When we align; a Neville Longbottom fanfiction

30. A feeling like honey

"I do. He was the Head of Unidentifiables when I worked there."

Jacob's ties with the States had been cut off during the war, and he suspected the President of MACUSA to be behind it. It was mostly his hatred for how the Congress had behaved after Voldemort had been defeated that had kept him at Hogwarts. McGonagall had offered him to teach Defence after the war and he had agreed.

Talking with Jacob was easy. It had eased her worries. When she left, she felt much more relaxed. She hadn't laughed that much in years. He was the only one she hadn't felt guilty talking about the war with.

As she passed in front of Neville's office, she peeked inside.

He was sitting at his desk with heaps of essays in front of him, tugging at his hair. His jaw was clenched and his eyebrows furrowed, casting shadows on his already darkened green eyes.

Without saying a word, Cass approached him and gently pulled one of his hands away from his scalp. "You're going to rip your hair out," she chuckled as he looked at her, "Sickle for your thoughts?"

"It's Hannah. She came home yesterday, says I've been acting different lately."

Cass let go of his hand. "Oh. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's nothing, really," he gave a grave sigh and looked out of the window, "I just... I think it's her who has changed, y'know? I just don't know how to tell her."

"When's your next free day?"

"Tomorrow, why?" He looked back at her.

"You two need to talk it out. You've never been separated for so long, have you?" She drew a breath. Giving Neville relationship advice was the last thing she wanted to do. But it was also the right thing to do. "Take Saturday off and talk to her. I think she just needs some reassurance that you're still there for her, no matter what your job is."

"You're right, I'll do that. Thanks, Cass." He smiled, standing up and circling the desk to stand in front of her. "Are you alright?"

"I'm okay. I need to go back home on Sunday to see Frances. I'm not looking forward to it."

"No improvements then, I take it?"

"Not even in the slightest." The bell rang, echoing through the room and into the corridors. "Good luck with Hannah, though." She gave him one last smile before heading to the Potions classroom.

Sunday stretched into a never-ending series of tedious conversations and tense looks. Frances had prepared a whole day of activities and chores around the house. Mainly, Cass helped clean and restore the unused rooms of the once-abandoned manor her aunt lived in, while Blaise and Theo were tending to the greenhouse. They had disappeared after lunch and had left Cass dealing with the guilt-tripping and reproachful looks. Frances hated Wiltshire and made sure to remind her niece every chance she got.

"I hope you're doing well for yourself, at Hogwarts." She had said in the late afternoon, once they'd finished.

"I am, ma'am." Cass sat on an armchair, looking longingly at her brother from the window. He was wandering about the garden, bending every once in a while to trim a bush or eradicate a wild plant. Blaise had gone back to Nott Manor an hour earlier with the excuse that he had work to do. Cass didn't blame him: Frances was insufferable and disapproved of his relationship with Theo, although she had never said anything outright.

"When do you think you're going to leave?" Frances served iced tea in three tall crystal glasses before calling for Theo.

"I haven't decided yet. I'll probably stay for another year after this, though." Cass sighed and took her glass with both hands, hoping to warm the tea.