but I've never heard of him treating a student badly. Firmly, yes, given the dangers of practice, but he's had a surprisingly deft hand with personalities and challenges.

I did ask Aurora about Rabastan and your Neville once, in passing, since of course she knows there's history. She said that's not even her influence, that he was inclined to be fair and let students prove their own worth when he started here.

It does make me sad, though. Wondering about the good people we're not finding, who might be home alone tonight wondering if there's others like them out there in the world, wanting something better than we have.

But that's me getting maudlin again, and perhaps I should find my bed.

[alt_alice]

You and me both.

Thank you again.

[alt_alice]

And it's well within the spirit of our House to offer an open door to those who would benefit from it. I'm sure they'll manage with their usual grace.

[alt_pomona]

That was my thought, yes. And your Neville's friendly enough with Susan Bones, in particular, that I think they'll all do as we both hope they would.

I had a moment after I offered, wondering if I might have tipped my hand, but there's enough reason I'd ask him without the Order connection that I think it's quite safe.

[alt_alice]

I want so badly to tell him, Pomona. I want to tell him how many people he's got looking out for him, and why we couldn't be there for him.

I will someday soon. I just wish it was sooner sometimes.

But yes, I'm sure you did just fine with him, and that even though he doesn't know how much of an ally he has with you, he does know that you care for him. And are keeping an eye out for him. And that matters so very much.

[alt_pomona]

It truly is a pleasure, in his case. Not just for your sake and Frank's, but for his own. You can be most proud of him. For that matter, Evelyn, too, though I see a bit less of her.

[alt_alice]

We are very proud of them both.

I worry sometimes about our Evelyn. She has fewer friends, and is a little quieter and more tightly wound than Neville (which is quite an accomplishment). She came in during an especially difficult time, you know, so soon after the news story broke about Frank and me.

But I can tell that she's more confident about her thoughts when she writes me than when she started, and I think she's growing into herself quite nicely all things considered.

And Neville, well, I woke up one day and he'd become a young man over night. A very serious, very sweet young man who has a solid head on his shoulders, and goodness, I could just talk on and on about the both of them. Typical mum.

[alt_pomona]

It's always a pleasure to hear, dear. Truly. And it's only the mums and dads who talk about their children purely in terms of what they can get for them that I dislike.

And I do think you're right, that your Evelyn is coming out of her shell a little more this year. She's one of those that perhaps takes a little more time to grow into herself, but you and I know those are some of the strongest in the end.