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Combustible	By : Pat Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 3318 -:- 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

One Year Later ~

Neville sat by Severus at the staff table pouring himself some tea and buttering his toast when the owls arrived with the morning post.

A large eagle owl dropped lightly in front of Neville, politely sticking his leg out.

Neville, surprised, carefully took the parchment off the leg of the large bird and then fed it a little bacon from Severus’ plate.

Severus frowned but said nothing and, as usual, picked up Neville’s copy of the Daily Prophet to read it. He rattled the paper. None of his business really…

Neville opened the parchment carefully; it was from the Headmaster of Durmstrang. His Herbology Professor was giving notice and would be leaving at the end of the school semester.

He had communicated with his good friend, Elvira Sprout, who’d recommended Neville for the upcoming vacancy. Would Mr. Longbottom like to interview for the position?

Neville was stunned and excited. His first position---and with a well known wizarding school! It was a dream come true.

The paper rattled again and Neville looked over at Severus.

‘It’s from Durmstrang,’ he said quietly. ‘They have a position coming open and Elvira has recommended me.’

Snape peered over his paper. He watched Neville give the owl instructions to wait in the owlery until Neville finished his reply. The bird flew off on silent wings to rest and wait.

A week later ~

‘I’ll be gone only a few days,’ Neville said breathlessly as he packed up his best set of robes for the interview the next afternoon.

‘I’m sure I can manage, Longbottom,’ Severus said dryly, not looking up from his grading of third year Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw papers.

‘Don’t forget the cactus plant in our bedroom, it’s to receive two small plant food stakes tomorrow, and the Lolly Fern in the bathroom just needs a little misting.’ Neville continued to chatter away.

Severus coughed.

Snape stared moodily at Neville. So. Longbottom was going to move on. Past time, too, if he was any judge. The boy was spreading like a fungus all over his life. There were plants in every room, his Herbology Texts were lining the shelves and littering the floor, and every morning Severus would wake to find that Longbottom was plastered against him in bed.

Snape had never been a cuddler---ever. Yet, each night after sex, Longbottom always managed somehow to squirm into his arms at some point during the night. Annoying really.

Well, he’d soon have his dungeons to himself and his life back once again in perfect order. It had been a pleasant interlude---nothing more.

‘I’ll see you the day after tomorrow, Severus,’ said Neville as he lightly kissed Severus’ forehead.

‘Don’t fuss, Longbottom, it isn’t as if you’re marching off to war.’ Snape snapped irritably.

Neville cast the minimizing charm with his wand and his luggage shrank to pocket size. Neville placed both his luggage and wand into his robe pocket and reached for the portkey that the Headmaster of Durmstrang had sent him.

Neville watched the wizarding clock on the wall carefully until it started to strike the hour and then he felt the unique pulling sensation of the portkey at work.

His last impression of his lover was that of Snape scowling fiercely.

Two Hours Later ~

The last of the papers was graded with a slash of red and Severus stared at the fire in an unblinking fashion.

It was quiet at last. No Longbottom. No chatter.

Longbottom usually inveigled him into bed with,what did Longbottom call it? Ah, yes, a lap-dance. Severus snorted. Long gone were the days of Neville being shy; he’d become quite a sensualist over the last six months.

Severus frowned.

No doubt he’d take on a younger lover as well, once he assumed his new position. He’d shake Severus’ hand and bugger off without a backward glance.

Well, that was life. He’d expected no more from himself or Longbottom. It wasn’t anything that he couldn’t cope with---he’d suffered far worse in his time.

Snape got up from behind his desk and marched into the bathroom. He glared at the Lolly Fern but carefully filled the misting bottle and sprayed the plant.

‘There, you insipid thing, you won’t be seen to diminish on my watch,’ Snape growled as he waved off the light.

~ Durmstrang

Neville let loose a sigh of relief. The interview portion was completed and he was now preparing to join the Headmaster at the Staff Table for dinner.

He’d been taken off on a tour before the private interview and had been suitably impressed by what he’d seen. Durmstrang had changed quite a bit. The curriculum no longer taught the ‘dark arts’ as a matter of course but only to senior level students doing important research.

Voldemort’s complete and utter madness over the last few years had provided one invaluable service---most wizards with any sanity refused to follow him anymore. He’d become more of a standard nuisance than a worldwide threat.

Dumbledore, leading the Order of the Phoenix, had won several important battles against the Dark Lord over the last year and had all but broken the back of the Death Eater Organization. Without his followers, Voldemort could not hope to overtake the wizarding society as a whole.

As Neville pulled on his set of second best robes in the guest room, the words of the Headmaster echoed in his head.

‘Three years, Mr. Longbottom. That is our standard contract for an assistant Professor.’

Neville hadn’t been disappointed---he couldn’t hope to attain a full Professor’s level until he’d taught for three years, he knew that. The salary, therefore, wouldn’t be as large but, if he did a good job in the three-year probationary period, he would surely advance. It was a golden opportunity that wouldn’t present itself again.

Up until now, the excitement of the communiqué from Durmstrang and resulting trip had driven all other thoughts from his mind. Only now did he realize that his success would have a price. He would have to leave Hogwarts---and Severus.

As a cool breeze blew through the open casement, Neville sighed and his forehead touched the cool stone by the window. He missed Severus and was sure he wouldn’t sleep a wink tonight without the long, lean body wrapped around him.

Potions Classroom ~

‘Miss Chauncy, Mr. Logan, if you fail to see the need for attentiveness in this classroom, I’m sure a week’s detention can clear up that little misapprehension,’ snarled Snape.

‘Merlin, what’s crawled up his butt and died?’ whispered an angry Ravenclaw.

Snape whirled and, striking a dramatic pose, hissed ‘Ten points from Ravenclaw,’ and, with that, stomped back up to the front of the classroom.

‘Little brats,’ he thought angrily.

‘Finish your potions and then clean up after yourselves and get out,’ Snape sniffed as he yanked back the chair and sat down to start grading.

The classroom maintained its decorum for the rest of the quarter hour and then, as the students started filing out, whispers broke out again.

Snape’s highly developed sense of hearing picked up the usual grumbling and complaints until’

‘Oi, he’s worse than ever,’ complained the Ravenclaw who’d lost the ten points for his house.

‘He’s just missing Mr. Longbottom, that’s all,’ said a first year Hufflepuff.

Severus’ head snapped up at that. What? What utter tripe. He was the same as he always was. The presence or absence of Longbottom was inconsequential to his mood.

Just then a knock came at the door.

Severus whirled preparing to deal with one of the little brats only to find a smiling Longbottom walking in the door.

Severus stood up and began to shuffle his papers.

‘You’re back,’ Severus said calmly.

‘Yes, and glad of it, too,’ Neville said and tried to reach for Severus.

Severus yanked his arm back.

‘Not here, you fool,’ he snarled at Neville.

Neville’s bright smile dimmed a bit.

‘Alright then.’

Severus cleared his throat.

‘Well, how did the interview go?’ he rapped out.

Neville looked down at his work-hardened calloused fingers.

‘Not well, I’m afraid. I’m not really what they’re looking for,’ said Neville with a small grimace.

‘Ah,’ said Snape, not knowing what else to say. Comfort was beyond him.

‘I misted your fern,’ Snape said apropos of nothing.

‘I knew I could count on you,’ Neville said with a small smile.

tbc
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