Fleur and Aaric enjoyed the beautiful scenery as the giant squid relaxed, enjoying the illumination and heat of the lamps.
The lamps rested on its skin and spread across it, eliciting the squid to relax its tentacles in contentment.
They came back to the surface after a little while.
"So?" Aaric asked Fleur and shook his head when she offered him the cloak back.
"Eet was… magical," Fleur said with a beautiful smile.
She then looked at the time. "I 'ave some classes to attend. Merci for today, Aaric," Fleur said and kissed Aaric's cheek before leaving.
Aaric waved at her and went to his own classes. "I should bring others with me next time," he muttered as he walked away.
Meanwhile at Hawthorne Mansion,
Simon and Edwina were sitting with the Longbottoms as Nibbin diligently served snacks and tea.
"Thank you for checking on us. Little Daphne has done a lot for us and we did not wish to take her from her studies for the checkup," Alice Longbottom said with a real smile.
Edwina smiled back at her and waved her hand. "It was no trouble. You both are healthy and just need regular potions and a little bit of exercise to make a full physical recovery," she said.
Alice and Frank looked at each other and held hands. "It feels… overwhelming, as if being caged for years while the world moved around you," Frank whispered.
"You are welcome to visit us anytime and we will do our best for you," Simon told Frank, getting a grateful nod in return.
"Thank you for your hospitality. I fear we must depart as we have arranged to get Neville half a day off," Frank spoke and shook hands with Simon and bowed to Edwina.
Edwina nodded at Frank and smiled at Alice before giving her a hug. "Visit again when you can," Edwina said as the two left.
At the Longbottom mansion,
Frank and Alice exited the Floo with smiles on their faces and anticipation in their eyes.
Augusta Longbottom got up as soon as she saw them. "What did she say?" she asked with worry on her face.
"We just need some potions and exercise. We will be fine," Alice said as Augusta sighed in relief.
Augusta then glanced at Frank, who did not speak to her and just took a seat on the couch with a grunt.
"Please, son, speak to me," Augusta said to Frank, her eyes moist.
Frank looked up at her and frowned. "Speak?" he said and then nodded. "Let's speak. Why was Neville using my wand? Why was he not provided with his own wand?" Frank asked, his voice neutral.
"I—he— I—wished for him to grow up like you," Augusta whispered.
"And how would he do that with an incompatible wand? You should have known the wand would hinder his magical growth and you chided him when that happened," Frank said, a little heated now.
Alice sat beside Frank and held his hand. She did not try to calm Frank, however, because she wanted answers as well and wanted her son to thrive.
Augusta joined her hands above her heart and looked down in shame.
Frank got up and strode in front of his mother. "Look at me," he whispered, and Augusta looked at her son.
Frank knelt before his mother and held her hand. "Mother, you made your grandson, my son, suffer because you wanted him to be me," Frank whispered to her as tears fell from his eyes.
"I will make it up to him. I will love him and care for him," Augusta said, caressing Frank's cheek.
Frank held her hand and nodded. He then sighed and hugged his crying mother, who whispered apologies and promises to her son as she hugged him.
They freshened up and sat in the living room as they waited for Neville.
It took half an hour, and with a flash of green Neville appeared in the room and rushed to Alice before slowing down and hugging her gently, not wanting to hurt his mother.
He then did the same for his father as a smile bloomed on his face.
Augusta looked at the scene and approached Neville slowly as the boy stood there meekly and closed his eyes while Augusta hugged him.
Frank and Alice looked at their son's reaction and sighed with sadness in their eyes.
Alice took Neville by the hand and brushed some hair from his face. "Would you like to go to Diagon Alley with us?" she asked, and Neville nodded instantly, getting a chuckle from her.
She kissed Neville's cheek and glanced at Frank. "How about you change clothes before we leave?" Frank asked Neville, who nodded and rushed to his room.
"Did you ever…" Frank asked his mother, who recoiled, eyes wide, shaking her head in mute horror.
"I would never hit him," Augusta said with a shuddering breath as she knew what Frank wanted to ask her.
Frank nodded at her and looked at the ceiling with a grim look in his eyes.
"I noticed his reaction… so I don't blame you for asking," Augusta whispered. "It is as if I was blind to him before," she said as she clenched her fists.
"You chose to be," Alice said. "It will take time and effort for him to heal," she added.
"And I will give all the time and effort I can. He deserves it," Augusta spoke, and then Neville appeared in front of them, his clothes changed.
Alice held his hand. "I have such a handsome son," she said and kissed Neville's forehead as Frank chuckled at Neville's reaction.
The family appeared in Diagon Alley, attracting looks and whispers from the wizards who had an idea who they were.
Some wizards even approached Alice and Frank with surprise and happiness on their faces, shook hands with them, and gave them well-wishes and invitations to their houses.
Frank and Alice responded politely to the requests and expressed that they just wanted to spend time with their son today.
Neville looked at them questioningly. "They were at Hogwarts the same time as us. Some of them would even visit us when we were… sick," Frank told Neville, who nodded at the explanation.
They then visited Twilfitt and Tatting's to get some new robes for Neville. Alice took her time dressing her son and complimenting him until his face was beet red.
Then they visited Ollivanders and got a new wand for Neville. He got a thirteen-inch hazel wand with a unicorn hair core; he could feel the difference as soon as he held the wand.
They then had some ice cream to finish the day.
A/n: Please leave detailed reviews on the fic so I know what you all like and dislike.
And power stones: all of them, every single one.