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Still Life	By : Pat Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 2375 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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See Part I for Summary and Disclaimers~
Hengist led Neville almost to the edge of town and continued to walk. Neville's feet started to hurt. How much longer would they walk?
"Here it is," said Hengist
Neville looked where Hengist pointed beyond a copse of trees--there stood a thatched roof home that was quite as large as the Inn they had just left. To Neville's surprise, the windows actually contained a sort of glass instead of the usual animal hide tied back. There seemed to be quite a large vegetable garden in the back of the house and to its side there was a barn with a corral. Further down from the corral stood a well.
"Do you keep livestock?" Neville asked.
"Aye, I keep chickens for eggs, goats for milk and I still have my horse, Appleblossom, which I ride to London when needed," Hengist said proudly.
"You don't apparate to London?" Neville asked.
"Apparate? What's that?" Hengist asked curiously as he opened his front door.
"You know, travel by spell?" Neville continued.
"Floo powder? Yes, I have that, but we're not connected into any of the London floos yet. I want to get mine done and then the Inn's," Hengist rumbled thoughtfully.
Neville stopped dead in his tracks. Hengist looked back over his shoulder at the young wizard.
"No, no, I mean travel yourself without the use of floo powder. All of our experienced wizards can do that...well, once they've gotten their license. It wouldn't do for them to splinch themselves all over the countryside," Neville said comfortably.
Hengist was dumbfounded. Travel without floo powder? What an amazing idea. He'd have much to learn from this young wizard.
"Can you apparate yet?" Hengist asked carefully.
"No," Neville blushed. "It's not in the sixth year curriculum, I'll be learning it in my last year at Hogwarts. Then I'll have to take a test to be licensed by the Ministry of Magic," said Neville shyly.
Hengist's mind was awhirl.
"Ministry of Magic?" said Hengist.
Belatedly, Neville realized that perhaps he shouldn't be discussing future events with a medieval wizard. But it was difficult to know what kind of magic was available during this time; Professor Binns had lectured on the establishment of Hogwarts, of course, but other than that, little time had been devoted to what was referred to as the wizarding "dark ages".
"I don't think we should be talking about this," Neville said hesitantly as he walked up one step into Hengist's house.
"Why?" said Hengist, shutting the door firmly. He waved his hand towards a table with two chairs in front of the cheerfully burning fireplace.
Neville walked over and sat down, relieving his aching feet.
Neville looked curiously around the inside of Hengist's home. The entire first floor was one large open room. There was a set of stairs that led to a loft and, presumably, his bedroom. The house had wood flooring instead of the dirt floor that most peasant homes supposedly had, which, combined with the glass in the windows, led Neville to believe that Hengist was, indeed, very well off financially.
Neville turned his attention back to the handsome blonde man.
"Well, you've got to understand, I probably know a lot of things that are going to happen, and if I discuss them with you, well, somehow, I might be responsible for changing them, do you see?" said Neville carefully.
Hengist walked over to the pot that was hung over the fire. He picked up a cloth and carefully took the lid off and then picked up the ladle beside the fireplace and gave it a gentle stir.
Neville recognized the smell of a common healing potion.
"I see," said Hengist thoughtfully. "We can't interfere with what's about to happen," he said thoughtfully.
"Yes, that's it," said Neville with a sigh of relief.
"But what if we can make things better? Stop some bad things from happening? I assume a lot of things went amiss?"
Neville bit his lip and started to nibble at his nails on his right hand. Was it right to make things better? Or was it better to just leave things alone? Had his coming here already changed things? Or was his visit always here in the past and the events already taken place? He slapped both his hands on the sides of his head. Oi! It hurt just to think about it.
"Well, I guess I'll just have to use my best judgment," Neville said weakly, his voice muffled by his hands.
"Fair enough," said Hengist. "I've a feeling you'll be a great help to me regardless."
Neville looked up hopefully.
"You think?" he said with a smile.
Hengist returned the smile and then Neville frowned slightly.
"Hengist, it's time to add the bicorn horn," said Neville.
Hengist started. The youngster was right.
"It's out in the barn, along with the drying herbs. I assume you know what it looks like? Can you get it for me, please?" said Hengist carefully.
Neville, pleased to be entrusted with the task, pushed himself happily up from the table and moved towards the door.
"Do you want it in powder form? I can crush it for you," Neville said over his shoulder.
Hengist studied the sturdy young man carefully. This young wizard was an unpolished jewel. He knew his potions as well as transfiguration. Amazing. Hogsmeade could use another talented wizard.
"Whole please," he said casually. "This recipe calls for the horn intact."
Neville smiled widely. "Alright," he said shyly, and then turned and went out the front door.
Hengist continued to stir the mixture carefully and considered his reaction to Neville. He was attracted to the young man and not just because he was a possible ally in helping the folk of Hogsmeade. There was something "untouched" and generous about this young man. It was very appealing to Hengist.
"Bother," he muttered as the potion began to thicken too rapidly. He stirred counter-clockwise until the potion was in more fluid form.
He didn't even know if Neville was a lover of men yet. He'd have to wait and see.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hengist led Neville out to the back of his house, where his vegetable plot was. He explained that he'd been trying to get a larger crop of carrots this year but had been having problems. They seemed to fade away and die before gaining sufficient size.
Neville knelt in the dirt, inspecting Hengist's crop.
"Can you help me, Neville?" said Hengist. "I would like to have a large store of carrots for the Winter, both for myself and for trading later in the village."
Neville didn't answer Hengist directly because he quickly became absorbed in the plants, the earth they grew in and Hengist's magical irrigation system that ran from a small stream located further down the hill from Hengist's home.
Hengist didn't bother Neville further but watched the painstaking process that Neville went through. He seemed to stop and examine each and every plant in the garden.
"I know something that will help," Neville said finally, standing up and dusting the dirt off his hands.
Hengist nodded at him to continue.
"I can see that insects aren't the problem, the repelling charms are holding nicely, but I can make a potion, with your help, that will benefit all the plants in the garden. It will make them grow better, be healthier and produce larger amounts of usable vegetables. It's called "plant food" and we use it commonly in our greenhouses at Hogwarts," said Neville in an excited tone.
Hengist walked over and clapped Neville on the shoulder.
"Wonderful. Would this "food" help the other gardens in the village?" asked Hengist.
Neville felt the warm weight of Hengist's hand on his shoulder, where it stayed, and blushed. His pants started to feel a bit tight. God no. He was getting aroused just by having Hengist's hand on him. Neville quickly turned away before Hengist could notice that Neville was enjoying his touch a bit too much.
"Of course, we can start today and gather the ingredients. The potion itself will take about two days to prepare. We can do enough of it to handle up to ten gardens," said Neville quickly.
Hengist frowned. He wondered if he had offended Neville by his touch. He didn't seem angry but one never knew with a stranger. Neville's attitude made what Hengist had to say next a bit tricky.
"Neville. You know you can stay with me until the contract is up," ist ist said slowly.
"Merlin! I forgot about the contract, I guess we should take care of that first," said Neville.
"Yes, we'll do that now," Hengist said. "But, while you're here and under my supervision, you'll stay in my home."
Neville nodded.
"There is only one bed in the house, but you are more than welcome to share it with me," Hengist said tentatively.
A shiver ran up Neville's spine. Share the bed with Hengist? For a year?
Seeing Neville's doubt Hengist hastened to assure Neville of the propriety of the situation.
"Neville, it is a common thing for families and friends to share a bed," he began delicately. "It need not mean anything more than just that," Hengist finished, hoping he hadn't offended Neville.
Neville's ears started to go pink with embarrassment. Hengist must have seen that Neville was attracted to him and was trying to let him down easily. Well, his offer of friendship was no small thing, especially in the situation that Neville found himself. It would have to be enough.
"Of course, Hengist, I'd be pleased and honoured to share your bed with you," said Neville quietly. But in his heart he despaired. Would he never find anyone that could love him?
"Come then," said ist,ist, greatly relieved. "We'll finish our business in the house and then have supper," he said, putting his arm around Neville's shoulders as they walked back towards the house.
As they walked side by side, Hengist pulled in the sweet scent of sweat, musk and a lighter scent uniquely Neville's that Hengist was learning to love. He'd been alone too long. His heart cried out for a companion such as Neville, but he dared not push, or he might lose Neville entirely. He could only wait and hope that the fates had finally smiled down on him.
tbc
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Still Life